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(11) | EP 1 026 330 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device at water seals for floor drains |
| (57) The present invention relates to a device at a water seal (1) for floor drains (2),
said water seal (1) comprising a tubular member (3) and a cup-shaped member (4) which
are located in centered positions relative to each other. The cup-shaped member (4)
includes a centrally located coupling member (7) having at least one resilient tongue
(13 and/or 14) which is provided for insertion into a centrally located, tubular coupling
member (6) of the tubular member (3) and to thereby spring in a radial direction.
The tongue (13 and/or 14) is provided to spring back such that the coupling members
(6, 7) of the tubular member (3) and the cup-shaped member (4) in cooperation with
each other connects said tubular and cup-shaped members (3, 4) to each other. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a device at a water seal for floor drains, said water seal including a tubular member and a cup-shaped member, wherein said tubular member comprises means for mounting thereof in the floor drain, wherein said tubular member extends downwards into the cup-shaped member, wherein said tubular member further comprises a coupling member located centrally therein and said cup-shaped member a coupling member located centrally therein, whereby said tubular and cup-shaped members are provided at each other by means of said coupling members and located in centered positions relative to each other.
[0002] Water seals of the abovementioned type are previously known from e.g. SE 506 407. At these prior art water seals, the cup-shaped member includes a screw-type portion which is screwed into a nut-like portion of the tubular member. The purpose of this construction is to screw the cup-shaped member upwards towards a seat on the tubular member for closing the water seal. This construction does not permit any quick connection of the cup-shaped and tubular members to each other in a fixed and permanent relation to each other.
[0003] The publication SE 469 637 illustrates an example of water seals wherein the cup-shaped members and the tubular members are eccentrically mounted relative to each other. At these water seals the cup-shaped member as well as the tubular member lack mounting members provided inside said members and the cup-shaped member has instead outer mounting members for mounting thereof in a suitable location. Such outer positioning or provision of the mounting members of the cup-shaped member is however disadvantageous when the cup-shaped and tubular members are centered relative to each other.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to eliminate these and other drawbacks at the abovementioned water seals and this is arrived at according to the invention with a device having substantially the characterizing features of subsequent claim 1.
[0005] Since the device according to the invention has said characterizing features, the cup-shaped and tubular members can be quickly connected to each other in a fixed and permanent position relative to each other and by means of mounting members provided inside said cup-shaped and tubular members.
[0006] The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
fig. 1 is a vertical section of a water seal having a device according to the invention;
fig. 2 is a vertical section of a tubular member of the water seal according to fig. 1;
fig. 3 is a vertical section of a cup-shaped member of the water seal according to fig. 1; and
figs. 4-6 are vertical sections of members of the water seal according to fig. 1 in different positions relative to each other during assembly and disassembly.
[0007] The water seal 1 illustrated in the drawings is intended for location in a floor drain 2 or similar in order to define a so called odour lock therein, i.e. for preventing odours from finding their way up through the floor drain 2. The water seal 1 includes a tubular member 3 and a cup-shaped member 4. Externally on the tubular member 3 there is provided a retaining and sealing ring 5 or similar for sealingly fixing said tubular member 3 to the floor drain 2.
[0008] The water-seal function is achieved in a known manner while the tubular member 3 extends down into the cup-shaped member 4 and while the water level in said cup-shaped member 4 is located above a lower edge of the tubular member 3.
[0009] The tubular and cup-shaped members 3, 4 are attached to each other by means of coupling members 6 and 7 respectively, provided centrally or substantially centrally in the tubular member 3 and in the cup-shaped member 4 respectively, such that said tubular and cup-shaped members 3, 4 are set in centered or substantially centered positions relative to each other. At the embodiment shown, this is illustrated by the centered location of the tubular and cup-shaped members 3, 4 relative to the vertically oriented centre line CL.
[0010] The coupling member 6 of the tubular member 3 is tubular and is directed axially relative to said tubular member 3. This tubular coupling member 6 is provided on one or more blade-like brackets 8 which extend in radial direction to wall portions 9 of the tubular member 3 and in axial direction along at least the major part of said wall portions 9. Lower portions 10 of the tubular coupling member 6 have a diameter D1 which is less than the diameter D2 of upper portions 11 thereof. A transition edge 12 between said lower and upper portions 10, 11 defines a coupling portion K1 with radially directed coupling surfaces for connecting the coupling members 7 of the cup-shaped member 4 to the tubular coupling member 6.
[0011] The coupling member 7 of the cup-shaped member 4 has a cylindrical pin 16 with two axially directed tongues 13, 14 which are defined by the pin 16 on opposite sides of an axially directed slit 15 in said pin 16. The diameter D3 of lower portions 17 of this pin 16 is adapted to the diameter D1 of the lower portions 10 of the coupling member 6 such that no unacceptable play arises in radial direction between said pin 16 and the tubular coupling member 6. Beneath the lower portions 17 of the pin 16 there is provided a radially directed edge 18 and upper portions 19 of the pin 16 have a larger diameter D4 than the diameter D3 of the lower portions 17 and said diameter D1 of the lower portions 10 of the tubular coupling member 6.
[0012] Due to the location of the slit 15, said upper portions 19 will be divided in two coupling portions K2 and K3, of which one coupling portion K2 forms part of the tongue 13 and the other coupling portion K3 forms part of the tongue 14. A radially directed transition edge 20 between the lower portions 17 and the upper portions 19 is defined by the pin 16 having a radially directed transition-edge portion 21 on one tongue 13 and a radially directed transition-edge portion 22 on the other tongue 14. Said transition-edge portions 21, 22 define the coupling surfaces of the coupling member 7, adapted to cooperate with corresponding coupling surfaces on the coupling member 6 defined by the transition edge 12.
[0013] The length L of said lower portions 17 of the pin 16 is adapted to the corresponding length of the lower portions 10 of the tubular coupling member 6 such that no unacceptable play in axial direction arises between said lower portions 17 and 10.
[0014] The upper portions 19 of the pin 16 are formed into a tip or point which by the slit 15 is divided in two parts, namely one part on each tongue 13, 14.
[0015] Since the pin 16 is made of resilient material, preferably plastic material, the tongues 13, 14 have resilient properties such that they from starting positions during loading in radial direction towards each other can be brought to spring in radial direction towards each other, and when said loading ceases, the tongues 13, 14 automatically spring back in radial direction from each other in order to resume their starting positions. Since the tongues 13, 14 have said elastic properties, they can be inserted into the lower portions 10 of the coupling member 6 and since these lower portions 10 have a less diameter D1 than the upper portions 19 of the pin, said tongues 13, 14 are brought to spring in radial direction towards each other such that there is room therefor in said lower portions 10. Then the coupling portions K2, K3 of the tongues 13, 14 pass the transition edge 12, i.e. the coupling portion K1, and are situated in the upper portions 11 having the larger diameter D2, the tongues 13, 14 can spring back in radial direction from each other and resume their original positions. Hereby, the coupling portions K2, K3 of the tongues will be set in coupling positions relative to the coupling portion K1 such that the tubular and cup-shaped members 3, 4 are connected to each other.
[0016] To enable disassembly or release of the tubular and cup-shaped members 3, 4 from each other, said members may be rotatable relative to each other about the centre line CL and there may be means 23, 24 which during this rotation press the tongues 13, 14 in radial direction towards each other until their coupling portions K2, K3 are in such positions relative to the coupling portion K1 and relative to the lower portions 17 that they are brought out of the engagement with said coupling portion K1 and withdrawn from said lower portions 17.
[0017] Said means 23, 24 may be guide portions at the coupling portion K1 and the coupling portions K2, K3 of the tongues 13, 14 may be brought to cooperate with these guide portions during said rotation in 90° such that said guide portions cause the coupling portions K2, K3 to leave their cooperation with the coupling portion K1. There may be two guide portions 23, 24 displaced about 180° relative to each other and each such guide portion 23, 24 can be defined by a radially inwards extending portion which is provided above and covers a part of the transition edge 12 and which down below is as wide as said transition edge 12 and directed obliquely upwards/ /outwards towards the wall of the upper portions 11 above said transition edge 12.
[0018] The water seal 1 may include a plug 25 for covering the coupling portions K1, K2, K3 and it may include a handle 26 for facilitating removal thereof from the floor drain 2. The handle 26 is shown in an upper position for said removal, but it can be let down for being out of the way.
[0019] The invention is not limited to what is described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may vary within the scope of the following claims. As examples of alternatives not described, it should be noticed that the coupling member 7 of the cup-shaped member 4 instead of two tongues 13, 14 may include only one tongue 13 or 14 or more than two such or similar tongues.
wherein said tubular member (3) comprises means (5) for mounting thereof in the floor drain (2),
wherein said tubular member (3) extends downwards into the cup-shaped member (4),
wherein said tubular member (3) further comprises a coupling member (6) located centrally therein and said cup-shaped member (4) a coupling member (7) located centrally therein,
whereby said tubular and cup-shaped members (3, 4) are provided at each other by means of said coupling members (6, 7) and located in centered positions relative to each other,
characterized in
that the coupling member (7) of the cup-shaped member (4) includes at least one tongue (13 and/or 14) which is directed axially relative to said cup-shaped member (4) and which has resilient properties in radial direction,
that the tongue (13 and/or 14) has at least one radially outwards directed coupling portion (K2 and/or K3),
that the tongue (13 and/or 14) is provided to spring in a radial direction when the coupling member (7) of the cup-shaped member (4) is inserted into the tubular coupling member (6) of the tubular member (3), and
that the tongue (13 and/or 14) is provided to spring back when its outwardly directed coupling portion (K2 and/or K3) passes beyond at least one radially inwards directed coupling portion (K1) on the tubular coupling member (6) such that the coupling members (6, 7) of the tubular member (3) and the cup-shaped member (4), in cooperation with each other, connect said tubular and cup-shaped members (3, 4) to each other.
that the coupling member (7) of the cup-shaped member (4) includes two tongues (13, 14) which are located beside each other and axially directed,
that the tongues (13, 14) have radially outwards directed coupling portions (K2, K3),
that the tongues (13, 14) and the radially outwards directed coupling portions (K2, K3) are provided to spring in radial direction inwards towards each other when they are inserted into the tubular coupling member (6) of the tubular member (3), and
that the tongues (13, 14) are provided to spring back when the coupling portions (K2, K3) thereof pass beyond the radially inwards directed coupling portion (K1) on the tubular coupling member (6).
that the tubular coupling member (6) of the tubular member (3) includes lower portions (10) and upper portions (11),
that the lower portions (10) have a less diameter (D1) than the diameter (D2) of the upper portions (11),
that a transition edge (12) between the lower and upper portions (10, 11) defines coupling surfaces on the tubular coupling member (6) of the tubular member (3),
that the coupling member (7) of the cup-shaped member (4) includes a pin (16) defining said tongues (13, 14) on opposite sides of an axially directed slit (15) provided in said pin (16),
that upper portions (19) of the pin (16) have a larger diameter (D4) than the diameter (D3) of lower portions (17) of the pin (16),
that said upper portions (19) of the pin (16) define the outwardly directed coupling portions (K2, K3) of the tongues (13, 14), and
that a transition edge (20) between said lower and upper portions (17, 19) of the pin (16) defines coupling surfaces on the coupling portions ( K2, K3) of the tongues (13, 14).
that the coupling member (6) of the tubular member (3) consists of a radially directed transition edge (12),
that the guide portions (23, 24) are directed radially inwards and cover the transition edge (12) at two points and are provided at an angle of about 180° relative to each other, and
that the coupling portions (K2, K3) of the cup-shaped member (4) come in contact with said guide portions during a relative rotation of about 90° between the tubular and cup-shaped members (3, 4).