The invention broadly relates to a drain cover and, more particularly, to a drain cover which can be arranged in an open position to allow the passage of water yet prevent the passage of other materials from clogging the drain and in a closed position to plug the drain.
A typical floor drain is a plumbing fixture that is installed in a floor of a structure to remove standing water. Floor drains can be found in showers, sinks, restrooms, kitchens, refrigerator areas, locker rooms, laundry facilities, among other places. Drains can be round, square, rectangular, linear, or any suitable shape.
Drain plugs are used to prevent water from passing through drains. A drain plug can be used when a user wants to fill a bathtub, for example. Stand-alone plugs can be quickly placed and removed. For example, one tub stopper, manufactured by OXO International, Ltd. having its headquarters at 601 West 26th Street, Suite 1050, New York, N.Y., 10001, is a silicone-based stopper which merely covers a drain. The tub stopper includes an annular body and a suction cup extending outwardly from the annular body. The suction cup secures the stopper to the floor of a tub when in use and to a wall for storage when not in use. While the tub stopper can plug a drain, it cannot also be arranged to provide the functionality of a strainer. Other plugs are connected to a plumbing fixture by a chain, for example. However, such plugs can be difficult to clean and replace. Still other plugs are part of complicated drain covers which cannot be easily placed, removed, cleaned, or replaced.
Another common problem with drains is that over time they can become clogged due to the buildup of hair. A strainer is a type of perforated sieve used to strain or filter out solid debris from running water. One example strainer is a plate strainer which includes a perforated plate fixed to a drain. Water flows through the perforated plate while larger items are prevented from passing through. Another example strainer is a basket strainer which includes a perforated basket. Basket strainers are typically used in vertical systems. Some strainers are secured with screws while others can be secured using suctioning means.
An article which functions as a plug and a strainer is typically complicated and includes multiple movable components. One example bathtub stopper is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,500 (Thompson et al.). The bathtub stopper is arranged to close the drain passage of a strainer cup of a bathtub and includes a main body portion which has first and second components adapted to telescope longitudinally with respect to each other between an extended position and a shortened position. The components are also rotatable with respect to one another about the longitudinal axis of the main body. The first component is manually engageable to be rotatably driven about the longitudinal axis and the second component is adapted to be secured to a strainer to locate the main body in an operative position with respect to the strainer. Unfortunately, the bathtub stopper is complex and not easy to position, remove, clean, or replace.
Therefore, there is a long-felt need for a drain cover that is easily positionable, removable, cleanable, and replaceable.
A drain cover having a single component which serves as a means for sealing and a means for removing the cover from the drain is needed.
Additionally, a simple drain cover that functions as a strainer and a plug when needed is desirable.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a drain cover including a positioning member arranged to surround an opening of a pipe of a drain and fit within the pipe, the positioning member including a plurality of openings, and a resilient sealing member connected to the positioning member at a center point, the resilient sealing member including a rim arranged concentrically about the center point.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a drain cover including a positioning member arranged to surround an opening of a pipe of a drain and fit within the pipe, the positioning member including a plurality of openings, and a resilient sealing member connected to the positioning member at a center point, the resilient sealing member including a rim arranged concentrically about the center point. The rim contacts the positioning member to prevent fluid from passing through the plurality of openings in a closed position. The rim does not contact the positioning member to allow fluid to pass through the plurality of openings in an open position.
It is a primary object to provide a simple drain cover that is easily positionable, removable, cleanable, and replaceable and can be accommodated in most drains.
It is yet another object to provide a simple drain cover that can function as a strainer and a plug.
It is another object to provide a simple drain cover including a single component which serves as a means for sealing and a means for removing the cover from the drain.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. The present invention is intended to include various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting to the figures,
In a closed configuration as shown in
Openings 103 are arranged in dome-shaped portion 105 of positioning member 101. Dome-shaped portion 105 includes solid portion 106 which provides a seat upon which resilient sealing member 102 can rest. In an example embodiment, solid portion 106 is planar. In an example embodiment, solid portion 106 includes a curvature which matches the curvature of the underside surface of resilient sealing member 102.
Fastener 107 is provided to secure resilient sealing member 102 with dome-shaped portion 105 of positioning member 101. In an example embodiment, fastener 107 is intended to remain fastened at all times after manufacturing. Fastener 107 can be a rivet or any suitable alternative. In an example embodiment, fastener 107 can be removed by the user so that resilient sealing member 102 is removable from positioning member 101.
Positioning member 101 includes cylindrical portion 108, arranged to fit within a pipe, and annular member 109. Cylindrical portion 108 extends downwardly from annular portion 109. Angle X is formed between cylindrical portion 108 and annular portion 109. In an example embodiment, angle X is 90 degrees. In an example embodiment, angle X is larger than 90 degrees.
Dome-shaped portion 105 is taller than annular portion 109. The outer diameter of rim 104 is larger than the outer diameter of dome-shaped portion 105. In an example embodiment, openings 103 are smaller circumferentially proximate solid portion 106 and larger circumferentially proximate annular portion 109. Openings 103 form a point proximate solid portion 106. Each opening 103 is equidistant from the next adjacent opening 103 in a circumferential direction about center point P. Although a particular number and arrangement of openings is illustrated, drain cover 100 is not so limited. For example, openings 103 can be arranged at angles at 90, 180, 270, and 360 degrees. Alternatively, a plurality of openings can be arranged about half of dome-shaped portion 105 and the rest of dome-shaped portion 105 can be solid, or, formed including a single opening.
In the open configuration, rim 104 can be facing upwardly in the direction shown in
In the open configuration, drain cover 100 can be removed from a drain using resilient sealing member 102 which is extending upwardly. For example, a user can grab resilient sealing member 102 when it is extending upwardly in the open configuration and pull upwardly and drain cover 100 is lifted up and out of the drain. When drain cover 100 is not in place in a drain it can be easily stored, cleaned, or replaced.
To transition from the open configuration to the closed configuration, a user can press downwardly on rim 104 or the outer edge of resilient sealing member 102 to contact annular member 109. As rim 104 is urged downwardly, fastener 107 and dome-shaped portion 105 remain upright.
In an example embodiment, drain cover 100 is approximately 4 inches in diameter and approximately 1 inch tall from the bottom edge of cylindrical portion 108 to the top of fastener 107 in the closed position. In an open position, drain cover 100 is approximately 1.4 inches tall. In an example embodiment, resilient sealing member 102 is approximately 2 inches in diameter in the closed and open configurations. In an example embodiment, dome-shaped portion 105 is approximately 1.5 inches. In an example embodiment, drain cover 100 is 4×4×1 in (10.2×10.2×2.5 cm).
Drain cover 100 can be made of silicone or any other suitable soft and flexible materials, for example, rubber. Fastener 107 is made of a light, rigid metal, for example stainless steel.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180058051 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |