1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to floor drains, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for providing an adjustable-height floor drain.
2. Discussion of the Background
Wet rooms have become increasingly popular, for example as access for the disabled has developed into an important consideration in building construction, and with the provision of readily available component parts to enable construction of such rooms in the home relatively easily.
Typically, a wet room includes a water resistant floor covering that incorporates a suitable fall to a waste water drain such that water on the room floor, such as from a shower, will drain away. The floor covering can be tiling beneath which a waterproof layer on a deck can be provided. The deck typically includes a preformed gradient to define the fall to the waste water drain.
Normally, a waste is selected which allows a flush finish to be achieved between the uppermost portion of the waste and the surrounding floor. When a flexible waterproof floor covering material is to be used, a waste must be specifically selected which permits engagement of the floor covering material with the waste. Furthermore, it is desirable for the upper portion of a drain waste to be level with the top of the flooring being used in order to successfully allow waste water to be conveyed into the drain, to provide a suitable visual quality to the finish, and to be comfortable and safe to walk on or to pass a wheelchair over for example when using the shower. These aspects typically result in multiple parallel ranges of wastes being offered to suit different situations.
According to an example, there is provided a height-adjustable assembly for a drain, comprising a lower portion for use with a waste outlet of the drain, an upper portion to receive an attachment for mounting at floor level to cover the assembly, and an adjustment portion disposed between the upper and lower portions and including first and second adjustment elements disposed respectively on inner and outer faces of the adjustment portion to simultaneously vary the position of the upper and adjustment portions relative to the lower portion as the adjustment portion is rotated. The lower and upper portions can include respective locking elements to cooperate to rotationally constrain the upper portion as its position relative to the lower portion is varied. In an example, the locking element of the upper portion can include a flange, lip or channel. The locking element of the lower portion can include a protrusion. The respective locking elements can be arranged to slideably engage with one another.
The lower portion can be fixed, and can include a clamping element to secure a covering or membrane material. The covering or membrane can be a flexible waterproof material to deliver a waterproof course. In an example, the first adjustment element can include a helical thread or ramp to cooperate with a ramp follower disposed on an outer face of the upper portion. The second adjustment element can cooperate with a helical ramp or thread disposed on an inner face of the lower portion. The second adjustment element can be a protuberance on the outer face of the adjustment portion. The ramp follower disposed on the outer face of the upper portion can be a helical thread or ramp. The ramp follower disposed on the outer face of the upper portion can be a protuberance. The upper, lower and adjustment portions can be circular and fit concentrically within each other.
In an example, the height-adjustable assembly can further include a rotation control element to control a position of the adjustment portion to one of multiple discrete positions. The rotation control element can include multiple indentations on a face of a helical ramp or thread disposed on an inner face of the lower portion. The adjustment portion can include a projection to releasably engage with an indentation of the lower portion thereby to bias the adjustment portion in position.
According to an example, there is provided a floor drain for a shower, including a height-adjustable assembly as claimed in any preceding claim connected to a waste outlet for the drain. The upper portion can include an attachment mounted at floor level to receive waste water.
According to an example, there is provided a method for the telescopic height-adjustment of a drain, including providing an adjustment portion disposed between an upper and lower portion of a drain assembly, the adjustment portion including first and second adjustment elements disposed respectively on inner and outer faces of the adjustment portion, and rotating the adjustment portion to vary the position of the upper and adjustment portions relative to the lower portion. The upper portion has one degree of freedom.
Use of the term waste water drain or waste herein throughout means a waste water unit for connection to a drain, into which waste water runoff enters, and to which flexible waterproof floor covering material can be connected or engaged.
Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference symbols are used in the Figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects or features shown therein.
Body 100 can include fixing means 107 to receive a screw or other suitable fixing device to secure the body in place. Body 100 can also be connected to a trap to prevent foul air and water returning to a shower room. As is typical, the waste exit 103 can be connected to pipe work to convey waste water away.
According to an example, lower portion 401 fits within and is secured to the bowl 409. The lower portion is thus in fluid communication with the waste outlet or exit of the drain, and waste water can pass into the waste outlet via the lower portion. The upper portion 403 can receive the attachment 407, which can be mounted at floor level to cover the drain and receive a grate for example.
According to an example, adjustment portion 405 is disposed between the upper 403 and lower 401 portions and includes first and second adjustment elements disposed respectively on inner and outer faces thereof The adjustment elements are used to simultaneously vary the position of the upper 403 and adjustment 405 portions relative to the lower portion 401 as the adjustment portion 405 is rotated. According to an example, the lower portion 401 remains stationary in the drain bowl 409 since it is fixed thereto, the bowl 409 being itself fixed into position with respect to the flooring into which a floor drain is installed or otherwise provided.
Adjustment portion 405 is rotated in order to vary the position of the upper and adjustment portions relative to the lower portion 401. More specifically, as the adjustment portion 405 is rotated the adjustment elements operate to effect a simultaneous change in the height of the adjustment and upper portions relative to the lower portion. For example, the adjustment elements operate against each other to effect a simultaneous change in the height of the adjustment and upper portions relative to the lower portion as the adjustment portion 405 is rotated. According to an example, the upper portion 403 has one degree of freedom. More specifically, the height of the upper portion 403 can be adjusted but it is rotationally constrained and cannot therefore turn as its vertical position varies. This is particularly advantageous since a top plate attachment fixed to the upper portion 403 can have its height relative to floor level adjusted whilst maintaining a desired orientation of the plate.
According to an example, lower portion 401 and upper portion 403 include respective elements that cooperate to rotationally constrain the upper portion as its position relative to the lower portion is varied. With reference to
It will be appreciated the locking elements need not be limited to those described. For example, one or more protrusions may be present on the upper portion, with corresponding channels on the lower portion. One or more channels can be substituted for any element that acts against a protrusion to prevent rotational movement of the upper portion, such as a lip or flange for example. In an example, rotational movement of the upper portion is constrained as the portion is adjusted in height both up and down. However, the constraint can be effective in only one direction if desired, with a corresponding removal or modification of the locking elements accordingly.
According to an example, the lower portion 401 can include a clamping element to secure a covering or membrane material. The clamping element can comprise multiple resilient portions (not shown) underneath which a membrane or covering can be arranged. As the assembly and drain is fixed into place, the resilient portions can be arranged to clamp down onto the membrane in order to hold it firmly in place and create a watertight seal for the drain. Typically therefore, the covering or membrane is a flexible waterproof material to deliver a waterproof course for the shower or wet room.
According to an example, the first adjustment element of the adjustment portion 405 includes a helical thread or ramp 420 to cooperate with a ramp follower 421 disposed on an outer face 423 of the upper portion 403. The second adjustment element 425 of the adjustment portion 405 cooperates with a helical ramp or thread 427 disposed on inner face 429 of the lower portion 401. In an example, the second adjustment element 425 is a protuberance on the outer face 428 of the adjustment portion 405, such as a column for example. Multiple adjustment elements can be provided, although a single set can suffice. As shown in
In an example, a ramp follower disposed on the outer face of the upper portion can be a helical thread or ramp, whereas a ramp follower disposed on the outer face of the adjustment portion can be a protuberance for example. As will be apparent from the figures, the upper, lower and adjustment portions are circular and fit concentrically within each other. As such, and in a non-deployed position, the upper portion protrudes from the body by only a small amount, and can be arranged to lie flush with the top of the body if desired. However, and as mentioned above, the provision of membranes and tiling for example means that it is desirable to have the upper portion sit above the level of the body by some degree since it will typically always be the case that there will be some flooring materials present.
According to an example, a rotation control element to control a position of the adjustment portion to one of multiple discrete positions is provided. With reference to
In an example, indentations 450 need not be concave, but can be any suitable profile. Alternatively, the indentations 450 can actually be protuberances to engage into an indentation that replaces the notch 501. Alternatively indentations or protuberances can be provided on the upper face 555 of the ramp or thread of the lower portion 401. As such, a notch or indentation can be provided on the lower sloped portion of the column 503 to engage therewith.
According to an example, adjustment portion 405 can be provided with scalloped outer portions 557 that can be used to help grip and rotate the portion. A scallop can be provided with a visual indicator to assist a user in determining an adjustment level. For example, scalloped portions can include numerical values to depict the height above the lower portion that the adjustment and/or upper portion of the assembly are arranged at. The lower portion can include a suitable marker to indicate the numerical value to be noted as the correct height, and multiple such markers can be provided to indicate the current height of the adjustment portion and the upper portion for example.
According to an example, the projection/notch 501 can releasably engage with the indentations of the lower portions thereby to bias the adjustment portion in position. This allows the rotation of the assembly to be controlled with defined positive ‘clickstops’ as the notch snaps in and out of place in the indentations. In an example, each click raises (or lowers) the upper portion by 1 mm. Advantageously, the cooperation of the notch/indentation prevents the assembly from slipping down unintentionally.
According to an example, a method for the telescopic height-adjustment of a drain includes providing an adjustment portion disposed between an upper and lower portion of a drain assembly as described above and rotating the adjustment portion to vary the position of the upper and adjustment portions of the assembly relative to the lower portion. More specifically, a drain body is installed into place into a shower or wet room. An assembly as described herein can be fitted into the body once it is in place, or beforehand. A waterproof membrane can be laid, and held in place between an upper lip of the body and the lower portion of the assembly as mentioned above. A top plate can be attached to the upper portion of the assembly before or after the height of the assembly is adjusted. The adjustment portion is rotated until a desired height for the assembly is attained. The assembly is maintained in place by virtue of the rotation control element of the assembly.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1300284.5 | Jan 2013 | GB | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT application PCT/EP2013/077975, filed 24 Dec. 2013, which claims the benefit of GB application number 1300284.5, filed 8 Jan. 2013. These applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/EP2013/077975 | Dec 2013 | US |
Child | 14794547 | US |