Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Drain – overflow or trap for a sink or bath
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-22
2001-10-02
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Drain, overflow or trap for a sink or bath
C004S680000, C004S694000, C138S090000, C073S049800, C285S046000, C285S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295664
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to overflow waste assemblies for tubs such as bathtubs and spas, and more particularly, to an overflow waste assembly utilizing a screw-in retaining body in combination with a chamfered washer and an annular gasket to provide a reliable, water-tight seal at a variety of tub wall angles while maintaining a vertical waste drop. This invention also relates to an overflow waste assembly having a retaining body with a mold-in-place test plug.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of waste water overflow drains in tubs such as bathtubs and spas is well known. Such overflow drains are typically located at or near the maximum intended fill level of the tub and in proximity to plumbing connecting the main tub drain to a sewer line. Prior art fittings for tub waste overflows are disclosed, for example, in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,010,469; 1,781,719; 2,052,565; 2,223,365; 2,243,204; and 5,890,241. Test plugs for hydraulic testing of plumbing systems are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,763,510; 5,507,501 and 5,890,241.
Tub waste overflows usually comprise some type of fitting that connects a portion of the fitting on the inside of the tub to a drain line disposed behind the tub wall. A cover plate having recesses that admit water but not foreign objects into the drain system is generally provided on the inside of the tub. Sealing gaskets are desirably utilized on both sides of the tub wall to prevent water from leaking around the fitting. Because tub wall angles can vary significantly, tub waste overflow assemblies are desirably adaptable to provide a water-tight connection when installed in tubs having different wall angles. Tub waste overflow assemblies should also be capable of being hydraulically tested following installation without having to break the tub seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tub waste overflow assembly is disclosed that is attachable to a tub wall by means of a threaded retaining body insertable through an overflow drain aperture in a tub wall to engage a cooperatively threaded pipe fitting on the opposite side of the tub wall. A chamfered washer is provided to cooperate with the retaining body and an annular sealing gasket to produce a fluid-tight seal on the interior surface of the tub wall and frictionally engage a cover member spanning the overflow drain aperture. Optionally, a removable test plug is molded in place across the mouth of the retaining body to facilitate hydraulic testing following installation.
According to one preferred embodiment, the invention disclosed herein is a tub waste overflow assembly having a substantially cylindrical body with a threaded male end that is insertable through an aperture in a tub wall for engagement with a cooperatively threaded female end of a drain pipe elbow disposed behind the tub wall, a flange end opposite the threaded male end, a chamfered annular plastic washer disposed between the flange end of the cylindrical body and the interior tub wall, a first annular gasket underlying the plastic washer between the plastic washer and the interior tub wall, and a second annular gasket disposed between the female end of the drain pipe elbow and the exterior tub wall.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a tub overflow waste assembly is disclosed that is attachable to a tub through an aperture in the tub wall. The assembly comprises a retaining body having a threaded, substantially cylindrical member that is insertable through the aperture and rotatable to threadedly engage a threaded pipe fitting aligned with the aperture outwardly of the tub. A flange member is disposed adjacent to the cylindrical member interiorly of the tub wall and has an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture. The flange member also has an inclined surface facing the tub wall, and a continuous axial bore through the threaded cylindrical member and the flange member. The tub overflow waste assembly also includes an annular polymeric washer having a bore coaxially aligned with the bore through the threaded cylindrical member, the bore of the annular washer having a diameter slightly greater than that of the threaded, substantially cylindrical member of the retaining body. The annular washer further comprises an interiorly facing, chamfered surface cooperatively alignable with the inclined surface of the flange member of the retaining body to create abutting contact therebetween upon full insertion of the threaded cylindrical member into the washer bore; The annular washer also has an annular gasket seating surface facing the tub wall around the aperture, an interior tub gasket cooperatively alignable with the annular gasket seating surface of the annular washer; and a cover member for the retaining body, the cover member being attachable to the annular washer by frictional engagement.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a screw-in retaining body for a tub or spa overflow drain is provided that includes a selectively removable test plug that is molded in place across the mouth of the retaining body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1010469 (1911-12-01), Weaver
patent: 1781719 (1930-11-01), Darling
patent: 2052565 (1936-09-01), Groeniger
patent: 2223365 (1940-12-01), Groeniger
patent: 2243204 (1941-05-01), Groeniger
patent: 4006498 (1977-02-01), Cuschera
patent: 4726080 (1988-02-01), Henkin et al.
patent: 4763510 (1988-08-01), Palmer
patent: 5025509 (1991-06-01), Holt et al.
patent: 5377361 (1995-01-01), Piskula
patent: 5507501 (1996-04-01), Palmer
patent: 5890241 (1999-04-01), Ball
Fritz Kurt
Mitchell Jerry P.
Huson Gregory L.
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
LSP Products Group, Inc.
Nguyen Tuan
Ross Monty L.
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