AU2001257644B2 - A waste outlet assembly and components thereof - Google Patents

Description

-1- A WASTE OUTLET ASSEMBLY AND COMPONENTS THEREOF INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to a waste assembly for an outlet of a bath, sink, basin and the like and components thereof. This invention further relates to a bath, sink, basin and the like provided with such waste outlet assembly.

The applicant is the proprietor of South African patent number 99/3637 and this invention relates to improvements on the invention disclosed in said patent.

The preceding discussion to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or an admission that any of the material referred to was or is part of the common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date of the application.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements to the invention disclosed in South African patent number 99/3637.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a waste assembly of a bath, sink, basin and the like comprising: a relatively flat flexible disc having a sealing surface for sealingly engaging the waste assembly; attaching means for attaching the closure to the waste assembly, the attaching means including either one of a magnet and a magnetisable member located on the disc; a first annular flange extending from one side of the disc; WO 01/76432 PCT/ZA01/00043 2 a second cylindrical flange extending concentrically with the first flange from the same side of the disc, adapted to receive the magnet or magnetisable member; the closure being characterised in that either one or both the magnet and the second flange define engaging formations for frictionally engaging the other.

The first annular flange may be frusto conical for aligning the closure relative to the waste assembly.

Preferably the magnet is adjustable relative to the closure.

Further according to the invention the magnet is movable into and out of the second flange formation to adapt the closure for weirs of different configurations.

The engaging formations may comprise a plurality of ridge and groove formations defined by the inner surface of the second flange, for mating with a plurality of ridge and groove formations defined by the outer surface of the magnet.

The closure may include a manipulating means in the form of an eyelet extending from a side of. the body.

WO 01/76432 PCT/ZA01/00043 3 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a weir, for use with the above closure, for a waste assembly for a bath, sink, basin and the like, the weir including a body defining a tubular portion having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being closed by a weir member defining a plurality of outlet holes and the inlet end being provided with a circumferentially extending flange formation, the weir being characterised in that the weir member defines a centrally located aperture for receiving a magnetic or magnetisable member for magnetically attaching to the magnet or magnetisable member of said closure.

The weir is further characterised in that the weir member further defines a centrally located hole for receiving a screw, for connecting the weir to a waste assembly.

Further according to the invention the magnetic or magnetisable member comprises a metal clip which connects to the head of the screw.

Further according to the invention the screw is of a plastics material and defines an annular ridge formation for engaging the outer periphery of the centrally located hole, thus to locate the head of the screw in position in the centrally located aperture.

Preferably the metal clip is trapped in position by the screw when the head of the screw is located in the aperture.

Alternatively, the head defines a connecting formation and the metal clip defines a complementary connecting formation for mating therewith.

Further alternatively, the metal clip may be glued to the weir member.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a waste assembly comprising a closure in combination with a weir according to the first and second aspects of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a sink, bath, basin, or the like provided with a waste assembly according to the third aspect of the invention.

According to a further aspect a closure for a waste assembly of a bath, sink, basin and the like comprising a relatively flat flexible disc having a sealing surface for sealingly engaging the waste assembly; attaching means for attaching the closure to the waste assembly, the attaching means including either one of a magnet and a magnetisable member located on the disc; a first annular flange extending from one side of the disc; a second cylindrical flange extending concentrically with the first flange from the same side of the disc, adapted to receive the magnet or magnetisable member; -4/1 the closure being characterised in that either one or both the magnet or magnetisable member and the second flange define engaging formations for frictionally engaging the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described further, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: figures 3 to 5 are cross-sectional side views of a closure for the waste assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in more detail in figures 4 and figure 4 is an exploded cross-sectional side view of a waste assembly WO 01/76432 PCT/ZAO/00043 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and figure 5 is an assembled cross-sectional side view of the waste assembly of figure 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to figures 1 to 3, a closure for a waste outlet assembly of a bath, sink, basin and the like, is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The closure 10 is particularly suitable for use with a weir generally designated by reference numeral 12 in figures 4 and The closure 10 comprises a relatively flat flexible rubber disc 14 having a sealing surface 16 for sealingly engaging the weir 12. The closure further includes attaching means for attaching the closure 10 to the weir 12, the attaching means comprising a magnet 18 disposed in a cylindrical flange extending from the under-side of the disc 14. The closure 10 further includes an annular frusto-conical flange 22 extending from the same side of the disc 14 than the cylindrical flange The magnet 18 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending outer groove formations 18.1 and the circumferentially extending internal groove formations 20.1 for mating with the external groove formations 18.1 of the magnet 18. In use, the position of the WO 01/76432 PCT/ZA01/00043 6 magnet 18 relative to the cylindrical flange 20 is thus adjustable by pressing the magnet 18 inwards, as indicated by arrow A in figures 1 and 2.

Referring to figures 4 and 5, the weir 12 comprises a body 24 having a tubular portion 26 of which an outlet end is closed by a weir member 28 and an inlet end of which is provided with a circumferentially extending flange 30. A plurality of outlet holes 32 are provided in the weir member 28. The weir member 28 is further provided with a centrally located aperture 34 and a hole 36 for receiving a screw 38 for connecting the weir 12 to a waste outlet assembly (not shown).

The screw 38 is of a plastics material and comprises an elongate threaded shaft a head 42 and a locating ridge formation 44 disposed on the shaft 40, for engaging the periphery of the hole 36 on the outlet side, to locate the head 42 in the aperture 34. The weir member 12 further includes a magnetisable member in the form of a metal clip 46 which attaches to the head 42 and which is trapped in the aperture 34 when the head 42 is located in the aperture 34.

In use, the position of the magnet 18 is adjusted by moving the magnet 18 relative to the tubular flange 20 to the optimum position such that the magnet 18 abuts the metal clip 46 when the closure 10 is disposed in the weir member 12.

The closure 10 can thus be used with-vanorWswersT-different-depths- It will be appreciated that variations in detail are possible with a waste assembly -7and components thereof according to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, in an alternative arrangement, the head of the screw defines a circumferentially extending groove formation and the metal clip defines a complementary ridge formation for mating therewith in clip-on fashion.

Further for example, the metal clip can be glued to the weir member. In such arrangement, conventional waste outlet assemblies can be adapted to receive the closure 10, by gluing the metal clip to the weir member, and adjusting the magnet to a suitable depth.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (18)

1. A closure for a waste assembly of a bath, sink; basin and the like comprising a relatively flat flexible disc having a sealing surface for sealingly engaging the waste assembly; attaching means for attaching the closure to the waste assembly, the attaching means including either one of a magnet and a magnetisable member located on the disc; a first annular flange extending from one side of the disc; a-second cylindrical flange extending concentrically with the first flange from the same side of the disc, adapted to receive the magnet or magnetisable member; the closure being characterised in that either one or both the magnet or magnetisable member and the second flange define engaging formations for frictionally engaging the other.

2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the first annular flange is frusto conical for aligning the closure relative to the waste assembly.

3. A closure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the magnet is adjustable relative to the closure.

4. A closure according to claim 3 wherein the magnet is movable into and WO 01/76432 PCT/ZA01/00043 9 out of the second flange formation to adapt the closure for weirs of different configurations.

A closure according to claim 4 wherein the engaging formations comprise s a plurality of ridge and groove formations defined by the inner surface of the second flange, for mating with a plurality of ridge and groove formations defined by the outer surface of the magnet.

6. A closure according to anyone of the preceding claims which includes a manipulating means in the form of an eyelet extending from a side of the body.

7. A closure substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A weir, for use with said closure according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, for a waste assembly for a bath, sink, basin and the like, the weir including a body defining a tubular portion having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being closed by a weir member defining a plurality of outlet holes and the inlet end being provided with a circumferentially extending flange tormationthe weir -eii ng characteisedrrthat-the-weir-member- defines a centrally located aperture for receiving a magnetic or magnetisable member for magnetically attaching to the magnet or WO 01/76432 PCT/ZA01/00043 magnetisable member of said closure.

9. A weir according to claim 8, which is further characterised in that the weir member defines a centrally located hole for receiving a screw, for connecting the weir to a waste assembly.

A weir according to claim 9 wherein the magnetic or magnetisable member comprises a metal clip which connects to the head of the screw.

11. A weir according to claim 10 wherein the screw is of a plastics material and defines an annular ridge formation for engaging the outer periphery of the centrally located hole, thus to locate the head of the screw in position in the aperture.

12. A weir according to claim 11 wherein the metal clip is trapped in position by the screw when the head of the screw is located in the aperture.

13. A weir according to claim 10 wherein the head defines a connecting formation and the metal clip defines a complementary connecting formation for mating therewith.

14. A weir according to claim 8 wherein the metal clip is glued to the weir member.

WO 01/76432 PCT/ZA01/00043 11 A weir substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A waste assembly comprising a closure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in combination with a weir according to any of claims 8 to

17. A waste assembly substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. A sink, bath, basin, or the like provided with a waste assembly according to claim 16 or 17.