Built-in Solid Hygiene Holder for Urinal Bowl

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sanitary ware systems, particularly in public urinals, face issues with unsightly and easily damaged liquid hygiene chemical containers, space inefficiency, rapid chemical consumption, and the need for protective equipment, which compromise hygiene and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary basin with a built-in holder for solid hygiene products, where the product mixes with flushing water through hidden drain lines, ensuring efficient distribution and visibility of stock levels without external installation or moving parts, maintaining a clean and elegant appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid hygiene chemicals are stored in containers and hung on the urinal, then hygiene function is provided, but the appearance becomes unsightly and the containers are easily damaged or stolen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene functionVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hygiene product storage function from external containers and integrates it into the urinal bowl structure itself. The holder is built into the bowl, removing the need for separate hanging containers, thus maintaining appearance while preserving hygiene function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the storage function with the urinal bowl structure by integrating the holder directly into the ceramic body. This combination eliminates the visual clutter of external containers while ensuring the hygiene function remains reliable and accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If liquid hygiene chemicals are used, then hygiene function is achieved, but more space is required for bulk storage and chemicals are consumed quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene functionVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the hygiene product from liquid to solid tablets. This parameter change allows for more compact storage with higher density, reducing the volume required for bulk storage while maintaining effective hygiene function through controlled dissolution in water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If liquid hygiene chemicals are used, then hygiene function is provided, but protective clothing and replenishment equipment such as syringes are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene functionVSAvoidreplenishment equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable solid hygiene tablets that are simple to replace. Unlike liquid chemicals requiring syringes and protective gear, the solid tablets can be easily inserted into the holder without special equipment, significantly reducing device complexity and safety requirements for maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Shape

If a dispenser for hygiene products is built into the urinal, then appearance is improved and no external installation is needed, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the holder into modular components that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The holder consists of a recess portion integrated into the bowl and a separate cover portion, allowing for simplified manufacturing processes while achieving the desired integrated appearance without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution provides easy access to hygiene products, eliminates the need for protective equipment, ensures continuous hygiene without unsightly external containers, and allows for electronic stock monitoring, enhancing both hygiene and aesthetics in sanitary facilities.

Implementation Method 1

a solid hygiene product (which will dissolve in water) is received in the holder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

the one or more drain lines extend between the mixing chamber and the substantially vertical surface portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2341196B1Hygienic improvements for sanitary basins
Publication Date: 2012.03.28 KERAMAG KERAMISCHE WERKE AG
  • EP2341196B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2341196B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

The basin i.e. urinal basin (102), has a mixing arrangement (114) arranged above or in an upper part of a bowl (104). The mixing arrangement includes an inlet pipe (118) that is connected to a mixing chamber (116) to supply liquid i.e. flushing water, to the mixing chamber. A metal holder (126) holds a hygiene product i.e. solid hygiene product, such that a section of the holder is arranged within the mixing chamber to mix the hygiene product with the liquid in the mixing chamber during utilization. Drain pipes (120) extend between the mixing chamber and the bowl.