Bathtub Drain Stopper

Abstract

A bathtub drain stopper includes an open-close mechanism having threaded upper and lower ends, a cap, a seal, and means for anchoring the open-close mechanism in a drain pipe, where the length can be adjusted and fixed with a lock nut. A threaded anchor is provided for tub shoe having a cross-bar with a threaded opening. An anchor having prongs is provided for a tub shoe having a cross-bar with no opening. A wheel-shaped anchor having an O-ring about its perimeter is provided for a drain that does not have a tub shoe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention pertains to a drain assembly used to retain fluid in release fluid from a bathtub and more particularly to a drain stopper for a bathtub.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are a number of types of drain systems or assemblies for retaining water in and then draining water from a bathtub. A drain pipe is sealed in a drain opening using a drain flange that is sealed to the bathtub around the opening. The drain flange will often, but not always, have a member inside called a tub shoe. A tub shoe is generally a generally a set of two bars crossed, which divide the drain opening into four pie-shaped openings. One type of shoe has a threaded opening in the center and another does not. U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,295, issued to Downey et al., describes a push-actuated drain valve, which is anchored lo a tub shoe that has a threaded opening. U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,500, issued to Thompson et.al., describes a different push-type drain stopper for a bathtub, which is also anchored by a bolt threaded into a central threaded opening in a bathtub shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A drain stopper for a bathtub having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub at the drain opening is described, which includes: an open-close mechanism having upper and lower ends, wherein the open-close mechanism is a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism, wherein the upper and lower ends have threads, and wherein the upper end has male threads: a cap having a bore with female threads, wherein the upper end of the push mechanism is received in the bore of the cap in a threaded engagement; a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange or the drain pipe: means for anchoring the open-close mechanism in the drain pipe, wherein the lower end of the push mechanism is in threaded engagement with the means for anchoring, wherein the drain stopper has a length between the cap and the means for anchoring, and wherein the length can be adjusted by the amount that the upper end of the push mechanism is screwed into the hare in the cap; and a lock nut having female threads received on and in threaded engagement with the upper end of the push mechanism, wherein the lock nut is in a tight friction abutment with the cap for holding the length of the drain stopper constant.

The means for anchoring the open-close mechanism in the drain pipe is preferably selected from the group consisting of: male threads on the lower end of the push mechanism for threading into a tub shoe that has cross bars with an opening defined by female threads: an anchor comprising a base and a set of prongs, wherein the base is in threaded engagement with the lower end of the open-close mechanism, and wherein the prongs have a catch mechanism for engaging a tub shoe that has cross bars without a threaded opening: and a wheel-shaped circular body having a groove along its perimeter and an O-ring received in the groove, wherein the body has openings for allowing water to pass through the body, and wherein the body and the O-ring are designed and sized for a friction engagement in a drain pipe that, does not have a tub shoe. In one embodiment, the cap has a diameter at its widest point, wherein the seal has a diameter at its widest point, and wherein the diameter of the cap is 10 to 50 percent, preferably 20 to 40 percent, greater than the diameter of the seal. In another embodiment, a strainer basket surrounds the push mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention can be obtained when the detained description of exemplary embodiments set forth below is considered in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of a push-type bathtub drain an open position, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of the bathtub drain stopper of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of a bathtub drain assembly, according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bathtub drain stopper of FIG. 2 as seen along the line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation in cross-section of an anchor system for a bathtub drain stopper, according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the anchor system of FIG. 5 as seen along the line 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the anchor system of FIG. 3 as seen along the line 7-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of a push-type bathtub drain stopper 10 in an open position. FIG. 2 shows the drain stopper 10 in a closed position. Stopper 10 has a cap 12 and a gasket or seal 12a. A bathtub or a sink 14 has a drain opening 14a. A drain pipe 16 has a drain flange 16a sealed against the tub 14 at the drain opening 14a. FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the drain pipe 16 as seen along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a tub shoe 18. Tub shoe 18 does not have a threaded opening. Tub shoe 18 is a cross bar. An anchor 20 is used to fasten drain stopper 10 to tub shoe 18. Anchor 20 has a threaded stud 20a that projects upwardly toward the main body of drain stopper 10 from a base plate 20b. Anchor 20 has four prongs 20c, 20d, 20e and 20f that project downwardly from the base plate 20b. Each of the prongs hostile shape of a garden spade, where a handle or shaft portion connects to the base plate 20b and terminates in a flat and generally rectangular head at a distal end. A shoulder 20g is defined where the narrow shall portion transitions into the wide head portion. The head portions of the prongs of anchor 20 pass through and slightly beyond the cross bar 18, and the shoulders 20g catch on the cross bars and anchor drain stopper 10 to the tub shoe 18.

Drain stopper 10 has a push mechanism 22 such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,428,295 and 4,007,500. A push downward on the open stopper in FIG. 1 closes the stopper, and a downward push on the closed stopper in FIG. 2 causes the stopper to move into the open position. Push mechanism 22 has an upper end 22a and a lower end 22b. The lower end 22b has a central longitudinal bore 22c that is defined by female threads. The stud 20a of anchor 20 is threaded into the bore 22c of the push mechanism 22, which connects the push mechanism 22 to the tub shoe 18. Drain stopper 10 can be used in different drain pipes, where the distance between the tub shoe and the top of the drain flange varies. Cap 12 has a central longitudinal bore 12b defined by female threads, and the push mechanism 22 has male threads at its upper end 22a. The upper end 22a of the push mechanism 22 is received in the bore 12b of the cap 12. The amount that the push mechanism 22 is threaded into the bore 12b provides a way for adjusting the push mechanism to fit different distances between the tub shoe and the top of the drain flange. After the push mechanism 22 is threaded into the bore 12b a desired amount to accommodate a particular distance or height, a lock nut 24 is tightened against a bottom surface of the cap 12 to maintain the desired length between the cap 12 and the tub shoe 20.

The cap 12 has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the drain flange 16a. The purpose of this is to hide the drain flange 16a from view, possibly because the finish on the drain flange 16a has become damaged or worn and is unsightly or because one wishes to change the finish color, such as from polished brass to chrome. Cap 12 has a grip portion 12c and a decorative cover 12d that covers all of an upper surface of a body 12e. The body 12e may alternatively have a dome shape without the grip portion 12c. The body 12e has a cylinder 12f located centrally and projecting downwardly. The cylinder 12f has a circumferential groove, and the seal 12a is seated in the groove. The lock nut 24 tightens against the cylinder 12f. Cap 12 has a greatest diameter D at an outermost edge 12g where the decorative cover 12d begins to fold inwardly and wrap under a flanged portion of the body 12e. In order for the cap 12 to serve the purpose of covering the drain flange 16a, the diameter D of the cap 12 should be equal to or greater than the diameter of the drain flange 16a. In one instance the diameter of the drain flange 16a may be 2.75 inches, so the diameter D of the cap 12 should be 2.75 inches or greater, preferably 3.0 to 3.5 inches in diameter. The seal 12a should rest on and seal against the drain flange 16a. The diameter D of the cap 12 should be greater than the diameter of the seal 12a at its widest point in order for the decorative cover 12d to cover and hide the drain flange 16a. The diameter D of the cap 12 may be 10 to 50, preferably 20 to 40, percent greater than the diameter of the seal 12a. If the seal fits inside the drain pipe and seals against an inside wall of the drain pipe, then the diameter D may need to be 50 to 75 percent greater that the diameter of the seal. However, it is generally satisfactory to use a smaller cap of a standard size, which does not cover the drain flange.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of a bathtub drain assembly 30, which is made and used as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, except anchored differently to a different tub-shoe and having a strainer. A drain pipe 32 has a drain flange 32a sealed about a drain opening in a bathtub 34. A tub shoe 32b is fixed inside the drain pipe 32. FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the drain pipe 32 as seen along the line 7-7 in FIG. 3. The tub shoe 32b has a central threaded opening 32c. A drain stopper 36 includes a cap 36a, which has a grip portion 36b, a large and decorative drain cover 36c, a seal 36d, which seals against the drain flange 32a, a push mechanism 36e and a lock nut 36f as shown in FIG. 1, but not visible in FIG. 3. The push mechanism 36e has the same male threads on an upper end and is threaded info the cap for adjusting height in the same manner as described for the stopper 10 in FIG. 1. The push mechanism 36e also has the same threaded bore at its lower end as the bore 22c in FIG. 1. An anchor element 38 is a threaded rod that has an upper end 38a and a lower end 38b. The upper end 38a has male threads and is sized to screw into the threaded bore in the lower end of the push mechanism 36e. The lower end 38b of the anchor element 38 has male threads and is sized to thread into the threaded opening 32c of the tub shoe 32b.

The anchor element 38 thus anchors the push mechanism 36e to the tub shoe 32b in the dream pipe 32 because the upper end 38a is in threaded engagement with the push mechanism 36e and the lower end 38b is in threaded engagement with the tub shoe 32b. The anchor element 38 can be made to have different diameters for its upper and lower ends for attachment to tub shoes that have a threaded opening of different sizes and lo accommodate a push mechanism that has a threaded bore of a different size. A kit can be assembled and sold that has a drain stopper with a push mechanism and several all-thread anchors, which each have an upper end that threads into a threaded bore in the push mechanism, but each has a different diameter for its lower end to fit into different tub shoes that have threaded openings of different sizes. The four-prong anchor 20 of FIG. 1 can be included in the kit for attachment to a tub shoe that has a cross bar but no threaded opening.

A strainer basket 40 is received in the drain pipe 32 above the tub shoe 32b and surrounds the push mechanism 36e. The strainer basket has a circular, annular, washer-shaped base 40a that has a central opening through which the push mechanism 36e passes. The base 40a rests on the tub shoe 32b. Strainer 40 has a side wall 40b and an open upper end 40c. The open upper end 40c has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the base 40a. Consequently, the side wall 40b of the strainer basket 40 flares outwardly from the base 40a to the upper end 40c, which gives the side wall 40b a conical shape. The upper end has V-shaped notches made in and pointing into the side wall 40b. The side wall 40b and the base 40a of the strainer 40 have a plurality of openings through which water can pass. A strainer basket can also be used with the drain stopper 10 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation in cross-section of an anchor system 50 for a drain pipe 52 that does not have a cross bar. A push mechanism 54 has a threaded lower end 54a. A disc 56 has a central threaded bore 56a and is threaded onto the lower end 54a of the push mechanism. FIG. 6 is a view of the disc 56 as seen along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5. Disc 56 has the shape of a wheel with a circumferential groove 56b along its outer perimeter. An O-ring 58 is received in the groove 56b. The disc 56 is pressed into the drain pipe 52, and the O-ring 58 provides friction against an inside wall of the drain pipe 52 for anchoring the disc 56 and the push mechanism 54 in the drain pipe 52. The drain pipe 52 has a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the flow path of water draining through the drain pipe. The disc 56 is oriented transverse, perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the drain pipe 52. Disc 56 has openings 56c, 56d, 56e and 56f through which water can flow and drain.

Some drain stoppers for bathtubs are referred to as toe touch, lift and lock and lift and turn. The push mechanism described above is referred to as the toe touch since a push on the top of the stopper will change the position of the stopper from open to closed or from closed to open. The larger-than-normal drain cap for covering a drain flange can also be used with a lift and lock stopper and with a lift and turn stopper. The anchoring systems described above. namely the multiple-prong anchor, the all-thread rod having one diameter to fit the open-close mechanism and another diameter to fit a tub shoe, and the wheel-shaped disc with an O-ring to seal against an inside wall of a drain pipe, can also be used with a lift and lock stopper and with a lift and turn stopper. The strainer basket can be used with any of the anchoring systems described above and also with a lift and lock stopper and with a lift and turn stopper, with or without a large drain-covering cap.

Having described the invention above, various modifications of the techniques, procedures, materials, and equipment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such variations within the scope and spirit of the invention be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A drain stopper for a bathtub having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub at the drain opening, comprising: a push mechanism having upper and lower ends, wherein the upper and lower ends have threads, and wherein the upper end has male threads;a cap having a bore with female threads, wherein the upper end of the push mechanism is received in the bore of the cap in a threaded engagement;a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange or the drain pipe;means for anchoring the push mechanism in the drain pipe, wherein the lower end of the push mechanism is in threaded engagement with the means for anchoring, whereinthe drain stopper has a length between the cap and the means for anchoring, and wherein the length can be adjusted by the amount that the upper end of the push mechanism is screwed into the bore in the cap; anda lock nut having female threads received on and in threaded engagement with the upper end of the push mechanism, wherein the lock nut is in a tight friction abutment with the cap for holding the length of the drain stopper constant.

2. The drain stopper of claim 1, wherein the means for anchoring the push mechanism in the drain pipe is selected from the group consisting of: male threads on the lower end of the push mechanism for threading into a tub shoe that has cross bars with an opening defined by female threads;an anchor comprising a base and a set of prongs, wherein the base is in threaded engagement with the lower end of the push mechanism, and wherein the prongs have a catch mechanism for engaging a tub shoe that has cross bars without a threaded opening: anda wheel-shaped circular body having a groove along its perimeter and an O-ring received in the groove, wherein the body has openings for allowing water to pass through the body, and wherein the body and the O-ring are designed and sized for a friction engagement in a drain pipe that does not have a tub shoe.

3. The drain stopper of claim 2, wherein the cap has a diameter at its widest point, wherein the seal has a diameter at its widest point, and wherein the diameter of the cap is 10 to 50 percent greater than the diameter of the seal.

4. The drain stopper of claim 3, wherein the diameter of the cap is 20 to #0 percent greater than the diameter of the seal.

5. The drain stopper of claim 2, further comprising a strainer basket surrounding the push mechanism.

6. The drain stopper of claim 4, further comprising a strainer basket surrounding the push mechanism.

7. A drain stopper for a bathtub having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub at the drain openings comprising: an open-close mechanism having upper and lower ends, wherein the open-close mechanism is a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism, wherein the upper and lower ends have threads, and wherein the upper end has male threads;a cap having a bore with female threads, wherein the upper end of the push mechanism is received in the bore of the cap in a threaded engagement;a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange or the drain pipe;means for anchoring the open-close mechanism in the drain pipe, wherein the lower end of the push mechanism is in threaded engagement with the means for anchoring, whereinthe drain stopper has a length between the cap and the means for anchoring, and wherein the length can be adjusted by the amount that, the upper end of the push mechanism is screwed into the bore in the cap: anda lock nut having female threads received on and in threaded engagement with the upper end of the push mechanism, wherein the lock nut is in a tight friction abutment with the cap for holding the length of the drain stopper constant.

8. The drain stopper of claim 7, wherein the means for anchoring the open-close mechanism in the drain pipe is selected from the group consisting of: male threads on the lower end of the push mechanism for threading into a tub shoe that has cross bars with an opening defined by female threads;an anchor comprising a base and a set of prongs, wherein the base is in threaded engagement with the lower end of the open-close mechanism, and wherein the prongs have a catch mechanism for engaging a tub shoe that has cross bars without a threaded opening; anda wheel-shaped circular body having a groove along its perimeter and an O-ring received in the groove, wherein the body has openings for allowing water to pass through the body, and wherein the body and the O-ring are designed and sized for a friction engagement in a drain pipe that does not have a tub shoe.

9. The drain stopper of claim 8, wherein the cap has a diameter at its widest point, wherein the seal has a diameter at its widest point, and wherein the diameter of the cap is 10 to 50 percent greater than the diameter of the seal.

10. The drain stopper of claim 9, wherein the diameter of the cap is 20 to 40 percent greater than the diameter of the seal.

11. The drain stopper of claim 8, further comprising a strainer basket surrounding the push mechanism.

12. The drain stopper of claim 10, further comprising a strainer basket surrounding the push mechanism.