Sink Overflow Assembly with Integrated Positioning Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sink overflow assemblies face challenges in cast sinks made of materials like plastic, ceramic, or composite materials, where forming a fastening receptacle in one piece with the sink wall is difficult, leading to dirt gaps and visually unsatisfactory solutions with visible fastening elements.
Innovation Solution
The sink design incorporates positioning elements formed in one piece with the sink wall, allowing for easy cleaning and hiding fastening elements, using a carrier element that interacts with the sink wall to secure the overflow body without a visible frame, and a cover element that can be easily removed for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate frame element is used that rests against the visible surface of the sink wall, then the overflow assembly can be assembled, but a dirt trap is created at the transition from the sink wall to the frame element which is difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element receptacle is formed integrally with the sink wall as a single piece, eliminating the separate frame element that created the dirt trap. This merging of the receptacle and sink wall removes the transition gap where dirt accumulated, while still providing the necessary assembly functionality through the integrated design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the mounting element receptacle is formed integrally with the sink wall, then no dirt gap is created, but it is not easily possible with cast sinks made of plastic, ceramic, or composite materials
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow assembly is divided into separate functional components: the mounting element receptacle formed in the sink wall, the support element with positioning elements, and the overflow body. This segmentation allows the receptacle to be created during sink manufacturing while the other components can be separately manufactured and assembled, making the solution feasible for cast sinks.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting element receptacle is formed in the sink wall during the sink manufacturing process before the overflow assembly is installed. This preliminary creation of the receptacle structure allows for seamless integration without requiring post-manufacturing modifications to the cast sink material.
3Reliability
If a fastening element is used to clamp the overflow body against the sink wall, then the overflow assembly is secured, but the fastening element remains visible to the user which is visually unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element is extracted from visible view by positioning it within the mounting element receptacle and cover element structure. The fastening function is maintained through the clamping mechanism, but the visual appearance is improved by hiding the fastening element from the user's view through the integrated design of the receptacle and cover.
4Ease of repair
If the overflow assembly is designed with multiple components for easy cleaning, then maintenance is simplified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is designed to be movable relative to the support element, allowing it to be detached for cleaning the mounting element receptacle and then reattached to restore the assembly. This dynamic capability enables easy maintenance while maintaining a simple overall structure when the cover is in place.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sink with an overflow opening (126) in a sink wall (120) and an overflow assembly (160) arranged at the overflow opening, the overflow assembly comprising an overflow body (162) and a cover element (170). The overflow assembly further comprises a support element (166) having positioning elements (220) that interact with positioning elements (158) of the sink wall in such a way that the support element cannot rotate relative to the sink wall. The cover element can be attached to the support element in a mounting element receptacle in such a way that its relative position is also rotationally secure. The same applies to the overflow body.