Patent Application
20090007322
The invention to which this application relates is to apparatus which allows the movement of a closure means, typically one having a waste trap, of the type used in conjunction with the drain hole and drainpipe in a sink or bath or similar item, (hereinafter referred to as sinks in a non limiting manner). In particular, the apparatus is provided to allow the automated or driven movement of the waste trap between open and closed positions.
Sinks are typically provided with a cavity for the collection of liquid such as water and/or detergents therein, so as to perform washing or rinsing actions in the body of liquid which is collected. The sinks are provided with a base in which at least one drain hole is provided, said drain hole leading to a drain pipe and, in turn, a waste collection system and through said drain hole, water can flow when the drain hole is open.
In order to allow the liquid to be collected in the sink, a closure means is provided which can be moved between an open and closed position.
The closure means typically includes a sealing member and in one embodiment, may also include a device known as a waste trap, which has a base portion and a peripheral lip, which is typically upstanding from the base portion so as to form a collecting “basket”. The base and lip include a series of apertures of a size which allow liquid to flow therethrough but prevent larger particles, such as debris which can be carried in the liquid, from passing into the drain hole. This trap can be selectively removed from the drain hole to a location for discarding debris which may have been collected in the waste trap.
Typically, the closure means is moved between a raised, open position, and a lowered, closed position in which the sealing portion on the closure means seals with the drain hole, to close the same and substantially prevent the flow of liquid into the drain hole from the sink. In this position, the body of liquid can be collected in the sink. To allow drainage of the sink, the closure means can be moved vertically to the raised open position with the movement substantially along the longitudinal central axis of the drain hole in which the closure means is fitted. This therefore allows liquid to flow into the drainpipe and, if a waste trap is provided, for the debris to be collected in the waste trap without entering the drainpipe.
The movement of the closure means is conventionally achieved by the user gripping a portion of the closure means at the top face thereof, and either pulling the closure means upwardly or pushing the same downwardly to move the same between the respective open and closed positions.
The problem with this form of device is that the user is required to place their hands into the liquid to operate the closure means and, particularly if the body of liquid has been used for washing up purposes, this may be a relatively unpleasant experience for the user due to the debris and grease which may be present in the body of liquid.
An alternative known means of operating a plug or closure means is to provide a mechanical movement assembly which includes at least one elongate member which, at one end, contacts with the closure means to cause movement of the same between open and closed positions, and, at the other end, there is provided an exposed portion, said portion exposed outwith the body of liquid on the sink which can be gripped and moved by the user so as to cause movement of the assembly and hence movement of the closure means. However, it is found that this mechanical movement assembly is prone to malfunction which may cause the closure means to be difficult to move to the open position and/or also to not provide a sufficient seal when in the closed position.
These conventional systems can be difficult to operate for elderly or infirm persons, particularly those who may suffer from arthritis or the like. Similarly the mechanical assembly may also be difficult to operate by people whose hands are greasy or covered in soap.
It is also known to provide electrically powered closure systems, but these systems typically require relatively complex and expensive apparatus to be used which therefore makes them suitable primarily for industrial purposes rather than domestic uses and furthermore, it is often found that insufficient power or movement force can be created in the conventional systems to allow the closure means to be moved to the open position against the weight of the body of liquid. Furthermore, even when opened, the force of the drainage and/or weight of liquid, may cause the closure means to return to the closed position and hence prevent drainage of liquid until the user is forced to place their hands into the body of liquid and manually move the closure means.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved powered movement system which allows the powered movement of a closure means with respect to a drain hole between an open, drainage position, and a closed, liquid collection position.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure system for a sink, bath or similar device in which a body of liquid can be selectively collected, said closure system located with respect to a drain hole in the sink, bath or similar device, and includes a closure means mounted with respect to the drain hole so as to be movable between a closed position in which the closure means substantially prevents the passage of liquid through the drain hole, and an open position in which the closure means is moved upwardly to allow the passage of liquid through the drain hole wherein the system includes a movement assembly including a selectively operated movement means, control means selectively actuable by a user and, when said control means are actuated, said movement means is powered to act on at least one member, which in turn is in contact with the closure means, to move the closure means in a first direction to a closed position or in an opposing direction to the open position.
In one embodiment the member is rotated by the powered movement means when actuated. Typically the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the axis along which the closure means is moved.
In one embodiment the member contacts with the closure means via a lever arm which may include a cam surface which contacts with the closure means.
In this embodiment the provision of the movement means in the form of a motor is preferred.
In one embodiment of the invention the member is in contact with a pivot arm on one side of a pivot axis and the pivot arm is in contact with the closure means on the other side of the pivot.
In one embodiment, the said member is provided as part of a solenoid and is caused to move by the selective provision of electrical power to the solenoid by user actuation of the control means.
In one embodiment the solenoid is moved in a first direction in response to the receipt of power in a first polarity, and is movable in a second direction in response to the receipt of power in a reverse polarity.
Typically the solenoid includes a shaft which is connected to drive and move a member of the closure means thereby moving the closure means between the open and closed positions.
In one embodiment the shaft of the solenoid is connected to rotate a rotatable member on which an arm is provided to contact the member of the control means.
In one embodiment the solenoid is located in a housing which is sealed from water ingress. Typically the rotatable member passes from the said housing along a channel, to depend into the drainage passage leading from the sink or bath. Typically one or more sealing members is provided on the rotatable member and/or the channel to allow the seal between the housing and the drainage passage to be achieved.
In one embodiment, the solenoid is of a double latch type which means that the member, when in a lowered position, is locked in that position until electrical power is supplied to the same and, when in a raised position, is locked in that position until electrical power is provided.
The latching of the member in the open and closed positions, ensures that the closure means, especially in the open condition, can be maintained in that condition as the member connected thereto is maintained in the raised position.
Typically, the movement of the member is along an axis which is substantially parallel with the axis of movement of the closure means.
Typically, the axis of movement of the member is offset to one side of the axis of movement of the closure means, with said offset distance, spanned by the pivot arm.
In one embodiment, the pivot arm, at the area of location with the closure means, is curved so as to ensure reliable contact with the closure means during movement of the closure means between open and closed positions.
In one embodiment, the member passes through an aperture in a seal which is located over the chamber in which the solenoid is located, so as to prevent the ingress of liquid into the chamber.
In one embodiment, the seal is provided to have a resilience such as to act as a diaphragm in conjunction with movement of the member and preferably is provided such as to bias the member to a raised position when the member has been moved to that position. In one embodiment, a resilient means, typically in the form of a spring may be provided to encourage the retention of the member in said raised position.
Typically, when the member is in the raised position, the closure means is in a closed sealing position and when the member is in a lowered position, the closure means is in an open drainage position.
In one embodiment, at least one aperture is provided into a channel in which the pivotal member is located so as to allow any debris which may collect in said channel, to be removed.
Preferably, at least the bottom face of this chamber is sloped so as to encourage the flow of fluid back into the main drainpipe to which the said channel is connected at one end.
Preferably, the closure system is provided in connection with a length of drainpipe, which is preferably of a standard length and having conventional fittings so as to allow the closure system to be fitted as a replacement part to a conventional drainpipe for a sink and if the sink is new, to allow the closure system to be fitted using conventional fittings and not requiring any additional expertise or equipment.
Typically, the control means for the control system, are one or more switches, which, in a preferred embodiment, are located on an external face of the sink, or adjacent work surface, but removed from the body of liquid so as to allow the same to be operated by the user, without the need to place their hands into the liquid.
Typically the switches are connected via appropriate wiring or alternatively, a remote control system may be used.
In one embodiment, the movement means requires a 12 volt power supply which may be provided from the mains supply via a transformer or alternatively, via a battery pack which may be located at a suitable location and connected to provide the required power to the movement means upon user actuation of the operation means.
In one embodiment power is only supplied to the movement means when a user has actuated the control system in order to open or close the closure means. Once the closure means has reached the desired position the power supply is stopped.
This therefore means that electrical power is only required to be provided to move the member between the open and closed positions but once in said positions, no power is required to be provided.
In one embodiment, the closure means comprises a body, a downwardly depending portion with which the pivotal member contacts, the length of said portion being adjustable to ensure that the appropriate contact is achieved, and maintained, during movement of the closure means between the open and closed positions. The body also includes, typically, a sealing means which is located so as to contact with the drain hole so as to seal the same when the closure means is in a closed position.
In a preferred embodiment, the closure means incorporates a waste trap, said waste trap movable with the closure means between the open and closed positions.
In one embodiment, the closure means may also comprise a cover or canopy portion which is located at the top of the closure means. In one embodiment the canopy or cover is provided to be movable with the closure means. Alternatively, the canopy or cover is mounted independently of the closure means and may be provided in a fixed position so as not to be influenced by the movement of the closure means.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly for use with a bath or sink to allow the drainage of liquid therefrom via a drainage opening to be controlled, said assembly movable between a drainage position in which liquid can drain through the opening and a closed position in which the opening is substantially sealed to prevent liquid passing therethrough, said assembly including, or acted upon by, a movement means, to move the assembly between said positions in response to at least one control signal generated at a location remote from the assembly.
Typically the movement means are powered and the control signal is generated by user operation of a control means mounted on, or linked to, the bath or sink by cable or wireless means. Typically the movement of the assembly between positions requires no further user intervention.
Typically the movement means can be provided with standard attachment means to allow the same to be fitted as an integral part of the drainage passage and, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, can be located in storage space underneath the sink or bath without using up significant amounts of said space.
In one embodiment the control signal is generated by a person interacting with a switch device. In one embodiment the switch is provided with a device to prevent repeated operation of the same with a given time period. This is in order to prevent repeated operation of the switch causing the failure of the solenoid. In one embodiment a visual indication is generated to indicate to the user when the switch can and cannot be used.
In one embodiment power to the movement means is provided via one or more batteries or mains power connection connected to the closure means and control means. The supply of the power to the movement means is typically only provided when appropriate actuation of the control means by the user is performed. Typically processing means are provided to allow the control of the power supply to the movement means.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a closure system for a drain hole of a sink or bath, said closure system including closure means moveable between a closed sealing position, and an open drainage position, and movement means selectively operable in response to user actuation of control means wherein said movement of the closure means between said open and closed positions occurs automatically upon appropriate user actuation of the control means.
In one embodiment, the closure means are moved between positions without user contact therewith.
In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of opening and closing a closure means for a drain hole of a sink or bath, said method comprising placing the closure means in the drain hole, operating control means to cause movement means, and hence the closure means in contact therewith, to be in either of an open drainage or closed sealing position and wherein subsequent movement of the closure means between said positions is achieved by user operation of the control means which causes movement of the movement means and automatic movement of the closure means.
There is therefore provided, in accordance with the invention, a closure means and operating assembly therefor, which allows the closure means to be moved successfully between open and closed positions, and to be retained therein in a successful manner and to do so using an operating assembly which can be fitted to existing or new drainage assemblies of sinks.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:—
a-b illustrate the apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in an assembled condition, in position in a sink shown in cross section; and
a-c illustrate the movement means of the apparatus.
Referring firstly to
The operation of the apparatus will now be described with reference to
The closure means 12 comprises, in this embodiment, a waste trap 16 and a seal 18 mounted on a body 20. The waste trap and seal are provided, in the closed position, so that liquid which pours into the sink cavity 8, is collected therein and, in an open position, water can drain into the drainpipe, through apertures 21 in the trap and around the gap 23 between the trap and the drain hole 4 and the sealing means 18. The gap and apertures are of a size so as to prevent larger items of debris from passing into the drainpipe and said items of debris are collected in the waste trap 16 and the waste trap can subsequently be removed to allow debris to be discarded.
The closure means further comprises a downwardly depending portion or member 22 which depends downwardly from the body into the drainpipe 6. At the free end of this portion, there is provided contact with an end 24 of a pivot arm 26 of the movement means. The pivot arm can be pivoted around axis 28 and is positioned to lie substantially centrally of a channel 30. The channel 30 is part of the assembly which is connected to the drainpipe and the channel depends to one side of the drainpipe 6. At the opposing end 32 of the pivotal arm, the same is connected to an end of member 34. This member is provided as part of a movement means which in this embodiment are in the form of a solenoid 36 and is movable in the direction of arrows 38, 39. The solenoid is in turn connected to the power supply and/or operating means. The member passes through an aperture 40 in a seal 42 so as to prevent the ingress of liquid into the chamber in which the solenoid is provided.
The channel also includes an access opening 44 which is normally closed but which may be opened by removing the cap to allow any debris which collects in the channel 30 to be removed. Furthermore, the lower surface 46 of the channel 30 is sloped downwardly in the direction of the drainpipe so as to encourage liquid to flow back into the drainpipe and hence prevent the collection of liquid in the channel. The assembly is connected to the drainpipe via standard fittings and therefore can be fitted as part of a normal fitting operation.
In
In both the open and closed positions, the member 34 of the solenoid 36, is latched or locked in position and hence the closure means is latched or locked in position.
This therefore prevents unexpected or unwanted movement of the closure means 12 between the positions and which is especially important when the closure means is in an open position so as to ensure that the required drainage of the body of liquid can occur. When the solenoid member 34 is in its lowest position, the latching can be achieved via magnets provided in the solenoid and, when the member is in its raised position, the latching can be achieved via the resilience of the seal 42 and, if required, the resilience of a biasing means in the form of a spring 48.
In order to move the closure means 12 between the open and closed positions, the user will press a button or switch of the control means. This causes the provision of power to the solenoid 36 which in turn causes the movement of the member 34 of the solenoid from its raised position to its lowered position or vice versa. Once the member 34 is detected as having moved from one position to the other, the power supply is shut off and the member is located in the new position. It should therefore be appreciated that power is only required to be provided during the movement of the member and not to maintain the member at one of the raised or lowered positions. This therefore reduces the power supply requirements.
Furthermore, it is found that as the movement of the member 34 is in parallel with the movement of the closure means 12, then the power which is required to move the closure means via the pivot arm 26 is significantly reduced with respect to the more complex conventional systems. The movement of the member 34 is transferred via the pivot arm 26 to the closure means 12 effectively and efficiently and therefore provides for the powered movement of the closure means upon the user actuation of the operation.
Turning now to the
The free end 124 of the member 118 and/or the base of the cylinder 120 and/or underside of the sealing means 122 are provided to contact with an arm 126 via a cam surface 128. The arm is mounted on a member 130 which in turn is mounted on the shaft of the motor so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis 132 and hence rotate the arm 126. The arm 126 and forward part 134 of the member 130 are located within the drainpipe passage 136 so as to lie in contact with the closure means. The member 130 passes through an aperture 138 in the drainpipe which will typically be provided with sealing means to prevent the seepage of liquid from the drainpipe towards the motor 116.
Thus in use, the member 130 and arm 126 are rotatable between a first position in which the closure means 106 is in a lowered closed position, and a second position in which the closure means is moved to a raised open position. Typically the member and lever arm are held in one of the two positions until power is supplied to the motor 116 from the control means which will cause the motor to rotate the member 130 and arm 126 to move the same to the other of the two positions. Typically the rotation is in forward or reverse directions so as to move the same between the two positions.
Referring now to
The apparatus includes a closure means 204 for a drainage opening 206 leading to a drainage passage from the sink. The closure means, although only partially shown is largely of a conventional form and includes a waste collecting means 210 mounted on an elongate shaft 212 which is provided of a length so as to depend down into the drainage passage for reasons that will be described subsequently. Underneath the waste collecting means 210 there is provided a sealing means which when the assembly is in the closed position, seals the opening 206 to prevent liquid leading into the drainage passage 208.
The closure means is capable of being moved between a closed position, in which the same is shown and a raised, drainage position in which the same is moved upwardly as indicated by arrow 214. This removes the sealing means from the opening and allows any liquid in the sink to drain into the passage 208. In this position the waste collecting means 210 acts to allow liquid to pass therethrough but traps solids or debris and prevents the same from entering the drainage passage. The specific design of the waste collecting means can be dependent upon the use of the same, for example a waste collecting means for use in a sink, may be of a slightly different design to that used for a bath due to the different forms of debris which are being collected in each.
In accordance with this invention the movement is achieved by the use of a movement assembly 216 located within housing 218 and connected to the drainage passage 208 underneath the opening. The housing is offset to the passage 208 and sealed from the same. Also provided is a connection (not shown) to at least one switch 220 which is user actuable and is located, in this instance on the top surface of the sink in one of the apertures formed for selective location of a tap. However the switch can be located at any suitable location so as to aid user activation and/or design requirements. It should be appreciated that the switch arrangement shown can be used with any of the embodiments of the invention.
The switch 220 is operable by a person to cause the movement of the assembly between the raised drainage and closed sealing positions in a manner that will be described subsequently.
Turning now to the
The arm 228 is provided to contact with the free end 230 of the shaft 212 of the assembly so as to provide the movement force on the same and hence allow the movement of the closure means between drainage and sealing positions as previously described.
The solenoid and part of the rotatable member are located within the housing and sealed from the drainage passage via sealing rings 232 which locate with the inner walls of the tight fitting channel through which the same passes into the drainage passage to thereby seal the housing from liquid ingress.
Operation of the apparatus of any of the embodiments described can be achieved in the following manner with regard to the switch and movement of the closure means in the sink or bath.
Thus, in a preferred method of operation when the user touches/presses the switch unit for a period of time, such as 2 seconds, this then illuminates (the illumination will remain on for a period of time such as 4 seconds) and sends a control signal to the control unit. The control unit then transfers power from the mains supply to the movement means. If the movement means is a solenoid it may change the polarity of the supply. The movement means then moves to cause the movement assembly to move the closure means position and the power is then turned off. Typically, even if the user is still operating the switch there will be no more power supplied to the movement means once the new position has been reached. The movement means will only be able to be re-activated when the illumination of the switch turns off. This is a safety mechanism so that the movement means will not burn out from repeated frequent use.
When the user requires the movement means to be moved to the other open position they touch/press the switch unit for a period of time which illuminates (typically another colour and the illumination will remain on for a period of time), this then sends a control signal to the control means which then supplies the appropriate power from the mains supply to the movement means. The movement means then moves to cause the closure means to close and the power is then turned off. Again, typically the movement means will only be able to be re-activated when the illumination of the switch turns off.
There is therefore provided in accordance with the invention, a system for movement of a closure means in a sink, which is efficient, and is of a form which means that the same can be used in industrial and also domestic sinks.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0711902.7 | Jun 2007 | GB | national |
| 0803740.0 | Feb 2008 | GB | national |
