Drain sealing apparatus

An apparatus for temporarily sealing a vent or overflow aperture provided in the upper portion of a fixture such as a wash basin, sink, bathtub or bidet so that a pneumatic or hydraulic type sewer cleanout device can be used to clear a blockage located in a sewer line downstream of the fixture by generating fluid pressure within the sewer line intermediate the blockage and the main water drain of the fixture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of The Invention 
The present invention relates generally to devices for sealably closing 
vent apertures provided in the walls of various types of fixtures. More 
particularly, the invention concerns a device for use in temporarily 
sealing vents or overflow drains of the character typically provided in 
the upper wall portions of fixtures such as wash basins, sinks, bathtubs, 
and bidets. 
2. Discussion of The Invention 
In recent years several hydraulic and pneumatic devices have been developed 
for clearing blockages in drain lines by forcing fluids under pressure 
through the water outlet drain of the fixture. Such devices may force 
water or other liquids under pressure through the drain outlet, or they 
may be of the pneumatic impact or "air hammer" type which forces 
compressed air or other gases through the drain and into the sewer line. 
Prior art cleanout devices of the aforementioned character lose their 
effectiveness when used with fixtures having a vent or overflow drain 
apertures. Such apertures are usually provided in the upper portions of 
the fixture and function to drain water from the fixture into the drain 
line connected to the drain outlet if the fixture is accidentally over 
filled. The overflow drain apertures are, of necessity, in communication 
with the sewer drain line which, in turn, is in communication with the 
fixture drain, or outlet. When a fluid pressure type cleanout device is 
used to clear a blockage in the drain line, the overflow apertures must be 
sealed. Otherwise the fluid forced through the fixture drain under 
pressure can flow outwardly through the overflow drain apertures before 
sufficient fluid pressure can be exerted against the blockage to open the 
line to normal water drainage from the fixture. 
In many instances, the overflow apertures provided in a given fixture are 
in communication with an internal fluid passageway defined between inner 
and outer, spaced apart walls. The inner wall of the fixture typically 
defines the water reservoir while the outer wall defines the exterior 
surfaces of the fixture. Since, with this type of construction, the 
overflow apertures are accessible only from the inside of the fixture, 
effective sealing of the apertures can be difficult. For this reason, most 
types of prior art overflow drain seals involve the use of tapered plugs 
which can be inserted into the overflow apertures from the interior of the 
bowl of the fixture. However, such plugs are typically ineffective in 
sealing the overflow apertures against fluid pressure which is built up 
interiorly of the walls of the fixture by fluid pressure type cleanout 
tools. In instances of stubborn blockage of the sewer drain line, the 
cleanout tool will generate sufficient pressure within the internal 
passageway of the fixture to blowout the sealing plugs before clearing the 
blockage in the line. When this occurs the plugs, along with the backed up 
fluid, can be ejected with a force that can cause serious personal injury 
and cause cost property damage. 
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple, easy to use 
apparatus which can be employed to effectively seal overflow drain 
apertures provided in a given fixture against even substantial fluid 
pressures which may be generated against the sealing member of the 
apparatus by a pressure type sewer line cleanout tool. Because of the 
unique design of the apparatus of the invention, it can effectively be 
used with fixtures of widely varying designs and configurations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for 
effectively sealing vent and overflow drain apertures of the character 
provided in the inner wall of a dual wall bathtub, wash basin, sink or 
bidet, against fluid pressures generated in the overflow drain passageways 
of the fixture. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the 
aforementioned character which can be used in conjunction with fluid 
pressure type sewer line cleanout tools to enable the tool to be 
effectively used to clear stoppages formed in the sewer drain line 
downstream from the main water drain of the fixture. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in 
the preceding paragraphs which can be used with fixtures of widely varying 
shape and drain design. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide an overflow drain 
sealing device which can be operated by unskilled persons without the need 
for any type of auxiliary tools. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the 
character described which is compact, lightweight and highly reliable in 
use. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a vent sealing 
apparatus which is constructed from a minimum number of parts, and can be 
inexpensively manufactured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 
for sealably closing an aperture 12 provided in a wall 14 having first and 
second surfaces 14a and 14b, is generally designated by the numeral 16. 
The apparatus of the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings 
comprises wall engaging means for sealably engaging the first surface 14a 
of the wall 14 at a location surrounding the aperture and actuating means 
operably associated with the wall engaging means for moving a sealing 
member 18 of the wall engaging means into sealable engagement with the 
first, or outer surface 14a of the wall. As best seen by referring to FIG. 
1, sealing member 18 includes a first rigid surface 18a and a second, or 
rear, yieldably deformable surface 18b for engaging the front surface 14a 
of wall 14. An aperture 20 is provided proximate the center of sealing 
member 18, the purpose of which will presently be described. 
In the instant form of the invention, the actuating means comprises a cam 
support member 22; an elongated, first locking element 24 connected to the 
cam support member 22; a second, elongated locking element 26 rotatably 
connected to member 22 and cam means rotatably connected to support member 
22 for engagement with sealing member 18 to urge the member into pressural 
engagement with the first or outer surface 14a of wall 14. Cam support 
member 22 has first and second ends 22a and 22b, first and second margin 
portions 22c and 22d, and a web portion 22e disposed intermediate margin 
portions 22c and 22d. Web portion 22e is provided with a plurality of 
longitudinally spaced apertures 29. 
Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that first locking element 24 includes 
an outwardly and downwardly extending leg portion 24a which protrudes from 
the first end 22a of member 22. When the apparatus of the invention is in 
position within the overflow or vent aperture 12 of the fixture as shown 
in FIG. 3, leg 24a is in engagement with the inner surface 14b of the wall 
14. Locking element 26 also has an outwardly extending leg 26a provided 
proximate the forward end 22a of member 22 and an outwardly extending leg 
26b provided proximate end 22b of member 22. Locking element 22 is 
rotatably carried within a tubular portion, or channel, C (FIG. 2) 
provided along margin 22d of support member 22. Locking element 26 is 
rotatable within tubular portion C from a first position as shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2, wherein leg 26a extends downwardly, to a second position as shown 
in FIGS. 3 and 5, wherein leg 26a extends angularly upwardly. When element 
26 is in the first position the locking elements along with the first end 
of the cam support member 22 can be inserted through the aperture 20 
formed in sealing member 18 and also through the aperture 12 formed in the 
fixture F. This initial insertion step is illustrated in FIG. 2. Once the 
inboard end of the apparatus is in the position shown in FIG. 2, leg 26b 
is used to rotate locking element 26 to its second position as shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 5 wherein leg 26a moves into locking engagement with the inner 
surface 14b of wall 14. As previously mentioned the device of the 
invention is frequently used with dual wall fixtures having an overflow, 
or vent, passageway P defined between the inner wall 14 and an outer wall 
15 of the fixture (FIGS. 2 and 3). 
Once the locking leg 26a of the actuating means is rotated into the wall 
engaging position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cam means of the invention 
is operated to urge face 18b of sealing member 18 into pressural 
engagement with surface 14a of wall 14. In the form of the invention shown 
in the drawings, the cam means comprises a generally "U" shaped cam member 
30 having spaced apart first and second generally planar portions 30a and 
30b, each of which has a central portion 31, in a cam surface 32 and a 
handle portion 33. Cam surfaces 32 are adapted to engage rigid surface 18a 
of sealing member 18 when the cam member is rotated relative to cam 
support member 22. The faces 30a and 30b of the cam member are 
interconnected by a bight portion 30e and each is provided with coaxially 
aligned apertures 34 (FIG. 1). Planar portion 30a is also provided with 
another aperture 36, the purpose of which will presently be described. 
Also forming a part of the cam means of the instant form of the invention 
is a "U" shaped pivot pin 38. As best seen by referring to FIG. 4, pivot 
pin 38 includes an axial portion 40, a body portion 42 and a locking end 
portion 44. Cam member 30 is operably interconnected with cam support 
member 22 by inserting axial portion 40 of pivot pin 38 through aperture 
34 first portion 30a of member 30, then into a selected aperture 29 
provided in the web portion of cam support member 22 and finally through 
aperture 34 provided in portion 30b of the cam support member. When axial 
portion 40 is fully inserted in the manner shown in FIG. 4, locking end 44 
will extend into aperture 36 provided in portion 30a of the cam member 30 
in a manner to lock the assemblage together. Where the thickness of wall 
14 of the fixture is relatively thin, an aperture 29 located closer to end 
22a of member 22 is selected. Conversely, where wall 14 of the fixture is 
relatively thick, an aperture 29 located closer to the second end 22b of 
member 22 is selected for insertion of axial portion 40 of pivot pin 38. 
In operation of the device, handle portion 33 is used to effect rotation of 
the cam means relative to the cam support member 22. As cam member 30 is 
rotated from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the position shown in 
the phantom lines in FIG. 3, the cam surfaces 32 of the cam member will 
engage the rigid surface 18a of sealing member 18 and urge it into sealing 
engagement with face 14a of wall 14. Continued rotational movement of the 
cam member to the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 3 will cause 
the resiliently deformable surface portion 18b of member 18 to deform and 
securely sealably engage the surfaces of face 14a of wall 14 which 
circumscribe aperture 12. With the apparatus in this locked position, 
aperture 12 is securely sealed against fluid flow in a direction through 
passageway P toward aperture 12. With aperture 12 being thusly sealed, 
fluid pressure exerted by the cleanout tool being used will be effectively 
directed against the blockage in the line so that the blockage can 
expeditiously be broken to allow normal flow of liquids through the drain 
lines. 
When the blockage in the drain line has been cleared the cam member 30 can 
easily be rotated from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown 
in FIG. 2. Locking element 26 is then rotated so that end 26a extends 
downwardly in the manner shown in FIG. 2. With the apparatus in this 
configuration, the first end of the cam supporting mechanism can easily be 
removed from aperture 12 provided in wall 14. When using the apparatus, if 
a desired seal is not obtained between sealing member 18 and wall 14, 
pivot pin 38 can be removed from the selected aperture 29 and replaced 
within an aperture located nearer end 22a of the cam support member. 
Support member 22 as well as cam member 30 can be constructed from any 
rigid, durable material such as metal or plastic. Locking members 24 and 
26 are preferably constructed from metal rod. Various materials such as 
rubber and other elastomerics can be used to form portion 18b of sealing 
member 18. 
Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the 
requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have 
no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts 
or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or 
conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following 
claims.