AU773271B2 - A waste water disposal system - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

S" Name of Applicant: Roinnon Group Holdintgs imited

SEC

Actual Inventor: Konrad Mittermeier -0 113 Address for Service: BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: 'A WASTE WATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM' SThe following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 28703AUP00 1A A WASTE WATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for connecting laundry waste, or other, fluid disposal systems. The present invention also relates to construction methods and assembly methods for waste fluid disposal systems. More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a laundry waste water disposal system particulary adapted for use in disposing of washing machine waste water.

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BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in the context of a "laundry tub and a known washing machine. However, the waste disposal system may be implemented in other applications where the disposal of waste water or fluid is required.

oe Known laundry tubs, that is a whiteware unit incorporating a basin at an upper end and usually a water outlet or extendable hose outlet, are well known in the art. Such components are usually also used to dispose of waste water which is emitted by adjacent washing tubs or the like when those adjacent units are being emptied or flushed.

It is known to locate the physical connection between such units immediately behind the laundry tub which feeds or leads into the main waste outlet of the laundry tub. Such a fitting may be in the form of a connectable hose or alternatively, the washing machine outlet may be simply hooked over the side of the tub by means of a rigid piece of tubing.

The disadvantages of such systems are self evident. The latter technique poses the risk that the outlet tube may become disengaged from the tub whereby when the unit is emptied or flushed the waste water is disposed of on the laundry floor rather than through the waste outlet. In cases where the waste connection is located immediately at the back, centre of the tub, such connections are difficult to access as the outlet is invisible from the front and it has been found that on some occasions the washing machine outlet hoses are not sufficiently long to reach the waste outlet or they are very difficult to install. When a tub is located adjacent to a washing machine, the weight of such items and general immovability renders it very difficult for an installer to locate and attach the waste outlet tubing.

The present invention attempts to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages providing a waste water outlet system which may be easily coupled to, for example, a washing machine, is simple to install, requires no significant additional fixtures and is easy and convenient to install in a number of laundry or waste water configurations. The present invention also provides the public with a useful choice.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the invention provides a laundry tub incorporating a waste water disposal, said laundry tub including a basin and waste outlet, said waste disposal system 25 including: S•at least one waste outlet hose having a first end connected in use to said laundry tub waste outlet and a second end being connectable in use with a selected one of a plurality of connection locations, wherein at least one of the connection locations is provided in a side wall, or the rear, of the laundry tub at a selected location.

3 In one embodiment, the connection locations are provided in both side walls of the laundry tub thereby providing accessibility from the left or right from the tub for waste disposal of water.

In one embodiment of the invention a said connection location is additionally or alternatively located in a rear frame or panel location of the laundry tub at a location at or adjacent an upper comer of the laundry tub in a left and/or right position thereby allowing a rear connection to the tub.

Preferably the rear frame or panel location(s) is/are in the form of a rear bracket or plate located at the left and/or right hand comer of the laundry tub.

Preferably the hose is flexible and is connected to the selected connection location via a washing machine connector.

Preferably the washing machine connector is adapted to receive a waste water outlet from a washing machine or other waste water producing device.

0 oo o *o logo go BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a rear view of a laundry tub according to one embodiment; Figure 2 illustrates a side perspective view of the laundry tub of Figure 1; and Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the connection between the flexible hose and a left hand side panel of the 15 laundry tub of the preceding figures.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1 a rear view of a laundry tub is shown.

The laundry tub 10 incorporates a frame work including side panels 11 and 12 and a basin 13 suspended from an upper frame work o. (not shown).

The basin 13 incorporates, at its lower end, a waste outlet 14 which collects waste water from the basin 13 and evacuates it by a waste water connection According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a flexible waste water hose 16 is connected at a second end 22 to the waste water outlet 14. This preferably flexible hose may be attached to a plurality of connection locations 18a,b and 24a,b.

The connection locations 24a,b allow waste water to be evacuated, via the flexible hose arrangement 16, from waste water producing devices located on the left hand and right hand sides of the laundry tub.

The connection locations 18a, b allow the flexible hose 16, and therefore the waste water evacuation location, to be located at an upper rear left or right location. The rear connection locations 18a,b are in the form of plates, frames or brackets 17 which have therein a circular :.mounting location.

A detail of the left and right side mounting locations is shown in Figure 3. In one embodiment in the example shown, the flexible waste water disposal hose 16 is connected to the right hand side panel 12 via mounting location 24a.

S o The junction between the first end of the flexible hose 16 and the aperture in the side wall 12 indicated by 24a may be in the form of .i a connecting piece or flange 25 adapted to connect the hose 16 to the flat side wall containing the circular aperture. This is shown in more detail in the view shown in Figure 3. Such a connector 25 may be in the form of a plastic moulded component which securely mounts the flexible hose 16 to the aperture 24a.

Although a particular orientation of the flexible waste water disposal hoses is shown in the attached figures, it is a significant advantage in the present invention that the waste water disposal hose 6 16 may be attached at any one of the connection locations 24a,b and 18a,b. It is envisaged that some latitude in the particular locations of the connections will be allowable. However, these would be selected so that they effect fast and uncomplicated connection to an adjacent waste water production device such as a washing machine.

In use, the installer simply decides which side of the washing tub the waste water producing device is to be located and whether it is to be evacuated or flushed via the side connection or the rear connection.

Assuming that the washing machine (or other waste water producing device) is located on the right hand side (facing the back panel or back S°frame of the washing tub) the flexible waste water disposal hose 16 o000 °°.*.would be oriented as shown in the attached figures. The evacuation or waste water hose from the device is permanently attached to the waste water disposal system 14 thus allowing rapid, efficient and generally 0 easy access to the coupling installation.

Thus the present invention provides for a significantly improved waste water disposal system, particularly if suited for adaptation and integration into a laundry Wherein the foregoing description reference has been made to interges or components having known equivalent, then such equivalents are included as if individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modification and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims (7)

1. A laundry tub incorporating a waste water disposal system, said laundry tub including a basin and waste outlet, said waste disposal system including: at least one waste outlet hose having a first end connected to said laundry tub waste outlet and a second end being connectable in use with a selected one of a plurality of connection locations, wherein at least one of the connection locations is provided in a side wall, or the rear, of the laundry tub at a selected location.

2. A laundry tub as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the connection locations are provided in both side walls of the laundry tub thereby providing accessibility from the left or right from the tub for waste disposal of water.

S3. A laundry tub as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a said connection location is provided in a rear frame or panel location of the laundry tub at a location at or adjacent an upper corner of the laundry tub in a left and/or right •0 position, thereby allowing a rear connection to the tub.

4. A laundry tub as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the rear frame or panel location(s) is/are in the form of a rear bracket or plate located at the left and/or right hand corner of the laundry tub. :0.0%

5. A laundry tub as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said hose is •flexible and is connected to the selected connection location via a washing e. machine connector.

6. A laundry tub as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the washing machine connector is adapted to receive a waste water outlet from a washing machine or other waste water producing device.

7. A laundry tub substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 2 6 th Day of March, 2004 BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS Attorneys for: ROBTNI{OOD AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED