Washbasin with Seamless Outer Shell for Storage and Cleaning Ease
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washbasins lack effective storage options for washing utensils without compromising their primary function or requiring additional, expensive, and space-consuming devices, and they are difficult to clean due to gaps and joints that can harbor dirt and water.
Innovation Solution
A washbasin design featuring a seamless, one-piece outer shell made of enamelled steel with built-in elements such as shelves, drawers, and technical functional elements like towel dispensers, which utilize previously unused space and provide easy access for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional washbasins with separate components and joints are used, then manufacturing and assembly are simpler, but cleaning becomes difficult due to gaps and joints that harbor dirt and water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (outer shell, inner basin, side walls, bottom) into a single integrated one-piece structure. This eliminates all joints and gaps between components, making the washbasin extremely easy to clean while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through specialized molding processes for materials like porcelain or plastic.
2Quantity of substance
If additional storage devices like wall cabinets are added, then storage capacity increases, but cost and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests storage compartments and shelves within the internal structure of the washbasin itself. By utilizing the space between the outer shell and inner basin, the design provides storage capacity for washing utensils without adding external devices, thereby reducing overall device complexity and space consumption.
3Ease of operation
If a one-piece outer shell design is used, then cleaning ease and aesthetics improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the outer shell appears as a single piece, the manufacturing process segments the formation into manageable stages: creating the outer shell structure, forming the inner basin, and integrating storage compartments. This segmentation in the manufacturing process enables the one-piece design to be produced feasibly using specialized molding techniques.
4Weight of stationary object
If thin-walled steel construction is used, then weight is reduced and space inside increases, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by combining thin-walled steel for the outer shell with enamel coating for protection and aesthetics. This composite material approach maintains structural strength while achieving weight reduction and maximizing internal space, as the enamel layer provides additional strength without significant weight increase.
Data Source
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AI summary
The stand has a bowl cavity, and an outer casing (11) with side walls (12). The outer casing surrounds an inner space under the bowl cavity. A set of fitting elements e.g. furniture elements, is arranged in the inner space, where the fitting elements are arranged in an accessible manner from outer side. The outer casing is made of enameled steel, ceramics, mineral materials or composite materials, where the casing is designed in a joint-free manner. A cover is overlapped on a top side of the stand in a closed condition.