(19)
(11) EP 2 466 022 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
28.06.2017 Bulletin 2017/26

(21) Application number: 11190296.1

(22) Date of filing: 23.11.2011
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E03F 5/04(2006.01)

(54)

DRAIN TROUGH WITH HOLDER

ABFLUSSKANAL MIT HALTER

CHENEAU D'ECOULEMENT AVEC SUPPORT


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 16.12.2010 NL 2005871

(43) Date of publication of application:
20.06.2012 Bulletin 2012/25

(60) Divisional application:
16190806.6 / 3141671

(73) Proprietor: Easy Sanitary Solutions B.V.
7575 BK Oldenzaal (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Keizers, Jurgen Hendrik Peter Jozeph
    7582 GH Losser (NL)

(74) Representative: 't Jong, Bastiaan Jacob 
Inaday B.V. Hengelosestraat 141
7521 AA Enschede
7521 AA Enschede (NL)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 600 222
US-A1- 2010 162 481
DE-U1-202006 014 745
   
       
    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


    [0001] The invention relates to a drain channel, comprising:
    • a lower tray with a bottom surface and an outlet opening arranged in the bottom surface;
    • a holder placed on the bottom surface of the lower tray, which holder comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a bottom surface and standing walls along the bottom surface.


    [0002] Such a drain channel according to the preamble is known from DE 202006014745 and is known as an elongate shower drain. The holder placed in the lower tray here comprises a tile identical to the tiles surrounding the shower drain. With the exception of a number of narrow inflow gaps, the shower drain is hereby concealed from view.

    [0003] In the known drain channels the holder is usually manufactured from a thick plate of stainless steel, which is bent to form a tray of U-shaped cross-section. The upper edges of the tray are preferably finished here in order to avoid sharp edges and unevenness. Supports can further be arranged on the underside of the holder in order to hold the holder a distance from the bottom surface of the lower tray. Water can hereby flow along the sides of the holder into the lower tray and then flow under the holder to the outlet opening. Because different processes are required for such a holder, the costs are relatively high.

    [0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a drain with holder according to the preamble, wherein the manufacturing costs can be reduced.

    [0005] This object is achieved according to a drain channel according to claim 1.

    [0006] A strong wall can still be obtained with a thin plate by folding the plate double. In addition, the double-folding at the same time creates a finished edge on the upper side which is also nicely straight. The folded edge ensures a rounded upper edge of the holder. Because a thinner plate can be used to manufacture the holder, the material costs are hereby reduced and the weight is also reduced. The holder can moreover be manufactured using only a single bending machine, and it is instance possible to dispense with welding operations and grinding operations.

    [0007] The downward directed wall part hereby simultaneously forms a support or spacer, whereby the holder is held at a distance from the lower tray.

    [0008] Possible supports under the holder can also be concealed from view by the downward directed wall parts.

    [0009] An advantage here is that the lower edge of the downward directed wall part can be easily adapted to the slope usually present in the lower tray.

    [0010] In another embodiment at least one recess is arranged in the lower edge of the downward directed wall part. Owing to this at least one recess the water can move under the holder more easily and flow into the outlet opening of the lower tray.

    [0011] In a preferred embodiment of the drain channel a wall part comprises a protrusion for holding the wall part at a distance. By giving a wall part a protrusion a required distance can hereby be obtained, and the holder can for instance be centered in the lower tray or between a finishing layer of tiles.

    [0012] An object, such as for instance a tile or a layer of glass, can be placed in the holder of the drain channel according to the invention.

    [0013] In known shower drains it is possible to reverse the holder with tile and place it in this position in the lower tray, whereby the underside of the holder becomes visible. Because the underside of the holder is embodied as stainless steel, an attractive strip of stainless steel thus becomes visible.

    [0014] The drawback of this known shower drain is however that one of the two possible visible surfaces lies against the lower tray of the drain and can be damaged. When people walk over the drain channel, the holder will slide back and forth in the lower tray. Scratches may then result on each contact surface between the holder and the lower tray. After a period of time the holder can hereby no longer be reversed because the scratches on the surface are unacceptable.

    [0015] This drawback of the known prior art is solved with yet another embodiment of the invention, which comprises a protective cover for covering the object placed in the holder, the protective cover having an upper surface and an edge depending along the edge of the upper surface.

    [0016] With the protective cover it is possible to opt to allow either the protective cover or, after removal of the protective cover, the object placed in the holder to determine the appearance of the drain channel. Now that the holder thus no longer need be reversed, the risk of damage to one of the visible surfaces is avoided.

    [0017] In addition, the use of a protective cover over the object placed in the holder has the advantage that the protective cover itself need not be supporting when the protective cover lies against the upper surface of the object. The material thickness of the protective cover can hereby be limited, which is also advantageous for the overall height of the holder.

    [0018] Now that the cost of the holder can be reduced with the invention, it can be advantageous to provide both a holder and a grating in one packaging for a drain. This reduces the storage for different variants of a product.

    [0019] In a preferred embodiment of the drain channel according to the invention the depending edge of the protective cover engages at least partially round the holder. The upper edges of the holder are hereby concealed from view by the protective cover.

    [0020] In another embodiment of the drain channel according to the invention the protective cover has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

    [0021] In yet another embodiment of the drain channel according to the invention the lower tray has standing walls along the edge of the bottom surface.

    [0022] In the drain channel according to the invention the lower tray can further be elongate, and a siphon is arranged on the outlet opening. Such an elongate embodiment has the advantage that the shower drain can extend over the width of the shower floor and that a slope need be provided in only one direction in the floor.

    [0023] In a highly preferred embodiment of the drain according to invention the object placed in the holder is a tile and the protective cover is manufactured from stainless steel.

    [0024] In yet another embodiment of the drain according to the invention the object placed in the holder comprises adjusting means for adjusting the height of the protective cover. Using the adjusting means it is possible to make the upper surface of the protective cover flush with the surface of the surrounding tiles.

    [0025] According to the invention the object can also be formed by a strip of plastic, such as polystyrene, to which is adhered a plate of a desired material, for instance glass, stainless steel or wood. The strip of plastic imparts sufficient strength, while the adhered plate defines the appearance.

    [0026] The adhered plate can optionally rest with its edges on the upper edges of the holder. In such a case the object need not rest on the bottom surface of the holder, whereby space is available for discharge of water. In addition, it is possible to provide for instance LED lighting under the adhered plate.

    [0027] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures.

    Figure 1 shows a perspective view with exploded parts of an embodiment of a drain channel according to the invention.

    Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the drain channel according to figure 1.

    Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of a drain channel according to the invention.

    Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a finishing frame of a third embodiment according to the invention.

    Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment.

    Figures 6 and 7 show an example of a drain channel not according to the invention.

    Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an example of a drain channel not according to the invention.

    Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment according to the invention.



    [0028] Figure 1 shows a drain channel 1 according to the invention. This drain channel 1 has a lower tray 2 with a bottom surface 5 and standing walls 6. An outlet opening 7 to which a siphon 3 is connected is arranged in bottom surface 5. Siphon 3 is provided with an outflow 4 to which an outlet pipe can be connected.

    [0029] Placed in lower tray 2 is a finishing frame 8 with which the sides of adjacent tiles can be finished. This finishing frame 8 is optionally height-adjustable so as to thus be able to allow for thickness variation in the tiles.

    [0030] A holder 9 is further placed in lower tray 2. This holder 9 is manufactured from a U-shaped profile. The U-shaped profile is directed with the open side upward. Provided on the underside are supports 10 which hold holder 9 a distance from bottom surface 5 of lower tray 2. These supports 10 are bent out of the bottom wall of holder 9.

    [0031] As will be apparent from figure 2, the upright longitudinal edge of holder 9 is folded double so that a strong and finished edge is created.

    [0032] Supports 10 can optionally also be provided in releasable and exchangeable manner so that the height of holder 9 in lower tray 2 can be adjusted.

    [0033] An object 14 is placed in holder 9. This object 14 can be a tile, but also a mouldable and curing material such as for instance concrete or Corian.

    [0034] A protective cover 11 can optionally be placed over holder 9 and object 14. This protective cover 11 has an upper surface 12 and depending side walls 13. In the shown embodiment the protective cover 11 has a U-shaped cross-section.

    [0035] Because the underlying object 14 and holder 9 must be sufficiently strong even without protective cover 11, the wall thickness of protective cover 11 can remain small. The advantage hereof is that the material costs for protective cover 11 remain limited.

    [0036] Figure 3 shows a second embodiment 20 according to the invention. This embodiment 20 has a lower tray 21 with horizontal flanges 22.

    [0037] A holder 23 is placed in lower tray 21. Holder 23 has a U-shaped cross-section in which an adjusting foot 24 is arranged. This adjusting foot 24 has a support surface 25 on which protective cover 26 can rest.

    [0038] Using adjusting foot 24 the height of protective cover 26 can be set so that it lies flush with a surrounding tile floor. Drain channel 20 can thus be adapted to the thickness of tiles 27.

    [0039] In this embodiment the side walls of holder 23 are strengthened and finished by inward double-folding of the edge.

    [0040] Figure 4 shows a holder 30 of a third embodiment according to the invention. Holder 30 is folded from a single plate such that a bottom surface 31 is formed with standing walls 32, 33 around bottom surface 31. Longitudinal walls 32 are folded over to form downward directed side walls 34. These side walls 34 extend to a position below bottom surface 31, so that side walls 34 function as legs.

    [0041] Recesses 35 are further provided in the lower edge of side walls 34 so that water for discharge can flow under holder 30. Protrusions 36 formed from the downward directed wall part are further provided at suitable positions on side walls 34 to enable centering of holder 30.

    [0042] Figure 5 shows a variant of holder 30 according to figure 4. In this embodiment holder 40 is also folded from a thin plate. The thus formed side walls 41 of holder 40 are directed vertically downward.

    [0043] In this embodiment holder 40 is placed on a flat plate 43. This flat plate 43 is provided with an outlet pipe 44.

    [0044] An object 45 such as a tile or a glass part can further be placed in holder 40. This object can optionally be covered with a protective cover 46. An example 50 of a drain channel not according to the invention is shown in figures 6 and 7. This drain channel 50 has a lower tray with a bottom surface 51 in which an outlet opening 52 is provided. Standing walls 53 with horizontal flanges 54 are provided along the edge of bottom surface 51.

    [0045] A holder formed from a U-shaped profile 55 is placed in lower tray 51, 52, 53, 54. This U-shaped profile 55 has openings 56 in that wall parts 57 are bent outward.

    [0046] U-shaped profiles 55 lie against side walls 53 of the lower tray and thereby also cover the side part of tiles 58.

    [0047] A protective cover 59 can be arranged over the holder formed by U-shaped profiles 55. A secondary holder, in which an object such as a tile or glass part can be arranged, can optionally also be arranged on U-shaped profiles 55.

    [0048] Figure 8 shows an example 60 not according to the invention. In this example 60 the holder is folded from a single plate so that a bottom surface 61 and two standing walls 62 result. Bent out of bottom surface 61 are tongues 63 which run parallel to upright walls 62.

    [0049] Bending tongues outward 63 creates openings 64 in bottom surface 61.

    [0050] A spacer block 65 is clamped between tongues 63 to enable placing of holder 61, 62 at a determined height in a lower tray. Spacer blocks 65 are provided on the end surfaces with protrusions 66 which are placed into openings 67 of tongues 63 and thereby hold spacer blocks 65 fixedly.

    [0051] Figure 9 shows a cross-section of an embodiment according to the invention. This variant 70 has a holder with a bottom surface 71, an upward directed wall 72 and a double-folded downward directed wall 73. Tongues 74 between which a spacer block 75 is clamped are likewise bent out of bottom surface 71.

    [0052] Because downward directed wall 73 extends as far as tongues 74, openings 76 are concealed from view.


    Claims

    1. Drain channel (1; 20), comprising:

    - a lower tray (2; 21; 43) with a bottom surface (5) and an outlet opening arranged in the bottom surface;

    - a holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) placed on the bottom surface (5) of the lower tray (2; 21), which holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 60; 70) comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a bottom surface (31; 71) and standing walls (32, 33; 72, 73) along the bottom surface (31; 71);

    characterized in that
    at least one standing wall (32; 72, 73) of the holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) is formed from double-folded plate such that the wall has an upward directed wall part and a downward directed wall part (34; 73) lying thereagainst,
    wherein supports (10; 36; 74) are arranged on the underside of the holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) in order to hold the holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) at a distance relative to the bottom surface (5) of the lower tray (2; 21), which supports (10; 36; 74) are either formed by the downward directed wall part (34; 73) extending to a position below the bottom surface (31; 71) of the holder or are bent out of the bottom surface of the holder (9; 23).
     
    2. Drain channel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one recess (35) is arranged in the lower edge of the downward directed wall part (34; 73).
     
    3. Drain channel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a wall part (34) comprises a protrusion (36) for holding the wall part (34) at a distance.
     
    4. Drain channel (1; 20) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising an object (14; 45), such as for instance a tile, placed in the holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70).
     
    5. Drain channel (1; 20) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a protective cover (12; 26; 46) for covering the object (14; 45) placed in the holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70), the protective cover having an upper surface and an edge depending along the edge of the upper surface.
     
    6. Drain channel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the depending edge of the protective cover (12; 26; 46) engages at least partially round the holder (9; 23; 30; 40; 70).
     
    7. Drain channel as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the protective cover (12; 26) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
     
    8. Drain channel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the lower tray (2; 21; 43) has standing walls along the edge of the bottom surface.
     
    9. Drain channel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the lower tray (2; 21; 43) is elongate, and a siphon is arranged on the outlet opening.
     
    10. Drain channel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the object (14; 45) placed in the holder is a tile and wherein the protective cover (12; 26; 46) is manufactured from stainless steel.
     
    11. Drain channel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the object placed in the holder comprises adjusting means (24, 25) for adjusting the height of the protective cover (26).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Abflusskanal (1; 20), umfassend:

    - eine untere Schale (2; 21; 43) mit einer Bodenfläche (5) und einer Auslassöffnung, die in der Bodenfläche angeordnet ist;

    - einen Halter (9; 23; 30; 40; 70), der auf der Bodenfläche (5) der unteren Schale (2; 21) platziert ist, wobei der Halter (9; 23; 30; 40; 60; 70) einen im Wesentlichen U-förmigen Querschnitt mit einer Bodenfläche (31; 71) und stehenden Wänden (32, 33; 72,73) entlang der Bodenfläche (31; 71) umfasst;

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    zumindest eine stehende Wand (32; 72,73) des Halters (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) aus einer doppelt gefalteten Platte gebildet ist, sodass die Wand einen nach oben gerichteten Wandteil und einen dagegen liegenden, nach unten gerichteten Wandteil (34; 73) aufweist, wobei Träger (10; 36; 74) auf der Unterseite des Halters (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) angeordnet sind, um den Halter (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) in einem Abstand relativ zu der Bodenfläche (5) der unteren Schale (2; 21) zu halten, wobei die Träger (10; 36; 74) entweder von dem nach unten gerichteten Wandteil (34; 73), das sich zu einer Position unterhalb der Bodenfläche (31; 71) des Halter erstreckt, gebildet sind oder aus der Bodenfläche des Halters (9; 23) heraus gebogen sind.
     
    2. Abflusskanal nach Anspruch 1, wobei zumindest eine Aussparung (35) in der unteren Kante des nach unten gerichteten Wandteils (34; 73) angeordnet ist.
     
    3. Abflusskanal nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei ein Wandteil (34) einen Vorsprung (36) zum Halten des Wandteils (34) in einem Abstand umfasst.
     
    4. Abflusskanal (1; 20) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, umfassend einen Gegenstand (14; 45), wie beispielsweise eine Fliese, der in dem Halter (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) platziert ist.
     
    5. Abflusskanal (1; 20) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, umfassend eine Schutzabdeckung (12; 26; 46) zum Abdecken des Gegenstands (14; 45), der in dem Halter (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) platziert ist, wobei die Schutzabdeckung eine obere Fläche und eine Kante, die entlang der Kante der oberen Fläche herabhängt, aufweist.
     
    6. Abflusskanal nach Anspruch 5, wobei die herabhängende Kante der Schutzabdeckung (12; 26; 46) zumindest teilweise den Halter (9; 23; 30; 40; 70) umgreift.
     
    7. Abflusskanal nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei die Schutzabdeckung (12; 26) einen im Wesentlichen U-förmigen Querschnitt aufweist.
     
    8. Abflusskanal nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die untere Schale (2; 21; 43) stehende Wände entlang der Kante der Bodenfläche aufweist.
     
    9. Abflusskanal nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die untere Schale (2; 21; 43) länglich ist und wobei ein Siphon auf der Auslassöffnung angeordnet ist.
     
    10. Abflusskanal nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der in dem Halter platzierte Gegenstand (14; 45) eine Fliese ist und wobei die Schutzabdeckung (12; 26; 46) aus Edelstahl gefertigt ist.
     
    11. Abflusskanal nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der in dem Halter platzierte Gegenstand Einstellmittel (24, 25) zum Einstellen der Höhe der Schutzabdeckung (26) umfasst.
     


    Revendications

    1. Conduit de drain (1 ; 20), comprenant :

    - un plateau inférieur (2 ; 21 ; 43) avec une surface de fond (5) et une ouverture de sortie ménagée dans la surface de fond ;

    - un support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 70) placé sur la surface de fond (5) du plateau inférieur (2 ; 21), lequel support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 60 ; 70) comprend une section transversale sensiblement en forme de U avec une surface de fond (31 ; 71) et des parois verticales (32, 33 ; 72, 73) le long de la surface de fond (31; 71);

    caractérisé en ce que
    au moins une paroi verticale (32 ; 72, 73) du support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 70) est formée d'une plaque à double pli de sorte que la paroi présente une partie de paroi dirigée vers le haut et une partie dirigée vers le bas (34 ; 73) s'étendant contre elle, dans lequel des soutiens (10 ; 36 ; 74) sont ménagés sur la face de dessous du support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 70) de manière à soutenir le support (9 ; 23 ; 30; 40; 70) à une distance par rapport à la surface de fond (5) du plateau inférieur (2 ; 21), ces supports (10 ; 36 ; 74) étant soit formés par la partie de paroi dirigée vers le bas (34 ; 73) s'étendant vers une position au-dessous de la surface inférieure (31 ; 71) du support, soit formés pliés à partir de la surface de fond du support (9 ; 23).
     
    2. Conduit de drain selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins un évidement (35) est ménagé dans le bord inférieur de la partie de paroi dirigée vers le bas (34 ; 73).
     
    3. Conduit de drain selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel une partie de paroi (34) comprend une saillie (36) pour maintenir la partie de paroi (34) à une certaine distance.
     
    4. Conduit de drain (1 ; 20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un objet (14 ; 45), tel que, par exemple, un carrelage, placé dans le support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 70).
     
    5. Conduit de drain (1 ; 20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un couvercle de protection (12 ; 26 ; 46) pour recouvrir l'objet (14 ; 45) placé dans le support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 70), le couvercle de protection ayant une surface supérieure et un bord dépendant du bord de la surface supérieure.
     
    6. Conduit de drain selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le bord dépendant du couvercle de protection (12, 26 ; 46) s'engage au moins partiellement autour du support (9 ; 23 ; 30 ; 40 ; 70).
     
    7. Conduit de drain selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel le couvercle de protection (12 ; 26) a une section transversale sensiblement en forme de U.
     
    8. Conduit de drain selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le plateau inférieur (2 ; 21 ; 43) présente des parois verticales selon le bord de la surface de fond.
     
    9. Conduit de drain selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le plateau inférieur (2 ; 21 ; 43) est allongé, et un siphon est disposé sur l'ouverture de sortie.
     
    10. Conduit de drain selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'objet (14 ; 45) placé dans le support est un carrelage et dans lequel le couvercle de protection (12 ; 26 ; 46) est fabriqué en acier inoxydable.
     
    11. Conduit de drain selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'objet placé dans le support comprend des moyens de réglage (24, 25) pour ajuster la hauteur du couvercle de protection (26).
     




    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