Suction Mount Assembly for Rough Surfaces and Water Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for supporting parts on surfaces, such as those for showering or bathing, lack versatility and reliability in attachment methods, particularly on rough surfaces and in preventing water accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a wall-mountable mounting element with a pocket-shaped receptacle and a suction element that can be inserted and compressed for secure attachment, along with a flexible projection that expands to hold parts, and a draining opening to prevent water accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction element is made flexible to ensure secure attachment to rough surfaces, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction element is designed as a flexible component that can deform to conform to rough surfaces, ensuring reliable attachment. The flexibility allows the suction element to adapt to surface irregularities while maintaining sealing and attachment force.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction element is received within the pocket-shaped receptacle of the mounting element, creating a nested structure. This nesting provides structural support while allowing the suction element to perform its attachment function independently.
2Reliability
If the suction element is compressed upon insertion into the pocket-shaped receptacle to ensure tight retention, then the reliability of retention is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction element undergoes a parameter change in its dimensional state during insertion - it is compressed as it enters the pocket-shaped receptacle. This compression allows the element to be tightly retained once inserted, while the flexible material accommodates the dimensional change without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
3Reliability
If the pocket-shaped receptacle is closed at the lower side to retain the suction element, then the retention reliability is improved, but water accumulation occurs inside the receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall of the pocket-shaped receptacle is provided with draining openings that allow water to pass through. This porous-like structure maintains the closed configuration for retention while eliminating water accumulation through the openings.
4Reliability
If the suction element width is made smaller than the pocket-shaped receptacle width to enable compression and tight retention, then the retention reliability is improved, but the ease of insertion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction element is designed with dynamic dimensional characteristics - it can be compressed during insertion and then expands or maintains its shape when retained. This dynamic behavior allows the element to be inserted through compression and then tightly retained once in position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides reliable support for parts on surfaces through adhesive and suction methods, with the suction element's flexibility ensuring secure attachment and the draining opening addressing water accumulation issues.
Implementation Method 1
a suction element which can be received in the pocket-shaped receptacle of the mounting element and is attachable to the surface
Implementation Method 2
the suction element has another portion which extends through an opening of the part, which is flexible, and which has a thickness that is greater than a size of the opening in the part, so that the other portion can be pushed through the opening with reduction its thickness and then expanded behind the part
Data Source
AI summary
A device for supporting a part has a mounting element with a pocket-shaped receptacle and a suction element which supports the part and can be received in the pocket-shaped receptacle or removed from it and directly attached to the surface, so that in both cases the part is supported on the surface, either through the suction element and the mounting element or through the suction element only, and a width of at least a portion of the suction element is smaller than a width of the pocket-shaped receptacle of the mounting element, so that when the portion of the suction element is inserted into the pocket-shaped receptacle of the mounting element, it is compressed and thereby tightly retained in it.