AU2007202401A1 - A water saving sink pipe plug - Google Patents

Description

25/05 2007 FRI 14:41 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0016/028 Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED APPLICATION NO Fix-A-Tap Australia Pty Limited (ACN 001 011 534) Andrew Robertson Peter Maxwell and Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 A WATER SAVING SINK PIPE PLUG Nil The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:m:\docs\20071017\121044.doc COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25 25/05 2007 FRI 14:41 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0171o28 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water saving sink pipe plug and to a method to prevent overflow of a sink being filled with water by the use of such a pipe plug. In particular, the present invention relates to a water saving sink pipe plug that can both seal a sink drain outlet against escape of water as the sink is being filled and can ensure that when the water level in the sink has reached a height dangerously close to overflowing the sink it first spills into the pipe plug and then falls through a bore thereof and through the drain outlet of the sink.

Although the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to use in sinks, and particularly laundry tubs, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto but has wider application both domestically and industrially. In a domestic setting, for example, the water saving sink pipe plug may be used in a combination shower and bath.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Water saving measures are becoming more widespread as the drought and other climatic changes associated with global warming and depletion of the ozone layer take hold. Much can be done in a domestic household to avoid wastage of water, and among these measures are the recycling of grey water used for cleaning purposes in kitchen sinks, laundry tubs, baths and showers.

It has become increasingly popular to prevent such grey water flowing through the drain outlets by closing the drain outlets and collecting the water for subsequent collection and distribution onto the garden or lawn. in some occasions, people choose to stand inside large buckets whilst they are showering until the grey water fills the bucket to overflowing and they either terminate the shower or continue with or without another bucket to fill. This is a rather haphazard approach to water recycling and requires a great deal of effort 25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25 25/05 2007 FRI 14.42 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0018/028 3 G on the part of the person concerned. Similarly, the recycling of grey water used i in kitchen sinks and laundry tubs relies on the person being present to ensure that the water does not overflow whilst the sink or tub is being filled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the shortcomings of the aforementioned prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

r According to the present invention there is provided a water saving sink pipe plug comprising pipe means having opposed first and second open ends, the first open end being adapted to sealingly engage around a drain outlet of a sink so as to prevent water egress through the outlet as the sink is being filled with water, the second open end being a sufficient distance from the first open end when in use so that water filling the sink will flow into the second open end and then down through the drain outlet rather than overflow the sink.

Preferably, the water saving sink pipe plug includes a straining means disposed across the first open end for retaining particulate material in the water flowing therethrough.

It is preferred that the straining means is a grate for straining lint from the water.

In a preferred form, the pipe means comprises a plastic pipe and a rubber skirt secured to a base portion of the pipe.

The rubber skirt preferably annularly surrounds the base portion of the plastic pipe to define the first open end of the pipe means.

It is also preferred that the rubber skirt has a collar part within which the base portion of the plastic pipe is engaged, and an annular flange part adapted to seat on an annular surface portion of the sink surrounding the drain outlet.

25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25 25/05 2007 FRI 14!42 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0o9/o28 4 SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a partly sectional side view of a water saving sink pipe plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the water saving sink pipe plug shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side view of the water saving sink pipe plug shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in use in a laundry tub; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are side views showing a sequence of events in the course of using the water saving sink pipe plug of Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a combination shower and bath in which a person (only partly shown) is using the water saving sink pipe plug of Figs. 1 and 2 to save grey water during the course of a shower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The water saving sink pipe plug 10 shown in the Figures has pipe means with opposed first and second open ends. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pipe means is in the form of a plastic pipe 12 and a rubber skirt 14 which is secured, say, by adhesive around a base portion 16 of the pipe 12.

The first open end is defined by the base portion 16 and the rubber skirt 14 which annularly surrounds the base portion.

The rubber skirt 14 has a collar part 18 within which the base portion 16 of the plastic pipe 12 is engaged. The rubber skirt 14 also has an annular flange part 19 adapted to seat on an annular surface portion of a sink surrounding a drain outlet. There is also a depending portion 20 of the rubber skirt which is adapted to engage at least partly within the drain outlet. As a result, the first open end is adapted to sealingly engage around the drain outlet 25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25 25/05 2007 FRI 14,43 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0020/028 so as to prevent water egress through the outlet as the sink is being filled with water.

The second open end of the pipe means is a sufficient distance from the first open end when in use so that water filling the sink will flow into the second open end and then down through the outlet rather than overflow the sink. The second open end is defined by a top portion 22 of the plastic pipe 12 and at least one hole 24 formed through the wall of that end.

There is also shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a straining means in the form of a grate 26 for straining lint and the like from the water flowing down through the outlet.

The grate 26 is built into the base portion 16 of the plastic pipe 12.

There is a small inner taper 27 in the mouth of the collar part 18 (of about 150) to allow lead in of the plastic pipe 12 into the collar part during manufacture and assembly of the water saving sink pipe plug The rubber skirt 14 hasa stabilising effect as the flange part 19 extends outwardly from the sides of the base portion and provides a wider foot print for the water saving sink pipe plug on the annular surface portion of the sink surrounding the drain outlet. The flange part 19 also directs water away from the base portion of the plastic pipe until the skirt has been completely submerged in water.

There is a small annular hooked portion 28 extending outwardly from a rim of the base portion of the plastic pipe. The hooked portion 28 engages a similarly shaped portion of the skirt to prevent dislodgement of the plastic pipe 12 from the rubber skirt 14.

Fig. 3 shows the water saving sink pipe plug 10 installed on a drain outlet 30 of a sink 32 ready for use.

25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25 25/05 2007 FRI 14:43 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0021/028 6 Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the water saving sink pipe plug 10 in use as the sink 32 is being filled with water 34 and as the water rises to a height where it will flow into the second open end. Upon reaching that height, the water level will no longer continue to rise and so overflow of the sink will be prevented.

The water contained in the sink may be collected and distributed into the garden or lawn with the aid of, say, a bucket or other liquid conveyance.

Fig. 7 shows the water saving sink pipe plug 10 in use in a combination shower and bath 36. The person using the shower need no longer stand in a bucket for collection of grey water therein but may freely shower alongside the water saving sink pipe plug as the level of water rises. Upon completion of the shower, the person may scoop out the collected water 34 from the shower and distribute it to the garden and lawn.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25

Claims (9)

1. A water saving sink pipe plug comprising pipe means having opposed first and second open ends, the first open end being adapted to sealingly engage around a drain outlet of a sink so as to prevent water egress through the outlet as the sink is being filled with water, the second open end being a sufficient distance from the first open end when in use so that water filling the sink will flow into the second open end and then down through the drain outlet rather than overflow the sink.

2. The water saving sink pipe plug of claim 1 and further including a straining means disposed across the first open end for retaining particulate material in the water flowing therethrough.

3. The water saving sink pipe plug of claim 2 wherein the straining means is a grate for straining lint from the water.

4. The water saving sink pipe plug of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the pipe means comprises a plastic pipe and a rubber skirt secured to a base portion of the pipe.

The water saving sink pipe plug of claim 4 wherein the rubber skirt annularly surrounds the base portion of the plastic pipe to define the first open end of the pipe means.

6. The water saving sink pipe plug of claim 5 wherein the rubber skirt has a collar part within which the base portion of the plastic pipe is engaged, and an 25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25 25/05 2007 FRI 14:44 FAX 61 2 9247 9945 Peter Maxwell Assoc. 0023/028 8 annular flange part adapted to seat on an annular surface portion of the sink surrounding the drain outlet.

7. The water saving sink pipe plug of claim 6 and further including a depending portion of the rubber skirt which is adapted to engage at least partly within the drain outlet.

8. A water saving sink pipe plug substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method to prevent overflow of a sink being filled with water, comprising:- providing a water saving sink pipe plug according to any one of claims 1 to 8, sealingly engaging the first open end of the pipe plug around a drain outlet of the sink, and running water into the sink and allowing the sink to so fill with water that it will flow into the second open end of the pipe plug and then down through the drain outlet rather than overflow the sink. A method to prevent overflow of a sink being filled with water, said method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 25 day of May 2007 Fix-A-Tap Australia Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicants PETER MAXWELL AND ASSOCIATES 25/05/07 COMS ID No: SBMI-07526082 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2007-05-25