Abstract:
A coupling system for securing a sink to a drain pipe. The coupling system of the present invention can include a support member and a flange connector. The flange connector can be coupled to the support member about opposite surfaces of a sink. The support member can include both a shoulder and a support surface opposite to the shoulder. The shoulder can be configured to support a sink and a gasket can be positioned thereon or within a recess therein to provide enhanced communication between a sink and the shoulder. The support surface, by comparison, can be configured to rest upon a support surface able to support the sink when coupled to the support surface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of presently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/085,936, entitled DRAINAGE SYSTEM, filed on Feb. 28, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Statement of the Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to sink drainage systems, and more particularly to securing a sink to a drain pipe.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Conventionally, plumbers secure sinks to drain pipes by way of a variety of coupling systems. A typical coupling system includes threaded fittings which are secured to the sink from a position below the sink. Given the placement of the threaded fittings and the ordinary weight of a sink, significant time and effort can be required to install or replace a sink. Recently, sinks having different ornamental designs which have been manufactured from different materials have become popular. In this regard, glass and ceramic sinks have become quite popular recently.  
           [0006]    Yet, it is well know that glass and ceramic sinks are prone to chipping, scratching and breakage. When a sink has become chipped, scratched, or plain broken, the sink typically must be replaced. Even where a sink has not become damaged, many consumers often replace a sink merely for aesthetic purposes. Unfortunately, replacing a sink can be a difficult and error prone process. In particular, to support a sink while removing the drain coupling from below the sink often can invite disaster. Moreover, once the drain device of a sink has been removed, the drain pipe can fall away from the sink leaving the sink completely inoperable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is a coupling system for securing a sink to a drain pipe. The present invention can overcome the limitations of conventional sink coupling systems by providing a novel and non-obvious system and method for securing a sink so that the sink can be removed without compromising the stability of the sink during the removal process. Moreover, through the use of the coupling system of the present invention, the sink can be removed without requiring the prerequisite decoupling of a drain pipe from the drain mechanism. Rather, a sink which has been configured with the coupling system of the present invention can be removed merely through the prerequisite removal of the drain mechanism from an intermediate sink support member which in turn can be coupled to the drain pipe.  
           [0008]    In more particular illustration, a sink support member can be coupled to a drain pipe about opposite sides of a support surface such as a table or other surface able to support the sink and coupling system. The sink support member can include a drainage channel through which fluid can flow from the sink to the drain pipe. In this regard, the drainage channel within the sink support member can substantially align with a drainage channel within the drain pipe. An exterior surface of the sink can be positioned on a shoulder of the sink support member so that a drain opening within the sink substantially aligns with the drainage channel within the sink support member. In this configuration, the sink support member in conjunction with the support surface can support the sink in both an operable and stable manner even without securing the sink to the support member with a drain mechanism.  
           [0009]    To secure the sink to the support member, a flange connector can be coupled to an interior surface of the sink and connected to the sink support member so that a drainage channel within the flange connector substantially aligns with the drainage channel of the sink support member through the drain opening. The flange connector further can include a flange for cleanly mating the flange connector to the interior of the sink without leaving gaps between the structure defining the drainage channel and the drain opening. Finally, a drain device, such as a drain hat can be attached to the top portion of the flange connector to complete the sink drainage system. Notably, gaskets can be applied at communicative joints between the sink and support member so as to provide an enhanced seal and to prevent leakage.  
           [0010]    As it will be apparent from the foregoing, the coupling system of the present invention principally can include a support member and a flange connector. The flange connector can be coupled to the support member about opposite surfaces of a sink. The support member can include both a shoulder and a support surface opposite to the shoulder. The shoulder can be configured to support a sink and a gasket can be positioned thereon or within a recess therein to provide enhanced communication between a sink and the shoulder. The support surface, by comparison, can be configured to rest upon a support surface able to support the sink when coupled to the support surface. Notably, an engagement structure can be provided in which the flange connector can be firmly secured to the support surface. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the engagement structure can be a mounting ring. In this regard, the mounting ring can be affixed to a threaded portion of the support member.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    There are shown in the drawing embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities, wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a coupling system for a sink.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a sink system according to one aspect of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a sink system according to another aspect of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    There is shown in FIG. 1 a coupling system  10  which has been configured in accordance with the present invention. The coupling system can include a support member  14  and a flange connector  18 . A first gasket  22  and second gasket  26  can also be provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the support member  14  can include a drainage channel  30  and the support member  14  further can include a shoulder  34  for supporting a sink  40 . For purposes of the invention, a sink can be any type of suitable structure for receiving and draining any suitable type of fluid such as water.  
         [0016]    Importantly, the support member  14  can have structure for engaging drain pipe  44 . Morever, an extension  48  can be provided with threads to engage cooperating threads on the drain pipe  44 . In the embodiment shown, the extension  48  has male threads  52  which can be adapted to engage cooperating female threads  56  on an interior surface of the drain pipe  44 . It is possible, however, to dimension the extension  48  such that the drain pipe  44  fits within the extension  48 , and in this embodiment the drain pipe  44  would be provided with male threads and the extension  48  would be provided with female threads. Other structure for engaging the support member  14  to the drain pipe  44  is also possible, including various fittings adapted for that purpose.  
         [0017]    The flange connector  18  can have a drainage channel  60 . The flange connector  18  has structure for engaging the support member  14 . The flange connector  18  can be tubular and have male threads  64  which engage cooperating female threads  68  on the support member  14 , although other engagement structure is possible. The drainage channel  30  of the support member  14  can communicate with the drainage channel  60  of the flange connector  18  when the flange connector  18  is engaged to the support member  14  to permit water or other suitable fluids to flow from the sink, through the flange connector  18 , the support member  14 , and into the drain pipe  44 .  
         [0018]    The flange connector  18  can also have a flange  72 . The flange  72  can extend about the periphery of the flange connector  18  and can be dimensioned such that it will not pass through the drain opening  78  of the sink  40 . The flange  72  can press firmly against the sink  40  when the flange connector  18  is engaged and tightened to the support member  14 . As such, the flange  72  can add to the watertight integrity of the engagement between the flange connector  18  and the support member  14 . In addition, the flange can also increase the stability of the system  10  once a sink  40  has been installed.  
         [0019]    The flange connector  18  can also have structure for engaging drain devices such as a drain hat (not shown). Alternatively, the flange connector  18  can support a pop-up drain plug (not shown). Male threads  80  can be provided to engage female threads of the drain hat or drain plug to be coupled to the flange connector  18 . An opening  84  in the flange connector  18  can be provided to permit water or any other suitable fluid to flow from the sink  40  to the drainage channel  60 .  
         [0020]    It is preferable to seal the sink  40  against the support member  14  to prevent leaks. The gasket  22  can be provided for this purpose. The gasket  22  can be annular to allow the flange connector  18  to extend through the gasket  22  into the drainage channel  30  of the support member  14 . The gasket  22  can be made out of any suitable material such as rubber or silicone. In one embodiment, the support member  14  has a main body portion  86 . A recess  88  can be provided in the main body portion  86 . The gasket  22  can be received by the recess  88  to secure the gasket  22  in position. The gasket  22  should be dimensioned such that, when it is positioned in the recess  88 , it can extend above the shoulder  34  so that it will be partially compressed by the sink  40  when the flange connector  18  is tightened against the support member  14 . The flange  72  can be sealed against the sink  40  to prevent leaks. A gasket  26  can be provided and can be compressed between the flange  72  and sink  40  when the flange connector  18  is tightened against the support member  14 . Other sealing methods, such as the application of caulks and other sealants, are possible.  
         [0021]    In operation, the support member  14  can be connected to the drain pipe  44 . The gasket  22  can be positioned on the support member  14 , such as in the recess  88 . The sink  40  can then be placed onto the shoulder  34  of the support member  14 , with the drain opening  78  substantially aligned with the drainage channel  30 . The flange connector  18  can then be positioned through the opening  78  and into the drainage channel  30  of the support member  14 . The flange connector  18  is then tightened to the support member  14 , whereupon the flange  72  presses against the sink  40  to secure the sink  40  in position against the support member  14 . The drain device, such as a drain hat or pop-up drain plug, can then be connected to the flange connector  18 , as by threads  80 .  
         [0022]    Replacement of the sink is accomplished by removing the drain device and disconnecting the flange connector  18  from the support member  14 . Alternatively, the flange connector  18  can be disconnected from the support member  14  without removing the drain device. The sink  40  can then be lifted from the shoulder  34  of support member  14 , and replaced with another sink. The flange connector  18  is then reconnected as previously described. As such, the inventive arrangements permit the installation and removal of a sink  40  merely by coupling or decoupling a single component (the flange connector  18 ) to or from a drain pipe.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows a preferred coupling system  10  within contemplation of the inventive arrangements. Similar to the coupling system  10  described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the coupling system  10  shown in FIG. 3 can have a flange connector  18 , a support member  14 , a first gasket  22 , a second gasket  26  and a drain hat (not shown) or a pop-up drain plug (not shown). In addition, the support member  14  of this particular arrangement can include a drain extension  48 . Significantly, the support member  14  can include both a shoulder  34  for supporting a sink, and a support surface  100  which is opposite to the shoulder  34 . The support surface  100  can be substantially flat so as to permit the communication of the support member  14  with a support structure  96 , for instance a support table.  
         [0024]    Although FIG. 3 illustrates the drain extension  48  and the support member  14  as a unitary piece, it must be noted that the invention is not limited in this regard; the drain extension  48  and the support member  14  can be separate components, and the drain extension  48  can be detachably coupled to the support member  14 . In one arrangement, the drain extension  48  can include male threads  90  and can also include female threads  92 . As shown in FIG. 3, the female threads  92  can be used to engage a drain pipe  44  having cooperating male threads. Alternatively, the male threads  90  can be used to engage a drain pipe  44  having cooperating female threads. Moreover, other structure for engaging the support member  14  to the drain pipe  44  is also possible, including various fittings adapted for that purpose.  
         [0025]    The coupling system  10  of FIG. 3 can also include a mounting ring  94 . The mounting ring  94  can include cooperating threads for engaging the male threads  90  of the supporting member  14  or the drain extension  48 . In one arrangement, the supporting member  14  can be placed on the support structure  96 , which can include an aperture  98  for receiving the drain extension  48 . A third gasket  102  can be positioned between the support surface  100  and the countertop  96  to ensure a proper fit. The third gasket  102  can be silicone, rubber or any other suitable material. If desired, another gasket (not shown) can be positioned between the mounting ring  94  and the support structure  96 .  
         [0026]    To install a sink  40 , the drain extension  48  of the support member  14  can be inserted through the aperture  98  of the support structure  96 . The support member  14  can rest against the third gasket  102 . The drain extension  48  can then be secured to the drain pipe  44 , and the mounting ring  94  can be used to secure the support member  14  to the support structure  96 . Similar to the operation described in relation to FIG. 2, the gasket  22  can be positioned on the support member  14 , and the sink  40  can then be placed onto the shoulder  34  of the support member  14 . The flange connector  18  can then be coupled to the support member  14 , and the drain device (not shown) can then be connected to the flange connector  18 . Replacement of a sink can be in accordance with the procedure described above in relation to FIG. 2.  
         [0027]    The components of the coupling system of the present invention can be manufactured from standard plumbing materials, including metals and plastics. Additionally, the coupling system of the present invention can be made in a variety of different styles and sizes without departing from the principals of the invention. Finally, the coupling system of the present invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.