Patent Application
20110138527
The present disclosure relates to drain stoppers, and more particularly, to drain stopping devices that are installable in tub drains with threaded central bores, such as a bathtub or the like.
Most consumer tubs, such as bathtubs, can be ordered in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and colors. Regardless of this wide variety of available options, nearly all bathtubs can be fit with a drain having a central threaded bore that is mateable with the threaded stem of a variety of drain stopping device. Appropriate drain stopping devices generally comprise a stopper carried on a threadably mateable stem. However, drains with different sized threaded bores exist in the marketplace, requiring stopping devices with like sized thread on the appropriate stem end. For instance, drains are commonly sold with ⅜ inch and 5/16 inch diameter threaded bores.
Additionally, most drains are fit with outer radial flanges that extend beyond the diameter of an installed stopping device, requiring matching of finish between the drain and stopping device for aesthetic purposes. In order to change the aesthetics of the drain area, one must replace not only the stopping device, but the entire drain itself. The varying finishes on drains and stoppers and the sizes of threaded bores in drains create obvious challenges for repair, replacement and/or installation.
There is a need for a universal drain stopping device with parts that allow installation into drains with different sized threaded bores as well as parts that conceal the drain when installed. The embodiments of the presently disclosed drain stopping device is installable into many different types of drains without requiring replacement of the drain to aesthetically match the finish of the device.
According to one disclosed embodiment, the drain closure device is for use in one of multiple tub drains, each defining a passage and having a central threaded bore and a radial flange with a diameter extending from the passage. The device has a reversible stem and a stopping assembly. The reversible stem has an axial length and opposite first and second ends. The first end has thread of a first size for engagement with a central threaded bore of one drain. The second end has thread of a second size that is different from the first size. The stopping assembly is configured to detachably engage with the reversible stem substantially coaxially. The stopping assembly has a stopper that is axially reciprocable relative to the stem when the stopping assembly and stem are engaged. The device is installable in a drain by mating of either of the first or second end of the stem with the central threaded bore of the drain. The diameter of the stopper is at least equal to than that of the outer radial edge of the drain in which the device is installed.
In another embodiment, a drain closure device is for use in first and second tub drains. The drains each define a substantially cylindrical passage, have outer radial edges with diameters, and a central threaded bore. The size of the respective threaded bores differs from each other. The drain closure device has a stopper, hollow shaft and reversible stem. The stopper has a top portion, a bottom portion and a diameter D1. The hollow shaft extends downwardly from the stopper. The hollow shaft and stopper are substantially coaxial. The reversible stem has an axial length and opposite first and second ends. The respective ends of the stem have threaded outer surfaces of different sizes. The hollow shaft is slidably engaged with and disengagable from the stem. The device is installable in a first drain by mating of the first threaded end of the stem with the threaded bore of the drain. The mating fixes the stem in the first drain such that the stem and stopper can be slidingly reciprocated from a raised opened position to a lowered closed position. The stopper seals the tub from the first drain passage in the lowered closed position. The device is installable in a second drain via disengagement of the stem from the hollow shaft, axial reversal of the stem and re-engagement to the hollow shaft, and mating of the second threaded end with the second drain threaded bore. The diameter D1 of the stopper is at least equal to the diameter of the outer radial edge of either of the first and second drains.
In yet another embodiment, a drain closure device is for use in two drains with central threaded bores of different sizes. The respective tub drains each define a substantially cylindrical passage and have an upper radial flange extending radially outward from the passage. The outer edge of the flange has a diameter. The device has a reversible stem, stopper and hollow shaft. The reversible stem has an axial length, cylindrical wall and opposite first and second ends. The first end is mateable with the central threaded bore of one drain while the second end is mateable with the central threaded bore of the other drain. An axial opening defining a track extends along the cylindrical wall. The stopper has a substantially circular cross section. A knob projects from an upper portion of the stopper. There is a threaded recess in a lower portion of the stopper. The hollow shaft has an axial length and a cylindrical wall with a lateral opening. An upper threaded end of the hollow shaft mates with the threaded recess in the stopper lower portion. The shaft is slidably and detachably engaged with the reversible stem by a removable pin extending through the lateral opening into the track. When the device is installed in a drain by threaded mating of one of the first and second stem ends with the respective drain bore, the stopper is manually reciprocable between a lowered closed position to a raised opened position. The stopper fluidly seals the tub from the respective passage in the closed position and permits fluid communication between the tub and the passage in the opened position. The stopper is maintained in the raised position by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft.
Aspects of the preferred embodiment will be described in reference to the Drawing, where like numerals reflect like elements:
With reference to the drawing wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the Figures, a universal drain stopping device with an enlarged stopper is disclosed. Embodiments allow installers to use the same device in tub drains with central threaded bores of different sizes. Additionally, embodiments allow the aesthetics of a drain to be altered without replacing the drain itself or any other plumbing pieces.
As depicted in
The stopper 12 has a generally circular cross section with an outer diameter D1. An upper portion 26 of the stopper 12 has a knob 28. A lower portion 30 extends from the top portion 26 and has a threaded recess 32. Here, the bottom portion also defines a lower radial ridge 34. As shown in
As depicted, the top end 38 of the hollow shaft 14 threadably mates with the threaded recess 32 in the stopper 12 with the shaft 14 extending downwardly therefrom. The threadable mating is not limiting, as the shaft 14 and stopper 12 can rigidly mate in any known way or comprise a single fused element. As shown in greater detail in
The disclosed drain stopping device 10 is configured for installation into a relatively standard drain 52 of the type depicted in
As shown in
As shown in
In the depicted embodiment, the stopper 12 is maintained in the raised opened position by a cooperating spring-loaded ball 70 detent mechanism that is operable between the reversible stem 16 and hollow shaft 14. With reference to
The configuration of the reversible stem 16 allows the same device 10 to be installed into a drain having a different sized central threaded bore. The pin 46 can be removed. The hollow shaft 14 can then be slid past the first end 18 of the stem 16, thereby disengaging the shaft and stem (with or without disengagement of the stopper 12 from the shaft 14 at any time). After axial reversal of the stem 16, the shaft 14 can be reengaged by sliding over the second stem end 20 and reinserting the pin 46 through the lateral opening 44 to the stem track 24, leaving the first end 18 exposed. Thus, the device 10 is also installable into a different drain having a central bore that is mateable with the first end 18 ( 5/16 inch in the depicted embodiment). Notably, the disassembly and reassembly of the individual disengagable elements—stopper 12, shaft 14, stem 16 and pin 46—can be performed in any order.
Commonly, altering the aesthetics of a tub drain requires completely removing the installed drain and replacing it with a drain having a different type of finish to match a drain stopper. Occasionally, additional plumbing must be replaced as well. The drain replacement process is often time consuming and costly. As mentioned above, embodiments of the drain closing device 10 are fit with an enlarged stopper 12. In a preferred embodiment, the stopper 12 is configured so that the outer edge 13 extends at least to and preferably beyond the outer edge of a typical drain flange, like that depicted in the Figures as Reference Numeral 58. That is, D1 is at least equal to and preferably greater than D2. The enlarged stopper 12 generally conceals the finish of any drain when the device 10 is installed. Consequently, matching the stopper and drain finish is unnecessary and the tub aesthetics can be altered effectively by simply installing the disclosed device 10 into the previously installed drain. Replacement of the drain is avoided.
While a preferred embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claimed coverage.
