Patent Application
20200224397
This invention relates to plumbing devices and is particularly directed to improved means for locking a drain to prevent object other than liquid from entering the drain while at the same time closing the drain when liquid is not flowing into the drain to prevent passage of odor vermin from the drain into an room area above the grate while allowing the free flow of fluid into the drain.
As is more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,139,996, 8,496,811 or 8,307,469, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, food preparation kitchens are usually provided with a floor sink having a drain opening which connects to a grease trap or sewer drain to allow disposal of indirect waste water and the like. Unfortunately, rags, napkins, silverware and other large objects are often washed into the floor sink along with the floor washing water and these objects often get carried into the drain and cause blockage, flooding and other problems. These problems are resolved by the drain lock mechanisms described in the above identified patents. However, another problem arises with such drain locks, namely unpleasant odors and undesired and unsanitary vermin still have access to the kitchen or other area above the drain grate creating unpleasant and potentially unsanitary conditions. The present invention provides a mechanism to allow waste water to enter the drain but closing the path through the drain into the kitchen and when waste water is not flowing to thereby prevent odors and vermin from entering the kitchen or area above the drain grate when waste water is not flowing into the drain and at the same time provide a locking mechanism so the grate cannot be removed thereby preventing passage of large objects into the drain.
An improved drain lock sealing apparatus is provided which both prevents large objects from passing into the drain and also prevents passage of odors and vermin from a drain pipe into a kitchen or other area above a drain pipe, while permitting free passage of fluid such as waste water to pass from the kitchen or other area above the drain into the drain whereby the downward weight and momentum of the fluid itself causes a one way valve mechanism to open allowing the fluid to pass into the drain and thereafter the one way valve mechanism closes preventing odors and vermin from entering the kitchen area.
These and other features and object of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.
Referring to
The expander member 22 includes at least one support spoke 42 between an inside surface 44 and a center hub 46 of expander member 22. The center hub 46 includes axial hole 48 through its center along a center axis 32. The axial hole 48 is threaded or otherwise includes a threaded insert 24 press fitted into the axial hole 48. The center hub 46 also defines a clamping surface 50 extending radially from a cylindrical post 56 through which the hole 48 extends which is sized to receive a clamp ring 28 in tight press fit relationship. A locking bolt 30 extends through a center hole 52 in the grate 14, through the connector ring 18, through the sealing ring 20 and cylindrical post 50, and into the threaded insert 24 in the expander member axial hole 48.
A frusta conical member 26 that is resiliently deformable includes a center clamping region 54 at its apex and a lower peripheral closure edge 58. The clamping region 54 may be simply the upper end of the frusta conical member 26 or a radial extension of the upper end of the frusta conical member 26. In either case, the clamping region 54 is oriented adjacent to the radial clamping surface 50 of the expander member 22 so that the center apex clamping region 54 of the frusta conical member 26 can be clamped between the radial clamping surface 50 and the clamp ring 28 when the clamp ring 28 is press fitted over the cylindrical post 56 so that the closure edge 58 will press against the circular edge 60 of the expander member 22 in a normally closed relationship so as to prevent passage of odors and vermin from the drain pipe into the area 100 above the grate 14. When liquid passed through the grate 14, the weight of the liquid will exert downward pressure on the closure edge 58 of the frusta conical member 26 causing the closure edge 58 to move away from the circular edge 60 providing an opening whereby the liquid passes into the drain pipe 12. When the liquid has passed through the opening, the closure edge 58 will resume its normally closed position against the circular edge 60.
The drain lock sealing apparatus 10 is attached in a drain by inserting the assemble unit as above described into the drain opening as shown in
Numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
