COMBINED INFLOW AND OVERFLOW BATHTUB PLUMBING DEVICE
A unitary bathtub plumbing device having a body that defines a drain cavity formed in the interior of the body. A tube-like exterior outlet coupler is formed on the exterior of the body and is fluidly connected to the drain cavity. The body also includes a tube-like interior inlet coupler formed in the interior of the body. The interior inlet coupler is fluidly connected to a tube-like exterior inlet coupler which is formed on the exterior of the body.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/931,147 filed Jan. 24, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a bathtub plumbing device. In particular, the present invention relates to a bathtub plumbing device that facilitates the inflow and overflow of water using a unitary one-piece plumbing interface device.
BACKGROUNDExisting bathtubs are generally equipped with a faucet for filling water into the bathtub via a spout having an optional diverter for redirecting the flow of water to a shower head, a drain outlet for draining water, and an optional overflow port for draining water should the water exceed the capacity of the bathtub. These bathroom designs may come in various styles and configuration such as for example, faucets having modified handle designs, and spouts heads having various shapes and sizes. Bathroom plumbing supporting these bathroom fixtures and assemblies may include plumbing lines such as copper or PVC pipes and various connectors. Depending on the configuration of the bathroom fixtures, the pipes supporting these fixtures still require additional components and connectors to support various bathtub functions such as fill and overflow of water. It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide an improved bathroom plumbing device that may reduce the number of components used in the overall bathroom plumbing system.
SUMMARYIt is an advantage of the present invention to provide a unitary bathroom plumbing device to simultaneously direct water from a water inlet source to fill the bathtub and redirect overflow water away from the bathtub to a discharge outlet.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a unitary bathroom plumbing device having an exterior inlet coupler for receiving hot and cold water from a water inflow source.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a unitary bathroom plumbing device having an exterior outlet coupler for transferring water to a discharge outlet.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a unitary bathroom plumbing device that is compatible with a variety of infill spout designs and sizes.
It is no less another advantage of the present invention to provide a unitary bathroom plumbing device that is easy to install into existing bathtub plumbing systems.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and from the attached drawings, in which:
In the appended figures, one or more elements may have the same reference numeral in different figures indicating previously described elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONA bathtub plumbing device such as device 100 of
Referring again to
A circular base platform 112 and circular lip 114 are formed along the drain cavity of the interior of the body 102 and together act as a supporting structure to secure the bathtub plumbing device 100 to the bathtub. The circular base platform 112 and circular lip 114 are designed to interface and fit through a hole formed in the bathtub. The hole size may range from 2.4 inches to 3.0 inches in diameter but can be configured for various hole sizes. An O-ring, putty, or sealant (not shown) may be applied around the base platform 112 to completely seal the interface of the bathtub plumbing device 100 to the bathtub and prevent water from entering through the interface.
Raised half-cylindrically shaped structures defining securing members 111 are formed in the interior of the body 102 A hole 110 is formed in each securing member 111 for receiving a fastener such as a tapered screw or bolt (not shown) used to affix the body 102 to the bathtub.
In an alternate perspective view as shown in
With reference now to
With reference now to
Although the embodiments of these figures illustrate tube-like couplers, other coupler shapes may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. These couple designs may include, for example, rectangular, oval, triangular or custom polygon shapes.
The body 102 which forms the bathtub plumbing device 100 is preferably made from materials such as PVC Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC which is used in pipe construction. Other materials having similar properties as PVC such as ABS may be used. These materials include but not limited to, for example, galvanized metal, brass, steel, stainless steel, or copper. In addition, the bathtub plumbing device 100 is advantageously formed as a unitary or single-piece structure using fabrication processes such as injection molding, stereolithography, also known as 3-D layering or 3-D printing, or other similar fabrication methods.
In operation, the bathtub plumbing device 100 may be used as a fill and overflow plumbing component for simultaneously filling water from a water inlet source into the bathtub and redirecting any overflow water away from the bathtub to a discharge outlet and thus preventing the possibility of flooding. As shown in
Several advantages of the bathtub plumbing device 100 include but are not limited to a combined or 2-in-1 dispenser for an infill water inlet and an overflow discharge outlet, compatibility with a variety of infill spout designs and sizes—from 0 inch to 8 inches in length, and ease of installation into existing bathtub plumbing systems.
Other notable related features of the bathtub plumbing device 100 include but are not limited to
-
- mixed cold and hot water may go through the infill inlet and exit of the bathtub plumbing device 100 through the spout into the bathtub;
- the flow of water into the bathtub is approximately 20 gallons/minute at the appropriate faucet inlet size and pressure;
- the overflow of water is gravity fed into the dispenser's overflow chamber and into the overflow drain. The maximum water overflow is approximately 22 gallons/minute and gravity fed;
- the bathtub plumbing device 100 may be secured to the wall of the bathtub by a cover inside the bathtub with two screws securing the bathtub plumbing device 100 to the wall of the bathtub;
- a bead of putty on the bathtub plumbing device 100 platform provides a secure seal for the water overflow
- the bathtub plumbing device 100 may fit through the hole in the bathtub from 2.4 inches to 3.0 inches. It can be made for smaller or bigger holes;
- with the elimination of long spouts overhanging over the bathtub, it may prevent serious injuries to individuals, with special focus on children and the elderly, who could accidentally slip or fall and hit their head or body against the extended spout over the bathtub;
- the installation of the bathtub plumbing device 100 is easy for do-it-yourself projects;
- the bathtub plumbing device 100 accepts a variety of bathtub covers and spouts are available in different finishes such as but not limited to white, chrome, copper and gold. The cover and spouts can be made with ABS plastic, steel, brass or copper;
- the shape of the cover for the bathtub plumbing device 100 provides for impact and safety;
- the bathtub plumbing device 100 is compact and has no moving parts providing reliability and efficiency
- the overflow outlet to the drain of the bathtub plumbing device 100 may be from one to nine degrees.
All patents, patent applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
It is noted that the foregoing disclosure has been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and is in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to several preferred embodiments thereof, various changes, omissions, and additions to the form and detail thereof, may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects.
Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims which include all other such embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specifications and accompanying drawings.
Claims
1. A unitary bathtub plumbing device for simultaneously directing water from a water inlet source to fill the bathtub and redirect overflow water away from the bathtub to a water discharge outlet comprising:
- a body;
- a drain cavity formed in a first interior portion of the body;
- an exterior outlet coupler formed on a first exterior portion of the body, wherein the exterior outlet coupler is fluidly coupled to the drain cavity;
- a interior inlet coupler formed in a second interior portion of the body; and
- an exterior inlet coupler formed on the exterior of the body, wherein the interior inlet coupler is fluidly coupled to the exterior inlet coupler.
2. The unitary bathtub plumbing device of claim 1 wherein the body, the drain cavity, the exterior outlet coupler, the interior inlet coupler, and exterior inlet coupler form a single-piece structure.
3. The bathtub device of claim 2 wherein the exterior outlet coupler is coupled to an overflow pipe for transferring water to a discharge outlet.
4. The bathtub device of claim 2 wherein the exterior inlet coupler is coupled to an inlet pipe for receiving water from a water inlet source.
5. The bathtub device of claim 2 wherein the interior inlet coupler is coupled to an infill spout for filling the bathtub.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 6, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 30, 2015
Inventor: Rene Buysse (Fallbrook, CA)
Application Number: 14/535,024