Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6738994
-
Patent Number
6,738,994
-
Date Filed
Friday, May 10, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 25, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Bennett; Henry
- Kokabi; Azadeh
Agents
- Pauley Petersen & Erickson
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 004 488
- 004 504
- 004 507
- 004 509
- 004 496
- 004 5411
- 138 110
- 210 4161
- 210 4162
- 210 459
- 210 460
- 417 181
- 137 561 R
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A drain cover for a swimming pool, spa or tub drain that includes a hollow tube or shell having a slot formed in a wall therein and a fitting connecting the drain cover with respect to the drain.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to drain cover having a slot that precludes entangling or trapping a swimmer or bather.
2. Description of Prior Art
Swimming pools and hot tubs typically include circulation systems that draw water from the pool or tub at high flow rates. When swimmers and bathers frolic underwater, they risk exposing their hair, fingers, clothing, etc. to active pool drains. For example, swimming a circuit to and from a drain is a common aquatic exercise that brings the swimmer into the vicinity of the drain, particularly the head of the swimmer. Strands of hair, for example, may be entrained into the drainage flow and pass through apertures in conventional drain gratings.
When hair strands are drawn through drain gratings, hair entanglement may proceed by knotting or wrapping mechanisms. Hair may be drawn into the drain and then entangled behind the grating element resulting in knotting. Alternatively, hair may be drawn into the drain and then wrapped around the grating element resulting in wrapping. Each of these mechanisms is sufficiently aggressive that a bather may be trapped even in the face of heroic intervention.
In addition, a swimmer may become trapped against a drain if the swimmer's body comes in sufficient contact with the drain so as to form a vacuum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a drain cover having a structure where no elements exist that may be trapped or wrapped by strands of hair.
It is another object of this invention to provide a drain cover having a structure that prevents the drain from creating a vacuum against the body of a swimmer.
These and other objects of this invention are addressed by a drain cover comprising one or more hollow tubes having a continuous single slot formed therein. Alternatively, the drain cover may comprise a shell having a simply connected slot formed therein. The drain cover according to this invention may be formed in a number of geometries, discussed in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1A
shows a hair entanglement condition in a knotting mode in a prior art drain cover grate;
FIG. 1B
shows a hair entanglement condition in a wrapping mode in a prior art drain cover grate;
FIG. 2
is a side view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 3
is an open end view of the drain cover shown in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is a side view of a drain cover having a solid end according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5A
is a side view of an end contouring of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5B
is a side view of an end contouring of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5C
is a side view of an end contouring of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6
is a top view of an end contouring of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 7
is a top view of an end contouring of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 8
is a top view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 9
is a top view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 10
is a top view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 11
is a top view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 12
is a top view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention employing shell elements;
FIG. 13
is a side view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention employing shell elements;
FIG. 14
is a side view of a drain cover according to one preferred embodiment of this invention employing shell elements; and
FIG. 15
is a front view of the drain cover shown in FIG.
14
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 2-15
show various embodiments of drain cover
10
according to this invention. Drain cover
10
is preferably used in connection with a drain for a swimming pool, whirlpool bath, hot tub and/or other environment requiring drainage of water from an environment containing swimmers and/or bathers. As such, the term “drain” is used throughout the specification and claims to include any drain used in such an environment. Similarly, the terms swimmers and bathers are used interchangeably within this specification and include any person, animal and/or object that may become tangled or trapped in or against a drain cover.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
show a prior art grating element and two mechanisms by which a swimmer may get his hair tangled in such grating element.
FIG. 1A
shows how two or more groups of hair may become entangled and/or knotted under a bottom edge of the grating element, thus trapping the swimmer against the drain cover. FIG.
1
B shows how one or more groups of hair may become wrapped around the grating element thus similarly trapping the swimmer against the drain cover.
FIGS. 2 and 3
show drain cover
10
according to a preferred embodiment of this invention wherein hollow tube
30
includes a single continuous slot
20
formed in a sidewall of hollow tube
30
. Slot
20
may be located anywhere around the periphery of tube
30
and need not be parallel to the tube sides. Hollow tube
30
is preferably formed of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and/or any other appropriate material that is durable, resistant to degradation, strong and fairly workable. Preferably, hollow tube
30
is constructed of a material that is readily available and easily manufactured, such as extruded, to keep costs of drain cover
10
to a minimum. Additionally, a manufacturing process like extrusion is associated with inexpensive dies as contrasted with expensive injection molding molds.
Hollow tube
30
preferably comprises a circular cross-section, but alternatively may comprise a non-circular cross-section, including elliptical, polygonal or any other appropriate cross-section known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Hollow tube
30
is preferably formed with a cross-section length and slot size suitable to use within a pool and to permit sufficient flow rate through drain cover
10
and into the drain.
Fitting
50
is then used to connect hollow tube
30
with respect to the drain. Fitting
50
may be an elbow joint, expansion joint or any other fitting that facilitates a secure fit between the drain and drain cover
10
.
According to preferred embodiments of this invention, drain cover
10
may have end
37
of hollow tube
30
either open or closed.
FIG. 3
shows hollow tube
30
having an open end
37
while
FIG. 4
shows hollow tube having a closed or sealed end
37
.
Fitting
50
may be positioned at one end of hollow tube
30
, such as at end
35
as shown in
FIG. 2
or alternatively may be positioned between the ends of hollow tube
30
such as shown in FIG.
8
. Preferably, fitting
50
results in drain cover
10
wherein hollow tube
30
and slot
20
extend parallel to the bottom of the pool/spa/tub, or hugs this bottom, and/or are recessed in this bottom.
Drain cover
10
, generally, and hollow tube
30
, specifically, are preferably of an appropriate length so that a swimmer cannot block the intake with his body to create a vacuum, thus preventing the potential for evisceration and body entrapment. According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, drain cover
10
is 24 inches long, although other lengths are also appropriate.
Likewise, the configuration of slot
20
, specifically the width of slot
20
, is selected to prevent swimmers' finger entrapment. According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, slot width will not exceed 8 mm or will be greater than 1 inch.
Should free end
37
of drain cover
10
be configured so that it cannot be sealed by the human body, the length of drain cover
10
may be adjusted solely based upon flow capacity requirements, since evisceration or body entrapment will be prevented by the configured end. Such a configuration of open end
37
may involve sculpting open end
37
with alternative end contours
40
such as shown in
FIGS. 5A-C
,
6
and
7
, designed to prevent the sealing of the open end
37
by the human body.
FIGS. 5A-C
show end
37
having alternative vertical contours to prevent sealing by the human body while
FIGS. 6 and 7
show end
37
having alternative horizontal contours.
FIG. 8
shows one preferred embodiment of this invention wherein drain cover
10
includes fitting
50
positioned along hollow tube
30
to form a T-configuration. The T-configuration may include unequal tube lengths on either side of fitting
50
or equal tube lengths on either side of fitting
50
.
According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, shown in
FIG. 9
, second hollow tube
30
′ is positioned perpendicularly with hollow tube
30
, second hollow tube
30
′ having a second single continuous slot
20
′ intersecting slot
20
. Such an arrangement may be preferable when a higher flow rate is desired or if the pool geometry requires a smaller footprint of drain cover
10
.
According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, drain cover
10
may comprise hollow tube
30
formed in a serpentine configuration, such as shown in
FIG. 10
, with slot
20
formed in a corresponding serpentine configuration. Alternatively, hollow tube
30
may be coiled, such as shown in
FIG. 11
, with slot
20
following the curvature of hollow tube
30
. Hollow tube
30
may alternatively be formed in any other configuration suitable for the application including decorative shapes, shapes that conform with a pool geometry or any other configuration within manufacturing limitations.
According to another preferred embodiment of drain cover
10
shown in
FIGS. 12-15
, shell
60
is positioned over the drain. Shell
60
preferably forms a spherical section having slot
20
within shell
60
. Alternatively, shell
60
may be trapezoidal, square, rectangular, triangular, elliptical or any other suitable domed geometry.
Slot
20
may be curvilinear and may be located anywhere on shell
60
, provided that the location does not result in a geometry that may entangle hair. Such a slot
20
, which is mathematically defined as “simply connected” within shell
60
, will result in a geometry wherein hair, string or other element may be extended within the slot and not wrap or entangle within shell
60
.
Shell
60
may be arranged with ridges, ribs and/or other projections that cannot be encircled by hair and yet prevent sealing of drain cover
10
with a swimmer's body or extremity.
FIG. 12
shows a top view of shell
60
according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown, shell
60
includes two opposing parts
70
divided by slot
20
.
As shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14
, which are side views of two preferred shell embodiments, slot
20
is formed within the profile of shell
60
thereby dividing shell
60
into two opposing parts
70
. As shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15
, the two opposing parts
70
of shell
60
may be positioned at different elevations.
Preferably, drain cover
10
according to this preferred embodiment of the invention is significantly larger than the drain. A larger shell
60
drain cover
10
will prevent body suction entrapment and/or evisceration. Shell
60
is preferably sufficiently large so as to preclude the covering of slot
20
by the body of a swimmer/bather precluding thereby the creation of a vacuum.
According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, the width of slot
20
within the shell embodiment
60
will not exceed 8 mm or will be greater than 1 inch.
While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A drain cover for a pool drain comprising:a hollow tube having a single continuous slot formed in a wall of the hollow tube wherein the hollow tube includes two ends and the slot extends from end to end; an open end formed in the hollow tube; a contour formed along the open end, the contour extending from the slot in the hollow tube to an outer edge of the open end of the hollow tube; and a fitting to connect the hollow tube with respect to the drain, the single continuous slot extending entirely between the fitting and the open end, wherein the hollow tube extends parallel to and above a bottom of the pool.
- 2. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the hollow tube has a circular cross-section.
- 3. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the hollow tube has a non-circular cross-section.
- 4. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the fitting is positioned at one end of the hollow tube.
- 5. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the hollow tube is approximately 24 inches long.
- 6. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the hollow tube is coiled.
- 7. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein a second hollow tube is positioned to intersect with the hollow tube, the second hollow tube having a second single continuous slot intersecting the slot of the hollow tube.
- 8. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the hollow tube is formed in a serpentine configuration.
- 9. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein:the hollow tube includes two ends and the slot formed in the wall of the hollow tube extends from end to end.
- 10. The drain cover of claim 1 wherein the fitting is positioned along the hollow tube to form a T-configuration.
- 11. The drain cover of claim 10 wherein the T-configuration includes unequal tube lengths on either side of the fitting.
- 12. The drain cover of claim 10 wherein the T-configuration includes equal tube lengths on either side of the fitting.
- 13. A drain cover for a pool drain comprising:a hollow tube having a single continuous slot formed in a wall of the hollow tube wherein the hollow tube includes two ends and the slot extends from end to end; an open end formed in the hollow tube; a contour formed along the open end, the contour extending from the slot in the hollow tube to an outer edge of the open end of the hollow tube; and a fitting to connect the hollow tube with respect to the drain, the single continuous slot extending entirely between the fitting and the open end, wherein one end of the two ends is connected to the pool drain so that the hollow tube extends above the pool drain.
- 14. A drain cover for a pool drain comprising:a hollow tube having a single continuous slot formed in a wall of the hollow tube wherein the hollow tube includes two ends and the slot extends from end to end; an open end formed in the hollow tube; a contour formed along the open end, the contour extending from the slot in the hollow tube to an outer edge of the open end of the hollow tube; and a fitting to connect the hollow tube with respect to the drain, the single continuous slot extending entirely between the fitting and the open end, wherein the hollow tube is positioned above the pool drain to straddle the pool drain.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3106822 |
Oct 1982 |
DE |
0 677 622 |
Oct 1995 |
EP |
2 297 110 |
Jul 1996 |
GB |