AU749772B2

AU749772B2 - Improvements in or relating to waste connectors

Info

Publication number: AU749772B2
Application number: AU46176/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Joseph Dolan
Original assignee: Tacron Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Tacron Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-06
Filing date: 2001-05-22
Publication date: 2002-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-06
Also published as: AU730003B3; AU4617601A

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Brian Joseph DOLAN Brian Joseph DOLAN CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WASTE CONNECTORS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WASTE CONNECTORS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to waste connectors and has particular relevance to connectors for waste from baths, spa baths and the like.

BACKGROUND ART At present in Australia there are two main products for installing bath waste connections in slab-on-ground situations.

A first of these products is known under the name

PLUMBDINGER

T M The PLUMBDINGER T M is itself a bath shaped device having a height adjustable outlet and a top wall which provides for the connection of a grate insert from a bath.

The PLUMBDINGER T M can be radially adjusted a provides a eeoc tolerance of 150mm or so for the positioning of the inlet.

15 A second popular product is known as HUMDINGER T M the subject of Australian Patent Application No. 16539/97, provides a kit comprising elbow fittings and a connector which can be cut to length.

The HUMDINGER T M device also provides for height and radial adjustment and length tolerances.

The PLUMBDINGER T M device is probably the more popular with tradesman because it is a pre-sealed unit and can be installed easily with a minimal risk of faulty installation.

One of the problems with the PLUMBDINGER TM system however is that it does not cater for over-the-slab waste connections, regularly required for general installation and were there is no in slab piping.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a waste fitting for a bath and the like which is adapted for connection in both in-slab, and over-slab piping situations and for general usage.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION A waste connector comprising a sealed elongate waste chamber, a first outlet tube from the waste chamber which extends from the bottom wall of the chamber in a vertical plane and a second outlet tube from the waste chamber which extends from a side wall of the chamber in a horizontal plane characterised in that at least one entry point to the waste chamber from the first and second outlets are initially sealed off and communication into the interiors of the waste chamber via the outlets can be made by cutting out the section of the wall or base of the waste chamber surrounded by a selected outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a sectional drawing of the prior art PLUMBDINGERTM device showing it's connection in a slab-on ground "situation, and Figure 2 is an exploded side view of the prior art

HUMDINGER

T M device showing it's method of connection in a slab-on-ground situation, and Figure's 3 and 3a are side and end views of a bath waste connection according to the present invention.

With respect to the prior art devices the device illustrated by Figure 1 comprises an elongate trough shaped body generally indicated by S*.i arrow 1 which is adapted to be fitted between the grate 2 of a bath 3 and an in-slab outlet pipe 4.

The device is provided as a kit and comes with a grate insert assembly including a grate insert, seals, a retaining ring and a tightening nut generally indicated by arrow a. An adaptor 5 is also provided as part of the kit.

Installation of the kit involves setting of the adaptor 5 to the waste pipe 4, and "welding" the adaptor in place.

The bath is then installed to a specified height in relation to the waste connector.

A centre line on the top wall la of the PLUMDINGERTM is aligned with the centre of the waste hole in the bath and a hole saw guided by the waste hole is used to cut a hole in the top wall of the waste connector.

The grate assembly is then assembled and tightened.

The waste kit of Figure 2 comprises a grate 6, a seal 7 two elbows 8, 9 and a section of pipe The pipe 10 is measured and cut to size, the grate 6 secured to elbow 9 and the elbow 8 is inserted in waste pipe 11.

With respect to Figure 3 and 3a of the drawings a waste connector according to the present invention comprises a body generally indicated by arrow 12, defining a sealed elongate waste chamber 13, a first outlet tube 14 which extends from the bottom wall 15 of the waste chamber in a vertical plane and a second outlet tube 16 which extends from a side wall 17 of the chamber in a horizontal plane.

The walls of the waste chamber within the confines of each of the outlets block off the waste chamber.

To install the device in a slab in ground situation as described in relation to Figure 1, similar set up and installation procedures are carried out after the bottom wall 15a of the waste chamber surrounded by outlet tube 14 is drilled out.

go•* In the alternative for overslab or overground connections, the wall 17a surrounded by the outlet tube 16 is drilled out and the grate connection made in the manner previously described.

The body 12 of the connector can be similarly shaped to that of the PLUMBDINGERTM, although this is not essential to the present invention.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the bottom wall may be substantially V-shaped (see figure 3a) In another embodiment of the present invention the bottom wall portion 15a may be ommitted and a plug (not shown) capable of sealing off the inlet tube can be provided as part of the waste connector kit.

The present invention incorporates all of the advantages of the

PLUMBDINGER

T M and like devices and in addition caters for a full range of installation types.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A waste connector comprising a sealed elongate waste chamber, a first outlet tube from the waste chamber which extends from the bottom wall of the chamber in a vertical plane and a second outlet tube from the waste chamber which extends from a side wall of the chamber in a horizontal plane characterised in that at least one entry point to the waste chamber from the first and second outlets are initially sealed off and communication into the interiors of the waste chamber via the outlets can be made by cutting out the section of the wall or base of the waste chamber surrounded by a selected outlet.

2. A waste connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein both entry points to the first and second outlets are initially sealed off.

3. A waste connector as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 3a of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 22nd day of May 2001 BRIAN JOSEPH DOLAN By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. *e o°