Universal Drain Plug Quick Coupling via Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional universal drains face limitations such as the inability to use quick coupling mechanisms for plugs, difficulty in aligning non-cylindrical plug covers with sanitary fixture geometries, and a high risk of assembly errors during plug installation.
Innovation Solution
A universal drain design featuring a self-contained unit with a first and second half-body connected by a connecting element, which includes a third central hole for engaging a plug with a quick coupling mechanism, reducing the need for threading and enhancing alignment and installation safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded coupling system is used to connect the plug to the drain, then the plug can be securely attached, but a quick coupling mechanism cannot be used and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the threading function from the plug-drain connection and relocates it to the connecting element that joins the two half-bodies. The plug itself is simplified to have a smooth cylindrical body without threading, enabling quick coupling while maintaining secure attachment through the threaded connecting element.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element acts as an intermediary component that provides the threaded interface between the first and second half-bodies. This mediator allows the plug to connect simply to the first half-body without threading, while the connecting element handles the secure threaded attachment to the second half-body.
2Ease of operation
If a threaded coupling system is used for the plug, then the plug can be attached, but the plug cover cannot be properly oriented with respect to the basin geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the threading from the plug body, allowing the plug cover to be oriented independently without rotational constraints imposed by threaded engagement. This enables proper alignment of non-cylindrical covers with the basin geometry while maintaining secure attachment through the separate threaded connecting element.
3Reliability
If a threaded coupling system is used, then the plug can be attached, but assembly errors increase due to misalignment between different material threadings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the threading from the plug and relocates it to the connecting element, eliminating the risk of misalignment between plastic and metal threadings during plug installation. The smooth cylindrical plug body engages easily with the first half-body, while the threaded connecting element provides secure attachment to the second half-body without alignment issues.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional universal drains are used, then they can be applied to a wide range of sanitary fixtures, but the fixing screw prevents quick coupling mechanisms from being used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drain into two separate half-bodies that are connected by a threaded connecting element. This segmentation allows the first half-body to provide a smooth bore for quick coupling of the plug, while the connecting element provides the threaded interface for secure attachment to the second half-body, combining versatility with ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A universal drain (10) for a hygienic/sanitary device (100), comprising: a first half-body (20), designed to be positioned at an inlet of a drain hole (101) of the hygienic/sanitary device, the first half-body (20) having a first central hole (22); and a second half-body (30), designed to be positioned at an outlet of the drain hole (101), the second half-body (30) having a second central hole (32), the second half-body (30) being connected to the first half-body (20) by means of a connecting element (40) which extends axially through the first central hole (22) and the second central hole (32), each half-body (20, 30) being provided with peripheral openings (24, 34) which are designed to drain a liquid downstream of the respective half-body (20, 30), the connecting element (40) has a third central hole (42), the connecting element (40) being designed to connect a closure plug (50) to the universal drain based on an insertion of a stem (52) of the closure plug (50) into the third central hole (42).