AU2019284086B1

AU2019284086B1 - Improved plumbing fitting and attachment

Info

Publication number: AU2019284086B1
Application number: AU2019284086A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Luke Bolton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-24
Filing date: 2019-12-24
Publication date: 2020-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-24

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to an improved attachment means for attaching a plumbing fitting to a substrate, the attachment means including a baseplate having a front face to which the inlet is connectable, and a mounting plate extending from the baseplate, wherein the mounting plate has an outer surface which is formed divergently to the front face, and the mounting plate contains an aperture formed there through configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate, for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate. The invention also relates to a plumbing fitting comprising the improved attachment means and an inlet.

Description

IMPROVED PLUMBING FITTING AND ATTACHMENT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved plumbing fitting and an improved attachment means of a plumbing fitting.

Background of the Invention

During construction of buildings, plumbing systems are installed which connect a supply service, e.g. a mains service, to various service points within and around the building. The internal service points are usually installed once the building frame is complete and before internal surfaces e.g. floors, walls and ceilings are constructed. This stage of construction is known as ‘rough-in’. The building frame provides numerous points for securing the 15 plumbing installations and keeps unsightly piping hidden away when the building is complete e.g. within wall cavities. The internal service points often include pipe fittings which join to the hidden piping within wall cavities and project outwardly through wall surfaces for joining to various fixtures, e.g. taps, faucets etc.

Building frames are often constructed using timber or steel materials and are comprised of a number of different types of structural elements including bottom plates, studs, noggins and top plates for walls, and beams, rafters and joists for roofs. These elements are often cut to size and assembled on site, though may be pre-fabricated. Whatever the case, a finished frame is comprised of many hundreds, if not thousands, of individual structural 25 elements. Plumbing installations are also large and complex and the internal service points are numerous, such that frame building and rough-in is a large, expensive and timeconsuming task.

Pipe fittings of these internal service points of a building are usually attached to noggins. A 30 noggin is a horizontal structural element secured between vertical studs, generally with an outward face that rests flush with the outward face of the studs. Not all noggins have pipe fittings attached, and those that do are required to be installed uniquely, so that they are set-back from the face of the studs to allow sufficient space between the pipe fitting and plaster board or sheeting against the stud. Also, additional noggins or other attachment 35 points are often required to be built into the frame. These are additional frame building and rough-in steps in what is already a large and complex task.

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It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least alleviate, one or more of the difficulties or deficiencies associated with the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the present invention provides a plumbing fitting including an inlet and an attachment means, the attachment means including a baseplate having a front face to which the inlet is connected, and a mounting plate extending from the baseplate, wherein 10 the mounting plate has an outer surface which is formed divergently to the front face, and the mounting plate contains an aperture formed there through configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate, for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate.

By “inlet” as used herein is meant a point of entry of a plumbed substance and a conduit of conveyance of a plumbed substance. The plumbed substance may be gas or liquid, preferably water. Suitably, the inlet may join to piping or other conduit. To this end, the inlet may include a joining means for a pipe, suitably about its point of entry, which may be for example a threaded portion (male orfemale), clip, nipple, weldable or solderable surface, or 20 crimpable surface. The inlet may also include a valve. The inlet may also alter the direction of conveyance of the plumbed substance, for example through a bend or elbow.

The substrate to which the plumbing fitting may be attached may include timber, steel, brick, concrete or the like. The substrate may be external or internal to a building. 25 Preferably, the substrate is an internal structural element of a building including but not limited to a noggin, stud, bottom or top plate, lintel, brace, rafter or the like. More preferably, the substrate is a noggin or stud and is most preferably made of timber.

The baseplate may be any size and shape fit for purpose. For example, it may be regularly 30 or irregularly shaped, solid or hollow, and insofar as its front face presents, solidly or spatially formed. In other words, the baseplate may function as a support means to which the inlet is connected and from which the mounting plate extends. In preferred embodiments, the baseplate is formed with generally planar front and rear faces, with a depth dimension there between which is preferably smaller than the planar dimensions of 35 the front and rear faces. Preferably, the baseplate is a cuboid structure with front and rear faces that define a length and width dimension, and side faces which define a smaller depth

2019284086 24 Dec 2019

-4 dimension. The baseplate may include one or more holes which may be configured to receive a fixing element for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate. In preferred embodiments, the holes are formed in the baseplate through the depth dimension in a direction perpendicular to the plane of both the front and rear faces for receiving a fixing element front-on to the baseplate. In this way, the plumbing fitting may be attached to a substrate with its rear face in abutment with the substrate. Preferably, the baseplate includes three holes so-formed, arranged in a triangular pattern about where the inlet is connected to the front face of the baseplate.

By the outer surface of the mounting plate being formed “divergently” to the front face is meant that it is formed in a different general direction to that in which the front face of the baseplate is formed. In other words, it lies out of plane with the front face at the point from which it diverges. In preferred embodiments, the outer surface of the mounting plate is formed substantially perpendicularly to the front face. The mounting plate may otherwise generally be any size and shape fit for purpose, its function being generally to contain an aperture for receiving a fixing element. In preferred embodiments, the mounting plate is formed with an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface may be that which contains the point of exit of the fixing element when received through its aperture, and is intended to be in abutment with the substrate when attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate using a fixing element. By the same token, the inner surface may be that which contains the point of entry for the fixing element to be received through its aperture. In preferred embodiments, the outer and inner surfaces are formed to be generally planar with a depth dimension there between which is smaller than the planar dimensions of the outer and inner surfaces. In this way, the mounting plate may take the form of a lug, though preferably the mounting plate is a cuboid structure with outer and inner surfaces that define a length and width dimension, and side surfaces that define a smaller depth dimension. The mounting plate may also extend from only a portion of the baseplate or it may be contiguous with a full dimension of the baseplate, for example the full length or width dimension of the front or rear face. It may also extend in any given direction from the baseplate, so long as its outer surface is formed divergently to the front face of the baseplate. In preferred embodiments, the mounting plate extends forward from and is contiguous with the full dimension of an edge of the front face of the baseplate, with its outer and inner surfaces formed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the front face. In other words, the mounting plate may extend from the front face of the baseplate in the same direction as that in which the inlet is connected. In preferred embodiments, the mounting plate has a depth dimension which is the same as that of the baseplate.

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The size and shape of the aperture of the mounting plate may be dictated by the application at hand and the type of fixing element to be used. Most often, the fixing element will be received through the aperture and into the substrate with a portion remaining within the 5 aperture and a head pressing against an inner surface of the mounting plate. To this end, the fixing element may generally be a screw, bolt, rivet or nail and the like. The fixing element and aperture may be compatibly threaded to assist in holding the attachment means in place. The aperture may be configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate by way of the divergence of the mounting plate and the 10 direction in which the aperture is formed in the mounting plate. For example, the direction in which the aperture is formed in the mounting plate may indicate to a user that the fixing element is to be received in about the same or similar direction, and/or it may guide the fixing element to be received in about the same or similar direction (for example by its abutment within the aperture). To this end, the aperture may be formed in the mounting 15 plate in any given direction relative to e.g. the outer surface, so long as the fixing element is receivable in a direction which is not front-on to the baseplate. In preferred embodiments, the aperture is formed in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the outer surface of the mounting plate, or in other words, may be formed in the depth dimension. In this way, as the outer surface of the mounting plate is divergent to the front 20 face of the baseplate, then the aperture so formed will not align front-on to the baseplate, and will thereby be configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate. The depth dimension of the mounting plate may also assist, as the greater the depth dimension the greater indication may be provided to a user, and/or the greater guidance may be provided to the fixing element, and the nearer to the same direction the 25 fixing element may be received therein. For example, in preferred embodiments where the outer and inner surfaces of the mounting plate are formed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the front face, the aperture may be formed in the depth dimension of the mounting plate substantially perpendicularly to the outer and inner surfaces, and thus be configured to receive the fixing element in the same or similar direction - in a direction 30 aligned similarly to the plane of the front face and not front-on thereto. The mounting plate may include one or two or three or more apertures so-formed. In preferred embodiments, the mounting plate contains two apertures, each as herein described.

In preferred embodiments, the depth dimension of the mounting plate is about the same or 35 less than a diameter of the aperture. As often the gauge of the fixing element is similar, though slightly less than, the diameter of the aperture, then similarly often the depth

-62019284086 24 Dec 2019 dimension of the mounting plate is about the same or less than the gauge of the fixing element to be used. Generally speaking a fixing element is up to many times longer than a diameter of an aperture configured to receive it, and similarly up to many times longer than its gauge, so this depth dimension may thus be a fraction of the length of the fixing element.

Also in preferred embodiments, the depth dimension is an even smaller fraction of the length or width dimension of the front face of the baseplate. In this way, a fixing element that is shorter than the length and/or width dimension of the front face of the baseplate may suitably be used. This is advantageous, as it allows the use of the same fixing elements e.g. standard screws as are used with conventional plumbing fittings.

The mounting plate with its divergent outer surface and so-formed aperture gives rise to an advantage of the present invention, as it broadens the attachment applicability of plumbing fittings to substrates. This is exemplified in the case of attachment to building frames. Conventional fittings are attached to the front of noggins using a lug mount which has an 15 aperture for receiving a fixing front-on. This requires the noggin to be set back to allow sufficient space for the plumbing fitting to fit within the wall cavity. The attachment means of the present invention allows for attachment from other directions; for example from the side, from the top and/or from the bottom, thereby allowing the plumbing fitting to be attached to the side, to the top and/or to the bottom of a substrate. In the case of building frames, this 20 may be to the top or bottom of horizontal noggins with no noggin set-back required, and also to alternative elements, such as to the side of a vertical stud. This effectively allows for the plumbing fitting itself to be set-back, rather than the structural element, thereby removing from frame construction and rough-in the additional step of installing set-back elements. Of course, in preferred embodiments where the baseplate also includes holes for 25 receiving a fixing element front-on to the baseplate, the plumbing fitting may also be attached from the front, to the front of a substrate.

The attachment means may contain more than one mounting plate, for example two or three or four or more. Each mounting plate may independently extend from the baseplate 30 and be otherwise as herein described. Preferably, the attachment means includes three mounting plates each as herein described with an outer surface formed divergently to the front face of the baseplate, and each containing at least one aperture as herein described. Preferably, each mounting plate diverges forwards from (e.g. in the same direction as that in which the inlet is connected), and is contiguous with a full dimension of, an edge of the 35 front face, with its outer and inner surfaces formed perpendicularly thereto. When more than one mounting plate is present, preferably the mounting plates are conjoined so as to

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- 7 form a single wall around two or more sides of the front face of the baseplate. In a preferred embodiment there are three mounting plates so formed, conjoined so as to form a single wall around three sides of the face of the baseplate. In these embodiments, preferably the side of the baseplate from which a mounting plate does not diverge is that adjacent to, or most proximal to, the point of entry of the inlet. Preferably the single wall extends at right angles to the front face of the baseplate, and each mounting plate contains two apertures configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate. Also in preferred embodiments, the apertures in the mounting plates diverging at right angles forwards from opposite edges of the front face of the base plate are aligned, to allow the option of the use of a fixing element that is longer than the length or width dimension of the front face to be received in both of the aligned apertures for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate.

In its connecting to the face of the attachment means, the inlet may be positioned in any suitable orientation. Preferably, the inlet is positioned with a direction of substance flow at the point of entry which is parallel to the face of the attachment means. The inlet may also be connected to the front face centrally to or off-set from the centre of the face, preferably substantially centrally. Similarly, the direction of substance flow at the point of entry of the inlet may be positioned relative to the mounting plate and direction in which its aperture is configured to receive a fixing element. For example, they may be aligned parallel or perpendicularly or otherwise, though preferably parallel or perpendicularly. This expands on the advantage of the attachment means, in that the attachment of the plumbing fitting to a substrate is additionally flexible by allowing the attachment from any direction e.g. from the side, top or below, at the same time with a desired direction of substance flow at the point of entry of the inlet. For example, in the case of building frames, commonly the inlet will be oriented with its direction of substance flow at the point of entry being upwards from below, for example to be joined to a pipe extending up from ground level. The inlet and mounting plate with its directionally formed aperture may thus be positioned relatively to allow the attachment to a substrate from one side or the other, from above or from below, as required. In other words, there may be a mounting plate extending from the baseplate to attach the plumbing fitting to a substrate at a position above the point of connection of the inlet to the baseplate, or at a positon below or to either side. Of course, any two or all may be available when the attachment means includes two or more mounting plates positioned differently relative to the inlet. In preferred embodiments, there is a mounting plate extending from the baseplate to attach the plumbing fitting to a substrate at a position above the point of connection of the inlet, and to either side, with apertures formed parallel

-82019284086 24 Dec 2019 and perpendicular with the direction of substance flow at the inlet, respectively. The same result may also be achieved using a connection of the inlet to the front face of the base plate which is adjustable e.g. rotatable. Also, when one or more holes are included in the baseplate, the attachment may also be from the front; front-on to the front face of the 5 baseplate.

The attachment means may be attached to the substrate with its front face oriented any which way, though usually it faces outwardly from the substrate, for example into a room of a building or to the external fascia - surface - of a building. In embodiments involving 10 attachment to an internal structural element of a building, preferably at least one of the length and width dimensions of the baseplate is smaller than the width of the structural element, e.g. the noggin or stud.

Preferably, the plumbing fitting also includes an outlet. By “outlet” as used herein is meant a 15 point of exit of the plumbed substance from the conduit of the inlet. The outlet preferably includes a joining means for a plumbing fixture. The joining means may be for example a threaded portion (male orfemale), clip, nipple, weldable or solderable surface, or crimpable surface. Preferably, the joining means is a threaded portion for joining to a tap or end cap. Accordingly, together the outlet and inlet may define a conduit with an entry and exit point 20 for the plumbed substance, as may be described as an adapter, elbow, pipe join, tee pipe join or manifold, among others. As such, the terms inlet and outlet are to be understood without limitation to form, but rather to function. Like the inlet, the outlet may be positioned in any suitable orientation. Preferably, the outlet is positioned with a direction of substance flow outwards from the front face of the attachment means and preferably oriented laterally 25 facing into a room of a building or to the external fascia or surface of a building, as the case may be, and in preferred embodiments oriented in a direction parallel to the mounting plate. Also preferably, the inlet conduit is relatively elongate so that the outlet is positioned a distance from the face of the attachment means as may be required, for example to protrude through wall surfaces for attachment of fixtures. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, 30 together the inlet and the outlet define an elbow.

The skilled addressee will understand that the dimensions of each of the preferred embodiments can be adapted to allow for fixing to unconventional shapes, or other surfaces to which a plumbing fitting may be attached.

-92019284086 12 May 2020 ln one embodiment, the inlet may be inseparable from the face of the attachment means. In this case it may be integral with the face or otherwise permanently connected, for example by welding, soldering or being moulded. Preferably, the inlet and the face of the attachment means, and more preferably the inlet and the whole attachment means, are made of the 5 same material, preferably a metal or alloy, such as copper or brass, and are moulded together.

In an alternative embodiment, the inlet may be separable from the face of the attachment means. In this case, the inlet may be connected to the face in any suitable way including for 10 example using a fixing element. Alternatively, the attachment means and inlet may be provided with complementary threads for the connection of the inlet to the attachment means. Thus, in these embodiments preferably the face has a connecting means for connecting to the inlet. This may be by way of a means for receiving a fixing element, or a thread. The inlet and the face of the attachment means, or the inlet and the whole 15 attachment means, may be made of any suitable connectable materials, preferably the same material and most preferably a metal or alloy, such as copper or brass.

Accordingly, in another aspect, the present invention provides an attachment means for attaching a plumbing fitting to a substrate, the attachment means including a baseplate 20 having a front face to which an inlet is connectable, and a mounting plate extending from the baseplate, wherein the mounting plate has an outer surface which is formed divergently to the front face, and the mounting plate contains an aperture formed there through configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate, for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate.

While in this aspect of the invention the attachment means and inlet may be separate and connectable, they each may otherwise be generally as described herein.

In this specification, the term ‘comprises’ and its variants are not intended to exclude the 30 presence of other integers, components or steps. Also, reference to any prior art in the specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or New Zealand or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably expected to be combined by a person skilled in the art.

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The present invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying Examples and drawings. It should be understood, however, that the description following is illustrative only and should not be taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention described above.

Brief Description of the Drawings/Figures

Figure 1 A-E depict an embodiment of the plumbing fitting in various views.

Figure 2 A-C depict an isometric projection of an embodiment of the plumbing fitting to be attached to a substrate.

Figures 3 A-C each depict an isometric projection of an embodiment of the plumbing fitting attached to a substrate.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Figures 1A-E depict a plumbing fitting (2) including an inlet (3) with a point of entry (8) for a plumbed substance and an attachment means (4). In this embodiment, the inlet is a brass 20 right angled elbow, including an outlet (7) being a point of exit for a plumbed substance.

The inlet (3) is formed with a short screw male thread (10) on one end for joining to a pipe (not shown), and an extended male screw thread (12) on the other end about the outlet for joining to a plumbing fixture. The attachment means (4) includes a baseplate (6) having a front face (9) to which the inlet is connected. In this embodiment, the baseplate is a cuboid structure having a generally rectangular front (9) and rear face (5) with a length (L) and width (W1) dimension. The baseplate includes three holes (16) each formed there through for receiving a fixing element (not shown) in a direction front-on to the front face. The holes are arranged in a triangular pattern about where the inlet is connected to the front face of the baseplate. The attachment means also includes three mounting plates (14). In this embodiment, the mounting plates are cuboid structures having an outer (20) and an inner (13) surface with a length (L or W1) and width (W2) dimension, and side surfaces (22) having a depth (D) dimension. The outer and inner surfaces of each mounting plate diverge forwards (i.e. in the same direction as that in which the inlet is connected) from an edge of the front face of the mounting plate perpendicularly thereto. The mounting plates are also contiguous with the full length (L) or width (W1) dimension of the baseplate. The mounting plates are also conjoined about the corners of the front face so as to form a single wall

-11 2019284086 24 Dec 2019 around three sides of the front face of the baseplate. Each mounting plate also contains two apertures (11) formed in the depth (D) dimension. The apertures are formed substantially perpendicularly to the outer and inner faces of the mounting plates and as such are aligned substantially parallel with the front face of the baseplate, so as to receive a fixing element in 5 a similar direction. The depth dimension of the mounting plates is also a small fraction of both the length and width (W1) dimensions of the front face of the baseplate.

Figure 2A shows the plumbing fitting (2) of Figure 1 attached to a substrate and 2B is an enlarged section of Figure 2A. In this embodiment, the substrate is a timber stud (15). The 10 plumbing fitting is to be attached to the side of the stud by screws (not shown) passing through apertures (11) formed in the mounting plate (14) and into the stud. As can be seen, the plumbing fitting is set back relative to the face of the stud, so the structural element need not be. The attachment using screws (19) is shown in Figure 3C. As can generally be appreciated, the apertures (11) are formed to be aligned substantially parallel with the front 15 face of the baseplate and so-configured to receive a screw in a similar direction (which is not front-on to the front face of the baseplate). As is also seen, the depth dimension of the mounting plate is a fraction of the length of the fixing element, less than the diameter of the aperture and gauge of the screw (i.e. less than the screw diameter), and an even smaller fraction of the length or width dimension of the baseplate. Accordingly, the screws (19) 20 used are shorter than the length and width dimension of the baseplate. That said, the apertures in the mounting plates located on opposing sides of the baseplate are aligned so that a longer screw which passes through both apertures may be used if desired.

The plumbing fitting may also be attached to another side of a stud or to an underside of a 25 noggin (17) using the apertures formed in the alternative mounting plates. This is depicted in Figures 3A and 3B. In this embodiment, as the baseplate also includes holes, the plumbing fitting may also be attached to the front of a noggin or other substrate as is depicted in Figure 3C.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as outlined herein.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A plumbing fitting including an inlet and an attachment means, the attachment means including a baseplate having a front face to which the inlet is connected, and a 5 mounting plate extending from the baseplate, wherein the mounting plate has an outer surface which is formed divergently to the front face, and the mounting plate contains an aperture formed there through configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate, for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate.

10
2. A plumbing fitting according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is formed with an outer surface and an inner surface each formed to be generally planar with a depth dimension there between which is smaller than the planar dimensions of the outer and inner surfaces.

15
3. A plumbing fitting according to claim 2, wherein the mounting plate is a cuboid structure with the outer and inner surfaces defining a length and width dimension, and side surfaces that define a smaller depth dimension.
4. A plumbing fitting according to claim 3, wherein the aperture is formed in a 20 direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the outer surface of the mounting plate.
5. A plumbing fitting according to claim 4, wherein the mounting plate extends forwards from and is contiguous with the full dimension of an edge of the front face of the 25 baseplate with its outer and inner surfaces formed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the front face.
6. A plumbing fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mounting plate includes two apertures formed there through configured to receive a fixing element in 30 a direction other than front-on to the baseplate.
7. A plumbing fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the attachment means includes three mounting plates each formed with an outer and an inner surface diverging forwards from and being contiguous with a full dimension of an edge of the front 35 face of the baseplate, wherein the outer and inner surfaces are formed perpendicularly to the front face of the baseplate, and wherein the mounting plates are conjoined so as to form

-132019284086 12 May 2020 a single wall around three sides of the front face of the baseplate, each mounting plate containing two apertures configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate.
8. A plumbing fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the baseplate is a cuboid structure with front and rear faces that define a length and width dimension, and side faces which define a smaller depth dimension.
9. A plumbing fitting according to claim 8, wherein the baseplate includes one or more holes configured to receive a fixing element for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate, wherein the holes are formed in the baseplate through the depth dimension in a direction perpendicular to the plane of both the front and rear faces for receiving a fixing element front-on to the baseplate.
10. A plumbing fitting according to claim 9, wherein the baseplate includes three holes arranged in a triangular pattern about where the inlet is connected to the front face of the baseplate.
11. A plumbing fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the depth dimension of the mounting plate is about the same or less than a diameter of the aperture, and a fraction of the length of the fixing element, and an even smaller fraction of the length or width dimension of the front face of the baseplate.
12. A plumbing fitting according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the inlet is an elbow.
13. A plumbing fitting according to any of claims 1 to 12, further including an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet.
14. A plumbing fitting according to claim 13, wherein when attached to a substrate the inlet is positioned with a direction of substance flow at its point of entry parallel to the front face of the baseplate and the outlet is positioned with a direction of substance flow at its point of exit outward from the front face of the baseplate.
15. An attachment means for attaching a plumbing fitting to a substrate, the attachment means including a baseplate having a front face to which an inlet is connectable, and a mounting plate extending from the baseplate, wherein the mounting

-14 2019284086 24 Dec 2019 plate has an outer surface which is formed divergently to the front face, and the mounting plate contains an aperture formed there through configured to receive a fixing element in a direction other than front-on to the baseplate, for attaching the plumbing fitting to a substrate.
16. An attachment means according to claim 15, when used to attach a plumbing fitting to a substrate.