Urinal Coupling Device Pivotable Ears Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing urinal flange devices often suffer from over-tightening and misalignment issues during installation, leading to distortion or breakage of the wings, which requires costly repairs involving removal and replacement.
Innovation Solution
A urinal coupling device with a support member and bifurcated ears that interface with the urinal flange device, allowing for secure mounting bolts placement without wing distortion, featuring a pivotable design for easy alignment and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If urinal mounting bolts are over-tightened during installation, then secure mounting is achieved, but the wings of the urinal flange device become distorted or broken
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the mounting function into two separate components: the urinal flange device (with wings) and the urinal coupling device (with support members). The coupling device acts as an intermediary that absorbs mounting stresses, preventing force transmission to the fragile wings during bolt tightening.
Solution Approach 2:
The urinal coupling device serves as a mediator between the urinal and the wall mounting structure. It provides a robust interface for bolt attachment while protecting the urinal flange device wings from mechanical stress during installation.
2Ease of operation
If traditional urinal flange devices with wings are used, then mounting functionality is provided, but misalignment and wing breakage require costly repairs and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The urinal coupling device is designed as a sacrificial or replaceable component that protects the more valuable urinal flange device. If alignment issues occur during installation, the coupling device can be adjusted or replaced without damaging the wings, simplifying repair procedures.
3Strength
If the urinal coupling device uses a rigid fixed structure, then structural strength is maintained, but alignment flexibility during installation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed with pivotable connections that allow dynamic adjustment during installation. The pivotable joints enable the support members to adapt to slight misalignments between the urinal flange device and the wall mounting holes, while maintaining structural integrity during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A urinal coupling device includes at least one support member and a pair of ears. The support member has a pair of opposite lateral portions and a main portion of an arcuate configuration extending between and rigidly interconnecting the opposite lateral portions. Each of the ears at an inner end portion thereof is attached to one of the opposite lateral portions of the support member such that the ears extend in opposite directions with respect to one another from the support member. Each ear has a slot open at its outer end and closed at its inner end that is configured to receive a urinal mounting bolt. The main portion of the support member has an inner surface configured to interface with an end portion of a tube and an adjacent annular flange of a urinal flange device.