TITLE OF THE INVENTION A method of fitting a water resistant insert or module to a sanitized wet cell.
Technical Field of the invention
The present invention relates primarily to a method that enables a water resistant insert or water resistant module, included in a modular system comprising cell lining elements readily in a sanitized wet cell.
By sanitized wet cell is meant an existing wet cell that includes sanitary units that are mutually connected and fitted in a known manner, where said sanitary units have been dismantled and removed.
A thus sanitized wet cell will then present a floor portion and floor connecting wall portions, where solely the end parts of one or more waste pipes and water pipes, and possibly a floor drain, will be exposed.
More particularly, the method according to the invention requires the sanitized wet cell to at least expose an open waste pipe, such as normally a WC-associa- ted waste pipe.
The water resistant insert or module shall be placed in the sanitized wet cell as a unit or shall be fitted in the cell to provide a unit and, to this end, shall have pre-determined external dimensions with at least the parts or elements forming the insert or the module, such as a floor portion of a wall portion, having a size which is slightly smaller than the corresponding inner dimensions of the sanitized cell.
The inserts can be mutually joined together with the aid of a number of prefabricated parts, elements or portions, such as a bottom portion and a plurality of wall portions.
The invention is intended to find application when a plurality of sanitized wet cells that include mutually equivalent sanitary units but with relatively large measurement tolerances shall each be provided with a prefabricated insert or module of identical outer dimensions, meaning that the outer dimensions of respective inserts shall be slightly smaller than the smaller inner dimensions of the sanitized cell.
The invention also includes a modular system having surface lining or surface coupling elements and adapted for beneficial use with the inventive method.
Background of the invention
Methods and arrangements of the aforesaid nature that include modular systems of the aforesaid kind are earlier known to the art.
By way of a first example of the earlier standpoint of techniques in connection with the aforesaid method and a modular system for this purpose, providing a construction kit for constructing a water resistant insert that includes insert-creating lining elements, references made to the contents of the German Offenleg- ungsscrift DE-A1-19449 255.
In particular it is suggested that large and thin paneling elements shall be used to enable the construction of a module system, where said paneling elements are adapted to be fastened directly to a wall area and/or a ceiling area or wall portions and/or ceiling portions.
Also belonging to the earlier standpoint of techniques are the contents of US patent publication US-A1-3 564 788, which discloses water resistant inserts that, in principle, constitute a module system that includes paneling or lining elements.
This prior publication illustrates and describes inter-fitting wall panels which are adapted to cover a surface comprised of mutually perpendicular wall portions, wherein means are provided for fitting said panels to underlying wall surfaces or
to underlying studding with tongue-and-groove-like locking means for inter-fitting said panels.
The contents of US patent publication US-A1-3 999 344, US-A1-4080 710, US- A1-5 688 602 and US-B1-6 421 9973 also belongs to the earlier standpoint of techniques.
Also the content of patent publication US-A1 -2003/0140 572 is a part of the known technique-
This latter prior publication relates to a bathroom construction in the form of an insert adapted for installation in a room intended to function as a bathroom, and includes a plurality of covering panels (1,2,3) intended for covering at least a part of the wall portions and the floor portion of the room, and a plurality of sani- tary components or modules (4,5,6,7) each provided with its own individual support structure and with its own conduits (41 ,51,61,71) adapted for co-action with existing pipes for the room or wet cell that will ultimately be a bathroom.
The publication also suggests a method of installing a floor structure.
Summary of the present invention Technical problems
When taking into consideration the technical deliberations that a person skilled in this particular art in order to provide a solution to one or more technical prob- lems that he/she encounters it will be seen that on the one hand it is necessary to realize the measure and/or the sequence of measures that must be undertaken to this end, and on the other hand to realize which means is/are required to solve one or more of said problems. On this basis, it will be evident that the technical problems listed below are highly relevant to the development of the present invention.
When considering the earlier standpoint of techniques as described above and when considering, among other things, the method associated with the present invention and said modular unit with associated lining elements couple with the
successive positioning of said lining elements so as to provide a water resistant insert in a wet cell of the kind described and defined in the introduction, it will be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability to mount in one or more sanitized wet cells such a water resistant insert with fixed external dimensions, with the aid of simple means and simple procedures, where each of said wet cells may have mutually different internal dimensions and wherein the sanitized wet cell concerned shall, nevertheless, have overall inner dimensions that exceed the outer dimensions of respective inserts.
A technical problem then resides in the ability to realize the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the measures required in establishing a fixed point in the wet cells that have the same or essentially the same interior fixtures and which, in accordance with the invention, subsequent to having sanitized respective cells of sanitary units, such as lavatory basons, washing ba- sons, shower cabinets and the like and in adjusting and fitting precisely a first chosen part of the prefabricated water resistant insert with the aid of a fixed point.
Another technical problem resides in the ability to realize the significance of, the advantages associated with and the procedures required to enable said inserts of pre-determined outer dimensions that are somewhat smaller than the corresponding inner dimensions of the chosen cell to be assembled or fitted together with the aid of a number of prefabricated parts or lining elements, such as a bottom portion and associated two or more wall portions, while using a chosen fixed point allotted to the sanitized wet cell and a corresponding second fixed point allotted to the prefabricated water resistant inserts and a lining element related thereto.
Another technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by allowing one of said insert-associated parts or lining element to have a particularly shaped and placed tubular section or the like serving as the fixed point or fixing line of said insert-associated part or said lining element, where said tubular section is applied to and/or related to a chosen orientation in said insert-associated part or said lining element.
Another technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing said tubular section to be orientated relative to and fastened to said insert-associated part or lining element and there serve as its fixing point in respect of a free-standing distance from the edge portions of said insert-associated or said lining element dependent on the internal dimensions of the sanitized cell.
Another technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by treating and/or working an exposed waste pipe of large cross-sectional area and serving as a fixing point within the sanitized wet cell for fixing-point-related co-action with a tubular section of correspondingly large cross-sectional area allotted to the water resistant insert.
In respect of such fixing point co-action, a further technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by orientating the insert-associated part or the lining element within the sanitized wet cell so that the edge portions of said part or said element will have a studwork adapted distance (not a pre-determining distance) to adjacent wall portions of the sanitized cell.
A technical problem also resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by co-ordinating further water-resistant parts with the said part or said lining element (bottom portion and/or wall portions) to form said insert.
It will be also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability to realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by using a prefabricated bottom part as said insert-associated part.
A further technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by connecting the pipe section belonging to said bottom part to a pipe section intended for a floor drain and/or a pipe section
intended for a washing bason, or positioned beneath a floor surface belonging to said bottom part.
Another technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by choosing as said insert-associated part a prefabricated lining part intended for inclusion in said insert as a wall portion.
Still another technical problem resides in the ability the realize the significance of and the advantages afforded by connecting a pipe section belonging to said wall portion a pipe section intended for a wash bason and located behind a portion of a wall surface.
A technical problem also resides in the ability the realize the significance of filling-out the space occurring between the edge portions of the insert-associated part (bottom portion or wall portion) and adjacent wall parts of the sanitized wet cell with distinct and discrete spaces, such as studs such as to rigidly secure flexurally rigid parts or lining elements belong to the water resistant insert.
Solution The present invention is based on a method of mounting a water resistant insert in a sanitized wet cell, and a module system comprising lining elements for carrying out the method, wherein said sanitized cell at least exposes an end part of a WC-related waste pipe, wherein said insert having pre-determined outer dimensions that are slightly smaller than the corresponding inner dimensions of the sanitized cells can be assembled with the aid of a plurality of prefabricated parts or lining elements, such as bottom parts and wall parts.
With the intention of enabling one or more of the aforesaid technical problems to be resolved it is proposed in accordance with the present invention that at least one of said insert associated parts or one of said lining elements include a particularly shaped pipe section or the like and that this pipe section shall be applied to and/or related to said insert associated part or said lining element and used as a fixing point.
It is also proposed that the pipe section in the sanitized wet cell shall be chosen as a fixing point to said insert associated part at a distance from the edges of said parts that is dependent on the inner dimensions of the sanitized cell between the wall parts of said cell.
It is also proposed that the exposed waste pipe in the sanitized wet cell shall be treated and worked as a fixing point for clear-cut co-action with said insert associated pipe section.
In respect of such fixing point related co-action it is proposed that the insert associated part or the lining element shall be positioned in the sanitized wet cell so that the edge portions of said part will be suitably spaced from adjacent wall portions of the sanitized wet cell to accommodate suitable studwork.
It is also proposed that further parts or further lining elements are co-ordinated with said part in a water resistant fashion, and thereby said insert to be constructed.
By way of proposed embodiments that lie within the scope of the present inven- tion it is proposed that an insert bottom part is chosen as said insert associated part that includes a pipe section or the like to and/or related to said part.
A pipe section belonging to said bottom part will thereby be connected to a first pipe section intended for a floor drain and/or a second pipe section intended for a wash bason, wherein said pipe sections shall be orientated beneath a floor surface belonging to said bottom part.
Alternatively, a wall portion can be chosen as said insert associated part or lining element having a pipe section or the like to and/or related to said part.
In this latter case it is proposed that a pipe section belonging to the wall part is connected to a wash bason pipe section behind a wall surface.
It is also proposed that the space situated between the edge portions of said insert associated part and adjacent wall portions of the sanitized wet cell is filled completely, or partially, with spaces, such as studs, to secure firmly and flexu- rally rigid parts or lining elements forming the water resistant insert.
Advantages
The advantages that can be considered primarily of significance to a method and a modular system in accordance with the features of the present invention reside in the provision of conditions for enabling water resistant and measure- ment-accurate inserts to be prefabricated and readily placed in one of several selected and sanitized wet cells, where said wet cells may have mutually different inner dimensions although all of which may be slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the inserts in relation to a first fixing point.
The invention is based on the sanitized wet cells concern having mutually the same or generally the same structures and that respective cells can be allotted said first fixing point, for instance in the form of an end portion of an exposed labotry-associated waste pipe, so as to enable a corresponding second fixing point for one of the insert associated parts or one of the lining elements with the guidance of the position of said allocated fixing point, said insert associated parts or lining elements being intended to form the water resistant insert, wherein the exposed waste pipe used as said first fixing point and a pipe section in the insert associated part used a second fixing point shall mutually co-act.
A space between the edges of the insert associated part and adjacent wall portions of the sanitized wet cell shall be filled with or provided with a number of spaces, such as studs, for securing firmly fiexurally rigid parts or lining elements belonging to the water resistant insert.
The primary characteristic features of a method according to the present invention are set forth in the characterizing clause of the accompanying claim 1 , while the primary characteristic features of a modular system that includes lining elements in accordance with the directives of the present invention are set forth in the characterizing clause of the accompanying claim 7.
Brief description of the drawings
A modular system and lining elements co-ordinated therewith and a method according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a number of exemplifying embodiments illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which;
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sanitized wet cell of a first construc- tion;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sanitized wet cell of a second construction;
Figure 3 is a side view of an exposed labotry waste pipe, representative of the first structure shown in figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view showing how an insert associated part or a lining element included in a water resistant insert in the form of a bottom part is caused to co-act with a waste pipe, according to figure 3, in a fixing point related fashion; Figure 5 is a plan view of a sanitized wet cell in which there has been placed a water resistant insert, in accordance with the invention, and shows particularly the extension of the bottom part of the insert and the covering of the extension of the bottom part of the sanitized cell;
Figure 6 is a side view of an exposed lavatory waste pipe or lavatory-adapted waste pipe, representative of the second structure, according to figure 2; and Figure 7 is a side view showing how the waste pipe of figure 6 is in a fixing- point-related co-action with a pipe section applied to an insert associated part or a lining element in the form of a wall portion.
Description of embodiments at present preferred
It is pointed out initially that we have chosen to use in the following description of a proposed embodiment that is at present preferred and that includes significant characteristic features of the invention illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, special terms and terminology with the primary intention of illustrating the inventive concept more clearly. However, it will be noted that the expressions chosen here shall not be seen as limited solely to the chosen terms used in the description but that each term chosen shall be interpreted as also including all technical equivalence that function in the same or at least generally in the same way so as to achieve the same or generally the same pur- pose and/or technical effect.
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a "sanitized" wet cell (as earlier defined) of a first structure, said sanitation consisting of the removal of a lavatory bason, a bath tub and the dismantling of a wash bason, wherein the sanitized wet cell 1 includes solely a floor portion 1 a and associated wall portions referenced 1b, 1c and 1d.
It is known from experience that the internal measurement accuracy of a number of said cell varies, and the invention is based on the concept of enabling a prefabricated, measurement-accurate insert to be placed in each of said cells.
The sanitized wet cell will thus expose at least a first (about 100mm) floor-connected lavatory-associated waste pipe 2, a floor-associated drain 3 and a narrower pipe section 4 (about 50mm) intended for a wash bason.
The invention on the concept of constructing and mounting in a sanitized wet cell 1 a water resistant insert 10 (shown partly in figures 4 and 5) with the aid of a modular system having associated lining elements, where the outer predetermined dimensions of the insert are somewhat than the corresponding inner di- mensions of sanitized cells 1 , said dimensions corresponding to the distance between mutually opposite wall portions and the angular accuracy concerned.
The inserts 10 can be joined together in a known manner to form a module, with the aid of a number prefabricated parts or lining elements, for instance a bottom and a number of wall parts.
Figure 2 illustrates a second structure of a sanitized wet cell 1 , where the exposed lavatory associated waste pipe 2' has a wall-related position, and which a narrower pipe section 4' is also in a wall related position, and in which figure the floor portion has been shown in the absence of a drain.
The bottom part related to the modular system will have to be somewhat modified in relation to the first structure according to figure 1 than for the second structure according to figure 2 in which latter case there is solely required a flat part or an existing floor portion that can be used and therewith enable the insert to be delivered without a bottom portion.
The following description is primarily directed to the first structure, wherewith the supplementary measures required to link views obtained from the first structure with regard to said bottom portion together required to link views obtained from the first structure concerning said bottom part with the second structure concerning said wall part.
The invention is now based on enabling one and the same prefabricated water resistant insert, in the form of a module 10, to be placed in one of a number of available sanitized wet cells 1 that have slightly different inner dimensions.
For example, it is shown solely in figure 2 that the sanitized cell 1 has a wide dimension "a" and a length dimension "b", wherein the distances may thus vary from one sanitized wet cell 1 to another. Possible angular differences from straight corner angels are not taken into account in this description, although further considerations are, of course, necessary in such instance.
Figure 3 is a sectioned view of a wet cell 1 that includes an exposed floor-connected drainage pipe 2 intended for a lavatory bason, where said pipe 2 co-acts with an angeled drainage pipe 2a intended for co-action with a floor-mounted
drain 3 or with a drainage pipe 4 that co-acts with a wash bason in a known manner.
The drainage pipes 2 and 2a are grouted in a concrete slab that serves as a cell floor.
Figure 4 shows that a floor part 10a of an insert or module 10 includes a short, specially constructed pipe section 20 or the like that is adapted for application to and/or in relation to said part of floor part.
According to the invention, there shall be used here two fixing points or fixing lines, a first fixing point F1 allocated to the pipe section 2 and a second fixing point F2 allocated to the pipe section 20.
As will be seen more clearly from the horizontal view of figure 5, the center line of the pipe section 20 can serve as a second fixing point F2 which is then orientated to said part 10a with the inner dimensions of the sanitized cell 1 , these dimensions being referenced "a" and "b" dependent on the distance from the edge portions of said part 10a, said distances being referenced "c" and "d" in figure 5.
These distances are chosen in accordance with the positioning of the first fixing point F1 relative to the floor surface shown in figure 1 and also in accordance with desired tolerances.
The exposed drainage pipe 2 will normally pretrude or penetrate slightly above the upper surface of the floor portion and shall now be treated or worked to provide a fixing point F1 that is able to co-act with said section 20, this working procedure will be evident from a comparison between figures 3 and 4.
A first working process involves cutting the end 2' of the drainage pipe pretru- ding or penetrating above the floor surface down to the level of said surface 1a.
A part 20b of a specially designed pipe section 40 is moved down into for causing an internal co-action with the pipe 2 such as to seal the open connection of the drainage pipe 2a with the drainage pipe 2, as evident from figure 4.
There is, of course, nothing to prevent a plastic seal being inserted in or applied to the end section 2 to sealingly connect with the inner plastic-coated surface 2b of the pipe 2.
It is known to treat or cover the inner surface of a rusty drainage pipe 2 with a plastic material layer instead of replacing the original drain and this will not therefore be described in detail in this document.
By way of example to this known technique, references are made to the contents of US patent publication US-A1-5 951761 , or the contents of Swedish patent application 03 03081-4.
The pipe section 20 co-acts over the floor part 1a of the wet cell 1 with a pipe 20a which may, in turn, co-act with a floor drain 30 or with a pipe 40, all of said pipes being fastened to the floor part 10a and its underside or in the same way or with the same orientation as that shown diagrammatically in figures 1 and 5.
Figure 4 shows that the floor part 10a is supported by a number of horizontal support beams 5 and that the first fixing point F1 formed by the center line of the drainage pipe 2, and the fixing point F2 formed by the center line of the pipe section 20 are in line with one another.
As a result of this co-action between the drainage pipe 2 and the pipe section 20, said part or said floor part 10a will be positioned within the sanitized wet cell 1 so that the edges of the floor part 10a will be at a distance "e" from an adja- cent wall part 1b and at the same distance or a different distance from remaining wall parts of the sanitized cell 1. The edge part 10a' is also at a distance "e" from the wall part 1b.
Further parts or lining elements, such as 10b, are now co-ordinated in a water resistant fashion with said part or said floor part 10a, so as to form said water resistant insert or module.
The distance "e" and corresponding distances between the edge portions and adjacent wall portions will normally be less than 10cm and will in practice exceed 3.0 to 5.0 cm.
In the case of the embodiment illustrated in figure 1 and in figures 4 and 5, the pipe section 20a belonging to the bottom part shall be connected to or branched towards a pipe section intended for a floor drain 30 and/or to a pipe section intended for a wash bason. All of said pipe sections being orientated beneath the floor surface.
When said parts or lining elements are chosen in accordance with the second structure shown in figure 2, a pipe section 2' allocated to a lavatory bason belonging to a wall part shall be connected to a pipe section intended for a wash bason behind a wall surface for a lining element 10c.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, it is accepted that the distance "e" and other corresponding distances between said edge portions and adjacent wall portions from one wet cell to another wet cell 1 have different values and it is therefore proposed in accordance with the present invention that the space corresponding to the distance "e" and corresponding spaces shall be filled with a number of spaces, such as discrete studs or bartons or supporting beams 5a, so as to enable wall portions 10b, 10c of the sanitized wet cell to be shored-up vertically and therefore secure vertical flexurally-rigid parts, lining elements or wall portions.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in a manner corresponding to figures 3 and 4 those measures that are required to enable application of the invention in the second structure, according to figure 2.
Those parts in figures 6 and 7 that find correspondence in figures 3 and 4 have been identified by the same reference signs or numerals.
The present invention thus provides a method of mounting a water resistant in- sert or module in a sanitized wet cell, where said cell at least exposes a freestanding drainage pipe for a lavatory bason, wherein said insert can be constructed with pre-determined outer dimensions that are slightly smaller than the corresponding inner dimensions of the sanitized cell with the aid of a number of prefabricated parts or lining elements, such as more or less complicated bottom portions and simple wall portions.
The method involves in particular; a. That one of the insert associated parts or lining elements has a pipe section or the like that functions as a fixing point F2 applied to and/or related to said insert associated part; b. That the pipe section 20 is orientated to said part at a distance from the edge portions of said part that is dependent on the inner dimensions of the sanitized celM ; c. That the exposed drainage pipe 2 belonging to said toilet bason is treated and/or worked to provide a fixing point F1 for co-action with said pipe section 20 and its fixing point F2; d. That in the case of such fixing-point-related and controlled co-action said insert associated part 10a is orientated in the sanitized wet cell 1 so that the edge portions of said insert associated part will be spaced at a distance "e" from adja- cent wall parts of the sanitized wet cell 1 ; and e. That further insert associated parts or lining elements are co-ordinated with said insert associated part 10a in a water resistant fashion such as to form said insert or module.
A bottom part is chosen as said insert associated part, wherewith a vertically directed pipe section 20 of a lavatory bason and belonging to said bottom part is connected to a horizontal pipe section 20a intended for a floor drain and/or to a wash bason pipe section 20a orientated beneath a floor surface.
Alternatively, a wall portion can be chosen as said insert associated part, wherewith a pipe section 20 belonging to the wall portion 10c is connected to a pipe section 20a intended for a wash bason 40 and located behind a wall surface.
The space formed by the distance "e" or corresponding distances according to "d" above is filled with/or provided with a plurality of spaces, such as studs or bartons for securing flexurally rigid parts or lining elements 10b, 10c.
It can be supposed that the distance "c" and/or the distance "d" (see fig. 5) in the case of certain applications will be much too short to provide place for an insert associated part or a lining element with associated studs or bartons 5a between the pipe section 2 and adjacent wall portions 1b and 1d. and in such cases, the insert or the module 10 can be constructed in the absence of lining elements and the existing wall portion 1b and/or the wall portion 1d used inste- ad.
The insert or the module 10 can thus provide prefabricated connections to lavatory bason pipe sections 2, 2', to floor drains 30 and the like 40, and particularly with regard to connections to drainage pipes that have been treated internally with a plastic material.
The insert or the module 10 shall be able to provide a complete modular system with a first construction of a lining element serving as a floor portion and a second construction of a lining element as one or more wall portions.
The insert or module 10 shall conveniently be produced with finished corners and connections to existing doors and, when necessary, existing windows.
The prefabricated insert or module 10 may be provided with finished reinforce- ments, such as reinforcements intended for a wall-mounted lavatory bason, according to figure 2 for cupboards, shelves, hooks, light fittings and corresponding devices.
The insert or the module 10 with associated lining elements may conveniently be prefabricated with a finished surface coating, the choice of surface coating being in accordance with individual taste.
The insert or the modular 10 with associated lining elements 10a, 10b, 10c, can be prefabricated with a fresh or intact tightening or sealing layer and therewith create conditions where the connections to adjacent wall portions and to the floor portion will also be sealed in accordance with standard set for wet cells, such as bathrooms.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the afore described exemplifying embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept as illustrated in the accompanying claims.
It will be particularly noted that each illustrated unit and/or circuit can be combined with each other illustrated unit and/or circuit within the framework of enabling the desired technical function to be achieved.