GB2468676A - Elongated drain for a wet area - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongated drain 300 is provided for a wet area floor. A level, elongated water catchment element 310 collects water, which then flows into a water trap 330 & (600 figure 6). The water trap provides an odour lock, and is located in a drainage outlet 340. An adaptor 320 & (500 figure 5) connects the elongated water catchment element 310 to the drainage outlet 340 in one of multiple orientations (950, 952, 954 figure 9). A method for installing an elongated drain is also provided. The elongated drain has low overall height, allowing installation in wet area floors (200 figure 2) built onto concrete slabs. The possible orientations (950, 952, 954 figure 9) of the drainage outlet facilitate connection to the drainage system of a building.

Description

Elongated drain for a wet area

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an elongated drain for a wet area'. Such wet areas include showers in, for example, homes, hotels, sports centers and hospitals.

Background of the Invention

Wet areas are designed to provide drainage for water. A wet area typically has water from a shower falling on to it, and there is therefore a need to convey the water to the drainage system of the building.

The floor of a wet area is shaped, to encourage water to drain away. This drainage action is provided by one or more appropriate slope (s) . The water flows downhill, along the slope (s) Wet area floors differ from shower trays in several ways.

Two significant differences are that: (i) A key design aim of many wet areas is to provide level access, with no height difference between the sloping portion of the wet area and the surrounding regions of floor. In contrast, shower trays are usually mounted on top of the floor boards in a room, so do not offer level access for a user. Often a user steps up over an edge when walking onto a shower tray.

(ii) Wet areas may be of several square meters in extent, so tend to be larger than shower trays. Partly because of their larger area, wet areas often have one or more open sides. These open sides facilitate access by a user, and the open sides may remain open during use of a shower. In

I

contrast, shower trays are almost always used with an enclosure, such as a curtain or shower screen, around all sides of the shower area. This is necessary to prevent water from a shower, or water which flows off a person in the shower, from landing beyond the perimeter of the shower tray.

In a modern building, the floor of a wet area is typically constructed from concrete screed on top of a high density foam base. Such floors typically have a depth of the order of 100 millimetres. These floors differ greatly from more traditional floors, which comprise floorboards supported on joists.

Some wet area floors are constructed with a two way' fall, which means that the upper surface of the wet area slopes in two different directions. Alternatively, wet area floors may be constructed with a one way' fall, i.e. with a single sloping surface. In either of these cases, an elongated drain is likely to be used. The water catchment surface of the elongated drain lies at the bottom of the slope (s) . One such known type of drain is a linear drain, which is generally rectangular in shape.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a section through a wet area floor 100. Wet area floor 100 has a two-way fall.

First upper surface 120 and second upper surface 130 slope towards a centre line 140. Any water falling onto first upper surface 120 or second upper surface 130 will flow towards centre line 140.

Rectangular opening 150 lies along a portion of centre line 140. Rectangular opening 150 may house a drain, which is not shown in figure 1.

The lower portion of wet area floor 100 comprises an insulation layer 160. Insulation layer 160 may be made from a high density foam.

The upper portion of wet area floor 100 comprises a layer of concrete screed 170. When a wet area floor is constructed, the insulation layer 160 is usually laid down first, and concrete screed then poured onto it.

Figure 1 uses three orthogonal axes. The three axes, x,y, and z are: (i) The x' direction. Distance measured in the x' direction is referred to as a width'. In figure 1, the shorter axis of rectangular opening 150 lies in the x' direction, which is the direction across the page'.

(ii) The y' direction. Distance measured in the y' direction is referred to as a length'. In figure 1, the longer axis of rectangular opening 150 lies in the y' direction, which is the direction into the page'.

(iii) The z' direction. Distance measured in the z' direction is referred to as a height'. In figure 1, the z' direction is the vertical direction, the direction up the page'. In a real building, the z' direction corresponds to the upwards direction.

The axes used in figure 1 are used consistently throughout all the accompanying figures.

A typical wet area floor may have a width measured in the x direction of 1-2 metres. The length of the wet area floor in the y-direction can vary from 1 metre upwards.

If the floor is more than approximately 1.5 metres long, it is likely to be fitted with more than one rectangular opening 150, with a drain in each.

The upper surface of wet area floor 100 may include: (i) A waterproof membrane, which is usually less than 5mm thick. The upper surface of the membrane therefore has the same gradient as the upper surface of the floor on which it lies.

(ii) Tiling, which is commonly added on top of the waterproof membrane. Both the wet area and surrounding regions of floor may be tiled. Often the tiles used in the wet area and on surrounding regions of floor are identical. As a consequence, the wet area is only distinguishable from the surrounding regions of floor by the presence of the slope (s) The drain located in opening 150 of wet area floor 100 is located at the lowest point of the floor. The draTh is therefore the point at which used' water flows away from the wet area, and the drain then enables used water to flow into the drainage system of the building.

The drain may comprise: (i) An elongated water catchment element, which lies approximately at the same height as centre line 140 in figure 1. This water catchment element is often referred to as a trough'. It is usually covered by a thin metallic grating. The grating both supports a person standing in the wet area, and is also usually designed to be aesthetically pleasing.

(ii) A trap', which lies below the elongated water catchment element. The trap usually provides an ar tight seal. The seal may be provided by residual water, which remains in the trap after water has ceased flowing through the drain. The main purpose of the seal is to prevent odours from passing back up to the wet area from a building's drains.

Water traps only tend to be included when the draTh connects to a foul water drainage system. A water trap is usually not fitted where water is simply being re-cycled, for example for water draining back from the surrounds of a swimming pool into the pool itself. Similarly, a water trap would not be required for a drain in a balcony, where the water leaving the drain is simply joining the down pipe that conducts water down to ground level from a roof. Such drains can remain open, and do not need an air tight seal to prevent the rise of odours through the drain.

European Patent Application EP-A-1700961 (Purus) discloses a circular floor drain with a water trap.

Figure 1 and paragraph [00051 of EP-A-1700961 show a drain with a circular upper edge. A seat portion 3 of the upper edge of the drain is designed to receive a floor mat. A clamping ring 4 keeps the floor mat in place. A grating 5 is located at the top of the drain, and provides a cover. Apertures in grating 5 allow water to enter the drain.

The floor drain of EP-A-1700961 is designed to accommodate a floor covering such as a vinyl floor. Such floors may be used in semi-wet areas, such as kitchens.

The water trap of EP-A-1700961 is described in paragraphs [00081 -[00091. The lower part of the water trap includes a cup shaped element 11. When there is water in cup shaped element 11, the water cooperates with the lower edge 21 of a tubular or annular, downward projecting member 20 to form an odour lock. If the water dries out to the point where there is too little to provide an odour lock, then a spring 24 raises the upper edge of the circular cup shaped element 11. The upper edge of the cup shaped element presses against the lower edge 23 of a housing, thereby forming an odour lock.

European Patent Application EP-A-0486954 (AB SJOBO BRUK) discloses another design of water trap with an odour lock.

The firm Purus' is also believed to market a draTh comprising: (i) An elongated water catchment element, with a sloping upper surface to encourage water to flow into a water trap; and (ii) A trap which is also elongated. The trap can be affixed to the water catchment element in two diametrically opposite orientations. In the two orientations, the outlet pipe from the water trap runs in diametrically opposite directions. This allows the drain to be installed in a wet area floor with the outlet pipe aligned in one of two directions. The elongated water trap lies with its long axis parallel to the long axis of the water catchment element, so both can fit into rectangular opening 150 shown in figure 1.

Statement of Invention

A first aspect of the present invention comprises an elongated drain for a wet area floor in accordance with claim 1.

A second aspect of the present invention comprises a method in accordance with claim 10.

A third aspect of the present invention comprises a kit of parts in accordance with claim 14.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vertical section through a wet area floor in accordance with the prior art.

Figure 2 shows a vertical section through a wet area floor, which may be used together with a drain built in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the various components of an elongated drain for a wet area floor, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of an elongated water catchment element and an adapter, when assembled together, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of an adaptor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a vertical cross-section of a water trap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 7 and 8 show vertical cross-sections of a water trap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in different states of operation.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of an elongated drain n accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 shows a plan view of elongated drain in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

When installing a drain and trap into a building, there are several important issues. One key issue is that many current designs of drain would project significantly below floors that are 100 millimeters or less in height.

A drain that takes up more than 100 millimeters in height, i.e. in the z direction, may be acceptable when retrofitting a drain and trap to an existing building with floor joists. However, with a wet area floor of 100 millimeters depth in a new building, it is usually not acceptable for a drain to project below the lowest point of the wet area floor. If such a wet area floor is constructed as shown in figure 1, then insulation layer is likely to lie on top of a concrete slab that forms part of the structure of the building. The building regulations forbid incursions into such a concrete slab, so the drain and trap cannot protrude down into it.

Figure 2 shows a section through a wet area floor 200.

Wet area floor 200 may be used together with a drain built in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

First upper surface 220 and second upper surface 230 both slope downwards towards rectangular opening 250.

Rectangular opening 250 has its short axis along the x-direction, and its long axis along the y-direction, i.e. into the page in figure 2. Rectangular opening 250 may house a drain that is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, for example the drain shown in figure 3.

The upper portion of wet area floor 200 comprises a layer of concrete screed 270. The lower portion of wet area floor 200 comprises an insulation layer 260. Reference 280 shows that an opening may be provided in insulation layer 260, in order to allow a pipe to run through insulation layer 260. Such a pipe connects the water trap of the drain to the drainage system of the building.

Opening 280 is not shown to scale. For example, the opening for a pipe 280 may also pass partially through the layer of concrete screed 270.

The measurements in the left half of Figure 2 provide indicative values for the heights, as follows: (i) Insulation layer 260 may have a uniform depth of 50mm; (ii) The layer of concrete screed 270 may have a depth of 50mm at the outer edge of the wet area floor, and a depth of 40mm at the inner edge. This provides a fall of 10mm across each half of the wet area floor.

The measurements given in Figure 2 are purely illustrative. For example, the inner edge of the layer of concrete screed 270 may have a depth of 35mm, which provides a fall of 15mm. Although an overall height of 100mm for the outer edge of the wet area floor is typical, this too may vary between different buildings.

Using the measurements given in figure 1, rectangular opening 250 has an overall height of 900mm. This s therefore the maximum height available for a drain, and must accommodate a water catchment element, water trap, and any piping to connect the drain to the drainage system of the building. The piping is likely to require at least 10mm fall in order to allow water to flow through it.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of an elongated drain 300 for a wet area floor, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The elongated drain 300 is shown in an exploded view'.

The parts of elongated drain 300 are spaced out along line A-A. The parts have therefore been shown in the general alignment in which they would be assembled or installed, but have been spaced out in the z' direction shown on figure 3.

An elongated water catchment element 310 forms the upper element of the elongated drain 300. Elongated water catchment element 310 has an upper surface, onto which water falls. Elongated water catchment element 310 has at least one hole, not shown on figure 1, through which water flows to the remaining parts of elongated drain 300. The elongated water catchment element 310 may be referred to as a trough'.

An adapter 320 is attached to the lower side of elongated water catchment element 310. Adapter 320 connects elongated water catchment element 310 to a drainage outlet 340.

A water trap 330 sits within a bowl shaped portion 342 of drainage outlet 340. Bowl shaped portion 342 of drainage outlet 340 is sometimes termed a slipper'. The remainder of drainage outlet 340 is a pipe 344, which may have a slight downward slope. Water flows along pipe 344 and away from bowl shaped portion 342. After leaving the end of pipe 344, water may, for example, enter a foul water drainage system for removal from a building.

The two arrows marked W' in figure 3 show the direction of flow of water within elongated drain 300. Water flows downwards, through elongated water catchment element 310, adapter 320 and water trap 330. Water then flows along pipe 344, in the direction shown by the W' arrow just above pipe 344.

Adaptor 320 can connect elongated water catchment element 310 to drainage outlet 340 in one of multiple orientations. The minimum angular spacing between two of the multiple orientations is 45 degrees or less. Here the angle is the angle between the long direction of pipe 344 and the long direction of elongated water catchment element 310. In figure 3, pipe 344 is shown aligned with the y-axis, for clarity of illustration. Other orientations are discussed in connection with figure 9.

Allowing a minimum angular spacing of 45 degrees or less between successive orientations permits the installation of elongated drain 300 with pipe 344 pointing in one of a variety of directions. Such versatility has several advantages. For example, in some installations, this may reduce the additional piping and/or the number of other drainage components required to connect elongated drain 300 to the foul water drainage system.

In one embodiment of the invention, adaptor 320 may be arranged to allow connection of elongated water catchment element 310 to drainage outlet 340 at any angle, i.e. in an infinite variety of orientations. In this arrangement, the alignment of pipe 344 can be rotated to any angle, relative to the long direction of elongated water catchment element 310. This further facilitates the installation of pipe 344, and particularly the connection of pipe 344 to subsequent elements of a building's drainage system.

Further details of adaptor 320 are shown in figure 5, which is discussed below.

Water trap 330 shown in figure 3 illustrates only the general size and shape of the water trap. In particular, the drawing of water trap 330 in figure 3 is designed only to show that water trap 330: (i) fits inside the bowl shaped portion 342 of drainage element 340; and (ii) is of a general shape that it is supported by bowl shaped portion 342.

Further details and the operation of water trap 330 are shown in figures 6-8, which are discussed below.

Elongated drain 300 may be installed into a rectangular opening of a floor former, which is used to set the slopes of a wet area floor. The figures of the present application do not show such a floor former, which is described in copending UK patent application 0816912.0, filed on 16 September 2008 by the same applicant.

However, elongated drain 300 may be used in other types of floor, without a floor former.

Elongated drain 300 may be manufactured in a range of sizes. Elongated drain 300 may have a length of the order of 600mm. However, the principles of the invention could apply to an elongated drain as short as, for example, 300mm. If elongated drain 300 is provided with multiple water traps and drainage outlets, as discussed in connection with figure 10, it may have a length considerably greater than 1000mm.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the elongated water catchment element and part of the adapter of the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 3.

Assembly 400 in figure 4 comprises elongated water catchment element 410 and adaptor 420, assembled together. Since figure 4 is a plan view, elongated water catchment element 410 lies above the adaptor 420. In the view shown in figure 4, elongated water catchment element 410 obscures the majority of adaptor 420.

Reference 412 indicates a rim portion of the elongated water catchment element 410 that: (i) Is higher than the remainder of elongated water catchment element 410; (ii) Forms an outer rim to the elongated water catchment element 410, thereby helping to direct water inwards; (iii) May surround a metal grille, that is not shown in figure 4. The metal grille would form the load bearing surface, on which a user of the wet area would be able to walk when, for example, taking a shower.

Inner portion 414 of elongated water catchment element 410 lies within rim portion 412. Inner portion 414 is between 1-1.5mm lower than rim portion 412, and therefore water falling onto elongated water catchment element 410 tends to fall into inner portion 414. Inner portion 414 is level, and does not slope as explained earlier in

connection with a prior art design from Purus.

If a metal grille is mounted on the upper surface of elongated water catchment element 410, then the metal grille may sit on inner portion 414, surrounded by rim portion 412, and be the same size as inner portion 414.

Reference 416 indicates an opening in elongated water catchment element 410. Water that collects in inner portion 414 flows down through opening 416. Arrows Wi and W2 show the direction of flow of water from inner portion 414 into opening 416. Water that flows into opening 416 flows down towards the water trap of the drain, which is shown as reference 330 in figure 3.

The segment of a circle indicated by reference 420 is the only portion of the adaptor that is visible in figure 4.

Adaptor 420 has an opening that corresponds in shape and size to opening 416 in elongated water catchment element 410. So water flowing into opening 416 of elongated water catchment element 416 also flows through an opening in adaptor 420 before entering the water trap.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of adaptor 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Adaptor 500 is comprised of two portions. The first portion comprises a segment of a circle 520 and a solid rectangular element 521. The segment of a circle 520 is the only portion of the adaptor 500 that is visible in figure 4, where it carries reference 420.

The second portion of adaptor 500 comprises: (i) Solid rectangular element 522; (ii) Body portion 524, which has a circular central opening 526. Circular central opening 526 lies below opening 416 of elongated water catchment element 410, see figure 4. When the adaptor has been assembled, the first portion of the adaptor lies above the second portLon.

Extremity 528 of the second portion lies below part 520 of the first portion.

Also shown for comparison beside the second portion of adaptor 500 is an 0-ring' 529. 0-ring 529 is larger in diameter than opening 526. When the adaptor has been assembled, the second portion of the adaptor lies above 0-ring 529. 0-ring 529 provides a water tight seal between the adaptor 500 and the upper rim of bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340 shown in figure 3. 0-rThg 529 allows rotation of drainage outlet 340 relative to the adaptor 320, 500.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second portions of adaptor 500 are made from a material usually referred to as ABS'. ABS is Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. First portion 520, 521 is glued to second portion 522,524,526,528 using a liquid ABS glue. Adaptor 500 is then glued to the underside of inner portion 414 of elongated water catchment element 410, also using a liquid ABS glue.

When adaptor 500 is mounted under elongated water catchment element 410: (i) Solid rectangular element 521 may lie below the section of rim portion 412 that is adjacent to the longest side of opening 416 shown in figure 4.

(ii) Solid rectangular element 522 may lie below the section of rim portion 412 that is adjacent to the shortest side of opening 416 shown in figure 4.

(iii) Both solid rectangular element 521 and solid rectangular element 522 may engage with the sections of rim portion 412 immediately above them.

When the drain has been assembled, the lower surface of adaptor 500 presses against 0-ring 529. In turn, 0-ring 529 abuts the upper rim of the bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340, the slipper'. Drainage outlet 340 may be designed to clip together with adaptor 500.

Drainage outlet 340 may be designed to clip onto adaptor 500 at angularly spaced intervals, e.g. every 45 degrees.

The spacing between successive angles of orientation may be made smaller than 45 degrees, if desired. In particular, bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340 may be arranged to be able to clip onto adaptor 500 at any angle, i.e. for the orientation of pipe 344 relative to the elongated water catchment element 310 to be freely variable.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section, which shows details of the water trap. Water trap 600 comprises a housing 632, a cup 636 and an actuator 638.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 6, at least housing 632 and cup 636 are of generally circular shape when viewed from above. The vertical cross-section shown in figure 6 is therefore the same, at whatever angle around the circumference of the water trap t is drawn. For this reason, the cross section shown in figure 6 can is illustrated with either the x or y' axis across the page. The same applies to the views in figures 7 and 8.

Water enters water trap 600 from above. The generally downward flow of water is shown by the two arrows labeled Wi'. When water touches the upper surface of housing 632, it continues to flow downwards. The water passes downwards over lip 634 of housing 632, and into cup 636.

When cup 636 is full, water then flows up to and over the upper edge of cup 636, as generally indicated by the arrows W2'. Water flowing over the upper edge of cup 636 then enters the drainage outlet shown as reference 340 in figure 3.

When a user of a wet area causes water to enter elongated drain 300 of the invention, water will continue to flow through water trap 600 as shown by arrows Wi' and W2'.

Actuator 638 comprises a force generating element. An example of such an element would be a helical sprThg inside the generally cylindrical body of actuator 638.

Further details of the operation of actuator 638 are

provided in the description of figure 8 below.

When the drain has been assembled, the outer edge of housing 632 may abut the inner edge of bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340. A second 0-ring may form a seal at this point, in order to provide a water-tight seal.

Water trap 600 may be designed to allow its removal for cleaning. In this case, water trap is sized so that it can be lifted up through opening 526 in adaptor 500 and opening 416 in elongated water catchment element 410.

This allows removal of water trap 600, whilst leaving drain outlet 340, adaptor 320 and elongated water catchment element 310 of figure 3 in situ in the wet area floor 200.

Figure 7 illustrates the situation when water ceases flowing into the water trap. This happens when the supply of water into the elongated water catchment element 410 ceases. This might typically be when a user of the wet area turns off a shower.

Housing 732, lip 734, cup 736 and actuator 738 of figure 7 correspond generally to the similarly number elements in figure 6.

When water ceases flowing into housing 732, some water will remain in cup 736. The residual water in cup 736 provides an odour lock. The residual water prevents air passing back up from drainage outlet 340 through water trap 700 and into the air of the building in which the wet area is located. This prevents the smells from drains reaching people in the building. This situation will prevail for a period that may amount to days or weeks.

Eventually, however, the water left in cup 736 is likely to evaporate. The time required for this to happen depends on many variables, including the volume of water that cup 736 holds, and the ambient temperature at the location where the elongated drain is installed.

Two horizontal dashed lines are shown inside cup 736 in figure 7. Provided that the level of water in cup 736 attains at least the level shown by the dashed lines, there is sufficient water for an odour lock. Actuator 738 may be designed to lift cup 736 upwards as the weight of water in it reduces through evaporation. With such an arrangement, the only a small amount of amount of water may be required in cup 736 to maintain an odour lock.

This extends the period over which an odour lock can be maintained, relative to a water trap without an actuator, in which cup 736 would be fixed.

Figure 8 shows the situation in which the water level in the cup is insufficient to provide an odour lock. Housing 832, cup 836 and actuator 838 correspond to the similarly numbered elements in figures 6 and 7.

Actuator 838 has raised cup 836 until its upper rm contacts the lower surface of housing 832. The arrangement of figure 8 therefore provides a mechanical odour lock, rather than the water barrier presented in figure 7.

The lower surface of housing 832 may be provided with a circular mating surface, against which the upper rim of 836 presses, although such a mating surface is not shown in figure 8.

Although described here as an odour lock', the water in cup 736 and the seal between cup 836 and housing 832 provide a barrier to anything else located in a building's drains. For example, bacteria, insects or small animals that have entered the drainage system are prevented from passing back up through the water trap and into the wet area.

Further details of water traps of the general design shown in figures 6-8 can be found in prior art reference EP-A2-1700961. However, the water trap of the present invention does not incorporate all the features of the water trap shown in EP-A2-1700961. For example, the water trap of the present invention does not employ components 1-6 of the housing shown in figure 1 of EP-A2-1700961, or the grip portion 40 shown in figure 4 of EP-A2-1700961.

The design of water trap shown in figures 6-8 achieves a lower overall height than the water trap of EP-A2- 1700961, partly by omission of these components.

Further advantages of the present invention can be seen by considering the relative sizes of elongated water catchment element 310, adaptor 320, water trap 330 and drainage element 340. With all these components assembled together, the overall height of the elongated draTh 300 measured through the water trap may be as low as 67 millimeters. Several aspects of the invention contribute to this low overall height, including the water trap of low height, and the level upper surface of the trough.

As described in connection with figure 2, the opening in the wet area floor may only offer 85-90 mm of height between the inner edges of the sloping surfaces 220, 230 and the concrete slab below insulation layer 260. The elongated drain of only 67mm height provided by the invention therefore serves to maximise the available fall, i.e. the slope, for water flowing along pipe portion 344 of drainage element 340.

One design issue for drains in wet area floors is the maximum water flow rate that the drain can accommodate.

Adaptor 320, water trap 330 and drainage element 340 allow a large water flow rate, despite the low overall height. One factor contributing to this is the use of a circular water trap 330 that allows a high water flow rate. The invention employs an adapter 320 and a bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340 that both exceed the width of the elongated water catchment element 310. These components accommodate the size of circular water trap 330 and mate circular water trap 330 to elongated water catchment element 310. The use of circular water trap 330 helps to minimise the volume of space needed to house the drain in wet area floor 200. The overall volume of space needed to house the elongated drain of the invention may therefore be less than that required for the version of the prior art drain from the firm Purus that uses an elongated water trap mountable in one of two orientations.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of elongated drain 900.

Elongated water catchment element 910, rim portion 912 and inner portion 914 correspond to the similarly numbered elements in figure 4. Rectangular opening 916 serves the same function as opening 416 in figure 4, but shows that the shape of the opening may vary between different embodiments of the invention. The adaptor has been omitted from figure 9, in order to allow a clearer illustration.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 9, six possible orientations for the drainage outlet are shown in dashed lines. The three possible orientations at the lower edge of the figure have references 950, 952 and 954. Three other possible orientations are shown n the upper part of figure 9. Each of the six possible orientations is illustrated with a dashed arrow, indicating the direction of water which would flow through it. There are also two further possible orientations that are not shown in figure 9. These lie under the long direction of elongated water catchment element 910.

The minimum angular spacing between two of the multiple orientations of drainage outlet 950, 952, 954 in figure 9 is 45 degrees. The particular orientation desired for the drainage outlet is selected by rotating bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340 relative to adaptor 500, in order to join the drainage outlet to the elongated water catchment element 910 in the correct relative orientation.

The particular orientation chosen when assembling the elongated drain would depend on the location of the drains into which water needs to flow. It may also depend on the presence of obstacles such as walls and water piping, which can be avoided by appropriate choice of the angle of orientation of the drainage outlet from elongated drain 900.

The embodiment shown in figure 9 allows orientations spaced by 45 degrees. However, the adaptor 520 could be designed to allow smaller angular spacings between orientations, by designing the adaptor and the bowl portion 342 of the drainage outlet to clip together at more closely spaced angular intervals. If adaptor 500 acts as a universal joint', it would allow the drainage outlet to extend out at any angle relative to the long direction of the elongated water catchment element 910.

Figures 3, 4 and 9 all show the elongated water catchment element as a linear element. This provides an elongated drain of the type usually referred to as a linear drain'. -iowever, the elongated water catchment area is limited only to shapes that will serve to collect water over an extended length. So, for example, an oval or zig-zag shape could be used for the elongated water catchment element.

The invention also comprises a method of installing an elongated drain 300 into a wet area floor. Firstly, the drainage outlet 340 is put in place, for example on the concrete slab underlying the wet area floor 200. The drainage outlet may be connected to the drainage system of a building at this stage. Figure 2 shows how the pipe portion of drainage outlet 340 may pass through layer of insulation 260. A water trap water trap 330, 600 s inserted into bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340.

The drainage outlet 340 is then connected to elongated water catchment element 310 via adaptor 500. The drainage outlet 340 is connected to the elongated water catchment element 310 in one of multiple orientations 950, 952, 954. The minimum angular spacing between two of the multiple orientations is 45 degrees or less. The adaptor 500 and drainage outlet 340 may be adapted to allow the drainage outlet 340 to be connected to the elongated water catchment element 310 at any angle.

When constructing a wet area floor, insulation layer 260 may first be shaped around drainage outlet 340. Concrete screed is then poured onto insulation layer 260, n order to create concrete screed layer 270. Concrete screed will therefore tend to flow into rectangular opening 250 shown in figure 2, partially supporting bowl portion 342 of drainage outlet 340.

Figure 10 shows an elongated drain 1000 that has two water traps and drainage outlets. Elongated water catchment element 1010, rim portion 1012 and inner portion 1014 correspond to the similarly numbered elements in figures 4 and 9.

First rectangular opening 1016 and second rectangular opening 1018 each allow water to flow down into a water trap of the general design and function illustrated by figures 6-8. Each water trap is housed in a drainage outlet of the general design shown by element 340 in figure 3. Each drainage outlet is connected to the elongated water catchment element 1010 by an adaptor of the general design shown in figure 5.

Reference 1050 shows the orientation of the pipe portion of a first drainage outlet, which drains water from first rectangular opening 1016. Pipe portion 1050 lies perpendicular to the long direction of elongated water catchment element 1010. A dashed arrow indicates the direction of water flow.

Reference 1052 shows the orientation of the pipe portion of a second drainage outlet, which drains water from second rectangular opening 1018. Pipe portion 1050 makes an angle of 45 degrees to the long direction of elongated water catchment element 1010. In pipe 1052, as in pipe 1050, a dashed arrow indicates the direction of water flow.

The orientations of pipe portions 1050 and 1052 are such that they can be joined together a short distance from the elongated drain. However, this is not essential. As an alternative, pipe portions 1050 and 1052 could join the drainage system of a building separately.

Although figure 10 shows two openings 1016 and 1018, more could be provided. One advantage of an arrangement with multiple water traps is that it can cope with higher water flow rates than the arrangement of figure 9. The multiple water traps of figure 10 may each be of the same size as the single water trap of figure 9, but in combination the multiple water traps can cope with a higher flow rate than the single water trap of figure 9.

Claims (15)

1. Claims 1. An elongated drain (300) for a wet area floor (200), the elongated drain (300) comprising: an elongated water catchment element (310); a water trap (330, 600), the water trap comprising a housing (632), a cup (636) and an actuator (638), the cup (636) being arranged such that water in the cup provides an odour lock, and the actuator (638) being adapted to move the cup into contact with the housing (632) when the water level in the cup is insufficient to provide an odour lock; a drainage outlet (340); an adaptor (320, 500) for connecting the elongated water catchment element (310) to the drainage outlet (340) in one of multiple orientations (950, 952, 954), the minimum angular spacing between two of the multiple orientations being 45 degrees or less.
2. 2. An elongated drain in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the adaptor (320, 500) is adapted to allow connection of the elongated water catchment element (310) to the drainage outlet (340) at any angle.
3. 3. An elongated drain in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein: an 0-ring (529) provides a seal between the adaptor (320, 500) and the drainage outlet (340), thereby permitting relative rotation of the adaptor and drainage outlet (340).
4. 4. An elongated drain (1000) in accordance with any previous claim, wherein: the water trap (330,600) is circular; and the width of adapter (320, 500) and drainage outlet (340) exceed the width of the elongated water catchment element (310).
5. 5. An elongated drain (300) in accordance with any previous claim, wherein: the water trap (330, 600) sits within the drainage outlet (340), and the overall height of the elongated drain (300) measured through the water trap does not exceed 67 millimeters.
6. 6. An elongated drain (1000) in accordance with any previous claim, wherein: at least two water traps (330,600) are provided, and the elongated water catchment element (1010) has an opening (1016, 1018) located above each water trap.
7. 7. An elongated drain in accordance with any previous claim wherein: the elongated water catchment element (410) is level, when installed in a wet area floor (200), and the inner portion (414) of the elongated water catchment element (410) does not slope towards the one or more water traps.
8. 8. An elongated drain (300) in accordance with any previous claim, wherein: (i) the water trap (600) further comprises an inlet member (632), the inlet member protruding into the cup (636) from above, whereby water in the cup provides an odour lock; (ii) the cup (636) is located below the housing (632), and is mounted moveably relative to the housing, the movement being in a vertical direction when the elongated drain (300) is installed in a wet area; (iii) the actuator (638) is adapted to move the cup upwards and into contact with a lower surface of the housing (632) when the water level in the cup is insufficient to provide an odour lock.
9. 9. An elongated drain in accordance with any previous claim wherein: the elongated drain is a linear drain (300, 900, 1000), of generally rectangular shape.
10. 10. A method of installing an elongated drain (300) into a wet area floor (200), comprising: installing a drainage outlet (340) for connection to the drainage system of a building, a water trap (330, 600) being provided in the drainage outlet (340); connecting the drainage outlet to an elongated water catchment element (310) via an adaptor (500), the drainage outlet (340) being connected to the elongated water catchment element (310) in one of multiple orientations (950, 952, 954), the minimum angular spacing between two of the multiple orientations being 45 degrees or less.
11. 11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein: the drainage outlet (340) is connected to the elongated water catchment element (310) at any angle.
12. 12. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein: the vertical height of the elongated drain measured through the water trap does not exceed 67 millimeters.
13. 13. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising: providing at least two water traps, and at least two openings (1016, 1018) in the elongated water catchment element, an opening (1016, 1018) being located above each water trap, whereby water can flow through each opening (1016, 1018) into the water trap below.
14. 14. A kit of parts for an elongated drain in accordance with any of claims 1-9.
15. 15. An elongated drain as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated by, any of figures 3-10.