DRAIN SEALING APPARATUS

Abstract

A drain lock sealing apparatus is positioned in a drain pipe for being locked therein and further for sealing the pipe to prevent odors and vermin from coming from the drainpipe into the room. The apparatus includes a grate positioned over the drain pipe, a resiliently deformable sealing ring extending from the grate into the drainpipe, an rigid expander member with an inwardly tapered outer surface extending into the sealing ring, a resiliently deformable frusta-conical member attached to center hub of the expander member so that the peripheral closure edge of the frusta-conical member is in non-fixed normally closed relationship against the circumferential edge of the expander member so that the closure edge opens in response to liquid passing through the grate into the drain and resumes normally close relationship in response to the secession of liquid passing through the grate. A bolt extends through the grate and cylindrical sealing ring and is screwed into the axial hole whereby tightening of the bold compresses the sealing ring axially to deform the cylindrical sealing ring radially into clamping engagement against the interior surface of the drain pipe.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to plumbing devices and is particularly directed to improved means for locking a drain to prevent object other than liquid from entering the drain while at the same time closing the drain when liquid is not flowing into the drain to prevent passage of odor vermin from the drain into an room area above the grate while allowing the free flow of fluid into the drain.

As is more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,139,996, 8,496,811 or 8,307,469, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, food preparation kitchens are usually provided with a floor sink having a drain opening which connects to a grease trap or sewer drain to allow disposal of indirect waste water and the like. Unfortunately, rags, napkins, silverware and other large objects are often washed into the floor sink along with the floor washing water and these objects often get carried into the drain and cause blockage, flooding and other problems. These problems are resolved by the drain lock mechanisms described in the above identified patents. However, another problem arises with such drain locks, namely unpleasant odors and undesired and unsanitary vermin still have access to the kitchen or other area above the drain grate creating unpleasant and potentially unsanitary conditions. The present invention provides a mechanism to allow waste water to enter the drain but closing the path through the drain into the kitchen and when waste water is not flowing to thereby prevent odors and vermin from entering the kitchen or area above the drain grate when waste water is not flowing into the drain and at the same time provide a locking mechanism so the grate cannot be removed thereby preventing passage of large objects into the drain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved drain lock sealing apparatus is provided which both prevents large objects from passing into the drain and also prevents passage of odors and vermin from a drain pipe into a kitchen or other area above a drain pipe, while permitting free passage of fluid such as waste water to pass from the kitchen or other area above the drain into the drain whereby the downward weight and momentum of the fluid itself causes a one way valve mechanism to open allowing the fluid to pass into the drain and thereafter the one way valve mechanism closes preventing odors and vermin from entering the kitchen area.

These and other features and object of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of drain lock sealing apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the drain lock sealing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail of the drain lock sealing apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a frusta-conical deformable member clamped at its center to an expander member with the deformable member outer edge being in normally closed relationship against a circumferential edge of the expander member to effect closure of a drain pipe to odors and vermin when liquid is not flowing into the drain pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a drain lock sealing apparatus 10 for locking a drain grate 14 onto a drain pipe 12 while simultaneously keeping odors and vermin from coming up the drain pipe 12 through the grate 14 and into an area such as a kitchen 100 is positioned in the drain pipe 12 below a drain grate 14. The drain lock sealing apparatus 10 includes a connector ring 18 affixed by suitable means to the drain grate 14 to extend from the grate 14 toward the drain pipe 12. The connector ring 18 has a lower, downwardly facing circular peripheral edge 34 which is suitably mated with the upwardly facing peripheral edge 36 of a cylindrical sealing ring 20. The sealing ring 20 is preferably made of a deformable, compressible material to provide sealing of the region between the inside surface 38 of the drain pipe and the outside surface 40 of an expander member 22.

The expander member 22 includes at least one support spoke 42 between an inside surface 44 and a center hub 46 of expander member 22. The center hub 46 includes axial hole 48 through its center along a center axis 32. The axial hole 48 is threaded or otherwise includes a threaded insert 24 press fitted into the axial hole 48. The center hub 46 also defines a clamping surface 50 extending radially from a cylindrical post 56 through which the hole 48 extends which is sized to receive a clamp ring 28 in tight press fit relationship. A locking bolt 30 extends through a center hole 52 in the grate 14, through the connector ring 18, through the sealing ring 20 and cylindrical post 50, and into the threaded insert 24 in the expander member axial hole 48.

A frusta conical member 26 that is resiliently deformable includes a center clamping region 54 at its apex and a lower peripheral closure edge 58. The clamping region 54 may be simply the upper end of the frusta conical member 26 or a radial extension of the upper end of the frusta conical member 26. In either case, the clamping region 54 is oriented adjacent to the radial clamping surface 50 of the expander member 22 so that the center apex clamping region 54 of the frusta conical member 26 can be clamped between the radial clamping surface 50 and the clamp ring 28 when the clamp ring 28 is press fitted over the cylindrical post 56 so that the closure edge 58 will press against the circular edge 60 of the expander member 22 in a normally closed relationship so as to prevent passage of odors and vermin from the drain pipe into the area 100 above the grate 14. When liquid passed through the grate 14, the weight of the liquid will exert downward pressure on the closure edge 58 of the frusta conical member 26 causing the closure edge 58 to move away from the circular edge 60 providing an opening whereby the liquid passes into the drain pipe 12. When the liquid has passed through the opening, the closure edge 58 will resume its normally closed position against the circular edge 60.

The drain lock sealing apparatus 10 is attached in a drain by inserting the assemble unit as above described into the drain opening as shown in FIG. 1. The locking bolt 30 is then tightened causing the expander member 22 to move upward toward the grate 14. The outside surface 40 of the expander member 22 which preferable has a taper, will be positioned inside the sealing ring 20. As the bolt 30 is tightened the expander member 22 will cause the sealing ring to be compressed axially causing the sealing ring to be deformed radially until the sealing ring 20 presses tightly against the inside surface of the drainpipe 12. This results in the sealing ring 20 both preventing the drain lock sealing apparatus from being readily removed from the drain and sealing the space between the expander ring outer surface and the drain pipe inner surface to prevent odors and vermin from passing from the drain pipe into the area 100 above the grate 14.

Numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drain lock sealing apparatus for being positioned in a drain pipe below a surface mounted grate in a room area, the drain pipe having an interior surface, the drain lock sealing apparatus comprising:

A grate for positioning over the drain pipe;

A cylindrical sealing ring defining a cylindrical space through which liquid flows into the drain, the cylindrical sealing ring coupled to the grate for projecting into the drainpipe, the sealing ring being resiliently deformable and having an outer surface positioned adjacent the interior surface of the drain pipe;

An expander member have a cylindrical outer body with a first end position facing the grate, a second end with a circumferential edge facing into the drain pipe, the expander member having an outer cylindrical surface tapered inwardly from the second end to the first end, the first end being inserted in the cylindrical space of the cylindrical sealing ring, the expander member having a center hub with an axial hole therethrough, the axial hole having bolt receiving thread therein;

A resiliently deformable closure member having a central region and a peripheral closure edge, the central region affixed to the center hub of the expander member with the peripheral closure edge positioned against the circumferential edge of the expander member in non-fixed, normally closed relationship, the peripheral closure edge opening in response to liquid passing through the grate into the drain and resuming the normally close relationship in response to the secession of liquid passing through the grate; and

A bolt extending through the grate, cylindrical sealing ring and screwed into the axial hole with the threads therein for compressing the sealing ring axially to deform the cylindrical sealing ring radially into clamping engagement against the interior surface of the drain pipe.

2. The drain lock sealing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resiliently deformable member has a frusta conical shape.

3. The drain lock sealing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connector ring having a cylindrical space terminating at a lower edge, the ring positioned between the cylindrical sealing ring and the grate, the cylindrical sealing ring having cylindrical peripheral edge press fitted into the cylindrical space of the connector ring abutting the lower edge of the connector ring.

4. The drain lock sealing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expander member has at least one support spoke connecting cylindrical out body to the center hub.

5. The drain lock sealing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a threaded insert affixed in the axial hole for receiving the bolt therein.

6. The drain lock sealing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the center hub further comprises an upward projecting cylindrical post and a clamping ring for being positioned in frictional engagement with the cylindrical post, the central region of the closure member clamped between the center hub and the clamping ring press fitted over the cylindrical post.

7. The drain lock sealing apparatus of claim 1 wherein expander member is made of a rigid material.