GB2614899A

GB2614899A - Multi-pipe bracket and system

Info

Publication number: GB2614899A
Application number: GB2200807.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bacon Matt; Fenson Vince
Original assignee: Mark Vince Fenson
Current assignee: Mark Vince Fenson
Priority date: 2022-01-21
Filing date: 2022-01-21
Publication date: 2023-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2042-01-21
Also published as: GB2614899B; GB202200807D0

Abstract

A multi-pipe bracket 1 is provided for mounting a pair of water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a vertical surface of a wall. The bracket 1 has water supply pipe mounting points 10-13 configured to receive a respective clip (31, 32) for holding at least one water supply pipe, and at least one waste pipe mounting point 15, 16 configured to receive a bracket for holding a waste pipe. Each water supply pipe mounting point has a receiving surface (10A), 11A, (12A), 13A. One pair of receiving surfaces (12A), 13A is at an acute angle to the other pair of receiving surfaces (10A), 11A. This allows the user to choose which pair of receiving surfaces (10A) and 11A, or (12A) and 13A, to use according to the desired orientation of the water supply pipes and waste pipe. Embodiments include a system for mounting a waste pipe and a soil pipe to a planar surface, the system comprising: a bracket comprising at least one waste pipe mounting point; a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe; a straight waste pipe; a soil pipe holding member for holding a soil pipe; and a soil pipe.

Description

Multi-pipe bracket and system The invention relates to a multi-pipe bracket and a system for mounting water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a surface, for example a vertical surface of a wall or a horizontal surface of a floor. The bracket and the system are particularly useful when plumbing these pipes into a basin.

When plumbing in a basin, hot and cold water supply pipes must be connected to the basin. A drainage pipe, known as a waste pipe, must also been connected to the basin.

Typically, each pipe is fixed to the wall to hold it in position.

In modular construction, individual units or modules are assembled off-site before being brought to the building site where they are assembled together to form the building. In certain circumstances, for instance in modular construction, it may be desired to connect the waste pipe from the basin to a horizontal section of a larger diameter drainage pipe, known as a soil pipe, below the basin.

The invention aims to mitigate at least some of the problems associate with known plumbing techniques.

A first aspect of the invention provides a multi-pipe bracket for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the bracket comprising: a flange having a contacting surface for contacting the surface; at least two water supply pipe mounting points, each configured to receive a respective holding member for holding a water supply pipe, and at least one waste pipe mounting point, wherein each water supply pipe mounting point has a receiving surface configured to contact the respective holding member when received by the mounting point and to face the held water supply pipe, and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to one of the receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to another of the receiving surfaces.

Unlike supply pipes, horizontal sections of drainage pipes cannot run exactly horizontally because some slope or fall in the pipe is needed to ensure that the water and any solids drain along the pipe in the desired direction. If the slope is too small, the water will not drain along the pipe. If the slope is too large, solids in the pipe may not drain properly which can block the pipe.

When connecting the waste pipe from the basin to the soil pipe below the basin, the coupling between the waste pipe and the nearly-horizontal section of soil pipe may be such that the waste pipe runs at a right angle to the soil pipe. In that case, if the soil pipe has a slight slope, the waste pipe will not run exactly vertically, but will have a slight angle with the vertical.

Alternatively, the coupling between the waste pipe and the nearly-horizontal section of soil pipe may allow the waste pipe to run vertically even with a slight slope in the soil pipe. In that case, the angle between the pipes will be slightly off a right angle.

There are therefore two possible configurations of the waste pipe: one is to run vertically, and the other is to run slightly off vertically.

The invention provides one bracket which can be used for both possible configurations as needed. The user has a choice of which receiving surface to use. When using the bracket to mount pipes to a vertical surface of a wall, the user uses one receiving surface when the waste pipe needs to run vertically, and uses the other receiving surface when the waste pipe needs to run slightly off vertically. The water supply pipe or pipes will nearly always be run vertically. The bracket can, alternatively, be used to mount pipes to a horizontal surface of a floor, for example underneath a bath.

The receiving surfaces may face in the same direction as each other or in opposite directions from each other.

The receiving surfaces may be arranged side-by-side.

Preferably, the bracket comprises at least four of the water supply pipe mounting points, and when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to a first of the receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to a second of the receiving surfaces, and a direction normal to a third of the receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to a fourth of the receiving surfaces.

The first and second receiving surfaces may be arranged side-by-side, and the third and fourth receiving surfaces may be arranged side-by-side.

The first and second receiving surfaces may face in the same direction, and the third and fourth receiving surfaces may face in the same direction.

The first or second receiving surface may face the third or fourth receiving surface.

The first receiving surface may be substantially parallel to the third receiving surface, and the second receiving surface may be substantially parallel to the fourth receiving surface.

In one preferred form, the bracket comprises at least four of the water supply pipe mounting points, wherein the receiving surfaces form two pairs of receiving surfaces, one pair of receiving surfaces facing towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other, and the other pair of receiving surfaces facing towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other, and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange: directions normal to one pair of receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other, and directions normal to the other pair of receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other, and directions normal to one pair of receiving surfaces are at an acute angle to directions normal to the other pair of receiving surfaces.

This means that a direction normal to the one pair of receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to the other pair of receiving surfaces. "Facing" does not mean that directions normal to the receiving surfaces at their midpoints exactly coincide, and there may be some offset in the normal directions.

Preferably, the acute angle of one pair of receiving surfaces to the other pair of receiving surfaces is greater than 0.5°.

The acute angle may be greater than: 1° or 2°. For example, the acute angle may be about 2.5°.

Preferably, the acute angle of one pair of receiving surfaces to the other pair of receiving surfaces is less than 10°.

The acute angle may be less than: 7° or 6°.

Preferably, each receiving surface of the respective mounting points that is configured to contact the respective holding member is planar.

Preferably, the flange is one of a pair of flanges of the bracket having substantially coplanar contacting surfaces for contacting the surface. However, this is not essential and one flange may be provided and in the below description "flanges" may be read to mean the singular, particularly when referring to a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges, unless the context requires otherwise.

Preferably, the bracket extends from one flange to the other in a bracket longitudinal direction, and at least one pair of receiving surfaces faces in the bracket longitudinal direction when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges. Preferably, both pairs of receiving surfaces faces in the bracket longitudinal direction when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges.

Preferably, directions normal to one pair of receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to the bracket longitudinal direction when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges.

Preferably, directions normal to the midpoint of one pair of receiving surfaces coincide when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges. Preferably, that pair of receiving surfaces faces in the bracket longitudinal direction when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges.

Preferably, each water supply pipe mounting point has a respective aperture, preferably through which a shaft of a fastening member can be passed for attaching the respective holding member. Preferably, each receiving surface of the water supply pipe mounting point is located at the periphery of the respective aperture. Preferably, at each mounting point, the aperture is located between separate portions of the receiving surface.

The apertures may be formed during manufacture. Alternatively, the apertures may be formed during installation of the bracket, for example using self-tapping screws.

Preferably, at each mounting point, the aperture extends through the bracket in the same direction as the facing direction of the respective receiving surface which is configured to contact the respective holding member.

Each aperture may form a slot which extends away from a plane in which the contacting surfaces of the flanges are located.

Each slot may narrow over at least half of its length, preferably at least 75% of its length, more preferably over its whole length, as it extends away from the plane in which the contacting surfaces of the flanges are located. This means that a shaft for attaching the respective holding member is can be slid into the groove more easily where it is wider nearer the plane, and can be slid along the groove to be held more tightly where the groove is narrower. This allows the shaft to be introduced more easily while allowing the holding member and water supply pipe to be held more tightly.

Preferably, each slot extends through a flange of the bracket. Preferably, two slots extend through one of the flanges, and another two slots extend through the other of the flanges.

Preferably, the at least one waste pipe mounting point is configured to receive a holding member for holding a waste pipe. Preferably, the at least one waste pipe mounting point has a receiving surface configured to contact a waste pipe holding member and to face the held waste pipe, and preferably the receiving surface faces towards or away in an opposite direction from a plane in which the contacting surfaces of the flanges are located. Preferably, the receiving surface of the at least one waste pipe mounting point is planar. Preferably, at least two such waste pipe mounting points are provided. The at least two waste pipe mounting points may be configured to contact the same waste pipe holding member. Preferably, the receiving surfaces of the two waste pipe mounting points are substantially coplanar.

Preferably, the at least one waste pipe mounting point has an aperture, preferably through which a shaft of a fastening member can be passed for attaching the waste pipe holding member. Preferably, the receiving surface of the waste pipe mounting point is located at the periphery of the aperture. Preferably, the aperture is located between separate portions of the receiving surface.

Preferably, there are at least two waste pipe mounting points, and preferably each waste pipe mounting point has an aperture. Preferably, a line bisecting each aperture extends substantially parallel with the bracket longitudinal direction when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces of the flanges. This allows the waste pipe holding member to extend in the bracket longitudinal direction, and allows the held waste pipe to extend perpendicular to the bracket longitudinal direction.

A direction perpendicular to the bracket longitudinal direction and parallel with a plane in which the contacting surfaces of the flanges are located will be referred to as the "bracket transverse direction". A direction normal to a plane in which the contacting surfaces of the flanges are located will be referred to as the "bracket depth direction".

Preferably, when viewed along the bracket transverse direction, the receiving surface of the at least one waste pipe mounting point is substantially parallel with a plane in which the contacting surfaces of the flanges are located.

The water supply pipe or waste pipe holding member may be a clip. The clip may resiliently deform as the pipe is pushed into the clip to form a snap-fit attachment. The pipe may be lockable in the clip, for example by using a hinged arm of the clip that is lockable with a catch. Alternatively, the water supply pipe or waste pipe holding member may be a clamp, for example with a fastening member for adjustably compressing the pipe in the clamp.

Preferably, the waste pipe holding member is a bracket. The bracket may resiliently deform as the pipe is pushed into the bracket to form a snap-fit attachment.

Preferably, the receiving surface of the water supply pipe mounting point has a dimension of at least 10mm. Preferably, the receiving surface of the water supply pipe mounting point has a dimension of at least 20mm. Preferably, the receiving surface of the water supply pipe mounting point has a dimension of at least 10mm in one direction, and at least 20mm in a perpendicular direction. This means that the surface is sufficiently large to receive the holding member. The water supply pipe holding member may have a corresponding surface with dimensions of, for example, about 14mm by about 36mm. These preferable features are also applicable to the receiving surface of the waste pipe mounting point. The waste pipe holding member may have a corresponding surface with dimensions of, for example, about 16mm by about 20mm, and preferably has two such corresponding surfaces.

The water supply pipe may have an outer diameter of, for example, about 10mm, 15mm or 22mm.

The waste pipe may have an outer diameter of, for example, about 34mm, 36mm, 41mm or 43mm.

The soil pipe may have an outer diameter of, for example, about 85mm or 110mm.

A second aspect of the invention provides a system for mounting water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a bracket according to the first aspect, and a holding member for holding a water supply pipe, wherein the holding member is received by, and attached to, one of the water supply pipe mounting points.

Preferably, two such holding members are provided, each received by, and attached to, a respective one of the water supply pipe mounting points.

The system may further comprise a water supply pipe held by the holding member.

Preferably, two such water supply pipes are provided, each held by a respective holding member.

A third aspect of the invention provides a system for mounting water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a bracket according to the first aspect, and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the at least one waste pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, at least two waste pipe mounting points.

The system may further comprise a waste pipe held by the waste pipe holding member.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a system for mounting water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a bracket according to the first aspect, a water supply pipe holding member for holding a water supply pipe, and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, wherein the water supply pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, one of the water supply pipe mounting points, and wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the at least one waste pipe mounting point.

The system may further comprise a water supply pipe held by the water supply pipe holding member, and a waste pipe held by the waste pipe holding member.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for a system for mounting water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a surface, the kit comprising a bracket according to the first aspect, a holding member for holding a water supply pipe, and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe.

The kit of parts may further comprise a water supply pipe and a waste pipe.

Preferably, the water supply pipe holding member is configured to hold the water supply pipe so the pipe runs substantially parallel with the receiving surface of the water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the water supply pipe holding member has a surface which is configured to contact the receiving surface of the water supply pipe mounting point when the holding member is received by, and attached to, the mounting point, and the water supply pipe holding member is configured to hold the water supply pipe so the pipe runs substantially parallel to that surface.

Preferably, the waste pipe holding member is configured to hold the waste pipe so the pipe runs substantially parallel with the receiving surface of the waste pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the waste pipe holding member has a surface which is configured to contact the receiving surface of the waste pipe mounting point when the holding member is received by, and attached to, the mounting point, and the waste pipe holding member is configured to hold the waste pipe so the pipe runs substantially parallel to that surface.

The preferable features of any of the first to fifth aspects are equally applicable to any other of the first to fifth aspects.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a multi-pipe bracket; a water supply pipe holding member for holding a water supply pipe; and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, the bracket comprising: a flange having a contacting surface for contacting the surface; a water supply pipe mounting point; and a waste pipe mounting point, wherein the water supply pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the water supply pipe mounting point, so that a main axis of a water supply pipe when held by the water supply pipe holding member extends along a first direction; wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the waste pipe mounting point, so that a main axis of a waste pipe when held by the waste pipe holding member extends along a second direction; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, the first direction is at an acute angle to the second direction.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a mounting system is provided which allows the waste pipe to be held at an acute angle to the water supply pipe.

Preferably, the water supply pipe mounting point of the bracket has an angled receiving surface configured to contact the water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the angled receiving surface is at an acute angle to a direction normal to the second direction.

Preferably, the bracket further comprises a second water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the bracket further comprises a third water supply pipe mounting point, and more preferably a fourth water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the system further comprises a second water supply pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the second water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the system further comprises a third water supply pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the third water supply pipe mounting point, and more preferably a fourth water supply pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the fourth water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the second water supply pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the second water supply pipe mounting point so that a main axis of a water supply pipe when held by the second water supply pipe holding member extends along the first direction.

Preferably, the second water supply pipe mounting point has a second angled receiving surface configured to contact a second water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the second water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the second angled receiving surface is at an acute angle to a direction normal to the second direction.

Preferably, directions normal to the two angled receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other.

Preferably, the two angled receiving surfaces face towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other.

Preferably, the bracket further comprising a third water supply pipe mounting point which preferably has a substantially parallel receiving surface configured to contact a third water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the third water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the substantially parallel receiving surface is substantially parallel to a direction normal to the second direction.

Preferably, the system further comprises a third water supply pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the third water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, the system further comprises a fourth water supply pipe mounting point which preferably has another substantially parallel receiving surface configured to contact another water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the fourth water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the other substantially parallel receiving surface is substantially parallel to a direction normal to the second direction.

Preferably, the system further comprises a fourth water supply pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the fourth water supply pipe mounting point.

Preferably, directions normal to the two substantially parallel receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other.

Preferably, the two substantially parallel receiving surfaces face towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other.

In one preferred form, the system comprises: a straight waste pipe held by the waste pipe holding member; a soil pipe holding member for holding a soil pipe; and a soil pipe, wherein: the soil pipe is held by the soil pipe holding member, and the surface is a planar surface, and the bracket and the soil pipe holding member can be attached to the planar surface to mount the waste pipe and soil pipe to the planar surface, with the waste pipe coupled to the soil pipe so that a socket of the soil pipe which receives the waste pipe or a spigot of the soil pipe which is received in the waste pipe is concentric with the waste pipe.

In this way, the components hold the waste pipe and soil pipe at a certain distance from the planar surface so that the straight waste pipe connects to the soil pipe without needing the installer to add a bend section to the waste pipe.

Preferably, there is provided a kit of parts for a system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the kit comprising a system according to the sixth aspect but in disassembled form.

The preferable features of the first to fifth aspects are equally applicable to the sixth aspect. In particular, the preferred ranges of the acute angle of one pair of receiving surfaces to the other pair of receiving surfaces of the first aspect are applicable in the sixth aspect as preferred ranges of the acute angle of the first direction to the second direction (that is, the angles between the main axes of the water supply pipe and the waste pipe).

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a system for mounting water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a multi-pipe bracket; and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, the bracket comprising: a flange having a contacting surface for contacting the surface; a water supply pipe mounting point configured to receive a water supply pipe holding member for holding a water supply pipe; and a waste pipe mounting point, wherein the water supply pipe mounting point has a receiving surface configured to contact the water supply pipe holding member when received by the mounting point and to face the held water supply pipe, wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the waste pipe mounting point, so that a main axis of a waste pipe when held by the waste pipe holding member extends along a second direction; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, the receiving surface is at an acute angle to the second direction.

The preferable features of the first to sixth aspects are equally applicable to the seventh aspect.

An eighth aspect of the present invention provides a system for mounting a waste pipe and a soil pipe to a planar surface, the system comprising: a bracket comprising at least one waste pipe mounting point; a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe; a straight waste pipe; a soil pipe holding member for holding a soil pipe; and a soil pipe, wherein: the waste pipe is held by the waste pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the waste pipe mounting point of the bracket; the soil pipe is held by the soil pipe holding member, and the bracket and the soil pipe holding member can be attached to the planar surface to mount the waste pipe and soil pipe to the planar surface, with the waste pipe coupled to the soil pipe so that a socket of the soil pipe which receives the waste pipe or a spigot of the soil pipe which is received in the waste pipe is concentric with the waste pipe.

The socket of the soil pipe may simply be a hole in the soil pipe.

Preferably, when the waste pipe is coupled to the soil pipe, the axis of the waste pipe intersects with the axis of the soil pipe.

Preferably, there is provided a kit of parts for a system for mounting a waste pipe and a soil pipe to a planar surface, the kit comprising a system according to the eighth aspect but in disassembled form.

The preferable features of the first to seventh aspects are equally applicable to the eighth aspect.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of a multi-pipe bracket according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the multi-pipe bracket of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the multi-pipe bracket of Figure 1; Figure 4 is perspective view of a system including the multi-pipe bracket of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an elevation view of the system of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the system of Figure 4 taken along a vertical surface of the board; Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of detail B shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of the system of Figure 4; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of detail A shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a multi-pipe bracket 1 for mounting a pair of water supply pipes and a waste pipe to a vertical surface of a wall. The bracket 1 could also be mounted to a horizontal surface of a floor. The bracket 1 is made up of a pair of flanges 4 and 5, a pair of legs 6 and 7 and bridging section 8. One flange 4, 5 is located at each end of the bracket 1. A longitudinal axis of the bracket 1 extends from one flange 4 to the other flange 5. Each flange 4, 5 joins to a respective leg 6, 7 at one end of the leg 6, 7. At the other ends of the legs 6, 7, the legs 6, 7 join to respective ends of the bridging section 8.

Each flange 4, 5 has a contacting surface 4A, 5A for contacting the vertical surface.

The contacting surfaces 4A, 5A are substantially coplanar. This is best seen in Figure 2. The legs 6,7 extend away from the plane in which contacting surfaces 4A, 5A are located. The bridging section 8 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bracket 1.

Figure 2 shows the bracket longitudinal direction L and the bracket transverse direction T. Referring to Figure 1 again, the bracket 1 comprises four water supply pipe mounting points 10, 11, 12, 13. Each water supply pipe mounting point 10, 11, 12, 13 is adjacent one of the flanges 4, 5. In particular, two mounting points 10, 12 are adjacent flange 4, and two mounting points 11, 13 are adjacent flange 5. The two mounting points 10, 12 are disposed on leg 6, and the two mounting points 11, 13 are disposed on leg 7.

Each water supply pipe mounting point 10, 11, 12, 13 is configured to receive a respective holding member, such as a clip, for holding a water supply pipe.

The bracket 1 further comprises two waste pipe mounting points 15, 16. Both waste pipe mounting points 15, 16 are disposed on the bridging section 8.

Each water supply pipe mounting point 10, 11, 12, 13 has a planar receiving surface 10A, 11A, 12A, 13A, configured to contact the respective holding member when received by the mounting point 10, 11, 12, 13 and to face the held water supply pipe. Only receiving surfaces 11A and 13A of mounting points 11 and 13 are shown in Figure 1, but all receiving surfaces 10A-13A are shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 3, the receiving surfaces 10A-13A form two pairs of receiving surfaces, one pair of receiving surfaces 10A, 11A facing towards each other in this embodiment, and the other pair of receiving surfaces 12A, 13A also facing towards each other in this embodiment.

Receiving surfaces 10A, 12A are arranged side-by-side with each other, and receiving surfaces 11A, 13A are arranged side-by-side with each other.

Figure 3 shows the bracket longitudinal direction L and the bracket depth direction.

When viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surfaces 4A, 5A of the flanges 4, 5, as in Figure 3, the pair of receiving surfaces 10A, 11A is substantially parallel to each other, and the other pair of receiving surfaces 12A, 13A is substantially parallel to each other. However, the pair of receiving surfaces 12A, 13A is at an acute angle to the other pair of receiving surfaces 10A, 11A. In this embodiment, as indicated in Figure 3, the pair of receiving surfaces 12A, 13A is at an angle of 2.5° to the other pair of receiving surfaces 10A, 11A.

This means that a direction normal to the pair of receiving surfaces 10A, 11A is at an acute angle of 2.5° to a direction normal to the other pair of receiving surfaces 12A, 13A. In Figure 3, the directions N10, N11 normal to receiving surfaces 10A, 11A are shown, and the directions N12, N13 normal to receiving surfaces 12A, 13A are shown. Also shown is the longitudinal axis LA of the bracket 1 which extends from one flange 4 to the other flange 5. The directions N10, N11 normal to receiving surfaces 10A, 11A are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. The directions N12, N13 normal to receiving surfaces 12A, 13A are at an angle of 2.5° to the longitudinal axis LA.

As shown in Figure 3, directions N10, N11 normal to the midpoint of receiving surfaces 10A, 11A coincide. Conversely, directions N12, N13 normal to the midpoint of receiving surfaces 12A, 13A do not coincide.

Referring to Figure 1 again, each water supply pipe mounting point 10-13 has a respective aperture 20-23. The apertures 20-23 are provided so that a user can pass a shaft of a respective fastening member (such as a bolt) through for attaching a respective holding member (such as a clip) to the bracket 1. Here, each receiving surface 10A-13A (all shown in Figure 3) of the water supply pipe mounting points 10-13 is located at the periphery of the respective aperture 20-23. Also, each aperture 20-23 is located between separate portions of the respective receiving surface 10A-13A. That is, the aperture 20-23 divides the receiving surface 10A-13A into separate portions.

As shown in Figure 1, at each mounting point 10-13, the aperture 20-23 extends through a leg 6, 7. In particular, apertures 20, 22 extend through leg 6 and apertures 21, 23 extend through leg 7. The apertures extend through the legs 6, 7 in the same direction as the facing direction of the aperture's adjacent receiving surface 10A-13A.

In this embodiment, each aperture 20-23 is in the form of a slot which extends away from the plane in which the contacting surfaces 4A, 5A of the flanges 4, 5 are located while narrowing over its whole length. Each slot extends along its respective leg 6, 7 and also extends through its adjacent flange 4, 5.

Each waste pipe mounting point 15, 16 is configured to receive a holding member, such as a bracket, for holding a waste pipe.

Each waste pipe mounting point 15, 16 has a planar receiving surface 15A, 16A, configured to contact the holding member when received by the mounting point 15, 16 and to face the held waste pipe 50.

Each receiving surface 15A, 16A faces away from the plane in which contacting surfaces 4A, 5A are located, and is substantially parallel with that plane.

Each waste pipe mounting point 15, 16 has a respective aperture 25, 26. The apertures 25, 26 are provided so that a user can pass a shaft of a respective fastening member (such as a bolt) through for attaching a holding member (such as a bracket) to the bracket 1. Here, each receiving surface 15A, 16A of the waste pipe mounting points 15, 16 is located at the periphery of the respective aperture 25, 26.

At each waste pipe mounting point 15, 16, the aperture 25, 26 extends through the bridging section 8. The apertures 25, 26 extend through the bridging section in a direction normal to a plane in which the contacting surfaces 4A, 5A of the flanges 4, 5 are located (the "bracket depth direction") In this embodiment, each aperture 25, 26 is in the form of a slot which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bracket 1. Each slot extends along the bridging section 8.

Each flange 5, 6 also has an aperture 34, 35 for attaching the bracket 1 to the vertical surface. Each aperture 34, 35 extends through the flange 5, 6 in a direction normal to the plane in which the contacting surfaces 4A, 5A of the flanges 4, 5 are located.

Figure 4 shows a system 40 including the bracket 1 of Figure 1 installed on a board 80 along with a straight waste pipe 50, hot water supply pipe 60, cold water supply pipe 61 and soil pipe 70. In the illustrated system, hot water supply pipe 60 and cold water supply pipe 61 are not substantially parallel to each other, but this is just for illustration purposes and, in actual use, the hot water supply pipe 60 and cold water supply pipe 61 would run substantially parallel to each other. Furthermore, the system 40 is shown without any fastening members such as bolts or screws holding the various components together, for clarity. However, the components of the system 40 in actual use would be fastened together by fastening members.

The system 40 would be a part of a larger system of pipework forming a module that can be assembled before being taken to the construction site. The individual different modules would then be joined to each other during the modular construction process.

In one configuration, the system would be installed with the board upright to form a vertical surface to which the bracket 1 and other components are mounted. The soil pipe 70 would be at the bottom running with a slight incline with respect to the horizontal.

A coupling 71 of the soil pipe 70 couples two aligned outer sections of the soil pipe 70 to each other. The coupling 71 also couples the soil pipe 70 to the waste pipe 50. The coupling 71 has a socket 72 protruding at a right angle into which an end of the waste pipe 50 is received. As can be seen in Figure 4, the socket 72 of the soil pipe 70 is concentric with the waste pipe 50. In this way, the system 40 holds the straight waste pipe 50 at such a distance from the board 80 that the waste pipe 50 is aligned with the socket 72 and can be inserted into the socket 72 without needing the installer to add a bend section to the waste pipe 50. Thus the system can be installed more quickly and easily.

The soil pipe 70 is held by two soil pipe holding members 73, 74 which attach the soil pipe 70 to the board 80.

Figure 5 shows more clearly the configuration of the various pipes of the system 40 of Figure 4 with the board 80 in its installed orientation. Firstly, the cold water supply pipe 61 and waste pipe 50 extend at an angle of 2.5° to the vertical edge 81 of board 80. In this embodiment, though this is not essential, the coupling 71 of the soil pipe 70 connects the soil pipe 70 to the waste pipe 50 at a right angle. Therefore, the soil pipe runs at an angle of 2.5° to the horizontal edge 82 of board 80. The hot water supply pipe 60 runs substantially parallel to the vertical edge 81 of board 80. As mentioned above, in actual use, the cold water supply pipe 61 would run substantially parallel to the hot water supply pipe 60, and hence substantially parallel to the vertical edge 81 of board 80, but it is shown here at an angle to the hot water supply pipe 60 to illustrate the different configurations of pipework that the bracket 1 allows. The hot and cold water supply pipes 61, 62 would run substantially parallel to the vertical edge 81 of board 80 so that they can connect into the taps of the basin.

Figure 5 also shows the main axis 60A of the hot water supply pipe 60 which extends along a first direction, and the main axis 50A of the waste pipe 50 which extends along a second direction. As can be seen in Figure 5, the first direction is at an acute angle, namely 2.5°, to the second direction. In addition, Figure 5 shows the main axis 61A of the cold water supply pipe 61 which, in this embodiment, extends along the second direction substantially parallel to the main axis 50A of the waste pipe 50.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the system 40 of Figure 4 taken along the vertical surface of the board 80. The view is from the board 80 so the board 80 is not shown in Figure 6. Water supply pipe mounting points 10, 11, 12, 13 of the bracket 1 are shown. At mounting points 11 and 12, holding members in the form of clips 31, 32 are attached. Clip 31, which is at mounting point 11, holds the hot water supply pipe 60, and clip 32, which is at mounting point 12, holds the cold water supply pipe 61.

Referring to Figure 7, each clip 31, 32 holds its respective water supply pipe so it runs substantially parallel with the receiving surface 11A, 12A of the mounting point 11, 12.

Although not shown in the drawings, each clip 31, 32 is attached to the bracket 1 by a bolt which passes through the clip 31, 32 from the side in which respective supply pipe 60, 61 is held. Each bolt passes through an aperture 21, 22, and on the end of each bolt is a nut to fix the clip 31, 32 in place. Each aperture 21, 22 is in the form of a slot, and the bolt can be slid along the slot.

Figures 8 and 9 are plan views of the system 40. The waste pipe 50 is held by a waste pipe holding member in the form of a bracket 51. The bracket 5 resiliently deforms as the waste pipe 50 is pushed into the bracket 51 to form a snap-fit attachment to hold the pipe 50. The bracket 51 has feet 52, 53, each with a respective aperture through which a bolt can be passed to attach the bracket 51 to the bracket 1. The bolts are not shown in the drawings. The bolts would pass from the side in which the waste pipe 50 is held, through apertures 25, 26 of waste pipe mounting points 15, 16, and on the end of each bolt is a nut to fix the bracket 51 in place.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described purely by way of example, and various modifications, additions and/or omissions will present themselves to one skilled in the art, all of which form part of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A multi-pipe bracket for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the bracket comprising: a flange having a contacting surface for contacting the surface; at least two water supply pipe mounting points, each configured to receive a respective holding member for holding a water supply pipe, and at least one waste pipe mounting point, wherein each water supply pipe mounting point has a receiving surface configured to contact the respective holding member when received by the mounting point and to face the held water supply pipe, and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to one of the receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to another of the receiving surfaces.
2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises at least four of the water supply pipe mounting points, and when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to a first of the receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to a second of the receiving surfaces, and a direction normal to a third of the receiving surfaces is at an acute angle to a direction normal to a fourth of the receiving surfaces.
3. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises at least four of the water supply pipe mounting points, wherein the receiving surfaces form two pairs of receiving surfaces, one pair of receiving surfaces facing towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other, and the other pair of receiving surfaces facing towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other, and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange: directions normal to one pair of receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other, and directions normal to the other pair of receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other, and directions normal to one pair of receiving surfaces are at an acute angle to directions normal to the other pair of receiving surfaces.
4. A system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a bracket according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and a holding member for holding a water supply pipe, wherein the holding member is received by, and attached to, one of the water supply pipe mounting points.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a water supply pipe held by the holding member. 10
6. A system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a bracket according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the at least one waste pipe mounting point.
7. A system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a waste pipe held by the waste pipe holding member.
8. A system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a bracket according to claim 1, 2 or 3, a water supply pipe holding member for holding a water supply pipe, and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, wherein the water supply pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, one of the water supply pipe mounting points, and wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the at least one waste pipe mounting point.
9. A system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a water supply pipe held by the water supply pipe holding member, and a waste pipe held by the waste pipe holding member.
10. A kit of parts for a system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the kit comprising a bracket according to claim 1, 2 or 3, a holding member for holding a water supply pipe, and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe.
11. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a water supply pipe and a waste pipe.
12. A system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the system comprising a multi-pipe bracket; a water supply pipe holding member for holding a water supply pipe; and a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe, the bracket comprising: a flange having a contacting surface for contacting the surface; a water supply pipe mounting point; and a waste pipe mounting point, wherein the water supply pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the water supply pipe mounting point, so that a main axis of a water supply pipe when held by the water supply pipe holding member extends along a first direction; wherein the waste pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the waste pipe mounting point, so that a main axis of a waste pipe when held by the waste pipe holding member extends along a second direction; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, the first direction is at an acute angle to the second direction.
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the water supply pipe mounting point of the bracket has an angled receiving surface configured to contact the water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the angled receiving surface is at an acute angle to a direction normal to the second direction.
14. A system as claimed in claim 12 or 13, the bracket further comprising a second water supply pipe mounting point.
15. A system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a second water supply pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the second water supply pipe mounting point.
16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second water supply pipe holding member is received by, and attached to, the second water supply pipe mounting point so that a main axis of a water supply pipe when held by the second water supply pipe holding member extends along the first direction.
17. A system as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein the second water supply pipe mounting point has a second angled receiving surface configured to contact a second water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the second water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the second angled receiving surface is at an acute angle to a direction normal to the second direction.
18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein directions normal to the two angled receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other.
19. A system as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the two angled receiving surfaces face towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other.
20. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, the bracket further comprising a third water supply pipe mounting point which has a substantially parallel receiving surface configured to contact a third water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the third water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the substantially parallel receiving surface is substantially parallel to a direction normal to the second direction.
21. A system as claimed in claim 20, the bracket further comprising a fourth water supply pipe mounting point which has another substantially parallel receiving surface configured to contact another water supply pipe holding member and to face the water supply pipe when held by the fourth water supply pipe holding member; and wherein, when viewed in a direction normal to the contacting surface of the flange, a direction normal to the other substantially parallel receiving surface is substantially parallel to a direction normal to the second direction.
22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein directions normal to the two substantially parallel receiving surfaces are substantially parallel to each other.
23. A system as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the two substantially parallel receiving surfaces face towards each other or away in opposite directions from each other.
24. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 23, further comprising: a straight waste pipe held by the waste pipe holding member; a soil pipe holding member for holding a soil pipe; and a soil pipe, wherein: the soil pipe is held by the soil pipe holding member, and the surface is a planar surface, and the bracket and the soil pipe holding member can be attached to the planar surface to mount the waste pipe and soil pipe to the planar surface, with the waste pipe coupled to the soil pipe so that a socket of the soil pipe which receives the waste pipe or a spigot of the soil pipe which is received in the waste pipe is concentric with the waste pipe.
25. A kit of parts for a system for mounting a water supply pipe and a waste pipe to a surface, the kit comprising a system according to any one of claims 13 to 24 but in disassembled form
26. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the acute angle is greater than 0.5°.
27. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the acute angle is less than 100.
28. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each water supply pipe mounting point has a respective aperture.
29. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in claim 28, wherein the or each aperture forms a slot which extends away from a plane in which the contacting surface of the flange is located.
30. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in claim 29, wherein each slot narrows over at least half of its length as it extends away from the plane in which the contacting surface of the flange is located.
31. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in claim 29 or 30, wherein the or each slot extends through a flange of the bracket.
32. A bracket, system or kit of parts as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flange is one of a pair of flanges of the bracket having substantially coplanar contacting surfaces for contacting the surface.
33. A system for mounting a waste pipe and a soil pipe to a planar surface, the system comprising: a bracket comprising at least one waste pipe mounting point; a waste pipe holding member for holding a waste pipe; a straight waste pipe; a soil pipe holding member for holding a soil pipe; and a soil pipe, wherein: the waste pipe is held by the waste pipe holding member which is received by, and attached to, the waste pipe mounting point of the bracket; the soil pipe is held by the soil pipe holding member, and the bracket and the soil pipe holding member can be attached to the planar surface to mount the waste pipe and soil pipe to the planar surface, with the waste pipe coupled to the soil pipe so that a socket of the soil pipe which receives the waste pipe or a spigot of the soil pipe which is received in the waste pipe is concentric with the waste pipe.
34. A kit of parts for a system for mounting a waste pipe and a soil pipe to a planar surface, the kit comprising a system according to claim 33 but in disassembled form.