Kitchen Sink Soap Dispenser With Integrated Drain Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soap dispensers for kitchen sinks lack increased functionality and efficient operation, often requiring separate passage openings for actuation mechanisms, which increases production costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A soap dispenser with a dual actuation system where the soap line and actuating means for the drain closure device are radially adjacent, allowing them to share a common passage opening in the kitchen sink, enabling both soap dispensing and drain control through a single mechanism, with the actuating element extending from the top to the bottom for integrated operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If separate passage openings are provided for the soap line and the actuating mechanism of the drain closure device, then each component can be installed independently, but the production cost increases and the number of openings in the kitchen sink increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidnumber of passage openings
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the soap line passage and the actuating mechanism passage into a single common passage opening in the kitchen sink. The soap dispenser body is designed with an integrated structure where both the soap delivery system and the drain closure actuating system share the same opening, thereby reducing the number of openings required in the sink and simplifying the installation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common passage opening serves multiple functions: it accommodates both the soap line for soap dispensing and the actuating mechanism for the drain closure device. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated openings for each system, reducing production complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the soap dispenser and drain closure actuating mechanism are integrated into a single unit, then the usability is enhanced and fewer openings are needed, but the internal structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoidinternal structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated soap dispenser unit is divided into distinct functional modules: the soap reservoir section, the soap delivery mechanism, and the drain closure actuating mechanism. Each module is designed independently but fits together within the common passage opening, allowing for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the integrated benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating mechanism for the drain closure device is nested within the soap dispenser body structure. The components are arranged concentrically or in a nested configuration where the actuating rod passes through the soap dispenser housing, allowing both functions to coexist in the same space without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2840949B1Soap dispenser for installation in a kitchen sink or similar, and kitchen sink having such a soap dispenser
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 SCHOCK & CO GMBH
  • EP2840949B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2840949B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2840949B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a soap dispenser (1) for installation in a kitchen sink (10) or similar, having an actuation element (26), which can be actuated from the top side (28) of the soap dispenser (1) when the soap dispenser (1) is installed, and upon the actuation of which soap can be removed from a supply tank (34) arranged on the underside (32) of the soap dispenser (1) via a soap line (36), more particularly a riser (60), and an outlet opening (38) in the soap dispenser (1) arranged on the top side (28), characterised in that the soap dispenser (1) has a further actuation element (40) which can be actuated from the top side (28), by means of which actuation element (40), via an associated actuation device which has actuation means (48) extending to the underside (32), a drain seal device (20) of the kitchen sink (10) can be actuated, and a kitchen sink (10) having such a soap dispenser (1).