Abstract:
A universal drain tool for use with shower and sink drains is provided. A representative drain tool includes a head containing a shaped aperture configured to engage the lock nuts of common shower and sink drains. The tool includes a handle attached to a head part. The handle allows the user to rotate the head part when the head part is engaged with the shower or sink drain. The head part can include an edge piece configured to insert into the internal lock nut slots of commonly available drop-in shower drains.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to tools and, more particularly, to tools for use in installing and removing shower or sink drains. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many tools have been developed for use within the construction industry. Various general purpose tools are commonplace, such as hammers, saws, screwdrivers, wrenches, as well as other tools. Certain tools have been developed or refined for particular trades, and specialized tools facilitate efficient completion of the work required to be performed by various tradesmen. By way of example, plumbers typically possess various tools, such as a pipe wrench, pipe cutter, breaker bar, etc. Plumbers also typically use specialized tools that enable them to more efficiently complete certain tasks such as the installation of pipes. 
     Within the industry, there are various types of drains, for example, shower and sink drains, which are difficult to install and remove. Shower and sink drains come in a variety of shapes and designs. Many commonly available shower and sink drains have lock nuts on the portion of the drain underneath the shower or sink surface. The lock nuts are used to install and remove the drain. Commonly available lock nuts include hex nuts, as well as lock nuts that include tabs, generally 4, 6 or 8 tabs, in various configurations. Additionally drop-in shower drains are commonly known for use in stand-up showers. The drop-in shower drains typically are configured with lock nut slots accessible from the top of the drain (the portion inside the stand-up shower) so that the drain may be installed or removed from inside the shower. 
     Conventionally, in order to install the various drain types, a plumber or other contractor uses a screwdriver and a hammer for the tab style lock nuts, or a large pipe wrench for the hex nut-style lock nuts. Removal of a drain is often difficult, since use of the hammer and screwdriver can damage the tabs on the tab-style lock nuts, and use of the pipe wrench on the underside of a sink or shower for the hex nut style lock nuts is often cumbersome and difficult. Consequently, it is desirable to provide a tool for the removal and installation of common shower and sink drains. 
     Thus, a need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned and/or other deficiencies and inadequacies of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tool for installation and removal of common shower and sink drains. An embodiment of the tool includes a head part containing a shaped aperture configured to engage the lock nuts of various common shower and sink drains. The shaped aperture is configured to engage both hex nut, and at least one the commercially available tab nut style lock nut. In some embodiments, the tool includes a handle attached to a head part. The handle allows the user to rotate the head part when the head part is engaged with the shower or sink drain. The head part can include an edge piece configured to insert into the internal lock nut slots of the commonly available drop-in shower drains. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings, and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention engaged with an example tab-style shower drain. 
     FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the present invention engaged with an example drop-in shower drain. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 1, the drain tool  10  comprises a head portion  14  that includes a shaped aperture  16 . The shaped aperture  16  is configured to engage shower and/or sink drains that are commercially available. The shaped aperture  16  includes tab portions  18  designed to engage tab-type lock nuts on sink and/or shower drains. The number of tab slots  18  and the positioning of the tab slots  18  can vary. For example, in one embodiment, the tab slots  18  are configured to engage the tabs of 4 tab, 6 tab, and 8 tab locking nuts on conventional strainer drains. 
     Additionally, as depicted in FIG. 1, the shaped aperture  16  includes hex nut portions  20  designed to engage hex-type lock nuts on shower and/or sink drains. The shaped aperture  16  is also substantially symmetric and is of sufficient diameter to fit over standard strainer drains so that the shaped aperture  16  may engage the lock nuts of conventional sink and/or shower drains. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, in one implementation, the head portion  14  is substantially round. However, other shapes for the head portion are possible, including rectangular, square, triangular, etc. Such shapes are considered within the scope of the present invention. Also as depicted in FIG. 1, the drain tool  10  includes means for rotating the head portion  14  when the head portion  14  is engaged with the shower or sink drain. One implementation of the rotating means is an attached handle  12 . Other rotating means such as a detachable handle (not shown) are equally applicable to the present invention and are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     As further indicated in FIG. 1, the head portion  14  includes an edge piece  22  configured to engage internal lock nut slots of conventional drop-in shower drains. The edge piece  22  may be at the end of the head portion  14  opposite of the rotating means. In other embodiments, the edge piece  22  may be located at different places on the head portion  14  (not shown). 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of one implementation of the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 2, the rotating means may be a fixed elongated handle  12 , permanently attached to the head portion  14  such that the head portion  14  and handle  12  are substantially flat. In this embodiment, the handle  12  may be used to rotate the head portion  14  when the head portion  14  is engaged with the shower or sink drain. This is shown in FIG.  6 . For the commonly available strainer drains, the head portion  14  is placed over the strainer drain, such that the shaped aperture  16  engages the strainer drain lock nuts, and the handle  12  is used to rotate the strainer drain to either install or remove the strainer drain. Additionally, as depicted in FIG. 2, the edge piece  22  may be attached to the head portion  14  at a location on the head portion  14  opposite of the handle  12 . In this implementation, the edge piece  22  engages the lock nut slots of drop-in shower drains, and the edge piece  22  may be rotated via the handle  12  to install or remove the drop-in shower drain. 
     FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rotating means is a fixed handle  12  offset at an angle  26  from the head portion  14 . In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the handle  12  is permanently affixed to the head portion  14  with a throat portion  24  interposed between the head portion  14  and handle  12 . FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.  4 . FIG. 5 shows the offset handle  12 , wherein the throat portion  24  forms an angle  26  with the head portion  14 , such that the handle  12  is offset from the head portion  14 . This enables the drain tool  10  to be used more efficiently and more easily. The angle  26  may vary in different embodiments, such as from 0 degrees elevation from the head portion  14  to 70 degrees elevation from the head portion  14 . 
     FIG. 6 shows one implementation of the present invention engaged with a strainer drain containing tab style locking nuts. As depicted in FIG. 6, the head portion  14  fits over the strainer drain, such that the shaped aperture  16  engages the locking nuts on the strainer drain. As further depicted in FIG. 6, the tab slots  18  engage the tab style locking nuts on the drain such that the head portion  14 , when rotated by the handle  12 , may remove or install the drain 
     FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of the present invention engaged with a drop-in shower drain. As depicted in FIG. 7, the edge piece  22  may be inserted into the internal lock nut slots of a drop-in shower drain. When the edge piece  22  is engaged with the lock nut slots, the head portion  14  may be rotated by the handle  12  such that the drop-in shower drain may be removed or installed. In an alternative embodiment, the edge piece  22  may be located on a side of the head part  14 , such that when the edge piece  22  is engaged with the lock nut slots, the handle  12  forms an approximately 90 degree angle with the drop in shower drain (not shown). 
     It should be emphasized that the above described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any preferred embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.