Patent Application
20060123538
The present invention relates generally to plumbing fixture drainage systems, and more particularly to a drain nut, tool, and method for installing the drain nut onto a drain pipe, thereby securing the drain pipe to the plumbing fixture.
Conventionally, drain assemblies are secured to plumbing fixtures, such as, kitchen, bathroom and utility room lavatories or sinks by means of a nut disposed on the underside of a sink. The drain nut is threadably engaged on a relatively large diameter, hollow tubular, externally threaded pipe that extends from the drain downwardly through an opening in the bottom of the sink.
The drain assembly typically includes an annular collar which surrounds the drain, resting atop and about the periphery of an opening through the bottom portion of the sink. The drain pipe extends downwardly through the opening past the underside surface of the sink. The drain assembly is secured by engaging the drain nut with the drain pipe and manually advancing the drain nut the full length of the drain pipe, until the drain nut resides in abutment against the undersurface of the sink.
The drain nut is initially tightened by hand. However, in order to adequately secure the drain assembly to the sink a tool, such as a basin wrench or a channel lock wrench, is utilized to advance the drain nut to firmly secure the drain nut against the underside of the sink. However, due to the space limitations engaging the drain nut with the tool can be a difficult and time consuming process.
Thus, there exists a need for a system and method for attaching a drain assembly to a plumbing fixture.
The present invention provides a drain connection kit for connecting a drain pipe to a plumbing fixture. A drain nut is provided which includes first and second bores and an annular wall with a threading. The annular wall threading is configured and dimensioned to threadably engage the drain pipe exterior threading. A driver tool is provided for engaging the drain nut to rotate the drain nut onto the drain pipe. The driver tool has a first extension configured and dimensioned to removably engage the first bore and a second extension configured and dimensioned to removably engage the second bore, such that rotation of the driver tool rotates the drain nut.
The present invention also provides a plumbing fixture, wherein the plumbing fixture can be a sink, lavatory, tub, shower, or any other receptacle or vessel having a drain. The plumbing fixture includes a drain port defining a passage extending through an upper surface to an underside surface of the plumbing fixture. A drain pipe having first and second ends and an exterior threading is included. The drain pipe is positionable through the passage, with the second end of the drain pipe extending past the underside surface of the plumbing fixture. A drain ring is affixed to the first end of the drain pipe, which is positionable about the upper surface of the plumbing fixture, surrounding the drain port. A drain nut is provided which includes first and second bores and an annular wall with a threading. The annular wall threading is configured and dimensioned to threadably engage the drain pipe exterior threading. A driver tool is provided for engaging the drain nut to rotate the drain nut onto the drain pipe. The driver tool has a first extension configured and dimensioned to removably engage the first bore and a second extension configured and dimensioned to removably engage the second bore such that rotation of the driver tool rotates the drain nut.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention provides a drain connector kit including a drain nut and drain nut driver. The drain nut and drain nut driver are pairingly configured to allow installation of a drain assembly with a driver unit, such as a mechanical or electric driver.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The extensions 36 and 38 are depicted having a circular cross sectional area. However, it is contemplated that the cross sectional area of a extensions 36 and 38 can have other shapes, including but not limited to, rectangular, triangular, elliptical, octagonal, hexagonal, diamond, star, etc., matching the cross sectional area of the bores 28 and 30. In the instance where the drain nut 20 includes multiple pairs of bores, the extensions 36 and 38 may be selectively positioned in any one of the pairs of bores.
The drain nut engaging structure 34 is affixed to a drive shaft 40. The drive shaft 40 is configured for engagement by a driver unit (not shown), such as a mechanical or electric driver. For example, the drive shaft 40 may have substantially hexagonal cross section area for insertion into and engagement by a chuck of the electric drill. Upon securement of drive shaft 40 in the drill chuck, activation of the electric drill rotates the drain nut engaging structure 34. The electric driver can be used to rotate the drain nut engaging structure 34 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. While the drain nut engaging structure 34 is shown having an opposing pair of extensions 36 and 38, it is contemplated that the drain nut engaging structure 34 can include any number of extensions, uniformly, symmetrically, or asymmetrically positioned about the a drive shaft 40 for engagement with the bores of the drain nut 20.
Referring to
The drain nut driver 22 is attached to a driver unit, such as an electric drill, wherein the drive shaft 40 is inserted into and engaged by a drill chuck of the electric drill. Upon securement of drive shaft 40 in the chuck, activation of the electric drill rotates the drain nut driver 22. The electric drill can be used to rotate the drain nut engaging structure 34 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
The drain nut driver 22 engages the drain nut 20 by slideably inserting the opposing pair of extensions 36 and 38 of the drain nut engaging structure 34 into the drain nut bores 28 and 30. The electric drill is activated to rotate, thread, the drain nut 20 onto the drain pipe 16. To secure the drain assembly 10 in position, the drain nut 20 is threaded onto the drain pipe 16, wherein the flange portion 24 of the drain nut 20 abuts the underside surface 48 of the plumbing fixture 42. Sufficient torque is applied to the drain nut 20, securing the drain assembly 10 into position.
Similarly, to remove the drain assembly 10, the drain nut driver 22 engages the drain nut 20 by slideably inserting the opposing pair of extensions 36 and 38 of the drain nut engaging structure 34 into the drain nut bores 28 and 30. The electric drill is activated to rotate the drain nut 20 off the drain pipe 16. The drain nut 20 is removed from the drain pipe 16. The drain pipe 16 is then removed from the drain port 44.
All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
