Overflow drain insert

Details Overflow drain insert Overflow drain insert

2000-04-12

2001-08-14

Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)

Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons

Drain, overflow or trap for a sink or bath

Drain and overflow

C004S651000, C004S679000, C004S683000, C004S686000, C004S694000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06272699

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bathtub overflow drains and is particularly related to inserts for originally installed bathtub drains.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the installation of bathtubs it is common that an overflow opening of the bathtub be connected to a drainpipe having a standing portion also connected to the bathtub drain and discharging downwardly to a sewer connection. A portion at the upper end of the drainpipe is angled to connect to the overflow opening. After installation it is not unusual for a gasket, positioned between the angled upper end of the drainpipe and the bathtub wall surrounding the overflow opening, to leak. This may be due to improper installation of the gasket or may be because of hardening and/or deterioration of the gasket with the passage of time. In any event, leakage past the gasket can be damaging to bathtub support structure and may run down the outer face of the bathtub. The water on the bathtub then causes the tub to rust, often without knowledge of a user of the tub until an entire section of the tub wall disintegrates and it becomes necessary to replace the entire tub.
It is also common to provide a bathtub lining of plastic material that will cover worn and damaged visible surface areas of a bathtub; Such liners are frequently formed in one piece to cover all exposed surfaces of the tub. If a bathtub liner is installed care must be taken to seal the overflow opening through the liner and the aligned overflow opening of the bathtub to prevent water moving between the liner and the bathtub.
Principal objects of the present invention are to provide an insert fitting for connection of the inlet face of a bathtub drain opening with a drainpipe and to provide a fitting that is easily installed and that will discharge into the existing, standing portion of the drain pipe to carry away overflow water, without requiring modification or change of pre-existing overflow drain structure.
Other objects are to provide such an insert fitting that will accommodate the use of existing tub drain stopper operating mechanisms and that will effectively prevent seepage of overflow water flow between a tub liner and the wall of a bathtub in which a liner is installed.
Principal features of the invention include a throat that will mount to either a bathtub wall or a bathtub liner wall and that will extend through the overflow opening and an angled discharge pipe section, into the standing portion of the drainpipe, so that overflow water entering the throat from the bathtub is discharged from the throat into the standing portion of the drain pipe.
Still another feature of the invention is a flexible throat that will accommodate use of existing operating levers and linkages to control the bathtub drain valve while carrying overflow water past the drainpipe connection to the bathtub and into the standing portion of the drainpipe.
It is yet another feature of the invention that the shape of the throat insures flow of all water from the throat either back into the bathtub or into the standing portion of the drainpipe.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 215891 (1879-05-01), Dean
patent: 2444340 (1948-06-01), Donahue
patent: 2886829 (1959-05-01), Kadish
patent: 4077430 (1978-03-01), Brown et al.
patent: 4106133 (1978-08-01), Roberts
patent: 4669131 (1987-06-01), Barlow

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