WO2009095675A1 - Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid - Google Patents

Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009095675A1
WO2009095675A1 PCT/GB2009/000254 GB2009000254W WO2009095675A1 WO 2009095675 A1 WO2009095675 A1 WO 2009095675A1 GB 2009000254 W GB2009000254 W GB 2009000254W WO 2009095675 A1 WO2009095675 A1 WO 2009095675A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plug
link
float
liquid
outlet
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2009/000254
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2009095675A9 (en
Inventor
John Francis Pile
Original Assignee
John Francis Pile
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by John Francis Pile filed Critical John Francis Pile
Priority to GB1014461.6A priority Critical patent/GB2469973B/en
Publication of WO2009095675A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009095675A1/en
Publication of WO2009095675A9 publication Critical patent/WO2009095675A9/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K1/00—Wash-stands; Appurtenances therefor
    • A47K1/14—Stoppers for wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/12—Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto; Sinks
    • E03C1/22—Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks
    • E03C1/23—Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks with mechanical closure mechanisms
    • E03C1/232—Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks with mechanical closure mechanisms combined with overflow devices
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/12—Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto; Sinks
    • E03C1/24—Overflow devices for basins or baths
    • E03C1/242—Overflow devices for basins or baths automatically actuating supply or draining valves

Definitions

  • This invention concerns a device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid and in particular, for preventing a bath from overflowing.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with liquid and, in particular an improved bath overflow prevention device.
  • a device for preventing overflow of a container, especially a bath, being filled with a liquid the container having a drainage outlet normally containing a removable plug when being filled the device comprising a plug for the drainage outlet, a float and a link between the plug and the float of a desired length that extends below the plug and has means for retention by a part of the drainage outlet, whereby when the liquid reaches a predetermined level the float causes the link to lift the plug at least partially off the outlet sufficiently to allow release of liquid through the outlet.
  • a bath drainage outlet comprises a circular opening that receives a plug and across the opening are radial spokes on which the plug sits. These radial spokes provide convenient spaces therebetween, through which an end of the link can be retained.
  • the link preferably has an enlargement at or near its end remote from the float that can be pushed through a space between adjacent spokes and retained there.
  • the float is preferably a hollow body and preferably has a handle.
  • the handle may be conveniently formed by an aperture through the body.
  • means for gripping the float may be provided by a recess in one or opposed faces of the float.
  • the float is preferably moulded from plastics material.
  • the desired length of the link will be chosen, so that when the liquid reaches a chosen level, the float will have risen, so that the link is at full stretch and the plug is pulled upwards from the outlet to release liquid through the outlet.
  • the link is attached to the plug off-centre, so that when the float arises the plug is lifted at one side initially.
  • the link is, however, retained by the outlet, so that the plug will return to cover the outlet when the liquid level drops sufficiently. In that way all of the liquid need not be lost.
  • a bath overflow prevention device 10 has a float 12 at one end of a link 14. At its other end the link 14 passes sealingly through a plug 16 for a bath.
  • the float 12 is formed as a hollow moulding and has an aperture 18 that forms a handle for lifting and placing the float 12 has around its periphery a rebated portion 20 with a groove 22 therein to receive a retaining sleeve 24 for the link 14. Additionally, the underside of the float has a bore 26 for receiving an and of the link.
  • the link 14 is relatively narrow over a major part of its length but widens at its intended upper 30 on which is a stub or the like 28 that locates in the bore of the float.
  • the sleeve 24 covers the wide part 30 of the link and extends beyond that part to provide a collar that fits over the bottom end of the float.
  • the link and the sleeve are preferably made from rubber or other suitable elastomeric material.
  • the plug 16 is generally circular and has an off-centre tranverse through aperture 34, through which extends the link 14.
  • the link 14 has two spaced peripheral ribs 36 on its end extending through the plug.
  • On its underside the plug 16 has a locating formation 38, which is as shown as a plateau but may be ring or parts of a ring.
  • the plug is preferably made of the same or similar material to the link, so that the link can be a friction fit through the plug to create a reasonable seal therewith.
  • the ribs 36 on the end of the link 14 are provided to enable the link to be fitted to a standard bath plughole 40 ( Figures 2 and 3) and retained there.
  • a standard plughole 40 has radial spokes 42 that provide gaps through which the link 14 can be fed and held by one of the ribs 36 of the link.
  • the device of Figures 1 to 3 is made from four components and is assembled by feeding the link through the sleeve and pushing the sleeve and the end of the link onto the float for the sleeve to locate on the end of the float and the stub of the link into the bore of the float. The other end of the link is pushed through the aperture of the plug part until the two ribs have passed through the plug. It is envisaged that the parts of the device will be assembled without the need for adhesive or the like.
  • the device of Figures 1 to 3 is used in the following manner.
  • the part of the link 14 extending through the plug is fed through a space between two adjacent radial spokes 42 of a bath plughole 40 until the two ribs 36 are below the spokes, the plug is then seated over the plughole and by pressing down a seal can be formed between the plug and the perimeter of the plughole.
  • the bath can be filled with water.
  • the float 12 will rise with it. If the bath is left running by accident the float will rise and pull the link 14 upwards, which will in turn lift the plug 16 on one side, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2, due the upper rib 36 on the link.
  • Figures 4 and 5 show alternative versions 50 and 60 respectively of a device for preventing bath overflow according to the invention. These are numbered in the same way as the device of Figure 1 for simplicity. It will be appreciated that the device of the invention is not limited to use in a bath but may be used in other containers that require filling with liquid and have liquid outlets in their base suitable for retaining an end of the link.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sink And Installation For Waste Water (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A device (10) for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid, the container having a drainage outlet normally containing a removable plug when being filled, the device comprising a plug (16) for the drainage outlet, a float (12) and a link (14) of a desired length that extends below the plug and has means (36) for retention by a part of the drainage outlet, whereby when the liquid reaches a predetermined level the float causes the link to lift the plug at least partially off the outlet to allow release of liquid through the outlet.

Description

Title: Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid.
DESCRIPTION
This invention concerns a device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid and in particular, for preventing a bath from overflowing.
It is common for people to start running a bath and then be sidetracked, such as by telephone call or a knock at the door, only to find that the bath has spilled over. Baths are provided with an overflow but generally that is inadequate to deal with overflow resulting from the taps still being turned on. The standard overflow can cope with preventing water spilling over the side of a bath when a person gets into the bath causing the water level to rise. Water spilling over from a bath can casue serious damage depending on how long spillage lasts for. As most bathrooms are on an upper floor of a house or building the overflow can cause damage to the floor of the bathroom and the ceiling of the room below as well as equipment and furniture in that room.
Proposals have been made for an alarm to be activated when the water level in a bath reaches a certain level but depending on the nature of the distraction the alarm might not be heard.
Another device has been proposed wherein a float is provided on a chain or the like attacked to the bath plug, so that when the bath water reaches a certain level the plug is pulled out by the float. However, this only results in loss of all the water from the bath meaning that it has to be refilled.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with liquid and, in particular an improved bath overflow prevention device.
According to the invention there is provided a device for preventing overflow of a container, especially a bath, being filled with a liquid, the container having a drainage outlet normally containing a removable plug when being filled the device comprising a plug for the drainage outlet, a float and a link between the plug and the float of a desired length that extends below the plug and has means for retention by a part of the drainage outlet, whereby when the liquid reaches a predetermined level the float causes the link to lift the plug at least partially off the outlet sufficiently to allow release of liquid through the outlet.
Typically a bath drainage outlet comprises a circular opening that receives a plug and across the opening are radial spokes on which the plug sits. These radial spokes provide convenient spaces therebetween, through which an end of the link can be retained. The link preferably has an enlargement at or near its end remote from the float that can be pushed through a space between adjacent spokes and retained there.
The float is preferably a hollow body and preferably has a handle. The handle may be conveniently formed by an aperture through the body. Alternatively means for gripping the float may be provided by a recess in one or opposed faces of the float. The float is preferably moulded from plastics material.
The desired length of the link will be chosen, so that when the liquid reaches a chosen level, the float will have risen, so that the link is at full stretch and the plug is pulled upwards from the outlet to release liquid through the outlet. Preferably the link is attached to the plug off-centre, so that when the float arises the plug is lifted at one side initially. The link is, however, retained by the outlet, so that the plug will return to cover the outlet when the liquid level drops sufficiently. In that way all of the liquid need not be lost.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a bath overflow prevention device 10 has a float 12 at one end of a link 14. At its other end the link 14 passes sealingly through a plug 16 for a bath.
The float 12 is formed as a hollow moulding and has an aperture 18 that forms a handle for lifting and placing the float 12 has around its periphery a rebated portion 20 with a groove 22 therein to receive a retaining sleeve 24 for the link 14. Additionally, the underside of the float has a bore 26 for receiving an and of the link. The link 14 is relatively narrow over a major part of its length but widens at its intended upper 30 on which is a stub or the like 28 that locates in the bore of the float. The sleeve 24 covers the wide part 30 of the link and extends beyond that part to provide a collar that fits over the bottom end of the float. Internally of the collar is an annular rib 32 that locates in the groove 22 of the float. The link and the sleeve are preferably made from rubber or other suitable elastomeric material. The plug 16 is generally circular and has an off-centre tranverse through aperture 34, through which extends the link 14. The link 14 has two spaced peripheral ribs 36 on its end extending through the plug. On its underside the plug 16 has a locating formation 38, which is as shown as a plateau but may be ring or parts of a ring. The plug is preferably made of the same or similar material to the link, so that the link can be a friction fit through the plug to create a reasonable seal therewith.
The ribs 36 on the end of the link 14 are provided to enable the link to be fitted to a standard bath plughole 40 (Figures 2 and 3) and retained there. A standard plughole 40 has radial spokes 42 that provide gaps through which the link 14 can be fed and held by one of the ribs 36 of the link.
The device of Figures 1 to 3 is made from four components and is assembled by feeding the link through the sleeve and pushing the sleeve and the end of the link onto the float for the sleeve to locate on the end of the float and the stub of the link into the bore of the float. The other end of the link is pushed through the aperture of the plug part until the two ribs have passed through the plug. It is envisaged that the parts of the device will be assembled without the need for adhesive or the like.
The device of Figures 1 to 3 is used in the following manner. The part of the link 14 extending through the plug is fed through a space between two adjacent radial spokes 42 of a bath plughole 40 until the two ribs 36 are below the spokes, the plug is then seated over the plughole and by pressing down a seal can be formed between the plug and the perimeter of the plughole. Then the bath can be filled with water. As the water level rises the float 12 will rise with it. If the bath is left running by accident the float will rise and pull the link 14 upwards, which will in turn lift the plug 16 on one side, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2, due the upper rib 36 on the link. This will allow some of the water to escape through the plughole but without the plug becoming completely separated from the plughole due the lower rib 36 being retained by the spokes of the plughole. As the water escapes through the plughole the plug may in fact return to seat on the plughole as the float lowers with the water level. This means that bath overflow may be prevented but without losing all of the bath water before the person running the bath returns to turn off the taps.
Figures 4 and 5 show alternative versions 50 and 60 respectively of a device for preventing bath overflow according to the invention. These are numbered in the same way as the device of Figure 1 for simplicity. It will be appreciated that the device of the invention is not limited to use in a bath but may be used in other containers that require filling with liquid and have liquid outlets in their base suitable for retaining an end of the link.

Claims

1. A device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid, the container having a drainage outlet normally containing a removable plug when being filled, the device comprising a plug for the drainage outlet, a float and a link of a desired length that extends below the plug and has means for retention by a part of the drainage outlet, whereby when the liquid reaches a predetermined level the float causes the link to lift the plug at least partially off the outlet to allow release of liquid through the outlet.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the link has an enlargement at the near its end remote from the float that can be pushed through a space between adjacent spokes of a plughole and retained there.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the enlargement is a rib at least partially around the link and at or near the end thereof.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the float is a hollow body.
5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the float has a handle.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the handle is formed by a aperture through the body.
7. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the float has a recess in one or opposed faces thereof.
8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the float is moulded from plastics material.
9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the link between the float and the plug is of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material.
10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plug has a hole through which the link extends.
11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the link is off=centre of the plug.
12. A device as claimed in claim 9 or 11 , wherein the plug is made of the same material as the link.
PCT/GB2009/000254 2008-01-31 2009-01-29 Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid WO2009095675A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1014461.6A GB2469973B (en) 2008-01-31 2009-01-29 Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0801793.1 2008-01-31
GBGB0801793.1A GB0801793D0 (en) 2008-01-31 2008-01-31 Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with liquid

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US58506692A Continuation 1989-02-17 1992-05-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009095675A1 true WO2009095675A1 (en) 2009-08-06
WO2009095675A9 WO2009095675A9 (en) 2010-07-15

Family

ID=39186661

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2009/000254 WO2009095675A1 (en) 2008-01-31 2009-01-29 Device for preventing overflow of a container being filled with a liquid

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0801793D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2009095675A1 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1217916A (en) * 1968-07-25 1971-01-06 Marcel-Georges Collet Improvements in bath plugs
GB2279561A (en) * 1993-07-02 1995-01-11 George Lambert Overflow prevention device for bath,basin or sink
GB2293759A (en) * 1994-10-04 1996-04-10 Kevin Oswald Laidler Bathplug assembly
GB2309165A (en) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-23 Paul Wheeler Overflow prevention device
GB2351440A (en) * 1997-04-08 2001-01-03 Dennis Fredrick Haggerty Bath with overflow prevention device
GB2381191A (en) * 2001-10-25 2003-04-30 Raytrace Ltd Overflow prevention device for a bath

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1217916A (en) * 1968-07-25 1971-01-06 Marcel-Georges Collet Improvements in bath plugs
GB2279561A (en) * 1993-07-02 1995-01-11 George Lambert Overflow prevention device for bath,basin or sink
GB2293759A (en) * 1994-10-04 1996-04-10 Kevin Oswald Laidler Bathplug assembly
GB2309165A (en) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-23 Paul Wheeler Overflow prevention device
GB2351440A (en) * 1997-04-08 2001-01-03 Dennis Fredrick Haggerty Bath with overflow prevention device
GB2381191A (en) * 2001-10-25 2003-04-30 Raytrace Ltd Overflow prevention device for a bath

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201014461D0 (en) 2010-10-13
GB2469973A (en) 2010-11-03
GB2469973B (en) 2012-10-17
GB0801793D0 (en) 2008-03-05
WO2009095675A9 (en) 2010-07-15

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