AU635613B2

AU635613B2 - Improvements to traps

Info

Publication number: AU635613B2
Application number: AU71135/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gavin McDonald Fenwick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-16
Filing date: 1991-02-18
Publication date: 1993-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-18
Also published as: AU7113591A

Description

PATENTS ACT 1952 3~t '5 613 P/0o/011 Form COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int., CI: jppfication Number: See 0 1 -4 4 1j. 0 eg** 'Comn~pete Specification-Lodged: 0 Accepted: Priority: Lapsed: Published: leatod Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT GAVIN McDONALD FENWICK Name of Applicant: Alddregs of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: P0 Box 170, TWEED HEADS NSW 2485 GAVIN McDONALD FENWICK JOHN R.G. GARDNER Registered Patent Attorney P0 Box 443 M(DGEERABA Q 4213 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAPS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-* Noto: The description is to bo typod in double spacing, pica typo faco, in an area not exceeding 250 mm In depth and IGO0mm In width, on tough white papor of good quality and It Is to bo Inserted inside this form.

14599/70- L Printcd by C. J. THIOMPSON, Commnonwcalth Govcriiinctit Primecr, Caubcrra THIS INVENTION relates to improvements to traps and particularly to waste traps of the type in which liquid remains and forms a seal for preventing the escape of air or gases.

It is common practice and a requirement when installing into households or the like, liquid containers such as bath tubs and basins or sinks, to employ a trap of either S or P configuration which incorporates a U-shaped or double curved section in which liquid is trapped to form a seal to prevent the escape of air or gases from beneath or beyond the seal.

Whilst conventional traps normally function efficiently in this respect they are generally not aesthetically pleasing nor compact so that their appearance in many situations, for example in association with pedestals basins is not attractive.

Furthermore, the configuration of conventional traps renders them difficult to install in confined spaces.

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages by providing an improved waste trap which is visually attractive and which is compact thereby rendering it useful in many situations. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides a waste trap including a hollow housing having an inlet and an outlet, upwardly directed duct means communicating with said outlet and terminating at a position within said housing and defining at its upper edge a weir wall for the passage of waste water or other liquid thereover, and cap or cover means within said housing and arranged coaxially with said duct means, said cap or cover means including a downwardly directed wall portion 30 terminating at a position below said upper edge of said duct means and being spaced from said duct means, whereby liquid entering said inlet passes into said housing beneath said wall portion and over said upper edge of said duct means through said outlet.

Suitably the housing means is circular in transverse cross-section and of generally oval form in longitudinal cross- Ssection. Suitably also the housing means comprises upper and lower parts which may be releasably intercos.< 'ted such as by a bayonet fixing or screw fixing.

The cap or cover means is preferably of torrespherical form and supported coaxially relative to said duct means by means of a plurality of radially extending arms. Alternatively the cap or cover means may be supported externally to the housing.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference ,;ill now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section view of the tr p according to the present invention connected to a waste; Fig. 2 is an exploded sectional view showing the components of the trap of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an exploded view of an alternative housing assembly for the trap.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a trap according to the present invention including a hollow housing assembly 11 comprising a first upper housing part 12 provided with an inlet pipe 13 and a lower housing part 14 provided with an outlet pipe 15, the lower housing part 14, comprising a weir. The upper and lower housing parts are of complementary cupped shaped form with the upper part 12 being provided with an enlarged annular rib 16 about its periphery whilst the lower part 14 is provided with an annular recess 17 adapted for receiving the annular rib 16. The lower part 14 is also externally threaded at 18 adjacent the recess 17 and an internally threaded clamping ring 19 is adapted for threaded engagement with the thread 18 so as to clamp the two 30 housing parts together in the manner shown in Fig. 1. To ensure sealing between the parts an annular 0-ring 20 is located in the recess 17 so as to be compressed by the rib 16 upon tightening of the clamping ring 19. It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that when the housing parts 12 and 14 are interconnected as above the inlet pipe 13 is substantially aligned with the outlet pipe SThe outlet pipe 15 is externally threaded at 21 for engagement by a threaded clamping ring 22 and is further sized to receive a drain pipe 23 which is neatly received within the outlet pipe 15 and projects into the housing part 14. The ring 22 and outlet pipe 15 are provided with opposed annular rebated portions 24 and 25 for receipt of a seal 26 the latter being compressed upon tightening of the ring 22 about the drain pipe 23.

Adapted for location over the projecting end of the drain pipe 23 is a cap assembly 27 which comprises a short section of pipe 28 provided with an inwardly directed annular rib 29 .Tu. adapted for seating on the upper edge of the pipe 23. The upper edge 30 of the pipe 28 defines a weir wall over which liquid passes. Secured to the pipe 28 or formed integrally therewith is a torrespherical cap 31 which is located above the edge 30 and which includes a downwardly extending skirt 32 and a part spherical top wall 33. A plurality of radially directed arms 34 extend between the pipe 28 and the skirt 32 to support the cap 31 coaxially relative to the pipe 28 with the lower edge 35 of the skirt 32 being disposed below the upper edge 30 of the pipe 28.

The inlet pipe 13 is provided with an annular rib 36 spaced from its end and holding captive a threaded clamping ring 37 adapted for engagement with a conventional waste 38. A seal 39 may be placed between the rib 36 and the waste 38 so as to be compressed upon tightening of the ring 37.

In use anJ assuming first time operation of the device liquid from a container to which the waste 38 is attached passes when released through the waste 38 and the inlet pipe 13 into the housing assembly 11 to gather in the region 40 of the lower housing part 14. As liquid is received within the region the liquid level will rise in that region 40 until it passes over the edge 30 of the pipe 28 and thence through the drain pipe 23.

A quantity of liquid, however, will remain within the housing part at the level 41 as determined by the position of the upper edge of the pipe 28. Liquid at the level 41 provides in the annular region between the skirt 32 and the pipe 28 a liquid seal preventing escape of gas or odours from the drain pipe 23 to the inlet pipe 13. Any further liquid which passes into the waste 38 will displace liquid in the region 40 which passes into the drain pipe 23, however, at all times the liquid will remain at level 41 within the trap 10 thereby maintaining the seal.

It will be apparent that the trap of the invention functions in a similar manner to S or P traps in retaining a quantity of water or liquid at a seal, however, the configuration of the trap described above is much more compact and aesthetically pleasing t-,an known traps.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is illustrated a housing assembly 11' which may be used in the trap of the invention and which replaces the components 19, 12, and 14 of the trap of Figs.

1 and 2. This housing assembly 11' comprises upper and lower parts "'45 12' and 14' which include couplings 37' and 21' which enable the 0*• housing assembly 11 to be connected into a plumbing system. In this embodiment, however, the housing parts 12' and 14' are adapted to be interconnected by means of a bayonet type connection. For this purpose the lower ho~uing part 14' includes an upper shroud 42 defined by an annular wall 43 provided with a plurality of Lshaped slots 44 therein which open to the upper edge of the wall 43.

The upper housing part 12' includes on its lower side a connecting sleeve 45 formed as an annular wall 46 provided with a polurality of outward projections 47, corresponding in spacing and number to the number of slots 44. The lower edge of the wall 46 is recessed at 48 so as to receive an O-ring seal 49 and the lower housing part 14' includes a ledge 50 against which the seal 49 may be urged.

In use the two housing parts 12' and 14' may be interconnected by aligning the projections 47 with the slots 44 and moving the housing parts towards each other so that the projections 47 move into the slots 44 as the sleeve 45 moves into the shroud 42. One housing part 12' is then rotated relative to the other part 14' so that the projection 47 moves along the base of the slot 44 thereby maintaining the parts 12' and 14' in positive engagement. When the housing parts 12' and 14' are engaged as above the seal 49 is compressed between the end of the wall 46 and ledge 50 so that the housing parts are sealed together.

Preferably the end of each slot 44 is provided with enlarged portion 51 in which the projections 47 locate so as to prevent rotation of the housing parts 12' and 14' until the projections 47 are moved out of the portions 51 by urging the housing parts 12' and 14' towards each other.

Many variations may be made to the invention described in the above embodiment. For example the cap 31 may be 0 supported to the housing part 14 rather than on he duct 28.

Similarly other configurations may change without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention.

The trap of the invention is suitably formed of plastics material, however, it may be formed of other materials as required to suit the application. If the trap is required to be of P configuration the drain pipe 23 may be connected to an elbow which directs the outlet of the pipe 23 to one side.

Do S The cap 31 may be of any diameter provided that it is greater in diameter than the pipe 28. The top wall 33 of the cap 31 is preferably domed as shown to direct liquid to the side of the cap 31, however, it will be apparent that the top wall 33 may have other configurations such as a conical configuration.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in -he art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A waste trap including a hollow housing having an inlet and an outlet, upwardly directed duct means communicating with said outlet and terminating at a position within said housing and defining at its upper edge a weir wall for the passage of waste water or other liquid thereover, and cap or cover means within said housing and arranged coaxially with said duct means, said cap or cover means including a downwardly directed wall portion terminating at a position below said upper edge of said duct means and being spaced from said duct means, whereby liquid entering said inlet passes into said housing beneath said wall portion and over said upper edge of said duct means through said outlet.

2. A waste trap according to claim 1 wherein said cap or cover means is supported to said duct means and wherein said wall portion comprises an annular wall or skirt.

3. A waste trap according to claim 2 wherein said cap or cover means is supported to said duct means by means of a Si plurality of radially extending arms.

4. A waste trap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cap or cover means is of torrespherical 25 form.

5. A waste trap according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said inlet is disposed above said cap or cover means. S• 30

6. A waste trap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said inlet is arranged coaxially with said outlet.

7. A waste trap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing includes upper and lower housing parts adapted to be releasably interconnected. 8

8. A waste trap according to Claim 7 wherein said upper and lower housing parts include said inlet and outlet respectively.

9. A waste trap according to Claim 8 wherein said outlet is adapted to receive a drain pipe and wherein said duct means is mounted to said drain pipe.

A waste trap according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein said upper and lower housing parts are adapted to be interconnected by a bayonet type connection.

11. A waste trap according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein said upper and lower parts are adapted to be interconnected by a screw connection.

12. A waste trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this twenty-ninth day of January 1993 GAVIN MACDONALD FENWICK By My Patent Attorney JOHN R. G. GARDNER S S S S.