Installation module for sanitary equipment

An installation module for sanitary equipment, comprising a foamed support structure in which the elements needed for supply to and discharge from the sanitary equipment are embedded, comprising fastening connections for suspension or erection of the support structure, on the one hand, and for hooking up the sanitary equipment, on the other hand. The support structure is joined of plugged longitudinal and transverse profiled sections held together by the foamed material, preferably of two lateral sectional supports (1) defining the sides of the installation module and being interconnected by a transverse profiled section (2) inserted in the bottom area of the installation module. With their profiling and incorporated recesses/slits, the sectional supports plugged together present a substantially stiff-angled carrier structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an installation module for sanitary equipment, 
comprising a foamed support structure in which the elements needed for 
supply to and discharge from the sanitary equipment are embedded, 
comprising fastening connections for suspension or erection of the support 
structure and for attaching the sanitary equipment. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Such an installation module as distributed by the applicant's assignee, for 
instance, consists of a foamed block (e.g. of polyester foamed concrete) 
in which are embedded elements, such as pipings and fittings, that are 
needed for supply to and discharge from the sanitary equipment (water 
closet, washbowl, etc.). Fastening connections are included in the foamed 
block for mounting it on a wall or for free upright placement of the 
foamed block. The supporting forces are transmitted into the foamed 
material by plate members bonded to the fastening connections. Similar 
fastening connections are included in the foamed material for suspending 
the respective sanitary equipment. The edges of the module may be 
protected from becoming damaged by metallic edge sections included in the 
foamed material. It is known as well to enclose the entire foamed block 
with a metallic border frame. 
Prior to foaming, all the parts to be incorporated in the foamed material 
must be suitably positioned in the foaming mold. This is time consuming 
and requires secondary structures to ensure the desired coordination 
amongst the parts. Different positioning means are needed for different 
combinations of parts included in the modules and for different sizes of 
the modules. 
Supporting forces introduced via the fastening connections must be 
accommodated and transmitted by the foamed material. As these forces may 
reach considerable levels, e.g. in case of a water closet suspended from a 
wall, the material employed must meet high strength requirements. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to provide a foamed installation module 
for sanitary equipment whose manufacture is simplified, in particular if 
installation modules must be produced for different build-in situations. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an installation module of 
improved stability, preferably without any specific quality requirements 
regarding the foamed material. 
An installation module according to the invention comprises a support 
structure composed of plugged longitudinal and transverse profiled 
sections, preferably of two lateral sectional supports defining the sides 
of the installation module and interconnected by at least one transverse 
profiled section which is inserted in the bottom range of the installation 
module. The term "plugged" as applied to two profiled sections means that 
the sections are fitted together by inserting one of the profiled sections 
in an aperture formed in the other section. Thanks to suitable profiling 
and incorporated recesses or slits, the plugged longitudinal and vertical 
profiled sections are held against substantial relative angular movement, 
their cohesion being guaranteed by the foamed material. The necessary 
fastening connections are provided at these longitudinal and transverse 
profiled sections, and the forces introduced are transmitted by this 
sectional frame. The foamed material, on the other hand, essentially has a 
mere function of holding together the parts so that the requirements in 
respect of strength which this material must answer can be much less 
severe than before. 
The longitudinal profiled sections give the installation module protection 
along the edges and stiffness against distortion, especially so if they 
are embodied by two lateral sectional supports defining the sides of the 
installation module. 
The design according to the invention permits installation modules of 
different sizes to be produced simply by cutting the longitudinal and 
transverse profiled sections to corresponding lengths. The assembling is 
done quickly and without any difficulty by inserting the butt crosscut 
ends of the transverse profiled section in recesses or slits of the two 
longitudinal profiled sections. The necessary fastening connections are 
made convenient, such as by punching out at the longitudinal and 
transverse profiled sections. Further punch-outs serve for positioning of 
the respective complements (pipings, fittings, and the like). The 
sectional frame thus plugged and equipped then is filled with foam 
conveniently, making use of a foaming mold. 
For reasons of strength, it is preferred to use metal sections e.g. of bent 
band material for the longitudinal and transverse profiled sections. If 
strength requirements are low, profiled sections of plastics may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
An installation module according to the invention includes a support 
structure of plugged longitudinal and transverse profiled sections, 
conveniently of two lateral sectional supports 1 (only one being shown in 
FIG. 1) defining the sides of the installation module. They are 
interconnected in the area of the bottom of the installation module by a 
plugged-in transverse profiled section 2. Both the side supports 1 and the 
transverse profiled section 2 are U-shaped in cross section and have side 
walls 3 and 4, respectively, which are bent inwardly at an angle to form 
flanges 3a and 4a. In the bottom wall 5 of the lateral supports 1 an 
inward bay 6 is formed which presents a mortar application joint in the 
finished installation module. The outer dimension a of the transverse 
profiled section 2 is a little less than the inner dimension b of the 
lateral supports 1 so that the transverse profiled section 2 with its side 
walls 4 can be slid between the side walls 3 of the lateral supports 1. 
Recesses 7 for free passage of the side walls 4 of the transverse profiled 
section 2 for instance are punched out in the area of the flanges. A slit 
8 is incorporated in the bay 6 of the lateral supports 1 at the level of 
the lower edge of the recesses 7 to receive the bottom wall 9 of the 
transverse profiled section 2 inserted in the same. 
Thanks to the sectioning described and recesses/slits incorporated, the 
lateral supports 1 are connected in form lock and substantially with stiff 
angles to the plugged- in transverse profiled section 2. High forces (up 
to 400 kg) thus can be transmitted between the transverse profiled section 
2 and the lateral supports 1. 
The sectional frame thus constituted is universally useful for different 
situations of installation--immurement, building into lightweight walls, 
antewall installation, and for different types of modules. The 
longitudinal and transverse sectional beams are adaptable in length and 
width to the respective type of module. The beams can be provided with the 
connections required for a particular application, such as by punching out 
or stamping. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the sectional frame described as used with a water 
closet installation module. A flush tank 10 with flushing pipe elbow 11 
and vent connection 12 are fixed within the sectional frame. The 
transverse profiled section 2 is formed with recesses for snap engagement 
of the pipe hanger 13 of the draining pipe elbow (not shown). Two nut 
casings 14 with two loosely introduced threaded nuts 15 which are secured 
against rotation are positioned in the transverse profiled section 2 for 
hooking up of a water closet. Threaded bolts (not shown) can be screwed 
into the threaded nuts 15 to suspend the water closet. 
As shown in FIG. 2, retaining angles 16 for fastening of an apron covering 
the foot area, on the one hand, and foot rests 17 for free standing 
erection of the installation module, on the other hand, can be fixed to 
the transverse profiled section 2. 
Unfolding holding lugs 18 may be stamped into the lateral supports 1, as 
shown in FIG. 3, for suspending the installation module from a wall. 
Fastening bolts 19 by which the installation module can be hooked up in a 
mounting bracket 20 also may be screwable into the lateral supports 1. 
The sectional frame equipped in the manner described above is filled with 
foam conveniently in the usual manner, making use of a foaming mold, with 
the foamed material having to take over the cohesion of the individual 
parts but essentially no supporting function. In this manner there is much 
more freedom than before in selecting the quality of the foamed material 
and it may be chosen according to other aspects, such as optimum noise or 
heat insulation.