Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Pool type – Construction details
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-05-15
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Pool type
Construction details
C004S504000, C004S490000, C004S286000, C004S290000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230337
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to drain constructions located in the bottom or along the sides of pools, hot tubs, whirlpools or the like, through which water is sucked out and then drained or recirculated through jets or the like, located around the interior perimeter or bottom of the tub or pool. When the drains are discharging, a sealed drain cover will cause a vacuum to develop in a matter of seconds; this vacuum produces either entrapment or evisceration of the pool or tub occupant whose body happens to envelope and seal the drain. Another hazard to the occupant, is drowning due to entrapment resulting from hair entangling in a drain cover. It is thus important to design the drain cover to prevent one from becoming stuck to a drain or having their hair becoming entangled with the drain cover and thus being subject to injury or drowning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the typical pool and tub, the water is normally pulled out of the pool or tub through a drain system at the base of the tub, into an inlet of a suction pump, and then drained or recirculated back to the pool or tub through jets located around the interior wall of the pool or tub. With the conventional drain, it is possible that one sitting or laying on the drain cover can be held on the drain by the high suction pressure. It is also possible that a person's hair will be caught or suctioned into the drain if the person is sitting or laying next to the drain.
The industry has suggested various methods for eliminating body entrapment and disembowelment by designing drain systems and covers intended to preclude the formation of a vacuum. For example, low-tech solutions, such as convex drain covers tend to prevent complete sealing of the drain. Further, dual interconnected drains prevent a vacuum from being formed when one of the drains is covered. However, such low-tech solutions are easily defeated by occupants of exceptional size or by multiple occupants acting in concert to defeat dual drain systems. Other solutions, such as, pressure detection devices shut the drain system off at critical suction levels. However, such hi-tech solutions raise questions of reliability, calibration, stability, and maintenance capability by the pool's operators.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a drain design that prevents the formation of a vacuum in the drain.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a drain design that prevents hair entanglement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an anti-vacuum drain cover. While having typical drain openings in the top portion of the drain cover, the anti-vacuum drain cover further incorporates tributary tubes extending from the body of the drain cover. The mixture of fluid, from the tributary tubes and the drain cover, into the drain inlet prevents the formation of a vacuum when one of the entrances is covered.
Various alternatives may be used to further prevent hair entanglement or the formation of a vacuum within the drain. For instance, the length of the tributary tubes may be at least 16 inches and the outboard ends of the tributary tubes may be scalloped and/or flared.
In another alternative embodiment of the present invention an anti-vacuum, anti-hair snare drain cover is depicted and disclosed. The additional incorporation of self shedding cantilever elements in the body of the anti-vacuum drain cover provides the anti-hair snare properties. The subject combination design helps to reduce the three recognized drain dangers: body entrapment, disembowelment and hair entanglement.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 333342 (1993-02-01), Newhard
patent: D. 343228 (1994-01-01), Colin
patent: 3940804 (1976-03-01), Baker et al.
patent: 4170047 (1979-10-01), Corsette et al.
patent: 5734999 (1998-04-01), Nicholas
patent: 5926865 (1999-07-01), Witinski et al.
patent: 6088842 (2000-07-01), Barnett
Huson Gregory L.
Le Huyen
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