Abstract: A removable trap for lavatory sinks is provided to enable new technologies to be incorporated into just the water trap portion of the sink trap to maximize the performance of the trap in infection control, while at the same time preserving the trap performance features demanded by major building codes. While a traditional P-trap requires the removal of the entire trap for cleaning or replacement, the removable trap presented in this application allows for easy removal of just the U-bend portion of the trap. The U-bend containing the water is the most vulnerable to attack to cleaning chemicals as well as the most effective locus of innovation in materials and methods employed to reduce infectious bacteria forming biofilms within the lavatory trap.

Abstract: A connector is provided for connecting a bathtub tailpipe to a drain pipe. The connector has an inlet end to receive the tailpipe and an outlet end that is mountable to the drain pipe, and has a passage extending therebetween. A seal extends about the passage for slidably engaging the tailpipe in a fluid sealing manner.

Abstract: A removable trap for lavatory sinks is provided to enable new technologies to be incorporated into just the water trap portion of the sink trap to maximize the performance of the trap in infection control, while at the same time preserving the trap performance features demanded by major building codes. While a traditional P-trap requires the removal of the entire trap for cleaning or replacement, the removable trap presented in this application allows for easy removal of just the U-bend portion of the trap. The U-bend containing the water is the most vulnerable to attack to cleaning chemicals as well as the most effective locus of innovation in materials and methods employed to reduce infectious bacteria forming biofilms within the lavatory trap.

Abstract: A bridge drain for a shower floor consists of two or more bridge support drains supporting cantilevers joined at their distal ends by a bridge deck supporting an overlying drain grate optionally accommodating tiles. The box of a linear drain is replace by a drainage surface floor below the surface of the shower floor, bounded by built up areas of the shower floor and any walls, and drained by the point drains provided by the bridge support drains. Advantages include provision of drainage to the very edge of shower entrances, increased flexibility of installation through only having to install point drains instead of box drain troughs, and increased flexibility of provision of an infinite variety of polygonal perimeter drains to ensure thorough drainage from the shower floor.

Abstract: Reuse of household bathing water for subsurface irrigation of landscaping requires a diverter fitting to enable safe diversion of water away from the bathing area to the subsurface irrigation system. The water diverter fitting described includes an inlet port and two outlet ports, as well as a directional strainer. Orientation of the strainer determines which outlet the majority of the water flows out of, the remainder of the water trickling out of the other port to be used in trap priming and enhancement of line flow. One outlet can also be used as a plug and play access point for a plurality of water regulation technologies including drain closure for a bathing vessel and heat recovery technologies. The directional strainer also serves as a removable fiber filter, and fits within the drain fitting such that a blockage in the water reuse system will allow automatic backflow to the primary sanitary drain without intervention by the bather and without pooling of diverted water.

Abstract: A drain closure device for a vessel such as a bathtub or sink is provided. The drain closure device comprises a stopper fitted with a sealing gasket and threaded onto a stem slidably mounted in a guide member which is in turn threaded into a strainer mounted in a hole in the bottom of the vessel. The device is concentrically disposed within the strainer. Twirling of the stopper causes the stem to rise and fall against an undulating cam surface of the guide. Resistance to closure is provided by rest stops for projections on the upper part of the stem. No spring, pins, or resistance seals are used. Once in place, the drain closure nests in the strainer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of installation and use of drain and drain concealment structures. The preferred embodiment involves a method of installing and using a mortar drain base, threaded invertible membrane clamp, threaded flanged pipe, and drain cover when installed in a handmade mortared shower bed, or using a threaded pan drain base, threaded flanged pipe, and drain cover when installed on a prefabricated shower pan. The drain body may be connected to the shower bed or shower pan by any suitable means, such as but not by way of limitation by being integrally molded therewith during the manufacture of the pan, by connection post-manufacture, or in situ in the field. The cover, which is defined by a peripheral edge supported by horizontal cantilevered posts, is adapted to lie in registry with, and thereby cover, the drain aperture perforating the threaded flanged pipe. In this way, water is permitted to exit the shower or bath without the drain aperture being visible.

Abstract: A drain closure device for a vessel such as a bathtub or sink is provided. The drain closure device comprises a stopper fitted with a sealing gasket and equipped with track followers on a vertical post capped with a horizontal stopper, plus a flanged pipe emanating from said stopper that fits to the drainage hole in a vessel. The device is operable to be concentrically disposed with a hole in the bottom of the vessel. Rotation of the stopper causes travel of the followers on the stem to rise against the track cut into the interior of the flanged pipe. Resistance to closure when opened is provided by a terminal rest stop for each track follower on the upper part of the track. No springs, pins, or resistance seals are used. Reverse rotation of the stopper causes reverse travel of the followers back down the track to a low resting place located to effect closure of the horizontal stopper atop the flange of the pipe resting on the perimeter of the vessel hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a removable sealing member associated with a shower drain or bathtub overflow fitting having a grip positioned and contoured to facilitate handling during removal and to resist passage into and through any downstream drainage plumbing.

Abstract: A drain mounted in the floor and equipped with a novel annular seal to accept the penetration of a tubular tailpiece affixed to and emanating from the bottom of a free standing bath is provided. The mounted drain comprises a circular anchoring plate fastened concentrically to a hole in the floor. To the lower surface of the anchoring plate an internally threaded base is fastened by the threading in of a flanged externally threaded pipe that hangs from the inner rim of a circular perforation in the anchoring plate, said flange pipe threading into the base beneath said plate. A novel seal is equipped with a horizontal annular flange that is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the flanged externally threaded pipe on top and the internally threaded base beneath said plate. Said seal also is equipped with a vertical perforation with annual features that seal against the penetrating tubular tailpiece circumference to prevent air and water leakage. The base is further attached to a drain.

Abstract: A thread-in drain for lavatories includes a flanged and threaded pipe inserted into the lavatory drain waste hole from above said hole for connection to plumbing below said hole. Said flange is secured to the inside of the vessel by tightening a nut and washers threaded onto said pipe from below the vessel. Cross-hairs found in traditional lavatory drains are eliminated. A plurality of closures and grates and screens can be introduced and fixed onto the drain by threading an attached male thread ring on the bottom of said introduced piece into a female thread groove on the upmost interior of said threaded pipe. Said thread-in drain allows for removal and sterilization of said introduced piece. Said thread-in drain allows for access to the interior of the drain by cleaning devices. Said thread-in drain allows for uniform distribution of anti-microbial coating in the interior of said drain.

Abstract: A drain closure device for a vessel such as a bathtub or sink is provided. The drain closure device comprises a stopper fitted with a sealing gasket and threaded onto a stem slidably mounted in a guide member which is in turn threaded into a strainer mounted in a hole in the bottom of the vessel. The device is concentrically disposed within the strainer. Twirling of the stopper causes the stem to rise and fall against an undulating cam surface of the guide. Resistance to closure is provided by rest stops for projections on the upper part of the stem. No spring, pins, or resistance seals are used. Once in place, the drain closure nests in the strainer.

Abstract: An overflow device assembly for a vessel such as a bathtub or sink is provided. The overflow device comprises a tieplate comprising a mating flange attached to a first end of a pipe and a faceplate operable to slide onto the tieplate. The faceplate comprises a front cover portion, a backside and a groove. The pipe is operable to be concentrically disposed with a hole in a wall of the vessel. The groove is located on the backside of the faceplate, and the mating flange slides along and inside the groove. Once in place, the front cover portion of the faceplate covers the first end of the pipe.

Abstract: An overflow sub-assembly consists of an overflow faceplate that slides over and down the overflow tieplate by means of a internal slot mating with a matching flange on the tieplate. This invention requires no fasteners to attach the faceplate to the tieplate, leaving the faceplate free to bear a variety of finishes, including in-mould decorating, conventional plating, mirror finish, texture, and three-dimensional ornament.

Abstract: An assembly to hide the visual distraction of the electrical outlet consists of a faceplate box with an internal groove to the rear and an open bottom, allowing for sliding over a tieplate tied to a mounted electrical box. This tieplate bears a mating flange to the top and sides that is offset from rear of the tieplate to allow for sliding on of the faceplate. This faceplate can be manipulated whether or not flat-headed cords are plugged in. The faceplate is then free to bear a variety of finishes, including in-mould decorating, conventional plating, mirror finish, texture, and three-dimensional ornament.

Abstract: Greywater diversion of bathwater for reuse is fast becoming a global necessity; however, there is a need for a device that separates the diversion function from the utilization system for reasons including backflow situations and odor control. Further, said device must be able to be installed in typical bath installation; further, the fiber filtering function must be located in a readily accessible position within the assembly. This invention describes the novel combination of a strainer-mounted hair catcher mesh cup, a two-port full-port variable-aperture valve, an indirect waste overflow fitting, and a direct waste overflow fitting to comprise a greywater diversion assembly that allows for easy cleaning, emergency backflow of greywater to the primary sanitary drain system, and installation within the restricted space beneath a bath in a typical North American bathroom.

Abstract: A bath waste assembly is that unit that occupies the lowest point in a vessel or tray used for bathing and drains away water to a sewage system, often in concert with an overflow waste drain. The horizontal portion of the waste water assembly terminates in a P-trap that separates the assembly from the rest of the drain and sewer apparatus. The horizontal pipe running from the bath drain hole to the fitting leading to the P-trap can become nearly as hot as the hot water originally entering the vessel, particularly when the bath is being used as a shower vessel. Replacement of this pipe with a copper waste water pipe wrapped with narrower copper pipe through which cold supply water runs, absorbing heat on its way to a thermostatic control valve, allows the amount of hot water balancing this cold water to be decreased automatically since the temperature of the cold water has been increased.

Abstract: The invention consists of a discontinuous helical auger contained within a heated vessel filled with sawdust. The auger enables thorough turning of sawdust enclosed within a heated vessel enabling function of the assembly as a waterless biotoilet. Control of auger rotation works to maximize the biodegradation of human toilet waste through physical breakdown of organic matter, through stimulation of evaporation of the aqueous fraction, and through supporting a benign microflora to effect biodegradation. This discontinuous helical auger enables maintenance of a flat horizontal upper planar surface of the sawdust mass while maximizing aeration of the sawdust mass. The angle of the helical blade and discontinuities therein work to draw the organic matter very gradually toward the opposite end of the biotoilet from the toilet hole, maximizing dewatering and aerobic breakdown.