Plugs Patents (Class 4/295)
  • Patent number: 4369531
    Abstract: A strainer for a tub drain has a spring-biased plunger for moving the stopper from its closed position to an open, liquid flow position. The plunger has a stem that extends into the passageway of the body of the strainer, and is mounted thereon for axial reciprocation between an extended outward (open) position and a depressed inward (closed) position. An axial bore extends through the stopper member, and provides a surface portion conforming to the corresponding portion of the plunger stem. Inward movement of the plunger causes a sealing ring, which is mounted on the stem portion, to be displaced to a position of frictional engagement on the corresponding surface portion of the stopper member bore. Subsequent outward movement, under the force of the biasing spring, causes the plunger to lift the stopper member away from the seat portion of the body, and thereby to open the strainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Macristy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Swanson
  • Patent number: 4360041
    Abstract: A cleanout fitting for use in the construction industry in conjunction with a lateral sewer line to bring the sewer line up to floor level at various locations to facilitate cleaning of the same. The fitting includes a pipe section with internal threads, a plug member with external threads adapted for engagement with the internal threads of the pipe section, a cover plate positionable on top of the pipe section and a connection member for connecting the cover plate with the plug member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: The Cretex Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hagan, Larry Swanson, David E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4359788
    Abstract: This invention discloses a disc type kitchen sink drain valve mounted on a strainer that is placed in the well provided in the bottom of a kitchen sink, the drain valve comprising a sleeve fixed vertically and substantially at the center of the bottom plate of the strainer, a valve member having a valve stem slidably inserted in the sleeve, and fixed at the lower end of the valve stem an elastic valve body of disc type capable of moving up and down with the valve stem to open and close the drain port provided at the bottom of the well of the kitchen sink by uncovering and covering the drain port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Inventor: Shu-Lien Liou
  • Patent number: 4339832
    Abstract: A flush mounted, pop-up drain fitting includes a shallow, hollow cylindrical drain body having a flange extending radially outwardly from the upper end thereof and adapted for flush mounting with a tub or basin surface. A plurality of arms extend downwardly from the lower end of the drain body, the arms extending obliquely inwardly toward the axis of the drain body. The lower, distal ends of the arms are joined to a lower cylindrical member which is provided with an axially disposed threaded hole. A pop-up drain mechanism is secured in the threaded hole, and is positioned to form a seal with an annular lip in the lower end of the drain body. In the sealed or closed position, the pop-up drain fitting is substantially flush with the upper surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Inventor: Casper Cuschera
  • Patent number: 4320540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a discharge drain assembly (for use in a sink) including a drain body and a plug assembly adapted to fit in the drain body which features limited rotational movement between an open and a closed position. The plug includes a stainless steel strainer with an integral hollow knob having opposed sides which are inwardly concave. The knob securely but releasably retains a slotted head portion of a spindle. The spindle has a neck portion for receiving a sealing washer and a lower body portion including three leg portions. The leg portions support the plug in the open position, restrain rotation in a first direction beyond the open position, and cam the plug to the closed position when rotated in a direction opposite said first direction. The structure substantially eliminates a "finding" problem common in prior art arrangements and provides a good seal in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Waltec, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Hudson Leavens
  • Patent number: 4276662
    Abstract: An improved plug device for the drain of a basin or a bathtub, which is comprised of a roller mounted on a rod and spring enclosed by two semicircular sleeves, which when assembled together form a cylindrical sleeve. The roller is guided by a guide groove which is carried on the inner wall of the two semicircular sleeves. The roller is connected to a drain plug by a rod and spring urges the device upwardly. The guide groove has rest positions so that by simply depressing the plug sequentially, the plug is automatically set in either the open or closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Inventor: Victor Young
  • Patent number: 4233697
    Abstract: A protective cover or cap for connection to a toilet mounting flange installed on a drain or discharge pipe is described. The cover protects the stems of bolts for connecting the flange to the toilet by means of at least two tubular extensions on the cover which surround the bolts and by means of nuts over washers on the bolt stems when the cover is installed on the flange. The cover makes it much easier to align the flange visually with the surrounding walls by means of the tubular extensions for the bolts. In addition, the cover is adapted for hydrostatic testing of the drainage system, prevents any foreign material from entering the discharge pipe and protects the slots and holes in the flange from becoming clogged or filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Cornwall
  • Patent number: 4218785
    Abstract: A drain assembly for a lavatory basin which includes a drain tube having a flanged upper end adapted for support by the basin. A drain plug is carried within the drain tube. A lift rod extends through the drain tube at a side opening therein and engages the plug. The lift rod is held in a sealed relationship against the tube by a retainer clamp which permits the lift rod to be shifted causing the drain plug to be correspondingly shifted between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: Bristol Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Crawford, Larry G. Turner
  • Patent number: 4188675
    Abstract: An improved lavatory drain plug includes a split hub structure, normally separated axially, upon which a cylindrical sealing member is mounted. Bringing the hub together exerts an outward radial force on the sealing member while the rim adjacent the hub exerts both radial and axial forces, resulting in a net outward movement of the member to sealingly engage the walls of a conduit into which the plug has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Assignee: Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert H. Ast
  • Patent number: 4188676
    Abstract: A drain closure includes a flexible seal member formed as a segment of a sphere and centrally mounted on a post located at the center of the drain. The seal member is bistable between opposite involuted positions. In one position its free edges snap downwardly to engage the flange of the drain nut and in the other position its free edges snap upwardly to open the drain. The post is guided for limited vertical movement in a centrally hubbed retainer so that downwrd movement of the post flips the seal member to its upwardly involuted position. A relatively rigid disk slidably mounted about a button attached to the top of the post shields the seal member from a hard stream of water issuing from the spout above, thereby preventing the closure member from accidentally snapping closed. Also, the disk shields the closure member from the current of waste water draining through the device, thereby preventing accidental closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Assignee: Price-Pfister Brass Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Julius L. Tolnai, Matthew G. Tarnay
  • Patent number: 4180094
    Abstract: A drain cover assembly 10 for venting a drain 14 located below grade to the ground level is disclosed. The assembly includes a hollow frustro-conical drain cover 12 which opens downward to cover the top of a floor drain 14. The lower annular end surface 64 of the drain cover 12 is provided with a rubber seal to engage the top of the drain 14. The drain cover is held in place by a jack screw which extends between a recess 46 in the top of the drain cover and the structure above, typically the ceiling of a basement. A flexible conduit is connected with the drain cover and extends upward through a window 20 or other opening to the ground level. When water from a sewer system backs up through the drain 14, hydrostatic pressure forces the water through the flexible conduit 18 to a location remote from the building in which the drain is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Inventor: Steve Viragh
  • Patent number: 4160293
    Abstract: A drain valve assembly adapted for use with sinks, lavatories, and tubs is disclosed. The drain valve assembly comprises a valve body or drain sleeve which is mounted in the drain port or opening of the sink, lavatory, or tub and includes a valve seat formed around its open upper end and a stud axially mounted within the drain sleeve. A removably mounted stopper is positioned within the drain sleeve for axial reciprocation on the stud. The stopper is provided with gripping means which cooperate with stop means formed on the stud for holding the stopper either in a raised or open position or a lowered or closed position. A resilient seal means is mounted on the stopper for seating in fluid tight relation with the valve seat at the open outer end of the drain sleeve when the stopper is in the lowered or closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Niemann
  • Patent number: 4144599
    Abstract: A selectively sealing drain fitting includes a tubular drain body having a spider in the lower end thereof. An upwardly extending rectangular post is joined to the center of the spider, and is provided with a lateral slot in one face thereof and an oblique camming surface directly superjacent thereto. A drain sealing cover is provided with a downwardly depending hollow tubular portion which is received about the rectangular post and maintained in an eccentric disposition thereabout by an eccentric dog extending laterally from the upper end of the post. A compression spring disposed within the tubular portion of the drain cover biases the cover upwardly, and a latch pin extending laterally through the tubular portion of the cover engages the camming surfaces and the slot in the post in detent fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Inventor: Casper Cuschera
  • Patent number: 4143432
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plug comprising a body having a sealing means arranged to sealingly engage with a portion of a vessel surrounding a drain outlet and a regulating means mounted on the body and arranged upon partial rotation to open or close the plug to permit or prevent respectively, egress of liquid from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Inventor: Frederick J. Deken
  • Patent number: 4138747
    Abstract: A drainage fitting comprising a hollow member with an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom. A valve is positioned or positionable within the hollow member such that by operating the valve liquid flow through the hollow member can be substantially prevented or allowed. There is a second inlet to the hollow member which is positioned such that liquid entering the hollow member from the second inlet can be directed either through the outlet or through the first inlet by operation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Assignee: Ahi Operations Limited
    Inventor: Jan G. H. Zijlstra
  • Patent number: 4112527
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a temporary stopper for the outlets of toilet bowls. In particular, this stopper is adapted for installation into and removal from the open top of a toilet bowl and when installed is adapted to stop any and all back flow from a connected sewer. Back flow often occurs when a sewer in addition to its normal discharge is also subject to a flow of water such as may be present after a heavy rain. This may be an infrequent occurrence but does occur in toilet bowls in basements and/or first floor installations. Back flow can and does cause damage and odor proliferation in such installations. A temporary plug that is readily and easily installed to halt such back flow prevents damage and afterward cleanup. The need for such a plug is usually for only a short period of time such as 6 or 12 hours although the time period is not a factor in its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Inventor: Lauro B. Giubilo
  • Patent number: 4103372
    Abstract: A selectively sealing drain fitting includes a tubular drain body having a spider in the lower end thereof. An upwardly extending rectangular post is joined to the center of the spider, and is provided with a lateral slot in one face thereof and an oblique camming surface directly superjacent thereto. A drain sealing cover is provided with a downwardly depending hollow tubular portion which is received about the rectangular post and maintained in an eccentric disposition thereabout by an eccentric dog extending laterally from the upper end of the post. A compression spring disposed within the tubular portion of the drain cover biases the cover upwardly, and a latch pin extending laterally through the tubular portion of the cover engages the camming surfaces and the slot in the post in detent fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Inventor: Casper Cuschera
  • Patent number: 4100629
    Abstract: A drain plug for axial insertion into a conduit having an inner surface, including a cup-shaped resilient sealing member having a closed end and an open end and having a sidewall having an outer surface conforming to the inner surface of the conduit and with the cup-shaped member normally axially slideable into the conduit, first means intercoupling the closed and open ends of the cup-shaped member for axially compressing the cup-shaped member to flex the sidewall radially outward to engage and seal against the inner surface of the conduit, and second means coupled to the first means for moving between first and second positions for actuating the first means to compress the cup-shaped member with the second means moved from the first to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Viking Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kendall Jones, Boyce M. Hill
  • Patent number: 4086670
    Abstract: This invention relates to an aircraft toilet drain assembly of the type utilizing a drain plug, intended to prevent a maintenance operator from failing to replace the drain plug at the completion of after-flight servicing. The assembly is installed at the end of an outlet tube from a toilet holding tank in a position adjacent an access opening in the aircraft, which is closed in flight by an access panel. The assembly includes an outlet nipple, secured to the outlet tube, and a releasable cover mountable on the end of the nipple. A handle mounted on the cover is selectively movable between an extended position in which it obstructs the access opening to prevent the access panel from being closed and a depressed condition in which the access panel can be closed. An interlock responsive to the presence of the drain plug in the nipple locks the handle in its extended position unless a drain plug is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Krause, Eugene F. Colditz
  • Patent number: 4007500
    Abstract: A bathtub stopper for closing the drain passage of a strainer cup of a bathtub according to the present invention consists of a main body portion which has first and second components adapted to telescope longitudinally with respect to one another between an extended position and a shortened position. The components are also rotatable with respect to one another about the longitudinal axis of the main body. The first component is manually engageable to be rotatably driven about the longitudinal axis and the second component is adapted to be secured to a strainer to locate the main body in an operative position with respect to the strainer. A closure means is carried by the first component for closing the drain passage when the main body is in the shortened position, the closure means being spaced from the strainer to open the drain passage when in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Emco Ltd.
    Inventors: Arthur D. Thompson, Imao Kaibara
  • Patent number: 3995333
    Abstract: A closure for a drain port in a receptacle such as a bath tub or sink. The closure includes a base member for attachment to the receptacle. It includes a fulcrum which engages one side of a bi-stable disc spring. A pair of actuators are situated on the opposite side of the spring, and contact it respectively radially inwardly and outwardly from the fulcrum. The spring can be moved by the actuators to assume a respective one of its two stable configurations. The spring, when in one configuration, permits a seal to bear against a peripheral surface around the drain port to close it. When in the other configuration, it causes the seal to move away from the peripheral surface and open the drain port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: Graning Company
    Inventor: James B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 3972078
    Abstract: A device protects against inadvertent loss of objects down drain pipes when the associated drain stopper is in an opened position. The associated stopper includes a top closure portion, an intermediate guide portion and a bottom actuated means for moving the top closure portion between opened and closed positions relative to a drain fitting which has a flange surrounding a drain bore in which said intermediate guide portion travels. The device for protecting against inadvertent loss comprises screening means of toroidal configuration for mounting about the stopper adjacent and below the top closure portion. The screening means rides on the intermediate guide portion into the drain bore upon closure of the stopper and, out of the drain bore upon opening of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: George A. Maki
    Inventor: George A. Maki
  • Patent number: 3959831
    Abstract: A wash basin drain filter for entrapping elongated flexible fibers such as hair while permitting the passage of relatively small particulate matter is disclosed herein. The filter has a generally cylindrical body which, after installation, about the shank of a pop-up drain plug has a plurality of spikes protruding outwardly therefrom. The spikes are resilient to permit insertion of the filter into the drain opening and, after insertion, the spikes extend to touch or nearly touch the inside wall of the drain pipe into which the filter has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Inventor: Jon Michael Hendricks
  • Patent number: 3949433
    Abstract: A drain closure assembly including a resilient, dome-shaped plug member which may be changed from stable "closed" convex configuration to a stable "open" concave configuration by applying pressure to either an edge portion or a central portion of the plug member. The plug member is carried by a stem means which in the preferred embodiment is biased upwardly by spring means from a depressed position under the influence of pressure to a stable upper position when the pressure is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1976
    Assignee: Chin-Chih Chuang
    Inventor: Shu-Lien Liou
  • Patent number: 3941156
    Abstract: A plumbing test fitting for a waste or vent stack extending between next-adjacent floors of a structure comprises a length of pipe having an opening in the side wall thereof. A shut-off valve couples a section of hose to the opening in the pipe. A pair of bands removably affix the length of pipe in a waste or vent stack of a structure in a manner whereby the free end of the hose extends into a closet fixture on the lower of the next-adjacent floors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack D. Metzger