Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Strainer – stopper – plug or closure – Combined strainer and pipe coupling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-12-18
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Strainer, stopper, plug or closure
Combined strainer and pipe coupling
C004S286000, C403S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330724
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally involves the field of technology pertaining to a device to which a drain screen or drain cover may be fastened over or to an open drain pipe for which there is no other means of fastening. The purpose of providing a tamper-resistant attachment for a drain screen is to prevent its removal from a drain pipe and thereby preventing any debris, or any other foreign matter from being pushed or swept into the drain by a worker cleaning the floor of a kitchen in a restaurant or hospital or hotel or any other large commercial or industrial type facility. Currently, for the most part, these drains are protected from debris by simply laying a screen or strainer over the drain or discharge pipe. They are therefore easily removed for the convenience of a cleaning crew who tend to simply lift the screen or strainer and sweep garbage into the drain.
These drains are generally recessed into the floor and are primarily used for indirect discharge waste lines.
In this type of environment, sanitary codes require a gap between a discharge line that exits a plumbing fixture and the actual drain itself that enters the floor and the drain line that is underground and attached to a receptor does not have a flange or collar nor any other means for accommodating a fastening device for the screen.
The locking device of this invention is adaptable to several different size and type drains which in turn will operate as a drain or screen mounting and locking device whereby various shape and size floor drain covers or strainers may be adapted by employing a vandal-proof screw.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A search of the prior art has uncovered the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 931,019 to E. L. Dawes & J. C. Reed; U.S. Pat. No. 1,195,827 to G. A. Lucke; U.S. Pat. No. 149,489 to J. Lewis; U.S. Pat. No. 1,900,658 to E. F. Niedecken; U.S. Pat. No. 1,601,498 to J. Hirshstein; U.S. Pat. No. 645,749 to H. C. G. Kasschau; U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,892 to Boersma; and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,939 to Thomann et al.
The patent to Dawes & Reed, U.S. Pat. No. 931,019 is of interest for its teaching in FIG. 1 and on page 2, lines 45-50. That language states “At the center the strainer is depressed in making it, or countersunk to receive a screw head and a screw
12
passes through the strainer at this point and engages a threaded opening
20
formed in crossbar
10
.” This patent does not disclose a plurality of horizontally extending holes in a crossbar to receive left and right-hand threads nor a hanger attached to a threaded rod.
The patent to Lucke, U.S. Pat. No. 1,195,827 relates to a stopper and lavatory fixture and it is noted that a stopper is fastened in place by means of items
14
and
17
(apertures), screw
22
, hook
23
and crossed arm spider D. Not shown in the Lucke patent however is a solid bar having both a vertical threaded hole and two horizontal, left and right-hand thread receiving means and the “L” shaped ears of the instant invention.
The patent to Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 149,489, is of interest for its teaching of a cross-bar D and a screw T threadably engaging D. It is believed that there are the same differences between the instant invention and the Lewis patent as there is between the instant invention and the prior patents heretofore mentioned.
The patent to Niedecken, U.S. Pat. No. 1,900,658 for a shower stall is of some interest but, again, there are the same differences between this patent and the instant invention as there is between the foregoing mentioned patents and the instant invention.
The patent to Hirshstein, U.S. Pat. No. 1,601,498, relates to a Clamping Means having a clamp holding member
8
with a vertical leg passing through an opening through a lug
6
and a horizontal leg extending over the clamping ring
5
. This is both structurally and conceptually different from the instant invention.
The patent to Kasschau, U.S. Pat. No. 645,749 is of minimal interest only for the language contained in Column 1, lines 35-41. This patent does not disclose the feature of a rectangular bar and a vertical screw hole opening nor the two horizontal openings having hangers attached thereto which hangers are “L” shaped as disclosed in the instant invention.
The Boersma patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,892, describes four radial slots in which trapezoidal locking slugs are slidably positioned and where these slugs communicate with four radial slots. Again, this differs substantially both structurally and conceptually from the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,939 to Thomann et al. is of interest for its teaching in FIGS. 2 and 3, in particular, and Items 40-45. The crossbar and hangers of the instant invention are not disclosed in this patent.
None of the above references, either singularly or taken together teach or even suggest the unique combination of the invention disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention a drain cover locking device is provided whereby the device can be disposed into a drain pipe for the purpose of receiving and holding in place any standard drain cover. The drains are generally those found in floor sinks or floor receptors. Currently, these types of drains are protected from debris by simply laying a screen or strainer over the drain pipe. Generally, in restaurants, and other large facilities such as hotels and the like, these covers do not stay in place for more than a short period of time. They are frequently removed for the convenience of the personnel in charge of cleaning the facility. It is more convenient for them to simply lift off the drain and dispose of garbage or sweepings into the main discharge drain.
The purpose of the instant invention is to provide a tamper-resistant attachment device to which a drain screen or drain cover may be fastened over an open drain pipe for which there is no other means of fastening. The intent is to help eliminate any debris or foreign matter from being swept down the drain either intentionally or accidentally. The instant invention is adapted to receive almost an infinite variety of drain covers and size of discharge drains. Little is required in the way of hand tools to install the device into a drain and to secure a screen or drain cover to the device by means of a fastener having a tamper-resistant head.
The device of the instant invention generally comprises a solid, generally rectangular piece of bar material, usually made of metal. One hole is drilled through the center of the bar, vertically, for receiving a fastener, such as a screw having a tamper-resistant head, which would first be inserted through a center hole in the drain cover. Each end of the bar has internal threads for receiving left-hand and right-hand threaded rods. Each of the threaded rods, in turn, has a hanger attached to it and which is “L” shaped. The hangers are used to rotate the threaded rods into and out of the rectangular shaped center piece. The horizontal portion or ear of the “L” shaped piece fits over a drain pipe for holding the mechanism in place. The bar or center piece is then turned with a wrench or any other suitable device until the unit is firmly held in place over the entrance to the discharge pipe and the drain screen is then placed over the pipe with the center hole aligned with the center hole of the bar. The fastening device having a tamper-resistant head is then threaded through the screen and into the center piece or center bar for holding it in place.
Thus, with the center bar in place over the entrance to a drain pipe and being held in place by means of the “L” shaped hangers and with the center piece then turned with a wrench or other suitable device until the unit is firmly held in place over the entrance to the discharge pipe, the drain screen can then be placed over the pipe with the center hole aligned with the center hole of the center bar and the fastening device threaded through the screen and into the center piece for holding it in place.
As can be seen it would be extremely difficult for someone to eithe
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John R.
Heiner Donald R.
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