WO2008052273A1

WO2008052273A1 - Improvements to liquid wastes

Info

Publication number: WO2008052273A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001670
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Alexander Mackay
Original assignee: Ian Alexander Mackay
Priority date: 2006-11-02
Filing date: 2007-11-02
Publication date: 2008-05-08
Also published as: AU2007314160A1

Abstract

An insert (21) for use in a waste line (15, 19) to prevent build up of bacteria in the waste line (15, 19), the insert (21) comprising a tubular member (22) which can extend into the waste line (15, 19) and a grate (25) at the upper end of the tubular member (22) which supports the tubular member (22) in position extending into the waste line (15,19) and into liquid (28) of a liquid seal of a trap (10) connected to the waste line (15, 19). The insert (21) is removable to allow for its cleaning and replacement.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO LIQUID WASTES Technical Field

This invention relates to improvements to liquid wastes. Background Art Commonly wash basins, sinks and the like are provided with a waste trap through which water is drained to a waste line such as a sewer line or to a septic tank. The traps are conventionally of P- or S- shaped configuration and have a U-shaped section in which water is trapped to act as a water seal which permits the flow of waste water from the basin or sink but prevents escape of odours from the sewer line or septic tank back up through the trap.

Usually a waste fitting is provided in the sink or basin, the waste fitting having a grating or screen to prevent solid materials from passing from the sink or basin to the waste line and an elongated externally threaded tail piece for connection to the trap. The grating is usually removable to permit it to be cleaned or replaced. In some situations particularly in hospitals, the tail piece and/or the portion of the trap leading from the tail piece to the water seal is of extended length. In this region, buildup of bacteria occurs which is accentuated by the extended length of the waste line in this region. This not only increases undesirable odours but also is unhygienic. This is a particular problem in situations where hygienic standards are required to be high such as in hospitals.

Cleaning this region of the waste line requires removal of the waste grating and the use of elongated brushes or the like inserted into the waste and trap. This is not only time consuming but also is often not totally effective as all areas of the waste line leading to the water seal are not readily accessible. Summary of the Invention

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing in one aspect an insert for use in a liquid waste line which prevents or reduces the buildup of bacteria in the waste line. The present invention in another aspect provides a waste and waste trap assembly provided with an insert of the above type. Whilst the present invention is particularly suited to use with wastes and waste traps associated with sinks, basins or the like, it may also be used with waste and waste traps in other locations such as in floor wastes. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. The present invention thus provides in a first aspect, an insert for use in a waste line extending from a liquid waste, said insert comprising a tubular member receivable in said waste line, said tubular member having an outer wall or wails adapted to be juxtaposed with the inner wall or walls of said waste line, and a grate at one end of said tubular member for location within said liquid waste.

Preferably the waste has an internal shoulder and the insert includes a radially enlarged part adapted to cooperate with and seat on said shoulder. Preferably the radially enlarged part comprises an annular member. The annular member may comprise part of the grate. The shoulder within the waste suitably comprises an internal annular shoulder on which the annular member may seat. The outer diameter of the annular member is preferably substantially the same as or slightly less than the inner diameter of the waste adjacent the shoulder such that when the annular member is seated on the annular shoulder, its outer wall is in close proximity to the inner wall of the waste. This therefore acts as somewhat of a seal so that water or liquid emptied through the waste is directed primarily through the grate and tubular member and not between the tubular member and waste line.

Preferably the liquid waste is connected to a waste trap such as an S- or P- trap and the tubular member is of a length such that it extends continuously in use from the waste into the waste trap to shield the full length of the waste line between the waste and liquid seal. The waste trap typically has liquid therein thereby forming a liquid seal and the tubular member suitably is of a length such as to extend into the liquid seal.

The tubular member may have a substantially constant inner diameter along its length and suitably has a smooth uninterrupted inner surface. The tubular member may have a substantially constant external diameter which is substantially the same as or slightly less than the inner diameter of the waste line. The tubular member however may also have regions of different external diameters to match, and be complementary to, portions of the waste line of different internal diameter.

The present invention provides in a further aspect, a waste outlet in combination with a waste trap and defining a waste line, and an insert comprising a tubular member have an outer diameter substantially the same or slightly less than the inner diameter of portion of said waste line extending from said waste outlet and being received within said portion of said waste line so that the outer wall or walls of said tubular member are juxtaposed with the inner wall or walls of said portion of said waste line, said insert having a grate at one end located within said waste outlet, and support means adjacent said grate for cooperation with said waste outlet to support said tubular member in position in said waste line.

Preferably the waste outlet includes an internal shoulder and the support means is adapted to seat on the shoulder. Preferably the support means comprises a radially enlarged portion. The radially enlarged portion may comprise an annular member. The annular member suitably has an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the waste outlet adjacent the shoulder so that the annular member locates neatly within and is in close proximity with the inner wall of the waste outlet. Preferably the annular member comprises part of the grate.

Preferably the waste outlet includes a tail piece and the trap is connected to the tail piece. Preferably the trap includes a pipe portion which is connected to the tail piece. Suitably the tail piece and pipe portion comprise the portion of the waste line in which the insert is located. Where the internal diameter of the tail piece differs from the internal diameter of the pipe portion, the tubular member of the insert preferably has corresponding portions of external diameters complementary to the internal diameters of the tail piece and pipe portion respectively. The tabular member may thus have an externally diametrically stepped configuration. The inner wall of the tubular member preferably has a substantially constant diameter. The tubular member is of a length such that it extends from the waste outlet along the portion of the waste line into the waste trap. Preferably the waste trap includes a liquid seal and the tubular member extends into the liquid of the liquid seal.

The insert or at least the tubular member thereof is/are preferably formed of a disposable material for example a waterproof paper and/or plastics material. The tubular member suitably has a relatively smooth inner surface so as to minimize the buildup of bacteria thereon. The insert may be impregnated or coated with an anti-bacterial material. Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein :-

Fig. 1 illustrates in sectional view a basin or sink provided with a waste and connected waste trap and insert according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the insert of the invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1, there is illustrated a waste trap 10, in this case a conventional S-trap, connected to a waste 11 provided in a sink or basin 12, The waste 11 is also of conventional form and includes an upper outwardly flared flange 13 seated on the upper surface of the sink or basin 12 surrounding a drain opening 14 in the sink or basin 12 and an externally threaded tubular tail piece 15 which extends through the opening 14 to the underside of the sink or basin 12. A threaded compression nut 16 is in threaded engagement with the tail piece 15 and serves in combination with a seal 17 to sealing clamp the waste 11 to the basin or sink 12, The waste 1 1 is typically provided internally with an annular shoulder 18 at a position beneath the flange 13 upon which a separate grate or screen normally seats.

The waste trap 10 is secured to the tail piece 15 so as to communicate with the waste 11 and basin or sink 12, For this purpose, the trap 10 includes an elongated linear pipe portion 19 which is clamped to the end of the tail piece 15 by a compression nut 20 so as to be in longitudinal alignment with the tail piece 15.

A removable insert 21 is provided in the waste line defined by the tail piece 15 and pipe portion 19 of the waste trap 10 and includes as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, an elongated tubular member 22 which has an external diameter substantially the same as or slightly less than the internal diameter of the tail piece 15 and pipe portion 19 so that it can be neatly received therein with the outer surface of the tubular member 22 being juxtaposed with and being in face to face contact with or in close proximity to the inner walls of the tail piece 15 and pipe portion 19, In this embodiment the tubular member 22 has an upper portion 23 of slightly increased external diameter relative to a lower portion 24 thereof to match the internal diameters of the tail piece 15 and tubular portion 19 respectively, the tail piece 15 having an internal diameter which is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the pipe portion 19.

The insert 21 additionally includes at its upper end a grate 25 which is secured to the tubular member 22, the grate 25 having an outer annular member 26 of an external diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular member 22 but substantially the same or slightly less than the internal diameter of the waste 1 1 adjacent the shoulder 18. The grate 25 additionally includes a plurality of grating elements 27 which typically are formed integrally with the annular member 26 and which extend across the grate 25 from one side to the other. The grate 25 of course may be of any design or configuration which will permit free flow of liquid or water but prevent larger solids passing therethrough.

For installation of the insert 21, the lower end of the tubular member 22 is inserted into the waste 1 1 until the annular member 26 of the grate 25 seats on the shoulder 18 in the waste 11 as shown in Fig, 1 which supports the insert 21 in position.

The tubular member 22 is of a length such that when installed, it extends into the liquid or water 28 forming the liquid seal within the trap 10. When the insert 21 is installed, the inner walls of the pipe portion 19 and tail piece 15 are shielded from direct contact with liquid flowing through the waste 11 and trap 10 by the tubular member 22.

In use the waste 11 and trap 10 function in a normal manner with water or liquid within the sink or basin 12, when released for example by lifting or removing a plug associated with the waste 1 1 , flowing through the waste 11 and through the grate 25 of the insert 21 and within the tubular member 22 of the insert 21 to the trap 10. As the annular member 25 is located neatly within the waste 11 and seated on the shoulder 18 and its outer wall is cither in contact with or in close proximity to the inner wall of the waste 11 adjacent the shoulder 18, substantially all the liquid flowing into the waste 11 is directed through the tubular member 22.

Where there is a build up of bacteria on the insert 21, it may be simply removed by withdrawing it from the waste 1 1 by grasping the grate 25 and lifting upwardly. The insert 21 may then be either cleaned and replaced within the waste 11 or disposed of and replaced by an alternative insert 21.

The insert 21 or at least the tubular member 22 is preferably coated with an antibacterial substance to prevent or minimise the build up of bacteria on the insert 21 to thereby reduce the frequency of replacement or removal of the insert 21. This may be achieved simply by dipping the insert 21 into an antibacterial liquid prior to placement within the waste 11. As an alternative the insert 21 may be impregnated with an antibacterial substance.

The insert 21 is preferably formed of a plastics material suitably from injection moulding with the grate 25 moulded integrally. Alternatively the grate 25 may be secured separately to the tubular member 22 of the insert 21. The tubular member 21 preferably has at least a smooth uninterrupted inner surface of constant diameter to prevent build-up of bacterial thereon. An antibacterial substance or liquid may be incorporated in the plastics material from which the insert 21 is moulded. As an alternative, the insert 21 or parts thereof particularly the tubular member 22 axe formed of a paper material preferably a waterproof or water resistant paper.

The terms "comprising" or "comprises" as used throughout the specification and claims arc taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An insert for use in a waste line extending from a liquid waste, said insert comprising a tubular member receivable in said waste line, said tubular member having an outer wall or walls adapted to be juxtaposed with the inner wall or walls of said waste line, and a grate at one end of said tubular member for location within said liquid waste.

2. An insert as claimed in claim 1 and including a radially enlarged part adapted to cooperate with and seat on an internal shoulder in said waste,

3. An insert as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer diameter of the annular member is substantially the same as or slightly less than the inner diameter of the waste adjacent the shoulder such that when the annular member is seated on the annular shoulder, its outer wall is in close proximity to the inner wall of the waste.

4. An inset as claimed in claim 3 wherein said insert part comprises an annular member. The annular member may comprise part of the grate

5. An insert as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said liquid waste is connected to a waste trap and the tubular member has a length, such that it extends in use from the waste into the waste trap.

6. An insert as claimed in claim 5 wherein said waste trap has a liquid seal and wherein said tubular member is of a length such as to extend in use into the liquid seal.

7. An insert as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said tubular member has a smooth uninterrupted inner surface and is of substantially constant inner diameter along its length.

8. An insert as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said tubular member has a substantially constant external diameter which is substantially the same as or slightly less than the inner diameter of said waste line.

9. An insert as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said tubular member has regions of different external diameters to match, and be complementary to, portions of the waste line of different internal diameter,

10. A waste outlet in combination with a waste trap and defining a waste line, and an insert comprising a tubυlar member have an outer diameter substantially the same or slightly less than the inner diameter of portion of said waste line extending from said waste outlet and being received within said portion of said waste line so that the outer wall or walls of said tubular member are juxtaposed with, the inner wall or walls of said portion of said waste line, said insert having a grate at one end located within said waste outlet, and support means adjacent said grate for cooperation with said waste outlet to support said tubular member in position in said waste line.

11. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 10 wherein said waste outlet includes an internal shoulder and wherein the support means is adapted to scat on the shoulder.

12. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 11 wherein said support means comprises a radially enlarged portion.

13. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 12 wherein said radially enlarged portion comprises an annular member.

14. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 13 wherein said annular member has an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the waste outlet adjacent the shoulder so that the annular member locates neatly within and is in close proximity with the inner wall of the waste outlet.

15. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said annular member comprises part of the grate.

16. A waste outlet as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein said waste outlet includes a tail piece and the trap includes a pipe portion connected to the tail piece, the tail piece and pipe portion defining said portion of said the waste line.

17. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 16 wherein when the internal diameter of the tail piece differs from the internal diameter of the pipe portion, the tubular member of the insert has corresponding portions of external diameters complementary to the internal diameter of the tail piece and pipe portion respectively.

18. A waste outlet as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17 wherein said tubular member extends from said waste outlet along the portion of the waste line into the waste trap.

19. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 18 wherein said waste trap includes a liquid seal and wherein the tubular member extends into the liquid of the liquid seal.