WO2008052262A1

WO2008052262A1 - Floor drain inlet having brush members on upper surface

Info

Publication number: WO2008052262A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Murray Norman Cook
Original assignee: Murray Norman Cook
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2007-10-31
Publication date: 2008-05-08
Also published as: CN101563011A

Abstract

A drain attachment adapted for mounting to a drain having an outer end portion the drain brush assembly comprising an annular housing (13) adapted to be concentrically received within the outer end portion of the drain, the housing having an end face which is to be located at the end of the drain, the housing further having an abutment (23) on its inner face inward from the end face, the housing supporting a grating-like cover (17) which is intended in use to extend across the drain, a brush head (15) comprising a set of bristles (43) extending from outermost axial face of the cover, the cover being supported by the housing to be slidable axially within the housing, a resilient means comprising a set of resilient axial members (45) displaced angularly around the inner face of the housing and located between an upper portion of the brush head and the abutment.

Description

FLOOR DRAIN INLET HAVING BRUSH MEMBERS ON UPPER SURFACE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a brush which can be associated with a drain such as the drain of a shower, bath or hand basin.

Background Art

There are a significant number of people with somewhat reduced physical capacity who have difficulty in washing their feet in the confined quarters of a shower recess or the rounded and slippery surface of a bath-shower combination. Such people have difficulty in either bending down to clean their feet or balancing on one foot while they clean the other. In addition even an adult without disabilities can have difficulty in cleaning the soles of their feet within a shower cubical. Therefore there is a perceived need for a cleaning means to enable such people to clean their feet without the need to bend down of balance on one foot and various attempts have been tried. Examples include GB2,280,849 (Waters) showing a foot cleaning platform for use in the shower, AU78246/94 (Shower Mate Products NZ Ltd) for a foot cleaning brush, AU20885/95 (Norin) for a multi function paediatric device and US 5,575,034 (Biernacinski) foot cleaning and massaging mat system. While all of these attempt to provide a solution they nevertheless have problems.

A previous development by the current inventor is disclosed in patent specification WO 2005/063106 and the in this text that specification is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is not repeated in this text is merely for reasons of conciseness..

The discussion throughout this specification, of the background and prior art to the invention (including WO 2005/063106) is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia and the world as at the priority date of the application.

Disclosure of the Invention

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Accordingly, the invention resides in a drain attachment adapted for mounting to a drain having an outer end portion the drain brush assembly comprising an annular housing adapted to be concentrically received within the outer end portion of the drain, the housing having an end face which is to be located at the end of the drain, the housing further having an abutment on its inner face inward from the end face, the housing supporting a grating-like cover which is intended in use to extend across the drain, a brush head comprising a set of bristles extending from outermost axial face of the cover, the cover being supported by the housing to be slidable axially within the housing, a resilient means comprising a set of resilient axial members displaced angularly around the inner face of the housing and located between an upper portion of the brush head and the abutment.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the cover is biased to an outermost position relative to the housing such that the outermost axial face of the cover is substantially coplanar with the outer face of the housing.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the bristles are supported from a base having a grate-like configuration corresponding the grate-like configuration of the cover, the base being supported from the cover such that their grate-like configurations are aligned, the base having the axial members thereon which are in opposed relation to the bristles. According to a preferred feature of the invention the bristles and axial members are formed integrally with the base. According to preferred feature of the invention the bristles, axial members and base are formed from a resiliently compressible material. According to one embodiment the axial members are received through openings through the cover and provided around of the cover to lie proximate the perimeter. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the base is formed with a collar which is received around the outer perimeter of the cover and is retained thereon by a clamping ring. According to preferred feature of the invention the base is removable from the cover.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the axial members have substantially parallel sides. According to an alternative feature of the invention the axial members have convergent sides.

According to preferred feature of the invention the axes of the axial members are substantially parallel and parallel to the central axis of the housing.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the axial members are configured to cause relative angular displacement of the cover within the housing on axial compression of the axial members. According to a preferred feature of the invention the central axes are angularly offset within a plane which is generally tangential to the perimeter at an acute angle relative to the plane of the base.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the housing comprises a cylindrical sleeve configured to be received and supported within the outer end portion of the drain.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cover further comprises a cylindrical extension configured to be received within the housing, the cover being at the outermost end of the cylindrical sleeve.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the resilient means is supported between the cylindrical extension and the cylindrical sleeve.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the abutment comprises a rib formed in the inner face of the housing, said rib having a gap, an axial protrusion provided on the axial face of the abutment which is remote from the end face and one side of the gap, the protrusion extending in an opposed relation to the end face, wherein sleeve has a lug dimensioned to be receivable thought the gap, the lug spaced from the cover such that it is receivable against the remote face of the abutment when the cover is substantially aligned with the end face of the housing. According to preferred feature of the invention the relative angular displacement of the cover within the housing is such that on compression to the axial members the lug angularly displaced away from the other side of the gap and in the direction of the protrusion

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the apertures provided by the grate-like cover are substantially circular.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the apertures provided by the grate-like cover are defined between bar-like elements extending across the cover.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bristles are resiliently deformable.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the cover is removable from the housing.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the housing is intended to be removable from the outer portion of the drain.

The invention will be more full understood in light of the following description of several specific embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an assembly according to the first embodiment; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the cover with the brush head according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the housing according to the first embodiment;

Figure 4 is a side elevation the cover with the brush head according to the first embodiment;

Figure 5 is a side elevation the housing according to the first embodiment;

Figure 6a is a sectional elevation of the assembly according to the first embodiment showing the cover in its outermost position within the housing;

Figure 6a is a sectional elevation of the assembly according to the first embodiment showing the cover in a depressed position within the housing;

Figure 7 is an exploded isometric view of an assembly according to the second embodiment;

Figure 8 is an isometric view of an assembly according to the third embodiment; and

Figure 9 is a side elevation of an assembly according to the third embodiment;

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Each of embodiments of the invention are directed to an assembly comprising brush head adapted to be supported by a housing in order that it can be mounted to a drain of a shower recess or the like installation. Similar devices might also be applied to wash basins and other applications where it is appropriate to have a brush which is accessible to a user of the installation.

The first embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises a brush assembly which is adapted for installation to the drain in a shower recess, bath/shower combination, wash basin or the like. As shown the drain brush 11 of the first embodiment comprises a housing 13, a brush head 15, a cover 17 and a resilient means.

The housing 13 comprises a generally cylindrical skirt 19 having a rim 21 in the form of an outwardly directed flange at one end. The outer face of the skirt 19 is dimensioned and adapted to be receivable on the outer end portion of an existing drain pipe (not shown) which is provided in the floor of the shower or the like. The housing is formed of a suitable rigid material. The rim 21 is intended to be received in the floor of the shower recess, bath or the like such that its outer axial face is generally flush with the floor. The housing 13 is intended to replace the conventional removable grate that is usually mounted to the outer end face of the drain pipe in the shower recess or the like.

In addition the inner face of the skirt 19 is formed with an abutment in the form of an inwardly directed flange 23 intermediate of its length. The flange has a radial inner edge 25, an axial proximal face 27 proximate the one end of the housing and an axial remote face 29 remote from the one end of the housing. The flange is discontinuous in that it is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed gaps 31 and one side of each gap is formed with an axial first protrusion 33 which extends axially from the flange away from the one end of the housing portion. The other side of each gap is formed with an axial second protrusion 35 which extends axially from the flange away from the one end of the housing. The first protrusion 33 is longer than the second protrusion 35.

The brush head 15 of the embodiment is mounted to the cover 17 which has a cylindrical sleeve 37 at its inner face which is receivable in the housing 13. The cover is formed at its outer end with a grate 39 which closes the outer end of the sleeve. The brush head is formed with a base 41 which is in use intended to overlie the grate of the cover and has a corresponding grate-like configuration in order that when the base is in position over the grate the grate-like configurations are aligned. The brush head is further provided with a set of bristles 43 which extend away from the base 41 to be in opposed relation to the grate when the brush head is in position on the cover. The opposed face of the base is formed with a collar 44 and a resilient means in the form of a set of angularly spaced axial members 45. When the brush head is supported over the cover, the collar is received around the perimeter of the cover and the axial members extend axially over the outer face of the sleeve 37. The brush head is formed as an integral element incorporating the base, bristles, collar and axial members and is formed of a suitable resiliently compressible material. To fix the brush head to the cover a clamping ring 47 is received around the collar and clamps the brush head in position. The clamping ring has an external diameter substantially equal to or less than the internal diameter of the housing

The provision of the grate and the corresponding configuration of the base of the brush head 15 provides a set of apertures which enables waste-water to enter the drain through the drain brush assembly while bristles can serve to entrap fibrous material and the like to prevent its entry into the drain.

The cover 17 is formed of a relatively rigid plastics material

The sleeve 37 of the cover comprises a tubular member having an external diameter which is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the flange 23 of the housing 13. The exterior of the sleeve is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 49 which are located proximate the other end of the collar. The lugs are dimensioned to be receivable through the gaps 31 in the flange 23 of the housing 13 when the cover is inserted into the housing such that the lugs are brought into engagement with the flange. The spacing of the lugs 49 from the grate are such that when the lugs are engaged with the remote face 29 of the flange the outer axial face of the base 41 is substantially co-planar with the one end of the housing and the bristles extend upwardly form the grate.

The length of the axial members is such that when the lugs 49 are engaged with the remote face 29 of the flange 23 the outer ends of the axial members 45 are in engagement with the proximal face 27 of the flange. On pressure being applied to the brush head 15 the axial members will deform to allow the brush head to move inwardly into the housing. In addition the axial members are configured and arranged such that the axial orientation of each of the axial members is such that their central axis is angularly off set from an axis perpendicular to the grate and the direction of offset is the same for each axial member. This offset serves two purposes. The offset allows the axial member to bend when pressure is applied to the brush head. In addition on depression of the brush head the deformation of the axial members can causes the cover to undergo some rotation within the housing. The direction of offset is to tend to cause the cover to move in a direction away from the shorter protrusion and towards the longer protrusion. This ensures that the cover is retained in engagement within the housing.

In application of the brush assembly, the housing 13 is first mounted into the outer end of a drain pipe such that the rim is positioned to be received in the floor of the shower recess, bath or other appropriate site. The brush head 15 is applied over the cover 17 and is retained in position by the clamping ring 47. The cover with the brush head 15 is then inserted into the housing 13, with the lugs 49 being aligned with the gaps 31 of the flange 23. With further depression of the cover into the housing the axial members are compressed until the lugs 49 move axially beyond the shortest of the protuberances . With rotation of the brush assembly within the housing the lugs 49 are moved out of alignment with the gaps 31 and then the cover is released and allowed to move upwardly under the influence of the compression axial members until the lugs contact the remote face 29 of the flange 23, thereby retaining the cover within the housing 14. The longer protuberances 33 prevent the brush head 16 from being rotated within the housing 14 such that the lugs become aligned with the gaps. Thus, the cover is provided with a bayonet-like mounting means permitting easy and quick removal and replacement from the housing for replacement and/or cleaning.

In use, the user applies a foot against the brush head which will move inwardly against the biasing of the axial members 18. The resilient flexibility of the bristles and the resilient compressibility of the axial members are balanced to achieve the desired feel. As the brush head is removable, it is easily replaceable in the event of damage or wear, or should a user require a different "feel".

As the apertures provided by the grate in the cover are interspersed within the area of the brush head provided with bristles, the brush assembly of the first embodiment also acts to prevent some debris such as hair and dropped items from being washed into the drain and therefore serves a dual function.

The second embodiment as shown at Figure 7 differs from the first embodiment in relation to the brush head. In the case of the second embodiment the axial members 45 of the brush head are parallel to the central axis of the housing and have parallel sides. In addition the axial members are received in apertures 51 provided around the cover such that they are received against the side of the sleeve 37.

The third embodiment as shown at Figures 8 and 9 differs from the previous embodiments in that it can be installed at the end of length of pipe to provide the end of the drain pipe. In this regard the housing 13 is intended to provide the drain fitting and is dimensioned at its inner end to be snugly received over the end of a length of pipe. In this regard the annular rim 21 has a greater width compared to the previous embodiments and is associated with an inner flange 53 which is formed to abut the inner axial face of the rim and has a smaller outer diameter. As a result the skirt 51 provides the outer face of the drain.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. It will be recognized that the pattern of the grate is determined primarily by aesthetics rather than by functional requirements and may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the relative heights of the bristles are selected to satisfy consumer choice and is not an aspect essential to the invention.

Claims

ClaimsThe Claim Defining the Invention is as Follows:

1. A drain attachment adapted for mounting to a drain having an outer end portion the drain brush assembly comprising an annular housing adapted to be concentrically received within the outer end portion of the drain, the housing having an end face which is to be located at the end of the drain, the housing further having an abutment on its inner face inward from the end face, the housing supporting a grating-like cover which is intended in use to extend across the drain, a brush head comprising a set of bristles extending from outermost axial face of the cover, the cover being supported by the housing to be slidable axially within the housing, a resilient means comprising a set of resilient axial members displaced angularly around the inner face of the housing and located between an upper portion of the brush head and the abutment.

2. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 1 wherein the cover is biased to an outermost position relative to the housing such that the outermost axial face of the cover is substantially coplanar with the outer face of the housing.

3. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 1 or 2 wherein the bristles are supported from a base having a grate-like configuration corresponding the grate-like configuration of the cover, the base being supported from the cover such that their grate-like configurations are aligned, the base having the axial members thereon which are in opposed relation to the bristles.

4. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 3 wherein the bristles and axial members are formed integrally.

5. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 3 or 4 wherein the bristles, axial members and base are formed from a resiliently compressible material.

6. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 3 or 4 or 5 wherein the axial members are received through openings through the cover and provided around of the cover to lie proximate the perimeter.

7. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 3 or 4 or 5 wherein the base is formed with a collar which is received around the outer perimeter of the cover and is retained thereon by a clamping ring.

8. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is removable from the cover.

9. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the axial members have substantially parallel sides.

10. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the axial members have convergent sides.

11.A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein axes of the axial members are substantially parallel and parallel to the central axis of the housing.

12. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the axial members are configured and/or arranged to cause relative angular displacement of the cover within the housing on axial compression of the axial members.

13. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 12 wherein the axial members are configured and/or arranged to be angularly offset within a plane which is generally tangential to the perimeter at an acute angle relative to the plane of the base.

14. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical sleeve configured to be received and supported within the outer end portion of the drain.

15.A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the claims 1 to 13 wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical sleeve configured to be received from the outer end portion of the drain.

16. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 14 or 15 wherein the cover further comprises a cylindrical extension configured to be received within the housing, the cover being at the outermost end of the cylindrical sleeve.

17. A drain attachment as claimed at claim 14 or 15 or 16 wherein the resilient means is supported between the cylindrical extension and the cylindrical sleeve.

18. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutment comprises a rib formed in the inner face of the housing, said rib having a gap, an axial protrusion provided on the axial face of the abutment which is remote from the end face and one side of the gap, the protrusion extending in an opposed relation to the end face, wherein sleeve has a lug dimensioned to be receivable thought the gap, the lug spaced from the cover such that it is receivable against the remote face of the abutment when the cover is substantially aligned with the end face of the housing.

19.A drain attachment as claimed at claim 18 wherein the relative angular displacement of the cover within the housing is such that on compression to the axial members the lug is angularly displaced away from the other side of the gap and in the direction of the protrusion

20. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the apertures provided by the grate-like cover are substantially circular.

21. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the claims 1 to 19 the apertures provided by the grate-like cover are defined between bar-like elements extending across the cover.

22. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the bristles are resiliently deformable.

23.A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover is removable from the housing.

24. A drain attachment as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is intended to be removable from the outer portion of the drain.

25.A drain attachment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.