Patent Application
20210002876
The present invention relates to the field of freestanding bathtubs and improving installation. In particular, the present invention relates to a concealed drainage connector which connects from bottom-up to a sanitary appliance, for example a drain outlet of a freestanding bathtub.
A freestanding bath tub is a desire for many because it provides a clean and uncluttered look in modern bathrooms. It is desirable to have freestanding appliances, but it is not desirable for the waste outlet or associated pipework to be visible when the appliance is installed.
Typically, installing a freestanding bathtub requires connection of a pipe connection (tailpiece) to a drain outlet of an upturned bathtub before connecting to a pipe or trap beneath the floor.
When the bathtub is upturned a tailpiece, typically in brass, is aligned with the drain outlet and is secured and sealed against the exposed underside of the bathtub about the drain outlet of the bathtub. After the tailpiece is secured, the orientation of the bathtub is restored to the upright position and the bathtub is maneuvered into alignment with another pipe connection, drain connection or trap located beneath the floor. Upon lowering the bathtub towards the floor the tailpiece is received in the pipe connection, drain connection or trap located beneath the floor. This arrangement of the tailpiece and the drain connection facilitates drainage of water from the bathtub after use.
Safe handling of a bathtub in this situation, usually involves two people to lift and upturn the bathtub, to restore the bathtub to the upright position and to align the pipe connection with a subfloor pipe or trap. It will be appreciated that it is essential to ensure that the tailpiece is the correct length prior to installation to ensure proper engagement with the drain connection and to avoid the need to cut the tailpiece during installation.
It will be appreciated upturning and general handling of the bathtub may lead to damage to the bathtub, in particular the drain outlet if careful handling is not adhered to or in the event of accidental dropping of the bathtub. Injury to the installer is possible due to mishandling or loss of balance whilst turning or restoring the orientation of the bathtub.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a drain connector configured to be installed with a sanitary appliance from bottom-up, wherein the drain connector comprises:
a first hollow body connectable at a first end to an inlet end of a waste conduit;
a second hollow body received at least partially within the first hollow body, wherein the second hollow body can extend and retract relative to the first hollow body via a second end of the first hollow body;
at least one sealing element defining an interference and active sealing fit between the first hollow body and the second hollow body;
wherein the second hollow body is configured to slide relative to the first hollow body thereby extending the height of the drain connector and thereby facilitating connection of an exposed end of the second hollow body to an outlet of the sanitary appliance, wherein the end of the second hollow body is retrievable and extendable from the first hollow body via the outlet of the sanitary appliance.
Bottom-up installation relates to the assembly of the first and second hollow connectors being installed beneath a sanitary appliance, for example a bathtub and the installation being completed by retrieving the end of the second hollow connector and pulling upwards from (from bottom) to connect with the outlet of the sanitary appliance.
The first hollow body may comprise an internally stepped tubular body, wherein a first, step acts as a stop for the second hollow body and a second step supports the at least one sealing element.
The first hollow body may comprise an annular closure member at one end wherein the closure member and the second step contain the at least one sealing element therebetween.
The at least one sealing element may comprise a fin seal including a flexible element having a free end and being anchored at one end to an annular body, wherein the free end can be displaced and deformed by action of the second hollow member relative to the first hollow member thereby creating and maintaining an active seal between the first hollow member and the second hollow member.
An open end of the first hollow body may facilitate docking the drain connector to an inlet end of a waste conduit.
The sealing element may comprise two flexible elements. Alternatively, the sealing element may comprise two or more fin seals. An annular spacer may be sandwiched between each fin seal.
The second hollow member may comprise an elongated tubular body, including an annular connector at the exposed end.
The annular connector may include a recessed upper rim which is configured to receive a sealing member, for example an O-ring.
The O-ring is operable to ensure sealing contact between the second hollow member and the exterior surface of the installed sanitary appliance, for example a bathtub.
The drain connector may further comprise an extraction tool configured for attachment to the exposed end of the second hallow member thereby aiding extraction or retraction of the second hollow member relative to the first hollow member.
The second hollow member and the extraction tool may each comprise complementary fasteners to facilitate connection of the second hollow member to the extraction tool, such that the second hollow ember and the extraction tool move as a unit relative to the first hollow body.
The second hollow member may comprise at least two radially projecting lugs and the extraction tool may comprise at least two L-shaped slots, wherein each L-shaped slot includes an open leg and a closed leg wherein each lug can be locate into a mouth of the open leg, inserted into the open leg until the lug aligns with a mouth of the closed leg rotates along the closed leg to lock the lug against a closed end of the closed leg.
The drain connector may further comprise a drain key, which facilitates securing a drain flange to the exposed end of the second hollow member. The drain key may be defined by a hollow sleeve configured to be received over at least part of the extraction tool.
The extraction tool may comprise at least a portion of the tool body having an external cross-sectional dimension smaller than an internal cross-sectional dimension of the drain key such that the drain key can be received over the portion of the extraction tool body.
An exposed end of the extraction tool may include a textured surface, which facilitates gripping and holding the extraction tool during installation and removal.
An external surface of the drain key may be profiled to correspond with a profile of an internal surface of a drain flange such that during installation the corresponding surfaces of the drain key and the drain flange engage and rotate as a unit relative to the extraction tool.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a bottom-up method of installing a sanitary appliance, the method comprises the steps:
The method may comprise a step of inserting an extraction tool via the waste outlet of the sanitary appliance and connecting the extraction tool to the exposed end of the extractable hollow body, wherein connecting the extraction tool to the exposed end of the extractable hollow body precedes and facilitates the step of extracting at least part of the extractable hollow connector via the waste outlet of the sanitary appliance.
The method may further comprise inserting a drain key and connecting the drain key to the drain flange and rotating the drain key and the drain flange as a unit relative to exposed end of the extractable hollow member thereby connecting and securing the drain flange and the extractable hollow member about the outlet of the sanitary appliance.
The method may further comprise removal of the extraction tool.
The method may further comprise removal of the drain key.
The method may further comprise removal of the drain key and the extraction tool as a unit. The relative dimensions of the extraction tool and the drain key may be such that extraction as a unit is possible following installation of the sanitary appliance.
The bottom-up installation technique reduces the occurrence of leaks during installation because the installation and manufacturing steps are reduced compared with known installation processes.
The bottom-up installation method facilitates installing and connecting the drain connector as a single unit to a trap or waste pipe located beneath the sanitary appliance, e.g. a bathtub.
Embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the illustrated example, the drain connector 10 includes an assembly of a main body 12 and a hollow stalk member 14, where the hollow stalk member 14 telescopically extends from and retracts into the main body 12, as indicated by arrow 15.
In use, the main body 12 facilitates docking the drain connector 10 to a subfloor waste pipe system 16. For example, the main body 12 connects to a trap 16a (as illustrated) or directly to a waste pipe beneath the floor on which the bathtub 100, or other sanitary appliance, is to be installed.
A box trap 16a is illustrated. However, it will be appreciated other traps, for example P-trap, Strap etc. may be used. In the illustrated example, the trap 16a includes a waste outlet 16b and an outlet 16c connected to an external and concealed overflow system 16d. The trap 16a and the concealed overflow system 16d are included for illustrative purposes only.
Referring to
In the illustrated example, the stepped tubular body 22 includes a threaded open end 30, which facilitates docking the main body 12 to the trap 16a (see
In the illustrated example, two steps 32, 34 are included on the inside surface of the tubular body 22. The first, lower, step 32 acts as a stop for the hollow stalk member 14, which is described further below with reference to
The second, upper, step 34 and the annular cap 28 act to retain the fin seals 24 and spacer washer(s) 26 therebetween and within an upper section 36 of the tubular body 22.
In the illustrated example, the upper section 36 of the tubular body 22 is configured to contain two annular fin seals 24 and a spacer washer 26, which is sandwiched between the two fin seals 24. The spacer washer 26 accommodates flexing and adjustment of the fin seals 24 during installation and dismantling.
The fin seals 24 each contain an annular body 38 having an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the mid-section 40 of the tubular body 22.
The fin seals 24 also include an annular fin 42, which provides an active sealing member. The annular fin 42 is defined by a flexible element which is anchored at one end to the annular body 38 and is free at the opposite end i.e. the free end 43 can be displaced and deformed. The free end 43 of the flexible element protrudes radially inwards such that upon insertion of the hollow stalk member 14 the free end 43 is displaced radially outwards, whilst maintaining contact with the hollow stalk member 14.
The flexible element (annular fin) includes resilience, and acts as an active seal, such that upon insertion of the hollow stalk member 14 an interference fit and active seal is created and maintained between the main body 12 and the hollow stalk member 14.
The resilience and deformability of the flexible element/annular fin 42 ensures that an interference fit is maintained whilst the hollow stalk member 14 is extended or retracted relative to the main body 12 and whilst the hollow stalk member 14 is stationary i.e. in the installed position. This arrangement ensures that a watertight connection is established and maintained between the main body 12 and the hollow stalk member 14.
The mid-section 36 of the main body 12 is an elongated hollow section, which houses a lower portion of the hollow stalk member 14 (
In the illustrated example (see
The body of the annular connector 52 includes an internal thread 54 which engages with a complementary external thread provided on a drain flange 56 (see
The hollow stalk member 14 includes two engaging lugs 57 extending radially inwards. The engaging lugs 57 are configured to engage with the keyed tool 18 (see
Referring to
The “locate, insert, locate and turn” arrangement includes locating/aligning the lug 57 into the mouth of the open leg 60, inserting the lug 57 into the open leg until the lug 57 is aligned/located with the mouth of the closed leg 62 and turning the keyed tool 18 such that the lug 57 locks against the closed end 64 of the closed leg 62.
In the illustrated example, the keyed tool 18 includes an external stepped profile, wherein an upper section 70 of the tool 18 has a smaller diameter than a lower, engaging, section 72 of the keyed tool 18.
The upper section 70 includes a textured/fluted surface 73, which facilitates gripping of the keyed tool 18 during installation and removal of the keyed tool 18 after installation.
A drain key 20 is illustrated in
In the illustrated example, the drain key 20 is a hollow sleeve, having an internal diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the upper section 70 of the keyed tool 18. The relative dimensions of the drain key 20 and the keyed tool 18 are such that the drain key 20 can be received over the upper section 70 of the keyed tool 18.
The upper section 70 of the keyed tool 18 facilitates gripping and holding the hollow stalk member 14 against the exterior surface of the bath tub, whilst the drain key 20 is rotated relative to the upper section 70 of the keyed tool 18 to engage and tighten the drain flange 56 and the hollow stalk member 14.
In the illustrated example, the external circumference of the drain key 20 is fluted to correspond with a fluted internal circumference of the drain flange 56 such that during installation the corresponding surfaces of the drain key 20 and the drain flange 56 engage and rotate as a unit relative to the upper section 70 of the keyed tool 18.
Rotation of the drain key 20 relative to the upper section 70 of the keyed tool 18 connects and secures the drain flange 56 to the internal thread 54 provided at the upper end of the hollow stalk member 14.
It will be appreciated, that securing the drain flange 56 to the threaded end 54 of the hollow stalk member 14 compresses and sandwiches the seal 17 against the exterior surface of the bathtub and the recessed upper rim 53 to provide a watertight seal at the outlet of the bathtub.
Installation of a bathtub using the drain connector 10 described above uses a bottom-up assembly technique. However, current installation processes use a top-down installation process. The top-down installation process typically involves upturning the bathtub and attaching a hollow stalk member element to the outlet of the bathtub and a drain flange. Once the drain flange and hollow stalk element are secured the bathtub is restored to its upright position, whilst aligning the hollow stalk element with a drain shoe, pipe, trap or adapter in the floor below the bathtub.
The method of installing a sanitary appliance, in particular a freestanding bathtub, using the drain connector 10 and the keyed tool 18 described above, with reference to
The bottom-up installation technique requires installing and connecting the drain connector 10 as a single unit to a trap 16a or waste pipe located beneath the bathtub, in the location the bathtub is to be installed. Installation of the drain connector 10 is typically via a void or a hole in the floor.
Subsequently, the bathtub is positioned such that the drain connector 10 and the outlet of the bathtub are aligned to allow insertion of the keyed tool.
The keyed tool 18 can be provided as part of the drain connector 10 and removed after installation or the keyed tool can be inserted after the bathtub is aligned with the drain connector 10 for installation.
As noted above the keyed tool 18 is connected to the hallow stalk member 14 by “locating, inserting, locating and turning” the keyed tool 18 relative to the lugs 57 in the hollow stalk member 14.
Once the keyed tool 18 and the hollow stalk member 14 are locked together the keyed tool 18 is used to raise/extract part of the hollow stalk member 14 relative to the main body 12. The hollow stalk member 14 is raised until the open/free end of the upper section of the hollow stalk member 14 engages with the underside of the bathtub. At this point the drain flange 56 is applied from the internal side of the outlet of the bathtub to engage and secure the seal 17 between the bathtub and the rim 53 at the upper section of the hollow stalk member 14.
A drain key 20 as described can be used to install the drain flange 56. As described above using the drain key 20 facilitates rotation of the drain flange 56 as a single unit to simply and efficiently connect the drain connector 10 to a bathtub with minimal effort.
It will be appreciated that removal of the bathtub utilises a reverse process to the method described above. To remove the bathtub, for example for maintenance, replacement or for inspection of the sub floor waste drain system, the keyed tool 18 is inserted through the drain outlet of the bathtub and is locked to the hollow stalk member 14 by “locating, inserting, locating and turning” the keyed tool 18 relative to the lugs 57 in the hollow stalk member 14.
Once locked together, the hollow stalk member 14 is rotatable to detach it from the drain flange 56. The drain key 20 (if required) can be inserted and connected with the drain flange 56 to allow rotation of the drain flange 56 relative to the hollow stalk member 14 to detach the hollow stalk member 14 from the drain outlet. This simple reverse process allows for easy dismantling and removal of the bathtub.
Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1804150.9 | Mar 2018 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2019/050667 | 3/11/2019 | WO | 00 |
