AU2018202693B2

AU2018202693B2 - Bathroom fixture drainage outlet and attachment means

Info

Publication number: AU2018202693B2
Application number: AU2018202693A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ross RIVETT
Original assignee: Bathroom Products Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Bathroom Products Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-21
Filing date: 2018-04-18
Publication date: 2021-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-18
Also published as: AU2019283848B2; AU2018202693A1; AU2019283848A1

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising of two parts, the first being embedded in the fixture base and a second that can be inserted into the first during installation, forming a water-tight connection, and enabling the connection to drainage pipework, without the need to clamp the drainage outlet over the fixture base material. Specifically, the present invention relates generally to a drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising first male threaded portion with threads in one direction adapted to be screwed into a threaded hole in the base of the bathroom fixture, a second male threaded portion of lesser diameter with threads in an opposite direction adapted to pass freely through the hole, for connecting to a female pipe fitting, and a sealing flange adapted to be in sealing contact with the bathroom fixture base, wherein the first and second male threaded portions are arranged such that the screwing attachment of a female pipe fitting to the second male threaded portion induces tightening between the first male threaded portion and the threaded hole in the bathroom fixture base. -- '3 2 Figure 1 Figure 2

Description

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Figure 1

Figure 2

BATHROOM FIXTURE DRAINAGE OUTLET AND ATTACHMENT MEANS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to a means for providing a drainage outlet s in fittings and fixtures in a bathroom, laundry or otherwise 'wet-room' environment.

BACKGROUNDART The drainage outlet is an important feature of any bathroom, laundry area or Lo otherwise 'wet-room' environment, a wet room being a room wherein there is a possibility of large quantities of water being spilled, necessitating a drainage fixture in the floor in order to allow for the egress of the water. A drainage outlet is similarly important in showers, baths, sinks or basins and other bathroom fixtures, allowing for drainage of water once the fixture is no longer in use. L5

One way of dealing with waterproofing and sealing the drainage area is the use of a shower base, which is a complete floor fixture that is a 'ready-to-install' unit that serves as a watertight floor for a shower. Shower bases install directly on the subfloor, eliminating the need to create a sloped mortar bed and to tile a shower. 2o The shower base is water-proof and contains the drainage outlet.

Traditionally the drainage outlet is installed into the fixture base at the time of manufacturing, and due to the need of threading the drainage piping into it once installed, it has a large threaded portion protruding on the underside of the fixture base. This makes it cumbersome and wasteful to pack, wastes a lot of space for shipping, and the protruding portion is prone to damage during transit to the installation site. This renders the base unusable (as the pipe fitting can no longer be attached to the damaged outlet) and can prove to be expensive to replace.

It would be desirable to provide a drainage outlet that ameliorates or overcomes one or more known disadvantages of existing techniques or that may provide a useful alternative to them.

DISCLOSUREOFTHE INVENTION These and other advantages are met with the present invention, which in one broad form concerns a drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising first male threaded portion with threads in one direction adapted to be screwed s into a threaded hole in the base of the bathroom fixture, a second male threaded portion of lesser diameter with threads in an opposite direction adapted to pass freely through the hole, for connecting to a female pipe fitting, and a sealing flange adapted to be in sealing contact with the bathroom fixture base, wherein the first and second male threaded portions are arranged such that the screwing to attachment of a female pipe fitting to the second male threaded portion induces tightening between the first male threaded portion and the threaded hole in the bathroom fixture base.

In an embodiment, the threaded hole comprises a threaded boss on the bathroom 1s fixture base.

In an embodiment, the threaded hole further comprises a depression adapted to receive the sealing flange.

2o In an embodiment, the threads of the first male threaded portion are of a left handed orientation. In an alternate embodiment, the threads of the first male threaded portion are of a right-handed orientation.

A second aspect of the invention concerns an insert for fitting into the base of a bathroom fixture to provide the threaded hole.

In an embodiment, the insert is adapted to permit the bathroom fixture base to be cast, moulded or otherwise shaped around it.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a drainage outlet in a bathroom fixture base, comprising the steps of forming a threaded hole in the bathroom fixture base, wherein the thread is oriented in a particular direction and inserting a drainage outlet, the drainage outlet comprising a first and second threaded portion, the first portion threaded to match the direction of the threaded hole and the second portion threaded in an opposing direction.

In an embodiment of the method, the fixture base is formed by casting, pouring, shaping or moulding a liquid or resin into a shaped mould and allowing the liquid or resin to solidify; and the mould is shaped or modified such that the liquid or resin solidifies to produce the fixture base with the threaded hole formed therein.

In an embodiment of the method, the threaded hole is formed by a threaded to insert.

In an embodiment of the method, the threaded hole is formed by a threaded insert, which can also provide a support for a reinforcement apparatus used around the drainage hole.

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An embodiment of the invention provides for a bathroom fixture base formed using the drainage outlet of the present invention.

An embodiment of the invention provides for a bathroom fixture base formed using 2o the method of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is now discussed with reference to drawings, where Figure 1 is a side-on view of the drainage outlet element.

Figure 2 is a side-on sectional view of a second drainage outlet element adapted to engage with the drainage outlet element shown in Figure 1. The drainage outlet element as a whole is a three-piece construction, which comprises an outer section (figure 2), an inner section (figure 1) and a seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Generally, the invention concerns an outlet to provide a drainage function in a bathroom, laundry or otherwise wet-room environment, or a fixture for installation in one of the above rooms. As used herein, a wet-room environment refers to a room or other form of enclosed area wherein there is a likelihood or risk of leakage, flooding or other incidents resulting in large quantities of water landing on the surface. Bathrooms, laundries and toilet facilities are examples of wet-room environments as splashing, leaking or flooding can result in a fixture installed in s one of these rooms overflowing, necessitating a drainage outlet be present in the room.

In an embodiment shown in Figure 1, the drainage outlet is a plumbing fixture comprising two consecutively-arranged threaded male portions. The first threaded

[0 male portion 1 is adapted for threaded attachment to the base of a bathroom fixture or other drainage hole (an embodiment of which is shown in Figure 2). The second threaded male portion 2 is of smaller diameter than the first threaded male portion 1 and so will freely pass through the hole. The second threaded male portion 2 is adapted for screwable attachment to other plumbing fixtures, such as 1s pipe fittings, drain traps, valves and other fixtures.

One key feature of some embodiments of the invention is that the first and second threaded male portions 1, 2, are threaded in opposing directions. Due to the arrangement of components, if the first and second male portions 1, 2, were 2o threaded in the same direction then the act of screwing a plumbing fixture such as a pipe onto the second male portion 2 would induce an unscrewing or loosening action between the first male portion 1 and bathroom fixture base. By having opposing threads between the first and second portions 1, 2, the act of screwing a plumbing fixture onto the second threaded male portion 2 will instead induce a tightening action between the first male portion 1 and the bathroom fixture base.

The handedness of a screw thread is defined such that an item with 'right-handed' threading moves away from the source of rotation when rotated clockwise. The most common forms of screws, caps, nuts and other threaded fittings typically exhibit 'right-handedness' in their screw thread. 'Left-handed' threading is thus threaded in the opposite direction, wherein counter-clockwise rotation induces a movement away from the rotation source. It is most commonly used when there is a need to prevent incorrect connections. Left-handed threading is common in gas plumbing, for example, to prevent gas pipelines from being connected to water pipelines.

In an embodiment, the threading of the portions is such that the first male portion s 1 is threaded 'left-handedly', while the second male portion 2 is threaded 'right handedly'. This allows for the second male portion 2 to be easily attachable to some conventional pipe fittings of the appropriate size. However an embodiment wherein the threading of the first and second male portions 1, 2, is reversed is within the scope of the invention.

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In an embodiment of the invention, the drainage outlet further comprises a sealing flange 3. The sealing flange is designed so as to form a substantially watertight seal through sealing contact with the bathroom fixture base when the drainage outlet has been fully inserted. In an embodiment, the sealing flange may further incorporate additional sealing material such as a rubber ring, sealing putty, plumber's tape, resin or other materials that are conventionally used in the art to form a substantially watertight seal.

In an embodiment of the invention, the threaded hole which receives the first male 2o portion 1 comprises a threaded boss on the bathroom fixture base. In one embodiment, the threaded boss may be formed through drilling, reaming, cutting, boring or otherwise shaping the base so as to form the threaded hole.

In an alternative embodiment, the threaded hole may be formed by a hollow cylindrical insert wherein the internal surface is threaded in a direction matching that of the first male portion 1, and the insert may be adapted to be inserted into a hole that has been cut, reamed, bored, drilled or otherwise formed in the bathroom fixture base. In a further alternative embodiment wherein the bathroom fixture base is cast, poured or otherwise moulded from a molten, gelatinous, resinous or otherwise shapeable material, the fixture base may instead be shaped around the insert at the time of construction of the base.

The embodiments of the invention are advantageous in that the potential damage to the drainage outlet is limited. In a typical arrangement, the complete drainage outlet is installed in the bathroom fixture base at the time of construction, which is then packaged and shipped to the installation site, storage warehouse or similar. In such an arrangement, the region of the drainage outlet intended for attachment to the plumbing system protrudes beyond the fixture base, resulting in an irregular s shape that may be difficult to package neatly, producing a bulky item. In addition, the protrusion tends to be fragile and may be damaged during the shipping or storage process. Once damaged, the entire base cannot be used as it is extremely difficult to securely attach the plumbing fittings to the fixture base in a watertight manner. L0

The present invention provides for a means of installing the fixture base and drainage outlet attachment separately, thereby preventing - or at least limiting the possibility of damage to the setup. In each embodiment of the invention, the drainage outlet may be inserted into the fixture base at any time, rather than ts necessarily at the time of construction. This allows for the outlet component to be transported separately and thus may allow for the avoidance of damage to the drainage outlet.

The present invention provides for a means of installing a drainage outlet element 2o to a bathroom fixture base, which does not require clamping from both sides of the fixture base in order to provide a water-tight fitting between the drainage element and the shower base, or part thereof. The drainage outlet element for a bathroom fixture base, comprising of two parts, the first being embedded in the fixture base and a second that can be inserted into the first during installation, forming a water-tight connection, and enabling the connection to drainage pipework, without the need to clamp the drainage outlet over the fixture base material.

In this way, the present invention does not rely on the rigidity of the fixture base to provide the adequacy of the connection between the fixture base and the drainage outlet element in forming a water-tight seal.

A further aspect of the invention provides for a method of installing a drainage outlet in a bathroom fixture base.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. The invention includes all such variation and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, components and/or devices referred to or to indicated in the specification, individually or collectively and any and all combinations or any two or more of the steps or features.

Other definitions for selected terms used herein may be found within the detailed description of the invention and apply throughout. Unless otherwise defined, all other scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising: a first male threaded portion with threads in one direction adapted to be screwed into a threaded hole in the base of the bathroom fixture; and a second male threaded portion of lesser diameter with threads in an opposite direction adapted to pass freely through the hole, for connecting to a female pipe fitting; wherein the first and second male threaded portions are arranged such that the screwing attachment of a female pipe fitting to the second male threaded portion induces tightening between the first male threaded portion and the threaded hole in the bathroom fixture base.

2. The drainage outlet of claim 1 wherein the threads of the first male threaded portion are of a left-handed orientation.

3. The drainage outlet of claim 1 wherein the threads of the first male threaded portion are of a right-handed orientation.

4. The drainage outlet of claim 1 further comprising a sealing flange adapted to be in sealing contact with the bathroom fixture base.

5. The drainage outlet of claim 1 wherein the threaded hole further comprises a depression adapted to receive the sealing flange.

6. An insert when used in a base of a bathroom fixture, the insert comprising: a hollow cylindrical section sized to receive a first male threaded portion of a drainage outlet of any one of claims 1 to 5; and a female threaded portion on an inner surface of the hollow cylindrical section, the female threaded portion having threads arranged complementary to threads of the first male threaded portion of the drainage outlet.

7. The insert of claim 6 adapted to permit the bathroom fixture base to be cast, moulded or otherwise shaped around it.

8. A method of installing a drainage outlet in a bathroom fixture base, comprising the steps of: forming a threaded hole in the bathroom fixture base, wherein the thread is oriented in a particular direction; and inserting a drainage outlet, the drainage outlet comprising a first and second threaded portion, the first portion threaded to match the direction of the threaded hole and the second portion having lesser diameter than the first portion and being threaded in an opposing direction.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the fixture base is formed by casting, pouring, shaping or moulding a liquid or resin into a shaped mould and allowing the liquid or resin to solidify; and the mould is shaped or modified such that the liquid or resin solidifies to produce the fixture base with the threaded hole formed therein.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9 wherein the threaded hole is formed by a threaded insert.

11. The method of claim 8 or 9 wherein the drainage outlet is adapted to be inserted into the threaded hole and affixed therein by adhesive means.

12. A bathroom fixture base having a drainage outlet as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5.

13. The bathroom fixture base of claim 12, further comprising an insert of either claim 6 or claim 7.

14. A bathroom fixture base having a drainage outlet installed according to the method of any of claims 8 to 11.