Universal Clamping Ring for Shower Drain Bases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower drain installations face challenges in accommodating different types of drain bases due to varying center distances of threaded apertures, leading to compatibility issues and increased installation complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A universal clamping ring design with adaptable aperture configurations allows for secure attachment to both type 'A' and type 'B' drain bases, eliminating the need for multiple drain bases and reducing installation height, using ABS plastic for a lower profile and simplified attachment with a longer outpost for adjustable height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drain bases are used to accommodate different threaded aperture configurations, then compatibility with various drain bases is improved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping ring is designed with a universal aperture configuration that can accommodate both type 'A' and type 'B' drain bases through a single standardized pattern. The aperture is positioned and sized to work with threaded apertures at different center distances, eliminating the need for multiple specialized clamping rings and simplifying the attachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is divided into modular components: the clamping ring with standardized aperture, the membrane with pre-cut opening, and the adjustable outpost. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall compatibility across different drain base types.
2Ease of operation
If a higher installation height is used, then ease of attachment and adjustment is improved, but the profile height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outpost is designed to be adjustable in height rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adaptation to different installation requirements. The membrane with pre-cut opening facilitates easy attachment at the optimal height, while the ABS plastic construction enables a lower overall profile compared to traditional materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping ring having a clamping ring flange for use with at least first and second different configurations of drain bases to permit the rotation of the clamping ring flange relative to the drain flange of both type “A” and type “B” drain bases. The clamping ring flange includes a plurality of first aperture portions, each of which has a second elongated arcuate slot portion extending in a counterclockwise direction from the first aperture portion and a third elongated arcuate slot portion extending in a clockwise direction from the first aperture portion, at different distances from the center of a central flange aperture with one corresponding to the positions of threaded apertures in the type “A” drain base and the other corresponding to the positions of the threaded apertures in the type “B” drain base.