Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"SIPHON SYSTEM ATTAINABLE DIRECTLY DURING THE FORMING OF
SANITARY WARE"
The present invention relates to a new system of formation of sanitary ware,
in particular
shower trays, washbasins, bidets and water closets, wherein their shape
already entails the
presence of interior enclosed spaces and partitions already equipped with the
height
difference required for the formation of their own siphon system, so that the
connection of
the sanitary fixtures to the sewer pipeline effectively prevents the backflow
of sewer gases,
removing the considerable volume of the various trap devices, which at present
must be
connected to the said sanitary ware during installation.
One innovative feature of the present system is to entail, during the forming
of the vari-
ous sanitary ware, the formation of an intermediate partition between the
water receiving
chamber and a deposit chamber or alternatively a drain chamber of the same
sanitary ware,
which partition must have an edge either lower than the level of the chamber
or lower than
the drain hole rim of the fixture, so that the said edge of the intermediate
partition is always
immersed in a minimum quantity of standing water, which, not flowing out,
creates an air
seal between the drain area and the receiving area, thus preventing the
backflow of sewer
and drain gases in the receiving chamber, thereby spreading into the living
areas, in
compliance with the principle of a common siphon effect.
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Sanitary bowls and sanitary fixtures or wares in general are intended for
receiving and 81
temporary retaining all water used either for personal hygiene, physiological
needs and
house cleaning and drainage of the resulting wastewaters into the pipelines
leading to the
sewer line.
To prevent sewer odours from seeping back into the pipes through the drain
hole of each
sanitary fixture, entering the bathrooms, houses or buildings in general, an
established
technique has entailed the interposition of a trap between the drainpipe and
the sanitary
fixture, that with its trap dip constantly filled with water, seals an entire
lower section of
the pipe, creating a barrier against the backflow of sewer gases.
Obviously, with the passing of time this technique went through several
enhancements,
ranging from the solution suggested in patent US 2,055,490 in 1935 to the
system
described with patent US 5,404,597 in 1995 or with patent EP 1 170 436 in
2001, all
varying for the distinctive shapes of the trap or for the new materials
employed in their
manufacture, improving its shape and functionality.
DE 1 984 993 U discloses a washbasin an drain outlet and an overflow outlet
meet a catch
basin that is arranged under the washbasin itself and is connected with a
drain conduit
through a raised threshold that is arranged at a higher level with respect to
the drain outlet
and the overflow outlet to form a siphon.
GB 1 254 897 discloses a wash-hand basin that comprises a trap which comprises
a
member which is formed of the same material as, and integrally with, the basin
and is
divided into a descending part in an extension of the basin outlet aperture
and a connected
rising part by a partition; and a sleeve mounted inside the outlet aperture
extension and
removable through it. A drain pipe is connected to the outlet of the trap and
is formed
integrally with the basin and of the same material.
CA 2 337 185 discloses a urinal structure mounted on a wall and including an
outlet pipe
in fluid communication with the basin of the urinal for disposal of waste
water from the
urinal during a flushing action. A cleanout opening formed in the urinal
structure in a
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The same inconvenience occurs nevertheless with water closets, bidets and
washbasins
without pedestal and therefore mounted to the wall, where the drainpipe is
also fitted,
because these sanitary fixtures are at present provided with unlikely
aesthetic exterior
mounted drain fittings, which must be concealed by furniture due to the
overall size of the
trap, that must be joined to them below the drain outlet.
The most recent technology, mainly indicated for the drainage of water from
bathtubs or
shower trays, entails the formation of a receiving chamber, to be fitted under
the sanitary
fixture during installation, whose edge is higher than the drain pipe joint,
where the
overflowing water is received and conveyed to the grey water drain pipe, as
described in
patents FR 2 800 261 and DE 103 06 120.
According to these solutions, the inconvenience relating to the vertical
volume of the
trap is partially prevented, since the drainpipe can be basically positioned
at rough floor
level.
Nevertheless, the technique put forward in these patents requires a great
variety of
components and their uneasy installation, causing precariousness of the
bearing surface
and fitting problems with the joint between the drain outlet of the sanitary
fixture and the
sewer pipeline or grey water pipeline.
Moreover the same trap systems can only be employed where the drainpipe is
very close
to the main drain, contrarily an inadequate fall of the pipeline would make
these systems
useless.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary fixture already
equipped with
its own built-in siphon system, whose characteristics are to stay within
limited overall
dimensions and heights, which are equal or equivalent to the conventional
dimensions and
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heights already required in the efficiency of the current sanitary ware
bearing the same
function.
Within such task, a further important object of the invention is to be
entirely achieved at
the formation stage of the sanitary ware, without further assembly or
installation of any
trap device.
A further object of the present invention is, in particular, to achieve
suspended and wall
mounted sanitary ware, without having to cover their base with a pedestal or
furniture, and
in any case evading the sight of trap and drain fittings.
Another object of the present system is to be suitable for any kind of
sanitary ware, al-
lowing its formation in shallow heights, fit for the creation of new ranges of
sanitary
fixtures, most of all the wall mounted types.
In addition, the present system can also be employed for sanitary ware placed
quite far
from the main drain, provided that the concrete floor slab is high enough to
allow a proper
pitch of the drainpipe.
The above and other beneficial objects, better illustrated in the following
description, are
most effectively achieved with the present invention, which entails, at the
formation stage
of the various sanitary ware, the formation of an intermediate partition
between the water
receiving or deposit chamber and the drain chamber of the same sanitary ware;
which
partition must have an edge either lower than the level of the chamber or
lower than the
drain hole rim of the same fixture, so that the said edge of the intermediate
partition is
always immersed in a minimum quantity of water to be discharged, which
standing water,
not flowing out, seals all air ducts between the drain area and the receiving
area, thus
preventing the backflow of sewer and drain odours in the receiving chamber and
their
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escape into the living areas, in compliance with the principle of a
conventional siphon
action.
Further features and advantages of the innovation are explained in the
following illustra-
tive, although non-exclusive, description of its embodiment, supported by 7
schematic
figures illustrated in the three annexed drawings sheets where:
- Fig. 1 is a vertical view, according to the section plan I - I of the shower
tray in Fig.
3;
- Fig. 2 is a vertical view, according to the section plan II - II of the same
shower tray
in Fig. 3;
- Fig. 3 is a top view and a partial cross-sectional view of an example
embodiment of
a shower tray according to the present innovation;
- Fig. 4 is a vertical view, according to the section plan IV - IV of the
washbasin or
bidet in Fig. 5;
- Fig. 5 is a top view and a partial cross-sectional view of an example
embodiment of
a washbasin or bidet according to the present innovation;
- Fig. 6 is a vertical view, according to the section plan VI - VI of the
water closet in
Fig. 7;
- Fig. 7 is a top view of an example embodiment of a water closet according to
the
present innovation.
Each number refers to, or is supposed to refer to, the same detail in all
drawings.
According to the examplary embodiment put forward in Fig. 1 to 3, a shower
tray 1
substantially comprises of a basic plane 10, for instance square-shaped, which
is tied
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together with an outer frame 11, that sets its dimensions, and with two upper
inclined
planes 12 and 13, each converging towards the mid-junction plane 14.
Between the basic plane 10 and the upper planes 12, 13 and 14 there is a
series of
ribs or vertical supports 15, 16 and 17, with the main function to support
both inclined
planes 12 and 13, determining a series of enclosed watertight spaces,
indicated with
numbers32,33,34,35and36.
As exemplified in Fig. 2, between ribs 15 and 16, the inclined plane 13
presents a
slideway or additional inclination 18, which joins rib 17, while the opposite
inclined
plane 12 presents a slideway or additional inclination 19, having a fixed-
height edge
with respect to the basic plane 10, as better described hereafter, forming a
channel or
receiving chamber 30 of the shower water which flows in from the same inclined
planes 12 and 13.
The mid section of the same rib 17, together with the left section of the
orthogonal
ribbings 15 and 16, as well as a section of the outer frame 11 and obviously
the basic
plane 10, set up a double chamber 20 - 21, which is divided by an intermediate
parti-
tion 22, whose height is slightly higher than the span between the bottom 10
and the
end of the slideway 19.
As a consequence of this height combination, that is, the bigger height of
partition 22
with respect to the height of the span between the bottom 10 and the end of
the slide-
way 19, the water coming from the receiving channel 30 deposits in the chamber
20,
which is delimited also by partition 22 and by part of the ribbings 15, 16 and
17; such
standing water can flow over the same partition 22 only by maintaining the end
of the
slideway 19 constantly immersed.
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The drain chamber 21 is indeed provided with an outlet hole 23, which
therefore re-
ceives and drains the water overflowing from the aforementioned partition 22
to con-
vey it to the grey water pipeline.
According to what has been described so far, foul smells, seeping up from the
drain
pipeline to the opening 23 and the drain chamber 21, can not escape into the
living
area, because the layer of water standing in the deposit chamber 20, seals the
passage-
way from the said chamber 20 to the receiving channel 30, by constantly
immersing the
end of the slideway 19, thus granting the required siphon effect, with no need
of com-
mon cumbersome exterior devices applied, in compliance with the main object
herein
specified.
The shower tray of Fig. 1 to 3 is also completed with a lower surface 37 which
en-
ables the laying, on the same shower tray 1, of a plain or grid board,
allowing the strict
horizontal levelling of the user's bearing surface, besides facilitating the
flow of the
shower water from the inclined partitions 12 and 13 to the receiving
channe130.
Referring to Fig. 2 and 3, there is shown a first variant embodiment of the
shower
tray 1 with the horizontal arrangement of a drain outlet 231 cut out of the
outer frame
11, as illustrated for example with the dashed line.
According to this variant embodiment, the lower point of the hole rim 231 is
set at a
height level, with respect to the bottom 10, which is equal to the height of
the above
described partition 22, so that the presence of the same partition 22 becomes
useless.
In fact, according to this variant embodiment, the deposit chamber 20 extends
up to
the rim of drain outlet 231, nonetheless ensuring that the end of the slideway
19 is al-
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ways immersed in the water of the deposit chamber 20, thus achieving the
required si-
phon effect.
Referring to Fig. 4 and 5, as already pointed out, the same siphon system is
applied
in the embodiment of either a washbasin, a sink or a bidet 101, entailing the
presence
of a single inclined plane 112, its dimensions being smaller than those of the
shower
tray 1, at the same time its embodiment is easier because the above
illustrated ribbings
may be eliminated.
According to the example embodiment put forward in the said Fig. 4 and 5, the
drain
outlet 123 is cut out at one side of the outer frame 111, with the aim of
further reducing
the total height of the sanitary ware 101 for wall mounted use.
As already exemplified for the hole 231 of the shower tray 1, the arrangement
of the
drain outlet 123 at one side permits the removal of partition 122, so as to
form a single
siphon chamber, which includes the deposit chamber 120 and the drain chamber
121,
since the lower point of such hole 123 delimits the level of the siphon water
standing in
the chamber 120, although it must be higher than the end 119 of the inclined
plane 112
and constantly grant the presence of a sheet of water at the level of the
receiving hole
130.
Obviously the same sanitary bowl 101 can be carried out, as an alternative,
with the
drain hole 1231 arranged at the bottom 110, as exemplified with the dashed
line in the
same Fig. 4 and 5, complying with what has been previously described for the
shower
tray 1, thus entailing the formation of two chambers, a deposit chamber 120
and a drain
chamber 121 with an overflow partition 122, according to the already described
scheme.
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Referring to Fig. 6 and 7, as already pointed out, the same siphon system is
applied
to a water closet 201, which, as the washbasin 101, is represented with a side
or lateral
drain outlet 223 of black water, for wall-mounted application.
Even in this case the level of the siphon chamber 220 - 221 is determined by
the
lower point of the drain hole 223, provided that such level must be higher
than the
height of the span or passageway between the bottom 210 and the end 219 of the
in-
clined partition 212, in order to attain the required siphon effect.
Due to the specific utilization of a water closet and due to the mass of water
em-
ployed, the height of the passageway between the bottom 210 and the end 219
will
have to be adequate and in any case bigger than the height required for the
exemplified
washbasin 101, as well as the inclination of the partition 212.
Thereby the whole structure of the water closet 201 will have to be bigger and
stur-
dier, yet its overall dimensions are highly reduced, due to the fact that any
current exte-
rior trap device can be eliminated, in compliance with the various objects
specified.
Moreover, as seen in Fig. 6 and 7, the arrangement of the drain outlet 2231 at
the bot-
tom 210 is also feasible for the water closet 201, with the ensuing need of
applying a
partition 222 between the deposit chamber 220 and the drain chamber 221, so as
to en-
sure that the end 219 of the inclined partition 212 is always immersed in the
water of
the receiving chamber 230 and the deposit chamber 220, in compliance with the
siphon
scheme so far described.
Always referring to the same Fig. 6 and 7, there is shown that on the side
surface
211, together with the drain outlet 223, a supply inlet 240 is provided for
flushing wa-
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ter, with its own distribution chamber 241 and with outlet holes 242, in
compliance
with any system of flushing water distribution.
On the base of what has been described so far, there is shown that indeed by
means
of the system with inclined partition 12, 112, 212, which has the lower end
19, 119,
219 constantly immersed in a chamber of standing water 20, 1203 220,
determining a
level of the receiving channel 30, 130, 230 always higher than the said end
19, 119,
219, a siphon effect can be achieved for shower trays, washbasins, sinks,
bidets and
water closets or other similar sanitary fixtures, eliminating the impractical
overall size
of the various trap devices, which at present must be fixed at the exterior of
such sani-
tary ware, with a considerable advantage in terms of space and installation
time, ac-
cording to some of the specified objects.
In addition, the same technique put forward herein, allows an easier formation
of
suspended sanitary ware for a better hygiene of the bathroom, as well as the
creation of
new allied product ranges and their positioning even far away from the main
drain,
providing that there is enough space to grant a proper pipe pitch, in
compliance with
some other objects indicated.
The embodiment of the system so far described, for the various types of
sanitary
ware exemplified, is achievable thanks to a new forming technique of the same
sanitary
fixtures, which replaces the traditional method of forming through the
moulding of ce-
ramic materials.
This new technique consists basically in the tooling and shaping of the
various afore-
said parts of each sanitary fixture, namely the bottom, the side partitions,
the inclined
partitions, etc., cut out of slabs or various profiles of special resins like
Corian and
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then in their positioning and fixing, by means of proper adhesives, according
to an es-
tablished technique, well-known in various fields of use, that in this field
enables the
embodiment of a siphon system for the sanitary fixtures achieved according to
the
aforesaid specifications, which is absolutely innovative and original.
As previously specified, the embodiment of the siphon system of sanitary ware
so far
illustrated is meant as merely exemplifying and non-limitative, not only for
the possi-
bility of variation in relation to the arrangement of the drain outlet 23,
123, 223 either
at the bottom 10, 110, 210 or on the side surface 11, 111, 211, but also for
further pos-
sible embodiments in relation to the shape of the various sanitary ware 10,
110, 210.
By way of example, it will be apparent that the additional inclination of the
ends 18
and 19 of the shower tray 1 can be eliminated by maintaining a sole and
adequate incli-
nation of the partitions 12 and 13, nevertheless apt to form a receiving
chamber 30, at
the same time supplementary inclinations are likely to be achieved at the ends
119 and
219 of the inclined partitions 112 and 212 of the above exemplified sanitary
fixtures
101 or 201.
Likewise, the inclined ends 18 and 19 of the planes 12 and 13 can be
orthogonal with
respect to the same planes 12 and 13 or with respect to the bottom 10,
moreover the
blind areas or those points not reached by the water 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 can
vary in
number according to the variation of the ribs 15 and 16 or equivalent points
of support
of the inclined planes 12 and 13, in addition the said areas can be filled or
padded, for
example, with a suitable polyurethane foam or equivalent material.
Thus, a board can be laid directly on the inclined planes 12 and 13 of the
shower tray
1, in addition an horizontal plane can be laid directly on the inclined plane
112 of the
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fixture 101, provided that the said boards are equipped with inclined feet apt
to ensure
the horizontal levelling, preventing an unsanitary surfacing of standing
water.
Shower trays 1 can also be attained with watertight chambers 32, 33, 34, 35
and 36
- --- -
either bottomless 10 or with a pierced bottom 10, for example, for embedding
in the
concrete floor slab where they should be anchored; at the same time shower
trays 1 can
also be achieved with a single inclined plane extending over the whole shower
tray,
providing that the end 19 is immersed in the deposit chamber 20 placed below.
In addition, the inclined partitions 112 and 212 of the sanitary fixtures 101
and 201
can be provided with a different inclination, even upright, in respect to the
level of
standing water in which they are immersed, and associated to feasible planes
to which
they can be hinged horizontally, to conceal the standing water and to grant
major vol-
umes of use of the fixture, like for example, kitchen sinks, at the same time
the inclined
partition 112 can be differently shaped, in order to increase the free volume
at disposal
of the basin, always providing that the ends 119 are immersed and enclosed
between
the receiving chamber 130 and the deposit chamber 120 of wastewater.
These and other similar modifications or adjustments are anyhow meant as
included
in the originality of the system claimed herein.
