Title: An Insert for a Drain

Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to an insert for a drain.

Background to the invention

The applicant is aware that splashing often occurs during the use of a urinal. The applicant is also aware that a person using a urinal normally stares intently at the urinal. The applicant is also aware that a person using a wash basin also stares at the drain hole.

It is an object of the invention to provide an insert for a urinal which alleviates splashing and promotes self cleaning, at least to some extent and to use the attention provided to a drain hole during use by a person using a basin or urinal to convey a message such as a logo for advertising to the person.

General description of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an insert for a drain, which insert includes: a body dimensioned to fit inside a wash basin or urinal; and a locating means for locating the insert inside a wash basin or urinal.

The insert may include an indicium facing upward on or in the body;

The body of the insert may include a first lower part and a second transparent upper part, the upper part and lower part being complementary to each other and the two parts being bonded together to form a two layered insert an indicium between the two layers so that it is visible through the upper part.

The indicium may be printed or engraved.

The locating means may be configured to fit in the drain of a urinal or a wash basin.

In the case of an insert for a drain of a urinal, the body of the insert may be generally bowl shaped and the upper and lower part shaped so that the upper part nests in the lower part.

The locating means may be the shape and/ or configuration of the insert so as to nest snugly in a urinal or a protrusion projecting downward from the lower part, which projection is shaped and/ or configured to fit into the drain hole of the urinal or wash basin.

The body of the insert may also define a drain hole.

In the case of an insert for a drain of a urinal, the insert may be provided with a lip shaped and/ or configured to catch flush water from the urinal's cistern to promote cleaning of the insert.

The lip may be resiliently flexible in order to form a good seal against a wall of a urinal for differently shaped urinals.

The body of the insert for a urinal drain may be provided with splash reducing formations such as obtuse angled projections or groove forming ribs projecting upward from the upper part. The grooves may also be shaped and configured to channel flush water over most of the upper surface of the insert.

The insert may include an attachment means for releasably attaching to a drain hole. It will be appreciated that the insert may be used in public places, where theft and vandalism requires that the insert be resistant to removal from the drain.

The attachment means may include a snap fit or latch mechanism, preferably for an insert for a wash basin drain.

The snap fit or latch mechanism may be provided with a release mechanism. The release mechanism may preferably require a special tool to release the insert in order to resist removal by non authorised persons.

The attachment means may be a screw threaded rod projecting downwards from the lower part of the insert so that the insert can, in use, be screwed into a complementary screw threaded formation in the drain. The screw threaded rod may preferably be used for an insert for a urinal drain.

The insert for a drain may also include a rotation prevention means. The rotation prevention means may include a body defining a hole for receiving the attachment means there through. The body may also include a drain hole locating means and an insert locating means. The drain hole locating means may be a projection configured to project through an off-centre drain hole and the insert locating means may be a protrusion which fits in a complementary recess or groove provided in the lower part of the insert.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows schematically an insert for a urinal drain, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows schematically an insert for a wash basin drain, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 shows schematically a latch mechanism for a wash basin drain in the latched state, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 shows schematically a latch mechanism for a wash basin drain in the unlatched state; and

Figure 5 shows schematically an insert for a wash basin drain including a rotation prevention means, in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, an insert for a drain, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The insert 10 includes a first lower part 12 and a second transparent upper part 14, the upper part and lower part being complementary to each other and the two parts being bonded together to form a two layered insert 10. A printed indicium 16 is included between the two layers so that it is visible through the upper part 14. The insert 10 also includes a locating and attachment means 18 for locating the insert inside a wash basin or urinal, as the case may be. The insert 10 defines a drain hole (not shown).

Referring now only to Figure 1 , wherein the attachment means 10 is configured to fit in the drain 20 of a urinal 22.

The insert 10 for a urinal 22 is generally bowl shaped and the upper 14 and lower 12 part shaped so that the upper part 14 nests in the lower part 12. The insert 10 is further provided with a resiliently flexible lip 24 shaped and configured to urge and seal against the back wall 26 of the urinal 22 to catch flush water from the urinal's cistern to promote cleaning of the insert 10.

The insert 10 is provided with splash reducing formations (not shown) and grooves (not shown) shaped and configured to channel flush water over most of the upper surface of the insert 10.

The attachment means 18 is a screw threaded rod 28 projecting downwards from the lower part 12 of the insert so that the insert 10 can, in use, be screwed into a complementary screw threaded formation in the drain 20.

Referring now only to Figures 2 to 3, wherein the insert is configured to fit in the drain of a wash basin.

The insert 10 include an attachment means 18 for releasably attaching to a drain in the form of a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a pair of opposed cams 30 and a pair of opposed braces 32. An urged lever 34 urges the cams 30 against the braces 32, forcing them outward to extend past an inner edge of a flange 36 of a drain 20 hole thereby latching to the drain 20. A release mechanism includes an access hole 38 to the lever 34 through which a pin 40 can, in use, be urged against the lever 34 to release the braces 30.

Referring now to Figure 5, in this embodiment, the insert 10 for a drain includes a rotation prevention means 44. The rotation prevention means 44 includes a body 46 in the form of a disc defining a hole 48 for receiving the attachment means 18 there through. The body 46 also includes a drain hole locating means 50 and an insert locating means 52. The drain hole locating means 50 is in the form a projection configured to project through an off- centre drain hole 54 and the insert locating means is a protrusion which fits in a complementary groove 56 provided in the lower part 12 of the insert 10,

It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.