U.S. patent application number 10/133098 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for waste outlet device.
Invention is credited to Gachot, Bertrand, Mitchell, Geoff John.
Application Number | 20020116753 10/133098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10816978 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020116753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mitchell, Geoff John ; et
al. |
August 29, 2002 |
Waste outlet device
Abstract
A waste outlet device adopted for use with a urinal and
comprising one-way valve means is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Mitchell, Geoff John; (Kent,
GB) ; Gachot, Bertrand; (London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP
Suite 2200
200 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock
AR
72201-3699
US
|
Family ID: |
10816978 |
Appl. No.: |
10/133098 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10133098 |
Apr 26, 2002 |
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09485035 |
Jun 6, 2000 |
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6401266 |
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09485035 |
Jun 6, 2000 |
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PCT/GB98/02240 |
Jul 28, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 13/00 20130101;
E03C 1/298 20130101; E03C 1/281 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/301 |
International
Class: |
E03D 013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 1997 |
GB |
9716498.2 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A waste outlet device for use in conjunction with a urinal bowl
operable without the addition of water, said waste outlet device
comprising a one-way valve, wherein said one-way valve is readily
removable from within the urinal bowl, and wherein said one-way
valve is normally closed but opens upon the introduction of liquid
into the urinal bowl so as not to trap liquid in the device.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is
connected to the urinal bowl in a position upstream of a waste pipe
system.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is
openable to allow the passage of waste fluid from the urinal bowl
and closeable to block the passage of gas in an upstream
direction.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said one-way valve opens
by means of an automatic reversible deformation in shape.
5. A device according to claim 1, comprising a sheath member for
housing the one-way valve and connectable at an outer portion
thereof with the head of a waste pipe system.
6. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a releasable
retaining member for retaining the one-way valve in place inside
the sheath member.
7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising an
anti-spatter member.
8. A device according to claim 5, further comprising one of a
perfumed element and deodorizing element.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said one of a perfumed
and deodorizing element is housed substantially within the
anti-spatter member.
10. A urinal operable without the addition of water, the urinal
comprising: (a) a urinal bowl; and (b) a waste outlet device
comprising a one-way valve, wherein said one-way valve is readily
removable from within the urinal bowl, and wherein said one-way
valve is normally closed but opens upon the introduction of liquid
into said urinal bowl so as not to trap liquid in the urinal.
11. A urinal according to claim 10, wherein the one-way valve is
connected to a bowl of the urinal in a position upstream of a waste
pipe system.
12. A urinal according to claim 10, wherein the one-way valve is
openable to allow the passage of waste fluid from the urinal bowl
and closeable to block the passage of gas in an upstream
direction.
13. A urinal according to claim 10, wherein said one-way valve
opens by means of an automatic reversible deformation in shape.
14. A urinal according to claim 10, comprising a sheath member for
housing the one-way valve and connect able at an outer portion
thereof with the head of a waste pipe system.
15. A urinal according to claim 14, further comprising a releasable
retaining member for retaining the one-way valve in place inside
the sheath member.
16. A urinal according to claim 15, further comprising an
anti-spatter member.
17. A urinal according to claim 14, further comprising one of a
perfumed element and a deodorizing element.
18. A urinal according to claim 17, wherein said one of a perfumed
element and deodorizing element is housed substantially within the
anti-spatter member.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to urinals of a type commonly found
in men's lavatories. More specifically, this invention relates to a
waste outlet device for a urinal.
[0002] Currently used urinal systems can be divided into two main
categories. A first type, in which the receptacle is cleansed by a
continuous stream of running water into a wall mounted cistern,
containing a symphonic action flush apparatus, and a second type,
in which the supply of water into the cistern is intermittent and
controlled using, for example, via an electrically operated timing
or passive infra red sensors in a solenoid valve fitted into the
appropriate water supply pipe. Both types can be expensive and
inefficient.
[0003] All urinal bowls use conventional water seal traps to
prevent foul sewer gases entering washroom areas and also
frequently use deodorising means to reduce unpleasant odours from
waste pipes or channels. The odours are significantly worsened by
the products of chemical reactions between water and urine leading
to the solidification of salts found in urine which, together with
limescale, accumulate in traps creating further problems of odours
and blockages.
[0004] The present invention seeks to provide an improved urinal
waste outlet device.
[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a urinal waste outlet device equipped with a one-way
valve.
[0006] A suitable one-way valve comprises means for blocking the
passage of gas in an upstream direction and means of allowing the
passage of waste fluid in a downstream direction, the device being
operable to temporarily unblock the waste pipe in the presence of
waste fluid by means of an automatic reversible deformation.
Preferably, the automatic reversible unblocking action occurs by a
transformation of its shape from a closed to an open configuration
and back.
[0007] Preferably, the waste outlet device including the one-way
valve element is fitted into the urinal bowl or trough and is
connected to the foul drain via the waste pipe.
[0008] Such an arrangement operates without the need for a constant
or intermittent cleansing or flushing water supply. Because the
waste pipe is ordinarily sealed from the foul drain, there is no
need for conventional water seal traps or deodorising means. The
device is preferably connected within the urinal bowl at the head
of the waste pipe system position of the device and the means by
which it is connected ensures that it is easily accessible from
above the bowl for cleaning, maintaining, and replacing whole or
part of the device.
[0009] The waste outlet device preferably also includes a device
for reducing spattering and a perfumed or deodorising element.
[0010] An embodiment of the present invention is described below,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a urinal system incorporating a
conventional waste outlet arrangement;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of a urinal system incorporating a
preferred waste outlet device;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of a preferred waste outlet
device;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the waste
outlet device of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the waste outlet
device of FIG. 3 in an assembled state; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of retaining member
18.
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the main components of a
preferred waste outlet device are a sheath 10, a one-way valve
element 12, a fragrance unit 14, an anti-spatter shield 16 and a
retaining member 18.
[0018] Sheath 10 can be made of a moulded plastics material. It is
a rigid cylindrical tube which is generally circular in plan view.
A portion of the external wall 20 is threaded. An extended
protruberance forms a circular lip 22 at the periphery of its upper
extremity. Internally, an extended circular protrusion of the wall
forms a rigid collar 24. Towards the upper extremity, a shallow
groove 26 with a horizontal upper surface 27, runs around the
inside of the sheath.
[0019] One-way valve element 12, in this example made of an
elastomeric substance, generally adopts a flattened frustoconical
shape. This is to say, the upper portion 28 is formed in a
substantially rigid annular shape, while the lower portion 26 is
flattened so that a seal is made between abutting walls indicated
at 32.
[0020] Retaining member 18 can be made of any suitable material. It
is formed in the shape of a ring 34 having inner 41 and outer 45
walls. In this example, there are three resiliently sprung arms 36
which are equally spaced around the circumference and project
inwards and the downwards from the ring 34. Each arm 36 has a catch
40 and is formed with a flat 42 on the bottom surface. A number of
upwardly protruding catches 38 are also formed on the outer wall 45
of the main ring 34.
[0021] Fragrance unit 14 is perforated and contains a perfume,
which is typically, but not necessarily, either a liquid or a gel
substance. Fragrance unit 14 need not be rigid or of any particular
shape.
[0022] Anti-spatter cover 16 is shown as a rigid dome-shaped
element. It is preferably chrome plated ABS plastic and has
recesses 44 disposed at intervals around the bottom of the inner
walls.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 5, the assembled waste outlet device
is shown with one-way valve element 12 inserted into sheath 10 so
that the underside of annular portion 28 rests on collar 24.
Retaining member 18 is positioned with the flats 42 of respective
arms 36 abutting the upper surface 48 of one-way valve element 12,
and thereby holds element 12 firmly in place. The catches 40 engage
groove 26 and the horizontal upper surface 27 of the groove
provides resistance to upward movement of the retaining member 18
and one-way valve element 12. The fragrance unit 14 is supported by
the inwardly projecting horizontal portions 52 of respective arms
36. The anti-spatter cover 16 is positioned over the fragrance unit
14 and the catches 38 on the upper portion of the retainer member
engage the recesses 44 on the inner walls 46 of the cover 16.
[0024] In use, the threaded portion 20 is used to connect waste
outlet device 100 substantially within the urine receptacle at the
head of the waste pipe system. Typically, an internal portion of
the waste outlet pipe adjoining the urinal from below is adapted to
receive the threaded outer portion 20 of sheath 10. Referring to
FIG. 2, the anti-spatter cover 16 can be seen (broken lines)
protruding upwards into the urinal bowl.
[0025] When urine enters the bowl, it runs off the bowl walls and
the anti-spatter cover 16, through an annular gap 50 (see FIG. 5)
and over the lip 22 of sheath 10.
[0026] Before urine enters one-way valve element 12, the element is
in the closed state (a flattened frusto-conical shape with abutting
walls at 32 sealing the waste pipe from the urine receptacle),
thereby preventing malodorous gases from leaking in an upstream
direction. As urine enters, the shape of one-way valve element 12
undergoes a temporary deformation. During the deformation process,
the shape of element 12 tends away from the flattened
frusto-conical form and towards a more cylindrical form in which
abutting walls at 32 become parted. In this condition, the seal is
broken and the urine flows into the waste pipe. Once all the urine
has passed through the waste outlet device, element 12 returns to a
flattened frustoconical shape, thereby re-establishing the seal
between abutting walls 32.
[0027] A preferred waste outlet device permits a substantially
waterless urinal system. For example, water is not necessary to
maintain a minimum water level in a trap nor to wash/flush the bowl
and waste pipe system, either continuously or intermittently. Thus
vast quantities of water can be saved. Cleansing and maintenance
operations are required only occasionally and all components of the
waste outlet device are accessible from above the urinal bowl. The
underside of the urinal bowl is free from the encumbrance of bulky
fittings.
[0028] Malodourous gases are confined within the waste pipe network
without the need for conventional U-bends, bottles or P-type traps.
Use of the one way valve element obviates the need for each urinal
waste pipe to have an air vent (vent pipe) as the system does not
rely on waste seal traps and, therefore, is not effected by
pressure variation in the waste pipe and problems associated with,
leakage, compression, capillary action, wavering out, evaporation,
momentum induced siphonage or self siphonage.
[0029] The components are simple and robust. Retainer member 18 can
be released at catches 38, to permit removal of anti-spatter cover
16, for example to replace or maintain the fragrance unit 14.
Alternatively, retainer 18 can be released at catches 40, to
facilitate replacement or maintenance of the one-way valve element
12.
[0030] The device can be produced in any desirable size, for
example to comply with 1.25 inch (32 mm) or 1.5 inch (40 mm)
standard fittings or with any desirable connection means to enable
use with different urine receptacle types, such as troughs and
slabs. According to a modified version of the device, the upper
portion of the waste pipe system provides the internal features of
sheath 10, with element 12 being seated directly therein.
[0031] Other modified versions of the waste outlet device may have
different assembly configurations such as catch types. For example,
with reference to FIG. 6, retaining member 18 can be in the form of
an annular disk member having an upper surface 35 and a central
opening which is slightly smaller in diameter than the base
dimension of the fragrance unit 14. The resiliantly sprung arms 36'
protrude directly from the inner portion 60 of the disk, whereas
catches 38' are cut from outer wall 45'. This modified retainer
member supports the fragrance unit 14 on the upper surface 35 of
the annular disk member. In other respects it is similar to the
corresponding member described earlier.
[0032] Instead of recesses 44, the antispatter cover 16 can be
provided with a continuous annular groove circumscribing the inside
of its dome at an appropriate level. Latches 38 engage portions
around the annular groove in the same way as described for the
recesses 44.
[0033] Although not strictly necessary, purpose built tools can be
provided to assist in the removal of the various components for
cleaning, maintenance or replacement.
[0034] A bayonet-type locking mechanism may be preferred to catch
types 38 and 40. The various component parts may push fit into
their respective positions to be held in place by gravity, or screw
or be attached by any other suitable means
[0035] It would also be possible to produce and supply the retainer
18, fragrance unit 14 and/or anti-spatter cover 16 as a single
integral replacement unit.
[0036] To minimise unpleasant smells from the waste pipe system, it
is generally preferred to connect the waste outlet device as far
upstream as possible. That is not to say that one or more modified
versions of the device cannot also be inserted at intervals
downstream.
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