EP2395161A1

EP2395161A1 - Unit for location of tiles or similar on top of a floor drain.

Info

Publication number: EP2395161A1
Application number: EP11165460A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Håkan Larsson
Original assignee: Purus AB
Current assignee: BLS INDUSTRIES AB
Priority date: 2010-06-11
Filing date: 2011-05-10
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: SE535082C2; SE1050597A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a unit for location above, on top of and/or inside a floor drain provided in a space to permit laying of tiles or similar on top of the floor drain. A low-built unit is obtained by providing a unit comprising two members (8, 9), wherein a first member (8) of the unit (1) is provided with a space (10) for a second member (9) of the unit, and with a portion (11) for location of said first member above, on top of and/or in the floor drain (2) such that the space via at least one opening (12) in a bottom part (13) for the space is open downwards towards an inlet portion (3) of the floor drain, wherein the second member of the unit is provided with a space (14) for at least one tile or similar, and wherein said first and second members of the unit are configured such that, after location of the second member in the space in the first member, a bottom part (19) of the second member is lying substantially in level with the bottom part (13) of the first member and a vertical or substantially vertical gap (15) is defined between said members, which above opens into the space with the floor drain and down below at least partly opens substantially into said at least one opening in the bottom part for the space in the first member of the unit or just above said opening.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a unit for location above, on top of and/or inside a floor drain provided in a space to permit laying of tiles or similar, e.g. slabs of natural stone, on top of the floor drain. This unit comprises two members, namely one member for at least one tile or similar and another member for said member for at least one tile or similar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At a unit as defined above, configured to operate as an inlet member for a drain which is located or will be located in a floor which shall be provided with primarily a tile covering, it is desirable that the tile covering has a height above the drain that substantially corresponds with the height of the unit. However, in order to get room for the member with at least one tile or similar and at the same time achieve optimum flow down into the floor drain, one has previously been forced to locate said member at a distance from the sides and bottom of the other member. This because water shall be able to flow down into the floor drain via an opening in the bottom of the other member, under the bottom of the member for at least one tile or similar. The result thereof has led to that the unit has got such a total height that one has been forced to add substantially to the height of the floor up and around the unit such that the tile covering around said unit shall be located substantially in level with said tile or similar in said one member of the unit, whereby the floor, with sufficient slope towards the unit, has become unnecessarily thick as well as time- and cost-consuming to produce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consequently, an object of the present invention is to provide a unit which takes part in eliminating the above-mentioned problem such that it will no longer be necessary to substantially build up the floor around the unit in order to locate the tile covering around the unit substantially in level with the tile or similar in said one member of the unit and with a slope towards the unit.
The above object is achieved by means of a unit according to the invention wherein a first member of the two members of the unit is provided partly with a space for location in said space of a second member of the unit, and partly with a portion for location of said first member above, on top of and/or in the floor drain such that the space via at least one opening in a bottom part for the space is open downwards towards the inlet portion of the floor drain for flow connection therewith, and wherein the second member of the unit is provided with a space for at least one tile or similar. According to the invention, said first and second members of the unit are configured such that, after location of the second member in the space in the first member, a bottom part of the second member is lying substantially in level with the bottom part of the first member and a vertical or substantially vertical gap is defined between said members, which above opens into the space with the floor drain and down below at least partly opens substantially into said at least one opening in the bottom part for the space in the first member of the unit or just above said opening.
By instead of adding to the height of the floor, configure the unit according to the invention such that the gap defined between the first and second members of the unit and via which water from the tile covering on the floor shall flow down into the floor drain, opens directly into the inlet member of the floor drain via the opening in the bottom of the space in the first member of the unit, the second member of the unit need not be located relative to the first member of the unit such that the bottom of the second member is found at such distance from the bottom of the first member that sufficient flow is achieved therebetween. Instead, the second member of the unit may, according to the invention, be located relative to the first member of the unit such that the bottom part of the second member is found substantially in level with the bottom part of the first member. Hereby, the total height of the unit can be held down and e.g. extensive filling of the floor under the tile covering be avoided.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to the skilled person by studying the enclosed drawings and the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a sectional perspective view of a floor drain being provided with a unit according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional perspective view of the floor drain after having been provided with a unit according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the floor drain and the unit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above, it is today a desire not to be forced to build up to a large extent a floor around a unit which is configured for location above, on top of and/or inside a floor drain for laying tiles, slabs of natural stone or similar, on top of the floor drain. Such build-up of a floor is otherwise performed in order to adapt the height of the tile covering on the floor to the height of said unit.
The unit according to the present invention eliminates the need of such a build-up of the height of the floor around the floor drain, since the total height of the unit above the floor drain substantially corresponds to the height of the tile covering. The unit according to the present invention can be used in new constructions as well as during renovations of older floors with previously mounted floor drains.
At the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a unit 1 according to the present invention is provided on top of a schematically illustrated floor drain 2 of a conventional type with an inlet portion 3 and an outlet portion 4 and located in a space. The inlet portion 3 comprises a mounting flange 5 by means of which the floor drain 2 is mounted in the floor in said space. The illustrated embodiment of the inlet portion 3 further comprises a seat 6 for a clamping ring 7, by means of which e.g. a sealing layer on the floor is fixed to the floor drain. The clamping ring 7 can be dispensed with by e.g. gluing the sealing layer to the floor drain and it does not form part of the present invention. The floor drain 2 is preferably also provided with a water seal (not illustrated). The outlet portion 4 of the floor drain 2 is connected to a drainage system for draining water which from the floor flows down into the floor drain.
The unit 1 according to the present invention comprises two members 8 and 9.
A first member 8 of the unit 1 defines a space 10 for location therein of the second member 9 of the unit 1. The height of this space 10 corresponds at the embodiment illustrated in the drawings substantially to the height of the second member 9 of the unit 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the first member 8 of the unit 1 is configured such that its total height also substantially corresponds to or somewhat exceeds the height of the second member 9 of the unit. The first member 8 of the unit 1 further comprises at least one portion 11 for location of said first member above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain 2. Any portion of first member 8 by means of which said first member can be located above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain 2 can be designated as said portion 11 for said location of the first member above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain. Thus, the location of the first member 8 of the unit 1 can be performed as illustrated in the drawings by placing the portion 11 thereof on top of the mounting flange 5 of the inlet portion 3 of the floor drain 2. The location may e.g. also be performed such that parts of said portion 11 also extend down into the inlet portion 3 of the floor drain 2 and down towards the seat 6 in order to get an improved fixation of the unit 1 in the floor drain. The portion 11 or other suitably configured and/or located portions of the first member 8 of the unit 1 can thereby also function as a centering means for correct location of said first member above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain. Thus, by means of the portion 11, the first member 8 of the unit 1 is under all circumstances located such that the space 10, via at least one opening 12 in that part 13 thereof which defines the bottom of said space 10, is open downwards towards the inlet portion 3 of the floor drain 2 for flow connection therewith. At the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, said portion of the first member 8 of the unit 1 is defined by a flange 11, which during mounting of the unit will rest on top of the mounting flange 5 of the floor drain 2. Instead of a circumferential flange, the portion 11 for locating the first member 8 of the unit 1 above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain may have any other for the intended purpose suitable shape, e.g. consist of several smaller, not circumferential flange-like parts. The portion 11 of the first member 8 of the unit 1 can be glued to the mounting flange 5 of the floor drain 2, or attached thereto in any other way or just held in position e.g. by means of the tile covering when said tile covering has been provided on the floor around the floor drain and around the unit.
The second member 9 of the unit 1 also defines a space 14. This space 14 is configured for receiving at least one tile, a slab of natural stone or similar, e.g. a plate or sheet formed as a tile. At the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the height of the space 14 corresponds substantially to the height of a tile or similar. The second member 9 of the unit 1 is in the illustrated embodiment configured such that its total height also substantially corresponds to or somewhat exceeds the height of a tile or similar.
The first and second members 8, 9 of the unit 1 are configured such that when the second member 9 is located in the space 10 in the first member 8, a vertical or substantially vertical gap 15 is defined between said members. This gap 15 opens down below at least partly substantially into the opening 12 in the bottom part 13 for the space 10 in said first member of the unit or just above this opening such that water does not have to flow under the second member 9 in order to reach said opening. Consequently, the second member 9 can be located with at least lower portions thereof, e.g. a bottom part of the second member, substantially in level with the bottom part 13 for the space 10 or in level with the opening 12 in the bottom part 13 for the space 10 in the first member 8 or just above said opening, thereby giving the unit 1 a low structural height. Hereby, water can also flow away quicker, straight down into the inlet portion 3 of the floor drain 2. The vertical or substantially vertical gap 15 is e.g. circumferential, i.e. runs around the second member 9 with the tile or similar, of the unit 1. The gap 15 may however be configured differently, i.e. being other than circumferential, depending partly on how the second member 9 of the unit 1 is located in the space 10 in the first member 8 of the unit and partly on the size of the second member relative to the size of the space for the second member in the first member. At the top, the gap 15 of course opens into the space with the floor drain on top of and/or inside which the unit according to the present invention is mounted. With the right size, the gap 15 can be designated as a type of screen, making it unnecessary to provide a separate screen member in the floor drain 2. A suitable gap size or gap width is between about 4 and about 8 mm.
At the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, there is only one opening 12 provided in the bottom part 13 for the space 10 in the first member 8 of the unit 1. This opening 12 has such size that portions thereof, seen in vertical direction, lie outside the extension of the second member 9 of the unit1. This is best seen in fig. 3, showing the unit 1 with a planar view from above. With this embodiment, the flow of water from the gap 15, as defined above, is facilitated, since the gap thereby in its entirety or at least for its major part opens downwards directly into said opening 12 without any water flowing under the second member 9 of the unit.
The first member 8 of the unit 1 comprises at least one carrier means 16 carrying the second member 9 of the unit when said second member is located in the space 10 in the first member, i.e. above the opening 12 in the bottom part 13 for said space.
The second member 9 of the unit 1 comprises in turn at least one spacer means 17 which is used for defining the vertical or substantially vertical gap 15 between the first and second members 8, 9 of the unit when said second member 9 is located in the space 10 in said first member 8.
The first member 8 of the unit 1 according to the present invention comprises at the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, except for the flange 11 for locating the first member of the unit above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain, another flange 18 which is surrounded by the flange 11, extends substantially perpendicular thereto and defines the space 10 for the second member 9 of the unit. This flange 18, extending perpendicular to the flange 11 and having a height substantially corresponding to or somewhat exceeding the height of the second member 9 of the unit 1, comprises on the inner side thereof at least one carrier means 16 for said second member of the unit. Accordingly, after location of the first member 8 of the unit 1 on top of and/or inside the floor drain 2, the flange 11 runs in substantially horizontal direction and the flange 18 defining the space 10 for the second member 9 runs in substantially vertical direction.
At the preferred embodiment of the unit 1 according to the present invention illustrated in the drawings, the flange 18 defining the space 10 for the second member 9 of the unit is quadrilateral. The flange 18 however, may have any other suitable shape in view of what is needed or desired. With a quadrilateral flange 18 as in the drawings, the carrier means comprises e.g. a carrier portion 16 which is located down below in each corner of the flange. Each carrier portion 16 extends e.g. inwards from the flange 18 in a substantially horizontal direction and participates in defining or limiting the opening 12 in the bottom part 13 for the space 10. Each carrier portion 16 may inwards towards the opening 12 have a side with a curvature corresponding to the diameter of the opening; may as in the illustrated embodiment define a part of the flange 11 on which the flange 18 accordingly is located. Each carrier portion may however be configured in any suitable way for the intended purpose and be arranged in any other suitable way. At the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the bottom part 13 for the space 10 in the first member 8 of the unit 1 is, with exception only for said carrier means 16, completely covered by the opening 12.
The second member 9 of the unit 1 according to the present invention comprises, at the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a bottom part 19 which defines the space 14 for said at least one tile or similar, and a flange 20 which extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom part and which also defines the space for said tile or similar. The flange 20, having a height substantially corresponding to or somewhat below the height of a tile or similar which is provided in the space 14, comprises on the outer side thereof at least one spacer means 17. After the location of the second member 9 in the space 10 therefor in the first member 8 of the unit 1, said first member being located on top of and/or in the inlet portion 3 of the floor drain 2, the bottom part 19 for the space 14 in the second member extends in a substantially horizontal direction and the flange 20 in a substantially vertically upwards direction.
At the preferred embodiment of the second member 9 of the unit 1 illustrated in the drawings, the flange 20 defining the space 14 for said at least one tile or similar is quadrilateral. The spacer means on the flange 20 comprises thereby e.g. a spacer portion 17 located down below in each corner of the flange and extending in a substantially horizontal direction outwards from the flange. Each spacer portion 17 extends from a corner of the flange 20 on the second member 9 of the unit 1 to an opposite corner of the flange 18 on the first member 8 of the unit 1 when said second member has been located in the space 10 in the first member, such that the vertical or substantially vertical gap 15 defined between the flanges 18, 20 also becomes quadrilateral. Since the spacer portions 17 have substantially the same size, the quadrilateral, vertical or substantially vertical gap 15 between the flanges 18, 20 has also throughout the same width. Each spacer portion 17 is at the embodiment illustrated in the drawings configured as a tongue which extends from one side of the flange 20 defining a corner to the other side of the flange defining said corner, but may have any other for the intended purpose suitable shape and may of course also be located in any other way on the outer side of the flange 20. Alternatively, spacer portions may be provided on the first member 8 of the unit 1 and then on the inner side of the flange 18 wherever suitable in order to define a gap 15 between the first and second members 8, 9 of the unit in a simple and efficient way.
Since said carrier means 16 and spacer means 17 respectively, are located as described above and illustrated in the drawings, the spacer means or spacer portions 17 on the second member 9 of the unit 1 will, when said second member is located in the space 10 in said first member 8, rest on top of the carrier means or carrier portions 16 on said first member. Thus, the second member 9 of the unit 1 will be releasably located in the first member 8 of the unit, such that said second member is easy to remove for cleaning of the floor drain 2 and the waterseal, if present, in the inlet portion thereof. Since said carrier means 16 and spacer means 17 respectively, are located as described above and illustrated in the drawings and thereby, when the second member 9 of the unit 1 is located in the space 10 in the first member 8 of the unit, the spacer means or spacer portions 17 on said second member rest on top of the carrier means or carrier portions 16 on said first member, the vertical or substantially vertical gap 15 opens down below at a distance from the opening 12 in the bottom part 13 for the space 10 in the first member 8 of the unit 1 corresponding substantially to the thickness of said carrier means or carrier portions. When the second member 9 of the unit 1 is located in the space 10 in the first member 8 of the unit and the spacer means or spa-cer portions 17 on said second member rest on top of the carrier means or carrier portions 16 on said first member, the uppermost portions of each member, i.e. at the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the upper edges of the flanges 18, 20 on said members 8, 9, lie substantially in level with each other, as the upper side of the tile or similar in the space in the second member lies substantially in level with the upper side of the surrounding tile covering. It is however possible within the scope of the present invention, in order to get to the desired function, that the second member 9 of the unit 1 rests on top of the carrier means or carrier portions 16 on the first member 8 of the unit by means of other portions of said second member, e.g. directly by means of the corner portions of said second member, if e.g. the spacer portions 17 on said second member are located in any other way or if said spacer portions are provided on the first member 8 of the unit.
At any time after the first member 8 of the unit 1 has been located in position above, on top of and/or inside the floor drain 2, the floor around said first member can be leveled to the required extent by e.g. filling. Thus, filling may occur up to e.g. in level with the portion 11 on the first member 8 of the unit 1, i.e. a few millimeters. Then, a tile covering can be laid around said first member 8.
It is obvious to a skilled person that the present invention can be modified and altered within the scope of the subsequent claims without departing from the idea and purpose of the invention. Thus, as is apparent from the above, the configuration of the first and second members 8, 9 of the unit 1 may vary depending on e.g. the configuration of the tiles or slabs of natural stone which shall be laid on the floor in the space with the floor drain. Also, the various components of the first and second members 8, 9 may vary in appearance and number. The members 8, 9 may be of plastic, metal or another suitable material.

Claims

Unit for location above, on top of and/or inside a floor drain provided in a space to permit laying of tiles or similar on top of the floor drain,
wherein the unit (1) comprises two members (8, 9),
wherein a first member (8) of the unit (1) is provided partly with a space (10) for location in said space of a second member (9) of the unit, and partly with a portion (11) for location of said first member above, on top of and/or in the floor drain (2) such that the space via at least one opening (12) in a bottom part (13) for the space is open downwards towards an inlet portion (3) of the floor drain for flow connection therewith, and
wherein the second member (9) of the unit (1) is provided with a space (14) for at least one tile or similar,
characterized in
that said first and second members (8, 9) of the unit (1) are configured such that, after location of the second member (9) in the space (10) in the first member (8), a bottom part (19) of the second member is lying substantially in level with the bottom part (13) of the first member and a vertical or substantially vertical gap (15) is defined between said members, which above opens into the space with the floor drain (2) and down below at least partly opens substantially into said at least one opening (12) in the bottom part (13) for the space (10) in the first member of the unit or just above said opening.
Unit according to claim 1, characterized in
that the bottom part (13) for the space (10) in the first member (8) of the unit (1) is provided with an opening (12) of such size that portions thereof, seen in a vertical direction, lie outside the extension of the second member (9), under the gap (15) between said first and second members.
Unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that the first member (8) of the unit (1) comprises at least one carrier means (16) carrying the second member (9) of the unit (1) when locating said second member in the space (10) in said first member.
Unit according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the first member (8) of the unit (1) comprises a flange (11) defining said portion for location of said first member above, on top of and/or in the floor drain (2), and that said first member comprises a further flange (18) which is surrounded by the flange (11), extends substantially perpendicular thereto and defines the space (10) for the second member (9) of the unit, whereby, after location of the first member of the unit on top of and/or inside the floor drain, the flange for location of said first member above, on top of and/or in the floor drain runs in substantially horizontal direction and the flange defining the space for the second member runs in substantially vertical direction.
Unit according to claim 4, characterized in
that the flange (18) defining the space (10) for the second member (9) comprises on the inner side thereof at least one carrier means (16) for the second member (9) of the unit.
Unit according to claim 5, characterized in
that the flange (18) defining the space (10) for the second member (9) is quadrilateral and said carrier means comprises a carrier portion (16) which is located down below in each corner of the flange and which extends inwards from the flange 18 in a substantially horizontal direction.
Unit according to any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the bottom part (13) for the space (10) in the first member (8) is with exception for said carrier means (16) completely taken up by the opening (12) in said bottom part.
Unit according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the second member (9) of the unit (1) comprises at least one spacer means (17) for defining the gap (15) between the first and second members (8, 9) of the unit when said second member is located in the space (10) in said first member (8).
Unit according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the second member (9) of the unit (1) comprises a bottom part (19) which defines the space (14) for said at least one tile or similar, and a flange (20) which extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom part and which also defines the space for said tile or similar, whereby after the location of the second member in the space (10) therefor in the first member (8) of the unit, said bottom part extends in a substantially horizontal direction and the flange in a substantially vertically upwards direction.
Unit according to claim 9, characterized in
that the flange (20) comprises on the outer side thereof at least one spacer means (17).
Unit according to claim 10, characterized in
that the flange (20) defining the space (14) for at least one tile or similar is quadrilateral and said spacer means (17) comprises a spacer portion (17) which is located down below in each corner of the flange and which extends outwards from the flange in a substantially horizontal direction.
Unit according to claim 11, characterized in
that each spacer means (17) extends from a corner of the flange (20) on the second member (9) of the unit (1) to an opposite corner of the flange (18) on the first member (8) of the unit when said second member has been located in the space (10) in the first member of the unit.
Unit according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in
that the first member (8) of the unit (1) comprises at least one spacer means for defining the gap (15) between the first and second members (8, 9) of the unit when said second member is located in the space (10) in said first member (8).
Unit according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one spacer means is provided on the inner side of a flange (18) which is provided on the first member (8) of the unit (1) and which defines the space (10) for the second member (9) of the unit.
Unit according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the height of the space (10) in the first member (8) of the unit (1) corresponds substantially to the height of the second member (9) of the unit such that, after location of the second member in the space in the first member, the uppermost portions of the respective member lie substantially in level with each other.
Unit according to any one of claims 4-6 and any one of claims 9-12, characterized in that the height of the space (10) in the first member (8) of the unit (1) corresponds substantially to the height of the second member (9) of the unit such that, after location of the second member in the space in the first member, the upper edges of the flanges (18, 20) of said members lie substantially in level with each other.
Unit according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the height of the space (14) in the second member (9) of the unit (1) corresponds substantially to the height of a tile or similar.