FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compact plumbing trap, in particular a trap suitable for use with a shower, where space below the shower tray is height restricted. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A trap is attached to a waste or drainage outlet of a plumbing installation, for example a shower, bath, sink and the like as part of the waste water drainage system, but primarily the traps function is to create a water seal that prevents backflow of waste water, odours and gases being back-fed from the downstream waste pipe system into the room in which the plumbing installation is located.

Traps of many shapes and forms are available, for example the conventional P-trap, which comprises a U-shaped length of pipe which facilitates drainage from the plumbing installation and contains a portion of water at least in the bottom portion of the U-shape to create a water seal. A bottle trap is another example where an outlet from the plumbing installation is connected to a pipe within a surrounding container to create a water seal.

Every time the plumbing installation, for example the shower is used, water is flushed through the trap and fresh water replaces the water in the bottom of the U or in the bottom of the container to maintain a water seal. Unfortunately, solids, for example hair conditioner, detergents, hair etc begin to stick to the inner surfaces of the trap over time. This can result in the trap becoming clogged or blocked which affects the flow rate of water passing through the drain. In the event of clogging or blockage such traps are typically difficult or impossible to clean due to the configuration of the trap. As such, instead of cleaning it is common to replace such traps.

It is more common for shower traps to become clogged and blocked because of restricted size of the trap and the volume of solid materials attempting to pass through the drain. Attempts to remove a trap for cleaning from a built-in shower can be almost impossible.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid sealing trap for showers trays and the like, the trap comprising: a body defining an inlet for location below a shower tray drain opening, a resealing seal chamber and an outlet for

communication with a waste pipe; an inlet tube for extending through the inlet and into the seal chamber, the inlet tube being sealable in the inlet such that a liquid seal may be formed in the seal chamber between the inlet tube and the outlet and the tubing being removable from the inlet to permit access to the seal chamber through the inlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a plumbing trap comprising: a body to be located below an outlet of a plumbing installation, wherein the body includes: an inlet; an outlet; a first internal compartment; and a second internal compartment; wherein the first compartment is in direct fluid communication with the inlet and the second compartment is in direct fluid communication with the outlet; wherein the first internal compartment is wider than the second compartment; and wherein the first compartment and second compartment are disposed side by side and both are visible and accessible via the inlet and wherein an internal ridge divides the first compartment from the second compartment; and a seal tube insertable into the body via the inlet, wherein in use, a gap is created between a first end of the inserted seal tube and an inside bottom surface of the first compartment; wherein the combination of the inserted seal tube and the internal ridge, in use, create a water seal within the first compartment, wherein the internal ridge defines a maximum height of a water seal created within the first compartment.

The inlet may be eccentrically placed relative to the body.

The first compartment and second compartment each define a volumetric capacity, wherein the volumetric capacity of the first compartment may be substantially double the volumetric capacity of the second compartment; and wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are of substantially constant depth.

The first compartment and the second compartment are of substantially constant depth. The depth of the second compartment may correspond substantially with the outlet diameter.

The inlet may be arranged substantially concentric with the first compartment. A first end of the seal tube may comprise a step profile, comprising one or more projections extending down from the first end, wherein upon insertion of the seal tube into the inlet the one or more projections are configured to contact with an inside bottom surface of the first compartment thereby defining a gap between the first end of the seal tube and the inside bottom surface of the first compartment to create the water seal, in use.

The plumbing trap may further comprise a flange operable to connect the plumbing trap to a plumbing installation wherein the flange is disposed on an upper side of the plumbing installation to secure the body to the underside of the plumbing installation such that the plumbing installation is sandwiched between the flange and the body.

The inlet and flange may each comprise at least two inwardly radially extending projections operable to facilitate connection of the trap to a plumbing installation, for example, a shower tray, wherein the radially extending projections may each comprise a hole therethrough, wherein the hole facilitates insertion of a fastener to secure the flange and the body to plumbing installation.

The seal tube may comprise at least two longitudinal recesses having a profile corresponding to the at least two inwardly radially extending projections, wherein the recesses facilitate alignment of the seal tube relative to the inlet and the body.

A second end of the seal tube may further comprise a drain cover support member, wherein the drain cover support member provides a support structure comprising voids to allow waste water to drain, wherein the support structure is configured to receive and retain a drain cover over the inlet. The drain cover support member may comprise one or more projections operable to contact with the flange when the seal tube is inserted through the inlet.

The support structure may comprise three or more radially extending legs and drainage voids defined between the legs. The trap may further comprise a lid attached to the body, wherein the inlet is provided through the lid.

The lid and body may be permanently bonded. The lid and body may be bonded by spin welding. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 A shows a schematic illustration of an assembled trap according to the present invention;

Figure 1 B shows a schematic illustration of an exploded view representing top-down assembly of the trap of Figure 1 A;

Figure 2A and 2B show schematic illustrations of cross-sectional views of the trap of Figure 1A; and

Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of the trap of Figure 1 A viewed from above. DESCRIPTION

Figures 1A, 1 B, 2A, 2B and 3 illustrate an example of a compact plumbing trap 10. The illustrated example is suitable for attachment to an outlet from a shower tray (not illustrated), which is an example of drainage installation, below which space is limited. The plumbing trap 10 includes a body 12 defining two internal chambers 14, 16, an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 20. In the illustrated example, the inlet port 18 is located on top of the body 12 for connection vertically to an outlet from a plumbing installation, for example a shower tray (not illustrated).

The outlet port 20 is oriented horizontally and extends from the side of the body 12 and is arranged to be in fluid communication with the outlet from the plumbing installation via the inlet port 18 and the chambers 14, 16.

In the illustrated example, the inlet port 18 is provided through a lid 22, which is attached to the body 12 by spin welding. Spin welding is a friction welding technique where one-part spins relative to the other part, which is stationary. The heat of friction between the parts reaches a sufficient level for the parts to weld. Typically, the welded parts spin as a unit while pressure is applied along rotational axis to ensure the parts stay connected while the welded section cools to ensure a sound connection between the two parts.

A seal member 24 is located adjacent the inlet port 18, as part of the lid 22. The seal member 24 is operable to create a sea! between the underside of a shower tray (not illustrated) and the area of the lid 22 around the inlet port 18 when the plumbing trap 10 is installed, as discussed further below. Figure 1 B shows an exploded view of the plumbing trap 10. A gasket seal 26 and a flange 28 act to seal and secure the plumbing trap 10 relative to an outlet from the plumbing installation (not illustrated).

The plumbing trap 10 also includes a seal tube 30, which is inserted into the iniet port 18 to create a water seal 32 (see figure 2A), The seal tube 30 is configured to maintain a gap 31 between the seal tube and the bottom of the internal chamber 14 to allow water to flow through the body 12 and out via the outlet port 20.

The inlet port 18 and the flange 28 include small lugs 34 extending radially inwardly from the perimeter of the hole defining the inlet to the plumbing trap 10. Each of the lugs 34, 35 includes a hole 38, 39 to receive a screw 38, which facilitates tightening of the flange relative to the gasket seal 26 and the body 12. When the screws 36 are tightened against the flange 28 the gasket seal 26 is compressed and the body 12 is pulled upwards towards the underside of the shower tray such that a watertight seal is created around the inlet port 18. The seal tube 30 includes diametrically opposed recesses 41 , which have a profile that corresponds with the shape of the lugs 34, 35. As such the lugs 34, 35 act as guides during insertion and extraction of the seal tube 30.

A drain cover support 40 is integral to the top of the seal tube 30. !n the illustrated example, the drain cover support 40 includes four radially extending arms 42, which extend from a central hub 44 to a point beyond the circumference of the seal tube 30. Each arm 42 is dimensioned such that an end portion 46, which extend beyond the circumference of the seal tube 30, rests on the flange 28. The end portions 46 are operable to limit how far the seal tube 30 extends into the body 12. As such, the end portions 46 act as a stop to maintain the gap between the bottom of the seal tube 30 and the bottom inside surface of the body 12.

The lower end of the seal tube 30 includes a stepped profile, which includes two projections 47 which project downwards and contact the bottom inside surface of the body 12 to create a water seal when the trap 10 is in use.

The drain cover support 40 is arranged to receive a drain cover (not illustrated).

In the illustrated example, the outlet port 20 includes a threaded connection 48 which is operable to connect the plumbing trap 10 to downstream pipework (not illustrated) linked to an outside drain or sewer. A seal 50 and a castellated nut 52 are illustrated as an example of means of attaching the plumbing trap 10 to downstream pipework. It will be appreciated that other connections could be applied to the outlet 20, for example a compression fitting.

As described above, the body 12 includes two internal compartments 14, 16 (see figure 2A and 2B). In the illustrated example, the ratio of the two compartments 14, 18 is approximately two to one. The larger compartment 14 is in direct fluid communication with the inlet port 18 and the smaller compartment 16 is in direct fluid communication with the outlet port 20.

Referring to figure 3, the inlet assembly 49, including the flange 28, seal tube 30 and drain cover support 40 aligns substantially centrally over the larger compartment 14. As such the inlet port 18 is eccentrically located relative to the outside dimension (circumference) of the body 12 and the lid 22. In the illustrated example, the inlet port is approximately 52mm (2") diameter. This means that removal of the seal tube 30 and the drain cover support allows full access to the inside of both compartments for ease of cleaning and maintenance. In addition, the screwed fitting of the flange 28 to the inlet port 18 allows easy removal of the flange 28 to allow removal and replacement of the trap 10 using standard tooling, for example a screw driver or Allen key rather than specialist tooling which is becoming commonplace.

Referring to figure 2A, the larger compartment 14 and the smaller compartment 18 are defined by an internal ridge 80. The combination of the ridge and the seal tube 30 creates a water seal to prevent downstream odours flowing from outlet 20 to inlet 18.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.