Patent Application
20200011038
The present invention pertains to a drain stopper for drains from sinks and bathtubs. A drain stopper has a strainer and a gripping element that uses friction between the gripping element and an inside wall of a drain pipe to hold the stopper in an open or closed position in one embodiment. In another embodiment, a drain stopper has an open-close mechanism, means for holding the open-close mechanism in a drain pipe and, preferably, a strainer, more particularly, where the means is a set of prongs or an annular flange that rests on a drain flange.
In a lavatory or bathroom sink or basin equipped with a supply of running water for washing oneself, a pop-up drain assembly allows one to retain water in the sink or basin and then release the water to flow by gravity downwardly through a drain pipe. The sink or basin has an opening at a lowermost point, and a typical pop-up drain assembly comprises a drain conduit sealingly fastened to the sink or basin within the opening, where a drain flange surrounds an upper side of the opening. A drain stopper is received in the drain conduit for sealing the opening and retaining water in the sink or basin. A pivot rod protrudes into the drain conduit and engages a bottom portion of the drain stopper. A lift rod is connected to the pivot rod. One can pull the lift rod up to pull the drain stopper down for sealing the opening in the bottom of the sink or basin for retaining water, and one can push the lift rod down to raise the drain stopper, which unseals the drain stopper and allows water to drain from the sink or basin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,306, issued to Hayman et al., illustrates quite well the components in a typical prior art pop-up drain assembly and is incorporated by reference for all purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,518, issued to Mowery, recognized that one may wish to change the appearance of a pop-up drain assembly. An existing finish may have become worn, damaged, tarnished or discolored, or one may merely wish to change the color of the finish. Effort and expense is required to completely replace the pop-up drain assembly. Mowery describes a pop-up drain stopper with a decorative cap that can be used in an existing drain conduit for changing or improving the appearance of a pop-up drain assembly. However, there continues to be a need for a simple and cost-effective means for changing or improving the appearance of a pop-up drain assembly and for changing or improving the appearance of a drain assembly in a bathtub. There also continues to be a need for a strainer in a drain pipe to catch hair, debris and objects.
As for this continuation-in-part (CIP) application, the following patents have issued and a patent application was filed on combined drain stoppers and strainers, each of which is incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,030,373, issued to Batista on Jul. 24, 2018; 9,790,673, issued to Scott et al. on Oct. 17, 2017; 9,499,962, issued to Joseph on Nov. 22, 2016; 6,276,000, issued to Saman et al. on Aug. 21, 2001; and D402,355, issued to Bahar et al. on Dec. 8, 1998; and patent application Ser. No. 10/271,676 filed by Saman et al. on Oct. 16, 2002, which was published as Pub. No. 2004/0073992 A1 on Apr. 22, 2004 A need remains for a combined drain stopper and strainer, although a number of combined drain stoppers and strainers have been disclosed.
The CIP invention provides a drain stopper and strainer for a drain opening, such as in a bathroom or kitchen sink or a bathtub, where a drain pipe that has a drain flange is sealed in the drain opening. The drain stopper and strainer includes a cap; a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange or the drain pipe; a strainer having upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end is engaged with the cap directly or indirectly; and a gripping element attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the strainer. The gripping element has a generally tubular shape, such as cylindrical or conical, and has opposing top and bottom ends. The top end is attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the strainer. The gripping element has longitudinal notches so as to have a segmented annular shape. The gripping element is resilient and sized to grip an inside wall of the drain pipe. A person compresses or squeezes segments of the gripping element closer together to insert it into the drain opening and drain pipe, and after release, the segments of the gripping element spring radially outwardly to provide a friction grip with an inside wall of the drain pipe. The person can hold the cap and slide the stopper down to a closed position and up to an open position. Drain water passes through openings in the strainer, which tends to remove hair, debris and objects from the drain water. The stopper/strainer can be pulled out of the drain opening to clean the strainer and then be reinserted.
The CIP invention also provides a drain stopper for a drain pipe having a drain flange that includes: an open-close mechanism having a length and opposing upper and lower ends; a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism; a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange; and means for holding the open-close mechanism inside the drain pipe. The drain stopper preferably includes a strainer, which preferably provides the means for holding the mechanism. Means include two or more prongs extending from the strainer or an annular flange on an upper end of the strainer, where the prongs or the annular flange rest on the drain flange. The open-close mechanism can be put into and pulled out of the drain pipe without any assembly or disassembly required to do so and does not rely on a support within the drain pipe such as a pivot rod or cross-bars. A person moves the cap such as by pushing or turning to cause the open-close mechanism to move the seal between open and closed positions.
The present invention provides in one embodiment a drain flange cover. Water in a sink or bathtub drains into a drain pipe through a drain opening. The drain pipe has a drain flange above and surrounding the drain opening, which is typically visible and which typically matches the finish of an associated faucet. One may wish to change the appearance of the drain flange, such as for a change in the finish or because the finish no longer looks good, but that requires removal and replacement of at least the drain flange. The drain flange cover can be used to cover and hide the drain flange rather than removing and replacing the drain flange. The drain flange cover may also include a strainer for removing hair, debris and objects out of the water as it drains from the sink or bathtub.
A drain flange cover and strainer in one embodiment of the invention includes a cap, a perforated tubular shaft depending from an underside of the cap, a gasket holder on the lower end of the shaft and a gasket on the gasket holder. The cap has an upper and outer surface and an opposing underside. A perforated tubular shaft projects downwardly from the underside of the cap. An upper end of the shaft is attached to or formed integral with the cap, and an opposing lower end is open or has openings through which water can flow. The perforated tubular shaft serves as the strainer and has openings sized and designed to filter out hair, debris and objects while allowing water to pass through the openings into the interior of the perforated tubular shaft. The gasket holder is attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft and is preferably a disk that obstructs the flow of water through the drain pipe, except it preferably has openings for the flow of water downwardly from the interior of the tubular shaft. A gasket is engaged with the gasket holder and projects radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft. The gasket is preferably sized and designed to touch or contact an inside wall of the drain pipe. The gasket preferably seals an annular space between the inside wall of the drain pipe and the perimeter of the disk, but may alternatively have holes in its body or notches in its perimeter, thereby enabling the gasket to also serve as a strainer. The cap preferably comprises a dome-shaped structure that is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange. The diameter of the cap is preferably at least 0.50 inch and more preferably at least 1.0 inch greater than the diameter of the gasket. The cap may have a low or small radius of curvature so that it does not protrude substantially above the drain flange. The cap, the perforated tubular shaft and the gasket holder are preferably rigid and are preferably made of a polymeric material.
A drain stopper for a bathtub or sink is another embodiment of the present invention. The drain stopper includes an open-close mechanism having upper and lower ends, a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism, a seal engaged with the cap for holding water in the bathtub or sink, a disk engaged with the lower end of the open-close mechanism, and a strainer surrounding the open-close mechanism. The strainer rests on or is formed integral with or is attached to the disk. The disk preferably includes a gasket at its perimeter, which preferably seals the disk against the inside wall of a drain pipe. The strainer has an inner space defined in part by an inner surface of the strainer. The strainer has a plurality of openings through which water can flow from outside the strainer to the inner space inside the strainer. The disk has openings through which the water can drain downwardly from the inner space inside the strainer. The open-close mechanism is typically a push-push mechanism or a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism. The cap is preferably sized and designed to cover a drain flange and preferably has a diameter greater than the diameter of the seal, preferably at least 0.5 inch greater.
A better understanding of the invention can be obtained when the detailed description of exemplary embodiments set forth below is considered in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:
A sink and a bathtub each have a drain opening through which water can drain out of the sink or the bathtub. A drain pipe fits down through the drain opening in the sink or bathtub. The drain pipe typically has a threaded tubular portion extending essentially throughout its full length and a drain flange extends radially outwardly on a top end. The drain flange stays above the drain opening. A gasket or plumber's putty is used to provide a seal between an upper surface of the sink or bathtub and a lower surface of the drain flange. A flexible gasket and a washer are placed around a bottom portion of the drain pipe and then pressed tightly against a bottom surface of the sink or bathtub with a threaded nut.
For a sink, a drain body is threaded onto a lower end of the drain pipe. A drain stopper is received in the drain pipe for trapping water in the sink. In a pop-up drain assembly for a sink, the stopper has a cap and a gasket on an upper end for sealing against the drain flange and an elongate body that extends downwardly into the drain body. The drain body has a pivot rod port, and a threaded tubular stub projects radially outwardly from the drain body. A pivot rod seal is received in the stub. A pivot rod has a pivot ball sealingly received on the pivot rod. The pivot rod is received in the stub such that a portion of the pivot rod is inside the drain body, and the pivot ball rests against pivot rod seal. The pivot rod engages a lower end of the drain stopper for lifting the stopper up and pulling it down, thereby opening and closing the drain stopper. A pivot rod cap is threaded onto the stub to seal the pivot ball against the pivot rod seal. The pivot rod extends outwardly from the stub, and the pivot rod is in a somewhat horizontal position. A control rod has an upper end above the sink and is used to open and close the drain stopper. The control rod is in a generally vertical position and passes downwardly from above the sink through a port. A connector device is used to connect the generally vertical control rod to the generally horizontal pivot rod. One can push the control rod down to open the drain stopper and pull the control rod up to close the stopper.
A bathtub does not have the same type of pop-up drain assembly, but does have a drain pipe that has a drain flange sealed around a drain opening in the bathtub. The drain flange is visible in a sink and in a bathtub. If the drain flange for a sink or bathtub becomes worn, tarnished or damaged, or if one wants to change the color scheme or finish color for the drain flange, then a considerable effort and expense is required to change out the drain flange. The present invention concerns covering and hiding the drain flange in a sink or bathtub so that the appearance of a sink or bathtub drain can be improved or changed, without it being necessary to remove and replace the drain flange.
Turning now to the present invention,
With reference to
With reference to
Strainer 124 has a lower end 124c, and a flange 124d surrounds the perimeter of the cylindrical lower portion of the strainer 124 adjacent to its lower end 124c. Flange 124d has upper and lower shoulders that project radially from the strainer body 124′ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strainer body 124′, which are separated by a base portion. Flange 124d has a U-shaped cross-section, where the upper and lower shoulders are the base portion of the U-shape. A ring-shaped gasket 126 is received in the flange 124d. Gasket 126 has a base portion 126a, which in cross-section has a rectangular shape, and a wiper portion 126b that tapers thinner as it projects more radially. Gasket 126 is sized and designed to fit snugly inside the drain pipe 14. Gasket 126 can be sized and designed to fit sufficiently tightly inside the inside wall of the drain pipe 14 to hold the strainer body 124′ and the flange cover 122 in a desired position. In the case of a tub drain, the cover/strainer might rest on a tub shoe typically found in a drain pipe connected to a bathtub. Centering flanges are not shown, but can be added to maintain the cover/strainer 120 in the center of the drain pipe 14. Spacers are not shown, but can be added to ensure there is a space between the lower surface 122c of the flange cover 122, so that water can drain out of a sink or bathtub into the drain pipe 14. Drain flange cover and strainer 120 can be modified to include elements similar to the standoffs 56 and the centering legs 56a shown in
Water drains under the flange cover 122 below its lower surface 122c and above the drain flange 14a. Flange cover 122 has a solid upper and outer surface 122b with no holes or openings, so water does not flow through flange cover 122. Consequently, the flange cover 122 has the appearance of a normal drain stopper, except for being wide enough to cover and hide the drain flange 14a. Gasket 126 provides a solid and sealed barrier so that water does not tend to drain through an annular space 14b between an outside surface of the strainer body 124′ and an inside wall surface of the drain pipe 14. Water drains into the annular space 14b and through the holes or openings 124b and into a central drain space 124e, which is defined by an inside wall surface 124″ of the tubular strainer body 124′, as best seen in
Strainer 134 has a lower end 134c, and a flange 134d surrounds the perimeter of the cylindrical lower portion of the strainer 134 adjacent to its lower end 134c. Flange 134d has upper and lower shoulders that project radially from the strainer body 134′ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strainer body 124′, which are separated by a base portion. Flange 134d has a U-shaped cross-section, where the upper and lower shoulders are the base portion of the U-shape. A ring-shaped gasket 136 is received in the flange 134d. Gasket 136 has a base portion 136a, which in cross-section has a rectangular shape, and a wiper portion 136b that tapers thinner as it projects more radially. Gasket 136 is sized and designed to fit snugly inside the drain pipe 14. Gasket 136 can be sized and designed to fit sufficiently tightly inside the inside wall of the drain pipe 14 to hold the strainer body 134′ and the flange cover 132 in a desired position.
Water drains under the flange cover 132 below its lower surface 132c and above the drain flange 14a. Flange cover 132 has a solid upper and outer surface 132b with no holes or openings, so water does not flow through flange cover 132. Consequently, the flange cover 132 has the appearance of a normal drain stopper, except for being wide enough to cover and hide the drain flange 14a. Gasket 136 does not provide a solid and sealed barrier so that water does tend to drain through the annular space 14b between the outside surface of the strainer body 134′ and the inside wall surface of the drain pipe 14. Water drains into the annular space 14b and through the holes or openings 134b and into a central drain space 134e, which is defined by an inside wall surface 134″ of the tubular strainer body 134′.
Drain flange cover and strainer 140 includes centralizing fins 148. The centralizing fins 148 can be attached to either the flange cover 142, such as to the short tube 142d, or to the strainer body 144. Centralizing fins 148 extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the cover/strainer 140 to a point adjacent to the inside wall of the drain pipe 14 and tend to keep the cover/strainer 140 centered in the drain pipe 14 with the flange cover 142 fully hiding and covering the entire drain flange 14a. The centralizing fins can be modified to also serve as standoffs to space the flange cover 142 apart from the drain flange 14a and can instead be located on the tube 142d that projects downwardly from the underside of the drain flange cover 142.
The drain flange covers and the drain flange cover and strainers of the present invention are typically made to have a rigid structure and can be made of materials such as metal, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymers, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene to name a few of many possibilities. The flange covers and cover/strainers of the present invention would be unlikely to be made of highly flexible and highly resilient material such as silicones or polysiloxanes and rubbers such as styrene butadiene rubber, although the present invention is not limited to a particular material or even to being rigid.
The upper end 150h of the push-push mechanism 150e comprises an upper tube, and a lower end comprises a lower tube 150m, which is received inside the upper tube in a sliding engagement. A stud 150n projects downwardly from the lower tube 150m and has male threads. Although not shown in the drawings, stud 150n has a central longitudinal bore defined by female threads, and an adapter can be used to engage or fasten the push-push mechanism 150e to the cross-bars 154b. The thread arrangements can be reversed throughout the drain stopper 150, and connections can be made that do not rely on a threaded engagement, such as by a press fit or by being made integral.
A strainer 156 has a central, longitudinal, tubular, cylindrical strainer body 156a. Strainer 156 has a lower end 156b, an upper end 156c and slits, slots, holes or openings 156d in the body 156a. The upper end 156c can be left open, but is shown as having a washer-shaped gasket 156c′ in a threaded engagement with the strainer body 156a, which could instead be a press fit connection, a glued connection, an interlocking snap fit connection or a dovetail joint such as used in woodworking. Gasket 156c′ does not fit tightly against the male threads 150g on the upper end 150h of the push-push mechanism 150e. A disk 158 is attached to or formed integral with the lower end 156b of the strainer 156. The disk 158 is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the push-push mechanism 150e, similar to a flange that projects radially from the circumference of a pipe. Disk 158 has a central bore 158a with female threads and is in threaded engagement with the stud 150n on the lower end of the push-push mechanism 150e. The thread arrangement can be reversed, and the connection can be other than by threaded engagement, such as a press fit or by adhesion. Disk 158 has an outer perimeter, and a circumferential groove 158b is formed in the outer perimeter. A gasket 160 is received in the groove 158a and provides a seal between the inside wall 154c of the drain pipe 154 and the disk 158. Gasket 160 has a base portion that fits in the groove 158b and tapers as it extends radially toward the inside surface 154c of the drain pipe 154. An O-ring may be suitable for use as the gasket 160. Disk 158 has a plurality of openings 158c extending between its upper and lower planar surfaces so that water can drain downwardly from inside the strainer 156. The disk 158 and the strainer 156 rest on the cross-bars 154b in the drain pipe 154. The cross-bars 154b define a plurality of openings 154f extending between its upper and lower planar surfaces so that water can drain downwardly from the strainer 156 through the openings 158c in the disk 158 and through the openings 154f in the cross-bars 154b. The strainer basket and its disk are shown as resting on the cross-bars, but alternatively, the disk 158 and the strainer 156 can be fastened to the cross-bars 154b, preferably by fastening the push-push mechanism 150e to the cross-bars 154b. This can be accomplished, for example, using an adapter that has male threads on each end of a short rod, where one end threads into the bore in the stud 150n and the other end threads into a bore in the cross-bars. This and other aspects of bathtub drain stoppers are explained more fully in the present inventors' related U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20170314245 A1, application Ser. No. 15/584,032, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Push-push mechanism 150e can be a conventional push-push mechanism that comprises a hollow cylinder with a spring and ratchet mechanism inside, which holds the mechanism (and, consequently, the drain stopper 150) in two positions, namely an open position and a closed position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,295, issued to Downey et al., discloses a push-push drain stopper with a spring and ratchet mechanism and is incorporated by reference for all purposes. Thompson et al. disclose a push-push drain stopper that uses a cam track in their U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,500, which is incorporated by reference.
A bathtub can be filled with water while the drain stopper 150 is in the closed position of
It is possible to use a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism instead of the push-push mechanism 150e for opening and closing a drain stopper according to the present invention. These and any other open-and-close mechanism can be fitted with the strainer 156 and the disk 158. The drain stopper can rest on the cross-bars 154b, but if opening the drain stopper tends to pull the stopper out of the drain pipe 154 when not desired, then the gasket 160 on the perimeter of the disk 158 can be re-designed to provide sufficient friction to stay in place during routine opening of the drain stopper, and yet be pulled out for cleaning when desired. A drain stopper with a push-push mechanism, a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism can be fastened to the cross-bars 154b, such as by the methods disclosed in the 20170314245 application incorporated above.
Drain stoppers 150 and 170 can also be used in a bathroom sink or basin. The present inventors' related U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20170314244 A1, application Ser. No. 15/584,030, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes, discloses a push-type drain stopper that can be used in a bathroom sink or basin that has a pop-up drain assembly with a pivot rod. The push-type drain stopper in the '4244 publication attaches to or rests on a rod that protrudes into the drain pipe through a pivot rod port. The disk 158 in drain stoppers 150 and 170 rests on the cross-bars 154b. With little or no modification, the disk 158 could instead rest on a rod protruding into a drain pipe for a bathroom sink or basin.
a drain pipe attached to the sink at the drain opening, wherein the drain pipe has a port and a stub surrounding the port, wherein the drain pipe has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the stub has a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drain pipe;
a rod passing through the port and protruding into the drain pipe, wherein the rod is fastened directly or indirectly to the stub, wherein the rod has a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drain pipe;
a push-type drain stopper received in the drain pipe and supported by the rod, wherein the drain stopper comprises a push-push mechanism that holds the drain stopper in one of two positions, wherein the two positions are an open position and a closed position, wherein the drain stopper has opposing upper and lower ends, wherein a push on the upper end of the drain stopper moves the drain stopper from the open position to the closed position and another push on the upper end of the drain stopper moves the drain stopper from the closed position back to the open position; and preferably
a disk on the lower end of the drain stopper that rests on the rod, preferably wherein the disk has one or more openings, preferably further comprising a strainer basket around the push-push mechanism for catching hair, debris and objects on an outside surface of the strainer basket while water flows into the strainer basket and out through the one or more openings in the disk.
The drain assembly for a bathroom sink may be different from the drain pipe from a bathtub, but the drain stoppers 150 and 170 described for use in a bathtub can also be used retrofit a pop-up drain assembly in a bathroom sink that has a pivot rod protruding into a drain pipe through a pivot rod port. One can remove the drain stopper in the bathroom sink and replace it with drain stopper 150 or 170, thereby retrofitting the drain assembly to a push-to-open and push-to-close type of drain stopper, while continuing to use the existing drain pipe and pivot rod. A control rod that was previously used to move the stopper up and down would no longer be needed. Drain stopper 150 or 170 can be modified to include a two-prong fork on the lower end of the drain stopper for anchoring the drain stopper to a rod that protrudes into the drain pipe through a pivot rod port. The two-prong fork has a pair of parallel tines that are separated by a gap, and the rod is received in the gap in a tight fit with the tines. The two-prong fork is pressed transversely onto the rod. The diameter of the drain flange cover may typically range from 1.75 inches to 2.50, 2.75 or 3.00 inches, depending on the size of the drain flange to be covered. The diameter of the drain flange cover may be typically at least 0.50 to 1.00 inch greater than the diameter of the gasket, assuming the diameter of the gasket is the same as the inside diameter of the drain pipe and that the drain flange extends 0.25 to 0.50 inch beyond the inside diameter, in order for the drain flange cover to cover and hide the drain flange. The diameter of the drain flange cover for a drain flange in a bathroom sink is preferably about 2.5 inches.
Turning now to the CIP application,
Cap 210 has a lower surface 210c. An outer tubular structure 210d and an inner tubular structure 210e depend downwardly from the lower surface 210c. The outer tubular structure 210d has a groove or indentation 210f, and a gasket or seal 220 is received in the groove or indentation 210f. Seal 220 rests against the drain flange 214a to provide a closed position and is spaced away from the drain flange 214a while in an open position. Alternatively, the cap and seal described with reference to
A strainer 222 has a stud 222a with male threads on an upper end 222b. Stud 222a is threaded into the bore 210g in the cap 210, which fastens the strainer 222 to the cap 210. Other forms of attachment can be used including a press fit, a snap fit, a detent, a reversal of the male and the female threads, and the strainer 222 can be formed integral with the cap 210. Strainer 222 has a lower end 222c. The ends 222b and 222c have diameters, and in this embodiment, the lower end 222c has a greater diameter than the upper end 222b. The strainer 222 is shown as having an inverted frustoconical shape. However, which end has the greater diameter can be reversed, and a cylindrical shape can be used. The strainer 222 is illustrated as one that catches hair and debris on an outside surface as water flows from an annular space 224 between the outside surface of the strainer 222 and an inside surface of the drain pipe 214 into an inner space 222d within the strainer defined by a wall 222e of the strainer. Alternatively, a strainer that catches hair and debris inside the strainer, such as illustrated in
A gripping element 230 depends downwardly from the lower end 222c of the strainer 222 while installed in the drain pipe 214. Gripping element 230 can be engaged with the strainer 222 by various means such as by threading, but is shown as being formed integral with the strainer 222. Gripping element 230 is shown in
Gripping element 230 has three longitudinal wall segments 230f separated by three longitudinal notches 230g. Notches 230g extend from the lower or second end 230b toward and nearly all the way to the first or upper end 230a. The lower or second end 230b of the wall segments 230f are free, meaning not attached to each other or to anything else. The wall segments 230f are joined together at the first or upper end 230a of the gripping element 230. The first or upper end 230a of the gripping element 230 has the appearance of an upside-down-bowl shape with the annular or washer-shaped plate 230c being the closed end of the bowl, although it has openings 230d and 230e. The notches 230g could, but preferably do not, extend all the way from the second end 230b to the plate 230c. The wall segments 230f are shaped somewhat like a feed trough that has a bottom that in cross-section has the shape of the arc of a circle. A cross-section of the wall segments 230f have the appearance of a segmented circle. It may be possible to accomplish the purposes of the gripping element 230 without notches and wall segments with the proper resilience of a material and a proper size for a drain pipe, but at least two wall segments separated by at least two notches is a preferred embodiment.
The gripping element 230 serves at least three purposes: (1) the gripping element 230 provides a surface that a person can grip, hold and squeeze to reduce the diameter of the gripping element for inserting the gripping element 230 in the drain pipe 214; (2) the gripping element 230 expands radially outwardly inside the drain pipe 214 and grips the inside surface of the wall of the drain pipe 214, thereby holding the gripping element in place, but also allowing a person to slide the gripping element up or down in the drain pipe to open or close the drain stopper; and (3) the gripping element 230 tends to centralize the strainer 222 within the drain pipe 214, thereby giving a good and proper appearance for the cap 210 centered over the drain flange 214a. It is believed that the gripping element 230 functions best if it has a somewhat long length with respect to the overall length of the drain stopper/strainer 200, possibly from ten to fifty percent of the overall length or twenty to forty percent. In the embodiment illustrated in
Gripping element 230 is preferably somewhat rigid in addition to being resilient. Gripping element 230 is preferably made of a polymeric material that is somewhat rigid, as opposed to a soft, rubbery material, because it should to be able to grip drain pipes of two different sizes, such as drain pipes 214 and 215, and should be able to hold the seal 220 in a position in which it is placed. With reference to
The drain stopper/strainer of
The cap, the gripping-and-centering element and the strainer are sized and designed for a person to grasp the cap and slide the gripping-and-centering element and the strainer down and up in the drain pipe between a position in which the seal is engaged with the drain flange for providing a closed position and a position in which the seal is spaced away from the drain flange for providing an open position. In one embodiment, the cap has a diameter at its widest point, and the seal has a diameter at its widest point, where the diameter of the cap is greater than the diameter of the seal. The gripping-and-centering element can be described as a segmented, annular gripping and centering element, which one can grip and squeeze to insert the same into a drain pipe, which then presses against an inside surface of the drain pipe by spring action to hold the stopper/strainer in place, which tends to center the stopper/strainer in the drain pipe, and which tends to hold the stopper/strainer in an upright position.
Turning now to another embodiment of the present invention in the CIP application,
Cap 310 has a lower surface 310c. An outer tubular structure 310d and an inner tubular structure 310e depend downwardly from the lower surface 310c. The outer tubular structure 310d has a groove or indentation 310f, and a gasket or seal 320 is received in the groove or indentation 310f. Seal 320 rests against the drain flange 314a to provide a closed position and is spaced away from the drain flange 314a while in an open position. The inner tubular structure 310e has a bore 310g defined by female threads 310h. Cap 310 can have a different shape, such as the shape of other caps shown herein, and can have a decorative sheet 310i covering its upper and outer surface as described herein.
Drain stopper 300 preferably, but optionally, includes a strainer 322, which has an upper end 322a. The upper end 322a is molded with a radially inward bend and a longitudinally downward bend to provide an inner tubular element 322b having a bore 322b, which is defined by female threads 322g. The upper end 322a thus has the inner tubular element 322b, which is concentric within an outer tubular element, which is the outer wall of the strainer, and an annular space is defined between the outer wall of the strainer and the inner tubular element 322b. The inner tubular element 322b is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the strainer 322. Strainer 322 has a lower end 322c, which is bent radially inwardly for making it easier to insert the drain stopper 300 into the drain pipe 314, since the curved end 322c is less likely to catch on the drain flange 314a than if it were a straight, blunt end. The ends 322b and 322c have diameters, and in this embodiment, the lower end 322c has a greater diameter than the upper end 322b. The strainer 322 is shown as having an inverted frustoconical shape. However, which end has the greater diameter can be reversed, and a cylindrical shape can be used. The strainer 322 is illustrated as one that catches hair and debris on an outside surface as water flows from an annular space 324 between the outside surface of the strainer 322 and an inside surface of the drain pipe 314 into an inner space 322d within the strainer defined by a wall 322e of the strainer. The wall 322e has a plurality of openings 322f through which water can drain or pass. Alternatively, a strainer that catches hair and debris inside the strainer, such as illustrated in
A push-push type of open-close mechanism 330 has an outer cylindrical, tubular body 330a, which has an upper end 330b and a lower end 330c. The upper end 330b has male threads 330d, which are in threaded engagement with the female threads 322g that define the bore 322b in the strainer 322, thereby fastening the push-push mechanism 330 to the strainer basket 322. It is conceivable that a reverse threading arrangement can be used. This threading arrangement can be reversed, and a connection other than threading can be used, such as press fit, snap fit, interlock fit, formed integral together or a glued fitting. Any of these various means can be used to engage the open-close mechanism 330 with the strainer basket 322. The open-close mechanism 330 has an inner cylindrical, tubular body 330e, which has an upper end 330f, which has male threads 330g, and a lower end 330h. The male threads 330g are in threaded engagement with the female threads 310h in the bore 310g in the cap 310. This threading arrangement can be reversed, and a connection other than threading can be used, such as press fit, snap fit, interlock fit, formed integral together or a glued fitting. Any of these various means can be used to engage the open-close mechanism 330 with the cap 310.
The push-push type of open-close mechanism 330 is known as a push-type drain assembly, which is used in a push-push drain stopper. A first push downwardly on the top of a drain stopper moves the stopper into a closed position. A second push moves the stopper into an open position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,695, issued to Downey et al. on Oct. 13, 1961, describes what is titled as a “Push-Button Drain Valve.” U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,980, issued to Petursson et al. on Apr. 16, 1965, describes a different push-type drain stopper. U.S. Pat. No. 10,301,803, issued to Beck and Ahuja on May 28, 2019, describes a push-type drain stopper for a pop-up drain and is incorporated by reference. The Pfister plumbing company sells a drain assembly called Push & Seal as an alternative to a pop-up drain assembly. The Push & Seal drain assembly has a drain pipe that is received in a sink drain opening, a gasket and nut for sealing the drain pipe in the sink, and a push-type drain stopper that is received in the drain pipe in a threaded engagement with the drain pipe. The push-push type of open-close mechanism 330 is one embodiment of the present invention, but alternative open-close mechanisms, such as a lift and lock open-close mechanism and a lift and turn open-close mechanism, can be used.
The strainer basket 322 surrounds the open-close mechanism 330, and an annular space 332 is defined between an outside surface of the outer body 330a and an inside surface of the strainer basket 322. In this embodiment, the lower end 322c of the strainer 322 extends below the lower end 330h of the open-close mechanism 330, although that is not necessary. A wall section 322h is adjacent to the lower end 322c of the strainer 322. The strainer 322 is sized and designed so that the wall section 322h presses against an inside surface of the drain pipe 314, thereby providing a seal, which causes water to flow through the openings 322f and into the annular space 332, so that hair, debris and objects in the water tends to be caught on the outside surface of the strainer basket 322.
This embodiment of the invention includes a means for holding the drain stopper 300 in the drain pipe 314. One possible means is a set of prongs 340. Prongs 340 can be seen better in
One should be able to remove the drain stopper 300 from the drain pipe 314 easily for cleaning the strainer basket 322. Consequently, the means for holding the drain stopper 300 in the drain pipe 314 does not include a fixed engagement with a pivot rod in a pop-up drain for a sink or a fixed connection to cross bars in a bathtub drain. The means for holding the drain stopper in the drain pipe should allow the drain stopper to rest in the drain pipe in a stable position that allows one to operate the push-push open-close mechanism and allow one to easily pull the drain stopper out of the drain pipe for cleaning hair and debris out of or off of the strainer. A set of two or more prongs is one such means, where the prongs are attached to or formed integral with the strainer basket and preferably located on an upper end of the strainer basket. Another such means is a radial, annular flange attached to or formed integral with the strainer basket and preferably located on an upper end of the strainer basket. Other means are mentioned above. The drain stopper, preferably the strainer portion of the drain stopper, includes means for holding the drain stopper in a stable position in a drain pipe, which allows one to operate an open-close mechanism while also allowing one to easily remove the drain stopper from the drain pipe for cleaning the strainer portion.
In the embodiment of the means illustrated in
Strainer basket 322 is designed and sized so that the lower wall section 322h presses against an inside wall of the drain pipe 314. Strainer 322 should be able to flex, bend, be compressed and then expand to contact and press against the inside wall of the drain pipe. As best seen in
Various embodiments of the invention can be described as follows.
1. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange surrounding a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a sheet of material having a circular shape, a diameter suitable for covering the drain flange, a central portion, a perimeter portion along the perimeter of the sheet of material that surrounds the central portion, a top side, a bottom side and a plurality of holes passing through the sheet of material from the top side to the bottom side that make the sheet suitable for use as a strainer; and
a layer of glue on the bottom side of the sheet of material on the perimeter portion, wherein there is no glue on the top side of the sheet or on the bottom side within the central portion.
2. The drain flange cover of embodiment 1, wherein the diameter is between one and three inches.
3. The drain flange cover of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the layer of glue has an annular shape, and wherein the article of manufacture does not have a central, longitudinal shaft extending transverse to the sheet of material.
4. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange surrounding a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a sheet of material having a circular shape, a diameter suitable for covering the drain flange, a central portion, a perimeter portion along the perimeter of the sheet of material that surrounds the central portion, a top side, a bottom side and a plurality of holes passing through the sheet of material from the top side to the bottom side that make the sheet suitable for use as a strainer; and
a magnet attached to the bottom side of the sheet of material on the perimeter portion, wherein the magnet has an annular shape, wherein there is no magnet on the top side of the sheet or on the bottom side within the central portion.
5. The drain flange cover of embodiment 4, wherein the diameter is between one and three inches.
6. The drain flange cover of embodiment 4 or 5, wherein the magnet has the shape of a washer.
7. The drain flange cover of embodiment 1 or 4, further comprising a dome-shaped substructure having a size and shape typical of a cap on a drain stopper, wherein the dome-shaped substructure has a curved upper side that comprises the dome shape and an opposing underside, and wherein the sheet of material covers the upper side.
8. The article of manufacture of embodiment 4, wherein there is no shaft connected to the underside of the substructure that projects from underside.
9. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, wherein the dome-shaped structure has a diameter of between one and three inches and is sized to cover and hide the drain flange; and
at least two standoffs that project from the lower surface of the dome-shaped structure that are designed and sized to rest on the drain flange and space the dome-shaped structure away from the drain flange so that water can flow out of the sink or bathtub between the lower surface of the dome-shaped structure and the drain flange around the stand-offs and into the drain opening.
10. The drain flange cover of embodiment 9, wherein the standoffs space the lower surface from the drain flange between 1/16 and ½ of an inch, and preferably wherein the standoffs include centering legs that extend away from the dome-shaped structure for centering the dome-shaped structure in the drain opening.
11. The drain flange cover of embodiment 9 or 10, further comprising glue or a magnet for each standoff for fastening the standoffs to the drain flange.
12. The drain flange cover of embodiment 9, 10 or 11, further comprising a sheet of material covering the upper surface of the dome-shaped structure.
13. The drain flange cover of embodiment 12, wherein the sheet of material is metallic and is bent to lap under the lower surface for fastening the sheet of material to the dome-shaped structure.
14. The drain flange cover of embodiment 12, wherein the sheet of material is metallic and is glued to the upper surface of the dome-shaped structure.
15. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 9-14, wherein there are four standoffs.
16. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 9-15, wherein the dome-shaped structure comprises a solid plastic article of manufacture.
17. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 9-15, wherein the dome-shaped structure comprises a plastic article of manufacture that is solid at the upper surface but has a web and hollow-cell structure at its lower surface.
18. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 9-15, wherein the dome-shaped structure comprises a web of material that defines a plurality of hollow cells.
19. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub that has a drain stopper in the drain opening, wherein the drain stopper has a cap that has a convex upper surface, the drain flange cover comprising:
a dome-shaped structure having a convex upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing concave lower surface that is sized and designed to mate with the convex upper surface of the cap on the drain stopper; and
a magnet or glue in or on the concave lower surface for fastening the dome-shaped structure to the cap on the drain stopper.
20. The drain flange cover of embodiment 19, wherein the dome-shaped structure has a diameter of between one and three inches and is sized to cover and hide the drain flange.
21. The drain flange cover of embodiment 19 or 20, further comprising a sheet of a material covering the convex upper surface of the dome-shaped structure.
22. The drain flange cover of embodiment 21, wherein the sheet of a material laps under the dome-shaped structure.
23. The drain flange cover of embodiment 22, wherein the sheet of a material is crimped under the dome-shaped structure for fastening the sheet of material to the dome-shaped structure.
24. The drain flange cover of embodiment 22, wherein the sheet of a material is glued to the dome-shaped structure for fastening the sheet of material to the dome-shaped structure.
25. The article of manufacture or the drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 1-8, 12-14 or 21-24, wherein the sheet of material has a finish selected from the group consisting of polished chrome, brushed chrome, bronze, oil-rubbed bronze, polished bronze, brushed nickel, polished nickel, polished brass, satin brass, satin bronze, copper, matte black and white.
26. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, wherein the dome-shaped structure is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange;
a shaft having an upper end attached to or formed integral with the dome-shaped structure and an opposing lower end, wherein the shaft projects perpendicular from the lower surface of the dome-shaped structure; and
a disc attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft, wherein the shaft projects perpendicular from the disc, and wherein the disc has a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the drain opening.
27. The drain flange of embodiment 26, further comprising a strainer basket surrounding the shaft between the dome-shaped structure and the disc.
28. The drain flange cover of embodiment 26 or 27, wherein the disc is circular, further comprising an 0-ring around the circumference of the disc.
29. The drain flange cover of embodiment 26, 27 or 28, wherein the disc has an open structure that allows water to flow through the disc.
30. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, wherein the dome-shaped structure is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange;
a shaft having an upper end attached to or formed integral with the dome-shaped structure and an opposing lower end, wherein the shaft projects perpendicular from the lower surface of the dome-shaped structure; and
a strainer basket surrounding the shaft, wherein the strainer basket is fixed to the dome-shaped structure or the shaft or is removably attached to the dome-shaped structure or the shaft.
31. The drain flange cover of embodiment 30, wherein the strainer basket is sized to fit snugly in the drain opening.
32. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, wherein the dome-shaped structure is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange;
a shaft having an upper end attached to or formed integral with the dome-shaped structure and an opposing lower end, wherein the shaft projects perpendicular from the lower surface of the dome-shaped structure; and
a disc attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft, wherein the shaft projects perpendicular from the disc, wherein the disc is circular and has a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the drain opening, and wherein the disc has openings through which water can pass and structural elements for screening hair and debris out of the water.
33. The drain flange cover of embodiment 32, further comprising an O-ring around the circumference of the disc.
34. The drain flange cover of embodiment 32, wherein the disc is sized and designed to seal against an inside wall of a pipe that defines the drain opening.
35. The drain flange cover of embodiment 32, 33 or 34, wherein the shaft is a tube having a perforated tube wall, wherein water can drain through the perforated tube wall, and wherein the perforated tube wall tends to screen hair and debris out of the water.
36. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 32-35, further comprising a sheet of a material covering the upper surface of the dome-shaped structure.
37. The drain flange cover of embodiment 36, wherein the sheet of material has a finish selected from the group consisting of polished chrome, brushed chrome, bronze, oil-rubbed bronze, polished bronze, brushed nickel, polished nickel, polished brass, satin brass, satin bronze, copper, matte black and white.
38. A drain flange cover for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub, comprising:
a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, wherein the dome-shaped structure is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange; and
a screen having an upper end attached to or formed integral with the lower surface and an opposing lower end, wherein the screen has a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to the lower surface of the dome-shaped structure, wherein the lower end of the screen has a diameter that is approximately equal to the diameter of the drain opening, wherein the upper end has a diameter that is substantially smaller than the diameter of the lower end, wherein the screen has openings through which water can pass and structural elements that define the openings, and wherein hair and debris in the water tends to be caught by the structural elements.
39. The drain flange cover of embodiment 38, wherein the screen has the shape of a cone.
40. The drain flange cover of embodiment 38, wherein the screen has a frustoconical shape.
41. The drain flange cover of embodiment 38, 39 or 40, wherein the screen is a wire mesh or a plastic mesh.
42. The drain flange cover of embodiment 38, 39 or 40, wherein the screen is a perforated sheet of material.
43. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 38-42, further comprising a disc attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the screen.
44. The drain flange cover of embodiment 43, wherein the disc is a wire mesh, a plastic mesh or a perforated sheet of material.
45. The drain flange cover of any one of embodiments 38-42, further comprising a ring attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the screen.
46. The drain flange cover of embodiment 43, 44 or 45, wherein the disc or the ring is sized and designed to fit tightly within an inside wall of a pipe that defines the drain opening.
47. The drain flange cover of embodiment 46, further comprising a seal around the perimeter of the disc or ring.
48. A drain flange cover and strainer for covering a drain flange around a drain opening in a sink or bathtub and for straining hair, debris and objects out of drain water, comprising:
a cap;
a tubular shaft having an upper end attached to or formed integral with the cap and an opposing lower end, wherein the tubular shaft projects perpendicular from the cap, and wherein the tubular shaft has openings sized and designed to filter out hair, debris and objects while allowing water to pass through the openings;
a gasket holder attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft; and
a gasket engaged with the gasket holder, wherein the gasket projects radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft, and wherein the gasket is sized and designed to seal against an inside wall of a drain pipe.
49. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 48, wherein the cap comprises a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, wherein the dome-shaped structure is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange.
50. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 48 or 49, wherein the cap and the gasket each have a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the cap is greater than the diameter of the gasket, preferably wherein the diameter of the cap is at least 5, 10, 15 or 20% greater than the diameter of the gasket, more preferably wherein the diameter of the cap is at least 40% greater than the diameter of the gasket, and typically wherein the diameter of the cap is about 25% greater than the diameter of the gasket.
51. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 48, 49 or 50, wherein the gasket holder is a flange that has a shape in cross-section similar to a wheel for holding an automobile tire.
52. The drain flange cover and strainer of any one of embodiments 48-51, wherein the cap comprises a dome-shaped structure having an upper surface that has a curvature of a dome and an opposing lower surface, and wherein the dome-shaped structure is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange, further comprising a sheet of a material covering the upper surface of the dome-shaped structure.
53. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 52, wherein the gasket does not have holes or openings for intentionally allowing water to drain through the gasket, and wherein the gasket does not have notches about its outer perimeter.
54. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 52, further comprising a plurality of standoffs on the underside or lower surface of the cap for spacing the cap away from the drain flange, and preferably further comprising centralizing fins or centering legs attached to the tubular shaft or to the cap for maintaining the tubular shaft in the center of the drain pipe.
55. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 52, 53 or 54, wherein the sheet of material has a finish selected from the group consisting of polished chrome, brushed chrome, bronze, oil-rubbed bronze, polished bronze, brushed nickel, polished nickel, polished brass, satin brass, satin bronze, copper, matte black and white.
56. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 55, wherein the tubular shaft has a circular cylindrical shape or a conical shape, preferably further comprising a plurality of standoffs on the underside of the cap for spacing the cap away from the drain flange so that water can flow under the cap and into the drain pipe, and preferably further comprising centralizing fins attached to the tubular shaft or centering legs attached to the underside of the cap for positioning the tubular shaft in approximately the center of the drain pipe, wherein the standoffs and the centralizing fins can be a combined plurality of spacer-centralizer elements.
57. The drain flange cover and strainer of any one of embodiments 48-56, wherein the cap and the tubular shaft are rigid.
58. A drain stopper for a bathtub or a sink having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub or the sink at the drain opening, comprising:
an open-close mechanism having a longitudinal axis and upper and lower ends, wherein the open-close mechanism is a push-push mechanism or a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism;
a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism;
a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange or the drain pipe;
a disk engaged with the lower end of the open-close mechanism;
a strainer surrounding the open-close mechanism, wherein the strainer rests on or is formed integral with or is attached to the disk, wherein the strainer has a plurality of openings through which water can flow, wherein an outer annular space is defined between the drain pipe and the strainer, wherein an inner space is defined in part by an inner surface of the strainer, wherein the disk does not have an opening through which water can drain from the outer annular space, and wherein the disk has one or more openings through which water can drain from the inner space, thereby forcing water to flow from the outside of the strainer to the inside of the strainer. Alternatively, the drain stopper does not include the strainer, or the strainer operates to catch hair, debris and objects inside the strainer.
59. The drain stopper of embodiment 58, 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 greater than the diameter of the seal.
60. The drain stopper of embodiment 58, wherein the disk has a perimeter that comprises a gasket for providing a seal against an inside surface of the drain pipe.
61. The drain stopper of embodiment 58, further comprising means for anchoring the open-close mechanism in the drain pipe, wherein the lower end of the open-close mechanism is engaged with the means for anchoring.
62. The drain stopper of embodiment 61, 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; and
the disk, wherein the disk is designed and sized for a friction engagement with an inside surface of the drain pipe.
63. The drain stopper of embodiment 58, wherein the drain stopper has a length, wherein the cap is in a threaded engagement with the open-close mechanism, and wherein the length can be adjusted by the amount of threaded engagement.
64. The drain stopper of embodiment 63, wherein the cap has a bore defined by female threads, wherein the upper end of the open-close mechanism has male threads that are received in the bore of the cap, further comprising a lock nut having female threads received on and in threaded engagement with the upper end of the open-close mechanism, wherein the lock nut can be moved into a tight friction abutment with the cap for holding the length of the drain stopper constant.
65. The drain stopper of embodiment 58, 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.
66. The drain stopper of embodiment 12, wherein the disk has a perimeter that comprises a gasket for providing a seal against an inside surface of the drain pipe, wherein the gasket has a diameter at its widest point, wherein the cap has a diameter at its widest point, and wherein the diameter of the cap is at least 0.5 inch greater than the diameter of the gasket, preferably at least 1.0 inch greater.
67. The drain stopper of embodiment 58, wherein a two-prong fork is substituted for the disk on the lower end of the drain stopper for anchoring the drain stopper to a rod that protrudes into a drain pipe through a pivot rod port.
68. A drain flange cover and strainer for a sink or a bathtub that has a drain opening, wherein a drain pipe and a drain flange are sealed about the drain opening, the drain flange cover and strainer comprising:
a perforated tube that has a longitudinal axis and opposing upper and lower ends, wherein the perforated tube is generally cylindrical or generally conical in shape, wherein the perforated tube is rigid, and wherein the perforated tube functions as the strainer;
a cap attached directly or indirectly to the upper end, wherein the cap functions as the drain flange cover;
a flange received on the lower end, wherein the flange projects radially with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the diameter of the cap is greater than the diameter of the flange; and
a standoff for spacing the cap from the drain flange so that the drain flange cover cannot operate as a drain stopper.
69. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 68, further comprising means for centralizing the perforated tube in the drain pipe.
70. The drain flange cover and strainer of embodiment 68 or 69, wherein the cap is sized and designed to cover and hide the drain flange, further comprising a plating or a sheet of a material covering the upper and outer surface of the cap, preferably wherein the plating or sheet of material has a finish selected from the group consisting of polished chrome, brushed chrome, bronze, oil-rubbed bronze, polished bronze, brushed nickel, polished nickel, polished brass, satin brass, satin bronze, copper, matte black and white, any color, an emblem, a character and a design.
71. A drain stopper and strainer, comprising: a cap; a seal engaged with the cap; a strainer having an upper end and an opposing lower end, wherein the upper end is formed integral with or attached to or engaged with the cap directly or indirectly, and wherein the strainer has a plurality of openings through which water can pass; and a longitudinally segmented cylinder or cone having a closed first end and an open and opposing second end, wherein the first end has at least one opening through which water can pass, wherein the longitudinally segmented cylinder or cone has at least two trough-shaped segments separated by longitudinal notches extending from the second end toward the first end, and wherein the first end is attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the strainer.
72. A drain stopper for a drain pipe having a drain flange, comprising: an open-close mechanism, preferably a push-push mechanism, having a length and opposing upper and lower ends; a cap engaged with the upper end of the push-close mechanism; a seal engaged with the cap for providing a seal with the drain flange; preferably, a strainer basket surrounding and engaged with the push-push mechanism; and an annular flange or two or more prongs extending radially outwardly from the strainer basket that are sized and designed to rest on the drain flange without interfering with the seal. No support is used within the drain pipe for holding the drain stopper because the prongs or the annular flange is used instead. The push-push mechanism can be inserted into and removed from the drain pipe without any assembly or disassembly, such as is required for removing a pivot rod to remove a drain stopper from a pop-up drain or such as for disengaging a bathtub drain stopper from a cross-bar.
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.
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/913,452 filed on Mar. 6, 2018, which was published as Pub. No. US 2018/0263426 A1. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/584,027, 15/584,030 and 15/584,032, each of which was filed on May 2, 2017, and each of which is incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15913452 | Mar 2018 | US |
| Child | 16558262 | US |
