Floor drain

Abstract

A floor drain includes a drain body, having a generally rectangular upper portion defining an inlet and a circular lower portion defining an outlet, a generally rectangular drain grate inserted into the inlet of the drain body, and a grout rim, supported by the drain body and surrounding the drain grate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a floor drain in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the floor drain of FIG. 1, showing the drain grate;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the floor drain of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the floor drain of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the floor drain of FIG. 1, showing the drain grate, grout rim, and drain body;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the assembled floor drain;

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of a complete installation of the floor drain of FIG. 1 in a shower floor assembly, and a drain grate removal tool;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a drain body of a floor drain assembly in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a drain grate removal tool; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a floor drain assembly without a drain grate, showing one embodiment of a cover cap configured for use during installation of a floor drain assembly.

Claims

1. A floor drain, comprising: a drain body, having a generally rectangular upper portion defining an inlet, and a circular lower portion defining an outlet, the lower portion being configured to interconnect to an underdrain structure;a generally rectangular drain grate inserted into the inlet of the drain body; anda grout rim, supported by the drain body and surrounding the drain grate, having a knife-tapered top edge, configured to reduce the visibility of the grout rim between the surrounding material and the grate.

2. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower portion includes helical threads configured to threadedly interconnect with the underdrain structure, whereby a height of the inlet can be adjusted by rotating the drain body about a vertical axis.

3. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drain body defines receiving holes in the inlet, and the drain grate includes downwardly oriented mounting posts configured to insert into the receiving holes with an interference fit.

4. A floor drain in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a relief slot, communicating between each receiving hole and an interior of the drain body.

5. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, further comprising vertically oriented set screws, threadedly connected to the drain body below the drain grate, configured to contact an underside of the drain grate and allow adjustment of a vertical position of the drain grate.

6. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, wherein the grout rim includes interlocking structure, configured to mechanically interlock with surrounding grout material.

7. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, wherein the knife-tapered top edge of the grout rim has a top edge with a thickness of from about 0.01″ to about 0.03″.

8. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drain grate is of a material selected from the group consisting of brass, bronze, zinc, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel plated zinc, chrome plated metal, and copper plated metal.

9. A floor drain in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a cover cap, configured to fit into the inlet to support the drain body and the grout rim during installation of the floor drain.

10. A floor drain, comprising: a drain body, having receiving holes, a generally rectangular upper portion defining an inlet, and a circular lower portion defining an outlet, the lower portion being configured to interconnect to an underdrain structure;a generally rectangular drain grate, supported by the drain body, having a plurality of drain openings and a plurality of downwardly oriented mounting posts configured to insert into the receiving holes with an interference fit, whereby the drain grate is removably secured to the drain body; anda grout rim supported by the drain body and surrounding the drain grate.

11. A floor drain in accordance with claim 10, wherein the lower portion includes helical threads configured to threadedly interconnect with the underdrain structure, whereby a height of the inlet can be adjusted by rotating the drain body about a vertical axis.

12. A floor drain in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a relief slot, communicating between each receiving hole and an interior of the drain body.

13. A floor drain in accordance with claim 10, wherein the grout rim includes a knife-tapered top edge with a thickness of from about 0.01″ to about 0.03″ and an outer radius of about 0.005″, configured to reduce the visibility of the grout rim between the surrounding material and the grate.

14. A floor drain in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a cover cap, configured to fit into the inlet to support the drain body and the grout rim during installation of the floor drain.

15. A floor drain assembly, comprising: a drain body, having a generally rectangular upper portion defining an inlet aperture, and a circular lower portion defining an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet aperture, the lower portion having helical threads configured to threadedly interconnect with an underdrain, whereby a height of the inlet can be adjusted by rotating the drain body about a central axis;a generally rectangular drain grate supported by the drain body and having a plurality of drain openings;a grout rim supported by the drain body and surrounding the drain grate; andan underdrain attached to the outlet of the drain body.

16. A floor drain in accordance with claim 15, wherein the drain body defines receiving holes in the inlet, and the drain grate includes downwardly oriented mounting posts configured to insert into the receiving holes.

17. A floor drain in accordance with claim 15, wherein the grout rim includes a knife-tapered top edge with a thickness of from about 0.01″ to about 0.03″, configured to reduce the visibility of the grout rim between the surrounding material and the grate.

18. A floor drain in accordance with claim 15, wherein the drain grate is of a material selected from the group consisting of brass, bronze, zinc, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel plated zinc, chrome plated metal, and copper plated metal.

19. A floor drain in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a grate removal tool, configured to insert through one or more openings in the drain grate, to facilitate removal of the drain grate from the drain body.