Compression drain with adjustable-height grate

A compression drain for use with a preformed floor in which the height of the drain grate can be adjusted relative to said floor, and which positively locates the drain housing relative to the subfloor/waste water drain pipe. The arrangement provides a unitary, water tight, assembly that uses very little material to be manufactured, has very few moving parts, and is very easy to install.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to drains, and, more particularly, relates to drains for showers, baths, sinks and other drainable surfaces which have height-adjustable drain tops associated therewith.

2. Background Art

There are many different types of drains for shower, bath, sink, basin and other installations in which a watertight fit is achieved. The drains usually employ a drain top or upper plate, sometimes known as a grate, which is either apertured or solid (i.e. through or around which water drains from the surrounding surface into the drain). For obvious reasons, it is desired that the drain top be substantially level with the adjacent surface, which may be comprised of the floor of the shower, bath, sink, basin or the like, or may be flooring material, such as tile applied thereover.

Due to the myriad possibilities of such arrangements, including thickness of the floor in which the drain is installed, and thickness of any flooring material adjacent the drain, it is necessary that the height of the drain top be adjustable relative to the remainder of the drain, thereby permitting adjustment of the position of the drain top relative to the surface surrounding the drain, so that the grate may be flush therewith.

Numerous height-adjustable drains have been proposed in the past, but none combine low cost with simple construction that positively delineate the position of the waste pipe relative to the drain, while simultaneously permitting the height of the drain top to be adjusted relative to the adjacent surface as well.

In addition, the process of shower, bath, basin, etc. installation has been vastly improved by the introduction of prefabricated modules used for forming the floor thereof. Use of these prefabricated modules significantly decreases the amount of time and skill required to construct a tile-covered assembly, as well as providing more of a consistent and reliable surface upon which to tile.

One type of such module is the prefabricated shower pan. These modules are pre-constructed molded units having a sloping floor, an integrated drain, and, if desired, curb(s) and sidewalls. Installation of the module involves applying adhesive and sealing material to the subfloor where the module will rest, and seating the module on the subfloor, while simultaneously securing a section of drain pipe to the drain. Tile can then be applied directly to the shower walls and module without the need for applying mortar to form a floor.

However, because the specifications for one job may call for the drain to be integrated into the shower module in a different location than it is for another job, different tools must be used to create two pans that might otherwise be nearly, or actually, identical.

It would be desirable, therefore, to be able to incorporate an adjustable top drain into a shower, bath, basin, etc. module in any location by simply creating a drain aperture in the floor of the module after it is manufactured, and fitting a drain into the floor with an adjustable drain top so that the drain top is coplanar with the adjacent surface or flooring material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in its preferred form, provides a compression drain for use with a preformed floor in which the height of the drain grate can be adjusted relative to said floor, and which positively locates the drain housing relative to the subfloor/waste water drain pipe. The arrangement provides a unitary, water tight, assembly that uses very little material to be manufactured, has very few moving parts, and is very easy to install.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that accord with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to implementing a compression drain for use with a preformed floor in which the height of the drain grate can be adjusted relative to said floor, and which positively locates the drain housing relative to the subfloor/waste water drain pipe. Accordingly, the apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

In this document, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not necessarily include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article or apparatus. The term “plurality of” as used in connection with any object or action means two or more of such objects or actions. A claim element proceeded by the article “a” or “an” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus that includes the element. The term “tile” also encompasses “stone” and/or “marble.” The term “tiled” means any surface having tile, stone, and/or marble applied thereon. The term “sidewall,” in relation to a shower module, means any vertical surface rising above the floor of the shower module along one or more peripheral edges and may be any height or any width, including, without limitation, an integrated curb. The term “shower enclosure space” refers to the volume defined by the framed-out walls, the area where the shower door or access area will reside, the bathroom sub-floor, and the ceiling.

FIGS. 1-4illustrate the preferred form of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the particular structures, process steps or materials disclosed herein, but is intended to encompass equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts. Therefore, it is to be understood that terminology used herein is employed for the purpose of describing particular disclosed examples of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

A drain in accordance with this invention is shown inFIGS. 1-4, wherein drain body10is comprised of a cylindrical, externally threaded, lower section12and an upper annular flange14. Flange14may include a frustro-conically tapered section16. A portion of the interior of lower section12consists of screw threads18, and the remaining portion thereof comprises a shoulder20below screw threads18and a smooth cylindrical wall section21which is adapted to receive a waste pipe W emanating from subfloor S. Shoulder20acts as a stop against the upper end of waste pipe W so as to positively position drain body10relative to subfloor S.

Preferably, a drain of this invention is adapted to be used with a preformed shower pan floor or other surface, which may be formed integrally with, or assembled post-manufacture (e.g. in factory or in the field) as part of a waterproof pan, as known to those of skill in the art. Pan floor35defines, or is modified to include, an aperture35′ therein through which drain body12is adapted to be placed. A gasket45, made out of any suitable material such as rubber, may be used to line the aperture35′ in pan floor35, and be received about the exterior surface17of drain body12. Preferably, the height of the gasket45corresponds substantially to the thickness of pan floor35. A top edge45′ of gasket45may be chamfered so as to provide a nestable surface on which a correspondingly tapered lower surface47of flange14may sealingly mate.

Nut50is used to compress flange14of drain body10against an upper surface of pan floor35, which may or may not define a corresponding annular recess within which flange14may nest. Flange54of nut50bears against a bottom surface of pan floor35to thereby compress drain body10in corresponding fashion against the top surface of pan floor35. Lugs59, or any other suitable structure, may be employed to engage a pipe wrench or other tool when tightening nut50to drain body10.

A drain top40, which may be of any type, including cylindrical, square or any other shape, apertured or not, is supported by drain top support30. Drain top support30includes a lower cylindrical section32defining screw threads on at least a portion thereof adapted to mate with corresponding screw threads18in lower section12. In this way, support30can be raised or lowered so as to adjust the height of drain top40relative to the top surface of pan floor35or any covering (e.g. flooring material) thereon. Drain top40may be connected to support30by any suitable means, such as screws received in threaded bosses39defined by support30. A frustro-conically tapered section36may be employed adjacent upper flange34of support30. Flange34may further define a recessed groove in which drain top40may fit.

As best seen inFIG. 4, when assembled, the drain of this invention connects within aperture35′ in pan floor35by tightening nut50about the screw threads on lower section12of drain body10(and optional gasket45may also be utilized), where after support30is threaded to screw threads18of lower section12to a distance which renders the top surface of drain top40approximately coplanar with the surrounding surface, such as flooring tile70. It is contemplated, however, that there will be installations where no flooring material is employed on pan floor35such that support30should be adjusted so as to position the top surface of drain top40substantially coplanar with the top surface of pan floor35.

In the installation shown inFIG. 4, however, an insulated membrane such as rubber membrane74may be used, which membrane defines a central aperture which is concentric and coincides substantially with shoulder15of flange14, said shoulder defined by a recessed groove in flange14. In this way, the top surface of flange14radially inwardly from shoulder15is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the membrane74. Thereafter, an adhesive material76, such as an epoxy adhesive or other thin set mortar, is applied above membrane74and flange14and under the underside of flange34of support30to provide a seal thereafter, flooring material70such as flooring tile may be applied, and grouted if desired around the perimeter of drain top40and/or flange34.

Flange34of support30may be formed to define a lower surface having a taper34relative to horizontal which is in part parallel with the frustro-conical recess16of drain body12when support30is threadingly engaged within threads18of drain body12. In this way, a gap is created, as seen inFIG. 4, in which sealing material76such as epoxy adhesive can be inserted to provide a waterproof joint. Surfaces34and16need not be parallel to accomplish the desired result of defining a gap in which sealing material76may be placed.

The various components of the drain assemblies of this invention may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as metal, hardened resin, foam, or the like. In addition, drain top40may be made in any shape, the circular shape shown in the drawings being merely by way of example but not limitation. Drain top40may be apertured as shown, or may be solid, and mounted to support30in such a way as to provide a gap (not shown) between flange34and a bottom surface of drain top40through which water may drain. Drain top40may be adapted to receive tile or other flooring material thereon, or may be uncovered or partially covered.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, or solutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.