Claims
- 1. A drain valve for use with an air bath having a bath vessel and an air distribution system, said drain valve comprising:
- a valve housing for extending between the bath vessel and a fluid waste pipe, said valve housing including an upper opening for positioning proximate the bath vessel and a lower opening for receiving fluid from said air bath distribution system, said lower opening extending at an angle to said upper opening and including upper and lower surfaces;
- a stopper including first and second vertically aligned plungers, said stopper being secured within said valve housing and being capable of moving relative thereto such that said second plunger is positioned above said lower surface of said lower opening when said stopper is in an open position for allowing fluid from the air distribution system to flow into the fluid waste pipe, and said second plunger is positioned below said lower surface of said lower opening when said stopper is in a closed position for sealing fluid from the air distribution system within said valve housing.
- 2. The drain valve according to claim 1 further including an elongated housing removably secured within said valve housing, said elongated housing including at least one opening for allowing fluid exiting said lower opening to flow into said elongated housing and out to the waste pipe.
- 3. The drain valve according to claim 2 wherein said elongated housing includes a strainer for preventing solid debris from entering the fluid waste pipe.
- 4. The drain valve according to claim 2 wherein said elongated housing includes an upper flange for positioning within said bath vessel and an upper section for engaging with said valve housing.
- 5. The drain valve according to claim 4 wherein said elongated housing further includes a central section including a plurality of sidewalls and an opening between each sidewall, each said opening being aligned with said lower opening in said valve housing when installed therein for allowing fluid to flow from the air distribution system into said elongated housing.
- 6. The drain valve according to claim 5 wherein said elongated housing is a strainer housing further including a lower section having a strainer and an aperture; and said lower end of said guide post is removably secured within said aperture when said drain valve is assembled.
- 7. The drain valve according to claim 6 wherein said valve housing further includes a member being secured within said second opening and extending from said valve housing for receiving fluid from the air distribution system.
- 8. The drain valve according to claim 2 wherein said valve housing further includes a recessed interior region proximate said second opening for receiving fluid from said air distribution system.
- 9. The drain valve according to claim 2 further including a guide post positioned within said stopper, said guide post having a portion for extending through said elongated housing; and said drain valve further including a raising and lowering mechanism operatively connected to said guide post for moving said stopper between said open and closed positions.
- 10. The drain valve according to claim 9 wherein said guide post includes a lower end having an elongated opening extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said plunger; and said raising and lowering mechanism includes a lever mechanism having a pair of arms, whereby a first one of said arms cooperates with a lower surface of said guide post for raising said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to an open position and the other one of said arms cooperates with said elongated opening for lowering said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to a closed position.
- 11. The drain valve according to claim 9 wherein an elongated member having a contact element extends from a lower end of the guide post, said elongated member having a reduced cross section compared to said guide post; and said raising and lowering mechanism includes a lever mechanism having a pair of arms, whereby a first one of said arms cooperates with a lower surface of said contact element for raising said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to an open position, and the other one of said arms partially surrounds a portion of said elongated member and contacts an upper surface of the contact element for lowering said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to a closed position.
- 12. The drain valve according to claim 11 wherein said contact element is adjustably spaced from the lower end of said guide post.
- 13. The drain valve according to claim 1 wherein said first and second plungers each include a sealing member for cooperating with said valve housing when said stopper is in said closed position to prevent fluid from flowing between each of said plungers and said valve housing.
- 14. The drain valve according to claim 1 wherein said stopper includes an internal channel having a longitudinal axis; and said fluid drain valve further includes a guide post positioned within said internal channel for supporting said stopper.
- 15. The drain valve according to claim 14 wherein said guidepost includes a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end and an elongated groove extending between said upper and lower ends; and said stopper includes a slot extending within said stopper at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said internal chamber.
- 16. The drain valve according to claim further including a pin positioned within said slot in said stopper for extending into said groove when said guide post is positioned within said stopper, wherein said pin slides within said groove when said stopper is moved between said first and second positions.
- 17. A drain valve for use with an air bath having an air distribution system, said drain valve comprising:
- a valve housing for positioning within a drain opening in a bath vessel, said valve housing including an upper opening having a diameter, and a lower opening having a diameter that extends at an angle to said diameter of said first opening, said lower opening for receiving fluid from said air distribution system;
- a strainer body removably secured within said valve housing;
- a stopper having first and second plungers, an internal channel and a longitudinal axis; and
- a guide post including a longitudinal axis positioned within said internal channel for supporting said stopper.
- 18. The drain valve according to claim 17 wherein said guidepost includes a groove extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said guide post, an upper end and a lower end; and said stopper includes a slot extending within said stopper at an angle to said longitudinal axis.
- 19. The drain valve according to claim 18 further including a pin positioned within said slot in said stopper for extending into said groove when said guide post is positioned within said stopper, such that said pin slides within said groove when said stopper is moved between an open position and a closed position.
- 20. The drain valve according to claim 17 wherein said strainer body includes an upper flange for positioning against a surface of the bath vessel and an upper section for engaging with said valve housing.
- 21. The drain valve according to claim 20 wherein said strainer body further includes a central section having a plurality of vertically extending openings aligned with said lower opening in said valve housing when installed therein for allowing fluid to flow from the air distribution system into said strainer body.
- 22. The drain valve according to claim 21 wherein said strainer body further includes a lower section having a strainer with a plurality of horizontally extending openings and a threaded aperture; and said lower end of said guide post being removably secured within said aperture of said lower section when said drain valve is assembled.
- 23. The drain valve according to claim 22 wherein said valve housing further includes a coupling member extending therefrom and being secured relative to said lower opening for receiving fluid from the air distribution system.
- 24. The drain valve according to claim 17 wherein said valve housing further includes a recessed interior region proximate said lower opening for receiving fluid from said air distribution system and delivering it to an interior of said strainer housing.
- 25. The drain valve according to claim 17 wherein said first and second plungers each include a sealing member for cooperating with said valve housing when said stopper is in a closed position to prevent fluid from flowing between each of said plungers and said valve housing.
- 26. The drain valve according to claim 17 further including a raising and lowering mechanism operatively connected to said guide post for moving said stopper.
- 27. The fluid drain valve according to claim 26 wherein said guide post includes a lower end having an elongated opening extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stopper when assembled; and said raising and lowering mechanism includes a lever mechanism having a pair of arms, whereby a first one of said arms cooperates with a lower surface of said guide post for raising said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to a first position and the other one of said arms cooperates with said elongated opening for lowering said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to a second position.
- 28. The drain valve according to claim 26 wherein an elongated member having a contact element extends from a lower end of the guide post, said elongated member having a reduced cross section compared to said guide post; and said raising and lowering mechanism includes a lever mechanism having a pair of arms, whereby a first one of said arms cooperates with a lower surface of said contact element for raising said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to an open position, and the other one of said arms partially surrounds a portion of said elongated member and contacts an upper surface of the contact element for lowering said stopper when said raising and lowering mechanism is moved to a closed position.
- 29. The drain valve according to claim 28 wherein said contact element is adjustably spaced from the lower end of said guide post.
- 30. The drain valve according to claim 17 wherein said internal chamber extends between said first and second plungers.
- 31. A method of cleansing channels of an air distribution system for a bath vessel having a drain valve for retaining fluid within the bath vessel and fluid pressure within the air distribution system, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) introducing a predetermined amount of a cleansing solution into the air distribution system through a fluid inlet when the drain valve is closed;
- b) filling the bath vessel with a fluid to a first predetermined level above air distribution holes in the bath vessel;
- c) mixing said cleansing solution with said fluid and allowing the mixture to set within the air distribution system and the bath vessel;
- d) opening the drain valve so the mixed fluid and cleansing solution flow through the air channels and into the drain valve;
- e) positioning a drain cover over the open drain valve to prevent the mixed fluid and cleansing solution from flowing directly into the drain valve from the bath vessel; and
- f) removing said drain cover after the fluid and cleansing solution has reached a second predetermined level below said first predetermined level.
- 32. The method according to claim 31 further including the step of rinsing the bath vessel and the air distribution system, said rinsing step including:
- a) closing the drain valve after said drain cover has been removed;
- b) refilling said bath vessel with water to substantially said first predetermined level; and
- c) reopening said drain valve so that said water flows into said drain valve from the bath vessel and the air distribution channels.
- 33. The method according to claim 31 wherein a conduit having a one-way valve extends between said fluid inlet and said air channels.
- 34. The method according to claim 31 wherein said mixing step includes operating a blower of said air distribution system.
- 35. The method according to claim 31 wherein said first predetermined level is approximately six inches above said air distribution holes.
Parent Case Info
Benefit of the Apr. 16, 1999 filing date of the provisional application Ser. No. 60/129,628 by the same inventors and entiled "Drain Valve Assembly" is hereby claimed.
US Referenced Citations (5)