Plumbing connection hub

Abstract

A plumbing connection hub for connecting household plumbing to appliances or basins is provided. The hub includes a container formed by a continuous wall and at least one open side, a tubular drain outlet leading out of the container through an operatively lower portion of the wall and the outlet being connectable to the sewage system of a house, and a drain inlet leading into the container from an open side with the tube fixed to the wall, and with the inner ends of the inlet and outlet positioned to receive a s-trap between them. The hub further includes a water connection elbow pipe locator for locating a water connection elbow pipe.

Claims

1. A plumbing connection hub, comprising: a container having a continuous wall, a back wall integrally formed with the continuous wall, and an open front side; a tubular drain outlet leading out of the container through an operatively lower portion of the wall, wherein the outlet is configured to be connectable to a sewage system of a house; a looped flexible hose; a first drain inlet leading into the container from the open front side via a tube fixed to the wall, wherein a center of an inner end of the inlet and a center of an inner end of the outlet are positioned vertically in-line to receive the looped flexible hose, and wherein the first drain inlet is integrally formed with the container; a second drain inlet leading into the container through the back wall, wherein the second drain inlet is integrally formed with the container; a first cross-sectionally u-shaped channel integrally formed with the container and configured to fit a cold water connection elbow pipe; and a second cross-sectionally u-shaped channel integrally formed with the container and configured to fit a warm water connection elbow pipe, wherein the cross-sectionally u-shaped channels extend along a width of the sidewall.

2. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein the first drain inlet is elbow shaped or straight.

3. The plumbing connection hub of claim 2, wherein the back wall comprises one or more inspection openings configured for inspection and maintenance of the first drain inlet and/or the outlet.

4. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, further comprising a back plate configured for covering an unused open side, in use.

5. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein one end of the cold or warm water connection elbow pipe extends through a hole in the wall of the container and the other end of the cold or warm water connection elbow pipe extends towards an open side.

6. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein one end of the cold or warm water connection elbow pipe extends away from the wall and the other end of the cold or warm water connection elbow pipe extends towards an open side of the container.

7. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, further comprising a stopper formation in each of the first and the second cross-sectionally u-shaped channels.

8. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a lid with holes defined therein for receiving piping or connections therethrough.

9. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a first lid with holes defined therein for receiving piping or connections therethrough and a second lid with no holes for closing the other open end through which no piping extends, in use.

10. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein at least one of a lid, back plate, or side walls comprises gripping formations thereon configured for gripping cement when built into a wall.

11. The plumbing connection hub of claim 8 further comprising complementary holes configured to receive screws for attaching the lid to the container.

12. The plumbing connection hub of claim 1, wherein the looped flexible hose is used instead of an s-trap, but provides a same function as does an s-trap.

13. The plumbing connection hub of claim 12, which does not comprise an s-trap.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a plumbing connection hub, in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the plumbing connection hub;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the plumbing connection hub;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a front plan view of the plumbing connection hub partly installed;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the plumbing connection hub fully installed

(8) FIG. 6 shows a top view of a further, preferred embodiment, of a plumbing connection hub, in accordance with the invention;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the preferred plumbing connection hub, without a lid;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the preferred plumbing connection hub, without a lid;

(11) FIG. 9 shows a sectional side view of the preferred plumbing connection hub;

(12) FIG. 10 shows an expanded front perspective view of the preferred plumbing connection hub;

(13) FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of the preferred plumbing connection hub; and

(14) FIG. 12 shows a rear perspective view of the preferred plumbing connection hub.

(15) Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5, the plumbing connection hub, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The plumbing connection hub 10, includes a container 12 formed by a continuous wall 24 and having two opposed open sides 26; a tubular drain outlet 14 leading out of the container through an operatively lower portion of the wall 24 and the outlet being connectable to the sewage system of a house; and a T-shaped tubular drain inlet 34 leading into the container from the open sides with the tube fixed to the wall 24, and with the inner ends of the inlet and outlet positioned to receive a s-trap between them.

(16) The hub 10 further includes a pair of water connection elbow pipe location means 18 in the form of cross-sectionally u-shaped channels for locating a hot and cold water connection elbow pipe 20 inside the container with one end of the pipe extending through a hole 22 defined in a wall 24 of the container 12 and the other end extending through one of the open sides 26, the operatively front side. The end of the pipe 20 extending through the open side 26 is connectable to a water intake of an appliance or tap of a basin and the end extending through the hole 22 defined in a wall 24 of the container 12 is connectable to the household water supply 28 of a house outside the container 12. The container 10 is dimensioned and configured to be built into a wall in the space of two standard bricks 30.

(17) The hub 10 also includes drain piping 32 fitted with a removable rubber S-trap clamped to the inlet and outlet to prevent sewage odours from escaping past the drain outlet. The S-trap piping is located inside the container 12 with one end, the inlet 34, leading to an operatively upper part of the open side 26 of the container and the other end, the outlet 36, leading to an operatively bottom wall 38 of the container. The inlet 24 is provided with thread for attachment to a complementary threaded drain outlet piping from an appliance or a basin. The operatively bottom part of the S-trap is provided with a closable inspection hole 40. The middle portion of the S-trap piping 32 may be provided with a widening portion 42. The widening portion 42 acts as a buffer for high outflow of drainage water.

(18) The container 12 includes a brace 44 for supporting the inlet 34 end of the piping, leading to an operatively upper part of the open side of the container. The brace 44 is integrally formed with the container 12.

(19) The water connection elbow pipe location means 18 are u-shaped channels integrally formed with the container 12 and extending across the container 12.

(20) The open-sided container 12 is provided with a lid 46 with holes defined therein for receiving the piping or connections there through. The lid 46 is dimensioned to be longer and wider than the container 12 to hide plastering imperfections, in use.

(21) The hub 10 further includes locating formations 48 extending transversely from the operatively front part of side walls of the container 12 for locating the hub at a predetermined depth in a wall. Alternatively, there can be pairs of locating formations and it can be removable to remove the formations on the operatively back side of the container.

(22) The hub further includes a back plate for covering the open side of operatively back side of the container 12.

(23) The back plate includes gripping formations formed thereon for gripping cement when built into a wall.

(24) The lid 46 and container 12 of the hub 10 includes complementary holes 54 and 56 for receiving screws for attaching the lid to the container to allow the lid to be crewed to the container until the lid is stopped by plaster or the edge of the side walls.

(25) Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 6 to 12, the plumbing connection hub, in this embodiment in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The plumbing connection hub 10, includes a container 12 formed by a continuous wall 24 and having one rear wall 13 with one open side 26; a tubular drain outlet 14 leading out of the container through an operatively lower portion of the wall 24 and the outlet being connectable to the sewage system of a house; and a straight tubular drain inlet 34 leading into the container from the open side with the tube fixed to the wall 24, and with the inner ends of the inlet and outlet positioned vertically in-line to receive a looped flexible hose 32 to function as a s-trap between them.

(26) The back wall 13 is provided with inspection openings 60.1 to the inlet 34 and 60.2 to the outlet 14 for inspecting and/or maintaining the inlet and/or outlet.

(27) The plumbing connection hub 10 also includes a further inlet 62 leading into the container through the back wall 13.

(28) The u-shaped channels 18 are open topped and extend along the width of the sidewall 24 to allow elbow pipe connections from either side of the container 12. The elbow pipe location means includes a stopper formation 64 in each channel to respectively locate a front or rear connected elbow pipe.

(29) In use, a person would build the hub 10 into a wall and install elbow connections and connect them to a house water supply piping chased into the wall. The open end of the elbow connections will then be sealed before the water pressure is turned on. The drain pipe is connected to the sewerage piping of the house, also chased into the wall and the open end is sealed with a screw on cap. The wall is then plastered and the lid screwed on. When needed the hub can be connected to a basin or an appliance.

(30) It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.