Patent Application
20070044230
This invention relates to a bathtub drain closure assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to a bath drain closure device that is opened and closed when the water level in the bathtub reaches a given level.
Bathtubs are often left unattended while filling. Accordingly, overflow drains are typically supplied to prevent overflow from the bathtub. However, even with overflow drains it is still possible for the bathtub to overflow if the overflow drain is of insufficient capacity or if a person suddenly enters an overfull bathtub.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a drain closure assembly for a bathtub which opens the bottom drain when the water level in the bathtub reaches a given level.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
A bath drain assembly for use with a bathtub having a drain closure device associated with a bathtub drain and a movable actuating member engaging the drain closure device such that the drain closure device is toggled between open and closed positions when actuated.
A sensor, mounted in a position to detect the water level within the bathtub, provides a signal that changes the position of the actuating member which moves the drain closure device to an open position to allow water to drain from the tub.
With reference to
The drain closure assembly 19 has a drain closure 20 associated with the lower drain 14 and an actuating member or mechanism 22 that is operatively associated with the drain closure device 20 to open and close the bottom drain 14. The drain closure device 20 is of many types. As one example and as shown in
The actuating member 22 is of many types such as a solenoid, a motor, or the like. In one example, the actuating member 22 comprises a solenoid piston 40 having a main body 42 with first and second magnets 44 positioned at opposite ends of the main body 42. A conical tip 46 extends from one end of the main body 42 and engages the head 36 of the stem 34 of the plunger 26. The actuating member is slidably received within a housing 48 that is in communication with conduit 49 such that rim 50 supports the actuating member 22 within conduit 48. The drain conduit 49 is of any configuration including those shown in
A sensor 58 is mounted in the bathtub 10 environment to sense the water level 60 contained within the bathtub 10. The sensor is located in a variety of positions such a below the overflow drain 12, above the overflow drain 12, in the end wall of the bathtub opposite end wall 16, in the sidewalls of the bathtub 10, or within the overflow drain 12. The sensor 58 is of many types. One example, as shown in
In operation, when a user wishes to fill the tub, the activation switch 56 is engaged such that a charge from the power source 57 is provided to the coil 52 to move the actuating member 22 which in turn moves the drain closure device 20 to a closed position to allow the tub to fill with fluid. As the water level rises to a point where the water level 60 completes the circuit between first and second leads 66 an 68 of sensor 58, then a signal is sent from the sensor 58 to control device 70 which in turn interrupts the charge supplied to the drain closure assembly such that the actuating member 22 is activated and the drain closure device 20 is moved to an open position to allow water to drain from the tub 10. In one embodiment, when the water level 60 falls such that a complete circuit is no longer formed in sensor 58, the original charge from the power source 57 is restored and the drain closure assembly 19 returns to an open position.
Therefore, as shown from the preceding description the stated objective has been accomplished.
