WO2009126439A1

WO2009126439A1 - Sanitary quick-connect vandal proff open drain stopper

Info

Publication number: WO2009126439A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/038219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott E. Duncan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-10
Filing date: 2009-03-25
Publication date: 2009-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-10
Also published as: US20090255054A1

Abstract

A drain stopper assembly for selectively opening and closing a drain located within a basin, tub oo sink. A lifting frame assembly is situated within the drain body supporting a stopper. The lifting frame is provided with fust and second annular legions selectively coupled to a piston caused to extend within and withdrawn from the drain body. In a first orientation, the piston extends within a fust annular region allowing the stopper and lifting frame to be removable from the drain body while in a second orientation, the piston extends within a second annular region which prevents the stopper and lifting arm from being removed from the drain body.

Description

SANITARY QUICK-CONNECT VANDAL PROOF OPEN DRAIN STOPPER

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The piesent application is based upon and claims priority to United States Piovisional Patent Application No 61/044,034 filed on April 10, 2008

TECHNICAL FIELD

The piesent invention relates generally to drain stoppers for basins, tubs, and sinks, and including apparatus foi actuating up and down movement of a diain stopper, and still moie particularly to a drain stopper and apparatus for actuating the diain stopper that allows for complete lemoval of the diain stoppei directly from the drain pipe without the use of tools foi thorough cleaning, while also having an installation configuration that, at the option of a usei, inhibits tampering with the diain and diain stopper

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Diain stoppers including lift iods and theii linkage to diain assemblies have been employed foi many years without any significant improvement These assemblies generally include a ball iod assembly and linkage connecting the lift iod to the diain stoppei including a pivot bar connected to the lower end of the lift iod which, in turn, is connected to a valve stem having a ball valve exposed inside a radially extending threaded tailpiece As the lift iod is pulled upwardly, the drain stoppei moves downwardly to close the drain opening and as the lift rod is pushed downwardly, the drain stopper rises from the diain collai allowing the basin to drain accordingly

In that the lift rod and pivot bai are linked to one another, it is extremely difficult to lemove the diain stoppei from its collai to clean the drain body This linkage piovides for a natural ledge which catches hail and other debris causing significant sanitaiy and clogging issues oftentimes requiring costly plumbing iepairs

In addition to the above, drains employed in domestic installations do not present the same concerns as those of commeicial installations Foi example, it would gieatly benefit a domestic usei to be able to freely lift a drain plug from its supporting drain collar in oider to clean the diain pipe However, in a commeicial installation, where theft and vandalism can be issues, it would be ideal to piovide a diain plug and suppoiting lift rod which cannot be removed fiora the diain collai without a manipulative piocess which would not be ieadily appaient to an uninfoimed commercial usei Yet, the most ideal assembly is one in which the diain plug and lift iod can be ieoiiented between ieleaseable and locking confϊguiations so that a single assembly can be used both domestically as well as commercially

These and fuithei objects of the piesent invention will become moie ieadily appaient when consideiing the following disclosure and appended claims

SUMMARY QF THE INVENTION

A diain stoppei assembly foi selectively opening and closing a diain located within a basin, tub or sink, said drain having an opening within said basin, tub oi sink foi facilitating the selective passage of watei therethtough passed the drain collar and, drain body, a threaded tailpiece open to and extending tiansversely from said diain body, a piston positioned within said threaded tailpiece and connected to an actuator assembly for¹ selectively extending a distal end of said piston within said drain body, said distal end being characterized as having a downwardly angled surface, a lifting fiame moveable within said drain body, said lifting frame having fiist and second ends, said flist end attached to a stoppei sized to close said drain collar in a fust position and extendable therefiom in a second position, said second end having first and second annular regions, each annulai region being positionable to selectively receive said downwaidly angled surface such that as said piston extends within said diain body fiom said threaded tailpiece, said stoppei is caused to separate fiom said drain collar and as said piston withdraws from said drain body and into said threaded tailpiece, said stopper is caused to seat upon said drain collar¹ and further when said downwaidly angled surface extends within a first of said annular legions, said stoppei and lifting fiame are removable from said drain body and when said downwaidly angled surface extends within a second of said annulai legions, said piston prevents said stopper and lifting frame from being removed fiom said diain body

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation of a fust prefeπed embodiment of the diain stopper apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 2A is a cross-sectional side view in elevation showing details of the mechanism foi raising and lowering the drain stopper¹ in the present invention, and showing the drain a lowered (drain blocked) position

Fig 2B is the same view showing the diain in a raised (diain open) position

Fig 3 is an upper perspective view showing a second prefeπed embodiment of the present invention, including alternative mechanical means for actuating the reciprocal movement of the ramp element of the present invention.

Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional perspective view thereof, showing the drain in a down (closed) position.

Fig 4B is a lower perspective view thereof showing the drain in an up (open) position

Fig. 4C illustrates the lifting frame of the inventive apparatus shown in a vandal proof or locked orientation

Fig. 5 A is a cross-sectional side view in elevation showing a third prefeπed embodiment of the present invention, illustrating how the reciprocating ramp can be driven pneumatically, and showing the drain in an up (open) position.

Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional side view thereof showing the drain in a down (closed) position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring fust to Figs. 1 through 5B, wheiein like iefeience numerals refer to like components in the various views, theie is illustiated theiein a new and impioved sanitaiy quick connect vandal pi oof open diain stoppei apparatus. These views show that in each of the piefeπed embodiments, the inventive apparatus is adapted fbi installation on a conventional sink, tub oi basin 10 (and iefeπed to genetically as "basin" herein), the basin having bottom portion 12 with drain collar 14 disposed in the lowest area for draining fluids form the basin The fluids pass through the diain collar, into and thiough drain body 16 and, in turn, thiough drain tailpiece 18, and then thiough a tiap fbi eventual routing to a sewer¹ or septic system (not shown). Although the present invention can be actuated by any well known expedient, for the sake of example, the present figures illustrate a basin that includes apron 20 with pull rod 22 having lower¹ end 24 slidably mounted in installation opening 26 and having knob 28 at its top for¹ easy up-down reciprocating operation. As with most convention drain assemblies, the drain body includes radially extending threaded tailpiece 30 having a threaded male end for seeming a female nut and washei (these latter elements not shown, as they form no pait of the present invention) .

The conventional drain assembly includes a ball rod assembly and linkage connecting the lift rod to the drain stopper, and this includes a pivot bar connected to the lower end of the lift iod, which is, in turn, connected to a valve stem having a ball valve exposed inside the radially extending threaded tailpiece on the drain body. The lift rod is pulled upwaidly to move a diain stoppei down to close drain opening 34 In each of the preferred embodiments, this assembly has been replaced, in whole or in part, by elements for actuating the up-down movement of the drain stoppei Those embodiments are described as follows

Fig 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the sanitary quick-connect vandal proof drain stoppei of the present invention, which is generally denominated 100 herein In this embodiment, cable 120 is actuated by lift rod 22 as the actuating force Lower end 24 of the lift rod is slidably inserted into cable actuator 1 10 which is linked to cable 120 and lower end 130 of threaded nut 140 The nut is threadably installed on hollow cylindrical piston chambei 150 which is screwed onto the threaded male end of radially extending threaded tailpiece 30 of the diain body Slidably disposed within the piston chambei is piston 160 with a downwardly angled end 170 framing a iamp that is driven laterally by the actuating fbice of the cable to extend into the diain body when the lift rod is pushed down . Alternatively, the piston is pulled fiom the drain body when the lift iod is pulled up. The piston further includes a generally flat distal end 175. Passage of fluid fiom the drain body through the piston chamber is prevented by the use of seal 180 disposed within the threaded tailpiece and around the piston with extremely small clearance, such that the seal prohibits fluid passage while still allowing reciprocating movement of the piston

Referring next to Figs 3-4B, theie is shown second preferred embodiment 300 of the present invention, the discussion of which will be employed to provide details relating to the drain stopper elements of the inventive apparatus As will be immediately evidence fiom these views, the piston 160 can be driven by cable, mechanical linkage and air In every instance, when extending laterally into the drain body, the angled ramp end 1 70 of the piston engages annular end 190 of lifting frame 200 Extending vertically and upwardly form the annular end 190 are at least two and preferably four¹ generally rectangular (or slightly arcuate) vertical posts 210 Legs 220 extend downwardly fiom two opposing posts and connect to a semi-circulai lock 230 which is spaced apart from the annular end 190 so as to form slot 240 The slot is sized to accommodate the entire width of the piston with a small clearance

At the top of the lifting frame is boss 250 into which stopper rod 260 may be threadably connected. The stopper rod extends downwardly fiom drain stopper 270, which is selectively moved up and down to open and close the drain opening Still referring to Figs 3-4C, in the second preferred embodiment 300, the lift rod is swivelingly connected to cam iod 310, which is pivotally connected to cam 320, having an axle 330 extending from opposite sides of the cam and iotatably disposed in a slotted socket 340 coupled to piston cylinder 150 As the cam is rotated by pulling and pushing the lift rod, cam lobe 350 engages distal end 175 of piston 160 Excursion of the piston ramp fiom the drain body is actuated by optional helical spring 360 coiled aiound the piston and which is compiessed as the piston is driven inwardly by the cam

Fig 4C shows how the lifting Same 200 can be oriented such that the piston iamp moves through slot 240 between annulai end 190 of the lifting frame and semi-ciiculai lock 230 When so oiiented, when the diain stopper is in the up position, the iamp will pi event removal of the drain stopper, and thus prevent tampering with the stopper and/or the drain However, simply placing the stopper in its down (closed position), and withdrawing the piston from the drain opening, the lifting frame can be rotated 180° so that the lock is moved away from the ramp In this orientation, show in Fig 4A, the drain stopper can be popped up with the lift rod and entirely removed from the drain body simply by pulling it out No tools are required and no mechanical linkage is involved in the removal process So in a domestic installation, the stopper can be freely removed (Fig 4A) and in a commercial installation where theft can be a problem, the stopper cannot be removed unless the piston is completely withdrawn within the threaded tailpiece In either case, once the piston is withdrawn into the threaded tailpiece, a brush can be extended within the drain and tailpiece for unimpeded cleaning

In a third embodiment of the present invention 400, expandable pneumatic supply bellows 410 in bellows chamber 420 is opeiatively connected to lift rod lower end 24 to provide aii under pressure through air supply tube 430 to expandable piston driving bellows 440 disposed in second bellows chamber 450 The proximal end 460 of the piston driving bellows is connected to medial shoulders 470 so as to push the piston into the drain body and pull it from the drain body as the bellows are expanded and deflated, respectively

As may be apparent from the foregoing, the sanitary quick- connect vandal proof open drain stopper of the present invention provides a dramatic improvement over corresponding devices of the prior art

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary shill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationship and opeiation shown and described Various modifications, alternative constitutions, changes and equivalents will ieadily occui to those skilled in the ait and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like

Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 A chain stopper assembly for selectively opening and closing a chain located within a basin, tub oi sink, said drain having an opening within said basin, tub oi sink for facilitating the selective passage of watei theiethiough passed the diain collar and drain body, a threaded tailpiece open to and extending transversely fiom said drain body, a piston positioned within said threaded tailpiece and connected to an actuator assembly for selectively extending a distal end of said piston within said drain body, said distal end being characterized as having a downwardly angled surface, a lifting frame moveable within said drain body, said lifting frame having first and second ends, said first end attached to a stopper sized to close said diain collar in a first position and extendable therefrom in a second position, said second end having first and second annular regions, each annular region being positionable to selectively receive said downwardly angled surface such that as said piston extends within said drain body from said threaded tailpiece, said stopper is caused to separate from said drain collar and as said piston withdraws from said drain body and into said threaded tailpiece, said stopper is caused to seat upon said drain collar and further when said downwardly angled surface extends within a first of said annular regions, said stopper and lifting frame are removable from said drain body and when said downwardly angled surface extends within a second of said annular regions, said piston prevents said stopper and lifting frame from being removed fiom said drain body

2 The drain stopper assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second annular regions of said lifting frame are diametrically opposed to one another The diain stopper assembly of claim 1 wheiein said piston is capable of being withdrawn within said threaded tailpiece to substantially remove said downwaidly angled surface fϊom said diain body The drain stoppei assembly of claim 1 wheiein said actuator assembly comprises pressurized aii in fluid communication with said piston employed to selectively move said piston within said threaded tailpiece The drain stoppei of claim 1 further comprising a helical spring for biasing said piston away from said lifting frame The drain stopper of claim 1 wheiein said actuatoi assembly composes a lifting rod swivally connected to a cam rod and cam, said cam having a cam lobe coupled to said piston The drain stopper¹ of claim 1 wheiein said actuatoi assembly comprises a lifting rod connected to a cable coupled to said piston A method of converting a drain stoppei assembly from one in which a diain stoppei can be removed fiom an opening within a basin, tub or¹ sink to one in which the stoppei cannot be lemoved ftom said opening in said basin, tub or sink, said opening being situated within said basin, tub oi sink foi facilitating the selective passage of water theiethiough passed the drain collar and diain body, providing a threaded tailpiece open to and extending transversely fiom said diain body, providing a piston positioned within said threaded tailpiece and connected to an actuator assembly for selectively extending a distal end of said piston within said drain body, said distal end being chaiacterized as having a downwaidly angled surface, providing a lifting fiame moveable within said drain body, said lifting frame having first and second ends, said first end attached to a stoppei sized to close said drain collar in a first position and extendable theiefiom in a second position, and said second end having first and second annular regions, each annulai region being positionable to selectively receive said downwardly angled surface such that as said piston extends within said frame body from said threaded tailpiece, said stoppei is caused to separate fiom said drain collai and as said piston withdiaws fiom said diain body and into said threaded tailpiece, said stoppei is caused to seat upon said diain collai and further when said downwaidly angled surface extends within a fiist of said annulai regions, said stoppei and lifting fiame aie removable from said diain body and when said downwaidly angled surface extends within said second of said angular regions, said piston prevents said stoppei and lifting fiame fiom being removed fiom said drain body, said method further comprising lifting said stoppei and lifting frame fiom said drain collai and rotating said stoppei and lifting fiame appioximately 180° whereupon said lifting aim presents a fust or second of said annular regions to said downwardly angled surface 9 The method of claim 8 whereby said piston is withdiawn within said thieaded tailpiece to substantially lemove said downwaidly angled suiface fiom said diain body 10 The method of claim 8 whereby pressuiized air is caused to pass within a line in fluid communication with said piston for selectively moving said piston within said thieaded tailpiece

1 1. The method of claim 8 providing a helical spring for biasing said piston away fiom said lifting frame 12 The method of claim 8 wherein a lifting rod is caused to swivally connect to a cam rod and cam, said cam having a cam lobe which is rotated for moving said piston