GB2369128A

GB2369128A - Flood protection apparatus for a toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2369128A
Application number: GB0127399A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Alexander Jones; Peter Anthony Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-16
Filing date: 2001-11-15
Publication date: 2002-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-15
Also published as: GB2369128B; GB0127399D0

Abstract

Flood protection apparatus is disclosed for resisting entry of floodwater in a toilet. The apparatus comprises a sealing portion (14) and securing means wherein the sealing portion is retained in position by the securing means to substantially seal an outlet of the toilet bowl. Once the risk of flooding has passed, the apparatus can be removed. A removable closure for an overflow outlet pipe is also claimed.

Description

Flood protection apparatus This invention relates to flood protection apparatus. In particular, it relates to flood protection apparatus that can be deployed to protect premises against inundation of floodwater through a toilet.

In flood conditions, one of the most damaging and unpleasant routes for floodwater to enter premises is by reverse flow in the drainage system that causes water to emerge from a toilet bowl. This form of floodwater ingress cannot be prevented by the conventional measure of blocking doors and windows, for example with sandbags, nor by the door and window protection apparatus disclosed in our UK Patent Application No. 0102215.1. As the level of floodwater increases, it may enter the building through an overflow pipe that is normally provided for the cistern of a toilet.

Given that a toilet is an expensive installation that is often part of a suite, and for many, flooding is a rarity, the inventors have realised that it is unlikely that many householders would be tempted to install any flood protection measure that involved changing the toilet bowl or other apparatus. Therefore, they have concluded that a more effective solution is to provide apparatus that can be rapidly disposed, in the event of a flood warning, to guard against inundation in the event of a flood.

Therefore, from a first aspect, this invention provides flood protection apparatus comprising a sealing portion and a securing portion whereby the apparatus can be disposed for use in a toilet bowl such that the sealing portion is retained in position by the securing portion to substantially seal an outlet of the toilet bowl.

Such apparatus can be brought into use as and when there is a risk of flooding, and can subsequently be removed, leaving the toilet bowl unaltered from its original condition.

Most advantageously, the apparatus is adjustable such that it can be installed in a variety of different toilet bowls. In particular, the securing portion is advantageously adjustable to cooperate with a variety of toilet bowls.

In typical embodiments, the sealing portion is configured to form a seal within a waste outlet of a toilet bowl. For example, the sealing portion may have a tapering peripheral wall that can be accommodated within various waste outlets of different dimensions, a seal being formed between the peripheral wall and material of the toilet bowl.

Preferably, the sealing portion is formed of a resilient material that can be deflected so that it can conform to a surface of a toilet bowl against which it is to form a seal. This allows one configuration of a sealing portion to cooperate with a variety of differently shaped toilet bowls. Deflecting means may be provided, operation of the deflecting means causing resilient deformation of the sealing portion to enhance its sealing effectiveness. For example, the deflecting means may cause the sealing portion to compress in a first direction, and thereby expand in a transverse direction.

In a first arrangement, the securing portion may operate to pull the sealing portion into place. For example, it may cooperate with a suitably shaped part of the waste outlet of the toilet bowl, such as a part of the U-bend.

Alternatively or additionally, the securing portion may operate to press the sealing portion into place. In one preferred arrangement, the securing portion may engage with an underside of a rim portion of a toilet bowl. For example, the securing formation may comprise rim-engaging formations for engaging with a rim portion, the spacing between the rim-engaging formations being adjustable to conform to different sizes of toilet bowl. The rim-engaging formations may be carried on a bar of adjustable length. In such embodiments, the securing portion is preferably provided with a strut disposed to apply a force to the sealing portion. Advantageously, the strut is of adjustable length to accommodate variations in the configuration of the toilet bowl and to facilitate deployment of the apparatus.

The inventors have also realised that the presence of a toilet or other plumbing apparatus employing a cistern, especially in a lower floor of a building, can give rise to a further risk in the event of flooding. Such an installation will most usually incorporate an overflow to ensure that water can escape in the event that a levelcontrolling valve of the cistern fails to operate properly. It is common for such an overflow to include a pipe that exits to the exterior of the building. This can provide an entry path for floodwater.

From a second aspect, this invention provides apparatus for preventing floodwater for entering an overflow pipe in conditions of flooding, comprising a first component installed at an open end of the overflow pipe, and a second component, operably connectable to the first component, to seal the pipe in conditions in which flooding is expected. Apparatus embodying this aspect of the invention is most advantageously provided in combination with apparatus embodying the first aspect of the invention.

The first component of apparatus embodying this aspect of the invention may be permanently or semi-permanently installed on the overflow pipe. For example, it may be secured there by adhesive. The second component is typically removable from the first component when conditions of flooding have passed.

In a typical embodiment, the second component may be secured to the first component by mutually-engagement of threaded portions of the two components.

From a third aspect, the invention provides a flood protection system comprising flood protection apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention in combination with apparatus for preventing floodwater for entering an overflow pipe according to the second aspect of the invention.

The various aspects of the invention have been described above with reference to protection of buildings against flooding risks. However, it may also find application to protect boats from inundation. Many boats, from small yachts upwards in size, are equipped with flushing toilets. It is known that these can provide a route through which water can enter the vessel, either when it is moored,

or when it is underway in rough conditions. Embodiments of the invention might therefore be deployed to prevent water entering the vessel under such circumstances.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a toilet bowl with flood protection apparatus being a first embodiment of the invention installed; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the toilet bowl of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a toilet bowl with flood protection apparatus being a second embodiment of the invention installed; Figure 4 shows a securing portion of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows apparatus being a further embodiment of the invention in place on a cistern overflow pipe; and Figures 6 shows the apparatus of Figure 5 in cross-section; and Figure 7 shows the apparatus of Figure 5 in pace on an overflow pipe in crosssection.

With reference first to Figures 1 & 2, apparatus 12 being a first embodiment is shown for preventing inundation of floodwater through a waste outlet of a toilet bowl 10.

The apparatus comprises a sealing body 14. The body 14 is formed of a resilient material such as a high-density polymer. For example, a synthetic rubber material may be used. To enhance the sealing properties of the sealing body, it may be provided with a coating of a sealing material, such as compressible synthetic polymer foam. The sealing body 14 is formed with generally flat upper and lower surfaces, and a tapered peripheral surface. The peripheral surface is shaped to be as close as possible a fit within the waste outlet of a typical toilet bowl so as to form a fluid-tight seal.

Securing means is carried on the sealing body 14. The securing means comprises an elongate threaded rod 20 that passes through a bore formed through the sealing body 14. At an end region of the rod 20, there is provided a manipulation formation 22 that can be used by a person to turn the rod about a longitudinal axis. In this embodiment, the manipulation formation is shaped generally like a wingnut. The manipulation formation 22 has a flat lower surface that bears against a washer 24 carried on the upper surface of the sealing body 14. The securing means further includes a bracket 26. The bracket has a threaded boss 28 that is carried in threaded engagement upon the rod 20. A hook portion 30 of the bracket 26 extends laterally from the boss 28. The hook portion 30 is shaped and configured such that it can engage with a downwardly pointing projection at the U-bend of the toilet bowl.

An elongate bolt 32 extends through a bore in the sealing body 14. A head 36 of the bolt 32 bears against a washer 34 that is carried on the lower surface of the sealing body 14. A wingnut 38 is carried on the bolt 32. Between the wingnut 38 and the upper surface of the sealing body 14 there is a washer 40.

To deploy the apparatus in use, the bracket 26 is positioned towards the lower end of the rod 20. The apparatus is then lowered into the toilet bowl 10, and manipulated such that the hook portion 30 of the bracket 26 locates upon the projection (which will typically be below the level of water within the bowl). The manipulation formation 22 is then used to turn the rod 20 to draw the bracket along the rod 20. The hook portion 30 engages with the protection, causing the rod 20 to be pulled downwards. Contact between the manipulation formation 22 and the washer 24 causes the sealing body to be urged downwards into the waste outlet of the toilet bowl, so securing it in place.

Once the sealing body is secured, the wingnut 38 is rotated to draw it along the bolt 32. The wingnut 38 makes contact with the washer 40. Continued rotation of the wingnut 38 causes the sealing body 14 to become compressed between the respective washers 34,40 on its lower and upper surfaces. Being of resilient material, this compression causes the sealing body 14 to bulge laterally, thereby urging its peripheral surface into contact with the material of the toilet bowl, thereby causing a fluid-resistant seal to form at the peripheral surface.

With reference now to Figures 3 and 4, apparatus 12 being a second embodiment is shown. This apparatus comprises a sealing body 50 and a securing portion 52, the latter being shown in Figure 4.

The sealing body 50 is of much the same construction as the corresponding component of the first embodiment, as described above, albeit without any bores being formed through it. In this embodiment, a metal plate 54 is carried on the upper surface of the sealing body 14.

The securing portion 52 comprises a first and a second elongate bar metal portion 56,58. The second bar portion 58 is of hollow section, such that the first bar portion 56 can be inserted within it. The bar portions 56,58 can then be slid with respect to one another to form a bar assembly of variable overall length. Two bolt and wingnut assemblies 60 are provided such that the bar assembly can be clamped at a selected length.

At an outer end region of each of the bar portions 56,58 is carried a respective locating pad 62, formed of metal, and having a flat, upward-directed surface.

Generally centrally of the bar assembly (of course, this will be approximate as the length of the assembly is changeable) there is carried a location assembly. The location assembly comprises an elongate threaded rod 62 that passes through a central aperture in the bar assembly. A wingnut 64 is carried on the threaded rod below the level of the bar assembly. A pressure body 66 is carried at a lower end portion of the threaded rod 62. The pressure body 66 has a metal component that is secured to the threaded rod 62, and a resilient polymer body carried on the metal component for engagement with the metal plate 54 of the sealing body 50.

To deploy the apparatus, the sealing body 50 is first located in the waste outlet of a toilet bowl. The length of the bar assembly is then adjusted such that its pads 62 can locate below opposite portions of the rim 68 of the toilet bowl. The wingnut 64 is then rotated to cause it to travel up the threaded rod 62. The wingnut 64 bears against the bar assembly, urging the bar assembly upwards to locate against the rim 68. At the same time, the rod 62 acts as a strut to urge the pressure body 66 against

the meal plate 54 of the sealing body 50, thereby urging the sealing body 50 downwardly into the waste outlet of the toilet bowl. The pressure thereby applied forms a seal between the peripheral surface of the sealing body 50 and the material of the toilet bowl.

To enhance protection against floodwater gaining entry to a building through a toilet installation, the invention provides apparatus for protecting the overflow that is commonly provided as part of the installation of a toilet cistern.

A typical arrangement of such an overflow is shown in Figure 5. The overflow includes a pipe 70, normally of plastic material, that extends from the toilet cistern through an external wall 72 of a building, to open at the building's exterior. This allows water to run away harmlessly in the event that the cistern is overfilled. The external outlet of the pipe 70 draws attention of a building owner to the leaking water. (Note that a similar overflow can be associated with other cisterns such a feed tank for a hot water cylinder, and this invention can be applied to such an overflow. It is, however, uncommon for these to be situated at a height that floodwater is likely to reach.) The apparatus of this embodiment includes a spigot component 74 and a cap 76, each being moulded of plastic material.

The spigot component 74 is tubular, and has an internal diameter that is a close sliding fit onto the overflow pipe 70, so that a first end region of the spigot component 74 can be slid onto the pipe 70, as shown in Figure 7. There is advantageously a radial projection 76 within the spigot component that engages with an end surface of the pipe 70 to limit the distance to which the pipe 70 can enter the spigot component 74. (Note theta the radial projection should not project so far as to interfere with flow within the pipe. ) An end region 78 of the spigot component 74, opposite that into which the pipe 70 is received, is formed with an external thread.

The cap 76 has a head 82 shaped as a squat cylinder, and a boss 80 that projects axially from the head 82. The boss 80 is tubular, and formed with an internal

thread that can engage with the external thread of the spigot component 74. A sealing member 84 is located within the boss 80.

To deploy the apparatus, the spigot component 74 must first be located upon the overflow pipe 70, and secured there. This is preferably done by way of adhesive. It is envisaged that the spigot component 74 be secured on the overflow pipe 70 in advance of the need for its use, and left in place permanently. The overflow can then function as normal. If flood conditions are expected, the cap 76 can be screwed into place on the spigot component 74, its sealing member 84 forming a fluid-tight seal against an end surface of the spigot component 74. Of course, the cap 76 must be removed once the flood risk passes to restore operation of the overflow.

The embodiments are described as being for installation in a building. However, the invention has equal applicability to application in boats (typically in yachts and larger boats) to prevent inundation of water through a toilet installation in the boat.

It is likely that the embodiments for use in boats is likely to be very similar to those described above with little modification.

Typically, a flood protection system may comprise a plurality of components each being various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. Flood protection apparatus comprising a sealing portion and a securing portion whereby the apparatus can be disposed for use in a toilet bowl such that the sealing portion is retained in position by the securing portion to substantially seal an outlet of the toilet bowl.
2. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 1 configured to be brought into use as and when there is a risk of flooding, and to be removable subsequently leaving the toilet bowl substantially unaltered from its original condition.
3. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 that is adjustable such that it can be installed in a variety of different toilet bowls.
4. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 3 in which the securing portion is adjustable to cooperate with a variety of toilet bowls.
5. Flood protection apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the sealing portion is configured to form a seal within a waste outlet of a toilet bowl.
6. Flood protection apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the sealing portion has a tapering peripheral wall that can be accommodated within various waste outlets of different dimensions.
7. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 6 in which a seal is formed in use between the peripheral wall and material of the toilet bowl.
8. Flood protection apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the sealing portion is formed of a resilient material that can be deflected to conform to a surface of a toilet bowl against which it is to form a seal.
9. Flood protection apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising deflecting means, operation of the deflecting means causing resilient deformation of the sealing portion to enhance its sealing effectiveness.
10. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 9 in which operation of the deflecting means causes the sealing portion to compress in a first direction, and thereby expand in a transverse direction.
11. Flood protection apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the securing portion may operate to pull the sealing portion into place.
12. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 11 in which the securing portion can cooperate with a suitably shaped part of the waste outlet of the toilet bowl.
13. Flood protection apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the securing portion can operate to press the sealing portion into place.
14. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 13 in which the securing portion can engage with an underside of a rim portion of a toilet bowl.
15. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 14 in which the securing formation comprises rim-engaging formations for engaging with a rim portion, the spacing between the rim-engaging formations being adjustable to conform to different sizes of toilet bowl.
16. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 15 in which the rim-engaging formations are carried on a bar of adjustable length.
17. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 16 in which the securing portion is provided a strut disposed to apply a force to the sealing portion.
18. Flood protection apparatus according to claim 17 in which the strut is of adjustable length to accommodate variations in the configuration of the toilet bowl and to facilitate deployment of the apparatus.
19. Flood protection apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
20. Flood protection apparatus for any preceding claim for installation in a boat.
21. Apparatus for preventing floodwater for entering an overflow pipe in conditions of flooding, comprising a first component installed at an open end of the overflow pipe, and a second component, operably connectable to the first component, to seal the pipe in conditions in which flooding is expected.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the first component of apparatus is permanently or semi-permanently installed on an overflow pipe.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which the first component is secured on an overflow pipe by adhesive.
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23 in which the second component is removable from the first component when conditions of flooding have passed.
25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 24 in which the second component may be secured to the first component by mutually-engagement of threaded portions of the two components.
26. Apparatus for preventing floodwater for entering an overflow pipe substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
27. A flood protection system comprising flood protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20 in combination with apparatus for preventing floodwater for entering an overflow pipe according to any one of claims 21 to 26.