Drain fitting, especially for shower trays, with flexible, deformable partition

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drain fitting, in particular for shower or bathtubs, with a drain housing which has an interior space accessible from an upper inlet opening, with a drain nozzle protruding from the drain housing, with a partition wall defining an overflow edge between the interior space and the drain nozzle, wherein the partition wall is connected in one piece to the drain housing as an integral component of the drain housing, and with an immersion pipe which is inserted into the drain housing and can be removed from the same and forms part of an odor trap.

[0002] Such a drain fitting is known from EP 2 363 543 B1. The drain fitting has a housing wall (partition wall) located between the interior and the drain nozzle, defining an overflow edge. An opening is formed in the housing wall for cleaning purposes. This opening is closed by a removable plug having a handle element accessible from the interior. The plug inserted into the cleaning opening is held and fixed in the closed position by the immersion tube inserted into the drain housing. Therefore, even when using a plunger to clean the drain fitting and the connected drain line, it remains securely positioned in the cleaning opening and reliably seals it to prevent any loss of sealing water in the odor trap.On the other hand, the plug can also be easily removed from the opening after removing the immersion tube in order to clean the drain nozzle and the connected drain line using a flexible cleaning spiral or a pressurized water flushing hose if necessary.

[0003] The applicant's drain fitting known from EP 2 363 543 B1 has proven very effective in practice. However, this drain fitting appears to still have room for improvement with regard to the occasionally necessary cleaning.

[0004] DE 20 2008 010 106 U1 discloses a drain fitting for shower trays, comprising a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. An odor trap is arranged in the housing, comprising a cup-shaped container and a dip tube extending into the container. The dip tube is removably attached to the inlet opening of the housing. The average horizontal outer diameter of the container is larger than the average inner diameter of the inlet opening. The container is flexible, so that after removing the dip tube, it can be compressed to such an extent that, in the compressed state, it can be removed from the housing through the inlet opening and, conversely, inserted into the housing.

[0005] DE 10 2013 204 292 A1 discloses a siphon insert for floor-level showers, comprising a water seal for receiving in a drain pan of an underfloor drain arranged beneath a shower floor and a dip tube for receiving in a drain opening of a surface drain arranged above the underfloor drain and for introducing surface water into the water seal. The water seal is designed to be flexibly deformable, such that it can be converted from an assembly configuration in which it can be inserted through the drain opening into the drain pan of the underfloor drain into an operating configuration in which it has a larger dimension than the drain opening in at least one direction parallel to the plane of the drain opening. Likewise, the flexible water seal, which can be used, for example,made of rubber, can be deformed within the drain pot of the underfloor drain after removal of the immersion pipe, so that in the deformed state it can be removed upside down through the drain opening from the drain pot of the underfloor drain.

[0006] EP 3 255 216 A1 discloses a drain fitting with an odor trap for showers and bathtubs. The drain fitting has a housing with an inlet section and an outlet section, the outlet section being connected to the inlet section via an intermediate section. The inlet section has an immersion tube formed integrally with the housing. The intermediate section has a base section to which a cup-shaped water seal made of flexible elastomer material is attached on the inside. The inlet section has an annular projection on the inside of the housing that projects towards the water seal. When there is no water seal, the flexible wall of the water seal lies sealingly against the annular projection with its peripheral edge. If there is a certain volume of water seal in the water seal, the immersion tube projects into the water seal and forms an odor barrier with it.Due to the weight of the sealing water, the flexible sealing water pot expands such that its peripheral edge moves away from the annular projection, creating an annular opening through which water flowing from the inlet section can drain toward the outlet section. The base section supporting the sealing water pot can be removed from the intermediate section of the housing for cleaning the drain fitting and then reinserted into it in a sealed manner.

[0007] The present invention is therefore based on the object of improving a drain fitting of the type mentioned at the outset with regard to simple cleaning thereof.

[0008] This object is achieved by a drain fitting having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the drain fitting according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0009] The drain fitting according to the invention is characterized in that the partition defining an overflow edge is flexibly deformable, such that a section of the overflow edge can be deformed laterally into a trough-shaped shape by mechanical pressure toward the interior of the drain body. This makes it possible to access the areas of the drain body located behind the partition significantly easier for cleaning.

[0010] The term "trough-shaped deformable" refers in particular to the reversible creation of a trough or trough-shaped depression in the partition. However, the flexible deformability of the partition of the drain fitting according to the invention is not limited to this. Rather, the flexible deformability of the partition also encompasses a partial or complete reversal of the flexibly deformable partition along its overflow edge.

[0011] The flexibly deformable partition wall of the drain fitting according to the invention is reversibly deformable.

[0012] The partition wall defining an overflow edge is preferably annular, so that it circumferentially delimits the interior of the drain housing accessible from the upper inlet opening, wherein the drain housing together with the partition wall delimits an annular drainage channel surrounding the interior.

[0013] The flexible deformability of the partition wall is achieved, for example, by material properties that enable plastic or elastic deformation of the partition wall at least along a partial section of the overflow edge.

[0014] According to the invention, the partition wall is flexibly deformable such that a section of the overflow edge can be deformed laterally into a trough shape in the direction of the interior of the drain housing by the application of mechanical pressure. In other words, in this embodiment, the partition wall is flexibly deformable such that a section of the overflow edge can be deformed inward into a trough shape in the direction of a cup-shaped section of the drain housing by the application of mechanical pressure. This makes, for example, a drainage channel opening into the drain nozzle, which lies behind the partition wall as seen from the interior of the drain housing and preferably surrounds it in a ring or at least in sections, more easily accessible for cleaning.

[0015] An advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention provides that the partition is flexibly deformable such that a section of the overflow edge can be deformed laterally in a trough-shaped manner in the direction of the drain nozzle by the application of mechanical pressure. In other words, the partition in this embodiment is flexibly deformable such that a section of the overflow edge can be deformed laterally outwards in a trough-shaped manner in the direction of a housing wall of the drain housing or the housing base by the application of mechanical pressure. This embodiment enables easy cleaning of the drain nozzle and a drain line connected to it by means of a flexible cleaning spiral or a pressurized water flushing hose, in contrast to the drain fitting known from EP 2 363 543 B1 without a cleaning opening formed in the partition and closable by a removable plug.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention, the drain housing is composed of a lower housing part and an upper housing part, wherein the lower housing part, together with the partition wall, defines a receiving space for receiving sealing water, wherein the lower housing part has a shoulder extending outward relative to the receiving space, wherein the shoulder merges into a housing wall extending upwards in the direction of the upper housing part, and wherein the housing wall, the shoulder, and the flexibly deformable partition wall define a drainage channel that opens into the drain nozzle. This embodiment allows a high drainage capacity to be achieved with comparatively compact dimensions of the drain housing.In contrast to the drain fitting known from EP 2 363 543 B1, the drain fitting according to the invention does not require a double-walled design of the partition wall defining an overflow edge; rather, the partition wall in the drain fitting according to the invention can be designed as a single-walled partition wall, whereby material for the partition wall can be saved and the dimensions of the drain housing can be reduced.

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention is characterized in that the flexibly deformable partition is made of a soft component, preferably an elastomer or a polyolefin. This allows good deformability of the partition in the event that cleaning of a drainage area located behind the partition is required. The flexible, deformable partition can be manufactured reliably and cost-effectively as an integral component of the drain housing by two- or multi-component injection molding, with the partition and the part of the drain housing directly connected to the partition being made of different plastics. The soft component is, for example, an elastic plastic, preferably a rubber-elastic plastic, from the group of cross-linked or thermoplastic plastics.

[0018] The housing base and / or the housing top are made, for example, of a hard component, preferably of thermoplastic material, particularly preferably of polypropylene. The housing part in question can thus be manufactured cost-effectively in a complex shape and with high dimensional stability.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention, the partition has an arcuate wall section curved inwards towards the immersion pipe and facing the drain socket. This design of the partition, with a suitable design of the immersion pipe with an inlet surface section formed thereon that projects outwards over the arcuate wall section of the partition curved inwards towards the immersion pipe, enables improved cleaning access to the drain socket after removal of the immersion pipe. Sometimes the arcuate, inwardly curved wall section of the partition needs to be barely deformed to clean the drain socket and the connected drain line in order to be able to insert a flexible cleaning spiral or a pressurized water flushing hose from the upper inlet opening of the drain housing into the drain socket after removal of the immersion pipe.

[0020] A further advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention provides that the arched wall section of the partition, which curves inwards towards the immersion pipe, is connected to the partition in a liquid-tight manner via a substantially U-shaped thin section. This embodiment enables simplified, contour-accurate tearing or cutting out of said wall section of the partition. The thin section can also be referred to as a tear-off groove. The drain fitting can thus, in a state not covered by the claimed invention, also be used without its own integrated odor trap in drainage systems that have a central floor drain with odor trap through which all water-draining sanitary fixtures, in particular shower trays, with the exception of toilets, are drained. In this respect, it is not necessary to provide a siphon in the shower drain fitting.In such drainage systems, such as those commonly used in Southern Europe, the drain fitting can also be operated in a state not covered by the claimed invention without the immersion pipe and without the curved wall section of the partition wall that curves inward toward the immersion pipe. The drain fitting according to the invention can thus be easily and cost-effectively adapted to country-specific requirements. This avoids or standardizes the production of different drain fittings to meet country-specific requirements, thereby reducing costs, particularly in the production, storage, and logistics of such drain fittings.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention, the immersion pipe has a non-circular cross-sectional profile with a pipe wall section that is associated with the wall section of the partition wall that curves inward toward the immersion pipe, wherein the pipe wall section has an outer profile into which the wall section of the partition wall protrudes or engages in a form-fitting manner. This design enables a relatively large free cross-sectional area of ​​the immersion pipe and thus a high drainage capacity, given compact or predetermined dimensions of the drain housing and good accessibility to the drainage areas that lie behind the partition wall in the flow direction of the wastewater to be drained.

[0022] With regard to good accessibility of the drainage areas which, viewed in the flow direction of the wastewater to be drained, are located behind the partition wall, as well as with regard to a high drainage capacity, it is also advantageous if, according to a further embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention, the immersion pipe has a radially outwardly projecting inlet surface section which, when the immersion pipe is inserted, projects outwards over the wall section of the partition wall which is curved inwards towards the immersion pipe.

[0023] In order to achieve a relatively large free cross-sectional area of ​​the immersion pipe and thus a high drainage capacity with compact dimensions of the drain housing, a further embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention provides that the immersion pipe has vertically extending recesses or niches for the positive reception of screw domes formed in the drain housing. This allows optimal use of the space available in the drain housing for accommodating the immersion pipe and maximizes the free cross-sectional area of ​​the immersion pipe.

[0024] A further advantageous embodiment of the drain fitting according to the invention is characterized in that the immersion pipe has an annular collar at its upper end, which has a plurality of annular collar sections alternating vertically and differing from one another in terms of material hardness and / or collar wall thickness. The annular collar of the immersion pipe can be used to cover a gap located in the area of ​​the shower tray floor opening between the drain housing arranged on the underside of the tray floor and a fastening ring (fastening flange) arranged on the top of the tray floor, and in which, without the covering provided by the collar, dirt pockets can form.Because the collar has a plurality of vertically alternating annular collar sections, which differ from one another in terms of material hardness and / or collar wall thickness, the height of the collar can be easily adapted to different floor thicknesses of shower trays in the area of ​​the floor drain opening or to different heights of the gap to be covered.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing illustrating several exemplary embodiments. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a section of a floor with an integrated shower tray equipped with a drain fitting according to the invention, and with a central odor trap arranged next to the shower tray and shown exposed; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the shower tray with the drain fitting and the central odor trap along the section line II-II in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 an enlarged view of detail X from Fig. 2 with the drain fitting; Fig. 4 an enlarged view of detail X from Fig. 2 with the drain fitting in a non-inventive state without odor trap function; Fig. 5 a housing lower part of the drain fitting in a perspective view; Fig. 6 an enlarged view of detail D from Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 the drain housing of the drain fitting with a dip pipe and an intermediate wall in a perspective exploded view; Fig. 8 a vertical sectional view of the drain housing and the dip pipe removed therefrom; Fig. 9 a vertical sectional view of the drain housing, wherein a section of a partition defining an overflow edge in the drain housing is deformed in a trough-shaped manner; Fig. 10 the housing base of the drain housing, wherein a section of the partition defining an overflow edge in the drain housing is deformed in a trough-shaped manner, in a perspective view; Fig. 11 the drain housing in the mounted state on a floor drain opening of a partially shown shower tray, with the dip pipe inserted; Fig. 12 the dip pipe from Fig. 11 , in a perspective view; Fig. 13 the drain housing in the mounted state on a floor drain opening of a partially shown shower tray, with inserted immersion pipe cut to length at the upper end; and Fig. 14 the immersion pipe from Fig. 13 , in a perspective view.

[0026] The drain fitting shown in the drawing is particularly intended for draining a bathtub or shower tray 1. It comprises a drain housing 2 consisting of a lower housing part 2.1 and an upper housing part 2.2. The two parts 2.1, 2.2 are joined together in a materially bonded manner, for example, by welding. The upper housing part 2.2 has a receptacle 3 for a sealing ring 4, which, when the drain fitting is installed, surrounds the drain opening in the tub floor and forms a seal against the underside of the shower tray 1.

[0027] To secure the drain housing 2 to the lower edge of the drain opening of the shower tray 1, a mounting flange 5 is provided, which rests with a circumferential beveled surface against the upper edge of the drain opening of the shower tray, while the sealing ring 4 is pressed against the lower edge of the drain opening by tightening mounting screws 6, which are inserted into through-holes of the mounting flange 5 and screwed into threaded holes provided in the housing upper part 2.2. The threaded holes are formed, for example, by threaded sleeves cast into the plastic housing upper part 2.2.

[0028] A cover 7 is placed on the fastening flange 5 or the fastening screws 6, which has web-shaped spacers 7.1 and hollow cylindrical spacers 7.2 on its underside for the positive reception of the heads of the fastening screws 6. The cover 7 can be manually removed from the fastening screws 6 for cleaning the drain body 2.

[0029] The upper housing section 2.2 and the lower housing section 2.1 define an interior space 8, which is accessible from the inlet opening (feed opening) 9 formed in the upper housing section. A drain connection 10 is formed on the lower housing section 2.1, to which a drain pipe 11 can be connected. For this purpose, the drain connection 10 has an external thread 12, so that the drain pipe 11 inserted into the drain connection 10 can be connected to the drain connection 10 in a sealing and force-fitting manner using a union nut 13.

[0030] The drain housing 2, specifically the lower housing part 2.1, further comprises a partition 14 between the interior space 8 and the drain connection 10, which partition defines an overflow edge 15. The partition 14 is an integral component of the drain housing 2 and is integrally connected to the lower housing part 2.1. The lower housing part 2.1, together with the partition 14, defines a receiving space 16 for receiving sealing water. The lower housing part 2.1 has a shoulder (base) 2.11 extending outward relative to the receiving space 16, which merges into a housing wall 2.12 extending upwards towards the upper housing part 2.2. The housing wall 2.12, the shoulder (base) 2.11, and the partition 14 define an annular drainage channel 17 that opens into the drain connection 10. The bottom 2.11 of the annular drain channel 17 is inclined towards the drain nozzle 10.

[0031] Furthermore, the drain fitting comprises a dip tube 19 which is inserted into the housing 2 and can be removed therefrom and which, together with the cup-shaped section 20 of the housing base 2.1 and the partition wall 14, forms an odor trap. The dip tube 19 has a collar 19.1 at its upper end, with which it can be inserted into the inlet opening 9 of the drain housing 2 in a form-fitting manner. A handle (not shown) is preferably provided in the upper end of the dip tube 19 so that the dip tube 19 can be easily grasped and pulled out of the drain housing 2. The free cross-sectional area of ​​the dip tube 19 is significantly larger than the free cross-sectional area of ​​the drain nozzle 10 (cf. Fig. 7 ). In the illustrated embodiments, the free cross-sectional area of ​​the immersion tube 19 is, for example, more than 1.5 times the free cross-sectional area of ​​the drain nozzle 10. It can be seen that the interior 8 of the drain housing 2 is easily accessible for cleaning purposes after removal of the immersion tube 19.

[0032] The partition wall 14 defining an overflow edge 15 is designed to be flexibly deformable, so that a section of the overflow edge 15 can be deformed into a trough shape by mechanical pressure (cf. Fig. 8 and 9). Thus, a section of the housing 2 located behind the partition 14, viewed in the direction of flow of the wastewater, is also easily accessible for cleaning purposes. In order to be able to flexibly deform the partition 14 into a trough shape or turn it inside out at the overflow edge 15, the partition 14 is made, for example, from a soft component. The soft component is, for example, an elastic plastic, preferably a rubber-elastic plastic, from the group of cross-linked or thermoplastic plastics, such as elastomers or polyolefins. In contrast, the lower housing part 2.1 and the upper housing part 2.2 are preferably made from a hard component, for example a thermoplastic plastic, particularly preferably polypropylene. The one-piece connection of the partition 14 and the lower housing part 2.1, which are made from different components, can be achieved by two-component or multi-component injection molding.

[0033] The partition wall 14 is flexibly deformable in such a way that a section of the overflow edge 15 can be deformed laterally in a trough-shaped manner in the direction of the interior 8 of the housing 2 by the action of pressure (cf. Fig. 9 and 10 ).

[0034] In the Figuren 5 and 10 It can be seen that the partition wall 14 has a wall section 14.1 which is curved inwards in the direction of the interior space 8 or the immersion pipe 19 and whose concave side faces the drain nozzle 10. In the area of ​​the curved section 14.1, the partition wall is flexibly deformable such that a section of the overflow edge 15 can be deformed laterally in the direction of the drain nozzle 10 by mechanical pressure.

[0035] Furthermore, the partition wall section 14.1 is connected to the partition wall 14 in a liquid-tight manner via a substantially U-shaped thin section 14.2. The thin section 14.2 can also be referred to as a tear-off groove or tear-off edge. It facilitates cutting or tearing out the wall section 14.1 in applications not according to the invention that do not require an odor-trap function of the drain fitting. Such applications exist, for example, in Southern Europe, where drainage systems are required that have a central floor drain 21 with an odor trap, through which all water-discharging sanitary objects, in particular shower trays, with the exception of toilets, are drained (cf. Fig. 1 ). In such drainage systems with central odor trap, the drain fitting according to the invention can also be operated in a non-inventive state without the immersion pipe 19 and without the removable wall section 14.1 of the partition wall 14.

[0036] The immersion tube 19 has, from its lower end to its upper collar 19.1, a non-circular cross-sectional profile with a tube wall section 19.2 which is assigned to the wall section 14.1 of the partition wall 14 (cf. Fig. 11 bis 14 ). The pipe wall section 19.2 has an outer profile into which the inwardly curved partition wall section 14.1 projects. Furthermore, the immersion tube 19 has a radially outwardly projecting inlet surface section 19.3, which, when the immersion tube 19 is inserted, projects outwardly beyond the inwardly curved partition wall section 14.1 (cf. Fig. 3). The inlet surface section 19.3 is inclined from the collar 19.1 of the immersion tube to its tubular section 19.5. In the area of ​​its collar 19.1 and in the area of ​​its tubular section 19.5, the immersion tube 19 has vertically extending recesses or niches 19.6, which serve to positively accommodate screw bosses 2.13, 2.21 formed in the lower housing section 2.1 and the upper housing section 2.2.

[0037] The annular immersion pipe collar 19.1 can be used to cover and seal a gap (cavity) 22 located at the shower tray floor opening between the drain housing 2 and the fastening flange 5, in which, without the covering by the collar 19.1, dirt pockets can form. In order to be able to cover gaps 22 of different heights depending on the design of the tray floor opening and thus prevent the occurrence of dirt pockets, the collar 19.1 has a certain height in the delivery state, which can be adjusted to the height of the gap 22 to be covered by vertical shortening. To facilitate the most level, right-angled cutting of the collar 19.1 relative to the longitudinal center axis of the immersion pipe 19, the collar 19.1 has a plurality of annular collar sections 19.11, 19.12, which differ from one another in terms of material hardness and / or collar wall thickness. The different collar sections 19.11, 19.12 of the immersion tube 19 can be realized by two-component or multi-component injection molding. The respective harder collar section or collar section with a smaller wall thickness facilitates the guidance of a cutting tool when shortening the collar 19.1.

[0038] The implementation of the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Rather, numerous variants are conceivable, which make use of the invention disclosed in the claims even with designs that deviate from the illustrated exemplary embodiments. For example, it is also possible for the partition wall 14 to be flexibly deformable or designed in such a way that it can be partially or completely folded over along its overflow edge 15.

Claims

1. Drain set, in particular for shower or bath tubs, with a drain housing (2) which has an interior (8) accessible from an upper inlet opening (9), with a drain connection piece (10) projecting from the drain housing, with a partition wall (14) defining an overflow edge (15) between the interior (8) and the drain connection piece (10), the partition wall (14) being connected integrally to the drain housing (2) as an integral component of the drain housing (2), and with a dip tube (19) inserted into the drain housing (2) and removable therefrom and forming part of an odour trap, characterised in that the partition wall (14) is flexibly deformable in such a way that a section of the overflow edge (15) can be deformed laterally in the direction of the interior (8) of the drain housing (2) in the shape of a trough by the action of mechanical pressure.

2. Drain set according to claim 1, characterised in that the partition wall (14) is flexibly deformable in such a way that a section of the overflow edge (15) can be deformed laterally in the direction of the drain connection piece (10) in the shape of a trough by the action of mechanical pressure.

3. Drain set according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the outlet housing (2) is composed of a lower housing part (2.1) and an upper housing part (2.2), wherein the lower housing part (2.1) together with the partition wall (14) defines a receiving space (16) for receiving sealing water, wherein the lower housing part (2.1) has a shoulder (2.11) extending outwards relative to the receiving space (16), wherein the shoulder (2.11) merges into a housing wall (2.12) extending upwards in the direction of the upper housing part (2.2), and wherein the housing wall (2.12), the shoulder (2.11) and the partition wall (14) define a drain channel (17) which opens into the drain connection piece (10).

4. Drain set according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the flexibly deformable partition wall (14) is made of a soft component, preferably an elastomer or a polyolefin.

5. Drain set according to claim 3 or 4 in combination with claim 3, characterised in that the lower housing part (2.1) and / or the upper housing part (2.2) are made of a hard component, preferably of thermoplastic material, particularly preferably of polypropylene.

6. Drain set according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the partition wall (14) has a curved wall section (14.1) which is curved inwards in the direction of the dip tube (19) and which faces the drain connection piece (10).

7. Drain set according to claim 6, characterised in that the curved wall section (14.1) of the partition wall (14), which is curved inwards in the direction of the dip tube, is connected to the partition wall (14) in a liquid-tight manner via a substantially U-shaped thin section (14.2).

8. Drain set according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the dip tube (19) has a non-circular cross-sectional profile with a pipe wall section (19.2) which is associated with the inwardly curved wall section (14.1) of the partition wall (14), wherein the pipe wall section (19.2) has an outer profile into which the wall section (14.1) of the partition wall (14) projects or engages in a form-fitting manner.

9. Drain set according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the dip tube (19) has a radially outwardly projecting inlet surface section (19.3) which, in the inserted state of the dip tube (19), projects outwards over the inwardly curved wall section (14.1) of the partition wall (14).

10. Drain set according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the dip pipe (19) has vertically extending recesses (19.6) for the positive reception of screw domes (2.13, 2.21) formed in the drain housing (2).

11. Drain set according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the dip tube (19) has a collar (19.1) at its upper end, which has a plurality of annular collar sections (19.11, 19.12) alternating with one another in the vertical direction, which collar sections differ from one another by a different material hardness and / or by a different collar wall thickness.