The present invention relates in general to a gutter-shaped siphon construction, suitable to be used in the floor of for instance a bathroom, a shower room, etc., for receiving and draining water. Such gutter-shaped siphon is known in practice. An example of a gutter-shaped siphon is disclosed in WO-2007-004863.

A gutter-shaped siphon generally has a design as schematically shown in figures 1A and 1B. Figure 1A shows a schematic cross-section of a substantially U-shaped receiving gutter 10, with a bottom 11, walls 12, 13 and two flanges 14, 15 connecting to the upper end of the walls 12, 13 and directed outwards. At its upper side, the gutter is open: the space between the flanges 14, 15 defines an elongate entry opening 16. This gutter may for instance be bent as a whole from a plate, for instance a metal plate, but other embodiments are also possible. The flanges 14, 15 are at the same level as or somewhat lower than the bottom of for instance a shower cabin or shower tray, and can form a whole therewith. The bottom 11 may rest on a floor (not shown), for instance a concrete floor of a bathroom. The total height of the gutter 10 may for instance be about 5-6 cm. The receiving gutter 10 is connected to a drainpipe 20 directed substantially perpendicular to a side wall (the right hand side wall 12 in the figure), which drainpipe 20 may lie substantially horizontally on said floor and connect to drainpipes to a sewer or the like. At the location of the drainpipe 20, the corresponding side wall 12 is provided with a passage 17.

The function of the receiving gutter 10 is receiving the water that ends up on the bottom of the shower cabin or shower tray during use. Then, the water flows from this bottom via the receiving gutter towards the drainpipe. If there would be no further provisions, the receiving gutter 10 would empty when the supply of water stops, and there would be an open connection between the receiving gutter and the sewer, which will lead to stench annoyance in the bathroom concerned. In order to avoid this, the receiving gutter 10 is provided with a stench valve or stench lock according to the well-known gooseneck principle, assuring that the airway from the sewer to the entry opening 16 of the gutter is always closed by an amount of water. To that end, a collection tray 40 is arranged in the receiving gutter 10, having a closed bottom 41 and closed side walls 42, 43, 44, 45. The collection tray 40 may be open at its upper side, as shown, and has an opening 47 in a side wall 42 communicating with the drainpipe 20. In the example shown, the bottom 41 of the collecting tray 40 coincides with a part of the bottom 11 of the receiving gutter 10 and said side wall 42 of the collecting tray 40 coincides with a part of the side wall 12 of the receiving gutter 10. A cap 60 is arranged over the collecting tray 40, having a closed ceiling 61 and closed side walls 62, 63, 64. The lower edge of the side walls 62, 63, 64 of the cap 60, at least the highest point thereof, is at a lower level than the upper edge of the side walls 42, 43, 44, 45 of the collecting tray 40, at least the lowest point thereof.

During use, water flows from the receiving gutter 10 under the cap 60 into the collecting tray 40, and from there towards the drainpipe 20. When the water supply stops, a layer of water W remains standing in the receiving gutter 10, of which, as shown in the figures, the height under normal circumstances is determined by the upper edge of the side walls 42, 43, 44, 45 of the collecting tray 40, at least the lowest point thereof. Air from the sewer via the drain pipe 20 can now not go beyond the space under the cap 60. In order to be able to escape from the receiving gutter, this air should have to pass under the lower edge of the side walls 62, 63, 64 of the cap 60, at least the highest point thereof, but this course is blocked by the water W.

An important problem in the case of known gutter-shaped siphon designs is cleaning thereof. After some time, all kinds of pollutions collect in the receiving gutter, such as hairs and soap rests, which are difficult to flush away via the receiving tray 40. It is true that it is possible to remove the cap 60, causing the gooseneck-shaped trajectory to be lifted, but still the upstanding side walls of the collecting tray 40 form a barrier. In the case of known gutter designs, it is further a disadvantage that parts are fixedly connected to the bottom 11 of the receiving gutter 10. As a consequence, such gutters must be cleaned by hand.

An important aim of the present invention is to provide a gutter-shaped siphon design in which the said disadvantages are eliminated or at least reduced without reducing the functionality described.

Another siphon system within a receiving drain, having the features of the preambles of claim 1 resp. claim 12, is known from EP1571269A. According to an important feature of the present invention, to this end a siphon system according to the present invention has the features of claim 1, and a drain system according to the present invention has the features of claim 12.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following description with reference to the drawings, in which same reference numerals indicate same or similar parts, and in which:

• figure 1A shows a schematic cross-section of a receiving gutter;
• figure 1B shows a schematic longitudinal section of a part of the receiving gutter of figure 1A;
• figure 2A shows a horizontal cross-section of a part of a gutter-shaped siphon system according to the present invention;
• figure 2B on a larger scale shows a schematic cross-section of some parts of said siphon system;
• figure 2C shows a cross-section comparable to figure 1A of a receiving gutter provided with a siphon system according to the present invention;
• figure 3 shows a schematic transparent perspective bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the siphon system according to the present invention;
• figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a cap in the siphon system according to the present invention.

Figure 2A shows a horizontal cross-section of a part of a gutter-shaped siphon system 100 according to the present invention, and figure 2B on a larger scale shows a schematic cross-section of some parts of this siphon system 100, in dissembled condition. A disconnectable collecting tray is indicated by reference numeral 400. The disconnectable collecting tray 400 is connected to a mounting flange 213 associated with the passage opening 17 of the gutter 10. This mounting flange 213 may be fixedly connected to the wall 12 of the gutter 10, but preferably is a part of a pipe coupling piece 200 disconnectably attached to the wall 12, which will be the first to be discussed hereunder.

The pipe coupling piece 200 comprises a transfer tube segment 210 and a coupling sleeve 230. The transfer tube segment 210 comprises a cylindrical tube part 211 having an outer surface that is provided with an outer threading over at least a part of its length, and is at an entrance end 212 provided with a mounting flange 213 with radial dimensions larger than those of the said outer threading. On its side directed towards the pipe part 211, the mounting flange 213 has a pressing face 214 substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the pipe piece 211. The coupling sleeve 230 comprises a first cylindrical pipe piece 231 and a second cylindrical pipe piece 232, which are arranged aligned with each other and which can be made as a whole. The second cylindrical pipe piece 232 is shown with smaller radial dimensions than the first cylindrical pipe piece 231, the inner diameter of the second cylindrical pipe piece 232 being equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical pipe piece 211 of the transfer pipe segment 210, which is preferred but not essential. The first cylindrical pipe piece 231 has an inner surface that is provided with an inner threading over at least a part of its length, matching the outer threading of the transfer pipe segment 210. On its end directed away from the second cylindrical pipe piece 232, the first cylindrical pipe piece 231 has an end face 234 substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the pipe piece 231.

Before use, a receiving gutter 10 is provided with a circular passage opening 17 in a longitudinal wall 12 (see figure 1A), with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer threading of the transfer pipe segment 210. This transfer pipe segment 210 is placed in the receiving gutter 10, and its cylindrical pipe piece 211 is pushed through the passage opening 17 from the inside. Subsequently, at the outside of the receiving gutter 10, the first cylindrical pipe part 231 of the coupling sleeve 230 is screwed onto the cylindrical pipe piece 211 of the transfer pipe segment 210, wherein the wall 12 of the receiving gutter 10 (shown in dotted lines in figure 2) is clamped between on the one hand the pressing face 214 of the mounting flange 213 of the transfer pipe segment 210 and on the other hand the end face 234 of the first cylindrical pipe part 231 of the coupling sleeve 230.

In principle, a sufficient sealing will be achieved here with respect to the wall 12 of the receiving gutter 10, it being noted that the water to be drained from a shower tray is not under a high pressure. Preferably however, and as shown, a circular groove 235 is arranged is the said end face 234 for accommodating an O-ring (not shown for sake of simplicity). This O-ring assures an even better water-tight sealing with respect to the outer side of the receiving gutter wall 12. Alternatively, or additionally, such O-ring accommodating groove might also be arranged in the said pressing face 214 of the transfer pipe segment 210.

Now, the receiving gutter 10 with the pipe coupling piece 200 attached thereto can be mounted on its destined position, and a drain pipe can be connected to the second cylindrical pipe part 232, for instance by gluing. After placing the receiving gutter and for instance a shower tray, or the application of a shower floor or the like, the coupling sleeve 230 is no longer accessible from outside.

The design described is particularly useful for providing a gutter with a pipe coupling piece with which a drain pipe can be coupled to the gutter. However, there are also other ways to achieve this. For instance, a pipe coupling piece may be glued to the gutter. In the context of the present invention, it is important that a mounting flange 213, extending around the drain opening of the gutter, is present at the inner side of the gutter.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the mounting flange 213 has, at its side directed away from the pipe part 211, a coupling face 215 substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the pipe part 211, as well as two substantially vertically directed guide members 216 with a substantially L-shaped cross-section at opposite sides of said coupling face 215. Each guide member 216 has a body part 217 directed substantially perpendicular to the coupling face 215 and, at the end thereof directed away from the coupling face 215, a leg part 218 directed substantially parallel to the coupling face 215, the leg parts 218 being directed towards each other.

A collecting tray 400 implemented according to this aspect of the present invention preferably has a substantially elongate shape and has a passage opening 407 with a connection flange 410 in one of its longitudinal side walls 402. At its side directed away from the tray 400, the connection flange 410 has a coupling face 415.

The collecting tray 400 may have a horizontal bottom and vertical walls, but figure 3 illustrates that the tray 400 preferably has a contour of half a circle. The connection flange 410 preferably has vertical side edges, and may as a whole have a square or rectangular contour. The dimensions of this connection flange 410 match those of the said guide members 216. The collection tray 400 can be mounted by placing its connection flange 410 from the top into the guide members 216 and to move it downwards. A correct vertical position is achieved by a stop. This stop may for instance be formed at the lower end of the guide members 216; then, the collection tray 400 achieves its correct vertical position when the connection flange 410 abuts this stop. This stop may for instance also be formed at the upper end of the connection flange 410, as illustrated by a dotted line 411; then, the collection tray 400 achieves its correct vertical position when a guide member 216 abuts this stop.

In the correct vertical position (operational position) of the collecting tray 400, its passage opening 407 is aligned with the pipe part 211 of the pipe coupling piece 200, the coupling face 415 of the connection flange 410 of the collecting tray 400 lying flush against the coupling face 215 of the mounting flange 213 of the pipe coupling piece 200. Water reaching the collecting tray 400 thus flows away via the transfer pipe segment 210 and the coupling sleeve 230 towards the sewer. In the case of a good dimensioning of the connection flange 410 and the guide members 216, a sufficient sealing will be achieved in principle between the coupling faces 215 and 415 in this case, it being noted that the water to be drained in the collecting tray is not under a high pressure. Preferably however, and as shown, a circular groove 416 is arranged in the coupling face 415 of the connection flange 410 of the collecting tray 400, for accommodating an O-ring (not shown for sake of simplicity). This O-ring assures an even better water-tight sealing between the coupling faces 215 and 415. Alternatively, such O-ring accommodating groove might also be arranged in the coupling face 215 of the transfer pipe segment 210.

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the cap 600 according to the present invention illustrated in figure 3, of which the function is comparable to the cap 60 discussed in the introduction. The cap 600 has a substantially rectangular contour, with an upper wall 601, a front wall 602, a rear wall 603 and side walls 604. The cap 600 is open at its lower side. In its front wall 602, the cap 600 is provided with a substantially recess 610, connected to the lower edge 605 of the front wall 602, and confined by vertical edges 612 and a horizontal upper edge 611. Also the cap 600 is carried by the pipe coupling piece 200. To this end, the mounting flange 213 of the pipe coupling piece 200 has a step-shaped recess 260 adjacent the pressing face 214. This step-shaped recess 260 comprises wall parts 261 directed substantially parallel to the central axis of the pipe coupling piece 200, connecting to the pressing face 214, and a wall 262 directed substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the pipe coupling piece 200, connecting to said wall part 261. The longitudinal dimensions of said wall parts 261 correspond to the thickness of the front wall 602 of the cap 600, and the mutual distance between said wall parts 261 corresponds to the mutual distance between the edges 612 of the cap recess 610. The cap 600 is placed over the tray 400 with a vertical movement directed downwards, wherein the pipe coupling piece extends through the cap recess 610, and wherein the cap front wall 602 fits closely around the step-shaped recess 260 of the mounting flange 213 and is confined closely between the wall 12 of the gutter 10 and the wall 262 of the mounting flange 213. This fitting is sufficient seailing to counteract escaping air and to thus counteract stench annoyance.

Before normal use, an ornamental grille (not shown) may be arranged over the gutter 10.

When it is desired to clean the receiving gutter 10, the possible ornamental grille is removed, and then the cap 600 can be removed by a sliding movement directed upwards. After that, the collecting tray 400 can be removed, also by a sliding movement directed upwards, wherein the mounting flange 410 of the cap slides in the vertical guide members 216. Now, the entire receiving gutter 10 is free, and can easily be flushed clean, wherein dirt parts can flow away with the flushing water directly through the transfer pipe segment 210. After that, the collecting tray 400 and the cap 600 can, after also being flushed clean if desired, be placed again by a sliding movement directed downwards, and after placing the possible ornamental grille the device is again ready for use.

Thus the present invention provides a gutter-shaped siphon design of which the interior components are completely dismountable in a particularly simple manner to be able to clean the gutter well.

It is noted that the present invention is particularly applicable in the case of elongate gutter designs, wherein the elongate side walls of the gutter are planar, but, with some obvious modifications, the present invention can also be applied in embodiments where the outer wall of the receiving gutter (or receiving tray) is curved.

It is further noted that the present invention is also embodied in a siphon system for a receiving gutter (or receiving tray), comprising the collecting tray 400, the cap 600, and the pipe coupling piece 200, which siphon system is indicated by the reference numeral 100. A receiving gutter (or receiving tray) provided with such siphon system 100 is indicated as drain system 700.

By way of example, it has been mentioned in the above that the receiving gutter 10 may be made of for instance a metal plate. In such case, the wall thickness of the gutter 10 will be some millimetres only. However, it is also possible that the receiving gutter is made from a thicker material, for instance plastic or marble. The length of the cylindrical pipe part 211 provided with threading of the transfer pipe segment 210 is large enough, typically some centimetres, to accommodate such differences in thickness.

It will be clear for a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed in the above, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. Features which are only described for a certain embodiment can also be applied in other embodiments described, as long as falling within the scope as defined by the claims. Features of different embodiments may be combined to achieve another embodiment, as long as falling within the scope as defined by the claims. Features which have not been explicitly described as being essential may also be omitted.

It is for instance possible that the collecting tray 400 is provided with vertically directed guide member with a substantially L-shaped cross-section, engaging around the mounting flange 213.

It is further possible that the upper wall 601 of the cap 600 is provided with venting holes.