AU2019283848A1 - Bathroom fixture drainage outlet and attachment means - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising a first male portion having a first rotatable fastening means configured to engage with a female receiving portion in a hole in the bathroom fixture base, a second male portion sized to pass freely through the hole, the second male portion having a second rotatable fastening means configured to engage with a female receiving portion of a pipe fitting, wherein the first rotatable fastening means and second rotatable fastening means are configured to engage with their respective female receiving portions by rotating in opposing directions about an axis. A method of installing the drainage outlet is also provided.

Description

BATHROOM FIXTURE DRAINAGE OUTLET AND ATTACHMENT MEANS

PRIORITY DETAILS [0001] The present application is a divisional application of AU 2018202693, filed on 18 April 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to a means for providing a drainage outlet in fittings and fixtures in a bathroom, laundry or otherwise 'wetroom' environment.

BACKGROUND [0003] The drainage outlet is an important feature of any bathroom, laundry area or 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 both during use thereof and once the fixture is no longer in use.

[0004] One way of dealing with waterproofing and sealing the drainage area is the use of a preformed shower base, which is a complete floor fixture that is ready to install as a watertight floor for a showers and similar areas. Shower bases install directly on the subfloor, eliminating the need to create a sloped mortar bed and/or to tile a shower. The shower base is typically 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. Damage to the exposed threaded portion 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.

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 [0005] 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.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0006] These and other advantages are met with the present invention, which in a first aspect, relates to a drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising a first male portion having a first rotatable fastening means configured to engage with a female receiving portion in a hole in the bathroom fixture base, a second male portion sized to pass freely through the hole, the second male portion having a second rotatable fastening means configured to engage with a female receiving portion of a pipe fitting, wherein the first rotatable fastening means and second rotatable fastening means are configured to engage with their respective female receiving portions by rotating in opposing directions about an axis.

[0007] In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second rotatable fastening means are selected from bayonet fittings and helical threads.

[0008] In an embodiment, the drainage outlet further comprises an insert that is inserted into the hole in the bathroom fixture base to provide the female receiving portion thereof. In an alternate embodiment, the female receiving portion is formed by cutting, shaping or reaming a surface of the hole.

[0009] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method of fixing a drainage outlet into a bathroom fixture base. In one embodiment, the method further relates to fitting the drainage outlet to a pipe fitting, and comprises the steps of:

(1) forming a hole into the bathroom fixture base;

(2) configuring the hole to comprise a female receiving portion that receives and engages with a rotatable fastening means;

(3) inserting the drainage outlet, comprising a consecutively-arranged first and second male portion, into the hole, the second male portion passing freely through the hole;

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 (4) engaging a first rotatable fastening means on the first male portion of the drainage outlet with the female receiving portion of the hole by rotating the drainage outlet; and (5) engaging a female receiving portion of the drainage pipe with a second rotatable fastening means on the second male portion of the drainage outlet by rotating the pipe fitting;

wherein the first rotatable fastening means and second rotatable fastening means are configured to engage with their respective female receiving portions by rotating in opposing directions about an axis, such that rotation of the pipe fitting to engage the female receiving portion of the pipe fitting with the second rotatable fastening means induces, increases or otherwise maintains engagement between the first rotatable fastening means and the female receiving portion of the hole.

[0010] In an alternate embodiment, the method relates to fixing the drainage outlet into an installed bathroom fixture base having an accessible first side and an opposing second side that is inaccessible, and comprises the steps of:

(1) forming a hole in the installed base extending from the first side through to the second side;

(2) configuring the hole to comprise a female receiving portion that receives and engages with a rotatable fastening means;

(3) inserting the drainage outlet, comprising a consecutively-arranged first and second male portion, into the hole, the second male portion passing freely through the hole; and (4) engaging a rotatable fastening means on the first male portion of the drainage outlet with the female receiving portion;

wherein all of the steps of the method are carried out from the first side of the installed bathroom fixture base.

[0011] In a further aspect, the present invention may, in one broad form, concern 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

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 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. In an embodiment, the threaded hole comprises a threaded boss on the bathroom fixture base. In an embodiment, the threaded hole further comprises a depression adapted to receive the sealing flange. 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.

[0012] A further aspect of the invention may concern 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.

[0013] In a further 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 insert.

[0014] 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 the method of the present invention.

2019283848 18 Dec 2019

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES [0015] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in relation to figures, wherein:

Figure 1A depicts an embodiment of the present invention for connection into a pipe fitting;

Figure IB depicts the embodiment of Figure 1A in an assembled state; and Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention for connection into a drain pan fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] 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 that may result in large quantities of water landing on the surface. Bathrooms, laundries and toilet facilities are examples of wet-room environments.

[0017] In a broad first aspect, the present invention provides for a drainage outlet that comprises two consecutively-arranged male portions, each portion comprising an fastening means and being configured to affix into a corresponding female portion of a plumbing fixture. In an embodiment, the first male portion comprises a first fastening means configured to fasten into an opening in the base of a bathroom fixture or other drainage hole, while the second male portion is of smaller diameter than the first, and comprises a second fastening means that is configured to fasten to plumbing fixtures, such as pipe fittings, drain traps, valves and other fixtures. The first fastening means and the second fastening means are rotating fastening means in that they 'fix into place' by rotation. By way of non-limiting example, some forms of rotating fastening means are threaded pipe segments and bayonet fittings.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1A & IB, the drainage outlet 10 is a plumbing fixture comprising two consecutively-arranged threaded male portions. The first male portion 12 comprises a first rotatable fastening means 12a adapted for threaded attachment to the base 16 of a bathroom

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 fixture or other drainage hole, which is configured to comprise a female receiving portion 18. In the embodiment depicted in Figures 1A & IB, the bathroom fixture base female receiving portion 18 is provided by threaded insert

20, but the skilled person will appreciate there are other means of providing the female receiving portion 18 without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0019] The second male portion 14 is of smaller diameter than the first male portion 12 and so will freely pass through the hole. The second male portion 14 comprises a second rotatable fastening means 14a adapted for rotatable attachment to the female receiving portion 22 of other plumbing fixtures 24, such as pipe fittings, drain traps, valves and other fixtures.

[0020] In preferred embodiments, the first and second rotatable fastening means 12a,14a are configured to fasten by rotating in opposing directions. For example, the first rotatable fastening means 12a may be configured to engage with and fasten into the opening by rotating in an anti-clockwise direction, and in such an embodiment, the second rotatable fastening means 14a is configured to engage with and fasten into a receiving plumbing fixture through clockwise rotation. With reference to the example shown in Figures 1A & IB,, if the first and second rotatable fastening means 12a,14a of the exemplary embodiment were threaded in the same direction, then the act of screwing a plumbing fixture 24 such as a pipe onto the second male portion 14 would induce an unscrewing or loosening action between the first male portion 12 and bathroom fixture base. By having opposing threads between the first and second portions 12, 14, the act of screwing a plumbing fixture 24 onto the second male portion 14 will instead induce a tightening action between the first male portion 12 and the bathroom fixture base 16. As the skilled person will appreciate, by having contra-rotating fastening means between the first and second portions 12, 14, the act of attaching a plumbing fixture 26 onto the second male portion 14 will instead induce a tightening action between the first male portion 12 and the female receiving portion 18 of the bathroom fixture base 16.

[0021] With regard to a particular embodiment of the invention that utilises screw threads, the handedness of a screw thread is defined such that an item with 'right-handed' threading moves away from the source of rotation when

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 rotated clockwise. The most common forms of screws, caps, nuts and other threaded fittings typically exhibit 'right-handedness' in their screw thread. 'Lefthanded' threading is thus threaded in the opposite direction, wherein counterclockwise rotation induces a movement away from the rotation source. Other forms of rotatable fastening means may be similarly defined as right-handed or left-handed.

[0022] Left-handed threading or left-handed rotational fastening is most commonly used when there is a need to prevent incorrect connections. Lefthanded threading is common in gas plumbing, for example, to prevent gas pipelines from being connected to water pipelines.

[0023] In an embodiment wherein the first and second rotatable fastening means 12a, 14a comprise threaded portions on the first and second male portions 12, 14, the threading of the portions may be such that the first rotatable fastening means 12a is threaded 'left-handedly', while the second rotatable fastening means 14a is threaded 'right-handedly'. This allows for the second male portion 14 to be easily attachable to some conventional pipe fittings of the appropriate size. However, the skilled person will appreciate that an embodiment wherein the threading of the first and second rotatable fastening means 12a, 14a, is reversed is within the scope of the invention.

[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the drainage outlet 10 may further comprise a sealing flange 26. The sealing flange 26 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 26 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 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.

[0025] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole which receives the first male portion 12 may comprise a female receiving portion 18 configured to

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 receive the fastening means of the first male portion on the bathroom fixture base. In a further embodiment, the female receiving portion 18 may be formed through drilling, reaming, cutting, boring or otherwise shaping the base so as to form the hole.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the female receiving portion may be formed by a hollow cylindrical insert 20, wherein the internal surface is configured in a direction matching that of the fastening means of the first male portion 12, and the insert 20 may be adapted to be inserted into a hole that has been cut, reamed, bored, drilled or otherwise formed in the bathroom fixture base 16. 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 16 may instead be shaped around the insert 20 at the time of construction of the base.

[0027] At least some of the embodiments of the invention are advantageous in that the potential damage to the drainage outlet is limited. In a prior art arrangement, the complete drainage outlet is affixed into the bathroom fixture base at the time of construction of the base, 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 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 becomes extremely difficult to securely attach the plumbing fittings to the fixture base in a watertight manner.

[0028] 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 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.

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 [0029] At least some embodiments of the present invention also provide for a means of installing a drainage outlet element 10 to a bathroom fixture base 16, which does not require clamping from both sides of the fixture base in order to provide a water-tight fitting between the drainage outlet 10 and the shower base 16, or part thereof. With reference to Figure 2, there is depicted an alternate form of a bathroom fixture base that utilises a drainage pan 28, the drainage pan 28 being (at least in the embodiment shown) embedded or encased in concrete or similar construction material. As the skilled person may appreciate from the exemplary embodiment depicted in Figure 2, once the drainage pan 28 and base 16 are installed, the underside 16b of the base 16 can no longer be accessed. At least the present embodiment of the invention may be affixed into the base 16 even though only one side 16a of the base 16 is readily accessible.

[0030] A further aspect of the invention provides for a method of affixing a drainage outlet 10 into a bathroom fixture base 16. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of:

1. forming a hole into the bathroom fixture base 16;

2. configuring the hole to comprise a female receiving portion 18 that receives and engages with a rotatable fastening means 12a;

3. inserting the drainage outlet 10, comprising a consecutively-arranged first and second male portion 12, 14, into the hole, the second male portion 14 passing freely through the hole;

4. engaging a first rotatable fastening means 12a on the first male portion of the drainage outlet 10 with the female receiving portion 18 of the hole by rotating the drainage outlet 10; and

5. engaging a female receiving portion 22 of the drainage pipe fixture 24 with a second rotatable fastening means 14a on the second male portion 14 of the drainage outlet 10 by rotating the pipe fixture 24.

[0031] In an embodiment of the method, the first rotatable fastening means 12a and second rotatable fastening means 12a are configured to engage with their respective female receiving portion 18s by rotating in opposing directions about an axis, such that rotation of the pipe fitting to engage the female ίο

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 receiving portion 18 of the pipe fitting with the second rotatable fastening means

12a induces, increases or otherwise maintains engagement between the first rotatable fastening means 12a and the female receiving portion 18 of the hole.

In a further embodiment, the drainage outlet 10 is an embodiment of the drainage outlet 10 of the first aspect of the invention.

[0032] In an embodiment of the invention, the drainage outlet 10 may be affixed into a bathroom fixture base 16 that is already installed, wherein a first side 16a of the bathroom fixture base 16 is accessible, but the second side 16b is not. As used herein, the 'second side 16b' of the bathroom fixture base 16 refers to the side that is concealed, covered, cemented or otherwise rendered inaccessible during the installation process. In such an embodiment, the method may comprise the steps of:

1. forming a hole in the installed base 16 extending from the first side 16a through to the second side 16b;

2. configuring the hole to comprise a female receiving portion 18 that receives and engages with a rotatable fastening means 12a;

3. inserting the drainage outlet 10, comprising a consecutively-arranged first and second male portion 12, 14, into the hole, the second male portion 14 passing freely through the hole; and

4. engaging a rotatable fastening means 12a on the first male portion 12 of the drainage outlet 10 with the female receiving portion 18.

[0033] In the above embodiment, all of the steps are carried out from the first side 16a of the installed bathroom fixture base 16.

[0034] The skilled person will appreciate that although the present application may primarily reference threaded fittings as one or both of the first and second male portions and their respective fastening means, the scope of the present invention is not limited simply to threaded fastening means. The skilled person will appreciate that the object of the invention is to provide a drainage outlet that comprises a first and second fastening means, to fasten the drainage outlet to the bathroom fixture base and to the plumbing fixture respectively, wherein the first and second fastening means rotatably fasten by rotating in opposite

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 directions, and that therefore the scope of the invention is not limited to the type of fastening means employed, but rather to the opposed arrangement of the first and second fastening means.

[0035] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms, 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 indicated in the specification, individually or collectively and any and all combinations or any two or more of the steps or features.

[0036] In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the word comprising is not intended to have the exclusive meaning of the word such as consisting only of, but rather has the non-exclusive meaning, in the sense of including at least. The same applies, with corresponding grammatical changes, to other forms of the word such as comprise, etc.

[0037] 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.

[0038] Any promises made in the present document should be understood to relate to some embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to be promises made about the invention in all embodiments. Where there are promises that are deemed to apply to all embodiments of the invention, the applicant/patentee reserves the right to later delete them from the description and they do not rely on these promises for the acceptance or subsequent grant of a patent in any country.

Claims (7)

1. A drainage outlet for a bathroom fixture base, comprising:

a first male portion having a first rotatable fastening means configured to engage with a female receiving portion in a hole in the bathroom fixture base;

a second male portion sized to pass freely through the hole, the second male portion having a second rotatable fastening means configured to engage with a female receiving portion of a pipe fitting;

wherein the first rotatable fastening means and second rotatable fastening means are configured to engage with their respective female receiving portions by rotating in opposing directions about an axis.

2. The drainage outlet of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second rotatable fastening means are selected from bayonet fittings and helical threads.

3. The drainage outlet of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an insert that is inserted into the hole in the bathroom fixture base to provide the female receiving portion thereof.

4. The drainage outlet of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the female receiving portion is formed by cutting, shaping or reaming a surface of the hole.

5. The drainage outlet of any one of the above claims, wherein the bathroom fixture base has a first side and a second side;

following an installation process, the second side is inaccessible; and the drainage outlet is configured to be affixed into the bathroom fixture base without requiring access to the second side, such that the drainage outlet is able to be affixed into the bathroom fixture base at all of before, during and after the bathroom fixture base installation process.

2019283848 18 Dec 2019

6. A method of fixing a drainage outlet into a bathroom fixture base and to a pipe fitting, comprising the steps of:

i. forming a hole into the bathroom fixture base;

ii. configuring the hole to comprise a female receiving portion that receives and engages with a rotatable fastening means;

iii. inserting the drainage outlet, comprising a consecutivelyarranged first and second male portion, into the hole, the second male portion passing freely through the hole;

iv. engaging a first rotatable fastening means on the first male portion of the drainage outlet with the female receiving portion of the hole by rotating the drainage outlet; and

v. engaging a female receiving portion of the drainage pipe with a second rotatable fastening means on the second male portion of the drainage outlet by rotating the pipe fitting;

wherein the first rotatable fastening means and second rotatable fastening means are configured to engage with their respective female receiving portions by rotating in opposing directions about an axis;

such that rotation of the pipe fitting to engage the female receiving portion of the pipe fitting with the second rotatable fastening means induces, increases or otherwise maintains engagement between the first rotatable fastening means and the female receiving portion of the hole.

7. A method of fixing a drainage outlet into an installed bathroom fixture base having an accessible first side and an opposing second side that is inaccessible, the method comprising the steps of:

i. forming a hole in the installed base extending from the first side through to the second side;

ii. configuring the hole to comprise a female receiving portion that receives and engages with a rotatable fastening means;

iii. inserting the drainage outlet, comprising a consecutivelyarranged first and second male portion, into the hole, the second male portion passing freely through the hole; and

2019283848 18 Dec 2019 iv. engaging a rotatable fastening means on the first male portion of the drainage outlet with the female receiving portion;

wherein all of the steps of the method are carried out from the first side of the installed bathroom fixture base.