(19)
(11) EP 1 818 465 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
01.10.2008 Bulletin 2008/40

(21) Application number: 07101089.6

(22) Date of filing: 24.01.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E03F 5/04(2006.01)
E04B 1/26(2006.01)

(54)

Method of mounting a floor drain and floor drain having fitting for use in the method

Verfahren zum Einbauen eines Bodenablaufs und Bodenablauf mit Beschlag

Procédé pour installer un bouche d'égout et bouche d'égout ayant ferrure pour ce procédé


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK

(30) Priority: 14.02.2006 DK 200600213

(43) Date of publication of application:
15.08.2007 Bulletin 2007/33

(73) Proprietor: Blücher Metal A/S
7480 Vildbjerg (DK)

(72) Inventor:
  • Lohmann, Hans
    4180 Sorø (DK)

(74) Representative: Nielsen, Leif et al
Patrade A/S Fredens Torv 3A
8000 Åarhus C
8000 Åarhus C (DK)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A-01/73231
US-A- 4 714 372
WO-A-02/057557
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Field of the Invention



    [0001] The present invention concerns a method of mounting a floor drain according to claim 1.

    [0002] The invention furthermore concerns a floor drain according to claim 6.

    Background of the Invention



    [0003] It is commonly known to mount floor drains at their correct positions prior to casting a floor. Hereby, the floor drain will be embedded in the floor. However, it is necessary to ensure that the floor drain cannot be displaced during the casting, as this may be detrimental to the operation of the floor drain, and may also make difficult a subsequent casting of a membrane permanently to the floor drain.

    [0004] In connection with cast floors it is known that floor drains are cast in place or fastened by using different types of anchor means connecting the drain bowl with surrounding building parts. This is difficult and usually requires utilisation of separate anchor means.

    [0005] Thus it is prior art to provide the drain bowl of a floor drain with a mounting flange intended for connecting to the building membrane with the purpose of establishing a waterproof connection between the floor drain in e.g. a bathroom or other wet room and a building membrane. It is important that a correct connection is provided here.

    [0006] In order to ensure that, it is known with a floor drain where the drain bowl is provided with one or more mounting flanges used for fastening to an adjacent wall. This is very disadvantageous as these prior art mounting flanges are to be disposed right out at the edge area of the floor drain, and in some cases they may have difficulty in absorbing the forces acting on the embedment of the drain floor and possible vibrations in the floor.

    [0007] Furthermore, this solution may only be used for floor drains disposed directly at an adjacent wall. The user has thus no freedom to choose a position spaced apart from the wall.

    [0008] The prior art solution is furthermore disadvantageous in that a permanent connection between the floor and one or more wall is established via the floor drain. It is inexpedient to interconnect floor and walls as this may cause problems when a house settles, or when walls and floor work in relation to each other. In general, it is thus desirable to avoid a fixed connection between floor and walls.

    [0009] Examples on prior art solutions are disclosed in US 4 714 372 and WO 02/057557. However there is no disclosure of a combination of a combination of a mounting fitting and a floor drain in which the mounting fitting is a detachable mounting fitting.

    [0010] Document WO 01/73231-A shows a way how a floor drain can be fixed to the side wall of shower room.

    Object of the Invention



    [0011] It is the object of the present invention to indicate a method and a fitting of the kind specified in the introduction for use in mounting floor drains, and where the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided.

    Description of the Invention



    [0012] According to the present invention, this is achieved by a method which is peculiar in said fastening which is effected by means of detachable mounting fittings, and that the mounting fittings are dismounted after the floor has been cast and is hardened.

    [0013] The combination of the mounting fitting and the floor drain according to the invention is peculiar in that it includes a central support part which at each end has a contact face for contact against the wall and the floor drain respectively, that each contact face is provided with apertures for receiving a releasable fastening means which is adapted to interact with corresponding fastening means in the wall and the floor drain.

    [0014] Hereby, it becomes possible to separate the mounting fitting from the floor drain and from the wall after the casting and hardening of a floor. The floor drain will thus not constitute a fixed connection between the wall and the floor. Furthermore, it will be possible to dispose the floor drain spaced apart from the wall. Since it is possible to produce the mounting fitting with any desired shape, it is possible to dispose the fitting at a desired position in the floor. Also, the distance from a wall may be freely chosen.

    [0015] The mounting fitting may thus be used for any form of floor drain, irrespectively whether they are rectangular, triangular or round, and irrespectively whether they are intended to be placed along a wall, in a corner or inside a room spaced apart from wall/comer.

    [0016] According to a further embodiment, the method according to the invention is peculiar in that for each mounting fitting on the floor drain, one or more threaded bushings are mounted in the floor drain, and that the mounting fitting is screwed into the threaded bushings and screwed to the wall. Screwing is a suitable way of establishing mounting and dismounting, but other fastening means may also be used, only provided the possibility of dismounting these in an easy way after the casting of the floor. Threaded bushings fastened in the drain bowl in the floor drain may extend out from the drain bowl and may thereby act as anchoring means, connecting the drain bowl with surrounding building parts. When the threaded bushings are disposed at the outer side of the drain bowl, they will not affect the internal structure. Such threaded bushings may, however, serve a double purpose as they may possibly also be used for fastening gratings or other elements in the drain bowl.

    [0017] According to a further embodiment, the method according to the invention is peculiar by using tubular rivets for threaded bushings. Tubular rivets are very simple to fit in drain bows made of sheet, e.g. stainless steel sheets. Furthermore, they may be designed with a thread so that they are ready to interact with a screw without any need of further machining.

    [0018] According to a further embodiment, the method according to the invention is peculiar in that it also includes elongated apertures for receiving screws for fastening to the wall and the floor drain. Hereby it is possible to perform adjusting of the position of the floor drain, irrespectively of lesser warpage in the walls. Thus it becomes possible to position the drain in a secure way so that correct slope is provided in the drain itself, and so that it is disposed correctly relative to the surrounding floor in which it is embedded.

    [0019] According to a further embodiment, the method according to the invention is peculiar in that the mounting fitting is fastened inside the floor drain and preferably at the bottom of the floor drain. Hereby, there will be no parts of the mounting fitting that may encumber a correct casting. After casting of the floor, it is easy to get access to the interior of the drain bowl, and therefore it will be easy to dismount the mounting fitting.

    [0020] According to a further embodiment, the combination of a floor drain and mounting fittings according to the invention is peculiar in that the mounting fitting is made of a sheet with bent end parts at the ends of a central plate-shaped support part. Such a plate-shaped fitting is very simple to make. This may be effected by bending the end parts and punching the required holes for receiving screws, rivets or similar.

    [0021] According to a further embodiment, the combination of a floor drain and mounting fittings according to the invention is peculiar in that the contact faces are disposed at an angel of 90° relative to the central support part. The fittings will be simple to use for drain bowls where the fitting is fastened to a plane bottom and to a vertical wall. Alternatively, there may also be used fittings where the end parts are disposed under another angle. It may, for example, be advantageous by mounting a floor drain in a corner and where it may be easier to screw the fitting on if the central support part forms a greater angle with the end parts where the screws pass through the apertures.

    [0022] According to a further embodiment, the combination of a floor drain and mounting fittings according to the invention is peculiar in that the mounting fitting is provided with elongated apertures in the contact faces for adjustable receiving screws which are screwed into the wall and into threaded bushings in the floor drain. This provides flexible mounting and ensures correct positioning, irrespective of any misalignments in the building.

    [0023] According to a further embodiment, the combination of a floor drain and mounting fittings according to the invention is peculiar in that it includes screws interacting with threaded tubular rivets in the floor drain and screw holes or Rawlplugs in the wall. Hereby is achieved a simple construction and it is possible to use the same type of screws for mounting in the wall and in the tubular rivets.

    Description of the Drawing



    [0024] The invention is now explained more closely in connection with the drawing, in which:
    Fig. 1
    shows a perspective view of a floor drain with two mounting fitting according to the invention;
    Fig. 2
    shows a sectional view through the floor drain shown in Figs. 1 and 3;
    Fig. 3
    shows a view of the floor drain shown in Fig. 1, as seen from above; and
    Figs. 4-6
    show three side views of a mounting fitting for the floor drain shown in Fig. 1.

    Detailed description of the invention



    [0025] Figs. 1 - 3 show a floor drain in the shape of an oblong drain bowl 1. In this drain bowl 1 there may be fitted an inner bowl and/or a grating. The drain bowl 1 has an inner part 2 surrounded by a flange 3 which is made integral with the drain bowl 1 and formed by a rim area at the upper edge 4 of the drain bowl. The flange 3 is formed externally at the outer side 5 of the drain bowl 1. Integrated anchor means (not shown) may be formed in the flange 3, arranged to be bent out from the plane of the flange with the intention of retaining the drain bowl in the embedded condition in a cast floor, the surface of which flushing with the flange 3.

    [0026] At the bottom 6 of the drain bowl, there are mounted threaded tubular rivets 7 which do not cause leakage in the bottom 6. The bottom 6 slopes slightly to the left, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. At the lower end 8 of the bottom 6, a drain stub 9 is provided, used for connecting the floor drain with other drain pipes/installations.

    [0027] The mounting fitting 10 is mounted detachably by means of screws 11 passing through oblong apertures 17 (see Fig. 4) in the mounting fitting and screwed into the tubular rivets 7. A contact surface 14 (see Fig. 4) hereby comes into contact with the surface 20 of the bottom 6.

    [0028] In Figs. 4 - 6 appear more detailed views of the mounting fitting 10. It is made of a sheet and includes a central support part 12 and a first bent end part 13 with a contact face 14 for contacting the bottom 6 of the drain bowl and a second bent end part 15 with contact face 16 for bearing against a wall (not shown).

    [0029] In the first bent end part 13 there is an elongated aperture 17 for receiving the screws 11 used for fastening the mounting fitting to the drain bowl 1.

    [0030] In the second end part 15 there is provided an elongated aperture 18 for receiving screws (not shown) used for fastening the mounting fitting to a wall. Furthermore, there is also formed a further round aperture 19 for receiving a further screw to ensure retaining the drain bowl against the forces to which it is exposed during casting of a floor.

    [0031] The end parts 13, 15 are bent with an angle of 90° relative to the central support part.

    [0032] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described above in the Figures. Other embodiments with other shapes of the mounting fitting may be envisaged within the scope of this invention and the subsequent claims.


    Claims

    1. A method of mounting a floor drain (1) having mounting fittings (10), wherein the floor drain (1) is placed in its position before casting a floor; the floor drain (1) is fastened with the mounting fittings (10) before casting the floor to a sidewall in a room where the floor drain (1) is placed in order to be fixed during casting of the floor, whereby the mounting fittings (10) are detachable mounting fittings, each fitting including a central support part (12) which at each end has a contact face (14, 16) contacting against the side wall and the floor drain (1) respectively, each contact face (14, 16) being provided with apertures (17, 18, 19) receiving a releasable fastening means (11) which interact with corresponding fastening means in the side wall and the floor drain (1); and the mounting fittings (10) are dismounted after the floor has been cast and is hardened.
     
    2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that for each mounting fitting on the floor drain, one or more threaded bushings are mounted in the floor drain, and that the mounting fitting is screwed into the threaded bushings and screwed to the wall.
     
    3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that tubular rivets are used for threaded bushings.
     
    4. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the mounting fitting includes elongated apertures for receiving screws for fastening to the wall and the floor drain.
     
    5. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the mounting fitting is fastened inside the floor drain, and preferably at the bottom of the floor drain.
     
    6. A floor drain (1) having mounting fittings (10), the floor drain (1) being mountable in its position before casting a floor and fastenable with the mounting fittings (10) before casting the floor to a sidewall in a room where the floor drain (1) is placed in order to be fixed during casting of the floor, characterised in that each mounting fitting (10) includes a central support part (12) which at each end has a contact face (14, 16) for contact against the side wall and the floor drain (1) respectively, that each contact face (14, 16) is provided with apertures (17, 18, 19) for receiving a releasable fastening means (11) which is adapted to interact with corresponding fastening means in the side wall and the floor drain (1).
     
    7. Floor drain according to claim 6, characterised in that the mounting fitting is made of a plate with bent end parts at the ends of a central plate-shaped support part.
     
    8. Floor drain according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the contact faces are disposed under an angle of 90° relative to the central support part.
     
    9. Floor drain according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that the mounting fitting is provided with elongated apertures in the contact faces for adjustable receiving screws which are screwed into the wall and into threaded bushings in the floor drain.
     
    10. Floor drain according to any of claims 6 -9, characterised in that it includes screws interacting with threaded tubular rivets in the floor drain and screw holes or Rawlplugs in the wall.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verfahren zur Montage eines Bodenablaufs (1), der Montagebeschläge (10)aufweist, wobei der Bodenablauf (1) vor dem Gießen eines Fußbodens an seine Position angebracht wird; der Bodenablauf (1) mittels den Montagebeschlägen (10) vor dem Gießen des Fußbodens an der Seitenwand in einem Raum befestigt wird, in dem der Bodenablauf angebracht wird, um während des Gießens des Fußbodens befestigt zu sein, wobei die Montagebesehläge abnehmbare Montagebeschläge (10) sind, wobei jeder Beschlag einen zentralen Unterstützungsteil (12) umfasst, der an jedem Ende eine Anlagefläche (14, 16) aufweist, die an die Seitenwand bzw. den Bodenablauf (1) anlegt, wobei jede Anlagefläche (14) mit Öffnungen (17, 18, 19) versehen ist, die ein lösbares Mittel (11) aufnehmen, das mit entsprechenden Befestigungsmitteln in der Seitenwand und dem Bodenablauf (1) zusammenwirken; und die Montagebeschläge (10) demontiert werden, wenn der Fußboden gegossen worden ist und gehärtet ist.
     
    2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass für jeden Montagebeschlag am Bodenablauf eine oder mehrere Gewindbuchsen im Bodenablauf montiert werden, und dass die Montagebeschläge in die Gewindbuchsen und an der Wand festgeschraubt werden.
     
    3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass für die Gewindbuchsen Rohmieten eingesetzt werden.
     
    4. Verfahren nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Montagebeschläge längliche Öffnungen zur Aufnahme von Schrauben zur Befestigung an der Wand und am Bodenablauf umfassen.
     
    5. Verfahren nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Montagebeschläge innerhalb des Bodenablaufs, und vorzugsweise am unteren Teil des Bodenablaufs befestigt werden.
     
    6. Bodenablauf (1), der Montagebeschläge (10) aufweist, wobei der Bodenablauf (1) vor dem Gießen eines Fußbodens an seine Position montierbar und vor dem Gießen des Fußbodens mittels der Montagebeschläge an der Seitenwand in einem Raum befestigbar ist, in dem der Bodenablauf (1) zur Befestigung während des Gießens des Fußbodens angebracht ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Beschlag einen zentralen Unterstützungsteil (12) umfasset, der an jedem Ende eine Anlagefläche (14, 16) zur Anlage an die Seitenwand bzw. den Bodenablauf (1) aufweist, dass jede Anlagefläche (14, 16) mit Öffnungen (17,18, 19) zur Aufnahme eines lösbaren Befestigungsmittels (11) versehen ist, das dazu eingerichtet ist, mit entsprechenden Befestigungsmitteln in der Seitenwand und dem Bodenablauf (1) zusammenzuwirken.
     
    7. Bodenablauf nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Montagebeschlag aus einer Platte mit umgebogenen Endteilen an den Enden eines zentralen plattenförmigen Unterstützungsteils hergestellt ist.
     
    8. Bodenablauf nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anlageflächen unter einem Winkel von 90° gegenüber des zentralen Unterstützungsteils angebracht sind.
     
    9. Bodenablauf nach Anspruch 6, 7 oder 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Montagebeschlag mit länglichen Öffnungen in den Anlageflächen zur justierbaren Aufnahme von Schrauben versehen ist, die in die Wand und in Gewindbuchsen im Bodenablauf eingeschraubt werden.
     
    10. Bodenablauf nach jedem der Ansprüche 6 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er Schrauben umfasst, die mit Gewindrohrnieten im Bodenablauf und Schraubenlöcher oder Dübeln in der Wand zusammenwirken.
     


    Revendications

    1. Procédé pour monter une bouche d'égout (1) ayant des ferrures (10) dans lesquelles la bouche d'égout (1) est positionnée dans sa position avant le coulage d'un sol ; la bouche d'égout (1) est fixée avec des ferrures (10), avant le coulage du sol, à un mur de côté d'une pièce dans laquelle la bouche d'égout (1) est placée pour être fixée pendant le coulage du sol, les ferrures (10) sont des ferrures détachables, chaque ferrure comprenant une partie centrale de soutien (12) ayant à chaque extrémité une surface de contact (14, 16) s'appuyant sur le mur de côté et la bouche d'égout (1) respectivement, chaque surface de contact (14, 16) étant réalisée avec des ouvertures (17, 18, 19) recevant un moyen de fixation détachable (11) coopérant avec des moyens de fixation correspondants dans le mur de côté et la bouche d'égout (1) ; et les ferrures (10) sont démontées après le coulage et le durcissement du sol.
     
    2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que pour chaque ferrure sur la bouche d'égout une ou plusieurs douilles filetées sont installées dans la bouche d'égout, et que la ferrure est vissée dans les douilles filetées et le mur.
     
    3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que des rivets tubulaires sont utilisés pour les douilles filetées.
     
    4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que la ferrure comprend des ouvertures allongées pour recevoir des vis en vue d'une fixation au mur et à la bouche d'égout.
     
    5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que la ferrure est fixée à l'intérieur de la bouche d'égout, et de préférence au fond de la bouche d'égout.
     
    6. Bouche d'égout (1) ayant des ferrures (10), la bouche d'égout (1) étant montable dans sa position avant le coulage d'un sol et fixable aux ferrures (10), avant le coulage du sol, à un mur de côté d'une pièce dans laquelle la bouche d'égout (1) est placée pour être fixée pendant le coulage du sol,
    caractérisée en ce que chaque ferrure (10) comprend une partie centrale de soutien (12) ayant à chaque extrémité une surface de contact (14, 16) s'appuyant sur le mur de côté et la bouche d'égout (1) respectivement, et que chaque surface de contact (14, 16) étant réalisée avec des ouvertures (17, 18, 19) recevant un moyen de fixation détachable (11) adapté pour coopérer avec des moyens de fixation correspondants dans le mur de côté et la bouche d'égout (1).
     
    7. Bouche d'égout selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que la ferrure est fabriquée à partir d'une plaque ayant des parties repliées aux extrémités d'une partie centrale de soutien en forme d'une plaque.
     
    8. Bouche d'égout selon la revendication 6 ou 7, caractérisée en ce que les surfaces de contact sont disposées sous un angle de 90° par rapport à la partie centrale de soutien.
     
    9. Bouche d'égout selon la revendication 6, 7 ou 8, caractérisée en ce que la ferrure est pourvue d'ouvertures allongées dans les surfaces de contact pour recevoir des vis d'ajustage qui sont vissées au mur et aux douilles filetées dans la bouche d'égout.
     
    10. Bouche d'égout selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 -9, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend des vis coopérant avec des rivets tubulaires filetés dans la bouche d'égout et des trous de vis ou des chevilles dans le mur.
     




    Drawing











    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description