GB2449364A

GB2449364A - Waste Outlet for a Urinal

Info

Publication number: GB2449364A
Application number: GB0809052A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Todd
Original assignee: PHS GROUP PLC
Current assignee: PHS GROUP PLC
Priority date: 2007-05-17
Filing date: 2008-05-19
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-19
Also published as: EP2088252A2; GB0809052D0; GB2449364B; EP2088252A3

Abstract

A waste outlet assembly 10 for a urinal has a body mountable on a urinal waste outlet pipe 12. The body 16,18 defines a through passage with a downstream opening 22 and a flexible closure flap 26 located adjacent the downstream opening 22. The closure flap 26 is biased so as to overlap the edges thereof to substantially close the opening 22, the closure member being capable of flexing away from the opening to open the opening. The flap seal against the opening can be air-tight if there is an aqueous liquid present between the two. Additionally the assembly may also comprise a grid 36, a block of antibacterial or perfumed dissolvable material 42, and a cover 44 located within the urinal.

Description

I

Waste Outlet Assemblies This invention relates to waste outlet assemblies for urinals, and particularly but not exclusively such assemblies for reduced flush urinals.

With urinal waste outlet assemblies it can be desirable to provide a one way valve to allow liquids to pass through, but to substantially prevent odours from the waste outlet passing back out of the urinal. If a satisfactory valve is provided, this can permit reduced amounts of flushing to be used. Prior art arrangements are disclosed in, for example, GB-A-2355185, GB-A-i 2346198 AU-A-2005202307 EP-A-1174549, WQ-A-2004/0591g8 and GB-A-22g6309 According to the present invention there is provided a waste outlet assembly, the assembly including a body member mountable Substantially sealingly on a urinal waste outlet pipe, the body member defining a through passage with a downstream opening, and a flexible closure member located adjacent the downstream opening and biased so as to overlap the edges thereof to substantially close the opening, the Closure member being capable of flexing away from the opening in order to open the opening. * 20 **

The closing of the Opening by means of the flexible closure member overlapping the edges of the opening provides a good seal, particularly when the opening edges and the closure member are wetted. An improved odour seal is achieved.

The flexible closure member is configured to substantially close the opening when there is no liquid flowing therethrough, but when liquid flows through the body member passage, this causes the closure member to flex away from the opening to allow liquid to pass therethrough The flexible nature of the closure member provides the biasing force to ensure that when the closure member is flexed away from the closed position to the open position, the closure member subsequently flexes back to the closed position.

The edges of the downstream opening beneficially define an opening perimeter against which the closure member seats.

The assembly is preferably configured such that in a dry rest position the closure member contiguous with the edges of the downstream opening.

In certain embodiments the closure member may lie adjacent the edges of the downstream opening with a small gap therebetweeri. The gap may be less than 1mm, may be less than 0.3mm, and may be substantially 0.1mm.

The assembly is preferably configured such that if there is aqueous liquid between the closure member and the edges of the downstream opening, an air tight seal to the opening will tend to be formed between the closure member and the edges of the downstream opening. This seal occurs * ** * * * * ** as a result of surface tension effects and also the resilient flex nature of the closure member. * ** * * *

The body member may be configured such that the downstream opening is inclined, with the closure member in a rest position inclined at a similar angle to the downstream opening. As a result the closure member *:*. extends across the passage way of the body at a position directly below the upper end mouth of the flow passage. Fluid falling downstream through the passage can therefore Impact directly on the closure member and ensure it flexes to the open position. The closure member may be selectively mountable on the body member by a retaining member, which retaining member may urge the closure member to a similar angle of inclination to the downstream opening.

The closure member is preferably a resiliently flexible member and may for example comprise a thin resilient plastic flap.

The closure member is beneficially mounted at an upper edge position of the downstream opening such that free edges of the closure member can separate from free edges of the downstream opening.

The closure member may be made of a plastics sheet material, and may be made of polyester. The material of the closure member may be between 0.05 and 0.15mm thick. Preferably the closure member material is between 0.08 and 0.12mm thick, most preferably about 0.1mm thick.

The body member may include a structure which can support a block of dissolvable material. The structure may be a grid. The structure may be provided at an upper part of the body member such that liquid passing through the body member will tend to engage against the block.

A cover may be provided locatable over the upper part of the body member. In use the cover may locate within the bowl of a urinal. The cover I...

may be releasably engageable with the body member, and may engage with the body member in a bayonet fitting configuration. * 20 I..

The body member may include deformable external formations to permit use with different sizes of outlet pipes. I* * * S S S *S

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a first waste outlet assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the assembly of Fig. I in a first condition; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the assembly of Fig. 1 in the first condition; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 1 in a second condition; Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but of the assembly in a third condition; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view from beneath of a component of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view from beneath of a second waste outlet assembly according to the invention; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side view of the assembly of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic front view of the assembly of Fig. 7; and * * I.'..

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the assembly of ***20 Fig. 7 along the line A-A; in Fig. 9. *

Figs. I to 6 of the drawings show a first waste outlet assembly 10 suitable for use in a urinal, and an upper part of a waste outlet pipe 12 of a urinal is shown in Fig. 1. The assembly 10 includes a body member 14 with a lower part 16 locatable in the pipe 12, and an upper part 18 of a size to rest on top of the pipe 12. The lower part 16 includes four spaced outer ribs 20 at an upper part thereof which are engageable against the walls of the pipe 12 in a friction fit. The ribs 20 can be deformed to a certain degree for use with different sizes of pipe 12.

The lower part 16 is hollow and has a sideways facing downstream opening 22. Two projections 24 are provided, each adjacent an upper corner of the opening 22. A sheet material plastics closure member flap 26 is mounted on the projections 24 by holes 28 in the flap member 26. The closure member flap is made of polyester, though other materials may be usable. The closure member has a thickness of between about 0.5 and 0.1mm. In use when dry the closure member 26 hangs vertically downwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and may abut the edges of the opening 22 or may define a small gap 30 (for example, of substantially 0.1mm), between the member 26 and edges of the opening 22. The edges of the opening 22 define a rigid perimeter for the opening 22 against which the closure member flap 26 overlaps at its perimeter and seals (particularly when wetted).

The upper part 18 has a rim 32 with four ribs 34 therebeneath which extend into the ribs 20 of the lower part 16. In use the underside of the ribs 34 will rest on top of the pipe 12. A grid 36 extends across the rim 32 spaced below the top of the rim 32. A flange 38 is provided around the top of the rim 32 except in areas above the ribs 34. Rounded projections 40 are provided immediately below the flange 38, at the ends of the sections of flange 38 1.e' adjacent the ribs 34. * .e S. S

In use, a slowly dissolvable block 42 may be located on the grid 36.

The block 42 may be made of a gel and may have antibacterial and/or perfume properties, and/or may contain enzymes for breaking down uric scale. A cover 44 is provided with a plurality of fingers 46 around its lower edge defining a castellated opening structure. There are four equispaced projections 48 (Fig. 6) on the inside of the cover 44. In use the cover 44 can be mounted on the rim 32 by the four equispaced projections 48 being passed through the parts of the rim 32 without the flange 38. The cover 44 can then be twisted such that the equispaced projections 48 engage beneath the flange 30. The rounded projections 40 ensure that the cover 44 can only be removed with a strong twisting action which provides sufficient force for the equispaced projections 48 to pass over the rounded projections 40.

When liquid passes into the urinal, it will pass through the openings defined by the fingers 46 and will tend to pass onto the block 42 causing release of some thereof. The liquid will pass into the hollow lower part 16 and push the closure member 26 outwardly as shown in Fig. 4, to pass out of the assembly 10 as illustrated by the arrow 48. Once liquid has ceased flowing through the assembly 10, the closure member 26 will return to the position shown in Fig. 5. Remaining liquid on the closure member 26 and/or edges of the downstream opening 22, will cause a substantially airtight seal to form between the closure member 26 and the edges of the downstream opening 22.

Figs. 7 to 10 of the drawings show a second waste outlet assembly 30 which is similar in many respects to the assembly 10 and therefore only the differences will be described. In this instance a body member 32 defines a downstream opening 34 at the end of a downwardly extending passage 36.

The perimeter edges of the opening 34 are inclined at about 30 away from a * ** vertical alignment. S... * . *SSS

A closure member flap 38 is provided to selectively close the opening 34 in a similar manner to the closure member flap26. The member 38 has *4* two mounting holes 40 which locate over downwardly extending projections : 42 at the higher end of the opening 34. A retaining clip 44 is selectively mountable to the body member 32 by two sprung fingers 46 locatable in a recess 48 in the body member 32. The retaining member 44 has an inclined head 50 engageable against the closure member 38 to urge it to a similar inclination to the opening 34 to close same. In both embodiments the closure member flap 38,26 is resiliently flexible such that following deflection to open the opening, it resiliently flexes back to return to the closed position.

The assembly 30 is operable in a similar manner to the assembly 10, and the downwardly extending passage 36 has been found to provide good drainage and help avoid trapping of air in the assembly 30.

There are thus described urinal waste outlet assemblies which can readily be retrofitted to existing installations or used in new installations. The assemblies provide a secure location for dissolvable blocks but permit ready replacement thereof without removal of the whole assembly from the urinal.

The apparatus are of relatively straightforward construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured. In use the assemblies provide a mechanically simple yet reliable substantially airtight one way valve for long term maintenance free use.

Because the resilient closure member flap is arranged to deflect from a closed position abutting or sealing against a solid defined outlet edge perimeter, improved sealing characteristics are achieved. This is particularly so when the closure member flap is inclined across the passage directly below the upper end mouth of the flow passage. This is because fluid falling downstream through the passage impacts directly on the closure flap to open the valve.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the assembly may have a different configuration. The closure member may be made of a different material or may have a different form. The assembly may be differently mounted in a waste pipe. The cover could be differently mounted on the remainder of the : assembly. * 25

* Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it *:*. should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A waste outlet assembly, the assembly including a body member mountable substantially sealing on a urinal waste outlet pipe, the body member defining a through passage with a downstream opening and a flexible closure member located adjacent the downstream opening and biased so as to overlap the edges thereof to substantially close the opening, the closure member being capable flexing away from the edges of the opening in order to open the opening.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the assembly is configured such that in a dry rest position the closure member lies adjacent the edges of the downstream opening either contiguous with the edges of the opening, or with a small gap therebetween.

3. An assembly accordingly to claim 2, in which the gap is substantially: (I) 1mm or less (ii) 0.3mm or less, or (iii) 0.1mm or less.

4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which in the * ** closure position the closure member is inclined across the downstream :::::: opening. SI..

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the closure :. member extends across the opening which is positioned directly below the through passage.

** a... * .

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly is configured such that is there is aqueous liquid between the closure member and the edges of the downstream opening, an air tight seal to the opening will tend to be formed between the closure member and the edges of the downstream opening.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the closure member is made of a plastics sheet material.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, in which the closure member is made of polyester.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the closure member ismade of a material which is between 0.05 and 0.12mm thick.

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the body member includes a structure which can support a block of dissolvable material.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, in which the structure is a grid.

12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a cover is provided locatable over the upper part of the body member.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 in which in use the cover locates within the bowl of a urinal. * S ****

*

14. An assembly according to claims 12 or 13, in which the cover is :.:. 25 releasably engageable with the body member.

15. An assembly according to claim 15, in which the cover engages with the body member in a bayonet fitting configuration.