Inspection door for access to valves and drainage fittings of plumbing from bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an inspection door that allows an easy and frequent access to valves and drainage plumbing from bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs, in order to regularly inspect and eventually replace or repair respective fittings including electromechanical fittings whenever necessary.

[0002] As far as the applicant knows in present state of the art, when it is necessary to evaluate the condition and/or, in consequence of that evaluation it is necessary to proceed to the replacement of any fittings or portions of the water drain piping of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs, to the residual water drain (for instance, valves, hydraulic packing siphons, cranks, reduction devices, widening devices, etc.) as well as of electromechanical fittings, it is necessary to dismantle the section of a masonry wall usually made of bricks externally covered with glazed tiles, ornamental stone plates, linoleum or another similar material that makes part of the upright wall that laterally covers the bathtub to protect it. It is thus possible to open enough passage to allow direct access therethrough to the fitting(s) or the portion(s) to be inspected or replaced.

[0003] As it is clear this way of procedure implies several serious practical drawbacks caused by its implementation, among which it is possible to refer the following:

• need of using specialized mason manpower;
• output of intensive noises;
• delay in the performance of maintenance work;
• relatively high costs;
• destructive character of the intervention;
• possible negative effects upon the rest of existing equipment;
• great difficulty, even a practical impossibility of being able to replace integrally in the end the initial conditions, namely aesthetical ones, of the side wall of the bathtub, namely an hydromassage bathtub, after proceeding with the defective means inspection.

[0004] Document FR-A-2561296 discloses an inspection door for easy and frequent access to a drain piping of bathtubs, in order to regularly inspect the output valve and the fittings mounted in it and eventually replace or repair damaged parts, said door being mounted in the lateral wall protecting the bathtub without need of destroying said protection wall, comprising:

a) a first set of two separate vertical right and left doorframe elements being each constituted of an upright profile with the form of an angle bar and

b) the inspection door itself comprising a second assembly of two vertical doorframe members that rest against said first vertical doorframe elements of said first set, said door being tiltable from a front to rear direction between an opened position that provides said access and a closed position.

[0005] Having as essential object to avoid the above referred disadvantages of the generally employed method, the applicant did invent and develop a new inspecting door which surprisingly allows the immediate and frequent access to the fittings mounted upon bathtubs drain plumbing, namely of hydromassage bathtubs, and that must be inspected or that need to be replaced or repaired, as well as their electromechanical fittings. The above mentioned inspecting door is fixed to the masonry protecting sidewall of corresponding hydromassage bathtub in such a way that it permits that the drain piping inspection tasks can be performed the necessary number of times, without the need of any destruction and reconstruction of the above mentioned masonry wall.

[0006] The inspecting door according to the invention can similarly be set, either upon a normal bathtub or on a hydromassage bathtub, taking the corresponding specificity into account. It is defined by the features of claim 1.

[0007] Embodiments of the invention own the specific characteristics mentioned in the appended claims and outstanding from annexed drawings, which show

Figure 1

a frontal elevation view of right (1) and left (2) upright doorframe elements, used for the lateral settlement of the device according to the invention, in an opening foreseen upon the protecting lateral masonry wall of the bathtub, namely of the hydromassage bathtub;

Figure 2

a frontal elevation view of the tilting inspection door (10) itself;

Figure 3

a frontal elevation view of the assembly, formed by the doorframe elements shown in Fig. 1 and by the inspecting door from Fig. 2, closed for usual working position;

Figure 4

is a sectional view of the assembly from Fig. 3 through a horizontal plane defined by the line AB in Fig. 3;

Figure 5

is a perspective view of the assembly from Fig. 3, in which the inspection door according to the invention (10) is closed for usual working position; and

Figure 6

is a perspective view of the assembly from Fig. 3, where the inspection door according to the invention (10) is in opened position, providing an easy and frequent access to the electromechanical elements and fittings of the bathtubs drain piping, namely of hydromassage bathtubs.

[0008] As it can be seen in the figures, the door according to this invention is an extremely simple device in the whole, also being of extraordinarily simple assemblage and functioning, with dimensions that can obviously vary, on one hand in accordance with the covering material of the bathtub lateral protection wall, namely that of a hydromassage bathtub, and on the other hand in accordance with the free space necessary to execute the desired maintenance work upon the mechanical equipment installed in the drain piping of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs. Nevertheless, it is rather useful and, as far as the applicant knows, it has not been used until now for the purpose mentioned.

[0009] It comprises essentially a fixed doorframe (Fig. 1) constituted of two upright profiles (1) and (2) with the form of an angle bar inserted and fixed in the protecting lateral wall of the bathtub, namely a hydromassage bathtub, preferably by means of gluing and by an element of the door itself (Figs. 2 to 6), so that it can tilt from a front to rear direction, between a closed position undertaken when the drain piping is in normal function, and an opened position, when one proceeds with the performance of the inspection and/or the replacement or repair of any of the several fittings of the drain piping used for discharging the contents of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs. Among those fittings are siphon, discharge valve, cranks, straight stretch, breathing hole, etc.

[0010] At the external borders of said doorframe elements, there are several equally spaced slots (5) with a semicircular bottom, and that form an angle approximately equal to +45°, in order to grant a better adherence to the wall.

[0011] On the above-mentioned doorframe elements, at an adequate level, two metallic bolts (3) are set one in each of the doorframe elements, being said bolts used as support for the inspection door (10) in such a way that this one can tilt, passing from the closed position do the opened position, whenever it is necessary to inspect or perform maintenance work that should involve the drain piping.

[0012] In order to avoid that the inspection door itself could pass inadvertently from the closed position to the opened position, near the upper end of each upright doorframe element an electromagnetic lock (4) is adapted, having enough strength to maintain the door closed whenever inspections and maintenance work are not being effected upon the drain piping for the discharge of the content of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs (usually with an intensity of about 30 newtons).

[0013] In Figure 2, the tilting door (10) is schematically shown, working in cooperation with the doorframe support elements shown at Fig. 1, using the doorframe members (11) and (12). The tilting door (10) is made of the same building material used on the coating of the masonry wall protecting the bathtub, namely the hydromassage bathtub, upon which it is applied (for example, glazed tiles, stone plates, linoleum or the like) being preferably fixed by means of glue. As a consequence, the aesthetical aspect of the tilting door is the same as that of the external coating of said masonry with which it is entirely confounded.

[0014] Each one of the doorframe members (11) and (12) are provided with vertical sets of circular holes (15) equally spaced from each other whose purpose is to turn the adherence of the glue to the coating material easier. Laterally two cuttings (14) are formed, one in each of the doorframes, which are inserted on the bolts for the articulation of the door.

[0015] The inspection door according to this invention can assume a closed position after its mounting, as can be seen in Fig. 5, where the drain piping is in normal function, and the possibility of a non wanted opening is prevented by the electromagnetic locks (4).

[0016] In the case one wishes to inspect or replace any means or fittings mounted or pertaining to the mentioned piping, the inspection door is made to tilt from a front to rear direction, so that the maintenance operator can have enough space available to fulfil said task, undertaking then the inspection door according to this invention the tilted position shown in Fig. 6.

[0017] The inspection door for inspection and/or replacement of fittings on the discharge piping of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs without being necessary to previously open a way through the lateral protecting wall of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs, according to this invention presents the following advantages to be pointed out:

• It is an inspection door of universal dimensions that is independent from the dimensions of the tiles or other coating material covering the lateral protecting wall of bathtubs, namely hydromassage bathtubs.
• The whole dimensions depend on the basic building material employed and on the working conditions
• It is extremely simple to mount and operate, not demanding specialized masons manpower.
• It has a very low price.
• It makes the access to the means of electromechanical equipment extraordinarily easy, without implying the compulsory destruction of said wall nor of its coating.
• It allows the inspection procedures and the replacement to be performed a great number of times.

[0018] It is to be noted that changes and modifications are possible as long as they do not keep away from the scope of the claims presented herewith.

Claims

1. Inspection door (10) for easy and frequent access to a drain piping of bathtubs namely of hydromassage bathtubs, in order to regularly inspect the output valve and the fittings mounted in it and eventually replace or repair damaged parts, said door being to be mounted in the lateral masonry wall protecting the bathtub without need of destroying said protection wall, comprising:

a) a first set of two separate vertical right and left doorframe elements (1,2) preferably for lateral fixation by means of glue in said opening foreseen in the masonry protection wall of the bathtub, namely a hydromassage bathtub, said doorframe elements (1,2) being each constituted of an upright profile with the form of an angle bar, wherein to make the adherence easier some slots with rounded bottom and an inclination of +45° are formed at the external borders of the external wing of both angle bar profiled doorframes (1,2) and

b) the inspection door (10) itself comprising an second assembly of two vertical doorframe members (11,12) that rest against the vertical doorframe elements (1,2) of said first set, said door (10) being tiltable from a front to rear direction between an opened position that provides said access and a closed position.

2. Inspection door (10) according to claim 1, wherein in each one of said vertical doorframe elements (1) and (2), a mechanically resistant bolt is foreseen to rotationally support the tilting of the door (10) in said front to rear direction.

3. Inspection door (10) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein at the upper part of each doorframe element (1,2) an electromagnetic lock (4) is installed, having an intensity strength equal to about 30 newtons, in order to keep the door in its closed position.

4. Inspection door (10) according to claim 1, wherein the external look of the door (10) is the same as the external look of the masonry wall protecting the bathtub, namely the hydromassage bathtub.

5. Inspection door (10) according to claims 2 to 5, wherein at each one of the external borders of the doorframe members (11,12) two cuttings (14) are formed, being inserted in said two bolts for articulation and withdrawal of said said door (10).

6. Inspection door (10) according to claims 1 to 5, wherein at the external borders of the doorframe members (11) and (12) some round holes (15) are formed approximately equidistant, whose purpose is to make the adherence of glue to the coating material easier.

7. Inspection door (10) according to any one of former claims, wherein its total length, width and thickness vary according to the coating material used and to the operating conditions.

Ansprüche

1. Einsteigetür (10) für ein leichter und häufiger Zugang an ein Entwasserungsrohr einer Badewanne, insbesondere einer Badewanne für Hydromassage, um die Ausgangsventil und die dort angebaute Zubehör regelmäßig zu besichtigen und gegebenfalls die beschädigten Teile zu ersetzen oder reparieren, die für Einbauen in der seitlische Wande aus Mauerwerke, die die Badewanne schützt, ohne die Zerstörung der gennante Wand nötig zu sein, gemeint ist, welche umfasst:

a) ein ersten Gruppe aus zwei senkrechte, getrennte, recht und linke Teilen eines Fensterrahmens (1, 2), vorzugsweise für die seitliche Befestigung mittels eines Klebstoff, in der genannte Öffnung die in der Schutzwand aus Maurwerk der Badewanne, insbesondere einer Badewanne für Hydromassage, vorgesehene wird, in welcher jeder Teil des Fensterrahmens (1, 2) aus einer senkrechtes Profil, das die Form eines Winkeleisen hat, gebildet wird, in welcher einige Spalte mit runden Grund und einer Neigung von +45°, an der äußere Winkelflansche der beiden profilierten Fensterrahmen (1,2) aus Winkwleisen, um die Haftfestigkeit leichter zu machen, gebildet werden, und

b) die eigene Einsteigetür (10), die eine zweite Gruppe aus zwei senkrechte Teile einer Fensterrahmen (11, 12) umfasst, welche gegen die senkrechte Teile der Fensterrahmen (1, 2) der genannte ersten Gruppe anliegen, in welcher die genannte Tür (10), von einer von vorn nach hinter Richtung, zwischen eine geöffnete Stellung, die der genannte Zugang ermöglicht, und eine geschlossene Stellung kippbar ist.

2. Einsteigetür (10) nach Anspruch 1, in welcher in jeder der genannte senkrechte Teile der Fensterrahmen (1) und (2) ein mechanischenfest Mutterschraube darum vorgesehen wird, um die Schwenkbewegung der Tür (10) in der genannte von vorn nach hinter Richtung drehend zu stützen.

3. Einsteigetür (10) nach Ansprüche 1 und 2, in welcher in der höhere Teil jeder senkrechte Teil einer Fensterrahmen (1, 2) ein elektromagnetischen Schloß (4) angelegt wird, welcher eine Kraftstärke von ungefähr 30 Newton hat, um die Tür in seiner geschlossenen Stellung festzuhalten.

4. Einsteigetür (10) nach Anspruch 1, in welcher das äußere Aussehen der Tür (10) gleich wie das äußere Aussehen der Wande aus Mauerwerke ist, die die Badewanne schützt, insbesondere einer Badewanne für Hydromassage.

5. Einsteigetür (10) nach Ansprüche 2 bis 5, in welcher in jeder äußere Ränder der Teile des Fensterrahmens (11, 12) zwei Schnitte (14) in dennen zwei Mutterschraube für die Kippen und Entfernung der genannte Tür (10) eingesetzt werden, gemacht werden.

6. Einsteigetür (10) nach Ansprüche 1 bis 5, in welcher, an der äußere Ränder der Teile des Fensterrahmens (11) und (12) einige runde Löcher (15), ungefähr gleiche Abstände aufweisend, gemacht werden, welcher Zweck die Haftfähigkeit des Klebstoffs an dem Überzugstoff leichter zu machen, ist.

7. Einsteigetür (10) nach irgendeine der vorhergehende Ansprüche, in welcher ihre totale Länge, Breite und Dicke nach dem gebrauchten Überzugstoff und die Bedingungen des Arbeitgangs ändern.

Revendications

1. Porte de visite (10) pour l'accès facile et fréquent à un tuyau de drainage de baignoires, notamment de baignoires d'hydromassage, à fin d'examiner régulièrement le robinet de sortie et les raccords y montés et, le cas échéant, de remplacer ou réparer les parties endommagées, la susdite porte étant destinée à être montée dans le mur latéral de maçonnerie qui protège la baignoire, sans qu'il soit nécessaire de détruire le suscité mur de protection, comprenant:

a) un premier ensemble de deux éléments verticaux séparés, droit et gauche, du bâti de porte (1, 2), préférablement pour la fixation latérale, au moyen d'une colle, dans la susdite ouverture prévue dans le mur de protection de maçonnerie de la baignoire, notamment une baignoire d'hydromassage, chacun des susdits éléments du bâti de porte (1, 2) étant formés par un profil vertical avec la forme d'une cornière, dans lequel, à fin de rendre l'adhérence plus facile, sont formées quelques fentes à fond arrondi et avec une pente de +45° dans les bords extérieurs de l'aille extérieure des deux bâtis de porte (1, 2) en cornière profilée, et

b) la porte de visite (10) elle-même, comprenant un deuxième ensemble de deux éléments verticaux du bâti de porte (11, 12), qui reposent contre les éléments verticaux du bâti de porte (1, 2) du susdit premier ensemble, la susdite porte (10) étant rabattable d'une direction d'avant à l'arrière, entre une position ouverte, qui permet le susdit accès, et une position fermée.

2. Porte de visite (10) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle est prévu, en chacun des susdits éléments verticaux du bâti de porte (1) et (2), un vis de boulon mécaniquement résistant pour supporter en rotation le basculement de la porte (10) dans la susdite direction d'avant à l'arrière.

3. Porte de visite (10) selon les revendications 1 et 2, dans laquelle est monté un verrou électromagnétique (4) dans la partie supérieure de chaque élément du bâti de porte (1, 2), avec une intensité de force de environ 30 Newtons, à fin de maintenir la porte dans sa position fermée.

4. Porte de visite (10) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'aspect extérieur de la porte (10) est le même que l'aspect extérieur du mur de maçonnerie qui protège la baignoire, notamment la baignoire d'hydromassage.

5. Porte de visite (10) selon les revendications 2 à 5, dans laquelle sont formés, en chacun des bords extérieurs des éléments du bâti de porte (11, 12), deux coups (14), dans lesquelles sont introduits les susdits deux vis de boulon pour l'articulation et la retirée de la susdite porte (10).

6. Porte de visite (10) selon les revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle sont formés, dans les bords extérieurs des éléments du bâti de porte (11) et (12), quelques trous ronds (15), à peu près équidistants, dont le but est rendre l'adhérence de la colle au matériel du revêtement plus facile.

7. Porte de visite (10) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle son longueur, largeur et épaisseur totaux sont variables, selon le matériel du revêtement utilisé et les conditions de travail.

Drawing