AU727619B2

AU727619B2 - Attachment accessory for a sanitary element

Info

Publication number: AU727619B2
Application number: AU12626/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gregor Krzempek; Adolf Schweigert
Original assignee: Friatec AG
Current assignee: Friatec AG
Priority date: 1996-02-16
Filing date: 1997-02-11
Publication date: 2000-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-11
Also published as: AU1262697A; EP0790359A1; SK20497A3; PL318492A1; MX9701101A; ATE224984T1; HRP970082A2; NO970685D0; IL120197A; CZ35997A3; EP0790359B1; NO970685L; IL120197A0; PL182550B1; DE59708293D1; DE29602714U1

Abstract

The arrangement consists of a shallow box (4) which is mounted with its open end against a wall using four mounting lugs (14). The face of the box has a pattern of holes (20,21) on which any one of a variety of sanitary fixtures can be mounted. The arrangement further incorporates an accessory box (36), for e.g. valves, which has an extension (38) with which it fits into an opening in the top side of the box. The extension has a row of teeth (42,43) along either side with which securing elements (44,45) can be made to engage and which allow the vertical position of the accessory to be adjusted.

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Friatec Aktiengesellschaft Keramik-und Kunststoffwerke

S

*99*9 ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: Attachment accessory for a sanitary element The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- P:\OPER MPNI81799 ldailc-/n/A X) ,1A- ATTACHMENT ACCESSORY FOR A SANITARY UNIT The invention relates to an attachment accessory for a sanitary unit, and more particularly to an attachment accessory for a urinal.

The German Utility Patent according to DE 89 02 318 U1 discloses an attachment accessory, designed as a frame structure, preferably for innerwall installation. The attachment accessory is constructed of vertical beams and cross members which are manufactured separately and joined by means of screws or the like. Production costs are not inconsiderable.

German Publication DE 22 49 788 discloses a sanitary cell with a Ushaped shell for covering the feeding and discharge pipes of a washbasin. This shell is designed as an integral carrier for branch pipes, junction and connecting members for the basin and, in the downward direction, is provided with supporting legs. The weight of this shell substantially rests on these legs. At the inside of this shell there is provided, in a plane above the wash-basin, a stationary supporting member, preferably connected to a room wall, which is designed as a rail 20 bent to U-shape. At the upper side and at the lower side the shell is open and laterally there are provided two wings extending over the entire height of the shell, which wings extend in a direction substantially perpendicular e to the front wall of the shell. The shell extends substantially over the entire S"inner height of the room and thus serves as a covering for water conduits and discharge pipes arranged at the room wall and extending over the entire height of the building, from floor to floor. This sanitary cell is a rather large and bulky device, the costs of handling and mounting of which are not inconsiderable.

Setting out from this, it is one of the objects of the present invention to Rprovide a compact and yet universally applicable attachment accessory.

The accessory should involve low manufacturing and installation costs, P:\OPERPN\12626-97 We 242.doc-31 AugusL 2000 -2with easy and reliable adaptation to different sanitary elements such as, in particular, urinals. The attachment accessory should be of low weight, yet high stability, with long service life and high functional reliability being ensured.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an attachment accessory for a sanitary unit, said attachment accessory including a basic body having a front wall, wherein the front wall is formed as an integral part of the basic body, the front wall being provided with openings or recesses for elements of connection with the sanitary unit and a height-adjustable receptacle unit being provided at an upper end of the basic body, the receptacle unit having at its upper end a box as well as an adjustment rail extending downwardly from the box for connection with the basic body, the box having an opening at its front to facilitate the installation of fittings therein associated with the sanitary unit, and the basic body including guide means for the adjustment rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the proposed attachment accessory comprises a box-like basic body which, on its front wall, is provided with a plurality of 20 recesses or openings. These recesses or openings are designed to match *the hole spacing for bolts or other joining elements of the sanitary units.

The basic body is advantageously of integral construction, thus eliminating costly manufacturing and assembly processes. In a particular embodiment, the basic body is made of a plastic material, preferably by die-casting. Due to the fully plastic design of both the basic body and the receptacle unit to be discussed further below, as well as, if needed, a pipe clamp for the discharge pipe, corrosion problems are avoided which, in practice, are liable to appear with metal profiles, for instance, in hollow spaces behind dry facings. This ensures a service life of decades. In addition to the 30 substantially plane front wall and the two lateral walls, the basic body JiA- comprises, on its top, an upper wall. The connection between the two P: OPERUPN\1262697 spe 242.doc.3 AuguL 21XX) -3lateral walls by the upper wall considerably improves stability of the basic body. The front wall is preferably plate-shaped. Advantageously, the underside is equally provided with rearwardly directed walls, so that an at least approximately closed frame exists along the periphery. The basic body of such integral design is of high stability and requires little material.

Further, it has little weight and proper mounting of sanitary units of differing designs is ensured.

Preferably, the height-adjustable receptacle unit, for actuation of water flushing of the sanitary unit, specifically contains an inlet unit, valves, a flushing-tube elbow or the like, in order to supply the sanitary unit with flushing water when required. The receptacle unit thus receives the above-mentioned components which are largely factory-installed, so that installation work at the spot is considerably reduced. Due to the heightadjustable design of this receptacle unit, adaptation to differing mounting conditions and/or differently designed sanitary units is feasible with minimal effort. There is no need for special mounting elements for valves, pipe lines or the like for the flushing water at the masonry or at the inner wall.

The receptacle unit is preferably designed in such a way that its frontal edges are co-planar with the front surface of the front wall of the basic body. After the mounting of the attachment accessory, the basic body as well as the receptacle unit are faced by means of tiles, panels or the like, with the front opening of the receptacle unit remaining open, so that the valves or the like which are provided within the receptacle unit are easily accessible. Advantageously, the frontal edges may project beyond the above-mentioned plane of the surface by a predetermined amount, i.e., by the thickness of the tiles and/or facing panels, that is, by an order of magnitude of 10 to The receptacle unit comprises a box and an adjustment rail for which guide means are arranged preferably behind the front wall of the basic body. In P:\OPER\YPN 2626-97 spe 242.doc-3I Augu. 2000 -3Aone form of the invention, these guide means include an opening in the upper wall of the basic body, and/or guide rails behind the front wall.

Towards its front, the receptacle unit is designed to be open to facilitate the installation of fittings, for example pipes, valves, and the like, and so that in the mounted state fittings, located within the receptacle unit are easily accessible.

After installation, this opening at the front of the receptacle unit may be covered by a facing plate which also comprises a button, key or the like for triggering the flushing process.

In the region of the lower end of the front wall there is provided a pipe clamp recess for a pipe clamp which serves for attaching the discharge pipe of the sanitary unit. This pipe clamp is adjustable in height and can thus be adapted to the prevailing building-in and installation conditions. The walls of the recess comprise grooves for corresponding projections of the pipe clamp, with these grooves and projections being preferably arranged in the horizontal direction. The pipe clamp is thus simply slid in from the front side at the required height and locked in the pipe clamp recess. No special tools are needed for aligning the pipe clamp, installation being thus effected with low expenditure in time and effort. In i 20 this context it should also be pointed out that the above described receptacle unit is positionable at the required height relative to the basic body by ooo P:%OPERVJPN14179 daiu~dc-4Mwm -4simply sliding-in attaching elements into corresponding grooves, projections and/or indentations.

Particular details and further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and are further explained in the description below.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the attachment accessory; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the receptacle unit; Fig. 3 represents the one-piece pipe clamp; Fig. 4 shows a mounting bracket, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of the attachment accessory according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 there is seen in frontal perspective the attachment accessory with a box-like basic body 2. The basic body 2 has a substantially plane and/or plate-shaped front wall 4, as well as mutually parallel lateral 20 walls which, in the mounted state, extend in a vertical direction.

:Of these walls only one lateral wall 6 is visible. The lateral wall 6 has a cut-out 8, open towards the rear, into which a fitter can introduce a hand. Both lateral walls are provided with such cut-outs, thus facilitating mounting and installation. Within the region of the cut-outs, there can also be located pipes, wiring, beams or the like, mounting of the basic body thus not being impeded. At the upper end, the basic body 4 is provided with an upper transversal wall 10, with similar walls being provided at the underside. Due to these walls which are arranged on all sides, interconnected and forming a frame, high stability is achieved, combined with low weight. Towards the rear, the basic body is open.

For rigidity, it is advantageous to provide stiffening ribs between the 30 front wall and the lateral and transversal walls. In the lateral wall 6, as well RLI~as in the other lateral wall, slots 12 are arranged facilitating the attachment P'"b y means of screws or other fastening elements of a mounting bracket 14.

11 P:\OPERUPN1226-97 spe 242.do-31 Auust. Rear limb 16 serves for mounting on a building wall or, with a frame system, for inner-wall mounting. Via the vertical slots 12 and, when needed, via additional slots of holes 18 in the lateral wall 6, direct connection is possible to a frame structure of an inner-wall mounting system.

In the front wall 4 there are provided, symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical longitudinal plane 22, a number of openings 20, 21. For attachment of a sanitary unit, in particular a urinal, a left opening 20 and a right opening 21 are provided for passing through a bolt or the like. The different openings 20, 21 are arranged in such a manner that most commercially available sanitary units are connectable to the basic body 2.

The lower end of the basic body is provided with a pipe clamp recess 24 for a pipe clamp 26. The lateral recess walls 28 of the pipe clamp recess comprise horizontally directed slots 30 with which are engageable projections 32 of the pipe clamp 26. Consequently, the pipe clamp 26 can be withdrawn from the pipe clamp recess 24 in a horizontal direction towards the front, and can be introduced thereinto in the opposite direction. The predeterminable spacing of the superposed slots facilitates a simple positioning of the pipe clamp 26 in the longitudinal plane 22, that is, in the vertical height. As will be explained further below, in order to fix the discharge pipe of the sanitary unit, the pipe clamp 26 can be manipulated from its front side. The mounting and fixing of the 25 discharge pipe is thus effected with little effort.

At the upper end of the basic body 4 there is arranged a receptacle unit 34 which, relative to the basic body 2, is adjustable in height. The receptacle unit comprises a box 36, open at its front to facilitate the installation of 30 fittings, therein associated with the sanitary unit, for example valves, actuation elements, or the like, for supplying flushing water to the sanitary ft NOPAPERUPM12626-97 qpe 242doc31 AuA 200 unit. An adjustment rail 38 is contiguous with the underside of the box 36 which has a frontal edge 37. The adjustment rail 38, according to the invention, is guided in guide means 39 of the basic body 2. The guide means 39 comprise in particular an opening 40 in the upper transversal wall 10 of the basic body 2, and/or guide rails 41 or the like at the rear side of the basic body 2. The receptacle unit 34 can thus be positioned at a desired height, so that the distance between the box 36 and the basic body 2, that is, the e **o PAOPERVM181~7".W..~, doc4)AJMn -6above explained openings or attachment points 20, 21 and, eventually, the sanitary unit attached thereto, is of a defined magnitude. The adjustment rail 38 projects through the opening 40 in the upper transversal wall 10 into the open space behind the front wall 4. At its outer side, the adjustment rail 38 is provided with rack-like indentations 42, 43 by means of which, after vertical positioning of the entire receptacle unit 34, the latter can be locked relative to the basic body 2.

This is effected by locking elements 44, 45 which, with parts not visible here and located behind the front wall 4, engage the indentations 42, 43.

For positioning the receptacle unit 34, it is merely necessary to withdraw the locking elements 44, 45 in the forward direction from the front wall 4 until they no longer engage the indentations 42, 43. No special tools are required for adjustment of the receptacle unit; all that is needed is to withdraw the locking elements 44, 45 in the manner explained, and to re-engage them with the indentations 42, 43.

In the adjustment rail 38 there is further arranged a flushing tube 46, the upper end 48 of which can be seen in the interior of the box 36. At the lower end of the flushing tube 46 there is provided a connector piece for the inlet of the sanitary unit. The length of the flushing tube 46 is given according to requirements and thus the distance of the connector piece 50 from the receptacle unit is varied, making for high flexibility during mounting. Advantageously, the front wall 4 is provided with a downwardly extending sliL 52, in which the connector piece 50 can be appropriately moved and positioned.

The surface of the front wall 4 lies in a plane which, in the mounted state of the attachment accessory, is substantially vertical. According to the invention, the receptacle unit 34 is arranged in such a way that it is substantially located behind the above-mentioned plane. As can be seen, the adjustment rail 38 meets this condition, being arranged behind the front wall 4. The box 36, too, is largely located behind the plane defined by the frontal surface of the front wall 4. In the presently described 30 embodiment, it is only the front edges 37 that project beyond the abovementioned plane for a predetermined distance. As is known, walls in toilets or rest rooms are provided with a facing, especially tiles. The above distance therefore corresponds to the usual thickness of such a Sfacing and/or of such tiles.

r: rtUpNMI1799 ClaiWS.dWc4149) -7- Fig. 2 is an enlarged drawing of the receptacle unit 34, including the box 36 and the adjustment rail 38. The connector piece 50 is located at the lower end of the flushing tube 46 and the distance 54 of the connector piece 50 to the box 36 is given by the length of the flushing tube 46. Obviously this determines also the distance of the connector 50 to the upper edge of the basic body 2 considering the positioning of the receptacle unit 34 relative to the basic body 2. As already explained, fixing of the receptacle unit 34 relative to the basic body 2 is effected by means of the indentations 42, 43 laterally arranged on the adjustment rail 38. It will be appreciated that within the scope of the invention, positioning and fixing can be realized, apart from the above-described, particularly advantageous indentations, also by detent means, snap-in joints, or similar arrangements.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged representation of the pipe clamp 26 according to the invention. The clamp 26 is a one-piece design and comprises a resiliently movable lower portion 54. Also clearly visible are the already mentioned projections 32 at the sides of the pipe clamp 26 for engagement with the associated grooves in the pipe clamp recess of the basic body 2. The pipe clamp 26 comprises an upper, bridge-like portion 56 and ribs 60 reaching the inner wall 58. The lower portion 54 as against this, is of a comparatively yielding and flexible. design, to be easily placed about the outer surface of a pipe. By means of a screw62 fitting a corresponding thread in the lower portion 54, the pipe is tight. It is of particular importance that, relative to the vertical 64, the screw is inclined at such an angle 66 that the head of the screw 62 is accessible from the front side, slantingly from above. This particularly a.....simple solution avoids awkward manipulations at the rear end of the sanitary unit for fixing the connecting pipe.

Fig. 4 shows the mounting bracket 14 with its horizontal slots 68, 69 for the already mentioned mounting elements. For enhanced rigidity and economical use of material, the mounting bracket 14 is provided with 25 ribs 70 which advantageously extend in the horizontal direction. The mounting bracket 14 advantageously consists of a plastic material. It should be stressed that the basic body 2 as well as the pipe A clamp 26 and the receptacle unit 34 are made of a plastic material. It is by Yirtue of this all-plastic design that difficulties due to corrosion are -o0 NI

UI

-8avoided, or at least alleviated, and a long service life of the attachment accessory according to the invention is ensured. The attachment accessory is advantageously designed as a carcass-building module as well as for wet-building constructions, building-in (recesses), mounting between double poles and/or in combination with light-construction facings.

Fig. 5 illustrates a special embodiment of the attachment accessory, in which the front wall 4 of the basic body 2 carries markings 72 in the form of numerals which are assigned to the different openings 20, 21.

These markings simplify the orderly installation and the application of the bolts or the like which fit the respective sanitary unit. At the sides of the lower recess 24 there are arranged markings 74 assigned to indicate the positions of the pipe clamp 26, which equally simplify the orderly mounting of the pipe clamp 26. Finally, the adjustment rail 38, too, is provided with markings 76 which ensure proper positioning as fitting the sanitary unit. In the interior of the box 36 there can further be seen pegs 78 for attachment of a valve or the like. Equally inside the box 36, there is provided a partition wall 80 which serves as an electrical insulation between water-carrying components and the electrical connections of, for instance, a solenoid valve. Finally, in the corner regions, there are provided holes 82 for screws, with the aid of which the frontally open box 36 can be closed after mounting and installation work.

In this special embodiment, the box 36, in the region of the front edge 37, is provided with a frame or flange 84. The front side of the flange S- 84 is essentially co-planar with the front surface 86 of the front wall 4.

At the upper end of the front wall 4, the latter is seen to have a recess 88 in which rests the flange 84 with its lower end when the receptacle unit 34 is pushed down to its lowermost position. The box 36 comprises also lateral openings 90, 92 through which can be led lines, whether electrical or water. A lateral connection of these lines is thus possible without causing problems, facilitating a shallow building-in depth without need for special brackets, elbow pieces, or the like.

*•go P:\OPERUPN\l81799 clains.doc-)4/ NA Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

*o *ooolD Nomenclature 2 Basic body 4 Front wall 6 Lateral wall 8 Cut-out Transversal wall 12 Slot 14 Mounting bracket 16 Rear limb 18 Slot/opening in 6 S20,21 Opening in 4 *22 Longitudinal plane 24 Lower recess 26 Pipe clamp 28 Lateral wall in 24 30 Groove in 28 32 Projection on 26 34 Receptacle unit 36 Box 37 Front edge 38 Adjustment rail 39 Guide means Opening in 41 Guide rail 42, 43 Rack-like indentations 44, 45 Locking means 46 Flushing tube 48 Upper end of 46 Connector piece 52 Slot in 4 54 Lower portion of 26 56 Upper portion/bridge of 26 58 Inner wall Rib 62 Screw 64 Vertical 66 Angle 68, 69 Slot in 14 Rib 72, 74 Marking on 4 76 Marking on 38 78 Peg Partition wall 82 Hole 84 Frame/flange 86 Front surface 88 Recess 92 Opening

Claims

1. An attachment accessory for a sanitary unit, said attachment accessory including a basic body having a front wall, wherein the front wall is formed as an integral part of the basic body, the front wall being provided with openings or recesses for elements of connection with the sanitary unit, a height-adjustable receptacle unit being provided at an upper end of the basic body, the receptacle unit having at its upper end a box and an adjustment rail extending downwardly from the box for connection with the basic body, the box having an opening at its front to facilitate the installation of fittings therein associated with the sanitary unit, and the basic body including guide means for the adjustment rail.

2. An attachment accessory according to claim 1, wherein lateral walls project from the front wall towards the rear, the lateral walls are substantially parallel to one another and include cut-outs preferably open towards the rear, and, at the upper end of the front wall, there is arranged a transversal wall directed towards the rear. 20 3. An attachment accessory according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the basic body is box-like. S* oo

4. An attachment accessory, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the basic body is of integral construction. oo S5. An attachment accessory, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the basic body consists of a plastic material. oooo An attachment accessory, according to any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein the basic body is provided at its lower end with a pipe clamp /57-P7 recess for accommodating a pipe clamp. P:OPERUPM12626-97 p 242.dc-31 Augu. 2XX) -12-

7. An attachment accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receptacle unit is substantially arranged behind a plane containing a front surface of the front wall.

8. An attachment accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adjustment rail is arranged behind the front wall.

9. An attachment accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the guide means at the back side of the front wall includes at least one guide rail. An attachment accessory according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the guide means includes an opening arranged in particular in the upper transversal wall, the adjustment rail passing through the opening.

11. An attachment accessory according to either claim 9 or claim when dependent on claim 9, wherein the adjustment rail rests, at least partly, against the guide rail. 20 12. An attachment accessory according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 11 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the pipe clamp is arranged in the pipe clamp recess in such a way as to be vertically positionable relative to a vertical longitudinal plane. 25 13. An attachment accessory according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 12 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the pipe clamp is introducible into the pipe clamp recess from the front in a horizontal direction.

14. An attachment accessory according to claim 6 or any one of claims 30 7 to 13 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the pipe clamp recess is provided with a number of grooves vertically spaced from one another, P:PERUPM126297 qpn 242doc-31 August 210t) 13- said-grooves being engaged by corresponding projections of the pipe clamp. An attachment accessory according to claim 15, wherein the grooves are provided in lateral recess walls of the pipe clamp recess.

16. An attachment accessory according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 15 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the pipe clamp includes an upper, bridge-like portion and, oppositely, a flexibly arranged lower portion, and connection between the lower portion and the upper portion is effected by means of a screw preferably applicable from the front, slantingly from above.

17. An attachment accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the receptacle unit is provided with at least one set of indentations, and a locking element is engageable with both the basic body and with the adjustment rail, the locking element being engageable in particular with the indentations. 20 18. An attachment accessory according to claim 17, wherein the at least one set of indentations are provided on the adjustment rail of the receptacle unit. S *ese:

19. An attachment accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 18, 25 wherein the receptacle unit is provided with a flushing tube including a connector piece.

20. An attachment accessory according to claim 19, wherein the •distance from the connector piece to the box of the receptacle unit is 30 adjustable. P:\OPERUPM2626-97 spe 242.doc-31 Auus 2000 -14-

21. An attachment accessory according to either claim 19 or claim wherein the basic body, in particular its front wall, is provided with a slot downwardly extending from an upper edge of the basic body, along which slot the connector piece is movable upon adjustment of the receptacle body.

22. An attachment accessory substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 20th day of September, 2000 Friatec Aktiengesellschaft Keramik-und Kunststoffwerke By its Patent Attorneys: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE t S S 0040 S 0 0 0000 Se00 3 0 *060 00 0 S