Abstract:
A blocking plumbing fitting; said fitting comprising a flexible cup element adapted for insertion into a pipe element; said fitting further comprising a one way valve element depending from said flexible cup element, wherein said one way valve element permits liquid to pass through said pipe element; said one way valve element preventing passage of odors, soapsuds, vermin, noise and other undesirable elements issuing from said pipe element.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATON 
     This application claims foreign from and the benefit of Australian Patent Application #2008243269 filed in the Australian Patent Office on Nov. 18, 2008. 
     The present invention relates to plumbing fittings and, more particularly, to fittings for the control of waste liquid, odour, foamy soap suds, vermin and noise reduction from waste liquid connections. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Floor wastes for the drainage of waste water from bathroom shower recesses for example, are typically connected to the sewerage system via goose neck or “S” bend trap fitting designed to maintain a volume of water as a barrier between the floor waste and the sewer and thereby prevent the emission of sewer odours into the bathroom. 
     Although usually effective in the blockage of odours, the volume of water may not always be maintained to a sufficient level to block all air (and therefore odour) passage through the “S” bend trap and hence up through the waste outlet. In some situations, negative pressure downstream of the trap, can partially suck the water from the trap and thus allow odour to pass back up through the waste outlet. This is not an uncommon problem in multi-story installations where volumes of waste water fall through the common plumbing line; the passage of the water causing the suction at S bends at lower levels. 
     Some waste installations may occur in which there is no water trap, or the water trap is at considerable remove from the waste outlet so that odours and other undesirable effects may issue into the building. 
     It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages. 
     Notes 
     
         
         1. The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”. 
         2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. 
       
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a blocking plumbing fitting; said fitting comprising a flexible cup element adapted for insertion into a pipe element; said fitting further comprising a one way valve element depending from said flexible cup element, wherein said one way valve element permits liquid to pass through said pipe element; said one way valve element preventing passage of odours, soapsuds, vermin, noise and other undesirable elements issuing from said pipe element.
 
Preferably, said fitting is located downstream of a waste outlet.
 
Preferably, said waste outlet includes, floor wastes of showers, laundry, plant room, commercial kitchens and other water receiving bodies.
 
Preferably, said flexible cup element comprises a number of tiers; said tiers having outer diameters conforming to inner diameters of a range of standard pipe sizes.
 
Preferably, one or more tiers may be removed from said cup element so as to adapt said fitting to a desired standard pipe size.
 
Preferably, outer surfaces of said flexible cup element form an air tight seal with portions of inner surfaces of a said pipe element when said fitting is inserted into said pipe element.
 
Preferably, said one way valve comprises a flexible sheath formed of two opposing elongate flexible flaps joined at their respective side edges.
 
Preferably, inward facing surfaces of said two opposing elongate flexible flaps are in contact one to another when waste water is absent from said waste outlet; contact between said surfaces preventing odour, soapsuds, vermin, noise and other undesirable elements from issuing from said pipe element.
 
Preferably, flexibility of said elongate flexible flaps is such that said flaps are forced apart by water flowing into said cup element; said water passing between said flaps and issuing from a lower end of said one way valve.
 
Preferably, a lower end of said cup element is provided with an aperture; said aperture communicating with a funnel structure merging with upper portions of said opposing elongate flaps.
 
Preferably, said fitting is of unitary construction.
 
Preferably, said one way valve is releasably attached to said cup element.
 
Preferably, said flexible cup element is stepped down in diameter in stages from a first diameter at an upper rim of said cup element to a second diameter at said aperture.
 
Preferably, volume of said flexible cup element is arranged such that weight of water in said cup element is sufficient to force a passage for water between said opposing elongate flexible flaps.
 
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of preventing odours, soapsuds, vermin, noise and other undesirable elements, from issuing from a waste outlet fitting for waste liquid; said method including the steps of:
         (a) removing a grating cover from said waste outlet fitting,   (b) inserting into a waste pipe below said waste outlet fitting, an assembly of a waste water receiving cup element and a one way valve depending from said receiving cup element,   (c) replacing said grating cover.
 
Preferably, said water receiving cup element forms an odour seal with internal surfaces of said waste pipe.
 
Preferably, said one way valve comprises opposing flaps of a flexible material; internal surfaces of said opposing flaps in contact one with another when said one way valve is an odour blocking position.
 
Preferably, volume and weight of water in said receiving cup element, and flexibility of said opposing flaps of flexible material is such that said flaps of flexible material are forced apart by said volume and weight of water to form a passage for discharge of said water from said fitting.
   Accordingly in a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of minimizing exit of waste liquid odour, foamy soap suds, vermin and noise from an entry to a pipe element; said method comprising resiliently sealing an internal portion of said pipe element near said entry whereby liquids passing into said entry can pass forwardly through said entry but said waste liquid, odour, foamy soap suds, vermin and noise is blocked from passing in the opposite direction.   Preferably said method further includes provision of a guide path from said entry to a region of constriction.   Preferably said region of constriction is inflected relative to direction of flow of said liquid.   Preferably said region of constriction includes opposed, flexible planar elements.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plumbing fitting according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a sectioned side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  when in an odour, soapsuds, vermin or noise blocking condition, 
         FIG. 3  is a sectioned side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  when in a waste liquid passing condition, 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the plumbing fitting inserted in a waste pipe below a conventional waste outlet and “S” bend assembly in use, 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the plumbing fitting of the invention when adapted for insertion into a smaller diameter pipe above an “S” bend assembly, 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the plumbing fitting, when adapted for insertion into a smaller diameter waste pipe in which an “S” bend assembly has not been provided. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the plumbing fitting as shown in  FIG. 1  inserted into a larger diameter waste pipe in which an “S” bend assembly has not been provided. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the plumbing fitting according to a further preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plumbing fitting  10  is comprised of a flexible cup element  12  and, in this instance, a flexible one-way valve element  14  depending from the cup element  12 . Both cup element  12  and valve element may be moulded or otherwise fabricated from a flexible elastomer as an integral unit, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, one-way valve element  14  could form a separate element, releasably attached to a spigot extending from the lower end of the cup element  12 . 
     One-way valve element  14  comprises a funnel-like structure  16  at its upper end, merging into a flexible sheath  17  formed of two opposing elongate flexible elastomer flaps  18  and  20  joined at their respective side edges  22  and  24 . As manufactured and in the non-liquid passing state of the one-way valve  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the inward facing surfaces  26  and  28  of the two opposing elongate flexible elastomer flaps  18  and  20 , are in contact one to another. 
       FIG. 3  shows the plumbing fitting  10  when the cup element  12  and the funnel-like structure  16  fill with water  30 . The volume and weight of water  30  is then such as to force apart the middle portions of the two opposing flaps  18  and  20 , so that a passage  32  is formed between them allowing water to discharge freely from the fitting  10 . 
     Cup element  12  is shaped and dimensioned so as to be able to be inserted into a waste pipe below an outlet fitting  40  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The outer diameter of the upper section  42  of cup element  12  is such as to form an airtight and odour proof seal between the outer surfaces of the cup element and the internal surfaces  44  of the waste pipe. Thus it can be seen from  FIG. 4  that even if water  46  is lost, or partially lost, from the water trap of “S” bend  48 , so as to allow a passage for odour rising up waste pipe  50 , no odour can pass by the plumbing fitting  10 . 
     Again with reference to  FIG. 1 , in a preferred arrangement the cup element  12  is formed in a number of steps or tiers  13 , with the outer diameter of each tier adapted to fit in a particular standard pipe diameter. For example in the two-tier example of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the upper tier  13 A could be removed for fitting into a smaller diameter pipe as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the fitting  10  of the present invention also is able to provide an effective block against odours and other undesirable effects, from issuing from the end of a waste pipe  50  in those cases where there is no “S” bend provided. 
     In Use 
     The plumbing fitting  10  of the present invention may be fitted as original equipment below the waste outlets or other desired pipe locations in new buildings. 
     It is also readily retro-fitted to existing waste outlets and shower waste fittings  40 , simply by removing the grating  50  from the waste fitting  40  and pushing the fitting  10  to nest in the pipe below the waste fitting  40 . The grating is then replaced and the floor or shower waste functions as normal, but now with no risk of unpleasant odours rising from the waste outlet. 
     Although the above description and drawings have been largely directed at a floor waste, it will be understood that the fitting of the invention may be applied to any situation in which unwanted odours or other undesirable effects may intrude into a building or other enclosed area. Thus the invention may equally be applied to urinals, shower wastes, plant room wastes, commercial kitchens, laundry floor wastes, as well as to hand basins, laundry tubs and other water receiving bodies. 
     Composition Variations 
     In specific embodiments specialised forms of plastic or rubber can be utilised in order to impart advantageous collateral properties. In one embodiment an antibacterial polymer can be utilised which has particular use in hospitals or like institutions where risk of infection contraction can be higher than elsewhere.
 
Alternative forms of rubber which can be used include the following:
         Nitrile rubber   Natural rubber   SBR rubber   Neoprene rubber   EPDM rubber   Butyl rubber   Silicone rubber   Viton rubber       

     These different rubbers are compared in table one below. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 NATURAL   SBR   NEOPRENE   EPDM   NITRILE   BUTYL   SILICONE   VITON                                    GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS            SERVICE   −55 TO   −45 TO   −55 TO   −50 TO   −55 TO   −45 TO   −75 TO   −20 TO       TEMPERATURE   +90   +90   +95   +145   +110   +120   +235   200       HARDNESS   20 TO 90   40 TO 90   40 TO 95   30 TO 90   40 TO 95   40 TO 75   10 TO 85   50-95       RANGE       TENSILE   22 Mpa   17 Mpa   20 Mpa   15 Mpa   15 Mpa   14 Mpa   10 Mpa   14 Mpa       STRENGTH       COMPRESSION   GOOD   GOOD   FAIR TO   GOOD   GOOD   FAIR   FAIR   V GOOD       SET           GOOD            ATMOSPHERIC RESISTANCE            OZONE   POOR   POOR   V GOOD   EXCELENT   FAIR   EXCELENT   EXCELENT   EXCELENT       RESISTANCE       HEAT AGING   FAIR   FAIR TO   V GOOD   EXCELENT   GOOD   V GOOD   OUT   EXCLENT               GOOD                   STANDING       FLAME   POOR   POOR   GOOD   FAIR   POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD       RESISTANCE       SUNLIGHT   POOR   FAIR   V GOOD   EXCELENT   POOR   V GOOD   EXCELENT   V GOOD       AGING       OXIDATION   GOOD   FAIR   V GOOD   EXCELENT   GOOD   EXCELENT   EXCELENT   V GOOD       RESISTANCE            OIL RESISTANCE            ALIPHATIC   POOR   POOR   GOOD   POOR   EXCELENT   POOR   POOR   EXCELENT       OILS       ARMOATIC   POOR   POOR   FAIR   POOR   GOOD   POOR   POOR   EXCELENT       OILS       KETONES   FAIR TO   GOOD   POOR TO   EXCELENT   POOR   GOOD   FAIR   POOR           GOOD       FAIR       LUBRICATING   POOR   POOR   GOOD   POOR   V GOOD   POOR   FAIR   EXCELENT       OILS       ANIMAL AND   POOR TO   POOR TO   GOOD   V GOOD   V GOOD   V GOOD   V GOOD   EXCELENT       VEGETABLE   GOOD   GOOD       OILS            ACID RESISTANCE            DILUTE   FAIR TO   FAIR TO   EXCELENT   EXCELENT   GOOD   EXCELENT   EXCELENT   EXCELENT           GOOD   GOOD       CONCENTRATED   FAIR TO   FAIR TO   GOOD   GOOD   GOOD   EXCELENT   FAIR   EXCELENT           GOOD   GOOD            OTHER PROPERTIES            ELECTRICAL   GOOD TO   GOOD TO   POOR   OUT   POOR   GOOD TO   EXCELENT   POOR       INSULATION   EXCELENT   EXCELENT       STANDING       EXCELENT       ABRASION   EXCELENT   GOOD TO   EXCELENT   GOOD TO   GOOD   GOOD   POOR   GOOD       RESISTANCE       EXCELENT       EXCELENT                    
Further Embodiments
         With reference to  FIG. 8  there is illustrated a variation on the entry lip.   With reference to  FIG. 9  there is illustrated a single tier version of the device.   With reference to  FIG. 10  there is illustrated a scaled down version of the device which is particularly useful for use in situations where there is an offtake. (see inset).
 
With reference to  FIG. 8  there is illustrated in side section a plumbing fitting  30  in accordance with a further preferred embodiment having a region of constriction  31  which is inclined or inflected relative to the longitudinal axis of the plumbing fitting  30 . In a preferred form the inflection is approximately at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis. In this embodiment like components are numbered as for the earlier embodiments.
       

     The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus while the described embodiment is directed to a particular one-way valve structure comprising in-contact flexible elastomer flaps, other one way valve arrangements may be encompassed by the invention.