AU2011200850B2 - A drainage assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

C\NR,.Ih\CCXJR\349X672_ I DOC-2/2U/2 Il A drainage assembly including a substrate having a drain and a waterstop arrangement, and a water collector installed in the substrate, the water collector having an inner side defining an 5 inner water accumulator, an outer side defining an outer water accumulator, said outer side further configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement, an outlet arranged in fluid communication with both accumulators, said outlet arranged in fluid communication with the drain, and a barrier receptacle configured for receiving a barrier that operatively extends from the substrate between the inner accumulator and outer accumulator. Fig. 2 Cl.) C%4

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: Brad Ronald Chadwick Actual Inventors: Brad Ronald Chadwick Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, Level 10, 301 Coronation Drive, Milton 4064, Queensland. Invention Title: "A drainage assembly" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2010900954, filed 8 March 2010 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: C:\NRPortbl\DCC\UR\3484554_I.DOC - 2812/1 C :NJ',1b\DCCJR\34V672.1 XC-212M20I - I A DRAINAGE ASSEMBLY Background of the Invention 5 This invention relates to a drainage assembly and an associated water collector. Description of the Prior Art 10 Reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 15 In the field of construction, waterproofing of wet areas, such as shower recesses, has historically been amongst the most commonly-recurring building defects. Homeowner complaints concerning defective waterproofing are consistently in the top ten complaints received by building authorities and regulators. 20 A hob-less or unenclosed shower is a popular and contemporary shower design providing easy access thereto. Such a shower design is also visually appealing. Figure I shows a recommended sealing construction for hob-less showers according to the Waterproofing Standard AS3740 as issued by the Building Services Authority of Queensland, Australia. This 25 prior art shower construction includes a water stop arrangement 22 used to seal a shower screen or screen track 14 and to prevent water from leaking from a shower side 10 to an outer side 12, as separated by the shower screen or track 14.

C:\NRIPthl\DCCAlJR\349x672_lDOC-2/28/2011 -2 The water stop arrangement 22 generally includes a waterproof membrane 18 placed underneath a substrate on the shower side 10, as shown, with a waterstop angle 20 placed relative to the membrane 18 underneath the shower screen or track 14 which is sealed to the surface by means a sealant 16. The waterstop 20 and membrane 18 are generally specified to 5 project from the top of the substrate by a certain distance to prevent water from leaking from the shower side 10 to the outer side 12. However, poor sealing and damage to the projecting waterstop 20 and membrane 18 during construction often results in insufficient waterproofing which leads to leaks and subsequent water damage. 10 Accordingly, the above shower waterproofing construction can allow water to appear on the outer side 12 of the shower screen 14 due to such poor sealing or screen design. Summary of the Present Invention 15 According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a drainage assembly including: a substrate having a drain and a waterstop arrangement; and a water collector installed in the substrate, the water collector having: an inner side defining an inner water accumulator; an outer side defining an outer water accumulator, said outer side further 20 configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement; an outlet arranged in fluid communication with both accumulators, said outlet arranged in fluid communication with the drain; and a barrier receptacle configured for receiving a barrier that operatively extends from the substrate between the inner accumulator and outer accumulator. 25 Typically, the drainage assembly includes a waterproof membrane arranged between the water collector and the drain, the membrane operatively sandwiched between the waterstop and the outer side of the collector.

C NRPrt'hN)CCLJR\349672_1 I)OC-212R/20l i -3 Typically, the inner accumulator includes an insert which lies substantially flush with the substrate when fitted over said inner accumulator. 5 Typically, the outer accumulator includes an insert which lies substantially flush with the substrate when fitted over said outer accumulator. Typically, the insert includes a grating. 10 Typically, the insert includes a tile insert. Typically, the outer side of the collector is configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement by defining a lip which operatively fits over the waterstop arrangement. 15 Typically, the barrier includes a shower screen. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a water collector for use in a drainage assembly in a substrate having a waterstop arrangement and a drain, said water collector including: 20 an inner side defining an inner accumulator; an outer side defining an outer accumulator, said outer side further configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement; an outlet arranged in fluid communication with both accumulators, said outlet to be operatively arranged in fluid communication with the drain; and 25 a barrier receptacle configured for receiving a barrier to operatively extend from the substrate between the inner accumulator and outer accumulator.

C \NRPrtbN)CC\IJR349672 .IX)C-2/2f2U 1 -4 Typically, the inner accumulator includes an insert which lies substantially flush with the substrate when fitted over said inner accumulator. Typically, the outer accumulator includes an insert which lies substantially flush with the 5 substrate when fitted over said outer accumulator. Typically, the insert includes a grating. Typically, the insert includes a tile insert. 10 Typically, the outer side of the collector is configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement by defining a lip which operatively fits over the waterstop arrangement. Typically, the barrier includes a shower screen. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 20 Figure 1 shows a prior art shower sealing arrangement; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional representation of a drainage assembly; Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional exploded representation of the drainage assembly of Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic representation of the drainage assembly of Figure 3 in 25 plan view.

C \NRbMt)CCLJR\49K672_I)C.2/23/2011 -5 Detailed Description of Preferred Examples With reference now to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown an example of a drainage assembly 30 which includes a substrate 32 having a drain 34 and a waterstop arrangement 36. 5 The waterstop arrangement 36 is typically an L-shaped angle, as is generally known in the art. It is to be appreciated that the substrate 32 is typically a bathroom or shower floor having suitable tiling, or the like. As such, the drainage assembly 30 finds particular application in shower constructions. 10 The assembly 30 also includes a water collector 38 which is installed in the substrate 32, as shown. The water collector 38 typically has an inner side 40 which defines an inner water accumulator 42, as well as an outer side 44 defining an outer water accumulator 46. The collector 38 also defines a barrier receptacle 50 which is configured for receiving a barrier 52, as shown. This barrier 52 is generally a shower door track, screen or panel which operatively 15 extends from the substrate 32 between the inner and outer accumulators 42 and 46, as shown. Accordingly, the barrier 52 effectively separates the inner side 40 and the outer side 44, with the inner side 40 generally being inside a shower formed in this manner, and the outer side 44 being on the outside thereof. 20 The outer side 44 of the collector 38 is generally configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement 36, as shown. To this end, the outer side 44 of the collector 38 typically defines a lip 58 which operatively fits over the waterstop arrangement 37, as shown. In one example, the drainage assembly 30 also includes a waterproof membrane 54 which is arranged between the water collector 38 and the drain 34. In the current example, the membrane 54 is operatively 25 sandwiched between the waterstop arrangement 36 and the lip 58 defined by the outer side 44 of the collector 38. The membrane 54 generally facilitates with waterproofing the drainage assembly 30.

C.\NRPrbN)CC~LJR\149X672_ I X -2/28/201 I -6 The water collector 38 further generally includes an outlet 48 which is arranged in fluid communication with both accumulators 42 and 46, as well as with the drain 34, so that any water collected by the accumulators 42 and 46 can flow to the drain 34. 5 In the current example, both the inner accumulator 42 and the outer accumulator 46 include an insert 56 which lies substantially flush with the substrate 32 when fitted over the accumulators 42 and 46. The insert 56 can include a suitable grating having a particular design or layout. In another example, the insert 56 can also include a tile insert. It is to be appreciated that the insert 56 defines appropriate apertures to allow water to pass therethrough to reach the 10 respective accumulator. The inserts 56 can also include different visual features or designs according to requirements or preference. Similarly, one example of an insert 56 can be inverted with each side having a particular design or visual feature. Figure 4 shows an example of a collector 38 having two 15 different inserts 56. The inserts 56 are typically manufactured from stainless steel, ceramic, stone, glass or a suitable polymer. It is regarded as advantageous that the water collector 38 allows a shower construction which is relatively insensitive to leakage past the shower screen or barrier 52, as the water collector 20 38 is able to collect water from either side of the barrier 52. In addition, the water collector engages the waterstop arrangement 36 in such a manner to reduce chances of leakage past the waterstop arrangement 36 which allows for better waterproofing and a subsequent reduction in possible water damage resulting from such leakage. 25 It is also regarded as advantageous that the water collector 38 allows for the use of removable and interchangeable inserts 56 which can be selected according to design requirements and/or visual preferences. The water collector 38 also lies flush with the substrate 32 when installed which provides a flat surface allowing easier access to a shower, especially for wheelchair- C MPNR .J)CCJJ-R\349fl672-1 I)(OC.22/2Uit -7 bound people. In addition, the water collector 38 can be installed at more than one side of a shower to provide for increased drainage when compared with known prior art drainage assemblies. 5 Many modifications or variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention broadly appearing and described in more detail herein. 10 It is to be appreciated that reference to "one example" or "an example" of the invention is not made in an exclusive sense. Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the invention, whilst other aspects are exemplified in a different example. These examples are intended to assist the skilled person in performing the invention and are not intended to limit the overall scope of the invention in any way unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 15 Features that are common to the art are not explained in any detail as they are deemed to be easily understood by the skilled person. Similarly, throughout this specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning, unless the context of use clearly indicates otherwise.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for use in a drainage assembly in a substrate having a waterstop arrangement and a drain, said apparatus including a water collector including: 5 an inner side defining an inner accumulator, wherein the inner accumulator includes a first insert which lies substantially flush with the substrate when fitted; an outer side defining an outer accumulator, said outer side further configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement, and wherein the outer accumulator includes a second insert which lies substantially flush with the substrate when fitted; 10 an outlet arranged in fluid communication with both accumulators, said outlet to be operatively arranged in fluid communication with the drain; and a barrier receptacle configured for receiving a barrier to operatively extend from the substrate between the inner accumulator and outer accumulator, wherein, the first and second inserts are arranged so as to extend between the 15 barrier receptacle and respective outer walls of the water collector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first insert and the second insert includes a grating. 20

3. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one of the first insert and the second insert includes a tile insert.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer side of the collector is configured for engaging the waterstop arrangement by defining a lip which 25 operatively fits over the waterstop arrangement.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the barrier includes a shower screen. H: \st\Intrwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\STP\8059699_ .doc-7/15/2015 -9

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the apparatus includes: the substrate having the drain and the waterstop arrangement; and the water collector being installed in the substrate. 5

7. The apparatus of claim 6, which includes a waterproof membrane arranged between the water collector and the drain, the membrane being operatively sandwiched between the waterstop and the outer side of the collector. 10

8. A drainage assembly or a water collector, substantially as hereinbefore described.

9. A drainage assembly or a water collector, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.