SANITARY QUICK-CONNECT VANDAL PROOF OPEN DRAIN STOPPER
A drain stopper assembly for selectively opening and closing a drain located within a basin, tub or sink A lifting frame assembly is situated within the drain body supporting a stopper. The lifting frame is provided with first and second annular regions selectively coupled to a piston caused to extend within and withdrawn from the drain body. In a first orientation, the piston extends within a first 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 aim from being removed from the drain body.
The present application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/044,034 filed on Apr. 10, 2008
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to drain stoppers for basins, tubs, and sinks, and including apparatus for actuating up and down movement of a drain stopper, and still more particularly to a drain stopper and apparatus for actuating the drain stopper that allows for complete removal of the drain stopper directly from the drain pipe without the use of tools for thorough cleaning, while also having an installation configuration that, at the option of a user, inhibits tampering with the drain and drain stopper.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDrain stoppers including lift rods and their linkage to drain assemblies have been employed for many years without any significant improvement. These assemblies generally include a ball rod assembly and linkage connecting the lift rod to the drain stopper including a pivot bar connected to the lower end of the lift rod which, in turn, is connected to a valve stem having a ball valve exposed inside a radially extending threaded tailpiece. As the lift rod is pulled upwardly, the drain stopper moves downwardly to close the drain opening and as the lift rod is pushed downwardly, the drain stopper rises from the drain collar allowing the basin to drain accordingly.
In that the lift rod and pivot bar are linked to one another, it is extremely difficult to remove the drain stopper from its collar to clean the drain body. This linkage provides for a natural ledge which catches hair and other debris causing significant sanitary and clogging issues oftentimes requiring costly plumbing repairs.
In addition to the above, drains employed in domestic installations do not present the same concerns as those of commercial installations. For example, it would greatly benefit a domestic user to be able to freely lift a drain plug from its supporting drain collar in order to clean the drain pipe. However, in a commercial installation, where theft and vandalism can be issues, it would be ideal to provide a drain plug and supporting lift rod which cannot be removed from the drain collar without a manipulative process which would not be readily apparent to an uninformed commercial user. Yet, the most ideal assembly is one in which the drain plug and lift rod can be reoriented between releaseable and locking configurations so that a single assembly can be used both domestically as well as commercially.
These and further objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA drain stopper assembly for selectively opening and closing a drain located within a basin, tub or sink, said drain having an opening within said basin, tub or sink for facilitating the selective passage of water therethrough passed the drain collar and, drain body, a threaded tailpiece open to and extending transversely from 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 drain 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 from said drain body.
Referring first to
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 rod, 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 upwardly to move a drain stopper 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 stopper. Those embodiments are described as follows
Referring next to
At the top of the lifting frame is boss 250 into which stopper rod 260 may be threadably connected. The stopper rod extends downwardly from drain stopper 270, which is selectively moved up and down to open and close the drain opening.
Still referring to
In a third embodiment of the present invention 400, expandable pneumatic supply bellows 410 in bellows chamber 420 is operatively connected to lift rod lower end 24 to provide all 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 operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art 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
1. A drain stopper assembly for selectively opening and closing a drain located within a basin, tub or sink, said drain having an opening within said basin, tub or sink for facilitating the selective passage of water therethrough passed the drain collar and drain body, a threaded tailpiece open to and extending transversely from 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 drain 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 from 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.
3. The drain stopper assembly of claim 1 wherein said piston is capable of being withdrawn within said threaded tailpiece to substantially remove said downwardly angled surface from said drain body
4. The drain stopper assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuator assembly comprises pressurized air in fluid communication with said piston employed to selectively move said piston within said threaded tailpiece.
5. The drain stopper of claim 1 further comprising a helical spring for biasing said piston away from said lifting frame.
6. The drain stopper of claim 1 wherein said actuator assembly comprises a lifting rod swivally connected to a cam rod and cam, said cam having a cam lobe coupled to said piston.
7. The drain stopper of claim 1 wherein said actuator assembly comprises a lifting rod connected to a cable coupled to said piston.
8. A method of converting a drain stopper assembly from one in which a drain stopper can be removed from an opening within a basin, tub or sink to one in which the stopper cannot be removed from said opening in said basin, tub or sink, said opening being situated within said basin, tub or sink for facilitating the selective passage of water therethrough passed the drain collar and drain body, providing a threaded tailpiece open to and extending transversely from said drain 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 characterized as having a downwardly angled surface, providing 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 drain collar in a first position and extendable therefrom in a second position, and 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 frame 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 said second of said angular regions, said piston prevents said stopper and lifting frame from being removed from said drain body, said method further comprising lifting said stopper and lifting frame from said drain collar and rotating said stopper and lifting frame approximately 180° whereupon said lifting arm presents a first or second of said annular regions to said downwardly angled surface
9. The method of claim 8 whereby said piston is withdrawn within said threaded tailpiece to substantially remove said downwardly angled surface from said drain body.
10. The method of claim 8 whereby pressurized air is caused to pass within a line in fluid communication with said piston for selectively moving said piston within said threaded tailpiece.
11. The method of claim 8 providing a helical spring for biasing said piston away from 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
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 15, 2009
Inventor: Scott Duncan (Santa Rosa, CA)
Application Number: 12/410,888
International Classification: E03C 1/23 (20060101);