Abstract:
A drain closure device is provided that allows a user to selectively open or close the drain closure device to permit or restrict the flow of water therethrough. The drain closure is comprised of a strainer body which houses an insert. The insert has a plurality of openings. A cap is mounted to the insert that has a plurality of openings, which upon rotation of the cap relative to the insert selectively align with the openings on the insert to allow fluid flow from a tub or sink.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention are related to drain closure devices, and more specifically, a drain closure device that selectively rotates between an open position and a closed position that may be installed into an existing strainer body. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Drain closure devices for receptacles such as bathtubs, basins, sinks or other basins that selectively store a liquid, such as water, are well known in the art and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and configurations. As an example, some drain closures are mechanically operated by flipping a trip lever, while others are operated by a knob on the closure device. Over time the prior art closure devices will wear and eventually break, requiring repair or replacement. Further, the damaged components of the drain closure may cause leakage. 
         [0003]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,544 entitled “Spring Biased Drain Closure”, which issued on Apr. 2, 2002, and which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a drain closure comprising a helical spring positioned beneath the cap, that functions to bias a plug away from a strainer to allow fluid to escape. This closure device further comprises a number of mechanical components to maintain the plug in a closed position, such as bayonet pins, that are easily damaged. 
         [0004]    Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,179 entitled “Sink Stopper” which issued on Apr. 19, 2005, discloses an alternative closure device comprising a spring-biased press cap that is associated with a seal ring that is employed to selectively open and seal a drain. The press cap includes a groove, or cam, that cooperates with a pin to maintain the cap in an open or closed position. The pins of this device are apt to break, the spring may wear, and/or the seal ring may wear and fail. 
         [0005]    Thus, there exists a need in the art for a drain closure device that addresses the above-identified and other needs understood by those skilled in the art. The following describes a drain closure that addresses the drawbacks of the prior art and that is easy to install and operate in a conventional bathtub or similar basin. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a drain closure assembly that allows for fluid to selectively pass therethrough. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention includes a cap that is rotatably interconnected to an insert, wherein the insert is directly interconnected to a strainer body that is traditionally positioned in a drain. The cap of one embodiment includes at least one aperture therethrough. Similarly, the insert includes at least one aperture. In operation, when the cap aperture is aligned with an aperture integrated into a top portion of the insert, a flow path is created such that fluid above the drain closure device is able to flow into a waste water plumbing system of a dwelling. In addition, it is envisioned that slots may be integrated into the cap and/or insert to allow for greater amounts of fluid to be transferred from a bathtub into the waste water plumbing system. Further, it is contemplated that the slots and apertures provided include a sealing member about a peripheral edge thereof that helps prevent drainage of contained fluid when the apertures and/or slots are not aligned. 
         [0007]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a drain closure device that is easy to install. The closure device of embodiments of the present invention is easily interconnected to strainer bodies commonly used. Further, it is one advantage of the present invention that the cap may be removed from the insert and discarded if there is damage to the finish or structure thereof. Thereafter, a replacement cap may be rotatably interconnected to the insert that remains interconnected to the strainer body. 
         [0008]    It is also another aspect of the present invention to provide a drain closure device that can be easily scaled in size to fit sinks, bathtubs etc. Further, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a cap of any shape, i.e., circular, square, diamond, hexagonal etc. is contemplated. In addition, although rotation of the cap relative to the insert is described herein, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any relative motion between the cap and the insert is contemplated. For example, a cap that is either pulled upwardly or pushed downwardly relative to the insert such that apertures and/or slots align to provide a fluid path is within the scope of the invention. A cap that slides relative to the insert may also be used. 
         [0009]    The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
         [0010]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the drain closure of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an insert of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the drain closure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of a drain closure according to one embodiment of the invention installed to a bathtub and interconnected to a waste water pipe; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the drain closure of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a drain closure of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    To provide further clarity to the detailed description provided herein in the associated drawings, the following list of components and associated numbering are provided as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 Component 
                 # 
                 Component 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 2 
                 Drain Closure Device 
                 66 
                 Flange 
               
               
                 6 
                 Cap 
                 70 
                 Bathtub 
               
               
                 10 
                 Insert 
                 74 
                 Drain Port 
               
               
                 14 
                 Strainer Body 
                 78 
                 Bottom Surface of Bathtub 
               
               
                 18 
                 Tee 
                 82 
                 Hub 
               
               
                 22 
                 Horizontal Overflow Pipe 
                 86 
                 Threaded Bore 
               
               
                 26 
                 Elbow 
                 90 
                 Threaded Portion 
               
               
                 30 
                 Cap Apertures 
                 94 
                 Seal 
               
               
                 34 
                 Insert Apertures 
                 98 
                 Cap Top Surface 
               
               
                 38 
                 Sealing Members 
                 102 
                 Cap Slots 
               
               
                 42 
                 Strainer Flange 
                 106 
                 Cap Sidewall 
               
               
                 46 
                 Top Plate 
                 110 
                 Rim 
               
               
                 54 
                 Insert Sidewall 
                 114 
                 Elongated sidewall 
               
               
                 58 
                 Bottom Surface 
                 118 
                 Groove 
               
               
                 60 
                 Insert Slots 
                 122 
                 Seal 
               
               
                 62 
                 Stem 
                 126 
                 Fluid 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , a drain closure device  2  is shown that includes a cap  6  that is interconnected to an insert  10 . The insert  10  is designed to interconnect to a strainer body  14  commonly found in drain closure assemblies. The strainer body  14  is associated with a tee  18  or elbow (hereinafter “tee”) that is in turn interconnected to a horizontal overflow pipe  22  (or horizontal drain pipe, whatever the case may be). The cap  6  and the insert  10  include a series of apertures  30  &amp;  34  that allow water to flow into the tee  18  when the cap  6  is rotated relative to the insert  10  to align the apertures  30  &amp;  34 . 
         [0020]    Referring now specifically to  FIG. 1 , the drain closure device  2  of one embodiment is shown that includes the cap  6  having a plurality of apertures  30 . Preferably, one embodiment of the present invention also employs sealing members  38  positioned about a peripheral edge of each aperture  30 . The cap  6  is associated with the strainer body  14 , which includes a flange  42  that cooperates with the tee  18  to secure the bathtub (not shown) therebetween. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the insert  10  of one embodiment of the present invention is shown which includes a top plate  46  having a plurality of apertures  34  integrated therethrough. One embodiment of the present invention may employ a sealing member  38  integrated about a peripheral edge of each aperture  34 . A sidewall  54  extends from the edge of the top plate  46  which includes a plurality of slots  60 , each preferably including sealing members  50  integrated around a peripheral edge thereof. The sidewall  54  terminates at a bottom surface  58 . A stem  62 , which is at least partially threaded in one embodiment, protrudes generally from the center of the top plate  46 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , a cross sectional view of the drain closure device  2  is shown associated with the strainer body  14  commonly integrated into bathtubs, sinks, etc. The strainer body  14  includes the flange  42  that interfaces with a flange  66  of the tee  18  to secure the tee  18  to the bathtub  70 . In operation, the strainer body  14  is inserted through the drain port  74  and placed adjacent to a bottom surface  78  of the bathtub  70 . The strainer body  14  may be threadingly engaged to the tee  18  or otherwise interconnected thereto. The insert  10  is then interconnected (threadingly or clipped, for example) to a hub  82  of the insert  10  via a threaded bore  86 . Alternatively, the insert  10  may be interconnected to the cross members associated with the hub  82 . Preferably, the insert  10  of one embodiment includes a stem  62  with a threaded portion  90  that selectively engages the threaded portion  86  of the hub  82 . A seal  94  is located between the insert  10  and the inner surface of the strainer body  14 . 
         [0023]    The cap  6  is placed on the insert  10  wherein the top plate  46  of the insert  10  engages a top surface  98  of the cap  6 . In one embodiment, the insert  10  and the cap  6  include a plurality of apertures  34  and  30  that are adapted to be selectively aligned by movement of the cap  6  relative to the insert  10 . Preferably, the movement comprises manual or electromechanically actuated rotation of the cap  6  relative to the insert  10 . Further, the insert  10  may also rotate wherein the cap  6  is fixed, to the bottom surface of the bathtub, for example. In addition, the cap  6  includes slots  102  that are selectively aligned with slots  60  of the insert  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when aligned, a fluid path is opened through the apertures  30  and  34  and into the strainer body  14 , which transfers fluid  126  from the bathtub  70  into the tee  18 . Further, when properly aligned, the slots  102  of the cap  6  and the slots  60  of the insert  10  to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The cap  6  of one embodiment has a non-continuous outer surface that facilitates transfer of fluid to the slots  60  thereof. The apertures  30  and  34  also include sealing members  38  positioned about an edge thereof. When the apertures  30  and  34  are not aligned, the sealing member  38  prevents fluid flow. More specifically, the apertures  30  located on the cap  6  will be sealingly blocked by the top plate  46  of the insert  10  and the sealing members  38 . Similarly, the slots  60  and  102  may also include similarly arranged sealing members  38 . When slots  102  and  60  are not aligned, the sealing members  38  are place adjacent to the sidewall  106  of the cap  6  which prevents flow of liquid therethrough. Although rotation of the cap  6  relative to the insert  10  is shown, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the cap  6  may be slid, either longitudinally or transverse, relative to the insert  10  to create a fluid flow path. Furthermore, the teachings provided by embodiments of the present invention can be combined with the closure devices of the prior art referred to above. 
         [0024]    The cap  6  is preferably snap fit onto the insert  10  wherein the sidewall  106  of the cap  6  is placed over the sidewall  54  of the insert  10 . The sidewall  106  of the cap  6  may have a rim  110  with a decreased inner radius that interfaces with the bottom surface  58  of the insert  10  to prevent the cap  6  from being easily removed from the insert  10 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, the insert  10  includes elongated sidewall  114 , with at least one groove  118  for the receipt of at least one seal  122 . The seals  122  prevent a flow path from the bathtub  70  directly into the strainer body  14 , which would circumvent the drain closure  2 . This embodiment of the present invention also includes a plurality of slots  102  and  46  that are selectively aligned to allow fluid flow into the tee. The elongated sidewall  114  (shown) does not include a threadable portion for interconnection to the hub of the strainer body  14 . One of skill in the art, however, will appreciate that the elongated sidewall  114  may be threadingly associated with the strainer body  14 . This embodiment of the invention allows the selective flow of fluid similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]    Components of embodiments of the present invention are made of materials commonly used in the plumbing arts. More specifically, the insert  10  may be made of a plastic or metallic material that interfaces with the threads of the strainer body  14 . The cap  6  and the insert  10  may be made of, or coated with plastic, chrome, nickel, brass, aluminum or any other material commonly used. The sealing members  38  may be made of resilient materials such as neoprene or rubber. Further, although a combination of apertures and slots are shown and described herein, one of skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments may employ apertures or slots alone. 
         [0027]    The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for illustration and description purposes. However, the description is not intended to limit the invention to only the forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0028]    Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. For example, aspects of the inventions disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/931,681, filed Oct. 31, 2007, which was published in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0098517, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety herein, may be added to the present invention. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,148,454, 6,154,898, 6,317,906, 6,173,459, 6,640,358, 6,418,570, 6,691,411, 6,546,573 and 7,503,083, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, are related to the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein. The embodiments described herein above are further intended to explain best modes of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such a manner, or include other embodiments with various modifications as required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.