Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – Static constructional installations
Patent
1997-06-20
1999-11-16
Walczak, David J.
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
Static constructional installations
137312, F16L 500
Patent
active
059839244
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a diverting device for diverting water which has leaked from a plumbing fitting away from areas which would be sensitive to water damage.
If the seal between a tap body and tap breech is poor a slow weep of water from between the connection can occur. This weep of water normally goes unnoticed and builds up behind the wall or surface on which the tap is mounted. Over a period of time, this water can cause damage to the frame and wall surfaces of the building. In wet areas, such as bathrooms, this can result in the tiles breaking away from the wall and, in extreme circumstances, dampness can cause the floor to rot and the shower-basin or other heavy fixture to fall through the floor. The costs involved in repairing such damage is quite high.
As it is almost impossible to know whether there is a water leakage between the tap body and tap breech without removing the tap cover flange, most people do not become aware that there is a leakage of water until significant damage has already occurred. It would therefore be particularly advantageous if a mechanism could be proposed to provide an early indication of any leakage. A similar problem can occur with other plumbing fittings which are mounted beneath a wall. For instance a lugged elbow or centre outlet for a shower is usually mounted behind a wall and if the fitting leaks water damage can occur behind the wall before there was evidence of the leak visible from outside the wall.
Some attempts have been made to solve this problem. For instance, Australian Design Registration No. 121254 discloses a water diverting device which is made of elastomeric material and has an inner part which engages a tap breach and an outer part which includes an annular channel which can engage the periphery of a hole cut or punched through the villa board for mounting of the tap. This device is, however, of limited utility because the annular groove can only receive board of a fixed thickness typically 45 mm. Further, the groove cannot accommodate any tiles which are mounted on the board and therefore water can enter any gap between the tiles and the board. Also, because the groove receives the board it is more limited in its application because sometimes the gap between the tap body and tap breech will vary in the distance set back behind the board. It is also difficult to retrofit such a device to existing plumbing fittings.
The object of the invention is to provide a water diverting device which directs leaking water from a plumbing fitting to the front face of the wall. A further object of the invention is to provide a water diverting device which can be used with taps or other fittings which are set back behind the front face of the wall by a greater range of distances.
According to the present invention there is provided a water diverting device for directing leaking water from a plumbing fitting mounted behind a wall to the front face of the wall, said water diverting device comprising sleeve means, an inner flange located at an inner end of the sleeve means, an outer flange located at an outer end of the sleeve means, the arrangement being such that the inner flange engages the fitting, the fitting extends through the sleeve means and the outer flange engages the front face of the wall whereby water leaking from the fitting is directed by the water diverting device to the front of the wall.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view showing a water diverting device of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic cross-sectional view through the device;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the device;
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the device;
FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the device;
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view through an alternative form of the device;
FIG. 7 is an end view of the device shown on FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an alternative form of the device;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 8;
FIG
REFERENCES:
patent: 4063759 (1977-12-01), Steimle
patent: 5497584 (1996-03-01), Bergmann
patent: 5603347 (1997-02-01), Eaton
Australian Register of Designs, Registration No. 121254-No Date.
Patent Abstracts 2-304327, publication date Dec. 18, 1990.
H.P.H. Pty. Ltd.
Walczak David J.
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