The present invention relates to plumbing systems in general and more particularly to a plumbing trap system.
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a plumbing system including a first draining device and a second draining device, a first trap in communication with the first draining device through a first drain pipe, a discharge pipe in communication with the first trap, and a second drain pipe in communication with the second draining device and in communication with the discharge pipe. The first draining device is adapted to drain waste material through the first drain pipe, then through the first trap into the discharge pipe, and the second draining device is adapted to drain waste material through the second drain pipe into the discharge pipe. A dimension of the second drain pipe is smaller than a dimension of the discharge pipe.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a plumbing system for draining waste material from each of a first draining device and a second draining device into a discharge pipe. The plumbing system includes a first trap in communication with open air and adapted to receive the waste material draining from the first draining device. The plumbing system further includes a fluid conduit providing fluid communication between the second draining device and the discharge pipe and adapted to drain waste material from the second draining device into the discharge pipe. The fluid conduit has a dimension smaller than a dimension of the discharge pipe. The waste material draining into the first trap drains from the first trap into the discharge pipe.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a plumbing system for draining waste material from each of an open air draining device and a noise originating draining device into a discharge pipe. The plumbing system includes a first trap in communication with open air and adapted to receive the waste material draining from the open air draining device. The plumbing system further includes a fluid conduit providing fluid communication between the noise originating draining device and the discharge pipe, the fluid conduit being adapted to drain waste material from the noise originating draining device into the discharge pipe. The waste material draining into the first trap drains from the first trap into the discharge pipe. The first trap substantially prevents noise, originating from draining waste material from the noise originating draining device into the fluid conduit, from reaching the open air draining device.
Although the first trap 18 is described herein as being an independent device connected to first drain pipe 16 and discharge pipe 20, it must be appreciated that the first trap 18 can be provided as an integral piece with first drain pipe 16 and/or discharge pipe 20. For example, the first drain pipe 16 and the first trap 18 can be formed from of a one-piece of pipe. Alternatively or in addition, the first trap 18 and the discharge pipe 20 can also be formed from a one-piece of pipe. The drain pipe 16, the discharge pipe 20 and the first trap 18 can be formed from a same material or different materials (for example, plastic, metal, etc.)
The plumbing trap system 10 further includes a second draining device 22. The second draining device 22 can be, for example, a dishwasher, a washing machine, or other household or commercial appliances. For example, second draining device 22 can be a device that generates noise during draining. The second draining device 22 drains through a drain tube 24. The plumbing trap system 10 also includes an optional second plumbing trap 26, such as a sanitary trap. The second trap 26 is in communication with the drain tube 24 and a second drain pipe 28. The second trap 26 is connected to the drain tube 24 through input end 26A of the second trap 26 and is connected to the second drain pipe 28 through output end 26B of the second trap 26 (using, for example, a plumbing connector, joint, or the like). The second drain pipe 28 is in turn in communication with the discharge pipe 20 through discharge port 29. The second drain pipe 28 can have the same diameter or a different diameter (smaller or larger) than the discharge pipe 20. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second drain pipe 28 is selected to have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the discharge pipe 20. Similar to the first trap 18, the second trap 26 can be any commercially available sanitary trap, including, but not limited to, a U-shaped sanitary trap, a S-shaped sanitary trap, a partitioned sanitary trap, etc. Alternatively, the second trap 26 can be, for example, a one-way fluid valve that allows the waste water to flow in one direction but blocks unwanted odors in the opposite direction.
Although the second trap 26 is described herein as being an independent device that is connected to the drain tube 24 and the second drain pipe 28, it must be appreciated that the second trap 26 can be provided as an integral piece with drain tube 24 and/or an integral piece with second drain pipe 28. For example, the second trap 26 and the drain tube 24 can be formed from of a one-piece of pipe. Alternatively or in addition, the second trap 26 and the second drain pipe 28 can also be formed from a one-piece of pipe. The drain tube 24, the second drain pipe 28 and the trap 26 can be formed from a same material or from different materials (for example, plastic, metal, etc.).
In operation, waste water and other waste material from the first draining device 12 drains through the drain 14, then down the first drain pipe 16, then through the first trap 18, and then through the discharge pipe 20 into the municipal sewer system, the septic tank or the like. In an embodiment of the invention, the discharge pipe 20 is positioned substantially vertically so as to enhance flow of waste water and other waste material once the waste water and the waste materials have passed through the first trap 18.
Waste water and other waste material flowing from second draining device 22 flows through drain pipe 24, then through second trap 26, then through second drain pipe 28, and then through discharge pipe 20 into the municipal sewer system, septic tank or the like. In an embodiment of the invention, the second drain pipe 28 can be connected to the discharge pipe 20 in a manner so that waste water and other waste materials originating from the first draining device 12 does not flow into the second drain pipe 28 and hence into the second trap 26 so as to prevent clogging in the second trap 26. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the second drain pipe 28 can be connected at an angle (indicated in
A pump 30 can be provided to the second draining device 22 to enable or enhance the flow of waste water and other waste materials from the second draining device 22 into the discharge pipe 20 and ultimately into the municipal sewer system, the septic tank or the like. For example, the pump 30 can be connected in line with drain pipe 24, as shown in
In the plumbing trap system 10, noise that may be generated by the drainage of waste water and other waste materials from the second draining device 22 into the discharge pipe 20 and would otherwise emanate from the drain 14 in the first draining device 12 can be reduced or substantially eliminated by the first trap 18. Indeed, any noise generated by the second draining device 22 and that may emanate from the drain 14 in the first draining device 12 can be reduced or substantially eliminated by the “water” present in the first trap 18 which, in addition of playing the role of an odor barrier, acts also as a sound attenuator or barrier.
The plumbing trap system 40 includes a first draining device 42. The draining device 42 can be, for example, a sink, a bathtub, or the like. The first draining device 42 includes a drain 44. The drain 44 is open to air and is in fluid communication with a first drain pipe 46. The plumbing trap system 40 further includes a first plumbing trap 48, such as a sanitary trap, in communication with first drain pipe 46 and with a discharge pipe 50. The discharge pipe 50 is in turn feeding into, for example, the municipal sewer system, a septic tank or the like, not shown. The first trap 48 can be any commercially available sanitary trap, including, but not limited to, a U-shaped sanitary trap, a S-shaped sanitary trap, a partitioned sanitary trap, etc. Alternatively, the first trap 48 can be, for example, a one-way fluid valve that allows the waste water to flow in one direction but blocks unwanted odors in the opposite direction.
In this embodiment, the first trap 48 is provided as an integral one-piece of pipe (for example, a flexible plastic pipe) with the first drain pipe 46 and the discharge pipe 50. However, it must be appreciated that the first trap 48 can be provided as an independent piece that can be connected, via plumbing connectors, joints or the like, to first drain pipe 46 and discharge pipe 50, for example, as shown in
The plumbing trap system 40 further includes a second draining device 52. The second draining device 52 can be, for example, a dishwasher, a washing machine, or other household or commercial appliances. For example, second draining device 52 can be a device that generates noise during draining. The second draining device 52 drains through a drain tube 54. A pump 53 can be provided to the second draining device 52 to enable or enhance the flow of waste water and other waste materials originating from the second draining device 52. For example, the pump 53 can be connected in line with drain pipe 54, as shown in
The plumbing trap system 40 also includes an optional second plumbing trap 56, such as a sanitary trap. The second trap 56 is in communication with the drain tube 54 and a second drain pipe 58. Similar to the first trap 48, the second trap 56 can be any commercially available sanitary trap, including, but not limited to, a U-shaped sanitary trap, a S-shaped sanitary trap, a partitioned sanitary trap, etc. Alternatively, the second trap 56 can be, for example, a one-way fluid valve that allows the waste water to flow in one direction but blocks unwanted odors in the opposite direction. In this embodiment, the second trap 56, the second drain pipe 58 and the drain tube 54 are shown integrally formed from a one-piece of pipe (for example, a plastic pipe). However, it must be appreciated that other arrangements including an arrangement in which the second trap 56 is an independent piece (for example, as shown in
In the plumbing trap system 40, instead of connecting the second drain pipe 58 directly to the discharge pipe 50 (as in the plumbing trap system 10), the second drain pipe 58 is inserted through an inlet 59 provided in the first drain pipe 46. Although the second drain pipe 58 is shown in
In operation, waste water and other waste material from the first draining device 42 drains through the drain 44, then down the first drain pipe 46, then through the first trap 48, then through the discharge pipe 50 into the municipal sewer system, the septic tank or the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the discharge pipe 50 can be positioned vertically to enhance flow of waste water and other waste material.
Waste water and other waste material flowing from the second draining device 52 flows through drain pipe 54, then through second trap 56, then through second drain pipe 58 (a portion of which extends through the first trap 48) before exiting through port 57 into discharge pipe 50. The waste water and other waste material is then discharged through discharge pipe 20 into the municipal sewer system, septic tank or the like.
Similar to the plumbing trap system 10, in the plumbing trap system 40, noise that may be generated by the drainage of waste water and other waste materials from the second draining device 52 into the discharge pipe 50 and would otherwise emanate from the drain 44 in the first draining device 42 can be reduced or substantially eliminated by the first trap 48. Indeed, any noise generated from the second draining device 52 that may emanate from the drain 44 in the first draining device 42 can be reduced or substantially eliminated by the “water” present in the first trap 48 which, in addition of playing the role of an odor barrier, acts also as a sound barrier.
To further attenuate or substantially eliminate the noise level originating from the second draining device 22, 52 and emanating from drain 14, 44 in the first draining device 12, 42, and interior coating or an exterior coating may be applied to one or more of the components of the plumbing trap system 10, 40. For example, the interior coating may be a friction-reducing or turbulence-reducing coating or a noise barrier. The exterior coating may be, for example, a noise barrier or other sound absorbing material. Alternatively or in addition to other noise-reduction measures, the geometry of the components of plumbing trap system 10, 40 may be adapted to further attenuate the noise emanating from drain 14, 44. It should be appreciated that any one or more of the components of the plumbing trap system 10, may be incorporated into the second draining device 22, 52. Furthermore, additional traps (e.g., sanitary traps) may also be provided depending on the application sought.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to person skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the invention in alternative embodiments. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents should be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
In addition, it should be understood that the figures, are presented for example purposes only. The plumbing trap systems of the present invention are sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures.
For example, although the second trap 26, 56 is shown as part of the plumbing trap systems 10, 40 in the embodiments described in the above paragraphs and illustrated in
Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosure is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 07/784,470, filed Mar. 22, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60784470 | Mar 2006 | US |