A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath

Abstract

A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath is provided. The overflow includes a manifold body (24) comprising a circular base wall (32) and an annular peripheral wall (34), these walls delimiting an overflow fluid duct. An overflow outlet pipe (26) is in fluid communication, at an inlet end thereof, with the interior of the overflow fluid duct via an overflow aperture formed in a lower part of the walls (32, 34) of the overflow manifold body. The water overflow may be combined with an inlet via a water inlet pipe (28).

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The disclosure relates to a water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath, and particularly to, although not exclusively limited to, a water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet for a freestanding bath.BACKGROUND

[0002] Water overflows for baths are known and typically comprise an aperture in the wall of the bath in an upper region which is connected to pipework, which itself is connected to the waste outlet pipework of the bath. In the event that the bath is at risk of overflowing, for example when a user inadvertently leaves the water supply to the bath running for too long, the water in the bath reaches the level of the overflow and water then flows through the overflow aperture into the overflow pipework and eventually to waste.

[0003] It is also known to integrate a water inlet into the wall of the bath. Such water inlets typically comprise a waterspout mounted on the inside wall of the bath and connected by pipework to a water supply, for example a water supply from a thermostatic mixer valve located elsewhere in the bathroom.

[0004] It is also known to provide a combined water overflow / inlet, either integrated into the same component or in separate components which are assembled together. In such a case, the combined water overflow / inlet typically comprises a component which is mounted inside the bath at an upper region thereof and which is connected through the wall of a bath to respective inlet and overflow pipework, which respectively, in turn, are connected to a water supply and a waste outlet.

[0005] It is known for such combined waterflow / inlet arrangements to be installed on integrated baths. Integrated baths typically comprise a single skinned construction, which is installed with two or three of its sides against two or three tiled walls, with the open side or sides being covered by a fascia panel. Most integrated baths have a horizontal rim of 5-8cm in width around their upper periphery. That relatively wide horizontal rim provides sufficient space for the pipework associated with a combined water overflow / inlet to be installed between the outer surface of the bath wall and the wall of the building against which the bath is installed.

[0006] There has been a trend in recent years for freestanding baths, where, typically, the whole periphery of the bath is clear of the bathroom or washroom walls. Also, in bathrooms where space is limited, so called "corner baths" offer a solution to enable a bath to be fitted in a space would otherwise struggle to accommodate a traditional integrated rectangular bath. Such corner baths are often also used for showering and the horizontal rim of such baths can be of considerably narrower width than those of traditionally integrated baths. So-called "back-to-wall" baths are also known where only a single side of the bath is arranged against the bathroom wall and again those baths can have a narrow rim making the siting of an overflow difficult.

[0007] Freestanding baths, unlike traditional integrated baths, typically have a double walled construction, namely an inner wall forming the bath chamber and an outer wall to provide an aesthetic exterior appearance of the freestanding bath. The inner and outer walls are usually spaced apart and the space between them is typically empty although may include strengthening ribs connecting the inner and outer walls periodically.

[0008] In order to conform with the design ethos of the freestanding bath, there is typically a design requirement to ensure that the pipework servicing the freestanding bath is concealed and that is usually achieved by the waste outlet pipework extending beneath the freestanding bath to pass through the floor of the bathroom on which the freestanding bath is mounted. Typically, the water supply to such freestanding baths is provided by a separate freestanding brassware water inlet. Those water inlets are often floor mounted and so require a substantial quantity of brass to reach the elevation whereby the water can pass from the water inlet into the bath.

[0009] The narrower space which is available either between the inner and outer walls of a freestanding bath or created by the narrower rim of a corner bath poses a challenge in providing a water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet.

[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet for a bath.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to the appended claims.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet for a bath, comprising: an overflow manifold having a body comprising a wall or walls delimiting an overflow fluid duct closed at one end thereof and open at the other end thereof, the wall or walls defining a base region, side regions and a top region; an overflow outlet pipe in fluid communication, at an inlet end therefore, with the interior of the overflow fluid duct via an overflow aperture formed in the wall or walls of the overflow manifold body, the overflow outlet pipe having an outlet end, wherein the overflow aperture is formed in the wall or walls of the overflow manifold body in at least part of the base region and at least part of at least one of the side regions.

[0013] In that way, by providing the overflow aperture in at least part of the base region and at least part of at least one of the side regions, the flow cross-sectional area of the aperture can be maintained whilst reducing the axial depth of the overflow aperture, which, in turn, allows the overflow manifold to have a shallower axial depth. That enables the overflow or combined overflow / inlet to be arranged in a narrower space whilst maintaining the volumetric flow rate required of the overflow.

[0014] Preferably the wall is circular or elliptical so as to delimit a fluid duct with a circular or elliptical cross-section. In that case, the overflow aperture may be formed in at least part of the base region and at least one of the side regions of the circular or elliptical wall.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, a cap is provided, the cap comprising a hollow cap body defining a cap overflow fluid duct, wherein, when the cap assembled with the overflow manifold, the cap overflow fluid duct is in fluid communication with the overflow fluid duct of the manifold. In such a case, the body of the overflow manifold may further comprise a circular wall defining an internally screw-threaded bore and the cap may comprise an annular washer formation, whereby the cap may be secured to the overflow manifold by means of a bolt passing through the annular washer formation and being received in screw-threaded fashion in the screw-threaded bore.

[0016] Preferably, when installed on a bath, the cap is arranged inside the bath and the overflow manifold is arranged outside the bath. That arrangement provides a more secure mounting of the water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet to the bath. An inner sealing gasket may be arranged between the cap and the wall of the bath and an outer sealing gasket may be arranged between the overflow manifold and the wall of the bath so as to effect proper sealing of the water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet to the bath.

[0017] The overflow manifold may further comprise an inner wall or walls defining an inner fluid duct closed off from fluid communication with the overflow fluid duct and having an inlet end in fluid communication with the fluid inlet which is formed in the body of the manifold, and an outlet end. In such a case, and where a cap is provided, the hollow cap body of the cap further comprises a cap inner fluid duct closed off from fluid communication with the cap overflow fluid duct, the cap inner fluid duct comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein, when the cap is assembled with the overflow manifold, the outlet end of the inner fluid duct of the manifold is in fluid communication with the inlet end of the cap inner fluid duct. In that way, a water inlet for the bath is provided.

[0018] The inner fluid duct may be arranged adjacent the base region of the overflow manifold body.

[0019] A water filter element may be received in the outlet end of the cap inner fluid duct.

[0020] A bung may be received in the outlet end of the cap inner fluid duct, so as to close off the cap inner fluid duct.

[0021] A water supply may be connected to and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet in the body of the overflow manifold. An inlet bung may be received in the fluid inlet in the body of the overflow manifold. In that way, a combined water overflow / inlet may be provided and the water inlet can optionally be closed off by arranging the inlet bung in the fluid inlet in the body of the overflow manifold and the bung in the cap inner fluid duct.

[0022] An overflow-to-waste pipe may be connected to and in fluid communication with the outlet end of the overflow outlet pipe, whereby overflow water passing out of the overflow manifold via the overflow outlet pipe passes through the overflow-to-waste pipe to enter the waste water system of the bath.

[0023] The overflow outlet pipe preferably has a elliptical, obround or rectangular internal cross-section. By providing an overflow outlet pipe with such an internal cross-section, the pipe can maintain an appropriate volumetric flow rate whilst reducing the axial extent of the pipe, providing a flattened pipe so as to enable the manifold to be accommodated in a smaller space. The overflow-to-waste pipe preferably has, for at least part of its length, the same elliptical, obround or cross-section as the overflow outlet pipe.

[0024] The overflow-to-waste pipe may have an inlet end arranged to be connected to the outlet end of overflow outlet pipe and an outlet end arranged to be connected to the inlet end of a waste water system of the bath, the overflow-to-waste pipe having the same elliptical, obround or rectangular cross-section as the overflow outlet pipe at the inlet end thereof, a transition portion intermediate the inlet and outlet end thereof and a circular cross-section of the outlet end thereof. In that way, the overflow-to-waste pipe can be accommodated in a narrow space in the region of its interface with the overflow outlet pipe and then transitioned into a circular cross-section at its interface with the wastewater system of the bath, where greater space is available.

[0025] The overflow-to-waste pipe maybe flexible in part of its length which has the same elliptical, obround or rectangular cross-section of the overflow outlet pipe. By providing a flexible part of the overflow-to-waste pipe in the flatter portion, that pipe can be arranged so as to allow the flow to pass around a corner in the space available in the bath in which the overflow-to-waste pipe is fitted. Preferably, the overflow-to-waste pipe is fitted. Preferably, the overflow-to-waste pipe is flexible for part of its length between the inlet end and the transition portion and for part of its length between the transition portion and the outlet end, the transition portion being relatively rigid.

[0026] The overflow manifold preferably has a body comprising a closed end wall, a peripheral wall or walls extending from the end wall, which end and peripheral walls together delimit an overflow fluid duct open at the end spaced from the closed end wall, the manifold body having an axis which extends from the closed end wall to the open end, an overflow outlet pipe in fluid communication, at an inlet end thereof, with the interior of the overflow fluid duct via an overflow aperture formed in the peripheral wall or walls of the overflow manifold body, the overflow outlet pipe having an outlet end, the overflow outlet pipe extending from the peripheral wall or walls substantially radially relative to the axis of the body.

[0027] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath, comprising: an overflow manifold having a body comprising a closed end wall, a peripheral wall or walls extending from the end wall and together delimiting an overflow fluid duct open at the end spaced from the closed end wall, the manifold body having an axis which extends from the closed end wall to the open end; an overflow outlet pipe in fluid communication, at an inlet end thereof, with the interior of the overflow fluid duct via an overflow aperture formed in the peripheral wall or walls of the overflow manifold body, the overflow outlet pipe having an outlet end, the overflow outlet pipe extending from the peripheral wall or walls substantially radially relative to the axis of the body.

[0028] The water overflow or combined overflow / inlet of the second aspect may include any of the features of the first aspect or the abovementioned embodiments thereof.

[0029] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a bath having a water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet according to any of the above embodiments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is perspective view of a combined water overflow / inlet in accordance with the invention shown with the parts in exploded form, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the overflow manifold of the combined water overflow / inlet of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the overflow manifold of Figure 2, taken on the line B-B in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side elevation of the overflow manifold of Figure 2 looking in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, Figure 5 is an end elevation of the manifold of Figure 2 looking in the direction of arrow C in Figure 2, Figure 6 is a cross-section of the manifold of Figure 2 taken on the line F-S in Figure 2, Figure 7 is the front elevation of the cap of the water overflow / inlet of Figure 1, Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the cap of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a cross-section of the cap of Figure 7 and 8 taken on the line A-A in Figure 7, Figure 10 is a side elevation of the cap of Figures 7 and 8 looking in the direction of arrow D in Figure 7, Figure 11 is an elevation of the cap of Figures 7 and 8 looking in the direction of arrow E in Figure 7, Figure 12 is a front elevation of a cover of the water overflow / inlet of Figure 1, Figure 13 is a rear elevation of the cover of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a cross-section of the cover of Figure 12 taken on the line A-A in Figure 12, Figure 15 is a side elevation of the cover of Figure 12 looking in the direction of arrow G in Figure 12, Figure 16 is an elevation of the cover of Figure 12 when viewed from above, Figure 17 is an elevation of the cover of Figure 12 when viewed from below, Figures 18 to 21 are elevations of an overflow-to-waste pipe of the water overflow / inlet of Figure 1, looking, respectively, from above, from the side, from the front and from below, Figure 22 is a cross-section through the overflow-to-waste pipe taken on the line A-A in Figure 20, Figure 23 is a cross-section through the overflow wastepipe taken on the line B-B in Figure 19, Figure 24 is a side elevation of a bung of the water overflow / inlet of Figure 1, Figure 25 is a side elevation of the bung of Figure 24 looking in the direction of arrow H in Figure 24, and Figure 26 is a schematic section through a free-standing bath showing the overflow / inlet apparatus of figs 1 to 25 installed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In Figure 1, a combined water overflow / inlet apparatus 1 is shown in exploded form. The apparatus comprises an overflow manifold 10, a cap 12, a cover 14, an overflow-to-waste pipe 16, a water inlet pipe 18, a waste elbow pipe 20 and a waste water system 22.

[0032] The overflow manifold 10 (figs. 2 to 6) comprises a hollow manifold body 24, an overflow outlet pipe 26 in fluid communication with the interior of the manifold body 24 and a water inlet pipe 28 in fluid communication with the interior of the manifold body 24. The manifold body 24, overflow outlet pipe 26 and water inlet pipe 28 are formed in one piece. A web 30 extends between the overflow outlet pipe 26 and the water inlet pipe 28. The overflow manifold 24 comprises a circular base wall 32 from which extends an annular peripheral wall 34. An inner annular wall 36 extends from the circular base wall 32 so as to define a bore within the manifold 24. The inner annular wall 36 is screw-threaded on its inner surface. A water inlet pipe formation 38 which is generally elliptical in cross-section is adjoined to the lower part of the inner annular wall 36. The water inlet pipe turns through 90 degrees adjacent the base wall 32 of the manifold and is in fluid communication with a water inlet aperture 40 formed in the peripheral wall 34 of the manifold 24 to connect the inlet pipe formation 38 with the water inlet pipe 28. An overflow outlet aperture 42 is formed in the peripheral wall 34 in communication with the overflow outlet pipe 26. The overflow outlet aperture 26 extends around the peripheral wall 34 of the manifold body 24 from a base region of the peripheral wall 34 up into the side region thereof. The overflow outlet pipe 26 extends from the peripheral wall 34 generally radially of the body of the manifold from the peripheral wall 30. The base wall 32 has a stepped cross section which defines an annular mounting face 33, approximately at the mid-point of the peripheral wall 30 and the remainder of the circular base wall 32 is set back from the annular mounting face 33.

[0033] The water inlet pipe is 28 circular in cross-section. The overflow outlet pipe 26 is obround in cross-section. The diameter of the water inlet pipe 28 is the same as the short dimension of the cross-section of the overflow outlet pipe 26. In that way, by combining an overflow outlet aperture 42 which extends from the base region of the peripheral wall 34 of the manifold body 24 to the side region thereof and an obround overflow outlet pipe 26, the flow capacity of the overflow can be maximised without increasing the depth of the manifold 10. The free end of the overflow outlet pipe 26 has a cuff 29 which is slightly narrower in external width and length than the rest of the pipe.

[0034] Referring to Figures 7 to 11, the cap 12 comprises an annular body 44 having a central boss 46 connected to the annular body 44 by means of arms 48. The annular body 44 has an external diameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of the annular mounting face 33 of the manifold body 24. The body 44 further comprises a cap inlet pipe 50 which projects rearwardly of the annular body 44 and turns through 90 degrees into a cap inlet spout 52 which projects downwardly relative to the body 44. The cap inlet pipe 50 has two seal receiving recesses 51 formed in the outer surface thereof. The annular body 44 further comprises ears 54 at the midline projecting outwardly and diametrically opposed to each other. The ears 54 carry spring loaded clips 56, which clips 56 project forwardly of the annular body 44. An overflow aperture 57 is formed between the cap inlet pipe 50 and the annular body 44.

[0035] With reference to Figures 12 to 17, the cover 14 comprises a circular body 58 with an annular peripheral wall 60. A spout cover 62 depends from a lower region of the circular body 58 with a cutout 59 (see Figure 17) to accommodate the cap inlet spout 52 when the cover 14 is arranged on the cap 12. The cover 14 further comprises inner clip receiving formations 64 on opposite inner sides thereof.

[0036] Figures 18 to 23 show the overflow-to-waste pipe 16. The overflow-to-waste pipe 16 comprises an elongate body 66, which has a first, obround cross-section portion 68 at one end thereof, a transition portion 70 and a circular cross-section portion 72 at the opposite end thereof. The transition portion 70 transitions from an obround cross-section to a circular cross-section. The hollow body 66 includes two seal recesses 74 spaced slightly apart adjacent the mouth of the body in the obround region 68. A part of the obround region 68 from a position downstream of the seal recesses 74 to the transition portion 70 is formed of flexible tubing to allow that part of the overflow to waste pipe 16 to bend. Likewise, the whole or part of the circular cross-section region 72 maybe formed from flexible pipe material to enable that part of the overflow-to-waste pipe 16 to bend. The diameter of the circular cross-section region 72 is approximately the same as the short dimension of the obround cross-section in the obround region 68. Again, this arrangement allows the flow capacity of the overflow-to-waste pipe 16 to be maximised without increasing the overall depth that the overflow-to-waste pipe 16 takes up.

[0037] With reference to Figures 24 and 25, a bung 76 is provided. The bung 76 may, optionally, be inserted into the downstream end of the water inlet pipe 28. The bung 76 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 78 having, at one end, a frustoconical tip 80, a seal recess 82 adjacent the tip 80, a flange 84 at the opposite end of the body 76 from the tip 80 and a handle 86 which projects away from the flange 84.

[0038] Figure 1 shows how all of the above-described parts fit together. As shown in Figure 1, an outer gasket 88 is arranged up against the annular mounting face 33 of the manifold body 24. An inner gasket 90 is arranged up against the rear face of the cap 12. Two cap inlet seals 92 are arranged in the seal recesses 51 in the cap inlet pipe 50. The overflow manifold 10 and the outer gasket 88 are arranged outside the skin of a bath and the cap 12 and the inner gasket 90 are arranged inside the bath, both parts being arranged around an aperture through the wall of the bath. The cap inlet pipe 50 is inserted into the water inlet formation 38 in the overflow manifold 10 in such a way that the cap inlet seals 92 create a seal between the exterior of the cap inlet pipe 50 and the interior of the water inlet formation 38 and such that the cap inlet pipe 50 is in fluid communication with the water inlet aperture 40 via the water inlet formation 38. A securing bolt 94 then passes through the boss 46 in the cap 12 and is received in screw-threaded fashion in the screw-threaded bore formed by the inner annular wall 36 of the overflow manifold 10. The bolt can then be tightened onto the overflow manifold so that the cap 12 comprises the inner gasket 90 against the inside wall of the bath and the overflow manifold 10 compresses the outer gasket 88 against the outer wall of the bath around the aforesaid aperture in the wall of the bath so as to create seals, respectively, between the cap 12 and the inside wall and the overflow manifold 10 and the outside wall of the bath. Two obround overflow-to-waste seals 96 are received in the seal recesses 74 in the obround region 68 of the overflow-to-waste pipe 16. The cuff 29 of the overflow outlet pipe 26 is inserted into the obround region 68 of the overflow-to-wate pipe 16 in such a way that the overflow-to-waste seals 96 create a seal between the inner surface of the obround region 68 of the overflow-to-waste pipe 16 and the cuff 29. The opposite end of the overflow-to-waste pipe is coupled to a waste elbow 20 by means of a pipe couple 98. The waste elbow 20 is connected in conventional fashion to a conventional wastewater system 22 which is shown in exploded form in Figure 1 but which will not be described in detail here.

[0039] The water inlet pipe 18, which receives a supply of water from a bathroom water supply, for example from a thermostatic mixer valve elsewhere in the bathroom, may optionally be inserted into the free end of the water inlet pipe 28 in the overflow manifold 10. In such a case, a water filter element 100 may be inserted into the cap inlet spout 52 in the cap 12. Alternatively, where a water inlet is not required, the bung 76 may be inserted into the free end of the water inlet pipe 28. Also, in that case, a spout bung 102 may be inserted into the cap inlet spout 52 so as to close off the water inlet system altogether.

[0040] Once the cap 12 is secured by means of the securing bolt 94 to the overflow manifold 10, the cover 14 may be arranged onto the cap 12 by depressing the spring-loaded clips 56 and arranging the body 58 of the cover 14 onto the cap 12 so that the clips are received in the inner clip receiving formation 64 in the body 58 of the cover 14. This arrangement allows the cover 14 to be removed and changed for an alternative cover which may have, for example, a different external shape or a different finish, i.e. chrome or gold.

[0041] Figure 26 is schematic cross-section of a standalone bath having the overflow / inlet apparatus 1 of Figures 1 to 25 installed thereon. As can be seen from the schematic illustration, the space available to accommodate the overflow / inlet apparatus 1 is rather limited. In particular, the space is particularly limited in the upper region of the side wall of the bath where the overflow aperture must be formed. Typically in freestanding baths may be as little as 25mm, sometimes less than 20mm in the upper region adjacent the rim. Known overflow or combined overflow / inlet apparatus are typically deeper than 25mm. By providing an overflow manifold 10 having the features described above, namely the feature of the overflow aperture being formed in the base region and side region of the manifold body 24 and then, optionally, the provision of a flattened overflow outlet pipe and a flattened region of the overflow-to-waste pipe, the overflow / inlet apparatus 1 can be accommodated in the limited space. The axial extent of the manifold at its upper edge in figs 1 to 26 is in the range 10-20mm. The remaining pipework, namely the circular region of the overflow-to-waste pipe, the pipe couple 98, the waste elbow 20 and the wastewater system 22 are all arranged in an area of the freestanding bath where more space is available to accommodate that pipework. Providing an overflow-to-waste pipe with flexible portions allows that pipe to be bent around the side wall of the bath so as to maximise the space available for the pipework.

[0042] As described above, the apparatus can optionally be used to provide a water inlet from a source of water elsewhere in the bathroom or it can be closed off so as to provide simply an overflow function.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment in which it is desired only to provide an overflow function, the inlet pipe 18, the water inlet pipe 28 of the overflow manifold 10, the water inlet formation 38, water inlet aperture 40 in the peripheral wall 34 of the overflow manifold 10 and the cap inlet pipe 50 and cap inlet spout 52 of the cap 12 can be omitted.

[0044] Although the illustrated embodiment shows a circular overflow manifold it will be appreciated that any convenient shape of manifold may be adopted, for example, non-exhaustively, it may be elliptical, obround, rectangular or square. Manifolds in accordance with the first aspect of the invention include an overflow aperture formed in part in the base region and in part in the side region of the shape. Manifolds in accordance with the second aspect of the invention have an overflow outlet pipe extending generally radially of the manifold from the peripheral wall or walls thereof.

Claims

1. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath, comprising: an overflow manifold having a body comprising a wall or walls delimiting an overflow fluid duct closed at one end thereof and open at the other end thereof, the wall or walls defining a base region, side regions and a top region; an overflow outlet pipe in fluid communication, at an inlet end thereof, with the interior of the overflow fluid duct via an overflow aperture formed in the wall or walls of the overflow manifold body, the overflow outlet pipe having an outlet end, wherein the overflow aperture is formed in the wall or walls in at least part of the base region and at least part of at least one of the side regions.

2. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 1, in which a cap is provided, the cap comprising a hollow cap body defining a cap overflow fluid duct, wherein, when the cap is assembled with the overflow manifold, the cap overflow fluid duct is in fluid communication with the overflow fluid duct of the manifold.

3. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 2, in which the body of the overflow manifold further comprises a circular wall defining an internally screw-threaded bore and the cap comprises an annular washer formation, whereby the cap is secured to the overflow manifold by means of a bolt passing through the annular washer formation and being received in screw-threaded fashion in the screw-threaded bore.

4. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to any preceding claim in which the overflow manifold further comprises an inner wall or walls defining an inner fluid duct closed off from fluid communication with the overflow fluid duct and having an inlet end in fluid communication with a fluid inlet, which is formed in the body of the manifold, and an outlet end.

5. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 4 when dependent upon claim 2 or claim 3, in which the hollow cap body of the cap further comprises and a cap inner fluid duct closed off from fluid communication with the cap overflow fluid duct, the cap inner fluid duct comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein, when the cap is assembled with the overflow manifold, the outlet end of the inner fluid duct is in fluid communication with the inlet end of the cap inner fluid duct.

6. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the inner fluid duct is arranged adjacent the base region of the overflow manifold body.

7. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to any one of claims 4 to 6, in which a water supply pipe is connected to and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet in the body of the overflow manifold.

8. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to any preceding claim, in which an overflow-to-waste pipe is connected to and in fluid communication with the outlet end of the overflow outlet pipe, whereby overflow water passing out of the overflow manifold via the overflow outlet pipe passes through the overflow-to-waste pipe to enter the waste water system of the bath.

9. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to any preceding claim, in which the overflow outlet pipe has an elliptical, obround or rectangular internal cross section.

10. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 9, when dependent upon claim 8, in which the overflow-to-waste pipe has, for at least part of its length, the same elliptical, obround or rectangular cross section as the overflow outlet pipe.

11. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 10, in which the overflow-to-waste pipe has an inlet end arranged to be connected to the outlet end of the overflow outlet pipe and an outlet end arranged to be connected to the inlet end of a waste water system of the bath, the overflow-to-waste pipe having the same elliptical, obround or rectangular cross section as the overflow outlet pipe at the inlet end thereof, a transition portion intermediate the inlet and outlet ends thereof and a circular cross section at the outlet end thereof.

12. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to claim 11, in which the overflow-to-waste pipe is flexible for part of its length between the inlet end and the transition portion and part of its length between the transition portion and the outlet end, the transition portion being relatively rigid.

13. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the overflow-to-waste pipe is flexible in the part of its length which has the same elliptical, obround or rectangular cross section as the overflow outlet pipe.

14. A water overflow or a combined water overflow / inlet for a bath according to any preceding claim, in which the overflow manifold has a body comprising a closed end wall, a peripheral wall or walls extending from the end wall, which end and peripheral walls together delimit an overflow fluid duct open at the end spaced from the closed end wall, the manifold body having an axis which extends from the closed end wall to the open end, an overflow outlet pipe in fluid communication, at an inlet end thereof, with the interior of the overflow fluid duct via an overflow aperture formed in the peripheral wall or walls of the overflow manifold body, the overflow outlet pipe having an outlet end, the overflow outlet pipe extending from the peripheral wall or walls substantially radially relative to the axis of the body.

15. A bath having a water overflow or combined water overflow / inlet according to any preceding claim fitted thereto.

Images