NO347814B1

NO347814B1 - Insert for floor drain

Info

Publication number: NO347814B1
Application number: NO20170490A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Pasi Kuusinen
Original assignee: Pasi Kuusinen Oy
Priority date: 2016-03-31
Filing date: 2017-03-27
Publication date: 2024-04-08
Also published as: SE541187C2; FI11234U1; NO20170490A1; SE1750277A1

Description

Insert for floor drain

Field of application

The present invention relates to floor drains configured to be installed in the floors of bathrooms. The present invention relates specifically to an insert which can be installed in and removed from a floor drain.

Background

Floor drains are used for leading waste water from floors, and possibly from drainage fittings connected to the floor drain, into the sewer system. A floor drain usually has an interior formed by a body comprising a casing and a base, which form a base cup, and opposite the base cup an opening for receiving water into the floor drain, and a discharge fitting connected to the interior for discharging water from the drain. The floor drain may also comprise a side fitting connected to the interior for receiving water into the drain, for example, from the drainage fittings.

The base cup of the floor drain may form a drain trap with the discharge pipe in the insert placed in the cup, whereupon the water remaining in the drain trap prevents sewer gases from rising into the room. Since water, especially waste water, stands in the drain trap for long periods of time, microflora and other impurities may appear in the drain trap and the floor drain must be cleaned from time to time. Because of this, the insert forming the drain trap may be removable for the purpose of cleaning the insert and the floor drain.

Brief summary

The present application discloses an insert (10) for a floor drain, which insert is configured to be placed in a floor drain, the floor drain comprising

- an interior formed by a body comprising a casing and a base, which form a base cup, and opposite the base cup an opening for receiving water into the floor drain, and

- a discharge fitting connected to the interior for discharging water from the floor drain,

the insert comprising

- a collar (12) which defines the opening for receiving water,

- a drainage flange (16) connected to the inner surface of the collar (12), the flange being inclined with respect to the axis of the collar,

- a drainage aperture (18) in the drainage flange (16, 17),

- a discharge pipe (20) connected to the drainage flange at the drainage aperture (18) on the opposite side (17) with respect to the collar for discharging the flowing water, the said discharge pipe being configured to be placed in the base cup of the floor drain to form a drain trap, wherein

- the inside diameter of the discharge pipe (20) is larger than the diameter of the drainage aperture (18), such that the edge of the drainage flange forming the edge of the drainage aperture forms, at least on part of the aperture, a projection (22) in the central axis area of the collar (12) of the insert.

The present application also discloses a floor drain comprising

- an interior formed by a body comprising a casing and a base, which form a base cup, and opposite the base cup an opening for receiving water into the floor drain, - a discharge fitting connected to the interior for discharging water from the floor drain, and

- an insert (10), as described herein, placed in the interior of the floor drain.

The floor drain insert described herein is easy to remove from the floor drain, thus facilitating the cleaning and maintenance of the floor drain.

The structure of the insert helps to keep it free from microflora, which means that there is little slime formation especially on the insert and its parts.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows an illustrative example of the floor drain insert, as seen diagonally from above

Fig. 2 shows an illustrative example of the floor drain insert, as seen diagonally from below

Fig. 3 shows an illustrative example of the floor drain insert, as seen from below

Fig. 4 shows an illustrative example of the floor drain insert with a relief valve, as seen diagonally from above

Fig. 5 shows an illustrative example of the floor drain insert with a relief valve, as seen from below

Fig. 6 shows an illustrative example of a cross-section of the floor drain insert, as seen from the side

Fig. 7 shows an illustrative example of the relief valve, as seen from the side of its first surface

Fig. 8 shows an illustrative example of the relief valve, as seen from the side of its second surface

Fig. 9 shows a cross-section of an illustrative example of the floor drain insert when installed in an illustrative example of the floor drain

Detailed description

The present application discloses an insert 10 for a floor drain configured to be placed in a floor drain. In this connection, "insert" refers to an insert for a floor drain which can be installed in the floor drain and removed from it, which together with a suitable floor drain allows the formation of a drain trap. The insert may be provided, for example, together with a compatible floor drain or as a separate spare part.

A floor drain 50 usually comprises an interior formed by a body comprising a casing 51 and a base 52 which form a base cup 53, and opposite the base cup an opening 54 for receiving water into the floor drain, and a discharge fitting 55 connected to the interior for discharging water from the drain. The casing forms the walls of the floor drain and it may be of the same piece with the base. The discharge fitting is usually at a distance from the base cup, on the wall of the floor drain, which allows an amount of water to remain in the base cup and further the formation of a drain trap. The floor drain has a first end and a second end. When the floor drain is installed, the base cup is at the bottom of the floor drain, at the second end of the floor drain, and its diameter is usually smaller than the largest diameter of the floor drain, which is in the upper part of the floor drain, at its first end, that is, at the end with the opening for receiving water into the floor drain. This end is usually installed essentially at floor surface level or slightly below it. Above this opening may be installed a grating. The inside diameter of the base cup may be, for example approximately 8 to 10 cm. The largest inside diameter of the floor drain may be, for example approximately 12 to 14 cm, such as approximately 13 cm.

The floor drain may optionally comprise one or more side fittings connected to the interior for receiving water into the drain. The side fittings may be tubular parts diverging to the side from the floor drain, to which may be connected a drain pipe from water fittings such as a washing machine, a sink or the like. In one example, the floor drain has two side fittings which may be in parallel with one another. In one example, the floor drain has four side fittings, two of which are always in parallel with one another and opposite the other two parallel side fittings.

The insert 10 has a first end and a second end, the second end being the lower end when the insert is installed. The insert comprises a collar 12 which defines the opening for receiving water. The collar is usually a round or essentially round cylindrical part or edging which is fitted inside the floor drain, to fit its first end. Through the midpoint of the collar, parallel with the first and second end of the insert, runs an axis or central axis x of the collar, or of the cylinder forming the collar, the said axis usually also being the central axis of the insert. The upper edge of the collar, which forms the first end of the insert, usually settles on the level of the upper edge of the floor drain or slightly below it. The opening for receiving water refers to an open part of the insert at its first end, which points upwards in use and is usually immediately below the floor drain grating. The collar may have a gasket for fitting and sealing the collar against the casing of the floor drain. The gasket may be in a groove 38 on the outer surface of the collar, which groove may encircle the collar on the drainage flange level or parallel with the edge of the first end of the collar. The gasket may be of an elastic material, for example rubber, and it may be, for example, in the shape of an O-ring. The gasket may have a protruding ridge which is arranged to settle against the inner walls of the floor drain and to keep the insert in place. The collar and the floor drain casing may also have one or more guide elements 28, for example, one or more guides, such as a protrusion, a peg, a ridge or the like, and a groove, a slot or the like fitted to it, which are arranged to guide and/or support the settling of the insert in the floor drain. The guide element 28 or the outer edge of the second side 17 drainage flange of the insert or a part connected to it, for example adjacent to the groove 38, or these together, are configured to settle in the floor drain 50 in such a way that the guide element 28 or other said part meets a receiving part in the floor drain, for example an edging, ridge, projection, guide element or the like, thus limiting the penetration of the insert in the floor drain such that the distance of the discharge pipe from the base cup remains suitable for forming the drain trap and the insert will not go too deep into the floor drain.

The collar may also have one or more openings 14 for one or more side fittings of the floor drain.

On the inner surface of the collar 12, at its second end, connects or is connected a drainage flange 16, 17 which is inclined with respect to axis x of the collar. The inclination is arranged to be such that it causes water to flow into a drainage aperture when the insert is installed in the floor drain. The inclination may be determined, for example, with respect to the first end, that is, the upper edge of the collar 12, or axis x of the collar or the normal of this axis which may be parallel with the plane of the upper edge of the collar or the second end of the discharge pipe 20. The angle (α) of the drainage flange with the normal of the axis x of the collar may be within the range from 12° to 30°, such as 14° to 20°, or 14° to 16°, for example, approximately 15°. The drainage flange has a first side 16 or surface which is on the side of the collar 12 and to which the water entering the floor drain flows, and a second side 17 or surface which is on the discharge pipe 20 side and in use on the base cup 53 side. In use, the first side is the upper side and the second side is the lower side.

The drainage flange 16, 17 has a drainage aperture 18 for receiving water. The drainage aperture is usually on the side of the drainage flange area furthest away from the first end of the insert, such as the upper edge of the collar 12. In use, this side is the side of the drainage flange which remains lower. The drainage aperture is at least for the most part to the side of the midpoint of the collar or of axis x. The drainage aperture may be round or of a different shape. In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the drainage aperture has one straight edge connected to a U-shaped edge, which make the drainage aperture D-shaped. The straight edge of the aperture may be, for example, 30 to 60 mm long, such as approximately 40 to 50 mm. The diameter of the aperture may be approximately 30 to 60 mm also in another direction.

A discharge pipe 20 is connected to the drainage flange at the drainage aperture 18, on the opposite side 17 with respect to the collar, for discharging the flowing water, the said discharge pipe being configured to be placed in the base cup 53 of the floor drain 50 to form a drain trap. The length of the discharge pipe may be within the range from 50 to 100 mm. Due to the inclination of the drainage flange, the length of the discharge pipe may differ on its different sides. The diameter of the discharge pipe may be within the range from 50 to 80 mm. The shape of the section of the discharge pipe, that is, its profile, may be round or a different shape, and it may imitate the shape of the drainage aperture, for example, it may be D-shaped. The end of the discharge pipe, that is, the second end of the insert, is usually perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the discharge pipe, in which case it settles parallel to the surface of the water in use. The shape, length and diameter of the discharge pipe are configured to be such that when the insert is installed in the floor drain, the discharge pipe settles in the base cup in such a way that between the discharge pipe and the walls and bottom of the base cup remains a distance, for example, 5 to 20 mm, which makes possible the formation of a drain trap. Therefore, in use the water remaining in the base cup forms a drain trap, but the flow of water in the drain trap is possible.

The diameter of the discharge pipe 20, especially the inside diameter, is greater than the diameter of the drainage aperture 18, such that the edge of the drainage flange forming the edge of the drainage aperture forms at least on part of the aperture a projection 22 which may also be called an edging. The projection may be essentially in the area of axis x of the collar 12 of the insert or in the area of the midpoint or central part of the drainage flange, thus allowing the insert 10 to be lifted from the floor drain by gripping the projection. Essentially in the midpoint area means that the central axis x of the collar or the midpoint of the drainage flange may pass through the projection 22, or through a part of the projection, or the projection or its part may be close to the central axis x of the collar or the midpoint of the drainage flange, for example, at a maximum distance of 10 mm or 5 mm.

The depth (a) of the projection 22 formed by the edge of the drainage flange may be 5 to 22 mm, such as 8 to 12 mm, for example approximately 10 mm. This makes it possible to grip the insert with fingers by the projection through the drainage aperture. Since the projection is in practice in the central axis area of the insert or very close to it, the force used to lift it is in practice directed vertically upwards, whereupon the insert rises perpendicularly from the floor level. In this case, the insert, for example its collar, will not wedge against the walls of the floor drain and a minimum of force is required for lifting. This reduces the force required for lifting especially when the insert is stuck in the floor drain, for example, due to impurities. No separate handles or similar separately installed projections intended for gripping are required, which makes it possible to keep the structure of the insert as simple as possible. The insert including the gripping part may, therefore, consist of one piece, which means that it can be made in a single casting. This simplifies the manufacture and also the assembly of the final insert. Since the part used for gripping is a fixed part of the insert, it is extremely solid and cannot under any circumstances detach from the insert. There is also little accumulation of impurities in the solid part.

The edge of the partial projection 22 or edging formed by the edge of the drainage flange may be straight, preferably over a length (b) of 30 to 60 mm at the drainage aperture, such as 40 to 50 mm, for example, over a length of approximately 45 mm. This further facilitates gripping by fingers, since this type of straight portion makes it possible to use several fingers in order to get a good hold of the projection.

The angle (α) of the drainage flange 16, 17 with the normal of axis x of the collar may be within the range from 12° to 30°, whereby an efficient flow of water into the drainage aperture 18 is achieved, but at the same time a sufficient length of the discharge pipe 20 is made possible. With a greater inclination, the discharge pipe would have to be essentially shorter, in which case the drainage aperture and the parts possibly connected to it would be close to the surface of the water remaining in the drain trap, which increases the risk of microflora in these areas, that is, in practice slime formation. When the drainage aperture and the parts relating to it, such as the relief valve, are far enough from the surface of the water in the drain trap, they will remain dry and gripping the insert is more hygienic, more pleasant and easier.

In one embodiment, the entire drainage aperture 18 is encircled by a projection 22, 24 or edging formed by the edge of the drainage flange. This makes possible other functionalities and improves hygiene further. In the drainage aperture 18 there may be installed, for example, a relief valve 30, 31 for closing the opening when water is not flowing in the insert. This prevents odour formation from the drain trap, or the sewer if the drain trap should dry out.

The insert may be of the same piece, especially as regards the parts described above. The insert may be made, for example, by injection moulding. The material of the insert may be, for example, plastic, but other materials are also viable, for example, composite materials such as plastic composites. Examples of suitable plastics are polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PVC. In one embodiment, the insert is polypropylene.

In one embodiment, a relief valve 30 is hinged inside the discharge pipe, the relief valve being suspended to settle against the projection 22, 24 formed by the edge of the drainage flange 17 encircling the drainage aperture 18. The relief valve has a first surface 30, which settles against the drainage flange 17, and a second surface 31, which is on its opposite side.

When the relief valve 30 is arranged to settle against the surface 17 of the drainage flange, the valve will also settle far enough from the surface of the water in the drain trap, whereupon the valve will also remain clean and free of growth better than if it was lower down in the insert.

In one embodiment, the relief valve 30 is hinged, preferably with hinge pins 32, directly to the body of the insert, preferably in the area of the intersection between the drainage flange 17 and the discharge pipe 20, such as to the drainage flange 17 or on the inner surface of the discharge pipe 20, or both. This simplifies the structure and assembly of the insert. Replacing the valve is also easy, especially compared to a structure where the valve is hinged to an insert installed on a separate discharge pipe, which is difficult to detach from a soiled insert which has been in use for a long time. A relief valve hinged to the body of the insert may have shaft journals 32 for connecting it with corresponding counterparts 26 on the insert. The shaft journals may be on the second surface 31 of the relief valve. The relief valve may include a spring means 40, for example, a spring bent into shape from steel wire or the like, the spring being arranged to return the valve against the drainage flange when no pressure is exerted on the valve. The rigidity of the spring means is arranged to be such that the valve is configured to open by the weight of the water flowing into the insert. This type of a separate relief valve may be offered for sale as a separate spare part and it is easy to replace in the insert.

On the surface of the relief valve 30 there may be a gasket 34, such as a fixed gasket, preferably glued to the valve, arranged to settle against the projection formed by the edge of the drainage flange. A fixed gasket is a gasket which is fixedly against the valve, that is, no part of the gasket is detached from the valve. The gasket may be, for example, a strip 34, preferably having a width of 4 to 7 mm, which settles at the projections formed by the edge of the drainage flange. This type of gasket is light, and due to the gluing, no holes or the like need to be made in the relief valve for installing the gasket. The gasket may be made of an elastic material, for example an elastomer, such as rubber.

The insert may also include other parts, for example a splash guard, as shown in the Figures, as cover for one or more side fittings of a floor drain of one or more potential apertures. The splash guard may have an opening at the drainage aperture, in which case it will not prevent the flow of water from the side fittings into the drainage aperture. The splash guard prevents the water coming from the side fitting possibly under pressure from splashing from the floor drain. The insert is intended to be placed in a compatible floor drain, whereby an arrangement and an assembly formed by the insert and the actual floor drain is obtained.

One embodiment provides a floor drain 50 which comprises

- an interior formed by a body comprising a casing 51 and a base 52 which form a base cup 53, and opposite the base cup an opening 54 for receiving water into the floor drain,

- a discharge fitting 55 connected to the interior for discharging water from the floor drain, and

- an insert 10 placed in the interior of the floor drain. The insert 10 is configured to settle in the interior of the floor drain 50 such that the discharge pipe 20 and the base cup 53 form a functioning drain trap. The floor drain 50 may further comprise one or more side fittings connected to the interior for receiving water into the floor drain.

The insert for the floor drain and the arrangement in the floor drain are described in the following with reference to an illustrative implementation shown in the Figures.

Example

Figure 1 shows an insert 10 for a floor drain according to an example, wherein at the first end of the insert is a cylindrical collar 12 having a diameter of approximately 13 cm and an inclined drainage flange connected to it and with its first surface visible 16. The height of the interior is 103 mm. The collar 12 has two openings 14 for the side fittings of the floor drain. Due to the inclination of the drainage flange, the height of the collar is different on different sides of the collar and is within the range from 11.05 to 40.50 mm. The drainage flange has a drainage aperture 18 for water, which aperture is located in a part of the drainage flange which is furthest away from the first end of the insert, that is, from the upper edge of the collar 12. The drainage aperture is straight on one side and otherwise curved, that is, D-shaped. The drainage aperture does not reach all the way to the collar 12 on the side of the openings 14, but remains even at closest at a distance of approximately 10 mm from the collar. The drainage flange also has two protrusions 19 for fixing a separately installed splash guard 36.

Figure 2 shows the floor drain insert 10 as seen diagonally from below, wherein can be seen a discharge pipe 20 connected to the second surface 17 of the drainage flange, the discharge pipe being at the discharge aperture 18. The diameter (61 mm x 68 mm) of the discharge pipe 20 is to such an extent larger than the diameter of the drainage aperture 18 that the edge of the drainage flange 17 limited to the aperture 18 forms a projection 22 having a depth (a) of approximately 10 mm. The length (b) of the projection at the drainage aperture is approximately 46 mm and it is mostly straight. On the edge of the collar there is a slot 28 for aligning and fixing the insert in the floor drain, where there is a corresponding counterpart for the slot. The slot locks the insert in the desired location in the floor drain.

Figure 3 shows the floor drain insert 10 as seen directly from below or from the second end side of the insert. The Figure shows that the drainage flange 17 forms an edging 22, 24 or projection encircling the entire drainage aperture 18 inside the discharge pipe 20. The depth of the projection is greater (approximately 10 mm) on the straight part than on the curved part 24 (approximately 5 mm). At the intersection of the drainage flange 17 and the discharge pipe 20 there are formed two counterparts 26 for the hinge pins of a subsequently installed relief valve.

Figure 4 shows the floor drain insert 10 as seen diagonally from above and with the relief valve 30, 31 installed in place. On the first surface 30 of the valve, which settles against the second surface of the drainage flange 17, is a rubber gasket 34 glued to the valve, which encircles the edges of the valve in a band-like manner.

Figure 5 shows the same implementation from below the insert 10, wherein the hinge pins 32 of the relief valve 30, 31 are installed in the counterparts 24. The spring means is not shown in the Figure, but it would settle against the second surface 31 of the valve and the inner surface of the discharge pipe 20 through a corresponding pin-like part remaining between the hinge pins 32.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the insert 10 with a valve as seen from the side. The splash guard 36 is installed in place and covers the openings 14 of the side fittings. The collar 12 is encircled on the drainage flange 16, 17 level by a groove 38 in which can be installed a gasket. The Figure also shows the central axis x of the collar which runs through the edge of the drainage aperture, that is, the projection 22 formed by the edge of the drainage flange. When the insert 10 is gripped by the projection 22, the insert can be lifted out from the floor drain in the direction of axis x. The Figure shows the inclination (α) 14.6° of the drainage flange with respect to the normal of axis x of the collar, the normal being parallel with the plane of the first edge or upper edge of the collar 12 , or the plane of the lower edge of the discharge pipe 20.

Figure 7 shows the relief valve as seen from the side of its first surface 30. On the first surface is glued a band-like, 5 mm wide rubber gasket 34 which follows the edges of the valve. On the straight edge side of the valve there are two shaft journals 32 which are intended to be fixed to corresponding counterparts 26 on the inside of the discharge pipe 20. A formed spring 40 made of steel wire is installed on a corresponding shaft journal between the actual shaft journals 32 intended for installing shafts in the valve. In Figure 8 can be seen that the spring has a part made into a spiral from which diverges a first elongated part that settles against the second surface 31 of the valve, and a second elongated part that settles against the wall of the discharge pipe.

Figure 9 shows a cross-section of an illustrative example of a floor drain insert installed in a floor drain 50 shown as an example. The collar 12 of the insert settles tightly to the end near the opening 54 of the casing 51 of the floor drain, whereupon the gasket in the groove 38 of the insert seals the insert to the floor drain (gasket not shown in the Figure). The outer edge of the second side 17 of the drainage flange of the insert meets the receiving part in the casing 51 of the floor drain, whereupon the discharge pipe 20 of the insert settles in the base cup 53 of the floor drain such that between the base 52 and the second end of the discharge pipe 20 and the discharge pipe and the floor drain casing 51 remains a space in which water can flow through the floor drain into the discharge fitting 55, and in which a drain trap may be formed. The second end of the discharge pipe 20 is thus below the lower edge of the discharge fitting 55, that is, below the base cup side edge, in other words on the base cup side.

The projection 22 of the drainage flange is also at the central axis of the floor drain 50 opening 54, whereupon when the insert is lifted by the projection, the insert rises directly upwards from the floor drain, which means that a minimum of force is required for lifting it.

Claims

1. An insert (10) for a floor drain configured to be placed in a floor drain, the floor drain comprising

- an interior formed by a body comprising a casing and a base which form a base cup, and opposite the base cup an opening for receiving water into the floor drain, and

the insert comprising

- a collar (12) which defines the opening for receiving water,

- a drainage flange (16) connected to the inner surface of the collar (12), the flange being inclined with respect to the axis (x) of the collar,

- a drainage aperture (18) in the drainage flange (16, 17),

- a discharge pipe (20) connected to the drainage flange at the drainage aperture (18) on the opposite side (17) with respect to the collar for discharging the flowing water, the said discharge pipe being configured to be placed in the base cup of the floor drain to form a drain trap, characterized in that

- the inside diameter of the discharge pipe (20) is larger than the diameter of the drainage aperture (18), such that the edge of the drainage flange forming the edge of the drainage aperture forms at least on part of the aperture a projection (22) in the central axis area of the collar (12) of the insert.

2. An insert according to claim 1, characterized in that the depth (a) of the projection (22) formed by the edge of the drainage flange is 5 to 20 mm.

3. An insert according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge of the partial projection (22) formed by the edge of the drainage flange is straight, preferably over a length (b) of 30 to 60 mm at the flange aperture.

4. An insert according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle (α) of the drainage flange with the normal of the axis (x) of the collar is within the range from 12° to 30°, such as 14° to 20°, or 14° to 16°, for example approximately 15°.

5. An insert according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire drainage aperture (18) is encircled by a projection (22, 24) formed by the edge of the drainage flange.

6. An insert according to claim 5, characterized in that inside the discharge pipe is hinged a relief valve (30) which is suspended to settle against the projection (22, 24) formed by the edge of the drainage flange (17) encircling the drainage aperture (18).

7. An insert according to claim 6, characterized in that the relief valve (30) is hinged (32) directly to the body of the insert, preferably in the area of the intersection between the drainage flange (17) and the discharge pipe (20), such as to the drainage flange (17) or on the inner surface of the discharge pipe (20).

8. An insert according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that on the surface of the relief valve (30) is a gasket (34), such as a fixed gasket, preferably glued to the valve, arranged to settle against the projection formed by the edge of the drainage flange.

9. An insert according to claim 8, characterized in that the gasket is a strip (34) on the edges of the relief valve (30), preferably having a width of 4 to 7 mm, which settles at the projections formed by the edge of the drainage flange.

10. An insert (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert is of the same piece, preferably of a plastic material, such as a plastic selected from the group of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PVC, preferably polypropylene.

11. A floor drain (50), comprising

- an interior formed by a body comprising a casing (51) and a base (52) which form a base cup (53), and opposite the base cup an opening (54) for receiving water into the floor drain,

- a discharge fitting (55) connected to the interior for discharging water from the floor drain, and characterized in that it comprises

- an insert (10) according to any of the preceding claims placed in the interior of the floor drain.