Transparent Protective Cover for Wall-Mounted Flush Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective covers for wall-mounted toilet flush sensors do not provide a transparent and secure solution to protect the sensor from being pushed, leading to potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A transparent plastic cover secured over a wall-mounted toilet flush sensor using screw fasteners and double-sided tape, with openings aligned to the sensor's openings for easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective cover is installed over the sensor, then the sensor is protected from being pushed, but the sensor function may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is made transparent to match the visual characteristics of the sensor environment, allowing sensor function while providing protection. This principle of making the protective element visually imperceptible resolves the contradiction between protection and functional accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover uses a thin, transparent plastic shell that provides physical protection while being optically and sensorially permeable. The thin film structure allows sensor signals to pass through while preventing physical contact with the sensor.
2Strength
If a protective cover is designed with screw fasteners and adhesive, then the cover is securely fixed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover integrates both screw fasteners and adhesive elements into a single unified structure, combining mechanical and chemical fixation methods. This merging allows the cover to be securely fixed without requiring separate fixation components or complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover design includes pre-positioned screw holes and adhesive areas that align with the sensor openings, allowing the cover to self-align and self-fix during installation. This self-service feature reduces installation complexity while maintaining secure fixation.
3Ease of operation
If a transparent cover is used, then the sensor function is maintained, but the protection effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The thin transparent plastic shell provides a physical barrier that protects the sensor from direct contact while being thin enough to maintain sensor sensitivity and response. The shell structure is designed to prevent pushing while allowing sensor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover uses a composite structure combining transparent plastic material with integrated fastening elements (screws and adhesive). This composite design maintains transparency for sensor accessibility while the composite structure provides robust protection against unauthorized contact.
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 solution effectively protects the sensor from being pushed, ensuring its functionality while maintaining a transparent design that does not obstruct the sensor's operation.
Implementation Method 1
A transparent plastic cover secured over a wall-mounted toilet flush sensor using screw fasteners and double-sided tape
Data Source
AI summary
A protective cover for wall mounted toilet flush sensors including a cover assembly, a fastening assembly and an adhesive assembly. The cover assembly includes a cover having at least two openings in a central portion thereof. The fastening assembly includes fasteners and the adhesive assembly includes an adhesive member. The adhesive member is a double-sided adhesive used to adhere said cover to a front wall of a flush sensor. The fasteners are used to fix said cover between an external cover and said flush sensor. The external cover has a sensor opening. Said cover prevents depressing said sensor by covering said sensor opening.