EP1188868A2

EP1188868A2 - Element with connections for water supply and drain pipes of sanitary ware

Info

Publication number: EP1188868A2
Application number: EP01119804A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maurizio Faoro; Mariano Bezzegato
Original assignee: Idrocoeb SNC di Faoro Maurizio
Current assignee: Idrocoeb SNC di Faoro Maurizio
Priority date: 2000-09-13
Filing date: 2001-08-16
Publication date: 2002-03-20
Also published as: EP1188868A3

Abstract

The invention is a new, ready-to-use element in one piece or assembled, preferably made of plastic or metal, to which the terminal sections of the water supply and waste water drain pipes of sanitaryware are applied, in order to facilitate the correct laying of the pipes and of the connections. The element comprises two or three U-shaped channels parallel to one another and some cross elements that join the U-shaped channels, wherein the width of the lateral U-shaped channels is such as to allow two water supply pipes to be housed therein and the width of the central U-shaped channel, if provided, is such as to allow a waste water drain pipe to be housed therein.

Description

The present invention concerns the accessories for the installation of sanitaryware and in particular it concerns a shaped and ready-to-use element or bracket for the wall connections for water outlets and drain pipes.
Sanitaryware, like for example washbasins and bidets, receives hot and cold water through two wall-mounted connections and drains waste water through the outlet of a drain pipe situated in the wall in an intermediate position with respect to the water supply connections.
The present standardization in building methods has facilitated the work of pipe fitters, who install the water supply and drain pipes so that the connections have specific positions with respect to one another, at pre-established distances from the floor (washbasin, bidet and other sanitaryware).
The connection between said wall-mounted connections and each single fixture is successively carried out by means of flexible pipes for the water supply and modular joints for the draining of waste water.
For each installation the pipe fitter must prepare (cut, shape, join, etc.) some parts that are always necessary, like union elbows and pipe sections, according to the two known plans for high fixtures (showers, washbasins, etc.) and for low fixtures (stop valves, bath tubs, washing machines, bidets, etc.) and must position them correctly in the wall.
All these operations must generally be repeated and require time, the measurement of distances, the application and change of position in the installation points, with the risk of making mistakes.
In order to eliminate all the drawbacks mentioned above, a new shaped element has been designed and implemented, which is equipped with connections and sections of water supply and waste water drain pipes for sanitaryware.
The main purpose of the new element in one single piece is to ensure the correct fastening of the pipe sections in the wall, with no need to make measurements and to change the position of these accessories several times.
Another purpose of the new element in one single piece is the implementation of an element capable of receiving sections of pipes that have already been cut and assembled, in such a way as to constitute a single element, ready to be used for washbasins, bidets, showers, etc.
The single-piece element is preferably made of moulded plastic material and it generally comprises, in its main parts, two, three or more seats, called U-shaped channels, parallel and joined to one another.
The width of two of these seats or U-shaped channels is such as to allow the normal water supply pipes to be housed and held in position; the width of the third U-shaped channel, which is larger than the others, is such as to allow a normal waste water drain pipe to be housed and held in position.
Each one of the three U-shaped channels is provided, at regular intervals, with deformations of the U-shaped edges or with elastic plates suitable for holding the pipes introduced in the channels.
The three channels are positioned with respect to one another so that the larger drain channel is located between the other two smaller channels.
The three channels are joined and kept in the correct position with respect to one another by sections or flat or angular strips for the connection of U-shaped channels.
Said sections or strips are arranged in various positions along the U-shaped channels and can be provided with holes, cuts, central and side slots, in order to permit the fixing of the new single-piece element in the wall with cement.
One upper section or strip is applied to the U-shaped channels in correspondence with one of their ends, considered the upper end, and serves to facilitate the laying of the new single-piece element as regards either its distance from the floor and its horizontal/vertical alignment (support surface for the level).
In the three channels of the single-piece element three ducts and pipes are inserted, which are constituted by straight pipes and union elbows that have been previously cut, shaped and assembled.
In particular, in the lateral U-shaped channels pipes are inserted, which are intended for the supply of water, with the relevant angles and connections for sanitaryware, while the central U-shaped channel houses the waste water drain pipe.
These pipes are inserted in the U-shaped channels so that their connections are positioned at the same end of the U-shaped channels in which there is the upper strip and so that the various connections respect the distances usually adopted for the laying of connections directly into the wall.
The other extremity of the pipes ends or is bent in correspondence with the lower end of the new single-piece element and is provided with a mouth or pipe fitting that serves for the connection with the water supply and waste water drain pipes of the water supply system of the building.
The fastening of the pipes in the channels is achieved through pressure and they are held in position by the elastic plates arched inwards provided on the edges of the U-shaped channels.
The new single-piece element may also be provided with a different number of U-shaped channels that may also have different sizes, so that it can be used, for example, also for connections and waste pipes of washing machines or for the positioning of stop valves.
The new, ready-to-use, single-piece element with connections and sections of water supply and waste water drain pipes for sanitaryware constituted as described above eliminates many problems and drawbacks. In fact, it is sufficient to install the new, ready-to-use, single-piece element in a high or low position - according to the type of sanitaryware involved - in the recess provided in the wall, to align it vertically and horizontally, to connect it with the water supply and waste water drain pipes of the building water supply system and to fix it with mortar.
It is no more necessary to prepare pipes, joints and pipe fittings; it is no more necessary to adjust height, width and to keep changing the position of the elements; the risk of mistakes in the positioning and joining of the pipes is eliminated and the installation can be made even by non-specialized personnel.
The thickness of the new, ready-to-use, single-piece element with the relevant pipes does not exceed 4 cm, and therefore the element is thinner than the drain pipes and it can be perfectly fitted into a breaking made in the partition wall and also limited to the first layer of the partition wall itself.
The new, ready-to-use, single-piece element is preferably manufactured in the factory together with the relevant pipe sections and marketed in the various standard sizes.
Alternatively, it is possible to make an equivalent element assembled with metal section bars.
The assembled element comprises in its main parts three U-shaped channels, two or more flat strips or section bars.
The width of two of the three U-shaped channels is such as to allow the normal water supply pipes to be housed and held in position; the width of the third U-shaped channel, which is larger than the others, is such as to allow a normal waste water drain pipe to be housed and held in position.
These three U-shaped channels are preferably parallel to one another, with the larger channel positioned between the other two.
The flat strips are parallel to one another, orthogonal to the U-shaped channels and serve to join said three U-shaped channels and held them in the correct parallel position with respect to one another.
Said strips are located in various positions along the U-shaped channels.
The upper section bar is applied to the three U-shaped channels in correspondence with one of their ends, considered as upper end, and serves to facilitate the laying of the new element or bracket with respect to either its distance from the floor and its horizontal/vertical alignment.
The U-shaped channels may be provided, at regular intervals on their length, with elastic elements or flexible hooks or other devices suitable for holding the pipes in the channels and permitting their removal if necessary.
The entire bracket constituted as described above can be made of any suitable material, for example it can be completely made of metal or partly of metal and partly of plastic material.
Pipe sections are applied to the bracket and in particular in the lateral U-shaped channels pipes are inserted, which are intended for the supply of water, with the relevant union elbows and connections for sanitaryware, while the central U-shaped channel houses the waste water drain pipe.
These pipes are inserted in the U-shaped channels so that their connections are positioned at the same end of the U-shaped channels to which a cross element is applied and so that the various connections respect the distances usually adopted for the laying of connections directly into the wall.
The other extremity of the pipes ends or is bent in correspondence with the lower end of the new element and is provided with a mouth or pipe fitting that serves for the connection with the water supply and waste water drain pipes of the water supply system of the building.
The new combined bracket is preferably manufactured in the factory and marketed in the various standard sizes.
The following is a practical application among many of the invention in question, illustrated in the enclosed drawing, wherein:
Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a portion of the new single-piece element (S) comprising the U-shaped channels (U1, U2) parallel to each other, the flat or angular strips (B) provided with holes (Bf), the pipes (T1, T2) for water supply (T1) and waste water draining (T2) housed in the relevant U-shaped channels (U1, U2). In this drawing it is also possible to observe the elastic plates (U1) arched inwards and suitable for holding the pipes (T1, T2) inserted in the channels (U1, U2) themselves.
Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a single-piece element (S) with the relevant pipes (T1, T2) inserted in the channels (U1, U2) and provided with the relevant pipe fittings (T1r, T2r) for the connection to the sanitaryware and to the pipes of the building water supply system.
On a side surface of the channels (U1) there are protrusions positioned at a distance of 1 cm from one another, provided with the corresponding numerical references that are useful to position said single-piece element correctly.
Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g show various examples of application and dimensioning of the new, ready-to-use, single-piece element for washbasins, bath tubs, showers, washing machines, kitchen sinks, stop valves and bidets.
Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the new bracket, or assembled element (S), comprising the U-shaped channels (U1, U2) parallel to each other, the flat strips (B), the angle iron (L), the pipes (T1, T2) for water supply (T1) and waste water draining (T2) housed in the relevant U-shaped channels (U1, U2) and provided with the relevant pipe fittings (T1r, T2r) for the connection to the sanitaryware and to the pipes of the building water supply system.
Figure 5 shows an example of application of the new element or bracket (S) for a washbasin (V) in the wall (M).
These are sufficient schematic indications to allow an expert to implement the invention; consequently, in the tangible application it may be subject to variations without prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept.
Therefore, with reference to the above description and the enclosed drawing, the following claims are put forth.

Claims

Shaped single-piece element for water supply and waste water drain pipes for sanitaryware, characterized in that it comprises one, two or more seats or U-shaped channels, preferably parallel to one another, and some strips that join the U-shaped channels, and wherein the width of the lateral U-shaped channels is such as to permit the water supply pipes to be housed therein.
Shaped single-piece element according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a central seat, or U-shaped channel, whose width is such as to allow a waste water drain pipe to be housed therein.
Shaped single-piece element according to claim 1, 2, characterized in that the seats or U-shaped channels are provided with elastic elements or flexible hooks or other devices suitable for holding the pipes in the channels and permit their removal if necessary.
Assembled element for water supply and waste water drain pipes for sanitaryware, characterized in that it comprises two or more U-shaped channels preferably parallel to one another and some cross elements that join said channels, and wherein the width of the lateral U-shaped channels is such as to allow two water supply pipes to be housed therein.
Assembled element for sanitaryware, according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a central U-shaped channel whose width is such as to allow a waste water drain pipe to be housed therein.
Assembled element according to claim 4, 5, characterized in that the U-shaped channels are provided with elastic elements or flexible hooks or other devices suitable for holding the pipes in the channels and permit their removal if necessary.
Assembled element according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, characterized in that it comprises pipe sections with relevant connections for water supply and waste water draining applied to the U-shaped channels.