GB2489061A

GB2489061A - Drainage device comprising a flexible tray having a slot formed therein

Info

Publication number: GB2489061A
Application number: GB201115673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joe Langston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-23
Filing date: 2011-09-12
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-12
Also published as: GB201115673D0; GB2489061B; GB201110622D0

Abstract

The drainage device comprises a flexible tray 10 having a surrounding wall 12 in which a rebate is formed. The part of the wall at which the rebate is located additionally includes a flange 13. The flange includes a circular opening 14 having a slot extending therefrom to enable the flange to flex so that the tray may be engaged with a pipe, the pipe being received in the opening. The slot may include a stepped portion 15 that is approximately equal in thickness to the flange. A portion 16 of the wall adjacent the slot may include a rib 17 and a channel 18 on opposing sides of the slot, wherein the channel and rib may be secured to one another once the tray is engaged with the pipe, so as to secure the pipe within the tray. The tray may be square or triangular in plan, with each corner of having a rebate and associated circular opening and slot. The respective circular openings may be of different sizes so that the device is suitable for use with a varying range of pipe bores.

Description

DRAINAGE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a drainage device for use in, for example, the plumbing industry.

When, for example, a central heating radiator is to be removed from its supporting wall, it is necessary to drain the radiator prior to its removal from the wall. This involves draining the water in the radiator through one or both of the unions by which the radiator is connected to the supply and return pipes of the central heating system. During draining of the water, a receptacle is placed beneath the or each union to collect the water that is being discharged.

This can be a messy business and a number of proposals have accordingly been made to facilitate the drainage of water from a radiator. One example is that shown in British Patent Specification No. 2 291 395 and another example is shown in European Patent

Specification No. 0 562 847.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drainage device.

SUMMARY OF THEJNVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a drainage device comprising a flexible tray for use in the collection of water from a pipe, the tray having a surrounding wall in which a rebate is formed, and that part of the wall at which the rebate is located being provided with a flange in which a substantially circular opening is formed and the flange being formed with a slit extending from the opening so that the flange can be distorted to permit the tray to be engaged with a pipe so that the pipe is received in the opening.

The wall of the tray may be provided with a number of rebates each of which is formed with a substantially circular opening, with the openings being of different dimensions so that the tray can be engaged with pipes of different dimensions.

The tray may, for example, be of generally circular form in plan view, with either one or two rebates formed in its wall. Alternatively, the tray may be of triangular or square form in plan view with a rebate at each corner and with circular openings of different dimensions at each corner.

The tray is preferably formed of rubber or other flexible plastics material as a one-piece moulding so that the flange can readily be distorted during engagement of the tray with a substantially vertical pipe. Drainage of a central heating radiator can thus readily be effected without creating a mess.

A horizontal step may extend alongside the or each slit in the flange and the upper portion of the part of the wall adjacent each slit may be formed on one side with an outwardly extending rib arranged to fit in an inwardly facing channel formed in that part of the wall on the other side of the slit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a tray designed to be engaged with a substantially vertical water pipe adjacent a union to facilitate the collection of the water that may escape when the union is disconnected, Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray, Figure 3 is a side view of the tray, and Figure 4 is a detail view of part of the tray.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The tray 10 shown in the drawings is formed from rubber or from a synthetic plastics material, such as a mixture of polyvinylchloride and low density polyethylene, as a one-piece moulding and is sufficiently flexible that it can be distorted, as described below, to enable it to be engaged with a pipe (not shown).

The particular tray 10 shown in the drawings is of triangular form in plan view, though other configurations are possible, for example, circular or square.

The tray 10 has a flat base 11 and an up-standing wall 12, which is inclined at a small acute angle to the vertical. At each corner of the triangular tray 10, there is a part-cylindrical rebate and that part of the wall 12 at which the rebate is located is provided with a flange 13 in which a substantially circular opening 14 is formed. Each flange 13 is also formed with a radially outwardly extending slit that extends from the associated opening 14. A horizontal step 15 extends outwardly alongside of each slit and the arrangement is such that, when the tray 10 is moved into engagement with a pipe, the parts of the flange 13 on either side of the appropriate slit are distorted so that the tray 10 can be moved into a position in which the pipe is received in the opening 14.

The up-standing wall 12 includes portions 16 that extend upwardly from the flanges 13 and the part of each portion 16 on one side of the adjacent slit includes an outwardly facing vertical rib 17 whilst the part of each portion 16 on the other side of the slit includes an inwardly facing vertical channel 18. The horizontal step 15 alongside each slit has a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the associated flange 13.

The arrangement is thus such that, when the tray 10 has been engaged with a pipe and the pipe is received in an opening 15 of the appropriate diameter, the parts of the flange 13 adjacent the respective slit can be distorted so that the outwardly facing rib 17 on one side of the respective slit can be engaged in the inwardly facing channel 18 on the other side of the slit. Secure engagement of the tray 10 with the pipe is thus obtained.

The three openings 14 at the three corners of the triangular tray are of different diameters, corresponding to three different standard pipe diameters so that, when a plumber wishes to disconnect a pipe union, he can position the tray 10 so that the appropriate size of opening 14 is adjacent the pipe 10 and can then distort the flange 13 so as to open up the slit and engage the flange 13 with the pipe, with the pipe securely filling in the respective opening 14. The thickness of the flange 13 and the elastic properties of the rubber or synthetic plastics material from which the tray 10 is formed are so chosen as to ensure a secure engagement with the pipe.

The openings 14 may be of such sizes that they can receive, for example, pipes of diameters 10 mm, 15 mm and 22 mm The work undertaken by the plumber in, for example, replacing a central heating radiator (or other work involving disconnection of a water pipe union, is thus simplified and can be carried out with minimal likelihood of causing a mess.

Claims

Claims:- 1. A drainage device comprising a flexible tray for use in the collection of water from a pipe, the tray having a surrounding wall in which a rebate is formed, and that part of the wall at which the rebate is located being provided with a flange in which a substantially circular opening is formed and the flange being formed with a slit extending from the opening so that the flange can be distorted to permit the tray to be engaged with a pipe so that the pipe is received in the opening.
2. A drainage device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the wall of the tray is provided with a number of rebates each of which is formed with a substantially circular opening, with the openings being of different dimensions so that the tray can be engaged with pipes of different dimensions.
3. A drainage device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the tray is of triangular or square form in plan view with a rebate at each corner and with circular openings of different dimensions at each corner.
4. A drainage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the tray is formed of rubber or other flexible plastics material as a one-piece moulding so that the flange can readily be distorted during engagement of the tray with a substantially vertical pipe.
5. A drainage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a horizontal step extends alongside the or each slit in the flange.
6. A drainage device as claimed in Claim 5, in which the upper portion of the part of the wall adjacent each slit is formed on one side with an outwardly extending rib arranged to fit in an inwardly facing channel formed in that part of the wall on the other side of the slit.
7. A drainage device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.Amendment to the cliams have been filed as follows Claims:- 1. A drainage device comprising a flexible tray for use in the collection of water from a pipe, the tray having a surrounding wall in which a plurality of rebates are formed, and that part of the wall at which each rebate is located being provided with a flange in which a substantially circular opening is formed, with the openings being of different dimensions so that the tray can be engaged with pipes of different dimensions and each flange being formed with a slit extending from the respective opening.2. A drainage device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the tray is of triangular or square form in plan view and wherein one of the plurality of rebates is provided at each corner. *
S. * S *3. A drainage device as claimed in either of the preceding * ,, claims, in which the tray is formed of rubber or other flexible plastics fl5.. material as a one-piece moulding.S..... * I4. A drainage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a step extends alongside the slit in each flange.5. A drainage device as claimed in Claim 4, in which an upper portion of the part of the wall adjacent each slit is formed on one side with an outwardly extending rib arranged to fit in an inwardly facing channel formed in that part of the wall on the other side of the slit.6. A drainage device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.