Pop-up drain
A pop-up drain includes a stopper assembly, a spring and camming members. The stopper assembly, the spring and the camming members are arranged within a pipe assembly. The spring biases the interaction of the camming members so that depression of the stopper assembly results in the stopper assembly sealing the pipe assembly. A second depression of the stopper assembly results in the stopper assembly moving into a position that unseals the pipe assembly.
The present invention relates to pop-up drains and, more particularly, to a pop-up drain configured to reduce clogging.
Pop-up drains configured for use in basins or sinks are known. Conventional designs often operate with two rotational series of ramps fashioned with a cam profile on telescoping parts. Generally, the telescoping parts are keyed together and biased with a spring, such that a plug or cap supported by one of the telescoping parts is positioned at a first axial height. User input, which may be embodied by a pressing force, causes axial movement between the telescoping parts. The relative movement of the telescoping parts causes a slow disengagement of the keyed features. Once the keyed features have disengaged, the telescoping parts rotate relative to each other as defined by the cam profile. Following the rotation, the spring may bias the plug to a second axial height, which is defined by the cam profile.
In the prior art, the support structure, including telescoping parts and ramps, is generally positioned at the center of the drain. Accordingly, the support structure often bridges the flow path of the drain. Unfortunately, due to this bridging, the structure provides a common place for items to be suspended while fluid is passing through the drain.
Accordingly, a need exists for a pop-up drain that minimizes the clogging of the drain, while still allowing for the push click activation and deactivation of the pop-up drain.
The present invention provides for pop-up drain includes a stopper assembly, a spring and cooperating camming members. The camming members include multiple camming surfaces. The stopper assembly, the spring and the camming members are arranged within a pipe assembly. The spring biases the interaction of the camming surfaces so that depression of the stopper assembly results in the stopper assembly sealing the pipe assembly. A second depression of the stopper assembly results in the stopper assembly moving into a position that unseals the drain.
In one illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a pop-up stopper assembly configured to prevent the flow of a liquid through a drain pipe including a first bore. The pop-up assembly may include a first member including a second bore and a first set of camming members. The pop-up stopper assembly may include a second member at least partially located in the second bore. The second member may include a third bore, a second set of camming members and a third set of camming members. The third set of camming members may engage the first set of camming members. The pop-up stopper assembly may include a stopper assembly. The stopper assembly may include at least one member configured to traverse one of the sets of camming surfaces. In embodiments, a majority of the liquid travels through at least one of said second bore or said third bore.
In a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a pop-up assembly is configured for use in a basin having an opening with an outer pipe including an inner surface defining a first passageway for draining a liquid from the basin. The pop-up drain assembly may include a first set of camming members located interior to the inner surface of the pipe. The drain assembly may include an actuator member. The actuator member may include a second set of camming members, a third set of camming members and a second passageway. At least a portion of the actuator member may be located within the first passageway. The pop-up drain assembly may further include a stopper assembly. The stopper assembly may be configured to selectively close the opening of the basin. At least a portion of the stopper assembly may be located within the first passageway of the outer pipe. In embodiments, a majority of the liquid traverses the second passageway as the liquid is drained from the basin.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONThe embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiment selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Although the disclosure is described in connection with water, it should be understood that additional types of fluids may be used.
Referring first to
With reference still to
Referring further to
In the illustrative embodiment, flange 50 encompasses an edge of first portion 40. Flange 50 may be integrally formed in first portion 40 or may be a separate component connected to first portion 40 in a known manner. The outer diameter of flange 50 is larger than the diameter of side wall 49, and thus, flange 50 extends beyond the lateral boundaries defined by side wall 49. As depicted in
With reference again to
Referring still to
In the illustrative embodiment, receiving member 14 includes a plurality of apertures, each indicated by numeral 70. Apertures 70 illustratively have shapes similar to that of apertures 48 in outer pipe 30. In addition, the apertures 70 are illustratively spaced about receiving member 14 at positions complementary to the positions of the apertures 48 in outer pipe 30.
With reference still to
With further reference to
With reference to
As illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in
Referring still to
Referring to
Washer 20 may be formed from any suitable material. Washer 20 may have an inner diameter approximately equivalent to that of spring 18. Accordingly, washer 20 is sized to receive at least a portion of second end 92 of second camming member 90. In addition, washer 20 may have an outer diameter sized to allow washer 18 to be received within first portion 40 of outer pipe 12.
Referring now to
In the illustrative embodiment, body portion 126 includes a plurality of axially extending vanes, each indicated by numeral 132. Vanes 132 all extend radially outward from a single nexus 134. In the illustrative embodiment, body portion 126 includes four vanes 132. The vanes 132 are arranged at right angles with respect to each adjacent vane 132. It should be noted that the number of vanes may be altered as desired, and may be less than or equal to the number of traces 76 formed in inner surface 66. In the depicted embodiment, each vane 132 includes a lower surface 136.
With further reference to
Now that the components of the drain assembly 10 have been described, an exemplary assembly of drain assembly 10 will be described with respect to
With respect first to
Referring now to
Once actuating member 16 has been inserted into receiving member 14, together the members 14 and 16 may be inserted into bore 44 of first portion 40 of outer tube 30 along the path indicated by arrow CC through opening 52.
In the embodiment depicted, stopper assembly 22 is fully inserted when lower surfaces 136 contact camming surfaces 100 of actuating member 16. Once the stopper assembly 22 has been inserted into receiving member 14, the assembly of drain assembly 10 is complete.
Now that an exemplary description of assembly has been provided, an exemplary description of the operation of drain assembly 10 will now be set forth with reference to
If one desires to seal the drain assembly 10 in order to prevent the flow of liquid through opening 52, one need only depress the stopper assembly 22 in the direction indicated by Arrow A in
As shown in
With reference to
Once stopper assembly 22 has been fully depressed such that actuating member 16 rotates into the position depicted in
As shown in
When one desires to again permit liquid flow through drain assembly 10, one need only depress stopper member 22. The engagement between the lower surfaces 136 of stopper member 22 and camming members 100 of actuating member 16 will again cause actuating member 16 to move against spring 18 and in the direction away from receiving member 14. Accordingly, raised portion 110 will move away from the second portion 82 of camming members 78. Again, once spring 18 becomes fully compressed, actuating member 16 may no longer move vertically, and accordingly continued depression of assembly 22 will cause rotation of actuating member 16 so that valleys 106 may receive the lower surfaces 136 of vanes 132, as shown in
The release of the stopper assembly 22 allows spring 18 to act upon actuating member 16 thereby moving the member 16 in the direction of receiving member 14. As spring 18 drives actuating member 16 in the direction of receiving member 14, raised portions 110 will engage first portion 80 of camming members 78. Accordingly, actuating member 16 will again be positioned as depicted in
It should be noted that, as illustrated in
Referring now to
In the depicted embodiment, drain assembly 210 includes an outer pipe 212, a first or receiving member 214, a second or actuating member 16, a spring 18, a washer 20, and a stopper assembly 22. In drain assembly 210, actuating member 16, spring 18, washer 20 and stopper assembly 22 may be similar to the components described previously with respect to drain assembly 10.
Referring still to
With reference now to
In the depicted embodiment, receiving member 214 further includes a plurality of apertures, each generally indicated by numeral 270. Apertures 270 have a rectangular shape and are formed at ninety degree intervals within cylindrical wall 259.
With reference still to
With reference to
All components comprising drain assembly 210, other than outer pipe 212 and receiving member 214, are substantially similar to those described previously with respect to drain assembly 10. With reference again to
Referring now to
In the embodiment depicted in
Referring still to
As should be understood by one with ordinary skill in the art, once drain assembly 210 has been assembled, drain assembly 210 will function in a manner similar to drain assembly 10 wherein receiving member 214 will interact with actuating member 16 in order to allow stopper assembly 22 to seal against flange 261 when stopper assembly 22 is depressed.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains including variations and modifications existing within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A pop-up drain assembly configured to selectively prevent the flow of a liquid through a drain pipe including a first bore and the pop-up drain assembly including:
- a first member including a second bore and a first set of camming members;
- a second member at least partially located in the second bore and including a third bore, a second set of camming members and a third set of camming members, said third set of camming members configured to engage said first set of camming members of said first member; and
- a stopper assembly including at least one member configured to engage said third set of camming members;
- wherein a majority of the liquid travels through at least one of said second bore or said third bore.
2. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first member includes a flange and receives a portion of the drain pipe.
3. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first member includes at least one trace, said at least one member of said stopper assembly is supported for movement within said at least one trace.
4. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first set of camming members are formed in an inner surface of said first member.
5. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said third set of camming members are formed in an outer surface of said second member.
6. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first member is at least partially located in said first bore, said first member including an outer surface configured complementary to an inner surface of the drain pipe and wherein a majority of the liquid traverses said second bore as the liquid travels through the assembly.
7. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a majority of an outer surface of said first member contacts an inner surface of the drain pipe.
8. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of said second member contacts an inner surface of said first member.
9. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein a majority of the liquid traverses said third bore as the liquid travels through the assembly.
10. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said stopper assembly is located within said second bore.
11. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a spring configured to bias said second member in the direction of said first member.
12. A pop-up drain assembly configured for use in a basin having an opening with an outer pipe including an inner surface defining a first passageway for the draining of a liquid from the basin, the pop-up drain assembly including:
- a first set of camming members located interior to the inner surface;
- an actuator member including a second set of camming members, a third set of camming members and a second passageway; at least a portion of said actuator member being located within said first passageway of the outer pipe;
- a stopper assembly configured to selectively close the opening of the basin, at least a portion of said stopper assembly being located within said first passageway of the outer pipe;
- wherein a majority of the liquid traverses said second passageway as the liquid is drained from the basin.
13. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a receiving member, said first set of camming members integrally formed in said receiving member.
14. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said receiving member includes an inner surface defining a third passageway.
15. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first set of camming members engage said third set of camming members, and at least a portion of said stopper assembly engages said second set of camming members.
16. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said stopper assembly includes at least one extended portion configured to engage said second set of camming members.
17. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 16 further including at least one trace located exterior of an outer surface of said actuating member, wherein said trace is configured to receive at least a portion of said extended portion.
18. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first set of camming members are formed in an inner surface of said receiving member.
19. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said third set of camming members are formed in an outer surface of said actuating member.
20. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said second set of camming members are formed in an upper surface of said actuating member.
21. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 20 further including a spring, wherein said spring abuts a portion of said actuating member and said spring extends in a direction opposite said third set of camming members.
22. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said receiving member receives at least a portion of the outer pipe.
23. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a spring positioned between said actuating member and the outer pipe.
24. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said actuating member includes a landing and the outer pipe includes a landing, said spring extending between said landing of said actuating member and the landing of the outer pipe.
25. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first set of camming members are integrally formed in the inner surface of the outer pipe.
26. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said actuating member includes an outer surface, at least a portion of said outer surface of said actuating member being in contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer pipe.
27. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein at least a portion of said stopper assembly is in contact with the inner surface of the outer pipe.
28. The pop-up drain assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first set of camming members are configured to engage said third set of camming members.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 31, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2008
Inventors: Thomas C. Pinette (Indianapolis, IN), Derek A. Brown (Lizton, IN)
Application Number: 11/700,478