AU2010100161A4

AU2010100161A4 - Toilet Pan Connector

Info

Publication number: AU2010100161A4
Application number: AU2010100161A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sydney Hawthorne; Andrew Hobbs
Original assignee: Plastec Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Plastec Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-23
Filing date: 2010-02-18
Publication date: 2010-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-24
Also published as: AU2004202191A1; AU2003902555A0

Description

1 TOILET PAN CONNECTOR Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to a toilet pan connector for connecting a waste transfer conduit extending up through a floor in a toilet room to a toilet pan. The invention also extends to a connector assembly and a toilet assembly incorporating the toilet pan connector above. 10 Backqround to the Invention A toilet pan comprises a plastic or porcelain fitting that is mounted on the floor of a toilet room and extends upwardly there from defining a seat at its upper end. The toilet pan has an open top associated with the toilet seat and a conduit defining a 15 flow path extending downwardly from the open top through the pan and terminating in an outlet end proximate to the floor on which the toilet pan is mounted. This outlet end is connected to a waste transfer conduit which passes through the floor and is connected downstream to a collection main for transferring waste to a downstream waste treatment site. Typically this might be a septic tank or a waterborne sewerage 20 treatment plant. Typically the waste transfer conduit is embedded in a concrete slab when it is poured. An open upstream end of the waste transfer conduit generally projects upwardly out of the concrete slab. The toilet pan is only fitted much later when the house is built and is generally positioned, eg centrally, with reference to the walls etc 25 of the toilet room within which it is received. As a result the outlet end of the toilet pan may not be in perfect alignment with the upstream end of the waste transfer conduit. A toilet pan connector is needed to connect the outlet end of the toilet pan to the upstream end of the waste transfer pipe. The toilet pan connector needs to be 30 able to accommodate off-centre positioning of the outlet end of the toilet pan relative to the upstream end of the transfer conduit. It also needs to accomplish as much lateral offset within a limited vertical distance of 20 mm as possible.

Current toilet pan connectors in a certain cross-sectional plane have a side wall projecting linearly upwardly away from a pipe coupling at an angle of 30 degrees to the vertical (60 degrees to the horizontal). This cross-sectional plane is that which has the greatest deviation of the wall from the vertical. The angle of 60 degrees is set out in 5 the relevant Australian Standard. This limits the lateral offset of the connector that can be achieved within a vertical distance of 20m to 15mm. A prior art connector as illustrated in the Australian Standards is shown in Fig 1. Very often this is insufficient to position a toilet pan in a most preferred position in a bathroom or toilet room. Clearly it would be advantageous if the extent of this offset could be increased. 10 This would provide a toilet pan connector with an ability to accommodate greater offset between the upstream end of the transfer conduit and the outlet end of the toilet pan. Summary of the Invention 15 According to an aspect of this invention there is provided a toilet pipe connector for connecting a toilet pan outlet pipe to a waste transfer pipe, the toilet pipe connector including: a waste pipe coupling for coupling to an upstream end of the waste transfer 20 pipe; a toilet pan outlet pipe coupling for coupling to an outlet end of the toilet pan outlet pipe, the waste pipe coupling and the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling being arranged relative to each other so that they are axially spaced apart with their respective axes transversely offset from each other at a distance that is greater than 25 the difference between their radii; and a bridge wall that encloses a flow path extending between the waste pipe coupling and the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling. The waste pipe coupling and the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling may define a 30 proximate part of the toilet outlet pipe coupling that is received within the diameter of the waste pipe coupling and a remaining distal part of the toilet outlet pipe coupling which is outside the diameter of the waste pipe coupling. The bridge wall portion of the bridge wall may define a radial inner surface that extends between the distal part of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling and the waste pipe coupling, wherein the radial inner 35 surface of the bridge wall portion has a gradient that increases axially in a radial inwards direction from the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling to the waste pipe coupling.

La The toilet pipe connector may include a resilient cup seal that includes an annular seal inner and a circumferentially extending skirt for cap-like fitment over an end of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling, the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling being receivable sealingly within a central opening of the annular seal inner. 5 The toilet pipe connector may include an annular cap ring for fitment over the skirt and the end of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling for firmly pressing the skirt against an outside surface of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling. 10 The toilet pipe connector may include a resilient sleeve seal that is mounted about an end portion of the waste pipe coupling, the resilient sleeve seal including a plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially extending resilient ribs. The toilet pipe connector may also include at least one locating formation on an outside surface of the waste pipe coupling spaced axially inwardly from an end of the coupling, for locating 15 the waste pipe coupling at an associated depth inside the waste pipe when the waste pipe coupling is inserted into the waste pipe. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a toilet pan connector for connecting a toilet pan to a waste transfer conduit, comprising: 20 a pipe coupling for coupling to an upstream end of the waste transfer conduit; a toilet pan coupling for coupling to an outlet end of the toilet pan; an offset body having a circumferential wall enclosing a flow path extending from said pipe coupling to said pan coupling, the body having a axis of offset extending through centres of each of the pipe and the pan coupling, and wherein the wall of the 25 body passing through the axis of offset on one side is proximate the pipe coupling and on an opposed side is more remote from the pipe coupling, and wherein the wall crossing said axis on said opposed side initially extends upwardly from said pipe coupling at a first angle to a transverse axis through the body and then at least one point further up the wall extends upwardly at a second angle that is less than the first 30 angle whereby to obtain a greater lateral offset. This is in contrast to a linearly extending wall which extends upwardly from the pipe coupling to the pan coupling at the same angle the whole way. The linearly extending wall does not have a point further up the wall where it extends outwardly at a second lesser angle.

3 The opposed side of the wall crossing the offset axis ( i.e. the wall on the side of the body that emphasises the offset) may initially extend upwardly from the pipe coupling at a first angle of 50 to 70 degrees to the transverse axis through the body and/or the couplings, preferably a first angle of 55 to 65 degrees, and most preferably 5 a first angle of 58 to 62 degrees, eg about 60 degrees. This desirable as the Australian Standard specifies an initial angle of 60 degrees. The second angle (at which the wall extends outwardly further up the wall than the first angle) may be less than 50 degrees, preferably the second angle is 15 to 40 degrees. 10 The term centres of the pipe and pan coupling is used in a broad sense and does not imply that the coupling must have a circular cross-section. If the couplings have a shape other than circular then the centres will be the arithmetic mean centre position. The purpose of having the wall extending upwardly at a first angle and then 15 extending upwardly outwardly at a lesser or flatter angle is to achieve a greater lateral offset than if the wall extended linearly up from the pipe coupling at said first angle. For example preferred forms are able to achieve a lateral offset of 40 mm within a vertical distance of 20 mm. The angles are measured relative to a transverse axis through the body which in use is a horizontal axis. 20 It is important to note that the wall may extend in upwardly from the pipe to the pan couplings may be curved at least part of the distance. When the wall is curved the angle of the wall is measured by taking a tangent through the wall at this point and measuring its angle to the transverse axis or horizontal. The wall may extend up from the pipe coupling to the pan coupling with a 25 shape in the form of a concave curve and the first angle may be defined by a tangent passing through the curved wall at the point it takes away from the pipe coupling. This embodiment is referred to as the curved wall embodiment. The concave curve of said opposed side may have a radius of curvature of 40 to 62 mm, preferably a radius of curvature of 46 to 56 mm, and most preferably 49 to 30 53 mm. Instead the wall may have a first linear portion that extends up from the pipe coupling at a first angle, and a second portion that extends upwardly from an uppermost end of the first portion at a second angle that is less than the first angle.

4 Conveniently the second portion may be a linear portion just like the first portion. This embodiment is referred to as the discrete linear wall portion embodiment. The first linear portion may extend upwardly at an angle of 55 to 65 degrees to the transverse axis and the second linear portion may extend upwardly at an angle of 5 15 to 40 degrees to the transverse axis. The wall may extend upwardly from the pipe coupling to the pan coupling in a plurality of discrete wall portions arranged end to end and each of the portions may be either linear or curved. The plurality of discrete wall portions may comprise at least one linear portion 10 and at least one curved portion. The plurality of discrete wall portions may comprise at least one linear portion and at least one curved portion. The plurality of discrete wall portions may also comprise at least three portions at least two of which are linear. Further the plurality of discrete wall portions may comprise at least three portions at least one of which is a curved portion. 15 The wall may have a plurality of portions, and each portion may extend upwardly at a lesser angle to the transverse axis than the one preceding it. At the same time it should be clearly understood that this feature is not essential. For example one of the portions other than the first portion may extend upwardly at an angle of greater than 60 degrees. In particular the last portion, that is most remote 20 from the first portion, or the penultimate portion may extend upwardly from the preceding portion at more than 60 degrees to the preceding portion. Conveniently the pipe coupling has a substantially circular cross-section and the pan coupling also has a substantially circular cross section and the pipe coupling may be sized to be received within the upstream end of the pipe. 25 Similarly conveniently the toilet pan connector has a substantially circular cross-section and is sized to fit around the outlet end of the toilet pan and seal against the outside of the pan outlet. Viewed as a whole each of the pipe and pan couplings may have circular cylindrical configurations. 30 In one form the connector is moulded from a plastics material by injection moulding as a singe integral or unitary body from an engineering plastics material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or santoprine.

5 Further the offset body may have locating formations for locating the connector in position on the waste transfer conduit and the locating formations may comprise a rib or tab on the external surface of the offset body. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a toilet pan 5 connector for connecting a toilet pan to a waste transfer conduit, comprising: a pipe coupling for coupling to an upstream end of the waste transfer conduit, wherein the pipe coupling is sized and configured to be received within said upstream end of said conduit; a toilet pan coupling for coupling to an outlet end of the toilet pan; and 10 an offset body having a circumferential wall enclosing a flow path extending from said pipe coupling to said pan coupling. This is different to known arrangements for pan connectors where the pipe coupling of the connector fits around the outside of the waste transfer conduit. The pipe coupling which is received within the waste conduit is capable of a greater 15 degree of offset than if the coupling is fitted around the conduit. The pipe coupling may be sized to be received within the upper end of the waste transfer conduit with a small amount of clearance. The offset body may have locating formations for resting on the upper end of the waste transfer conduit with the pipe coupling received within the waste transfer conduit to the appropriate extent. 20 According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a toilet pan connector assembly comprising: a connector as described above in either the first or second aspects of the invention, a pan seal mounted over the pan coupling; and 25 and a pipe seal mounted over the pipe coupling. Thus the connector assembly comprises the basic connector with seals mounted over each of the couplings , ie in a form in which it is ready to install on a toilet. Said opposed side of the wall crossing said axis of offset may curve upwardly 30 outwardly from its initial point to define a concave curved surface. The connector may include any one or more of the features described above with reference to the first and second aspects of the invention.

6 The pipe seal may have one or more radially outwardly projecting sealing ribs for sealing against the inside surface of the waste transfer pipe. In a preferred form there is a plurality of said ribs spaced apart along the length of the pipe coupling, e.g. 3 to 5 ribs. 5 The pan seal may be mounted over a free end of the pan coupling and include a skirt depending down from the end of the pan coupling into the coupling that performs its sealing function by sealing against the external surface of the pan outlet coupling. According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a toilet 10 assembly including a toilet pan and a waste transfer pipe extending through the floor, and a toilet pan connector assembly as described in the aspect of the invention immediately above sandwiched between said pan and said transfer pipe. Conveniently the toilet assembly may have a seat and a cistern with a water flushing system. 15 The connector assembly may have any one or more of the optional features described above in the first or second aspects of the invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 20 A toilet and a toilet pan connector in accordance with the invention may manifest themselves in a variety of forms. It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe in detail one preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the 25 invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. It is to be clearly understood however that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a sectional side view of a prior art offset pan connector as illustrated in the Australian Standard; 30 Fig 2 is a three dimensional view of a pan connector in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig 3 is a top plan view of the connector of Fig 2; Fig 4 is a sectional side view through the connector of Fig 2, section through

IV-IV;

7 Fig 5 is a sectional view through the connector of Fig 2 that is different to the section of Fig 3, section through V-V; Fig 6 is a schematic sectional view of the connector of Fig 2 mounted to an end of a waste transfer pipe with the connector being located in position by the 5 locating formations, the section through the connector being the same as that in Fig 4; Fig 7 is a three dimensional view of a connector assembly having pan and pipe seals mounted thereto; Fig 8 is a top plan view of the connector assembly of Fig 7; and 10 Fig 9 is a sectional view of the connector assembly of Fig 7, section through IX-IX; Fig 10 is a schematic side view of a toilet pan and waste pipe with the connector assembly of Fig 7 fitted thereto; and Fig 11 is a sectional side view through a connector in accordance with a 15 second embodiment of the invention, the section through the connector being the same as that in Fig 4; Fig 12 is a sectional side view through a connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, the section through the connector being the same as that in Fig 4; 20 Fig 13 is a sectional side view through a connector in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, the section through the connector being the same as that in Fig 4. In Figs 2 to 5 reference numeral 1 refers generally to a connector in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 25 Broadly the connector 1 comprises a pipe coupling 2 for coupling to an upstream end of a waste transfer conduit which is a pipe (not shown in Figs 2 to 5) and a toilet pan coupling 3 for coupling to an outlet end of a toilet pan (not shown in Figs 2 to 5). The connector 1 further includes an offset body 5 having a circumferential wall 7 enclosing a flow path extending between said pipe and pan 30 couplings 2 and 3. The pipe coupling 2 comprises a circular cylindrical body that is sized to be received within the upstream end of the pipe with a small amount of clearance. It is thus received within the end of the waste pipe and seals against the internal surface 8 of the pipe. This is different to the usual way of coupling the pipe to the connector 1 where the pipe coupling 2 encloses and surrounds the pipe. This facilitates greater lateral offset within a given distance for a standard diameter pan coupling 3. The pan coupling 3 also comprises a circular cylindrical body that is sized to 5 pass over the outlet from the toilet pan with a small amount of clearance. The offset body 5 has an axis of offset 10 that is defined by a line passing through the centres of each of the pipe and pan couplings 2 and 3. This is shown clearly in Figs 3 and 8. The wall 7 of the body 5 crosses the offset axis at two points. The first is on a side 11 of the body 5 that is proximate to the pipe coupling 2. The 10 other point is on an opposed side 12 diametrically opposed to said one side 11 and that is more remote from the pipe coupling 2. The side 12 is referred to as the opposed side that is more remote from the pipe coupling on the axis of offset. These points are clearly shown in Fig 3. The wall 7 on the opposed side 12 extends upwardly from the pipe coupling 2 15 at an initial point at an angle of about 60 degrees to a transverse axis. This is shown in Figs 4 and 9. This therefore meets the Australian Standard which specifies that the wall take off from the pipe coupling extends at 60 degrees to a transverse axis 13 through the pipe coupling 2. Typically the transverse axis is horizontal. The wall 7 on the side 12 extends upwardly and outwardly away from the pipe 20 coupling with a concave curve. The wall 7 has a radius of curvature of about 51 mm. This enables it to achieve a lateral offset of 40 mm in a distance along the axis of the pipe coupling of 20 mm. This enables the connector 1 to accommodate this extent of offset between the waste transfer pipe and the toilet pan during building of a house. The cross sectional shape of the body changes along its length and does not 25 admit of simple description in words. It resembles to some extent an asymmetric frusto-conical shape. However the two sectional views through the body in Figs 4 and 5 give insight into the specific shape. As shown in Figs 3 to 5 the offset body also has locating formations in the form of a pair of locating ribs or tabs 20 on the outer surface of the body 5. The 30 overall shape of these ribs is shown clearly in Fig 3. Fig 6 shows the connector mounted on the upstream end of the waste transfer conduit which is a pipe 25. This drawing omits a pipe seal for clarity and shows how the connector is supported on the pipe. These tabs 20 interact with the end of the 9 waste pipe indicated by numeral 25 to correctly support the offset body 5 in position relative to the pipe. The connector is made as a single unitary article of a plastics material in a moulding process, eg an injection moulding process. 5 Figs 7 to 9 show a connector assembly indicated generally by numeral 30. This comprises the connector 1 described above and illustrated in Figs 2 to 6 and a pan seal 32 mounted over the pan coupling 3 and a pipe seal 34 mounted over the pipe coupling 2. The pan seal 32 fits over the end of the pan coupling 3 and has a skirt 35 that 10 depends down into the connector 1. The pan seal 32 fits around the outlet of the pan and the skirt of the seal seals against the outside of the pipe 9 (not shown). By contrast the pipe seal 32 fits around the outside of the pipe coupling 2 and has a plurality of sealing formations in the form of sealing ribs 37 projecting outwardly there from. This is opposite to the pan seal and is also different to existing pipe 15 seals. The pipe coupling 2 is received within the end of the waste pipe 25 and the ribs 37 seal against the inside surface of the pipe 25. This is advantageous because it enables a greater lateral offset to be achieved than if the pipe coupling fitted around the outside of the pipe 25. In use the connector I is used to connect a pan to a waste pipe 25, eg in a 20 newly built house. The pipe coupling 2 is mounted in the waste pipe 25 and then the offset body 5 is rotated until the pan coupling 3 is in alignment with the discharge end of the toilet pan. Progressive rotation of the connector 1 incrementally moves the connector 1 towards and away from alignment with the pan discharge end. The connector is then sealed to the pan and installation of the connector is complete. 25 The combination of the curved wall of the offset body and the pipe coupling being received within the waste pipe 25 enables a substantially greater degree of offset to be achieved than with the connector shown in Fig 1. Fig 10 shows the connector assembly 30 mounted on a toilet pan 40 and a waste pipe 25. The offset body 5 enables the waste pipe 25 and pan outlet to be out 30 of alignment with each other and still be efficaciously connected to each other. This occurs because the waste pipe 25 is generally positioned in the concrete slab when it is poured and well before the timber frames of studs and plates are built on the slab. The toilet pan 40 is generally only fitted in place once the walls of the rooms have 10 been built. It is generally desired to place the pan centrally within the room for aesthetic reasons and this may be offset to some extent from the waste pipe that was originally placed when the slab was cast. The connector therefore needs to accommodate this offset. 5 Fig 11 shows a connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. Unless otherwise indicate the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. This connector 1 has a side 12 that extends upwardly and outwardly from the pipe coupling with two discrete linear portions 40 and 41 arranged end to end. It is 10 conveniently called the linear wall portion embodiment. The first portion has an angle of about 60 degrees to the transverse axis and the second portion has a lesser angle to the transverse axis. With two linear portions the applicant is able to achieve a similar degree of lateral offset to the curved wall portion embodiment shown in the earlier drawings. 15 Fig 12 shows a connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention. Unless otherwise indicate the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. This connector has a side 12 that extends upwardly and outwardly from the pipe coupling with two discrete portions 42 and 43 arranged end to end. The first 20 portion extends linearly up from the pipe coupling with an angle of about 60 degrees to the transverse axis. It is thus not unlike the first portion in Fig 11. However the second portion extends up from the first portion with a curved wall portion at a lesser angle to the transverse axis than the first portion. This embodiment is something of a hybrid of the linear wall portion embodiment and the curved wall portion 25 embodiments described above. With the linear portion and then a curved wall portion the applicant is able to achieve a similar degree of lateral offset to the curved wall portion embodiment shown in the earlier drawings such as Fig 6. Fig 13 shows a connector in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention. Unless otherwise indicate the same reference numerals will be used to 30 refer to the same components. This connector has a side 12 that extends upwardly and outwardly from the pipe coupling with three discrete linear wall portions 45, 46 and 47 arranged end to end. The first portion 45 extends linearly up from the pipe coupling with an angle of 11 about 60 degrees to the transverse axis. It is thus not unlike the first portion in Fig 11. The second portion 46 extends up from the first portion 45 at a lesser angle to the transverse axis than the first portion 45. The third portion 47 in turn extends upwardly from the second portion 46 at a lesser angle than the second portion 46. 5 With three linear portions the applicant is able to achieve a similar degree of lateral offset to the curved wall portion embodiment shown in the earlier drawings. An advantage of the connector described above is that it is able to achieve a large lateral offset, eg of 40 mm, within a relatively short axial distance, eg of 20 mm. It does this by having the wall curving upwardly and outwardly in a direction away 10 from the pipe coupling. In addition by receiving the pipe seal within the waste pipe rather than around it a greater offset can be achieved than for the same sized pan coupling. Overall these features lead to a pan connector with significant working advantages over existing connectors. At the same time it meets the Australian standard which specifies that the wall of the connector takes away from the pipe 15 coupling at an angle of 60 degrees. It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

1. A toilet pipe connector for connecting a toilet pan outlet pipe to a waste transfer pipe, the toilet pipe connector including: 5 a waste pipe coupling to an upstream end of the waster transfer pipe; a toilet pan outlet pipe coupling for coupling to an outlet end of the toilet pan outlet pipe, the waste pipe coupling and the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling being arranged relative to each other so that they are axially spaced apart with their respective axes transversely offset from each other at a distance that is greater than the difference between their radii; 10 and a bridge wall that encloses a flow path extending between the waste pipe coupling and the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling.

2. A toilet pipe connector according to claim 1, wherein the waste pipe coupling and the 15 toilet pan outlet pipe coupling define a proximate part of the toilet outlet pipe coupling that extends across the waste pipe coupling within the circumference of the waste pipe coupling, and a remaining distal part of the toilet outlet pipe coupling which is outside of the waste pipe coupling and in which the bridge wall portion of the bridge wall defines a radial inner surface that extends between the distal part of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling and the waste pipe 20 coupling, the radial inner surface of the bridge wall portion having a gradient that increases axially in a radial inwards direction from the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling to the waste pipe coupling.

3. A toilet pipe connector according to claim 1 or 2, which includes a resilient cup seal 25 that includes an annular seal inner and a circumferentially extending skirt for cap-like fitment over an end of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling, the toilet pan pipe coupling being receivable sealingly within a central opening of the annular seal inner.

4. A toilet pipe connector according to claim 3, which includes an annular cap ring for 30 fitment over the skirt and the end of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling for firmly pressing the skirt against an outside surface of the toilet pan outlet pipe coupling.

5. A toilet pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which includes a resilient sleeve that is mounted about an end portion of the waste pipe coupling, the resilient 35 sleeve seal including a plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially extending resilient ribs, and which also includes at least one locating formation on an outside surface of the waste pipe coupling spaced axially inwardly from an end of the coupling, for locating the waste pipe coupling at an associated depth inside the waste pipe when the waste pipe coupling is inserted into the waste pipe.