GB1602418A - Sanitary appliance with overflow - Google Patents

Description

(54) SANITARY APPLIANCE WITH OVERFLOW (71) We, FRIEDRICH GROHE ARMATU RENFABRIK G.m.b.H. & Co., a German Company, of 137 Hauptstrasse, 5870 Hemer, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a waste and overflow system for a sanitary appliance such as a bath tub or a shower tray, with a waste opening which is closed and opened by an actuating device, and with an overflow opening in a wall of the appliance the overflow opening being connected by a pipe fitted to the waste.

It is a well-known practice to adapt and fit the above-mentioned waste and overflow system parts to a bath tub or shower tray during their installation in a bath room, etc.

Such a device is, for example, described in German published application No.

2.604.040. Experience shows that the installation of the various parts of the system requires considerable time and has to be carried out by a skilled expert, as bath tubs are usually tiled outside after their installation and the fittings are no longer accessible except after breaking away the tiling.

According to the present invention there is provided a sanitary appliance having a waste outlet and overflow system comprising a waste assembly including a casing carrying a waste valve, an overflow opening in a wall of the appliance at a level normally above the level of the waste, a connecting pipe connecting the overflow opening with the waste assembly, and a valve actuating mechanism adjacent the overflow opening and linked by fluid pipes with the valve, the casing being attached to the wall of the appliance, and the actuating mechanism being at the same location on the wall of the appliance as the overflow opening.

One embodiment of the invention is schematically represented as a side view section in the enclosed drawing and is explained in greater detail below.

A bath tub 1 has a waste opening 2 and an overflow opening 3. A cup-shaped casing 4 has been inserted into the overflow opening 3 from outside the tub and has been fixed, for example using adhesive material. A circular covering grid 5, having radially arranged passage openings, is fixed by two coaxial screws 6 to the bath tub body inside. A connecting pipe 7, closely adjacent to the wall of the bath tub 1, is radially fixed to the casing 4 and extends down to the waste opening 2 where it enters, also radially, a short casing chamber 8. This connecting pipe 7 can be, if desired, of square or rectangular cross-section. The casing chamber 8, arranged at right angles to the bath tub, essentially consists of a short pipe stub and is inserted and sealed in the waste opening 2.

The stub is provided with a thread 9 for connecting to the waste pipe. Moreover, a waste valve 10 is arranged in the centre of the casing chamber 8 in the waste opening area 2. The valve essentially comprises a valve plug 10a, which is snap connected (not shown) with a valve stem 11, and a hydraulically actuated piston 12. The piston 12 slides in a bridge-shaped guide 13 in the centre of the casing chamber 8. The casing chamber 8 consists of two parts. The upper part constitutes the seat of the valve plug 10a and has been directly inserted into the waste opening 2. Snap tongues, which engage into the lower part, establish firm and tight connection between the body of the bath tub 1 and the casing chamber.

It is, of course, possible to produce the casing chamber 8 as one single integral part of the bath tub or fix it with the help of adhesive material.

The shut-off valve 10 is actuated with the use of two buttons 14, which protrude from the circular covering grid 5 and which are accommodated with their pistons 15 in hydraulic cylinders in the casing 4. Two pipes 16, passing through the larger pipe 7, link the overflow casing with the waste casing chamber. One of these pipes enters the space above the piston 12 and one enters the space below the piston 12. By pushing one of the buttons 14 the piston 12 is moved with the help of a hydraulic fluid to open or close the drain valve in the drain opening 2.

The design described makes it possible to install the drain system to the bath tub at low cost in the tub manufacturer's shop. This reduces the time and cost expenditure involved in the plumber installing the bath tub as only the drain pipe has to be connected up and no adapting or fitting of the drain system to the bath tub body is any longer necessary.

Moreover, stacking the bath tubs provided with the overflow and drain system is in no way impaired and storage of such tubs is possible in the same way as in the case of conventional bath tubs.

The hydraulic devices controlling the shutoff valve are accessible from inside the bath tub for ease of servicing and maintenance.

Bath tubs are normally stored at wholesalers etc. by stacking about five tubs and laying distance pieces of carboard etc. between them one inside the other to form a package.

The side walls of the tubs are tapered.

The known drain and overflow systems are relatively bulky so that these can only be mounted during the installation of the tub in a bathroom.

These disadvantages are now minimised if not eliminated by the invention.

The buttons 14, for instance, can be fixed to the piston 15 of the hydraulic cylinders by snap-connections. Thus the covering grid 5 and the cover of the casing 4 can be unassembled but still adjacent to the appliance wall.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A sanitary appliance having a waste outlet and overflow system comprising a waste assembly including a casing carrying a waste valve, an overflow opening in a wall of the appliance at a level normally above the level of the waste assembly, a connecting pipe connecting the overflow opening with the waste assembly, and a valve actuating mechanism adjacent the overflow opening and linked by fluid pipes with the valve, the casing being attached to the wall of the appliance, and the actuating mechanism being at the same location on the wall of the appliance as the overflow opening.

2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the connecting pipe has been moulded as an integral part to or into the body of the appliance.

3. An appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the casing has been moulded as an integral part on or into the body of the appliance.

4. An appliance according to claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising a cup-shaped casing defining the overflow opening and accommodating the actuating mechanism, the casing having an opening for the connecting pipe.

5. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cup-shaped casing has been moulded as an integral part to or into the body of the appliance.

6. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluid pipes between the actuating mechanism and the shut-off valve are inside the connecting pipe.

7. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting pipe is of square or rectangular cross-section.

8. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises in the area of the overflow opening push-button mechanism for controlling the waste valve.

9. An appliance according to claim 8, wherein the push-button mechanism has two buttons connected with respective hydraulic pistons, which through the fluid pipes and an hydraulic fluid therein control a piston which is connected with the waste valve.

10. An appliance having a waste and overflow system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the circular covering grid 5 and which are accommodated with their pistons 15 in hydraulic cylinders in the casing 4. Two pipes 16, passing through the larger pipe 7, link the overflow casing with the waste casing chamber. One of these pipes enters the space above the piston 12 and one enters the space below the piston 12. By pushing one of the buttons 14 the piston 12 is moved with the help of a hydraulic fluid to open or close the drain valve in the drain opening 2. The design described makes it possible to install the drain system to the bath tub at low cost in the tub manufacturer's shop. This reduces the time and cost expenditure involved in the plumber installing the bath tub as only the drain pipe has to be connected up and no adapting or fitting of the drain system to the bath tub body is any longer necessary. Moreover, stacking the bath tubs provided with the overflow and drain system is in no way impaired and storage of such tubs is possible in the same way as in the case of conventional bath tubs. The hydraulic devices controlling the shutoff valve are accessible from inside the bath tub for ease of servicing and maintenance. Bath tubs are normally stored at wholesalers etc. by stacking about five tubs and laying distance pieces of carboard etc. between them one inside the other to form a package. The side walls of the tubs are tapered. The known drain and overflow systems are relatively bulky so that these can only be mounted during the installation of the tub in a bathroom. These disadvantages are now minimised if not eliminated by the invention. The buttons 14, for instance, can be fixed to the piston 15 of the hydraulic cylinders by snap-connections. Thus the covering grid 5 and the cover of the casing 4 can be unassembled but still adjacent to the appliance wall. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A sanitary appliance having a waste outlet and overflow system comprising a waste assembly including a casing carrying a waste valve, an overflow opening in a wall of the appliance at a level normally above the level of the waste assembly, a connecting pipe connecting the overflow opening with the waste assembly, and a valve actuating mechanism adjacent the overflow opening and linked by fluid pipes with the valve, the casing being attached to the wall of the appliance, and the actuating mechanism being at the same location on the wall of the appliance as the overflow opening.

2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein the connecting pipe has been moulded as an integral part to or into the body of the appliance.

3. An appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the casing has been moulded as an integral part on or into the body of the appliance.

4. An appliance according to claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising a cup-shaped casing defining the overflow opening and accommodating the actuating mechanism, the casing having an opening for the connecting pipe.

5. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cup-shaped casing has been moulded as an integral part to or into the body of the appliance.

6. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluid pipes between the actuating mechanism and the shut-off valve are inside the connecting pipe.

7. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting pipe is of square or rectangular cross-section.

8. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises in the area of the overflow opening push-button mechanism for controlling the waste valve.

9. An appliance according to claim 8, wherein the push-button mechanism has two buttons connected with respective hydraulic pistons, which through the fluid pipes and an hydraulic fluid therein control a piston which is connected with the waste valve.

10. An appliance having a waste and overflow system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.