Drain seal

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective drain seal for use in mounting a vessel to a platform. The drain seal includes a seal which permits the vessel to be mounted to the surface of the platform, as well as providing a protective barrier between the platform and the drain assembly. The drain seal includes a first member defining a first lumen there through and including a first flange surrounding the first lumen. A second member defining a second lumen and having a second flange surrounding the second lumen is additionally included, wherein the first and second members are engagable. The drain seal is positionable through a hole in the platform such that the first flange forms a seal between the vessel and the platform.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a sink drainage system, and more particularly to a device for sealing a sink drain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vessels are a type of sink which are mounted to an upper surface of a vanity or platform. The vessels are secured to the platform by way of a coupling system. A mounting ring, with a washer, is positioned between a drain hole in a bottom portion of the vessel and a hole in the platform. The hole in the platform is alignable with the drain pipe. A drain assembly is positioned through the drain hole, the mounting ring and washer, and the platform hole. A drain nut is threaded onto the drain assembly, securing the drain assembly through the drain hole, the mounting ring and washer, and the platform hole. The drain nut is sufficiently tightened to secure the vessel to the platform. The drain assembly can then be connected to the drain pipe.

The mounting ring positions the vessel on the platform in a raised configuration, such that the lower surface of the vessel is raised off the platform. As the mounting ring is visible, it is necessary to provide the mounting ring with an appropriate decorative finish, so as not to detract from the aesthetics of the vessel and platform. Furthermore, the mounting ring fails to provide a seal between the vessel and the platform, which as a result, may allow water to leak between the vessel and the platform especially with vessels having drain overflows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vessel drain seal including a first member defining a first lumen there through and including a first flange surrounding the first lumen. A second member defining a second lumen and having a second flange surrounding the second lumen is additionally included, wherein the first and second members are engagable.

The first member includes a first hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first hollow body portion having the first flange. The first flange can include a raised seal there about. The second member includes a second hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second hollow body portion having a second flange. The second end of the first hollow body portion is engagable with the second end of the second hollow body portion.

In a method of connecting a vessel to a platform the drain seal is positioned into a hole in the platform, where the first flange is positioned on an upper surface of the platform and a second flange is positioned on a lower surface of the platform. The vessel is positioned onto the upper surface of the platform, with a drain hole in the vessel aligned with the drain seal lumen and the first flange interposed between the vessel and the upper surface of the platform, surrounding the drain hole. A drain assembly is inserted through the drain hole and the lumen in the drain seal. A drain nut is threaded onto the drain assembly, such that the second flange is interposed between the lower surface of the platform and the drain nut. The drain nut is tightened on the drain assembly, such that the first flange creates a seal between the vessel and the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a drain seal of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the drain seal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of a vessel installed on a platform using the drain seal of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 depicts a partial sectional view of a vessel installed on a platform using the drain seal of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a protective drain seal for use in mounting a vessel to a platform. The drain seal includes a seal which permits the vessel to be mounted to the surface of the platform, as well as providing a protective barrier between the platform and the drain assembly.

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a drain seal 10 of the present invention. The drain seal 10 includes a first member 12 having a first body portion 14. A first end 15 of the first body portion 14 includes a flange 16, where a top portion of the flange 16 has a raised seal 18. The raised seal 18 is sized and dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within a drain hole of a vessel (not shown).

The drain seal 10 further includes a second member 20 having a second body portion 22. A first end 21 of the second body portion 22 includes a second flange 24. The second body portion 22 has an inner diameter d1 which is substantially equal to an outer diameter d2 of the first body portion 14. The inner and outer diameters d1 and d2 are sized such that the second end 17 of the first body portion 14 can be slideably inserted in the second end 23 of the second body portion 22. Alternatively, the inner and outer diameters d1 and d2 are sized such that the second end 17 of the first body portion 14 can be slideably inserted about the second end 23 of the second body portion 22.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown an exemplary use of the drain seal 10 with an exemplary vessel 30 and platform 32. The platform 32 includes a hole 34 there through. The first member 12 is positioned in the platform 32, such that the first body portion 14 is positioned in the hole 34 with the first flange 16 being positioned on an upper surface 36 of the platform 32. The second member 20 is similarly positioned in the platform 32, with the second body portion 22 being positioned in the hole 34 and the second flange 24 positioned on a lower surface 38 of the platform 32. The first and second body portions 14 and 22 are positioned in an engaging relationship to secure the first and second members 12 and 20 in the platform hole 34.

The vessel 30 is positioned on the upper surface 36 of the platform 32, such that the drain hole 40 is aligned with the platform hole 34. In this configuration, the first flange 16 is interposed between the upper surface 36 of the platform 32 and a lower surface 42 of the vessel 30. At least a portion of the raised seal 18 is positioned in the drain hole 40. The raised seal 18 provides the additional advantage of aligning the drain hole 40 with the platform hole 34.

A drain assembly 44 is inserted through the drain hole 40 and the platform hole 34, such that a threaded portion 46 of the drain assembly extends from the lower surface 38 of the platform 32. A drain nut 48 is threaded onto the threaded portion 46 of the drain assembly, where the second flange 24 is interposed between the drain nut 48 and the lower surface 38 of the platform 32. The drain nut 48 is sufficiently tightened, such that the drain assembly 44 secures the vessel 30 to the platform 32. In the tightened configuration, the first flange 16 and raised seal 18 form a seal between the upper surface 36 of the platform 32 and the lower surface 42 of the vessel 30, about the drain hole 40. Similarly, the second flange 24 forms a seal between the lower surface 38 of the platform 32 and the drain nut 48. Additionally, the first and second body portions 14 and 22 combine to form a protective barrier interposed between the drain assembly 44 and the drain hole 34.

In an embodiment, the vessel 30 includes a drain overflow 50. The drain overflow 50 provides a fluid path along which excess fluid can be removed from the vessel 30. The fluid path transports the excess fluid to an overflow chamber 52 located proximal to the drain hole 40, surrounding at least a portion of the drain assembly 44. The drain assembly 44 includes an aperture 54 located within the overflow chamber 52, providing a fluid path for the excess fluid to enter the drain assembly 44. The first flange 16 and raised seal 18 of the drain seal 10 provide a seal for the overflow chamber 52, preventing the excess fluid from seeping out from between the upper surface 36 of the platform 32 and the lower surface 42 of the vessel 30 surrounding the drain hole 40. Similarly, the second flange 24 of the drain seal 10 provides a seal between the lower surface 38 of the platform 32 and the drain nut 48.

The first and second body portions 14 and 22 of the drain seal 10 are dimensioned to fit in platform hole 34 for a conventional size drain, for example, in a drain of about 1½ inches to 1⅝ inches in diameter. However, it is contemplated that the first and second body portions 14 and 22 can be dimensioned to be utilized with non-conventional drain sizes, which can be larger than 1⅝ inches in diameter or smaller then 1½ inches in diameter. Additionally, the cross sectional area of the drain seal 10 can be non-circular for use in non-circular drain configurations.

The first member and second members 12 and 20 of the drain seal 10 can be made of a material allowing the first flange 16 and raised seal 18 to be compressed between the upper surface 36 of the platform 32 and the lower surface 42 of the vessel 30, creating the seal between the platform 32 and the vessel 30. Additionally, the second flange 24 can be compressed between the drain nut 48 and the lower surface 38 of the platform 32 creating the seal there between. The material can include rubber, polyurethane, or other pliable or resilient materials.

Alternatively, the second member 20 of the drain seal can be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. For example, the second member can be made of a metal, plastic, or other composite materials.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A vessel drain seal comprising:

a first member defining a first lumen there through and including a first flange surrounding the first lumen; and

a second member defining a second lumen and having a second flange surrounding the second lumen, wherein the first and second members are engagable.

2. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second lumens define a passage through the engaged first and second members, the passage being sized to receive a portion of a drain assembly there through.

3. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first flange comprises a raised seal surrounding the first lumen.

4. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 3, where the raised seal is substantially positionable in a drain hole in a vessel.

5. A vessel drain seal as set forth claim 3, wherein the first member includes a first body portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first body portion including the first flange.

6. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 5, wherein the second member includes a second body portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second body portion including the second flange.

7. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first body portion has an outer diameter and the second body portion has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first body portion.

8. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first member engages the second member by inserting the second end of the first body portion into the second end of the second body portion.

9. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first body portion has an inner diameter and the second body portion has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first body portion.

10. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first member engages the second member by inserting the second end of the second body portion into the second end of the first body portion.

11. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first member has an outer diameter between about 1½ inches and 1⅝ inches.

12. A vessel drain seal as set forth in claim 6, wherein the vessel drain seal is made of a resilient material.

13. A device for sealing a drain assembly to a vessel through a platform, the device comprising:

a first hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first hollow body portion having a first flange including a raised seal positionable within a drain hole of the vessel; and

a second hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second hollow body portion having a second flange, wherein the second end of the first hollow body portion is engagable with the second end of the first hollow body portion forming a passage configured for receiving at least a portion of the drain assembly there through.

14. A method of connecting a vessel to a platform comprising:

positioning a drain seal defining a lumen there through into a hole in the platform, such that a first flange of the drain seal is positioned on an upper surface of the platform and a second flange of the drain seal is positioned on a lower surface of the platform;

positioning a vessel onto the upper surface of the platform, such that a drain hole in the vessel is aligned with the drain seal lumen, wherein the first flange is interposed between the vessel and the upper surface of the platform, surrounding the drain hole;

inserting a drain assembly through the drain hole and the drain seal lumen;

threading a drain nut onto the drain assembly, such that the second flange is interposed between the lower surface of the platform and the drain nut; and

tightening the drain nut on the drain assembly, such that the first flange creates a seal between the vessel and the platform.