AU2010202777A1 - Hygienic Self Sealing Trap - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: MAXI TRAP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Actual Inventors: BOWDEN, Maxton James Address for service in A J PARK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT Australia: 2601, Australia Invention Tide: Hygienic Self Sealing Trap Details of Associated Provisional Application: Australia 2009202680 filed 2 July 2009 New Zealand 582768 filed 19 January 2010 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly relates to waste water drainage, and more particularly to the prevention of odours being emitted from waste water outlets. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION A typical drain entrance includes, what is known in the industry as, a trap. Known traps have a space where a body of fluid is held, new fluid introduced to the body of fluid causes old fluid to be washed out of the body and into the drain. The trap prevents gases from inside the drain from exiting the entrance of the drain. There are situations in waste fluid management where odour prevention cannot be achieved, or is difficult to achieve, with such conventional traps. Even with a conventional trap mounted at some point below a waste outlet, the fluid in the fluid body itself may pose an odour problem. Another disadvantage of known water traps is they also require a considerable amount of space. For example, known traps often intrude into cupboard space under kitchen sinks and bathroom hand basins. In such cupboards it would be more desirable to minimise the intrusion. Similarly, shower systems in multi level buildings require access to the trap from below the shower surface, often requiring a trap door in the ceiling of the lower level, or a raised floor. Raised floors and access are two issues that often require the minimum height between floors of apartment buildings to be larger than otherwise desired. Reducing the height rcquircd beneath shower floors, for example, would decrease the building materials required by making the building shorter, or allow more floors for a given building height. Another disadvantage of known waste water traps is they often consist of a set of preconfigured pipe sections connected together by threaded unions. The series of joined pipe section increases the potential for leaks to occur. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to go some way toward ameliorating the above disadvantages, or at least provide the public with a useful choice. 2 In a first aspect the invention is broadly said to consist in a plumbing apparatus adapted to mount a valve at the inlet of a drain, the apparatus comprising: a tubular body adapted to connect to a drain pipe on at least a lower portion thereof, the tubular body having a first inwardly projecting flange, a valve installed inside the tubular body which allows the passing of matter in one direction only, and a collar engaging the inside of the tubular body to secure the valve. Preferably the tubular body has an inlet and the inside of the tubular body has an internal thread located between the inlet and the first flange. Preferably the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element. Preferably the valve is vertically compact. Preferably the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material. Preferably the abutting surfaces are forced apart by matter travelling in a downward direction. Preferably the abutting surfaces are forced together by matter travelling in an upward direction. Preferably the valve has an outwardly extending flange located on the top portion thereof, the flange having an upper and lower surface, the lower surface abutting the first flange of the tubular body. Preferably the collar abuts the upper surface of the valve flange to secure the valve. Preferably the collar is engaged with the internal thread of the tubular body to compress the annular flange of the valve against the first flange of the tubular body to secure the flange. Preferably the collar has at least one lug projecting inwardly from an inner surface. Preferably the tubular body is adapted to connect to a drain pipe by a threaded connection. Preferably the tubular body has a second annular flange projecting outwardly from an upper portion, the flange adapted to engage the periphery of a drain. Preferably the drain entrance is the entrance of a shower drain. Preferably the drain entrance is the entrance a waste water drain. In another aspect the invention is broadly said to consist in a kit of parts for mounting a plumbing valve at the inlet of a drain, the kit comprising: a tubular body adapted to connect to a drain pipe on at least a lower portion thereof, the tubular body having a first inwardly projecting flange, a valve adapted to mount inside the tubular body and allow the passing of matter in one direction only, and a collar adapted to engage the inside of the tubular body. Preferably the inside of the tubular body has an internal thread located above the first flange. 3 Preferably the collar has a thread on the external surface thereof, the thread adapted to engage the intemal thread of the tubular body. Preferably the tubular body is adapted to connect to a drain pipe by a threaded connection. Preferably the tubular body has a second annular flange projecting outwardly from an upper portion, the flange adapted to engage the periphery of a drain. Preferably the drain entrance is the entrance of a shower drain. Preferably the drain entrance is the entrance a waste water drain. Preferably the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element. Preferably the valve is vertically compact. Preferably the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material. Preferably the abutting surfaces are forced apart by matter travelling in a downward direction. Preferably the abutting surfaces are forced together by matter travelling in an upward direction. Preferably the valve has an outwardly extending flange located on the top portion thereof, the flange having an upper and lower surface, the lower surface adapted to abut the first flange of the tubular body. Preferably the collar is adapted to abut the upper surface of the valve flange. Preferably the collar is engaged with the internal thread of the tubular body to compress the annular flange of the valve against the first flange of the tubular body. Preferably the collar has at least one lug projecting inwardly from an inner surface. In another aspect the invention is broadly said to consist in a method of installing a wastewater drain, comprising the steps of (in no particular order): mounting a tubular body into the drain entrance, the tubular body having an outer peripheral flange for abutting the entrance of the drain and an interior flange, connecting a wastewater pipe to the tubular body, inserting a one-way valve into the interior of the tubular body, clamping the valve between the interior flange of the tubular body with a collar. Preferably the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element. Preferably the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material. 4 Preferably the inside of the tubular body has an internal thread located between the drain entrance and the interior flange, Preferably the collar has a thread on the external surface thereof, the method further comprising engaging the external thread of the collar with the internal thread of the tubular body. Preferably the step of connecting the tubular body to a wastewater pipe is facilitated by the further step of screwing a threaded connection located on the drain pipe with a threaded connection located on the tubular body. Preferably the drain entrance is the entrance of a shower drain. Preferably the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element. Preferably the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material. Preferably the surfaces are forced apart by matter travelling in a downward direction. Preferably the surfaces are forced together by matter travelling in an upward direction. Preferably the collar has at least one lug projecting inwardly from an inner surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an trap according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectioned side view of the trap of Figure 1 when in a default closed condition, Figure 3 is a sectioned side view of the trap of Figures 1 and 2 when in a water passing condition, Figure 4 is a top view of the trap installed in the tubular mounting device. Figure 5 is a perspective view of figure 4 from below the mounting device. Figure 6 is a top perspective view of the mounting device. Figure 7 is a perspective view from below the mounting device of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a side elevation of the mounting device. Figure 9 is a cut away view of the mounting device of Figurer 8 Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of the mounting device of Figures 8 and 9. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the collar. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 10, a mount 61, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown. The mount 61 is adapted to fit to the entrance of a drain. The drain entrance could be, for example, the drain on the floor of a shower 63. A flange 60 is provided on the outer surface of the mount 61. 'The lower surface of the flange 60 seals against the outer surface of a drain entrance 63. Note that in most applications a sealing material, such as a washer or liquid sealant may be required under the flange 60 to ensure leak free operation. Holes 65 may be provided on the flange 60 to allow fastening devices to pass there though and fix the flange 60 to the floor. Figure 8 illustrates the outer surface of the mount 61. Preferably the outer surface of the mount 61 has a thread 64. The thread 64 facilitates connection of the mount to waste water plumbing located beneath the drain. A waste water plumbing connection will typically have a nut to allow connection to other threaded connections. However, the thread connection could be replaced with other types of connections, such as interference or push-lock fittings. The described arrangement therefore provides only two possible paths for a leak to occur, thereby improving on prior art systems that requires a series of connections, each susceptible to leaking. The two described connection points, the outer surface of the mount 64, and the lower surface of the flange 60 are the only two possible places for a leak to occur. Figure 1 illustrates a one-way valve or trap 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The trap 10 comprises an integral elastomeric body portion 12 and one-way valve portion 14. The upper end 16 of the body portion 12 of odour trap 10 is cylindrical and formed in a range of diameters to allow insertion into the bores of standard diameter waste pipes 18 as a close sliding fit, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. A projecting flange 20 extends outwardly from the upper end 16 of body portion 12. Projecting flange 20 is sized so as not to project beyond the outer diameter of the waste water pipe for which the cylindrical end 16 of the body portion is intended, such as the annular flange 66 of the mount 61. Preferably body portion 12 of the trap 10 is formed as a truncated cylinder. The cylinder is truncated by opposing flat sides 22 and 24 extending from below the projecting flange 20 to meet at a diameter 26 of the cylinder. The opposing flat sides 22 and 24 form an upper boundary of the one-way valve 14. 6 One-way valve 14 is formed of opposing flaps 28 and 30 which are joined at their respective side edges. The inward facing surfaces 32 and 34 (indicated on Figure 1) are in close abutment when in a default, non water passing condition. This is the state of one-way valve 14 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. Preferably, flaps 28 and 30 substantially prevent the passage of air, and therefore fumes and odours from passing from below the trap 10 into the body portion 12 and thence further up pipes or waste water inlets above the trap. The flexibility of the two flaps 28 and 30 allows them to separate when water flows into the body portion 12, to the extent that a passage 38 is formed between the flaps, allowing water to pass into the pipe 38 below the trap. Figure 9 illustrates the internal cross-section of mount 61 through the section B-B of Figure 8. The mount 61 has an annular flange 66 that extends inwardly on the inside surface thereof. The flange 66 allows the preferred trap 14 to be located inside the mount. A thread 67 is also located on the internal wall of the mount 61 and above the flange 66. The internal thread 67 engages with a collar 72 to clamp the trap flange 20 to the annular mount flange 66. The collar 72 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 11. The collar 72 may have lugs 70, with holes 69, provided on the inside surface of the collar. The lugs allow a tool to be engaged and facilitate engagement of the external thread 71 of the collar with the internal thread 67 of the mount. Figures 4 and 5 show the trap 10 inserted into the mount 61 and seated on the inner flange 66. The collar 64 is engaged with the inner thread on the mount 67 and screwed down to compress and thereby clamp the elastomeric trap flange 20 to the mount flange 66. A waste water pipe having the appropriate fitting can be engaged with the outer thread 64 of the mount to clamp the assembly together. The use of a glue or sealant on the outer thread 64 may be warranted to ensure a fluid tight seal. The preferred use of the device of the present invention is at the entrance of a shower drain. Showers are notoriously difficult to plumb due the need for a sealed floor area and access to waste water plumbing beneath the floor. The device of the present invention allows a wastewater fitting to be connected to the external thread 64 and the floor of the shower completed and sealed. The valve, or trap 10 caii be installed subsequent to the wastewater pipe being connected. Access to the trap 10 is advantageously from above the floor, thus doing away with the need to provide for access to beneath the floor. 7 The trap assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described hereinbefore therefore advantageously provides a lower profile solution to other known traps, such as 'S-bend' type traps, For example, the total assembled height of a typical S-bend type trap requires 15 to 30cm. The trap assembly of the present invention requires a less than 15cm. Further, the valve section can be formed in a range of different heights. Therefore, a valve section can be selected according to a particular application to provide a vertically compact solution. This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated hcrein as if individually set forth. The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. 8

Claims (46)

1. A plumbing apparatus adapted to mount a valve at the inlet of a drain, the apparatus comprising: a tubular body adapted to connect to a drain pipe on at least a lower portion thereof, the tubular body having a first inwardly projecting flange, a valve installed inside the tubular body which allows the passing of matter in one direction only, and a collar engaging the inside of the tubular body to secure the valve.

2. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular body has an inlet and the inside of the tubular body has an internal thread located between the inlet and the first flange.

3. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element.

4. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve is vertically compact.

5. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material.

6. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the abutting surfaces are forced apart by matter travelling in a downward direction.

7. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the abutting surfaces are forced together by matter travelling in an upward direction.

8. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the valve has an outwardly extending flange located on the top portion thereof, the flange having an upper and lower surface, the lower surface abutting the first flange of the tubular body.

9. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the collar abuts the upper surface of the valve flange to secure the valve. 9

10. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the collar is engaged with the internal thread of the tubular body to compress the annular flange of the valve against the first flange of the tubular body to secure the flange.

11. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 10, wherein the collar has at least one lug projecting inwardly from an inner surface.

12. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 11, wherein the tubular body is adapted to connect to a drain pipe by a threaded connection.

13. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the tubular body has a second annular flange projecting outwardly from an upper portion, the flange adapted to engage the periphery of a drain.

14. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the drain entrance is the entrance of a shower drain.

15. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the drain entrance is the entrance a waste water drain.

16. A kit of parts for mounting a plumbing valve at the inlet of a drain, the kit comprising: a tubular body adapted to connect to a drain pipe on at least a lower portion thereof, the tubular body having a first inwardly projecting flange, a valve adapted to mount inside the tubular body and allow the passing of matter in one direction only, and a collar adapted to engage the inside of the tubular body.

17. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the inside of the tubular body has an internal thread located above the first flange,

18. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the collar has a thread on the external surface thereof, the thread adapted to engage the internal thread of the tubular body. 10

19. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the tubular body is adapted to connect to a drain pipe by a threaded connection.

20. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the tubular body has a second annular flange projecting outwardly from an upper portion, the flange adapted to engage the periphery of a drain.

21. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the drain entrance is the entrance of a shower drain.

22. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the drain entrance is the entrance a waste water drain.

23. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element.

24. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the valve is vertically compact.

25. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material.

26. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the abutting surfaces are forced apart by matter travelling in a downward direction.

27. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the abutting surfaces are forced together by matter travelling in an upward direction.

28. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 27, wherein the valve has an outwardly extending flange located on the top portion thereof, the flange having an upper and lower surface, the lower surface adapted to abut the first flange of the tubular body.

29. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the collar is adapted to abut the upper surface of the valve flange. 11

30. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the collar is engaged with the internal thread of the tubular body to compress the annular flange of the valve against the first flange of the tubular body.

31. A plumbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 30, wherein the collar has at least one lug projecting inwardly from an inner surface.

32. A method of installing a wastewater drain, comprising the steps of (in no particular order): mounting a tubular body into the drain entrance, the tubular body having an outer peripheral flange for abutting the entrance of the drain and an interior flange, connecting a wastewater pipe to the tubular body, inserting a one-way valve into the interior of the tubular body, clamping the valve between the interior flange of the tubular body with a collar.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material

35. A method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the inside of the tubular body has an internal thread located between the dram entrance and the interior flange,

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 35, wherein the collar has a thread on the external surface thereof, the method further comprising engaging the external thread of the collar with the internal thread of the tubular body.

37. A method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein the step of connecting the tubular body to a wastewater pipe is facilitated by the further step of screwing a threaded connection located on the drain pipe with a threaded connection located on the tubular body.

38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 37, wherein the drain entrance is the entrance of a shower drain. 12

39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 38, wherein the valve is an elastomeric, unitary, integrally formed combination of a body portion and one-way valve element.

40. A method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the one-way valve element comprises two substantially opposed and abutting surfaces of elastomeric material.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the surfaces are forced apart by matter travelling in a downward direction.

42. A method as claimed in claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the surfaces are forced together by matter travelling in an upward direction.

43. A method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 42, wherein the collar has at least one lug projecting inwardly from an inner surface.

44. A plumbing apparatus as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

45. A valve apparatus herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

46. A mounting apparatus substantially as shown in Figures 6 and 7 13