JP7486343B2 - Drain cover - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a drainage cover.

Conventionally, a drainage structure has been known in which a hair catcher is placed in a drainage recess provided in the floor of the washing area adjacent to the bathtub, and the top of the hair catcher is covered with a drainage cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The drain recess in the washing area floor is a box-shaped portion that is approximately rectangular in plan view. An opening is provided at the bottom of the drain recess, which is connected to the drain trap. A drain cover mounting portion composed of an upward step is provided at the four corners of the drain recess. The drain cover has a lid portion made of an approximately rectangular plate-like body, and a number of legs that are disposed on the underside of the lid portion. The drain cover is attached inside the drain recess with the legs resting on the mounting portion, and the lid portion covers the hair catcher.

JP 2011-226197 A

Water flowing along the floor surface of the washing area toward the drain is divided into two parts: water that flows directly into the drain recess from the gap between the floor surface and the drain cover, and water that flows from the floor surface toward the bathtub, then flows along the bottom of the bathtub apron, and flows into the drain recess from the bathtub side. If hair is present in the water, it may become entangled in the legs of the drain cover, which are located on the bathtub side and the washing area side.

Generally, water flowing into the drainage recess from the bathtub side is smaller in volume and weaker in force than water flowing directly into the drainage recess from the floor surface of the washing area floor, and is therefore more likely to stagnate in the drainage recess. As a result, hair is more likely to become entangled in the legs of the drain cover that are positioned on the bathtub side than in the legs that are positioned on the washing area side. Therefore, there is a demand for a drainage cover that can prevent hair from becoming entangled in the legs on both the bathtub side and the washing area side of the drainage cover.

The drain cover according to the present disclosure comprises a lid portion that covers a drain recess formed in the washing area floor of a bathroom including a bathtub and a washing area floor, and a plurality of legs that are provided on the underside of the lid portion and support the lid portion by contacting a mounting portion formed by a step in the drain recess that is lowered from the floor surface of the washing area floor, the plurality of legs including a bathtub side leg that is arranged adjacent to a first peripheral side portion of the lid portion that is arranged on the bathtub side, and a washing area side leg that is arranged adjacent to a second peripheral side portion of the lid portion that is arranged on the opposite side to the first peripheral side portion, and the arrangement shape of the bathtub side leg with respect to the first peripheral side portion is different from the arrangement shape of the washing area side leg with respect to the second peripheral side portion.

This is an oblique view showing the appearance of the washing area floor including the drainage structure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a drainage structure. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a drainage recess provided in a washing area floor. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drain cover seen from below. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the flow of water toward the drain cover. A bottom view showing one of the washing area side legs of the drain cover. 13 is a diagram illustrating the flow of water in one of the legs of the drain cover on the washing area side. FIG. A bottom view showing one of the bathtub side legs of the drain cover. A diagram explaining the flow of water in one of the bathtub side legs of the drain cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the drainage cover.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of a drain cover according to the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a drain device 1 is provided on a washing area floor 100 having a rectangular shape in a plan view. The washing area floor 100 is positioned so that a long side portion 101 contacts an apron 201 of a bathtub 200.

The washing area floor 100 has two long sides 101, 102 and two short sides 103, 103 that stand up from the outer periphery of the floor surface 100a, which is rectangular in plan view. One long side 101 is positioned so as to contact the lower part of the apron 201 of the bathtub 200. The other long side 102 is positioned away from the bathtub 200 and parallel to the long side 101. The two short sides 103, 103 are positioned so as to intersect with the long sides 101, 102, and connect the ends of the long sides 101, 102 to each other.

The washing area floor 100 has a downward gradient from the long side 102 toward the long side 101, and a downward gradient from the short sides 103, 103 toward the center of the long side 101. In addition, the washing area floor 100 has two bathtub side drainage grooves 104, 104 that extend along the long side 101 on the bathtub 200 side. The bathtub side drainage grooves 104, 104 each have a downward gradient from the short sides 103, 103 toward the center of the long side 101.

Most of the water that falls on the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100 flows along the slope of the floor surface 100a toward the drainage device 1 located in the center of the long side portion 101. Some of the water that falls on the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100 flows along the floor surface 100a toward the bathtub 200 and hits the long side portion 101 located at the bottom of the apron 201 of the bathtub 200. The water that hits the long side portion 101 flows through the bathtub side drains 104, 104 toward the drainage device 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the drainage device 1 includes a drainage recess 10 and a drainage cover 20. The drainage recess 10 is located at the downstream end of the slope of the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100. In detail, the drainage recess 10 is located at approximately the center of the length of the long side portions 101, 102 and in a position close to the bathtub 200. More specifically, the drainage recess 10 is located close to the approximately center of the length of the long side portion 101 located on the bathtub 200 side, sandwiching the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 between them. A circular drain outlet 11 is provided at the bottom of the drainage recess 10. A cylindrical connection flange 12 is attached to the drain outlet 11. A hair catcher 13 is attached to the connection flange 12.

A trap section 14 is provided below the connection flange 12. Water that flows from the washing area floor 100 into the drainage recess 10 flows from the drain outlet 11 into the trap section 14 and is discharged from the drain outlet 15. The bathtub side connection section 16, which is connected to the drain outlet (not shown) of the bathtub 200, is connected to the trap section 14 via piping 17. Therefore, water from the bathtub 200 also flows into the trap section 14 and is discharged from the drain outlet 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drainage recess 10 is formed in a box shape that is approximately rectangular in plan view. The drain outlet 11, the connection flange 12, and the hair catcher 13 are arranged in the approximate center of the bottom of the drainage recess 10. The two bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 of the washing area floor 100 communicate with the inside of the drainage recess 10 from the long side portion 101 side. A mounting portion 18 consisting of a step that is one step lower from the floor surface 100a is provided around the drain outlet 11 arranged at the bottom of the drainage recess 10. The mounting portions 18 in this embodiment are respectively arranged at the four outer corners of the circular drain outlet 11 at the bottom of the drainage recess 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drain cover 20 has a rectangular plate-shaped lid portion 21 and multiple legs protruding from the underside 21a of the lid portion 21. The multiple legs include a bathtub side leg portion 22 and a washing area side leg portion 23. The drain cover 20 of this embodiment has four legs: two bathtub side legs 22, 22 and two washing area side legs 23, 23. The bathtub side legs 22, 22 and the washing area side legs 23, 23 are respectively arranged near the four corners of the underside 21a of the lid portion 21 in correspondence with the mounting portion 18 of the drain recess 10.

The lid portion 21 is formed slightly smaller than the drainage recess 10 in a plan view so that it can be accommodated in the drainage recess 10. The lid portion 21 has four peripheral side portions 21b, 21c, 21d, and 21e. The first peripheral side portion 21b is arranged on the bathtub 200 side when the drain cover 20 is accommodated in the drainage recess 10, and extends approximately parallel to the long side portion 101 of the washing area floor 100. The second peripheral side portion 21c is arranged on the side opposite to the first peripheral side portion 21b in the drain cover 20, and extends approximately parallel to the first peripheral side portion 21b. The third peripheral side portion 21d and the fourth peripheral side portion 21e are arranged to connect the ends of the first peripheral side portion 21b and the second peripheral side portion 21c, and extend in a direction intersecting the long side portion 101 of the washing area floor 100.

The first peripheral side portion 21b of the lid portion 21 is provided with a positioning protrusion 24 protruding toward the bathtub 200 at a position close to the third peripheral side portion 21d. The positioning protrusion 24 regulates the mounting direction of the drain cover 20 relative to the drain recess 10. As a result, the drain cover 20 is configured to be properly fitted within the drain recess 10 when it is mounted on the drain recess 10 with the positioning protrusion 24 facing the long side portion 101, as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the two bathtub side legs 22, 22 are arranged apart from each other so as to be close to the first peripheral side portion 21b of the lid portion 21 and close to the third peripheral side portion 21d and the fourth peripheral side portion 21e, respectively. In a plan view of the underside 21a of the lid portion 21, the bathtub side leg 22 has a horizontally elongated shape with both ends formed into an arc shape. The bathtub side leg 22 is formed to extend in a direction along the extension direction of the first peripheral side portion 21b (left and right direction in FIG. 5). The length direction of the bathtub side leg 22 coincides with the extension direction of the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104.

One end 22a, 22a of the bathtub side leg 22, 22 is arranged toward the third peripheral side 21d and the fourth peripheral side 21e, respectively, and the other end 22b, 22b is arranged to face each other. The end 22a, 22a is located slightly back from the third peripheral side 21d and the fourth peripheral side 21e. The outer side surface 23c, 23c arranged on the first peripheral side 21b side of the bathtub side leg 22, 22 is located slightly back from the first peripheral side 21b. As shown in Figures 4 and 10, the outer side surface 22c, 22c is composed of a concave surface that is recessed inward along the length direction. The two bathtub side legs 22, 22 have the same shape and have a symmetrical shape in Figure 5. That is, the two bathtub side legs 22, 22 have a symmetrical shape with respect to the center line X1 of the lid 21 that connects the center of the first peripheral side portion 21b and the center of the second peripheral side portion 21c, as shown in FIG. 5.

The two washing place side legs 23, 23 are arranged apart from each other so as to be close to the second peripheral side 21c of the lid part 21, which is the furthest from the bathtub 200, and close to the third peripheral side 21d and the fourth peripheral side 21e, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, in a plan view of the lower surface 21a of the lid part 21, the washing place side legs 23, 23 are formed with both ends in an arc shape, and are formed to extend in a direction intersecting the direction from the center of the lower surface 21a of the lid part 21 to the corner parts 21f, 21f arranged at both ends of the second peripheral side 21c of the lid part 21. That is, one end 23a, 23a of the washing place side legs 23, 23 is arranged so as to be close to the second peripheral side 21c, respectively, and the other end 23b, 23b is arranged so as to be close to the third peripheral side 21d and the fourth peripheral side 24e, respectively.

The outer surfaces 23c, 23c of the washing area side legs 23, 23 are each oriented toward the corners 21f, 21f of the lid 21. The washing area side legs 23, 23 are formed in an arc shape that is convex toward the outside, i.e., toward the corners 21f, 21f, in a cross section intersecting the height direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 5, of the two washing place side legs 23, 23, one end 23a of the washing place side leg 23 close to the third peripheral side portion 21d is arranged to contact the second peripheral side portion 21c. In contrast, the other end 23b of the washing place side leg 23 is located slightly back from the third peripheral side portion 21d. One end 23a of the washing place side leg 23 close to the fourth peripheral side portion 21e is located slightly back from the second peripheral side portion 21c. In contrast, the other end 23b of the washing place side leg 23 is arranged to contact the fourth peripheral side portion 21e. The outer surfaces 23c, 23c of the washing place side legs 23, 23 form a concave surface that is recessed inward along the length direction, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8.

In this way, in a plan view of the underside 21a of the lid 21, the drain cover 20 has a different arrangement shape of the bathtub side legs 22, 22 relative to the first peripheral side portion 21b and a different arrangement shape of the washing area side legs 23, 23 relative to the second peripheral side portion 21c. The bathtub side legs 22, 22 have an arrangement shape in which the length direction is arranged along the extension direction of the first peripheral side portion 21b, and the washing area side legs 23, 23 have an arrangement shape in which the outer surface 23c is arranged to face the corner portion 21f, 21f. The arrangement shape of the bathtub side legs 22, 22 relative to the first peripheral side portion 21b and the arrangement shape of the washing area side legs 23, 23 relative to the second peripheral side portion 21c are asymmetric in the vertical direction in FIG. 5. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the two washing area side legs 23, 23 have an asymmetric shape with respect to the center line X2 of the lid 21 that connects the center of the third peripheral side portion 21d and the center of the fourth peripheral side portion 21e.

The drain cover 20 is attached to the drain recess 10 so that the bathtub side legs 22, 22 and the washing area side legs 23, 23 are placed on the mounting portions 18 in the drain recess 10. As a result, the drain cover 20 is placed in the drain recess 10 so that it is approximately flush with the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100, as shown in FIG. 2.

Next, the operation of the drainage device 1 having the drainage cover 20 during drainage will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, most of the water FL1 flowing on the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100 flows toward the drainage recess 10 along the gradient of the floor surface 100a. The water FL1 then flows into the drainage recess 10 through the gaps between the second peripheral side portion 21c, the third peripheral side portion 21d, and the fourth peripheral side portion 21e of the drainage cover 20 and the drainage recess 10.

Water that flows into the drain recess 10 flows through the space S1, S1 between the bathtub side legs 22, 22 and the washing place side legs 23, 23 and the space S2 between the two washing place side legs 23, 23 shown in Figures 4 and 5, and flows out to the drain outlet 11. However, water that flows into the drain recess 10 from the vicinity of the corners 21f, 21f at both ends of the second peripheral side portion 21c of the lid portion 21 hits the outer surfaces 23c, 23c of the washing place side legs 23, 23, and is temporarily stored in the water storage portion 30 formed between the outer surface 23c of the washing place side legs 23 and the inner surface 10a of the drain recess 10, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

The water temporarily stored in the water storage section 30 flows laterally along the outer surface 23c of the washing area side leg 23, as shown by the arrows in Figures 7 and 8, and flows smoothly out of the end of the washing area side leg 23 (one end 23a in Figures 7 and 8) which has a large gap with the inner surface 10a of the drainage recess 10, through spaces S1 and S2, to the drain outlet 11.

In this way, near the washing area side legs 23, 23, the water temporarily stored in the water storage section 30 flows smoothly laterally along the outer surfaces 23c, 23c of the washing area side legs 23, 23. This prevents hair contained in the water from becoming entangled in the washing area side legs 23, 23.

The washing area side legs 23, 23 are formed to extend in a direction intersecting the direction from the center of the lid 21 toward the corners 21f, 21f of the lid 21, making it easy to form a wide water storage section 30 below the corners 21f, 21f. Therefore, hair is less likely to adhere to the washing area side legs 23, 23.

The distance between the ends 23a, 23b of the washing area side legs 23, 23 and the inner surface 10a of the drainage recess 10 is smaller than the distance between the ends 23a, 23b of the washing area side legs 23, 23 and the inner surface 10a of the drainage recess 10 at the midpoint between the ends 23a, 23b of the washing area side legs 23, 23. Therefore, a water storage section 30 with a constant bottom area can be formed below the corners 21f, 21f.

The outer surfaces 23c, 23c of the washing area side legs 23, 23 are formed as concave surfaces, ensuring a larger space in the water storage section 30. Water flowing laterally along the outer surfaces 23c, 23c forms a water film on the outer surfaces 23c, 23c. This further prevents hair from adhering to the washing area side legs 23, 23, and promotes the discharge of hair from the water storage section 30.

The washing area side legs 23, 23 are formed in a convex arc shape toward the outside, i.e., toward the corners 21f, 21f, in a cross section intersecting the height direction of the washing area side legs 23, 23, so that the water FL1 flowing from the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100 toward the washing area side legs 23, 23 is likely to change direction laterally when it hits the outer surfaces 23c, 23c of the washing area side legs 23, 23. This prevents the water that flows into the drainage recess 10 from excessively accumulating in the water storage section 30, further promoting the discharge of hair from the water storage section 30.

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 6, some of the water FL2 flowing on the floor surface 100a of the washing area floor 100 hits the long side portion 101 on the bathtub 200 side from the floor surface 100a and flows toward the drainage recess 10 along the slope of the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104. The water FL2 flowing through the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 flows into the drainage recess 10 from the first peripheral side portion 21b side of the lid portion 21 of the drain cover 20.

Most of the water that flows into the drain recess 10 from the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 flows out to the drain outlet 11 through the space S3 between the bathtub side legs 22, 22 shown in Figures 4 and 5. However, water that flows into the drain recess 10 from near the bathtub side legs 22, 22 flows inside the drain recess 10 toward the bathtub side legs 22, 22 of the drain cover 20, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

The bathtub side legs 22, 22 are formed to extend in a direction along the extension direction of the first peripheral side portion 21b of the lid portion 21, and the length direction of the bathtub side legs 22, 22 is aligned with the flow direction of the water flowing through the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104. Therefore, the bathtub side legs 22, 22 are prevented from impeding the smooth flow of water flowing in from the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 and causing it to stagnate.

Water flowing from the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 toward the bathtub side legs 22, 22 flows along the length of the bathtub side legs 22, 22 while maintaining the flow direction at the time of flowing in, and flows out to the drain 11 through the space S3. Therefore, even if the water flowing in from the bathtub side drain grooves 104, 104 is small in volume and has a weak water force, it does not stagnate near the bathtub side legs 22, 22, but flows smoothly laterally along the outer surfaces 22c, 22c of the bathtub side legs 22, 22. This prevents hair contained in the water from becoming entangled in the bathtub side legs 22, 22.

The outer surfaces 22c, 22c of the bathtub side legs 22, 22 are formed as concave surfaces, so water flowing laterally along the outer surfaces 22c, 22c forms a water film on the outer surfaces 22c, 22c. This further prevents hair from sticking to the bathtub side legs 22, 22.

The bathtub side legs 22, 22 have a horizontally elongated shape that extends in the direction along the extension direction of the first peripheral side portion 21b of the lid portion 21, so that a large space S1, S1 can be secured between them and the washing area side legs 23, 23. This prevents the flow rate of water flowing through the spaces S1, S1 from decreasing, and hair contained in the water flowing toward the spaces S1, S1 can be quickly discharged toward the drain 11.

Next, modified examples of the drain cover 20 will be described with reference to Figures 11A to 11J. The drain cover 20 shown in Figure 11A has three bathtub side legs 22 arranged along the first peripheral side portion 21b of the lid portion 21. With this drain cover 20, water can also flow smoothly along the three bathtub side legs 22, preventing hair from becoming entangled in the bathtub side legs 22.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11B is the same as the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11A in that it has three bathtub side legs 22. However, this drain cover 20 differs in that it has an intermediate leg 25 between the bathtub side leg 22 and the washing area side leg 23. The intermediate leg 25 is formed to extend in a direction along the extension direction of the third peripheral side portion 21d and the fourth peripheral side portion 21e.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11C has an intermediate leg 25 between the bathtub side leg 22 and the washing area side leg 23 in the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 5, similar to the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11B.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11D has the washing area side leg 23 of the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 5 formed in a fan shape. The fan-shaped washing area side leg 23 has no change in the shape of the outer surface 23c, so the same effect as the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11E is the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11D, but with three bathtub side legs 22 similar to those in FIG. 12B.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11F is the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11D, with an intermediate leg 25 provided between the bathtub side leg 22 and the washing area side leg 23.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11G has the washing area side leg 23 of the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 5 formed in an L-shape. Since there is no change to the bathtub side leg 22, the effect of preventing hair from getting tangled in the bathtub side leg 22 is obtained.

The drain cover 20 shown in Figure 11H is the drain cover 20 shown in Figure 11G, but with three bathtub side legs 22 similar to those in Figure 12B.

The drain cover 20 shown in Figure 11I is the drain cover 20 shown in Figure 11G, with an intermediate leg 25 provided between the bathtub side leg 22 and the washing area side leg 23.

The drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 11J is the same as the drain cover 20 shown in FIG. 5, except that it has only one bathtub side leg 22. The single bathtub side leg 22 is also positioned along the first peripheral side portion 21b of the lid portion 21, preventing hair from getting tangled in the bathtub side leg 22.

1 Drainage device 10 Drainage recess, 10a Inner surface, 18 Placement portion, 20 Drainage cover, 21 Lid portion, 21a Underside, 21b First peripheral portion, 22 Bathtub side leg portion, 21c Second peripheral portion, 21f Corner portion, 23 Washing area side leg portion, 23a, 23b End portion of washing area side leg portion, 100 Washing area floor, 200 Bathtub

Claims (3)

A cover for covering a drainage recess formed in the washing area floor of a bathroom including a bathtub and a washing area floor;
A plurality of legs are provided on the underside of the lid and support the lid by contacting a mounting portion formed by a step in the drainage recess lowered from the floor surface of the washing area floor,
The plurality of legs include:
A bathtub side leg portion arranged adjacent to a first peripheral side portion of the peripheral side portion of the lid portion that is arranged on the bathtub side;
A washing area side leg portion is arranged adjacent to a second peripheral side portion of the lid portion, the second peripheral side portion being arranged on the opposite side to the first peripheral side portion,
The arrangement shape of the bathtub side leg portion relative to the first peripheral side portion is different from the arrangement shape of the washing place side leg portion relative to the second peripheral side portion,
The bathtub side leg portion is formed to extend in a direction along the extension direction of the first peripheral side portion, and the outer surface of the bathtub side leg portion arranged on the bathtub side is a concave surface that is recessed inward along the longitudinal direction of the bathtub side leg portion,
A drain cover in which the washing area side leg is formed to extend in a direction intersecting the direction from the center of the lid portion toward the corner portion of the lid portion, and the outer surface of the washing area side leg is a concave surface that is recessed inward along the longitudinal direction of the washing area side leg . The drain cover of claim 1, wherein the distance between the end of the washing area side leg and the inner surface of the drainage recess is smaller than the distance between the end of the washing area side leg and the inner surface of the drainage recess at a midpoint between both ends of the washing area side leg. The drain cover according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the washing area side leg is formed in an arc shape that is convex outward in a cross section intersecting a height direction of the washing area side leg.

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