Patent Application
20150184367
The invention relates to a draining system for a walk-in bathtub, and in particular to a fast draining system for a walk-in bathtub.
Traditional bathtubs may have high sidewalls, which allow a bathtub to hold a large volume of water. Many individuals, particularly the elderly and those suffering from arthritis, debilitating injury, handicap, and/or general loss of mobility, may have trouble accessing a bathtub area due to the high step that is typically required to step into and out of a bathtub. For such persons, the sidewall of a bathtub may be an insurmountable hurdle. Even with the assistance of a health aide, many individuals may not be capable of safely stepping over the sidewall of a bathtub and into the bathtub to take a bath or shower. Consequently, these persons may forego taking a bath or shower altogether and settle for alternate bathing methods, such as sponge baths and the like. Many people, however, may not find such alternative bathing methods satisfactory.
Walk-in bathtubs comprise high tub walls with a high built in seat and a side door, allowing the user to walk into the tub from the side and sit down without having to climb down into a low bath tub.
As stated above, most walk-in bathtubs have high sidewalls and they are able to contain more water as the bathtub is filled when the person is talking shower therein. For such amount of water, it may have to take a long time for the water to drain away. More importantly, users of the walk-in bathtub are usually elderly or injured people. If any emergent situation happens, the water in the walk-in bathtub has to drain as soon as possible to enable the user to leave the walk-in bathtub. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved bathtub draining system to quickly discharge the water in the walk-in bathtub.
It is a main objective of the present invention to provide a fast draining system for a walk-in bathtub to expedite the water draining process.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide at least one two-way connector in the fast draining system for a walk-in bathtub to easily discharge the water in the walk-in bathtub no matter where the water outlet in the bathroom.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a second two-way connector along with a second water draining hole on the bathtub to further expedite the water draining process.
In one embodiment, a fast draining system may include a first two-way connector, a first water draining hole of a bathtub, and a plurality of connecting pipes. In one embodiment, the first two-way connector has a first connecting opening and a second connecting opening to connect with connecting pipes. The first two-way connector also has a top opening to align with the first draining hole of the bathtub. In a further embodiment, the fast draining system may include a second two-way connector to expedite the water draining process. The second two-way connector also has a first connecting opening, a second connecting opening to connect with the connecting pipes, and a top opening to align with a second water draining hole. Each of the water draining holes has a cover to retain the water in the bathtub.
When in use, the user can lift at least one cover of the water draining hole and the water would start draining along the water draining direction. If the user wishes to expedite the water draining process, he/she can lift both covers and so the water can be drained through both two-way connectors to speed up the water draining process. The bathtub has an overflow hole, so the water level will not exceed the overflow hole to avoid excessive water in the bathtub. It is noted that the draining water can easily go either water draining directions with appropriate connecting pipes to direct the water out of the bathroom to avoid reverse plumbing.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
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 belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
In a conventional plumbing system, the connector connecting to the drawing hole is a one-way connector. If the water outlet in the bathroom is located along with the water draining direction, namely the opening of the connector is toward the water outlet, using the one-way connector does not cause any problems. However, if the water outlet in the bathroom is located at the opposite side of the water draining direction, the user may have to do a “reverse plumbing” to direct the draining water in an addition U-shape pipe to the water outlet, which would increase the costs of the plumbing and cause waste of the materials.
Referring to
When in use, the user can lift at least one cover of the water draining hole and the water would start draining along the water draining direction as shown in
Referring to
Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/921,630, filed on Dec. 30, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61921630 | Dec 2013 | US |
