Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved self draining boat plug which does not need to be repetitively removed and reinserted into a boat. The boat plug is specifically designed to allow water to escape from the boat while the boat is at cruising speed or removed from the water. Additionally, the drain plug blocks water from entering the boat while the boat is in the water. The drain plug is designed for durability, and continued performance when exposed to the hazards typically encountered in its working environment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to boats, and specifically to boat plugs. The present invention is a boat plug which does not need to be repetitively inserted and removed. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   During ordinary use of a boat water will accumulate in the vessel. In recognition of this fact, boats are manufactured with a drain hole in order to allow drainage of any water taken on during use or the drainage of water which is used to clean the boat. Obviously, when the boat is used in water, it is necessary to have a drain plug properly installed in order to avoid taking on significant amounts of water which may, ultimately, sink the boat. Conversely, when the boat is not in use, or out of the water, removal of the drain plug is preferred in order to remove any water which may be collected within the boat. Even experienced boaters may, on occasion, fail to insert, or properly insert, a drain plug prior to launching their boat into water. 
   It is necessary for a boat plug to be durable in order to properly perform its task. Hazards to the boat plug include exposure to UV light, oil, gasoline and other foreign compositions or matter located within water. Accordingly, there are serious shortcomings with regard to the boat plugs which are currently in use. 
   Clearly, there is a need for a boat plug which does not require repetitive insertion and removal and provides the durability necessary to properly function in view of the hazards faced while the boat is both in the water and out of the water. Such a boat plug would need to prevent water from entering the boat while the boat is in use and allow water within the boat to rapidly escape while the boat is operated at a cruising speed or while the boat is removed from the water. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an automatically draining boat plug. When the boat plug is installed in a boat, it allows water within the boat to drain when the boat plug is positioned about water level. When the boat plug is submerged beneath the water surface, it prevents water from entering the boat. Accordingly, there is no need to remove and subsequently replace the boat plug, as is currently required by ordinary boat plugs. The use of a boat plug which is always present within the boat eliminates the possibility of inadvertently placing a boat in the water without a plug. Further, in certain embodiments, when a boat is at a cruising speed the boat plug is located above the surface of the water and water present in the boat is rapidly drained. 
   The boat drain plug includes a first member, a cylindrical valve, and a second member. The first member has a first opening, and a cylindrical flange. The cylindrical valve is slideably engaged within the cylindrical flange of the first member. The cylindrical valve has a plurality of notches and an arm which is sized to be received within the opening of the first member in order to block water from traveling therethrough. The second member is attached to the cylindrical flange of the first member, with the cylindrical valve slideably engaged therebetween, the second member having a plurality of spacers in order to prevent the cylindrical valve from contacting the second member. In certain embodiments the cylindrical valve defines a concave space. In other embodiments, each of the plurality of notches of the cylindrical valve is a minimum of 60 square millimeters. In still other embodiments, each of the plurality of spacers on the second member has a height of at least 2.5 millimeters. In still other embodiments, each of the plurality of spacers has a height of from about 2.5 millimeters to about 3.5 millimeters. In still other embodiments, the plurality of spacers may include three or four spacers. 
   In still other embodiments of the safety boat plug, the present invention includes a first member defining a first opening, a first flange which defines an interior space and a second flange, a second member attached to the first flange of the first member, having a first opening, and a plurality of spacers, a disc received in the interior space of the first flange of the first member, the disc having a cylindrical member extending axially from the first side for being received by the first opening of the first member, the disc having a plurality of notches. In certain embodiments, the disc is constructed of a buoyant material. In other embodiments, the cylindrical member of the disc defines an inset for receiving a gasket. In still other embodiments, the first flange of the first member is from about 15 mm to about 20 millimeters. In other embodiments, the first flange of the first member is about 17.5 millimeters. In still other embodiments, the disc defines a concave space. 
   In another embodiment, the automatically draining boat plug includes a first member defining a centrally located first opening, and having a flange about the periphery and extending axially therefrom, a valve being generally flat engaged within the flange of the first member, the valve defining the plurality of notches about the periphery, the valve having an arm, the arm having an inset for receiving a gasket, a second member attached to the flange of the first member, the second member defining a centrally located first opening, the second member having a plurality of spacers positioned around the first opening. In certain embodiments, the arm of the valve is sized to engage the first opening of the first member. In other embodiments, the invention further includes a gasket received in the inset of the arm of the valve. In still other embodiments, each of the plurality of the spacers has a height from about 2.5 millimeters to about 3.5 millimeters. In still other embodiments, the distance between each of the plurality of spacers is at least 10 millimeters. And in other embodiments, the flange of the first member is from about 10 millimeters to about 12 millimeters. 
   Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a boat plug which does not need to be removed and reinserted repeatedly as the boat is placed in and removed from water. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is a boat plug which conveniently and rapidly drains water from the inside of a boat when the boat plug is located above the water surface level. 
   Still another aspect of the present invention is providing a boat plug which automatically drains water from the boat while the boat is moving at a cruising speed. 
   Still another aspect of the present invention is a relatively inexpensive boat plug which is designed to avoid being plugged up so that any water in a boat is rapidly drained therefrom. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side view of the first member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the first member of the present invention with the valve properly positioned therein. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional side view of the cylindrical valve of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the valve of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the second member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of the second member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rear side of a boat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention disclosed herein is a boat drain plug  10 . The boat drain plug  10  replaces the traditional boat plug which is removed after use of a boat in water in order to remove any water present in the boat. The drain hole  58  of a boat  56  may be located in the rear of the boat  56 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 , or at other locations at the discretion of the boat  56  manufacturer. An advantage of the present invention is that removal and reinsertion of the plug  10  is not required. The present invention engages and attaches to the drain hole  58  of a boat  56  in a similar manner to currently existing boat plugs. In certain embodiments, the present invention may be fastened to the boat  56  One skilled in the art of boating is familiar with the proper insertion of a boat plug into the drain hole  58  of a boat  56 . The plug  10  is designed to allow water to escape from the boat at any point when the plug  10  is above the surface of the water. The specific design of the present plug  10  is superior to the currently existing boat plugs due to the superior seal provided when the boat plug is in use. Additionally, when a boat is removed from the water, the rate of removal of any water within the boat provides quick drainage. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of the present invention. The present invention includes a first member  12 , a cylindrical valve  16 , and a second member  22 . The cylindrical valve  16  is slideably engaged between the first member  12  and the second member  22 . Due to buoyancy the cylindrical valve  16  will float upward and press against the first member  12  when the boat plug is located below the water surface. When the boat drain plug  10  is located above the water surface, the cylindrical valve  16  will press against the second member  22 . Movement of water through the present invention, or water force, may also result in movement of the cylindrical valve  16 . Thus, water moving through the boat drain plug  10  in the direction of the first member  12  results in the cylindrical valve  16  moving that direction and being pressed against the first member  12 , as further described herein. Alternatively, water moving through the boat drain plug  10 , or water force, in the direction of the second member  22  results in the cylindrical valve  16  moving that direction and being pressed against the spacers  24  of the second member  22 , as further described herein. The first member  12  and second member  22  each define openings, as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , through which water may travel. The cylindrical valve  16  is solid in the interior section and has notches about the periphery, as best seen in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, as the cylindrical valve  16  floats up and presses against the first member  12 , water is not permitted to travel through the plug  10 . However, when the cylindrical valve  16  presses against the second member  22  water is allowed to pass through the plug  10  because the cylindrical valve  16  is resting upon spacers  24 . As used herein, valve  16  may also be referred to as a disc. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a cross sectional view of the present invention. Within  FIG. 2 , the cylindrical valve  16  is located in an upward position which prohibits water from flowing through the plug  10 . The cylindrical valve  16  is slideably engaged in the interior space  50 , between the first member  12  and second member  22  so that the cylindrical valve  16  may in essence allow the plug  10  to be open for water flow or close to prevent water flow. The current embodiment of the present invention is one in which the first member  12  and the second member  22  are held together by bolts  52  and nuts. The first member  12  and second member  22  may be constructed from any rigid materials suitable for the purposes disclosed herein. Specific examples of material of construction include: brass, gun metal, etc. In certain other embodiments, the first member  12  and second member  22  may be permanently attached by a chemical adhesive, welding or the like. One of ordinary skill in the art is familiar with the manufacture of specifically shaped members, as disclosed herein, constructed of the aforementioned suitable materials. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross sectional view of the first member  12 . The first member  12  defines a first opening  26  and has a cylindrical flange  14 , the flange  14  having a first end  28 . As best seen in  FIG. 1 , when the boat drain plug  10  is assembled, it is the length of the flange  14  which defines the amount of space in which the cylindrical valve  16  has to move. Stated another way, the length of the flange  14  acts as a guide for the movement of the cylindrical valve  16 , as further described above. In certain embodiments, the flange  14  of the first member  12  is from about 10 mm to about 12 mm. Such a length is important to proper movement of the cylindrical valve  16  and proper function of the invention. The first member  12  defines the first opening  26  such that the opening narrows as it proceeds away from the cylindrical flange  14 . The angled surface  30  provides for a tight fit upon the engagement of the cylindrical valve  16 . In certain embodiments the angled surface  30  is at an angle of approximately 18 degrees. In still other embodiments, the angled surface  30  may be at an angle from about 15 degrees to about 25 degrees. Again, the specific angle of the angled surface  30  is important since the angles disclosed herein result in a tight closure with the cylindrical valve  16  upon engagement. The first member  12  additionally includes a collar  32 . The collar  32  is similar in dimension and application to existing boat plugs. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a bottom view of the first member  12  with the valve  16  positioned within the flange  14 . Shown there is the flange  14  about the periphery, the concave space  44  on the second side  42 , also called the bottom side, of the valve, and the bolt openings  34  for receiving the bolts  52  to attach the first member  12  to the second member  22 , in certain embodiments. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a side cross sectional view of the cylindrical valve  16 . The valve  16  is constructed from a buoyant and rigid material. Examples of such materials include plastic, nylon, teflon, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art is familiar with injection molding, and the like which may be used to manufacture a valve  16  having the specific design features disclosed herein. As can be seen in the figure, the valve  16  includes an arm  20  which removeably engages the first opening  26  of the first member  12 . In certain embodiments, the arm  20  has an inset  36  which may receive an o-ring gasket  38 . The gasket  38  may enhance the closure of the first opening  26  of the first member  12 . The valve  16  has a first side  40  and second side  42 . The second side  42  of the valve  16  defines a concave space  44 . The concave space  44  defines an angle of approximately 120 degrees and is for receiving water in order to assist in the movement of the valve  16  towards the first member  12 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the valve  16  defines a plurality of notches  18  about the periphery of the valve  16 . The notches  18  allow movement of water beyond the valve  16 . Also, in certain embodiments, the notches allow the passage of the bolts attaching the first member  12  to the second member  22 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a top view of the second member  22 . Like the first member  12 , the second member  22  defines a first opening  46 . In certain embodiments the second member  22  may include bolt openings  34  for receiving bolts  52  for attachment to the first member  12 . The second member  22  has plurality of spacers  24  in order to obstruct contact of the second side  42  of the valve  16  with parts of the second member  22  other than the spacers  24 . In certain embodiments the second member  22  may have at least two spacers. In other embodiments, there may be three, four, five, or six spacers. The spacers  24  may be constructed of material identical to the second member  22 . In alternate embodiments, the spacer may be constructed of another suitable, and rigid material. One of ordinary skill in the art is familiar with the selection of suitable materials. In certain embodiments, the second member  22  may define a lip  54  about its periphery. In certain embodiments, the spacer  24  has a height of about 2.5 mm. In other embodiments, the height of the spacer is from about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm. In certain other embodiments, the distance between each of the plurality of spacers  24  is at least 10 mm. The spacing is important to allow rapid water flow through the boat drain plug  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a side cross sectional side view of the second member  22 . In certain embodiments the second member  22  may be designed to have insets for the heads of bolts which are used to attach the second member  22  to the first member  12 . In certain embodiments, the second member  22  may include a collar  48 . 
   All references, publications, and patents disclosed herein are expressly incorporated by reference. 
   Thus, it is seen that the present invention readily achieves the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims.