Spee-D Contour Articulating Channel

Wong, Bryce, 2023. Articulating channel. U.S. Patent 11,795,629, filed January 13, 2022, and issued October 24, 2023.

Designed in California.

Articulating Channel Drain – An overview

I engineered and invented the Articulating Channel Drain to address a persistent industry challenge: enabling smooth, continuous curved drainage layouts without relying on labor-intensive custom miters that increase installation time, material waste, and total project cost. The design incorporates a multi-segment articulating joint architecture that provides controlled angular adjustability while maintaining structural integrity and flow performance.

I led the program from initial concept development through tool release, mass production, and full commercialization, ultimately earning the company’s Gold CEO Innovation Award for the product’s technical and market impact.

Using SolidWorks, I executed the complete parametric design, including articulation geometry, hinge interfaces, and manufacturability optimization for injection molding. I conducted finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate bending stiffness, joint behavior, soil-load response, and long-term deflection under real installation conditions. These simulations guided material selection, rib topology refinement, and articulation range optimization.

To validate the design early in the development cycle, I produced 3D-printed prototypes to test articulation mechanics, sealing interfaces, and overall assembly performance, ensuring a robust proof of concept before tooling investment. I also organized and led weekly cross-functional design reviews with engineering, tooling, manufacturing, supply chain, and marketing teams to ensure technical alignment and mitigate downstream risks.

The final product delivers a structurally sound, installer-friendly curved drainage solution that has been widely praised for dramatically reducing installation complexity. It is now available through major distributors such as E-wing and SiteOne, with its first retail rollout scheduled for early 2026.