Washing-area drainage trough

Abstract

A washing-area drainage trough comprises a sloping-walled drainage channel having a water flow surface defining at least one fall, at least two predefined recessed waste-water outlet locators in the water flow surface, and at least one bridging element locatable in at least one of the recessed waste-water outlet locators. The bridging element has an upper surface which lies flush or substantially flush with at least a portion of the water flow surface to define a smooth or substantially smooth flow path transition between the water flow surface of the drainage channel and the bridging element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing-area drainage trough comprising:
 a sloping-walled drainage channel having a water flow surface defining at least one fall;   at least two predefined recessed waste-water outlet locators in the water flow surface; and   at least one bridging element locatable in at least one of the recessed waste-water outlet locators,   wherein the bridging element has an upper surface which lies at least substantially flush with at least a portion of the water flow surface to define a substantially smooth flow path transition between the water flow surface of the drainage channel and the bridging element.   
     
     
         2 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the bridging element is profiled to at least substantially match the profile of the water flow surface of the drainage channel, whereby the edge of the upper surface lies at least substantially flush with the water flow surface, so as to provide a substantially unstepped bridge across the respective waste-water outlet locator. 
     
     
         3 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the upper surface of the bridging element is non-planar. 
     
     
         4 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the upper surface of the bridging element is or is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bridging element includes at least one spacing element which spaces the upper surface from a bottom surface of the waste-water outlet locator. 
     
     
         6 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the spacing element includes a plurality of spaced apart legs. 
     
     
         7 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the legs support a body of the bridging element so as to be spaced above the bottom surface of the waste-water outlet locator. 
     
     
         8 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the bridging element is planar or substantially planar. 
     
     
         9 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the bridging element includes at least one spacing element which spaces the upper surface from a bottom surface of the waste-water outlet locator, the spacing element having at least one elongate arcuate wall which depends from an underside of a body of the bridging element. 
     
     
         10 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the recessed waste-water outlet locator is integrally formed as one-piece with the drainage channel, and includes a blanking base. 
     
     
         11 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the blanking base is dimensioned to accept an aperture adapted to receive a standard waste water outlet device whilst providing a perimeter flange around the aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a lateral extent of the flange is sufficient for the said standard waste water outlet device to be clamped thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A kit of parts for a washing area, comprising a washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 1 , and at least one of a shower-floor former and a shower tray to which the washing-area drainage trough is liquidly communicable. 
     
     
         14 . Washing-area apparatus comprising a wet-floor former, a wet-floor covering over the wet-floor former, a washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 1  and which is in liquid communication with the wet-floor covering, a waste-water outlet device at at least one of said waste-water outlet locators and connected to a drain, and an apertured access cover which extends across the drainage channel. 
     
     
         15 . Washing-area apparatus comprising a shower tray having a user-support portion with a fall and a washing-area drainage trough as claimed in  claim 1  and which is in liquid communication with the user-support portion, a waste-water outlet device at at least one of said waste-water outlet locators and connected to a drain, and an apertured access cover which extends across the drainage channel to receive run off waste water from the fall.