The Patent
claims a method of installing a fluid-using appliance such as a shower. The Defendant (‘Cassellie’) is a competitor supplier of plumbing products. 2.Marflow alleges that Cassellie’s marketing of a fixing plate used in the installation of showers and the like infringes the Patent. Cassellie counterclaims for revocation of the Patent. 3.Douglas Campbell QC appeared for Marflow, Jonathan Hill for Cassellie. The Patent 4.The Patent has a filing date of 9 November 2000 and no priority date. 5.The claimed invention is a method which addresses problems arising when an appliance is connected to pipework extending from the wall against which the appliance is installed. It can be used with any fluid-using appliance and the fluid could be a gas, but it is easier to discuss the invention by reference to a shower. 6.In outline the method employs a plate, commonly a metal plate, with apertures which receive through them one or more water pipes extending out of the wall. The plate is fixed to the wall. Locking members secure the pipes to the plate so that there is no movement of the pipes relative to the plate or, therefore, the wall. The ends of the pipes are then joined to the inlet fittings of the shower.