Drain surrounding structure protective cosmetic cover

Abstract

A drain surrounding cover (30) is configured to be easily installed about a drain ring (12) in the bottom of a drain-including structure and/or fixture, such as tubs, basins, bathtubs, showers, sinks, laundry tubs, and the like (22), for protecting from, and/or cosmetically covering, damage and/or discoloration in the surrounding area. The drain surrounding cover (30) may be easily, quickly, and economically installed about the drain ring 12 and covering the surrounding area. Also disclosed is a drain assembly (10) including the drain surrounding cover (30).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of drains and associated structures and fixtures, such tubs and basins, bathtubs, showers, sinks, laundry tubs, and the like, and more particularly to materials, structures, and techniques, for repairing and protecting drains and the surrounding area of drain-including structures and fixtures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drains, such as used in tubs, basins, bathtubs, showers, sinks, etc., conventionally have a drain ring that is adapted to fit over and around a drain port about the bottom of a drain-including structure and/or fixture, such as a bathtub or the like. The drain ring is normally connected to a drain pipe positioned under the drain port. To prevent water from seeping between the drain port and the drain ring, the drain ring is connected to the drain port through the use of a sealant material. For example, plumber putty can be placed between the drain port and the drain ring, sealing the area from water seepage.

During use, the area surrounding a drain port of a drain-including structure or fixture, such as a bathtub, a shower, a sink, a laundry tub, and the like, tends to wear and damage. A discoloration, chipping, or flaking of the material in that area can occur. This discoloration, chipping, or flaking can be aesthetically unpleasing or sufficiently severe that the structure and/or fixture, e.g., the bathtub, may require repair or replacement, for which there can be significant costs.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, according to an embodiment, provides a protective and/or cosmetic cover for the surrounding structure about a drain, the protective and/or cosmetic cover (herein also referred to as a “drain surrounding cover”) is configured to be easily installed in proximity to a drain ring about the bottom of structures and/or fixtures, such as bathtubs, sinks, laundry tubs, showers, and the like (herein also referred to as “drain-based structures”), protecting and/or covering any damage and/or discoloration in the surrounding area of a drain.

According to an embodiment, a drain surrounding cover may include a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner radius substantially equal to an outer radius of the drain ring; and an outer radius. The drain surrounding cover may cover at least a portion of a surface area generally surrounding the drain ring. An adhesive backing may be provided on the bottom surface of the drain surrounding cover, allowing the drain surrounding cover to be adhered to the surface area of the drain-based fixture surrounding the drain ring.

The drain surrounding cover may be provided in a kit form, included with a drain assembly. The drain assembly includes a drain pipe which is positionable under a drain port. A drain ring is provided which is positionable over the drain port, comprising to the drain pipe through the drain port. The drain surrounding cover is attached to the bottom surface of the drain-based structure and/or fixture, substantially covering the area of the bottom surface adjacent to and surrounding the drain ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art drain assembly;

FIG. 2 illustrates a drain-including structure and/or fixture, and incorporating a drain surrounding cover, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a drain surrounding cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the drain surrounding cover shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional plan view of the drain surrounding cover and drain assembly shown in FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict alternative drain surrounding covers according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).

An embodiment of the present invention provides a drain surrounding protective and/or cosmetic cover (herein also referred to as a “drain surrounding cover”) configured to be easily installed about a drain ring in the bottom of drain-based structures and/or fixtures, such as tubs, basins, bathtubs, sinks, laundry tubs, and the like, protecting and/or covering any damaged or discoloration in the surrounding area about the drain.

Referring now to the drawing figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary drain assembly 10 of the prior art. The drain assembly 10 includes a drain ring 12 connected to a hollow fluid conduit member 14. The fluid conduit member 14 includes an open end 16 with internal or external threads 18 that penetrates and extends through a drain port 20 in the bottom of a drain-including structure and/or fixture such as a bathtub 22. The open end 16 is threadably affixed to a primary drain pipe 28. Alternatively, the open end 16 can be unthreaded, wherein the open end 16 is telescopically affixed to a primary drain pipe 28. The drain port 20 is inset with the bathtub 22, such that the top of the drain ring 12 is substantially flush with the bottom surface 24 of the bathtub 22. The inset of the drain port 20 forms an arcuate surface 26 between the drain port 20 and bottom surface 24 of the bathtub 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a drain-including structure and/or fixture such as a bathtub 22, and incorporating a drain surrounding cover 30, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drain surrounding cover 30 is positioned on the arcuate surface 26, interpose between the bottom surface 24 of the bathtub 22 and the drain ring 12. The drain surrounding cover 30 acts to substantially protect the surrounding surface area such as the arcuate surface 26 from discoloration or damage. This is a commercially valuable feature for new drain-including structures and/or fixtures to provide protection to the surrounding surface area from an initial or early use of the product. It provides extended life, and an aesthetically pleasing decor, to the drain-including structure and/or fixture. Alternatively, the drain surrounding cover 30 may be used after occurrence of discoloration and/or damage to cover such discoloration and/or damage to the surrounding surface area such as the arcuate surface 26. This again provides a commercially valuable benefit to users by allowing quick and economical repair and restoration of a drain-including structure and/or fixture that has suffered unfortunate discoloration and/or damage. The drain surrounding cover 30 will cover the damage and/or discoloration thereby substantially restoring the aesthetic appearance, and repairing and extending the useful life, of the product. Lastly, the drain surrounding cover 30 can add new and commercially desirable aesthetics to the surrounding area about a drain. A variety of shapes and patterns of drain surrounding covers 30 may be provided to significantly enhance the aesthetic appearance of a drain-including structure and/or fixture as viewed by users, as will be discussed in more detail below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a drain surrounding cover 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drain surrounding cover 30 is substantially circular in shape having an inner edge 31 a distance R1 from the center C of the drain surrounding cover 30 and an outer edge 33 a distance R2 from the center C of the drain surrounding cover 30. The inner edge distance R1 is normally slightly greater then an outer perimeter of the drain ring 12 of a drain. (See also FIG. 2). The outer edge distance R2 of the drain surrounding cover 30 may be provided in a number of different sizes, wherein the outer edge distance R2 is selected to cover the desired surface area extending beyond the drain ring, such as to cover any damaged or discolored portion of the arcuate surface 26 and/or of any surrounding surface area about the bottom surface 24 of the drain-including structure and/or fixture, such as the bathtub 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, at least a portion of the bottom (underside) surface 32 of the drain surrounding cover 30 is covered with an adhesive backing 34, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The adhesive backing 34 can be an adhesive coating 34 protected by a removable backing material 36. Prior to installation, the back material 36 is peeled off, exposing the adhesive coating 34.

Alternatively, the adhesive backing 34 can be an adhesive material 34, such as a double sided tape. The adhesive material 34 is protected by a removable backing material 36. Prior to installation, the back material 36 is peeled off, exposing the adhesive material 34.

Referring to FIG. 5, according to the present example, the drain surrounding cover 30 is attached to the arcuate surface 26 by peeling away the removable backing material 36 from the adhesive backing 34. The drain surrounding cover 30 is positioned about the drain ring 12, aligning the inner radius R1 of the drain surrounding cover 30 with the outer edge 33 of the drain ring 12. The drain surrounding cover 30 is pressed onto the arcuate surface 26, securing the drain surrounding cover 30 to the surface about the drain ring 12. The drain surrounding cover 30 may have an outer radius R2 such that the drain surrounding cover 30 extends into the bottom surface of the bathtub 22.

Referring to FIG. 6, the drain surrounding cover 30 of the present invention may be provided with an aesthetic, ornamental, and/or fanciful design feature. For example, but not limited to, the drain surrounding cover 30 may be provided in the shape of a flower 34. In a second non-limiting example, the drain surrounding cover 30 may also be provided with a design feature depicting sea shells, cartoon characters, sport teams, animals, etc.

Referring to FIG. 7, the aesthetic, ornamental and/or fanciful design feature of the drain surrounding cover 30 may be designed to match the design of the bottom surface 24 (see FIG. 2) of the drain-including structure and/or fixture such as the bathtub 22. For example, but not limited to, in the instance where the bathtub 22 comprises a shower basin made of tile, the drain surrounding cover 30 may include faux grout lines 38 to match or generally mimic the grout lines found on the surrounding bottom surface 24 of the bathtub 22. The areas 38 in between the faux grout lines 36 may be colored to match the colors of the tiles found on the surrounding bottom surface 24. Additionally, where the bathtub 22 (in this example) is a solid color, the drain surrounding cover 30 may be colored to match the color of the bathtub 22. This permits the drain surrounding cover 30 to substantially blend in with the appearance of the bottom surface 24 of the drain-including structure and/or fixture such as the bathtub 22.

In the above example, the drain surrounding cover 30 is described as being substantially circular in shape. However, it is contemplated that the drain surrounding cover 30 may be of any shape, wherein the inner edge distance R1 is shaped to fit about any shaped drain ring 12. For example, the drain ring 12 may be in the shape of a square, rectangular, triangular, elliptical, star, etc. Further, the outer edge distance R2 of the drain surrounding cover 30 may be provide in variety of shapes, including, but not limit to, square, rectangular, triangular, elliptical, etc. Additionally, the drain surrounding cover 30 may be sized and shaped to cover only a portion of the surrounding area about the drain, not necessarily covering all of the surface area extending beyond the perimeter of the drain ring 12.

The drain surrounding cover 30 according to alternative embodiments of the present invention may be made of a variety of materials, which can include, but not be limited to, plastic, metal, ceramic, woven fibers, polymer, copolymer, rubber, synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, and the like. For example, the drain surrounding cover 30 may be may of a hard plastic molded to conform to the shape of the arcuate surface 26. Alternatively, the drain surrounding cover 30 may be made of a rubber or woven fiber material, which may conform to the shape of the arcuate surface 26.

It is contemplated that the drain surrounding cover 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided as a stand alone unit, being available for installation for protection of and/or cosmetic cover of the arcuate surface 26 and the surrounding area. It is further contemplated that a drain assembly 10 and the drain surrounding cover 30 may be provided as a kit. Additionally, an original equipment manufactured drain-including structure and/or fixture may be provided with a drain surrounding cover 30 that best matches the aesthetics, form and function of the new product.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drain surrounding cover for protecting and covering an area surrounding a drain ring portion of a drain assembly, comprising:

a top surface;

a bottom surface;

an inner edge having an inner edge distance substantially equal to an outer perimeter of a drain ring portion of a drain assembly; and

an outer edge.

2. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive backing disposed on the bottom surface of the drain surrounding cover.

3. The drain surrounding cover of claim 2, further comprising a removable backing material covering the adhesive backing.

4. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1, wherein the drain surrounding cover is molded to conform to a surface of the area surrounding the drain ring.

5. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1, wherein the drain surrounding cover is made of a conformable material.

6. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1, wherein the drain surrounding cover is made of material comprising at least one of plastic, metal, ceramic, woven fibers, polymer, copolymer, rubber, and synthetic rubber.

7. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the drain surrounding cover substantially follows a drain shape that includes at least one of circular shape, square shape, rectangular shape, elliptical shape, star shape, and triangular shape.

8. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1 wherein the outer edge of the drain surrounding cover substantially follows a shape that includes at least one of circular shape, square shape, rectangular shape, elliptical shape, star shape, and triangular shape.

9. The drain surrounding cover of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the drain surrounding cover includes a decorative design.

10. The drain surrounding cover of claim 9, wherein the decorative design of the drain surrounding cover matches a pattern of the area surrounding the drain ring.

11. The drain surround cover of claim 1, wherein the drain surrounding cover protects and covers at least a portion of the area surrounding a drain ring portion of a drain assembly

12. A drain surrounding cover for protecting and covering an area surrounding a drain ring portion of a drain assembly comprising:

a top surface;

a bottom surface;

an adhesive backing for covering the bottom surface;

an inner edge having an inner edge distance greater than an outer perimeter of a drain ring of the drain assembly; and

an outer edge.

13. The drain surrounding cover of claim 12, further comprising a removable backing material for covering the adhesive backing.

14. The drain surrounding cover of claim 12 wherein the drain surrounding cover is made of material comprising at least one of plastic, metal, ceramic, woven fibers, polymer, copolymer, rubber, and synthetic rubber.

15. The drain surrounding cover of claim 12, wherein the inner edge of the drain surrounding cover is substantially circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, star, or triangular in shape.

16. The drain surrounding cover of claim 12, wherein the outer edge of the drain surrounding cover is substantially circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, star, or triangular in shape.

17. The drain surrounding cover of claim 12, wherein the top surface of the drain surrounding cover includes a decorative design.

18. The drain surrounding cover of claim 17, wherein the decorative design of the drain surrounding cover matches a pattern of the area surrounding the drain ring.

19. A drain assembly, comprising:

a drain-including structure and/or fixture including a bottom surface having a drain port;

a drain ring for removably connecting to the drain port of the bottom surface; and

a drain surrounding cover for positioning about the bottom surface adjacent to the drain ring.

20. The drain assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

a fluid conduit for positioning through the drain port, the drain ring for positioning over the drain port and connecting to fluid conduit through the drain port; and

the drain surrounding cover substantially covering an area of the bottom surface and substantially conforming to the outer radius of the drain ring.

21. The drain assembly of claim 19, wherein the drain surrounding cover includes an adhesive backing for affixing to the bottom surface.

22. A drain assembly for installation in structure and/or fixture including a bottom surface having a drain port, comprising:

a drain ring positionable about the drain port on the bottom surface; and

a drain surrounding cover positionable about the drain ring.