Waste fitting

Abstract

The invention relates to a waste fitting including a waste pan means into which waste can flow, at least one part of the waste pan means allowing visual inspection therethrough. During installation, an opening of the waste outlet can be located by visual inspection through the or each at least one part of the waste pan means, enabling a suitable position to be determined for forming and or positioning of at least one aperture in the waste pan means. The at least on aperture is formed such that, in use, waste that flows into the waste pan means can exit through the or each at least one aperture towards the opening in the waste outlet. The invention also relates to a method of installing a waste fitting.

Claims

1. A waste fitting for a waste outlet, the waste fitting comprising: a waste outlet having a terminal end, the terminal end including an opening; a waste pan into which waste can flow, the waste pan positioned above the terminal end of the waste outlet and including at least one transparent part allowing visual inspection therethrough, wherein, during installation, the opening of the waste outlet can be located by visual inspection through the waste pan, enabling a suitable position to be determined for forming and or positioning of at least one aperture in the waste pan such that, in use, waste that flows into the waste pan can exit through the at least one aperture towards the opening in the waste outlet.

2. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein the waste fitting is part of a shower base, bath, or spa adapted to receive the waste pan.

3. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein the whole waste pan allows visual inspection therethrough.

4. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein the suitable positioning of the at least one aperture is substantially aligned with the opening of the waste outlet.

5. The waste fitting of claim 4, wherein the position of the at least one aperture is substantially directly above the opening of the waste outlet, such that waste will fall directly into the waste outlet.

6. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein during installation the waste pan is connected to the waste outlet.

7. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein an adaptor is included between the waste pan and the waste outlet.

8. The waste fitting of claim 7, wherein the adaptor is attached to the waste outlet before being attached to the waste pan.

9. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is formed in the waste pan after visual inspection therethrough of the position of the opening of the waste outlet enabling the substantial alignment of the at least one aperture and the opening in the waste outlet whereby once the waste pan and the waste outlet are connected waste that flows into the waste pan can flow into the waste outlet.

10. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein the waste fitting is installed in a shower base and no access need be made below the shower base when installing the waste fitting once the shower base is in place as visual inspection of the position of the waste outlet can be made through the waste fitting.

11. The waste fitting of claim 1, wherein the waste pan is positioned substantially parallel to the terminal end of the waste outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described in connection with non-limiting preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a waste fitting according to the present invention in a first preferred embodiment (circular), the waste fitting being installed in a shower base;

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view from above of the waste fitting of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the shower base of FIG. 2 with the waste cap and other parts of the waste fitting removed (the plumbing below is not shown);

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of a standard adaptor of the waste fitting of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of the adaptor of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternative adaptor having an extra fall;

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view from above of the alternative adaptor of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of a variation of the adaptor of FIG. 4, including bonding grooves;

(10) FIG. 9 is a plan view from above of the adaptor of FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor of FIGS. 4 and 5 in use with a height gauge;

(12) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor of FIGS. 6 and 7 in use with the height gauge of FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional exploded side view of the waste fitting of FIG. 1 being installed in the shower base;

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the waste cap of FIGS. 1, 2 and 12;

(15) FIG. 14 is a plan view from above of a waste pan of the waste fitting of FIG. 1 after the holes and aperture have been formed for use with the adaptor of FIGS. 6 and 7 including an indication of the direction of fall;

(16) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view from the side of the waste fitting of FIG. 1, installed in a timber floor;

(17) FIG. 16 is cross-sectional exploded view from the side of the waste fitting of FIG. 1, being installed in a roman bath;

(18) FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a waste fitting according to the present invention in a second preferred embodiment (square), the waste fitting being installed in a shower base;

(19) FIG. 18 is a plan view from above of the waste fitting of FIG. 17 installed in the shower base;

(20) FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the waste cap of FIGS. 17 and 18;

(21) FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional exploded view of the waste fitting of FIG. 17 from the side, being installed in the shower base;

(22) FIG. 21 is a plan view from above of a waste pan of the waste fitting of FIG. 17 after the holes and aperture have been formed for use with the adaptor of FIGS. 6 and 7 including an indication of the direction of fall; and

(23) FIG. 22 is a plan view of an alternative form of the invention having a square waste curved on two sides installed in a shower base; and

(24) FIG. 23 is a plan view of an alternative form of the invention having a square waste with a corner cut, installed in a shower base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(25) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 16, a first preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail, where waste fitting 1 includes waste cap 10, waste pan 12 and adaptor 14a. Waste fitting 1 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, (10 and 11 showing the shower base only) and 12 illustrate the invention installed in a shower, the shower having a shower base 16; the rest of the shower is not shown.

(26) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 in particular shower base 16 has floor 18 and waterproofing edge 20, running around two sides for capture of falling shower water and to prevent the water overflowing. Alternatively, waterproofing edge 20 could be present on all four, three or only 1 side, or omitted as is suitable to the manner in which the shower is installed. Shower base 16 and waste cap 10 may be made of any suitable material but are illustrated made of acrylic over fibreglass. The same or different colours or textures may be used for the shower base 16 and waste cap 10 to create a stylish look. The particular form of the shower base is determined by the desired style of the customer, and is not limited to the shower base 16 as shown.

(27) Shower base 16 includes recess 22 into which waste fitting 1 is installed. Recess 22 of shower base 16 has wall 24 (refer FIG. 3) and lip 26. Waste fitting 1 sits within recess 22 with waste pan 12 sitting on lip 26. Waste fitting 1 is configured to fit in recess 22 with a small gap around waste cap 10. Recess 22 and corresponding waste fitting 1 are shown as circular in cross-section but may be any suitable shape including rectangular including square, diamond or hexagonal, for example.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in particular, a standard adaptor 14a is illustrated having body 28a, collar 30a and tabs 31a. Adaptor 14a is configured to fit into outlet pipe 32 with body 28a sitting within outlet pipe 32 and collar 30a above the body 28a.

(29) FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative adaptor 14b including an extra fall of approximately 5 degrees. Alternative adaptor 14b is illustrated having body 28b and collar 30b, collar 30b including tabs 31b. Adaptor 14 is configured to fit into outlet pipe 32 with body 28b sitting within outlet pipe 32, with collar 30b above the body 28b. The direction of the extra fall of adaptor 14b is illustrated in FIG. 14.

(30) FIGS. 8 and 9 shows adaptor 14c, which is a variation to adaptor 14a, including optional bonding grooves 34 to assist bonding when used with glue or sealant as described below. Adaptor 14c does not include the extra fall of adaptor 14b. Adapter 14c is illustrated having body 28c and collar 30c, including tabs 31c. Adapter 14c can be used exactly as described for adaptor 14a and is configured to fit into outlet pipe 32 with body 28c sitting within outlet pipe 32, with collar 30c above the body 28c.

(31) Adaptor 14a, 14b and 14c are all shown made of plastic. However adaptor 14a, 14b or 14c may be made of any suitable material including brass or other metal, for example, or a combination of materials.

(32) FIG. 10 shows recess 22 in shower base 16, with adapter 14a in position on outlet pipe 32 (not shown), outlet pipe 32 having been cut across level with the cement floor, with height gauge 36. Height gauge 36 is supplied with the waste fitting 1 and is used by the person installing the waste fitting to check that adaptor 14a as installed (see the description below) on cut outlet pipe 32 is level. As illustrated, height gauge 36 is a piece of plastic, flat on one side that is configured to fit inside recess 22 and rest on adaptor 14a if adaptor 14a has been positioned and aligned correctly on outlet pipe 32. If adapter 14a is not level, outlet pipe 32 may need to be trimmed.

(33) FIG. 11 shows recess 22 in shower base 16, with adaptor 14b in position used with height gauge 36, as described for use with adaptor 14a.

(34) FIG. 12 illustrates the various parts of waste fitting 1 as being installed in shower base 16. To install the waste fitting 1, outlet pipe 32 is cut-off, level with the floor 37. Floor 37 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 12 is a concrete floor. In FIG. 15 waste fitting 1 is illustrated fitted in timber floor 38.

(35) Mortar 39 is mixed and applied below lip 26 and below shower base 16 to support waste fitting 1 (refer FIG. 1). Further solid packing may be used below lip 26 to avoid movement between lip 26 and floor 37 whilst the mortar 39 is soft, but is not illustrated here.

(36) Adaptor 14a is placed on outlet pipe 32 and height gauge 36 used to check that adaptor 14a will sit level. Height gauge 36 is then removed, as is adaptor 14a. Adaptor 14a is primed with PVC priming fluid and glued (glue and primer not shown) into outlet pipe 32; any suitable glue and primer may be used, or the primer or glue may be omitted. If adaptor 14c is used the glue sits in the bonding groove 34 to assist bonding. However, bonding will be sufficiently secure if optional bonding groove 34 is omitted. If adaptor 14b is used the high side of collar 30b is 2 mm below the top edge of lip 26 and the low side of collar 30b points to the centre of recess 22. During installation using adaptor 14b the screwing pressure between lip 26 and waste pan 12 contorts the fall in waste pan 12 until finally installed with a further downward fall created to the low side of collar 30b. The downward fall of the waste pan 12 after installation using 14b is preferably about 5 degrees to where connected to adaptor 14b. Installation of standard adaptor 14a is as described above but one side is the same level as the other, the adaptor can be installed in any orientation and does not lead to a fall across waste pan 12.

(37) Waste pan 12 is dropped or otherwise put into recess 22 over adapter 14a and outlet pipe 32. Waste pan 12 as illustrated is a circular disc of clear plastic. Waste pan 12 could, instead, have a floor with walls and a round or square floor or any suitable pan shape for receipt of waste. Once waste pan 12 is in position, adapter 14a leading to outlet pipe 32 can be seen through clear waste pan 12. The ability to be able to make visual inspection through and below waste pan 12 is an important part of the invention. Although in the described embodiment clear plastic waste pan 12 is used to allow visual inspection of the components below, other methods of allowing visual inspection might include a waste pan having one or more transparent parts. A cover may be included to cover all or some of the transparent parts of the waste pan or the waste pan as a whole (excepting to allow waste to exit) for use after installation has occurred. Optionally pool lights or similar may be installed in the waste fitting during installation, if desired. Waste pan 12 could optionally include a shaped, bevelled or angled edge of 30 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate removal during installation and to assist and strengthen the bonding to lip 26.

(38) With waste pan 12 in place collar 30a can be seen through the clear plastic. In this way the positions for forming holes (not labelled) in collar 30a and corresponding holes 40 (not labelled) for screws 42 in waste pan 12 can be readily determined, a significant advantage over existing methods. Screws 42 are stainless steel screws but any suitable alternative material or other fixing may be used. Three pilot holes (not shown) of 2.5 millimetres in diameter are drilled in situ through waste pan 12 and collar 30a in a single operation. A fourth pilot hole (not shown) is also drilled aligned central to the outlet pipe 32, corresponding with aperture 44a in collar 30a of adapter 14a. Tabs 31a (or tabs 31b or 31c) can flex upwards to a certain extend to allow for installation at the extreme extent of a fit. Each of the four pilot holes in waste pan 12 is a simple drill hole which can be easily and readily formed while the waste pan 12 is in situ, in recess 22 resting on lip 26 such that the positions of collar 30a and aperture 44a can be easily seen so as to determine where on waste pan 12 the holes should be drilled. Waste pan 12 is then removed by being hooked out of recess 22 such as by use of a piece of bent wire or a screw (not shown). Holes 46 (refer FIG. 12) formed in collar 30a are widened to an appropriate width. The three holes 40 for screws 42 in waste pan 12 are formed by enlarging three of the pilot holes to a size suitable to accommodate screws 42. The fourth pilot hole (not shown) is enlarged to a width of 38 millimetres to form aperture 48, ultimately for receipt of the flow of waste. Other suitable widths may be used depending on the width of outlet pipe 32. PVC priming fluid (not shown) and silicone 50 (or other suitable glue or sealant) is applied to the upper surface of collar 30a, and to lip 26. Waste pan 12 is then replaced in recess 22 on lips 26 and holes 40 in waste pan 12 aligned with holes 42 in collar 30a of adaptor 14a below. Screws 42 are put through the aligned holes 42 and 40 and screws 42 tightened to attach through holes 40 in waste pan 12 and corresponding holes 42 in collar 30a. In this way waste pan 12 is attached to collar 30a, which in turn is attached to outlet pipe 32.

(39) If adaptor 14b is used instead the fall of collar 30b applies to waste pan 12 so there is a fall of approximately 2 millimetres to the high side of adaptor 14b then a further fall of approximately 5 degrees from the high side to the low side of adaptor 14b. In FIG. 14 the direction of the downward fall created by adaptor 14b in waste pan 12 is indicated by an arrow. Adaptor 14b should not be used over the centre, maximum usage is obtained when the centre of adaptor 14b reaches the centre of the pan.

(40) Since waste pan 12 is clear, the quality of the silicone seal can be inspected, while cleaning up any excess silicone 50. Ascetic cure silicone is used in the illustrated embodiment but any suitable silicone or other sealant may be used. Finally, waste cap 10 can be positioned into recess 22 of shower base 16 to cover waste pan 12 and all that can be seen below. Waste cap 10 has lugs 52 which maintain waste cap 10 an even distance from wall 24 of recess 22 so there is a small gap all the way around. Use of a small gap, rather than a grill discourages mosquitoes and other insects that may enter or exit through traditional waste fittings. Lugs 52 are used to maintain a gap between wall 24 or recess 22 and waste cap 10 to allow free flow of water and waste. Plug 54 is illustrated as circular soft plastic plug applied into the small gap around the perimeter of waste cap 10 between recess 22, wall 24 and waste cap 10 to entrap water. Use of plug 54 helps entrap water when waste fitting 1 is used with a bath, spa or the like.

(41) In use, waste flows towards recess 22, due to the fall in floor 18 of shower base 16, and into waste fitting 1 by means of the small gap around waste cap 10. Waste cap 10 includes a number of cut-outs 56 (refer to FIGS. 12, 13 and 16) through which waste flows onto waste pan 12. Cut-outs 56 are illustrated as rectangular cut-outs but may be any suitable shape. The fall of waste pan 12 directs the flow of waste through aperture 48 in waste pan 12, aperture 44a in adaptor 14a (or 44b in adaptor 14b or 44c in adaptor 14c as appropriate) and ultimately down outlet pipe 32.

(42) Waste cap 10 can be readily removed to allow inspection through waste pan 12 to check the installation or for cleaning of waste pan 12. Removal of waste cap 10 can be achieved by use of a household spoon or similar (not shown). The tip of the spoon is passed into recess 22 between wall 24 and waste cap 10 and into lifting groove 58. As illustrated, lifting grooves 58 are a series of short a grooves that runs around the perimeter of waste cap 10. In an alternative embodiment, lifting grooves 58 may be a pair of opposing slots, several slots or a single groove that runs around the entire perimeter of waste cap 10. Waste cap 10 can be prised out of recess 22 by leverage of the spoon in lifting grooves 58.

(43) Referring to FIG. 15, waste fitting 1 is fitted in timber floor 38. Waste fitting 1 is fitted exactly as described above for a concrete floor but stiffeners 60 are also used on either side of outlet pipe 32, attached to the topside of timber floor 38 to stop outlet pipe 32 from retracting when pressure is applied to waste pan 12 and to provide additional support. Stiffeners 60 are shown used including metal washers (not labelled) with additional screws 62 to attach adaptor 14a to the underlying timber structure. Stiffeners 60 may be made of any suitable material such as plastic or metal to provide support to the waste fitting 1 and the surrounding area of timber floor 38. Screws 62 are applied through holes 62 in stiffeners 60, and holes (not shown) formed in the topside of timber floor 38, and tightened until firm. Screws 62 as illustrated are stainless steel screws but alternative fixings may be used. Glue (not shown) may also be used to attach stiffeners 60 to outlet pipe 32.

(44) Referring to FIG. 16, waste fitting 1 is shown being installed in a roman bath 64, having tiles 66. In all other aspects waste fitting 1 is installed as in a shower base 16, and the same numbering has been used.

(45) Referring to FIGS. 17 to 21, a second most preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with numerals similar to the first. Waste fitting 101 includes waste cap 110, waste pan 112 and adaptor 114a and is installed in shower base 116. As can be seen waste fitting 101 is square shaped which differs from the circular first preferred embodiment waste fitting 1.

(46) Referring to FIGS. 17 to 19 in particular, shower base 116 has floor 118 and waterproofing edge 120, running around two sides for capture of falling shower water and to prevent the water overflowing. Alternatively, waterproofing edge 120 could be present on all four, three or only 1 side, or omitted as is suitable to the manner in which the shower is installed. Shower base 116 and waste cap 110 may be made of any suitable material but are illustrated made of acrylic over fibreglass.

(47) Shower base 116 includes square recess 122 into which square waste fitting 101 is installed. Recess 122 of shower base 116 has wall 124 and lip 126. Waste fitting 101 sits within recess 122 with waste pan 112 sitting on lip 126. Waste fitting 101 is configured to fit in recess 122 with a small gap around waste cap 110.

(48) Standard adaptor 114a, is illustrated having body 128a, collar 130a and tabs (not labelled). Adaptor 114a is configured to fit into outlet pipe 132 with body 128a sitting within outlet pipe 132, with collar 130a above the body 128a. Adaptor 114a is illustrated made of plastic; but may be made of other suitable materials.

(49) As described for the first preferred embodiment, alternative adaptor 14b, including an extra fall, or adaptor 14c, which is a variation to adaptor 14a including optional bonding grooves 34, could be used instead of 114a.

(50) FIG. 20 shows the process of installation of waste fitting 101, including recess 122 in shower base 116, with adaptor 114a placed in position on outlet pipe 132. Outlet pipe 132 is cut across level with the cement floor 37 before installation of adaptor 114a. To check that outlet pipe 132 is cut correctly and is level height gauge 36 as described for the previous embodiment is be used. Waste fitting 101 could readily be fitted in a timber floor, with or without the use of stiffeners as described above.

(51) Mortar 139 is mixed and applied below lip 126 and below shower base 116 to support waste fitting 101 (refer FIG. 17). Further solid packing may be used below lip 126 to avoid movement between lip 126 and floor 137 whilst the mortar 139 is soft, but is not illustrated here.

(52) Adaptor 114a is placed on outlet pipe 132 and height gauge 36a used to check that adaptor 114a will sit level 1. Adaptor 114a is then primed with PVC priming fluid and glued (not shown) into outlet pipe 132; any suitable glue and primer may be used, or the primer or glue may be omitted. If adaptor 14c as described for the first embodiment is used the glue sits in the bonding groove 34 to assist bonding. If adaptor 14b as described for the first preferred embodiment is used the high side of collar 30b is 2 millimetres below the top edge of lip 126 and the low side of collar 30b points to the centre of recess 122. During installation using adapter 14b the screwing pressure between lip 126 and waste pan 112 contorts the fall in waste pan 112 until finally installed with a further downward fall created to the low side of collar 30b. The downward fall of the waste pan 112 after installation using 14b is preferably about 5 degrees where it fastens to adaptor 14b. Installation of standard adaptor 114a is as described above but one side is the same level as the other, can be installed in any orientation and does not lead to a fall across waste pan 112.

(53) Waste pan 112 is dropped or otherwise put into recess 122 over adaptor 114a and outlet pipe 132. Waste pan 112 as illustrated is a square of clear plastic. Waste pan 112 could, instead, have a floor with walls and a different shaped floor or any suitable pan shape for receipt of waste. Once waste pan 112 is in position, adaptor 114a leading to outlet pipe 132 can be seen through clear waste pan 112. The ability to be able to make visual inspection through and below waste pan 112 is an important part of the invention. Although in the described embodiment a clear plastic waste pan 112 is used to allow visual inspection of the components below, other methods of allowing visual inspection might include a waste pan having one or more transparent parts. A cover may be included to cover all or some of the transparent parts of the waste pan or the waste pan as a whole (excepting to allow waste to exit) for use after installation has occurred. Waste pan 112 could optionally include a shaped, bevelled or angled edge of 30 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate removal during installation and to assist and strengthen the bonding to lip 126.

(54) With waste pan 112 in place collar 130a can be seen through the clear plastic. In this way the positions for forming holes (not labelled) in collar 130a and corresponding holes 140 (not labelled) for screws 142 in waste pan 112 can be readily determined, a significant advantage over existing methods. Screws 142 are stainless steel screws but any suitable alternative material or other fixing may be used. Three pilot holes (not shown) of 2.5 millimetres in diameter are drilled in situ through waste pan 112 and collar 130a in a single operation. A fourth pilot hole (not shown) is also drilled aligned to the outlet pipe 132, corresponding with aperture 144a in collar 130a of adaptor 114a. Each of the four pilot holes in waste pan 112 is a simple drill hole which can be easily and readily formed while the waste pan 112 is in situ, in recess 122 resting on lip 126 such that the positions of collar 130a and aperture 144a can be easily seen so as to determine where on waste pan 112 the holes should be drilled. Waste pan 112 is then removed by being hooked out of recess 122 such as by use of a piece of bent wire or a screw (not shown). Holes 146 formed in collar 130a are widened to an appropriate width. The three holes 140 for screws 142 in waste pan 112 are formed by enlarging three of the pilot holes to a size suitable to accommodate screws 142. The fourth pilot hole (not shown) is enlarged to a width of 38 millimetres to form aperture 148, ultimately for receipt of the flow of waste. Other suitable widths may be used depending on the width of outlet pipe 132. Four further holes 147 (refer FIG. 21) are included one each in the corners of waste pan 112 and used with screws to further attach waste pan 112 to lip 126 of shower base 116. PVC priming fluid (not shown) and silicone 150 (or other suitable glue or sealant) is applied to the upper surface of collar 130a, and to lip 126. Waste pan 112 is then replaced in recess 122 on lips 126 and holes 140 in waste pan 112 aligned with holes 142 in collar 130a of adaptor 114a below. Screws 142 are put through the aligned holes 142 and 140 and screws 142 tightened to attach through holes 140 in waste pan 112 and corresponding holes 142 in collar 130a. In this way waste pan 112 is attached to collar 130a which in turn is attached to outlet pipe 132.

(55) If adaptor 14b is used instead the fall of collar 30b applies to waste pan 112 so there is a fall of approximately 2 millimetres to the high side of adaptor 14b then a further fall of approximately 5 degrees from the high side to the low side of adaptor 14b. In FIG. 21 the direction of the downward fall that would be created in waste pan 112 by use of adaptor 14b in waste fitting 101 is indicated by an arrow.

(56) Since waste pan 112 is clear, the quality of the silicone seal can be inspected, while cleaning up any excess silicone 150. Ascetic cure silicone is used in the illustrated embodiment but any suitable silicone or other sealant may be used. Finally, waste cap 110 can be positioned into recess 122 of shower base 116 to cover waste pan 112 and all that can be seen below. Waste cap 110 has lugs 152 which maintain waste cap 110 an even distance from wall 124 of recess 122 so there is a small gap all the way around. Waste cap 110 also includes lifting grooves 158. Lifting groove 158 may alternatively be a single groove. Use of a small gap, rather than a grill discourages mosquitoes and other insects that may enter or exit through traditional waste fittings. Plugs (not shown) may be used to maintain a gap between wall 124 or recess 122 and waste cap 110 to allow free flow of water and waste.

(57) In use, waste flows towards recess 122, due to the fall in floor 118 of shower base 116, and into waste fitting 101 by means of the small gap around waste cap 110. Waste cap 110 includes a number of cut-outs 154 through which waste flows onto waste pan 112. Cut-outs 156 are illustrated as rectangular cut-outs but may be any suitable shape. The fall of waste pan 112 directs the flow of waste through aperture 148 in waste pan 112, aperture 144a in adaptor 114a (or 44b in adaptor 14b or 44c in adaptor 14c as appropriate) and ultimately down outlet pipe 132.

(58) Waste cap 110 can be readily removed to allow inspection through waste pan 112 to check the installation or for cleaning of waste pan 112. Removal of waste cap 110 can be achieved by use of a household spoon or similar (not shown). The tip of the spoon is passed into recess 122 between wall 124 and waste cap 110 and into lifting slots 158. There are four lifting slots 158 illustrated but these may be replaced by any number of suitable slots or a single groove.

(59) FIG. 23 illustrate a third preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 23 shows an alternative shape of waste fitting 201 having a generally square shape, curved on two sides. Waste fitting 201 is fitted in the same way and with the same parts and method of installation as the first and second preferred embodiments.

(60) FIG. 24 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 24 shows an alternative shape of waste fitting 301 having a generally square shape, with a corner removed. Waste fitting 301 is fitted in the same way and with the same parts and method of installation as the first and second preferred embodiments.

(61) Use of the described waste fitting in any of the four described embodiments and with use of any of the three adaptors is advantageous in many ways. For example, the outlet pipe 32, 132 can be connected closely to the waste fitting 1, 101, 201 or 301 so waste can flow straight down and away from the shower base 16, 116. The clear waste pan 112 enables alignment with the outlet pipe 32, 132 below, assisted by the width of the waste giving far greater scope for positioning of aperture 48, 148. It is highly desirable to plumb a waste fitting to the pipes below as directly as possible to avoid the need to use plumbdingers to breach the gap. To try to do so requires careful measuring and marking and even then the alignment may not be perfect. When fitting the described waste fitting 1, 101, 201 or 301 the installation can be made from above the shower base as all the alignment can be made by visually inspecting the plumbing below through the clear waste pan 12, 112 and making holes accordingly. There should be no need to fit parts from the bottom of the shower or the like as the whole process can be complete from above and no plumbdinger or other device should be required, a significant advance. The waste fitting 1, 101, 201 or 301 can be used with existing pipes and components and does not require any additional tools or techniques to be used by the plumber when installing. Hence plumbing a shower, bath, spa or the like using the new waste fitting 1, 101, 201 or 301 is quicker, easier and produces a better job in the end than existing waste fittings. Saving time and parts for the plumber will also save the customer time and money.

(62) It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its various aspects.