AU771246B2

AU771246B2 - A coupling

Info

Publication number: AU771246B2
Application number: AU42702/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Filtness
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-28
Filing date: 2000-06-27
Publication date: 2004-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-27
Also published as: AU4270200A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

9**9 9 9 9**9 9* 9 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: JOHN FILTNESS JOHN FILTNESS SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175 A COUPLING Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PQ1239 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -1- 2000-06-26,A:\284filncss.001.wpd, la- 0 TITLE: A COUPLING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to connections between the waste of a shower, bath and the like and a drain trap (also known as a U-bend).

2000-06-26,A:\28 I flimcnss.romp.wpd, I -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In new installations of shower bases and the like, the shower base is generally installed in place and then the waste (or outlet) from the shower base is connected to the trap (also known as a U-bend).

The waste terminates in an externally screw-threaded portion which receives an internally screw-threaded collar which is freely rotatably mounted on an upper end of the trap. The screw-threaded collar is securely screwed onto the screw-threaded portion of the waste to create a firm and watertight connection between the waste and the trap.

*i :In the case where the shower is installed on the first floor of a building, the connection between the waste and the trap is made by working below the floor, that is, through the .ceiling of the ground floor. The resulting hole in the ceiling is then closed up, such as o by plastering over the hole.

However, repairs to or replacement of such connections (as when installing a new shower base in the course of renovations) has necessitated breaking the ceiling open to undo existing connections and to make replacement connections.

Similar problems occur with repairs or replacements of shower bases or the like which are on a concrete slab. With the original installation of, for example, a shower base on a concrete slab, an opening may be provided in the slab below the area of the shower waste and allowing access from the edge of the slab. This opening is then back-filled once the shower has been installed and the plumbing connections made. Repairs or 2000-06-26A:\28 I fitncs.comp.wpd.2 -3replacements will generally require breaking away backfill to access the plumbing connections.

The present invention accordingly seeks to provide apparatus for the more convenient connecting of a waste drain to a trap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A coupling for connection of the outlet of a waste drain to the inlet of a trap, the coupling including:a transition portion having a first end attachable to a trap and a second end locatable adjacent the outlet of a waste drain; and means for attaching the transition portion to the waste drain to allow flow of fluid from the waste drain through the transition portion into a trap, the means for attaching including:a first part locatable within the waste drain; a second part located within the transition portion; and "means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part in order to urge the second end and the trap toward each other.

2004.01-14,A28I filtness.comp.wpd,3 -4- PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION Preferably, the first end of the transition portion is annular in shape and is adapted to concentrically surround the end of the waste drain which is remote from the shower base or the like.

Preferably the first end of the transition portion includes a seal adapted to bear against the outlet of the waste drain.

Preferably, the second end of the transition portion is externally screw-threaded for attachment to an internally screw-threaded collar which is attached to a trap.

Preferably, the first part which is locatable within the waste drain is removably locatable within that drain.

Preferably the second part which is located within the transition portion includes a screwthreaded hub and at least two arms radiating from the hub, wherein the ends of the arms remote from the hub are attached to the interior of the transition portion.

Preferably the first part which is locatable within the waste drain includes:a central portion; and at least two arms which radiate from the central portion, 2000-06-26A:\28 I rilznesscomp.wpdA wherein the ends of the arms which are remote from the central portion are adapted to locate the first part within the waste drain by engaging the interior of the waste drain.

According to a first form of the invention, the central portion of the first part is a hub with a bore extending through it.

According to this first form, it is preferred that the ends of the arms which are remote from the hub are engageable in longitudinally extending slots in the inner periphery of the waste drain.

According to this first form, it is further preferred that the means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part is a screw-threaded connector which is adapted for threading through both the hub of the first part and the internally screw-threaded hub of the second part.

According to a second form of the invention, the first part locatable within the waste drain is provided integrally with the means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part.

According to this second form of the invention, the means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part includes a screw-threaded connector which is adapted for screwing into the internally screw-threaded hub of the second part.

According to this second form of the invention it is preferred that, in the first part, it is the ends of each arm remote from its central portion which are engageable with the inner 2000-06-26,A:28 I -6periphery of the waste drain to locate the first part within the waste drain by engaging the interior of the waste drain.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling according to a first form of the present 10 invention when attached to a waste drain.

Figure 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a coupling according to a second form of the present invention when attached to a waste drain with the components in one relative positioning.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the coupling of Figure 4 with the components in another relative positioning.

Figure 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of Figure 2000-06-26.A:us I fihncs.comp.wpd,6 -7- DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A coupling according to one form of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. In those figures, the coupling is shown as connecting a waste drain 6 of a shower base 5 to a trap 7.

The drain 6 carries a conventional external screw thread 8 which is not utilised when the drain 6 is used in conjunction with the union of the present invention.

The trap 7 is fitted with a conventional internally screw threaded collar 9.

The coupling includes a transition portion 11 which is manufactured from any suitable material. One preferred material is metal. Alternative preferred materials are plastics material. The transition portion 11 has a substantially annular end part 12 to substantially g* *15 surround an end region of the waste drain 6.

The transition portion 11 also carries an external screw thread 13 on an end remote from the annular end part 12. The screw thread 13 is adapted for attachment of the transition portion 11 to a trap 9 by cooperation with the internally screw-threaded collar 9 which 20 is mounted in conventional manner on the trap 7.

The transition portion 11 includes a web generally indicated at 14 which is mounted within the transition portion 11. Preferably, the web 14 is permanently fixed within the transition portion 11. The web preferably includes a plurality of arms 16 extending radially from a central hub 17. The central hub 17 is internally screw-threaded at 18.

2000-06-26,A:\28 I filzncss.comp.wpd,7 -8- A web indicated generally at 21 is mountable within a waste drain. The web preferably includes a plurality of arms 22 extending radially from a central hub 23. The central hub 23 has a bore 24 through it. The ends of the arms 22 remote from the hub 23 are locatable within longitudinally extending slots 26 in the inner peripheral walls of the drain 6. When the web 21 is located within the drain 6, the central hub 17 of web 14 is aligned with the central hub 23 of web 21.

A region of the transition portion 11 is shaped to form an internal shoulder 25 for receipt of a sealing O-ring 27.

Typical installation procedure for using the coupling of the present invention in the course of renovations first involves the removal of an existing appliance such as a shower merely by breaking out the appliance. It is not necessary to go beneath the floor to remove any of the existing plumbing work.

The waste drain of the pre-existing device is then removed from the inlet to the trap by unscrewing the internally screw-threaded collar at the top of the trap.

S. 20 A transition portion 11 according to the present invention is then fixed to the trap by screwing the screw-threaded collar 9 onto it.

The new appliance with a waste drain 6 is then located in place with the outlet of the waste drain within the open end of the transition portion 11 and with the end face of the drain bearing against the sealing O-ring 27.

2000-06-26,A:\28 I filtncss.comp.wpd,8 -9- An externally screw threaded connector 29 is then placed through the bore 23 of web 21 and then screwed into hub 17 of web 14.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a coupling according to a second form of the present invention.

The coupling 44 is illustrated as coupled to a trap.

The coupling 44 of the second form of the invention differs from the coupling 4 of the first form in that:the web 61 is provided integrally with an externally screw-threaded connector 69; and the arms 62 of the webs 61 remote from a central portion 63 of the web are in the form of pads which have a surface which is shaped complementary to the tapering surface 63 of the drain.

0* 0.

2000-06-26,A\28 I fihnss.comnp.wpd.9

Claims

1. A coupling for connection of the outlet of a waste drain to the inlet of a trap, the coupling including:- a transition portion having a first end attachable to a trap and a second end locatable adjacent the outlet of a waste drain; and means for attaching the transition portion to the waste drain to allow flow of fluid from the waste drain through the transition portion into a trap, the means for attaching including:- a first part locatable within the waste drain; a second part located within the transition portion; and means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part in order to urge the second end and the trap toward each other. 20 2. A coupling as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first end of the transition portion is annular in shape and is adapted to concentrically surround the end of the waste q drain which is remote from the shower base or the like.

3. A coupling as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first end of the S25 transition portion includes a seal adapted to bear against the outlet of the waste

9.

2004-ol-14,C:\MyFilcs\Backup\wpwp) .bkl.,O -11- drain. 4. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second end of the transition portion is externally screw-threaded for attachment to an internally screw-threaded collar which is attached to a trap. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first part which is locatable within the waste drain is removably locatable within that drain. 6. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second part which is located within the transition portion includes a screw-threaded hub and at least two arms radiating from the hub, wherein the ends of the arms remote from the hub are attached to the interior of the transition portion. 7. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first part which is locatable within the waste drain includes:- a central portion; and 20 at least two arms which radiate from the central portion, wherein the ends of the arms which are remote from the central portion are 2oo4-01-14,CA\MyFiIcsBackup\wp (wp) .bk 1,11 -12- 8. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the central portion of the first part is a hub with a bore extending through it. 9. A coupling as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the ends of the arms which are remote from the hub are engageable in longitudinally extending slots in the inner periphery of the waste drain. A coupling as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part is a screw-threaded connector which is adapted for threading through both the hub of the first part and the internally screw-threaded hub of the second part. 11. A coupling as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the first part which is locatable within the waste drain is provided integrally with the means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part. S* 12. A coupling as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the means for detachably connecting the first part to the second part includes a screw-threaded connector which is :i adapted for screwing into the internally screw-threaded hub of the second part 13. A coupling as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein, in the first part, it is the ends of each arm remote from its central portion which are engageable with the inner periphery of the waste drain to locate the first part within the waste drain by engaging the interior of the waste drain. 2004-Ol-14,C:\MyFiles\Backup\wp(wp).bkl.12 13- 14. A coupling as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. A coupling as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13, substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. 16. A coupling substantially as described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 14 th day of January, 2004. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR JOHN FILTNESS *o o *o• *•g 2004-ol14,C:\MyFiles\Backup\wp(wp.bk 1, 13