AU2003100068B4 - A Bath Waste Connector - Google Patents

Description

A BATH WASTE CONNECTOR TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to waste connectors of the kind commonly used to connect an outlet from a bath, basin or the like to an outlet pipe.

BACKGROUND ART A common form of waste connector known as the PLUMBDINGER has been established as a market leader facilitating fast and simple waste connections in slab-in-ground constructions. The product is described in the specification for Australian patent no. 533841.

Once the positioning of the PLUMBDINGER is determined, inlet holes are cut in the top wall of the device to the required offset and connections are made to the bath or basin outlet and in-slab waste pipe.

Whilst the PLUMBDINGER product is widely accepted, I believe that an equivalent product which requires no cutting or measurement would also be readily accepted by the industry.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a waste connector with enhanced adaptability to various installations which requires no cutting and minimal installation time.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a waste connector having upper and lower portions defining a sealed chamber, an outlet extending from the lower portion at a position adjacent a sidewall, an inlet into the upper portion adjacent a sidewall and a rotatable joint between upper and lower portions which enables the upper and lower portions to be rotated with respect to one another to alter the relative radial positions and spacings between the inlet and outlet and wherein the inlet having an internal screw threaded portion extending into the chamber for attachment to an externally threaded fitting.

The sealed chamber is circular when viewed in plan.

The inlet is provided with an internal thread for receiving a complementary thread of a grate.

The outlet can be an elongate tube.

The sealed chamber can comprise an inlet chamber within the upper portion and an outlet chamber within the lower section and the upper and lower sections are journalled with respect to one another in a manner which allows 3600 rotation between the upper section and the lower section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: lo Figqures 1 and 2 are sectional and side views of a bath outlet and waste connector according to a first aspect of the present invention, and Figqure 2a shows detail of how upper and lower portions of the chambers engage with one another.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention has a sealed waste chamber generally indicated by arrow 1, and outlet 2 from a bottom wall of the chamber 1 and an inlet 3 into the top wall of the chamber.

The chamber is provided with upper and lower portions 4 and which are able to be rotated with respect to one another to vary the radial and distal spacings between the outlets 2 and inlets 3.

The inlet 3 is provided with an internally threaded opening 6 for accommodating an externally threaded fitting such as waste grate 7.

The chamber of the connector illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is circular when viewed in plan.

The outlet 2 is an elongate circular tube.

In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, adjacent edges of the upper and lower portions 4, 5 may have markings (not shown) to indicate radial displacement over a range of say 0-75 degrees.

Rubber washers and seals 8 and 9 respectively can be interposed between the area around the bath waste aperture 10 and a flange 11 and beneath the waste aperture and the inlet 3.

The seal 9 may have a half round sealing strip 12 which is seated in a groove 13 in a flange of the inlet 3.

There are a number of options for creating a seal between the outlet 2 and a waste pipe 14 and these may include the use of an O-ring seal seated in a groove or the use of an insert sleeve providing a groove for seating an O-ring 19 (Figure 2).

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, 2a, the upper portion 4 is journalled to the lower portion 5 by the provision of an external flange 22 on the outer wall of the upper portion and a complementary ledge 23 on the outer wall of the lower portion Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it would be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto can be made without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The grate 7 may be a standard fitting or a combined grate and plug where the plug is permanently attached to the grate and can be opened or closed by pushing down on the plug. Grate and plug combinations of this type have the advantage of denying access to the base of the grate to the fingers or toes of young children.

Claims (4)

1. A waste connector having upper and lower portions defining a sealed chamber, an outlet extending from the lower portion at a position adjacent a sidewall, an inlet into the upper portion adjacent a sidewall and a rotatable joint between upper and lower portions which enables the upper and lower portions to be rotated with respect to one another to alter the relative radial positions and spacings between the inlet and outlet, the inlet having an internal screw threaded portion extending into the chamber for attachment to an externally threaded fitting.

2. A waste connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealed chamber is circular when viewed in plan.

3. A waste connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper portion of the chamber is journalled to the lower portion of the housing by an external flange on an outer wall of the upper portion and a complementary ledge on an outer wall of the lower portion.

4. A waste connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the outlet is an elongate tube. DATED this 9 th day of January 2004 John Brem By his patent attorneys Cullen Co.