Elongated drain assembly

Abstract

An elongate discharge assembly comprising: a first discharge element comprising a first elongate tray having a first fluid directing surface; a second discharge element comprising a second elongated tray having a second fluid guide surface; and a snap connection configured for connecting the first and second discharge elements such that the first and second elongated trays abut one another to form a continuous elongated tray having a smooth transition of the first and second fluid guide surfaces. The clamping connection part comprises a male connector and a female connector. The snap connection includes a snap pin arrangement and a corresponding snap hole arrangement, one of which is disposed on the male connector and the other is disposed on the female connector. The male and / or female connectors are formed from a resilient sealing material and / or the female connector is formed from a C-shaped profile having a central side, a narrow side and a back side. A snap-in pin arrangement or a snap-in hole arrangement is formed on at least one of the back sides of the female connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elongate discharge assembly as defined in the preamble of claim 1. In particular, the discharge assembly may be a shower discharge assembly, such as used in the floor of a shower cubicle, to discharge shower water. Background Art

[0002] The elongate discharge assembly comprises: a first discharge element having a first elongate tray part with a first fluid guiding surface; a second discharge element having a second elongate tray part with a second fluid guiding surface; and a click connection, i.e. a snap-in connection, configured to connect the first and second discharge elements such that their first and second elongate tray parts are adjacent to each other to form a continuous elongate tray with a smooth transition between the first and second fluid guiding surfaces.

[0003] The fluid guiding surface is understood to be the surface of the tray or tray part on which a fluid, such as water or other fluid provided by a shower device in a shower cubicle, is guided to be discharged by the discharge assembly, for example by flowing on the fluid guiding surface of the tray to reach a collection space or container of the discharge assembly, from which the fluid is discharged through an outlet of the discharge assembly. In a corresponding arrangement, such a collection space or container may be provided as part of the first or second discharge element or as part of another discharge element.

[0004] The term "elongate" is used herein in its usual meaning, clearly understood by a person skilled in the art, since the discharge assembly (also simply referred to as the discharge piece below) or the tray has a length (i.e. its extension in the longitudinal direction or the fluid flow direction) that is significantly greater than its width (i.e. its extension in the transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction), the length preferably being 2 times or more, especially 5 times or more, of the width. Preferably, the length is such that it allows an installer to assemble the discharge piece from wall to wall, typically between 600 mm and 1200 mm anywhere, and sometimes longer. Moreover, the elongate tray is preferably configured such that it can be shortened if necessary to enable an exact fit between the walls.

[0005] The smooth transition of the fluid guiding surfaces of the tray parts of the click-connected discharge elements allows the fluid guided on the resulting continuous elongate tray to flow correspondingly smoothly without a stepped transition from one tray part to another.

[0006] The snap - connection part includes: a male connector that protrudes from the face - end region of the first elongated tray; and a female connector that is formed at the face - end region of the second elongated tray and is configured to insert the male connector therein in the longitudinal direction of the male connector. In addition, the snap - connection part includes a snap - pin arrangement and a corresponding snap - hole arrangement, one of which is provided on the male connector and the other is provided on the female connector. The snap - connection part fixes the connected discharge elements in their connection positions and, in particular, secures them against unintentional axial (i.e., longitudinal) movement away from each other, which otherwise would impede the smooth transition of their fluid - guiding surfaces.

[0007] In corresponding embodiments, the first and second discharge elements are connected such that their tray members are adjacent to each other with their length axes parallel, resulting in a linear and straight extension of the tray, or alternatively, adjacent to each other with their length axes non - parallel, resulting in a corresponding kink at the transition of the two connected tray members. Such a kink can have any desired kink angle greater than 0° and less than 180° (e.g., about 90°). Also, the respective tray members themselves can extend straight, i.e., provide a straight - linear extension of their fluid - guiding surfaces, or alternatively, can extend in a kinked or bent shape of their fluid - guiding surfaces.

[0008] It goes without saying that in corresponding embodiments, in addition to the first and second discharge elements, the elongated discharge assembly can further include one or more additional discharge elements, each having a tray member of the same type as that of the first and second discharge elements for connection thereto, and in this way further elongating the resulting tray.

[0009] The published patent document EP 3 680 406 A1 discloses a floor - mounted elongated discharge assembly that includes: a housing member that provides a water - collection and discharge space; and a tray member that can be connected to the housing member through a snap - connection part. The snap - connection part is configured to connect the tray member to the housing member by a vertical snap - in movement from above, or by a pivoting snap - in movement, or by a combined vertical and successive longitudinal snap - in movement.

[0010] The published document EP 3 954 838 A1 discloses a floor-mounted elongatable shower drain assembly of the type mentioned at the beginning, wherein the snap connection of the present prior art system uses a separate strip-shaped connecting member which has elastic tongues having snap-in pins at each of its face end regions. The connecting member can be longitudinally snap-fitted with one of its face ends inserted into one of two drain elements to be connected, and is snap-connected to one of the two drain elements to be connected by snapping its snap-in pins into corresponding snap-in openings provided on the back side of the drain element opposite to its fluid guiding surface, wherein the drain element is formed of a closed hollow profile with a rectangular cross-section.

[0011] Other conventional elongatable shower drain assemblies are disclosed in the published document US2016 / 0130794 A1 and the patent document US10,017,933B1, which allow the face end connection of the drain elements to provide an extended elongatable water guiding tray. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The technical problem on which the present invention is based is to provide an elongatable drain assembly of the type mentioned at the beginning, which has advantages especially in terms of relatively low manufacturing and transportation workload and high functional reliability compared with the prior art assemblies mentioned above, for example in terms of achieving reliable sealing of the transition region between any two connected drain elements.

[0013] The present invention solves this problem by providing an elongatable drain assembly having the features of claim 1. Advantageous improvements of the present invention are described in the dependent claims, the wording of which hereby becomes part of this specification by reference. This particularly includes all embodiments of the present invention resulting from the combination of features covered by the dependency of the dependent claims.

[0014] By using the snap connection, the resulting drain piece of the elongatable drain assembly and thus its tray can be provided in any length and in any path (whether straight or kinked) as needed by snapping together a plurality of drain elements, without having to transport a bulky drain element or drain tray of such a length or path. Instead, it is only necessary to transport and manipulate drain elements of shorter lengths until the required drain piece is established at the intended use location in a shower room or the like.

[0015] In one aspect of the invention, the male connector and / or the female connector is formed of resilient sealing material at least in the region adjacent to the transition of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces. This means that only the male connector or only the female connector or both are at least partially composed of resilient sealing material such that the resilient sealing material is present in said region adjacent to the transition of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces. In this way, a corresponding seal is provided for this transition with a low manufacturing effort. This seal ensures that the transition is free from fluid leakage between the first and second fluid guiding surfaces.

[0016] In another aspect of the invention, the female connector is formed of a C-shaped profile which has a central side of the C-shape providing a part of the second fluid guiding surface, narrow sides adjacent to the central side, and back sides adjacent to the respective narrow sides. A snap-in pin arrangement or a snap-in hole arrangement is formed on at least one of the back sides of the female connector. This arrangement combines the advantageous implementation of the female connector as a C-shaped profile with the advantageous implementation of a snap-in connection for connecting the first and second discharge elements. Preferably, in the case where the discharge pieces are in their combined state, the central side of the C-shaped profile can form the top side of the female connector, while the back side forms the bottom side of the female connector, wherein in the combined state of the discharge pieces in a shower or the like, only the top side can remain visible.

[0017] The term "C-shaped" is used herein in a general broad sense to define the profile as including the central side, narrow sides, and back sides as explained above and shown in the figures, without further restricting the profile. In particular, each side does not need to have a completely flat shape, but can have a bent or curved shape, or even can have one or more kink regions. For example, the central side of the profile can simultaneously form the fluid guiding surface of a corresponding elongated tray member and can include a groove shape suitable for fluid collection and guiding. In other words, the C-shape can approximately be a shape similar to an M-shape or a V-shape.

[0018] In an improvement of the invention, the female connector is formed integrally with the second elongated tray. This can reduce the manufacturing and assembly effort because the female connector and the second elongated tray are formed as an integral part together and do not need to be separately fabricated and assembled. This is particularly advantageous when the second elongated tray is formed of a C-shaped profile, wherein the female connector can then be formed as an end section of the C-shaped tray profile. In an alternative embodiment, if required for a particular appliance, the female connector is formed as a separate piece from the second elongated tray and is attached to the face end region of the second elongated tray.

[0019] In an improvement of the invention, the male connector is formed integrally with the first elongated tray. This can likewise allow the manufacturing and assembly effort to be kept low because the male connector and the first elongated tray are formed as an integral part together and do not need to be separately fabricated and assembled.

[0020] In an alternative refinement of the present invention, the male connector is provided by a separate male connector device coupled to the first elongate tray. In this case, the male connector device is fabricated as an additional member of an elongate discharge assembly separate from the first elongate tray and is coupled to the first elongate tray at the face end region of the first elongate tray, thereby providing a male connector that protrudes from the face end region of the first elongate tray. In a corresponding device, this can be advantageous for allowing the fabrication of a discharge element or tray independent of the structure of the male connector.

[0021] In an improvement of the present invention, the snap-in hole arrangement includes at least one recess formed in a corresponding one of the back sides of the female connector. This is an advantageous simple implementation of a snap-in hole arrangement that does not require through holes to be made in the female connector to provide the corresponding snap-in holes. When using the discharge member, the snap-in hole arrangement is preferably no longer visible since one or more recesses are formed on the back side of the female connector. In an alternative implementation, if this proves to be preferred for a particular device, the snap-in hole arrangement can include one or more through holes in the back side or any other side of the female connector.

[0022] In an improvement of the present invention, the male connector includes an elastic tongue, and the snap-in pin arrangement includes at least one snap-in pin formed on the elastic tongue. This is an advantageous implementation of the snap connection. Since one or more snap-in pins are formed on the elastic tongue, they can be elastically snapped into an associated one of the snap-in holes by corresponding snapping, i.e., latching movement of the elastic tongue. Similarly, by moving the elastic tongue backward, the corresponding snap-in pins can be easily removed from the corresponding snap-in holes to release the snap connection. In an alternative embodiment, the corresponding snap-in pins can be formed in some other way, such as any other conventional elastic snap-in pin arrangement, or by using one or more rigid snap-in pins in cooperation with an elastic snap-in hole arrangement, where the corresponding snap-in holes are formed on an elastic support.

[0023] In an improvement of the present invention, the snap-in hole arrangement includes two recesses, each formed in a corresponding one of the back sides of the female connector, and the snap-in pin arrangement includes two corresponding snap-in pins formed on opposite side regions of the elastic tongue. This improvement is advantageous because it helps to achieve good stability of the snap connection connecting the first and second discharge elements while maintaining the advantages of using the elastic tongue as mentioned above. In an alternative embodiment, the snap-in hole arrangement can include only one recess, or multiple recesses only on one of the two back sides of the female connector.

[0024] In a further improvement of the invention, the resilient tongue includes a user-accessible pressing area which, when the male and female connectors are engaged to connect the first and second discharge elements, can be positioned between the back sides of the C-shaped profiles of the female connector. In this advantageous improvement, the resilient tongue can be accessed by the user at its pressing area, such that the user can press the resilient tongue to release (i.e., disconnect) the snap connection. In other words, in this case, the resilient tongue forms a user-operable button which is configured to release the snap connection by the pressing action of the user. Thus, the user can reversibly connect and disconnect the snap connection in a tool-free manner, i.e., without the need for any tools. The user can in particular be an assembler who constructs the elongated discharge assembly at the location where it is to be used. If required, for example for repair or maintenance purposes, the assembler can press the resilient tongue at its pressing area with his finger, for example, to disconnect the discharge elements connected by the snap connection. In an alternative embodiment, the resilient tongue can include some other actuation interface, such as a conventional traction actuation device, by means of which the user can move the resilient tongue from its locked, snapped state to its unlocked, released state by means of a pulling force.

[0025] In an improvement of the invention, a region in which the male connector and / or the female connector is formed of a resilient sealing material extends at least on the top side and the adjacent narrow side of the male connector and / or the female connector, and / or at least at the transition of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces along the docking edge of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces. The extension of the sealing material on the top side and the adjacent narrow side of the male connector and / or the female connector contributes to achieving a good and reliable seal between the connected discharge elements and in particular between the fluid guiding surfaces of their trays, to prevent the guided fluid from leaking at the transition of the fluid guiding surfaces. Similarly, this sealing function can be achieved by extending the sealing material at least at the transition of the fluid guiding surfaces along their docking edge. As mentioned above, this improvement is particularly useful when forming the elongated tray by means of the corresponding C-shaped profiles. In an alternative embodiment, if it proves sufficient to avoid excessive leakage of the fluid in the transition region of the fluid guiding surfaces, the sealing material can, for example, extend only on the top side of the male connector and / or the female connector and thus only on the top side of the docking elongated trays.

[0026] In an improvement of the invention, the male connector includes a male core formed of a rigid material and a resilient male part of the resilient sealing material molded on the male core. In this case, the male connector can preferably be formed as a two-component molded part. This improvement is advantageous in view of the low manufacturing effort and the high stability of the snap connection. In an alternative embodiment, the resilient sealing material can be attached to the male connector or the female connector as a separate seal, such as a sealing ring or a sealing strip.

[0027] In an improvement of the present invention, the first discharge element includes a fluid discharge structure that includes an outlet opening in a first fluid guiding surface of its first elongate tray. In this improvement, the first discharge element not only provides a part of the fluid guiding surface of the discharge member, but also provides a fluid discharge structure that allows the fluid guided on the resulting fluid guiding surface of the assembled discharge member to be discharged. The outlet opening is understood to be an opening through which the fluid collected and guided by the fluid guiding surface leaves the fluid guiding surface to enter a successive fluid discharge space. The outlet opening can be a single opening or can consist of a plurality of individual openings such as the individual openings of a grid element as conventionally used in a discharge member. More specifically, such a grid element is typically placed in a corresponding receiving space of a correspondingly configured discharge member body.

[0028] In an improvement of the present invention, the elongate discharge assembly further includes a third discharge element that includes a third elongate tray having a third fluid guiding surface; and an additional snap connection that is configured to connect the first and third discharge elements such that their first and third elongate trays are adjacent to each other to form an additional part of a continuous elongate tray having a smooth transition of the first and third fluid guiding surfaces. The additional snap connection includes: an additional male connector that projects from an additional face end region of the first elongate tray; and an additional female connector that is formed at a face end region of the third elongate tray and is configured to receive the additional male connector in the longitudinal direction of the additional male connector. Additionally, the additional snap connection includes an additional snap pin arrangement and a corresponding additional snap hole arrangement, one of which is provided on the additional male connector and the other of which is provided on the additional female connector. The additional male connector and / or the additional female connector is formed of a resilient sealing material at least in a region adjacent to the transition of the first and third fluid guiding surfaces, and / or wherein the additional female connector is formed of an additional C-shaped profile that has an additional central side that provides a part of the third fluid guiding surface, an additional narrow side adjacent to the additional central side, and an additional back side adjacent to the corresponding additional narrow side, and the additional snap pin arrangement or the additional snap hole arrangement is formed on at least one of the additional back sides of the additional female connector.

[0029] Therefore, the present improvement provides an elongate discharge assembly having at least three discharge elements connected together by the successive connection of at least first, second, and third elongate trays to form an elongate tray. It goes without saying that in corresponding embodiments of the present invention, the elongate discharge assembly consists of any number of two, three, or more discharge elements to establish a resulting discharge piece having an elongate tray formed by the successive connection of a plurality of elongate trays of snap-connected discharge elements. This allows for the provision of an elongate discharge assembly having an elongate tray of any desired length while only having to transport and handle shorter elongate trays that together form the entire tray when interconnected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings. These and additional embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 is a perspective top view of an elongate discharge arrangement including three releasably connected discharge elements,

[0032] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a perspective partial exploded top view of the discharge arrangement of

[0033] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a perspective partial exploded bottom view of the discharge arrangement of

[0034] Figure 4 is Figure 3 an enlarged view of region IV in

[0035] Figure 5 is Figure 4 a view of

[0036] Figure 6 is Figure 5 a cross-sectional view along line VI-VI in

[0037] Figure 7 is Figures 1 to 6 a perspective partial exploded top view of a discharge arrangement similar to

[0038] Figure 8 is Figure 7 the corresponding bottom view of

[0039] Figure 9 is Figure 7View of

[0040] Figure 10 is Figure 9 the corresponding bottom view of

[0041] Figure 11 in the case where two discharge elements are connected Figure 9 view of

[0042] Figure 12 is Figure 11 the corresponding bottom view of Detailed implementation mode

[0043] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 showing an exemplary embodiment, the elongating discharge assembly according to the present invention includes a first discharge element 1 1 and a second discharge element 1 2 and an engaging connection portion 4. The first discharge element 1 1 includes a first elongating tray 2 having a first fluid guiding surface 3 1 . The second discharge element 1 1 includes a second elongating tray 2 having a second fluid guiding surface 3 2 . The second discharge element can be substantially implemented by a bent sheet material or an extruded profile. The engaging connection portion 4 is configured to connect the first and second discharge elements 1 2 , 1 2 such that their first and second elongating trays 2 1 , 2 2 are adjacent to each other to form a continuous elongating tray 2 having a smooth transition of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 2 2 (i.e., a smooth transition from one of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 to the other). 1 , 3 2 1

[0044] The engaging connection portion 4 includes a male connector 5 protruding from the face end region 6 of the first elongating tray 2 1 and further includes a female connector 7 formed at the face end region 8 of the second elongating tray 2 2 . The female connector 7 is configured to insert the male connector 5 therein in the longitudinal connection direction CL. The engaging connection portion 4 includes a snap-in pin arrangement 9 and a corresponding snap-in hole arrangement 10, one of them being provided on the male connector 5 and the other being provided on the female connector 7. In Figures 1 to 5 the embodiment, the snap-in pin arrangement 9 is provided on the male connector 5 and the snap-in hole arrangement 10 is provided on the female connector 7.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, as in the Figures 1 to 6 embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 , the male connector 5 and the first elongate tray 2 1 are integrally (i.e., in one piece) formed at its face end region 6. In an alternative embodiment, as in the Figures 7 to 12 embodiment of Figures 7 to 12 , the male connector is provided by a separate male connector device 19 which is coupled to the first elongate tray 2 1 at the face end region 6 of the first elongate tray 2 1 .

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the example, the male connector 5 is formed of a resilient sealing material SM at least in the region of the transition adjacent to the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 , while the female connector 7 is formed of a rigid material, such as a rigid metal or plastic material. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, both the male connector 5 and the female connector 7 are formed of a resilient sealing material SM at least in the region of the transition adjacent to the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 , or only the female connector 7 is formed of a resilient sealing material SM at least in the region of the transition adjacent to the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 .

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the example, the female connector 7 is formed by a C-shaped profile 11. The profile 11 has a central side 12 of its C-shaped cross-section, and the central side 12 provides a part of the second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 . In addition, the narrow sides 13a, 13b of the C-shaped profile are adjacent to the central side 12, and the back sides 14a, 14b of the C-shaped profile 11 are adjacent to the corresponding narrow sides 13a, 13b. A snap-in hole arrangement 10 is formed on at least one of the back sides 14a, 14b of the female connector. In other embodiments, a snap-in pin arrangement 9 is formed on at least one of the back sides 14a, 14b of the female connector 7.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the example, the female connector 7 and the second elongate tray 2 2 are formed in one piece.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the example, the snap-in hole arrangement 10 includes at least one recess 10 1 , 10 2 which is formed in the corresponding one of the back sides 14a, 14b of the female connector 7.

[0050] In a corresponding embodiment, as shown in the example, the male connector 5 includes an elastic tongue 15, and the snap-in pin arrangement 9 includes at least one snap-in pin 9 formed on the elastic tongue 15 1 ,9 2 .

[0051] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in the example, the snap-in hole arrangement 10 includes two recesses 10 1 ,10 2 , each of the recesses being formed in a respective one of the dorsal sides 14a, 14b of the female connector 7, and the snap-in pin arrangement 9 includes two corresponding snap-in pins 9 1 ,9 2 , which are formed on the opposite side regions 15a, 15b of the elastic tongue 15.

[0052] In a corresponding embodiment, as shown in the example, the elastic tongue 15 includes a user-accessible pressing area 15c which, when the male connector 5 and the female connector 7 are joined to connect the first and second discharge elements 1 1 ,1 2 via a snap-in connection portion 4 having a snap-in pin arrangement 9 and a snap-in hole arrangement 10, will be positioned between the dorsal sides 14a, 14b of the C-shaped profile 11 of the female connector 7, i.e. in the gap left between the dorsal sides 14a, 14b of the C-shaped profile 11. This allows a user, such as an assembler establishing the assembly of an elongate discharge assembly at its intended use location, to easily access the pressing area 15c for pressing the tongue 15 from its locked position (where each snap-in pin 9 1 ,9 2 snaps into its corresponding snap-in hole, such as the respective recess 10 1 ,10 2 ) to its release position (where the snap-in pin 9 1 ,9 2 is disengaged from the corresponding snap-in hole / recess 10 1 ,10 2 ). In this way, if desired, the user can release the connection of the first and second discharge elements 1 1 ,1 2 .

[0053] In a corresponding embodiment, as shown in the example, the area of the male connector 5 formed of the resilient sealing material SM is at least on the top side 5t and the adjacent narrow side 5n of the male connector 5 1 ,5n 2extends upward. In other embodiments, the female connector 7 is formed of resilient sealing material SM in the relevant area, and the area of the female connector with the resilient sealing material SM extends at least on the top side and the adjacent narrow side of the female connector 7. Through this sealing measure, the sealing against the leakage of the guided fluid can be improved.

[0054] In a corresponding embodiment, as shown in the example, the areas where the male connector 5 and / or the female connector 7 are formed of resilient sealing material SM extend at least at the transition of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 along the first and second fluid guiding surfaces 3 1 , 3 2 to the docking edges 3e 1 , 3e 2 as shown in the embodiment. Similarly, through this sealing measure, the sealing against the leakage of the guided fluid can be improved.

[0055] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in the example, the male connector 5 includes a male core 5a formed of a rigid material, such as a rigid metal or plastic material, and a resilient male component 5b of resilient sealing material SM molded on the male core 5a. This contributes to the high stability of the connection achieved by the male connector 5 and the female connector 7 and the good sealing characteristics with a low manufacturing effort.

[0056] In a corresponding embodiment, as in Figures 1 to 6 the example shown in 1 the first discharge element 1 1 includes a fluid discharge structure 16, and the fluid discharge structure includes an outlet opening 17 in the first fluid guiding surface 3 1 of the first elongate tray 2 1 of the first discharge element 1. The outlet opening 17 is preferably integrated in the elongate tray 2 1 . For maintenance and / or cleaning purposes, the elongate tray 2 1 as a whole or only the part of the elongate tray 2 1 including the outlet opening 17 is preferably detachable from the fluid discharge structure 16, especially in a non-destructive manner.

[0057] The fluid discharge structure 16 itself can be of a conventional type and does not need to be further explained here. For example, the fluid discharge structure 16 can include a fluid collection chamber, the outlet opening 17 opens into the fluid collection chamber, and a discharge opening leads from the fluid collection chamber to a subsequent discharge pipe structure.

[0058] In a corresponding embodiment, as in Figures 1 to 6 the example shown in 3, the third discharge element has a third elongate tray 2 with a third fluid guiding surface 3 3 . In this case, an additional latching connection 4' is provided, which is configured to connect the first and third discharge elements 1 3 , 1 1 , such that the first and third elongate trays 2 3 , 2 1 are adjacent to each other to form an additional part of the continuous elongate tray 2 with a smooth transition having the first and third fluid guiding surfaces 3 3 , 3 1 . The additional second latching connection 4' includes an additional second male connector 5', which projects from an additional second face end region 6' of the first elongate tray 3 3 . Additionally, the second latching connection 4' includes an additional second female connector 7', which is formed at a face end region 8' of the third elongate tray 3 1 and is configured to insert the second male connector 5' therein in an additional second male connector longitudinal direction CL', which may be the same as or different from the first male connector longitudinal direction CL, for example, by forming a required angle greater than 0° and less than 180°, such as an angle of about 90°, with the first male connector longitudinal direction CL. 3 The second latching connection 4' includes an additional second snap pin arrangement 9' and a corresponding additional snap hole arrangement 10', one of which is provided on the second male connector 5' and the other is provided on the second female connector 7'. In the example shown in

[0059] , the snap pin arrangement 9' is provided on the second male connector 5', while the second snap hole arrangement 10' is provided on the second female connector 7'. The second male connector 5' and / or the second female connector 7' are formed of a resilient sealing material SM at least in the region of the transition adjacent to the first and third fluid guiding surfaces 3 Figures 1 to 5 , 3 1 , where the resilient sealing material SM may or may not be the same resilient sealing material as that used for the first male connector 5 and / or the first female connector 7. Additionally or alternatively, the second female connector 7' is formed of an additional second C-shaped profile 11', which has a third fluid guiding surface 3 3 3 ​The second female connector 7' has a second central side 12', two further second narrow sides 13'a, 13'b adjacent to the second central side 12', and two further second back sides 14'a, 14'b adjacent to the respective second narrow sides 13'a, 13'b. A second snap-in pin arrangement 9' or a second snap-in hole arrangement 10' is formed on at least one of the second back sides 14'a, 14'b of the second female connector 7'.

[0060] The second snap-in pin arrangement 9 ′ and the second snap-in hole arrangement 10 ′ may be identical in structure and function to the first snap-in pin arrangement 9 and the second snap-in hole arrangement 10 , respectively, in other words for attaching the first and the third discharge element 1 1 ,1 3 The interconnecting connecting means can be used to connect the first and second discharge elements 1 1 ,1 2 The interconnecting connecting devices are the same.

[0061] In a corresponding implementation, the profile 11 not only provides the female connector 7, but rather provides the corresponding elongated tray as a whole. In other words, in this case, the elongated tray is formed by the profile 11, such as Figures 1 to 6 The second and third elongated trays 2 of the embodiment 2 ,2 3 as well as Figures 7 to 12 The first and second elongated trays 2 in the embodiment 1 ,2 2 Some strips of filler (eg plastic foam) may be inserted in the profile 11 at the area outside the female connector 7 to at least partially fill the inner volume of the elongated tray, such as in Figure 3 and Figure 5 The filler 18 as seen in FIG.

[0062] In the embodiment shown, the female connectors 7, 7' and the corresponding discharge elements (ie the second and third discharge elements 1 2 ,1 3 The back sides 14a, 14b, 14'a, 14'b of the respective C-shaped profiles 11, 11' of the remaining part of the connector 11, 11' can preferably be inclined inwards (ie in the direction of the central top side 12, 12'). This results in a dovetail-like connection between the female connector 7, 7' and the male connector 5, 5' inserted therein. The stability of the connection can be further enhanced by this measure.

[0063] Figures 7 to 12 The embodiment is specifically directed to the first and second discharge elements 1 as 1 ,1 2 The male connector means 19 of the separate elongated discharge assembly member connects the first discharge element 1 1 and the second discharge element 12 As seen in Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the male connector device 19 has a strip-like configuration which includes, on one side extending in its longitudinal direction, a male connector 5 which can be snap-fitted or latched to the female connector 7 of the second discharge element 1 2 or the second elongated tray 2 2 . On the other side, the male connector device 19 includes a coupling arrangement 20 which is configured to releasably couple the male connector device 19 to the first discharge element 1 1 , and thus to the first elongated tray 2 1 . For this purpose, the first discharge element 1 1 or the first elongated tray 2 1 includes a corresponding mating coupling arrangement 24 which is configured to releasably engage with the coupling arrangement 20. The mating coupling arrangement 24 is formed at the face end region 6 of the first elongated tray 2 1 .

[0064] Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate the elongated discharge arrangement of this embodiment in its disassembled state. As illustrated in Figures 9 to 10 , for assembling Figures 7 to 12 's elongated tray arrangement, the male connector device 19 can first be coupled to the first discharge element 1 by engaging the coupling arrangement 20 and the mating coupling arrangement 24 1 . Then, the first discharge element 1 1 can be connected to the second discharge element 1 by snap-fitting or latching the male connector 5 at the first discharge element 1 2 to the female connector 7 of the second discharge element 1 1 , as explained above for the embodiment of 2 . Figures 1 to 6 Figure 11 and Figure 12 show the elongated discharge arrangement in its assembled state, where the snap-fitting connection part 4 is in its locked state. Unlocking of the snap-fitting connection part 4 is achieved by pressing the tongue 15 from its locked position to its release position, as also explained above.

[0065] In an advantageous implementation, as shown in the example, the coupling arrangement 20 and the mating coupling arrangement 24 are formed identically to the male connector 5 and the female connector 7 respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the male connector device 19 is formed symmetrically about its central transverse axis QA, as marked in Figure 7 and Figure 8 , perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. So, the coupling arrangement 20 is just a replica of the male connector 5. Further, in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 12 , the first discharge element 1 1By using the same C-shaped profile 11 as used for the second discharge element 1 2 is formed. Thus, the mating coupling arrangement 24 can identically utilize the features of the female connector 7 provided at the face end region 6 of the first elongate tray 2 by this C-shaped profile 11, in particular by using the snap-in hole arrangement 10 including the recesses 10 1 formed in the back sides 14a, 14b of the female connector 7 provided by the profile 11 1 , 10 2 . Thus, the connection and disconnection of the male connector device 19 to and from the first discharge element 1 1 is achieved in the same manner as explained above for connecting and disconnecting the discharge element 1 1 and 1 2 to and from another via the snap-fit connection portion 4 including the male connector 5 and the female connector 7

[0066] The use of the male connector device 19 allows any number of elongate trays to be formed from the profile 1 1 (whether as a straight, bent or kinked profile) and to be connected together in an advantageous and simple manner, thus providing an infinitely extendable elongate discharge assembly extending straight, bent or kinked as required

[0067] An elongate discharge assembly according to the invention having a construction as shown in the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 12 can be used in particular in the floor of a shower cubicle to discharge shower water. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, for example when installing an elongate discharge assembly at a given length of shower cubicle floor or wall, any of the trays can be appropriately cut, i.e. shortened to the required length

[0068] As is apparent from the illustrated embodiment and the other embodiments explained above, the invention provides an advantageous elongate discharge assembly which has improvements compared to the prior art, in particular in terms of low manufacturing, assembly and transport effort and high functional reliability

Claims

1. An elongated discharge assembly, preferably an elongated shower discharge assembly, comprising - a first discharge element (11) comprising a first elongated tray (21) having a first fluid guiding surface (31) and a second discharge element (12) comprising a second elongated tray (22) having a second fluid guiding surface (32), and a snap-on connection (4) configured to connect the first and second discharge elements (11, 12) such that their first and second elongated trays (21, 22) abut against each other to form a continuous elongated tray (2) with a smooth transition of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces (31, 32), -in, The snap-fit ​​connection portion (4) comprises a male connector (5) and a female connector (7), wherein the male connector protrudes from a face end region (6) of the first elongated tray (21), and the female connector is formed at a face end region (8) of the second elongated tray (22) and is configured to insert the male connector (5) therein in a longitudinal connection direction (CL), and - wherein the snap-in connection (4) comprises a snap-in pin arrangement (9) and a corresponding snap-in hole arrangement (10), one of which is provided on the male connector (5) and the other of which is provided on the female connector (7), It is characterized in that - the male connector (5) and / or the female connector (7) is formed of a resilient sealing material (SM) at least in the region of the transition adjacent to the first and second fluid guiding surfaces (31, 32), and / or - the female connector (7) is formed by a C-shaped profile (11), which has a central side (12) providing part of the second fluid guiding surface (31, 32), narrow sides (13a, 13b) adjacent to the central side (12) and back sides (14a, 14b) adjacent to the respective narrow sides (13a, 13b), and the snap-in pin arrangement (9) or the snap-in hole arrangement (10) is formed on at least one of the back sides (14a, 14b) of the female connector (7).

2. The elongated discharge assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that: - the female connector (7) is formed in one piece with the second elongated tray (22), and / or - said male connector (5) is formed in one piece with said first elongated tray (21) or is provided by a separate male connector device (19) coupled to said first elongated tray (21).

3. The elongated discharge assembly according to claim 2, further characterized in that: The snap-in hole arrangement (10) comprises at least one recess (101, 102) formed in a corresponding one of the back sides (14a, 14b) of the female connector (7).

4. The elongated discharge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that: The male connector (5) comprises a resilient tongue (15), and the bayonet pin arrangement (9) comprises at least one bayonet pin (91, 92) formed on the resilient tongue (15).

5. The elongated discharge assembly of claim 4, further characterized in that: The snap-in hole arrangement (10) comprises two recesses (101, 102), each of which is formed in a corresponding one of the back sides (14a, 14b) of the female connector (7), and the snap-in pin arrangement (9) comprises two corresponding snap-in pins (91, 92), which are formed on opposite side areas (15a, 15b) of the elastic tongue (15).

6. The elongated discharge assembly according to claim 4 or 5, further characterized in that: The resilient tongue (15) comprises a user accessible pressing area (15c) to be positioned between the back sides (14a, 14b) of the C-shaped profile (11) of the female connector (7).

7. The elongated discharge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that: The area of ​​the male connector (5) and / or the female connector (7) formed by the resilient sealing material (SM) extends at least on the top side (5t) and the adjacent narrow side (5n1, 5n2) of the male connector (5) and / or the female connector (7), and / or extends at least along the abutting edges (3e1, 3e2) of the first and second fluid guiding surfaces (31, 32) at the transition between the first and second fluid guiding surfaces (31, 32).

8. The elongated discharge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that: The male connector (5) comprises a male core (5a) formed of a rigid material and a resilient male part (5b) of the resilient sealing material (SM) molded on the male core (5a).

9. The elongated discharge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that: The first discharge element (11) comprises a fluid discharge structure (16) comprising an outlet opening (17) in the first fluid guiding surface (31) of its first elongated tray (21).

10. An elongated discharge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It is further characterized by - a third discharge element (13) comprising a third elongated tray (23) having a third fluid guiding surface (33), a further snap-in connection (4') configured to connect the first and third discharge elements (11, 13) such that their first and third elongated trays (21, 23) abut against each other to form a further portion of the continuous elongated tray (2) with a smooth transition of the first and third fluid guiding surfaces (31, 33), - wherein the further snap-fit ​​connection portion (4') comprises a further male connector (5') and a further female connector (7'), the further male connector protruding from a further face end region (6') of the first elongated tray (31), the further female connector being formed at a face end region (8') of the third elongated tray (33) and being configured for inserting the further male connector (5') therein in a longitudinal direction (CL') of the further male connector, - wherein the further snap-in connection (4') comprises a further snap-in pin arrangement (9') and a corresponding further snap-in hole arrangement (10'), one of which is provided on the further male connector (5') and the other of which is provided on the further female connector (7'), and - wherein the additional male connector (5') and / or the additional female connector (7') are formed by a resilient sealing material (SM) at least in the area of ​​the transition adjacent to the first and third fluid guiding surfaces (31, 33), and / or wherein the additional female connector (7') is formed by an additional C-shaped profile (11'), the additional C-shaped profile having an additional central side (12') providing part of the third fluid guiding surface (33), an additional narrow side (13'a, 13'b) adjacent to the additional central side (12) and an additional back side (14'a, 14'b) adjacent to the respective additional narrow sides (13'a, 13'b), and the additional snap-in pin arrangement (9') or the additional snap-in hole arrangement (10') is formed on at least one of the additional back sides (14'a, 14'b) of the additional female connector (7').

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