Abstract:
A sink or similar fluid retaining vessel drain system employs a unique linkage assembly to control the opening and closing of a ball type valve mechanism. The system is to be utilized in a small section of pipe as a tailpiece add-on which is connected to the bottom of any standard basket drain, configured to replace the existing straight section of tailpiece pipe below the drain. The system can also be utilized as an originally installed assembly connected directly beneath the drain.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 61/651,030, filed on May 24, 2012 and is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 13/894,858 filed on May 15, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Sinks in general, Whether kitchen, commercial, bar, utility (slop), etc. and other fluid holding vessels such as bathtubs and tanks, all use some type of drain assembly to maintain fluid and then discharge the fluid. For instance, a basket drain is commonly installed in the bottom of a sink because it is the least expensive way of stopping water from draining. In some commercial applications, a lever or twist drain is used in lieu of the simple basket drain. This not only works better (water does not leak as fast as with a basket drain), but also allows an individual to control the drain mechanism from under the sink, rather than reaching down into the water to allow it to drain. However, this is quite costly and sometimes cumbersome in comparison to the simple basket drain. Other systems require the user to stick his or her hand into a sink of hot or dirty water to allow drainage. Oft times an unsightly strainer lying sideways in the bottom of a sink is the only way to prevent accidental stoppage of the drain during normal use of the sink. 
         [0003]    There are also numerous drain assembly designs which are controlled remotely from the drain, i.e. from above the sink, bathtub, etc. Such systems are usually unduly complicated or they are unreliable in preventing unwanted leakage through the drain or under the sink itself. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object of the tailpiece and sink drain assembly of the present invention is to provide for an effective and efficient remote control means of retaining water or other fluids in a sink or similar vessel, and then easily discharging it from the sink&#39;s drain. Once the invention is installed, water or other fluid will be retained without leakage. The invention will prevent accidental stoppage of fluid through the drain, allowing for placement of a strainer where it belongs, within the basket drain. 
         [0005]    These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a sink or similar fluid retaining vessel drain system which employs a unique linkage assembly to control the opening and closing of a ball type valve mechanism. The system is to be utilized in a small section of pipe as a tailpiece add-on which is connected to the bottom of any standard basket drain, configured to replace the existing straight section of tailpiece pipe below the drain. The system can also be utilized as an originally installed assembly connected directly beneath the drain. 
         [0006]    Traditional systems allow water to drain even when a strainer or pop-up drain is installed properly. The ball valve design has been successfully utilized even in high-pressure applications. A very high-end ball valve designed sink drain is available for commercial sinks, but is very expensive and can only be operated with a rotary handle from under the sink. It must also be installed through the sink opening and sealed in place, Whereas the present invention is a simple add-on to a new or existing sink installation. 
         [0007]    The invention also allows for the use of a simple pop-up mechanism near or connected to the faucet (similar to small bathroom sinks) to activate the linkage assembly and hence the opening and closing of the drain. This is a unique and efficient way of controlling a drain with a positive ball valve seal. Other means of operating this drain controlled system would be through a rotary handle or lever type handle mounted under the sink, a pull or twist cable control mounted for convenience, or even a servo-motor with a remote switch. All of these controls eliminate the need to reach down into a sink of water to allow drainage and the accidental stoppage of water flow, resulting from the strainer falling into position and plugging the drain. 
         [0008]    The invention would be available in various sizes, e.g. 1¼″, 1½″, or 2″, plus all metric sizes for the foreign market. Material composition would include various options and combinations depending on the targeted market. These would include, but would not be limited to stainless steel, brass, plastic or zinc. 
         [0009]    Applications would include any product that utilizes a drain, such as kitchen and bathroom sinks, slop sinks, vessels with bottom drains, e.g. bathtubs, etc. It would also be incorporated as part of any drain that would require remote control capabilities and positive sealing attributes. 
         [0010]    The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of he present invention utilized in a tailpiece, in the open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a full cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention utilized in a tailpiece, in the open position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention in a tailpiece, in the closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a full cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention in a tailpiece, in the closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of the drain assembly system of the present invention taken from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of the tailpiece of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention utilized as an originally installed component of a sink drain, in the open position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention utilized as an originally installed component of a sink drain, in the closed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention showing internal components of the system with the ball valve in the open position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the drain assembly system of the present invention showing internal components of the system with the ball valve in the closed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a view of the drain assembly system of the present invention with its tailpiece installed beneath a sink, showing the manner of its operation. The view shows the system in an open position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a view of the drain assembly system of the present invention similar to  FIG. 10 , depicting the system in a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Sink  1  or other fluid holding vessel has drain  2  with a standard below the drain threaded extension  6  to which a drain pipe tailpiece is routinely threaded and then attached to the remaining sink drainage system. The current invention replaces the standard drain pipe tailpiece with tailpiece drain pipe section  4  containing a unique system. to remotely control the opening and closure of sink drain  2 . Tailpiece  4  has connection means, e.g. threaded nut  5  to be attached to thread extension  6  of drain  2 . Casing or housing  7  is provided for protection of the unit. 
         [0024]    Tailpiece  4  comprises an elongated, cylindrical pipe shaped tubular member  10  having open top  12 , open bottom  14 , longitudinal vertical axis  16  and horizontal axis  18 , perpendicular to the vertical axis. Ball valve  20  is located within tubular member  10  and allows for the opening and closing of tailpiece  4 , and hence drain  2 , through centrally located channel  21  extending through the ball valve. Ball valve  20  is mounted to tubular member  10  by rotatable shafts  22  and  24 , attached between the walls of the tubular member and the ball valve. Sleeve element  26  is, at all times, seated against ball valve  20  and extends adjacent to and along the internal surface of tubular member  10 . Rotatable movement of ball valve  20  within tubular member  10  is accomplished via valve controlled linkage assembly  30 , actuator arm  44 , and vertical movement of control rod  80  extending externally of sink  1  (See  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). 
         [0025]    Linkage assembly  30  comprises linkage crank member  32 , fixedly attached to rotatable shaft  22 . U-shaped linkage arm  34  is connected at one end to linkage crank member  32 , by pin screw  36 , slideably located within slot  38 . The other end of linkage arm  34  is rotatably connected to linkage shaft  40 , which is supported within shroud  42  extending from tubular member  10 . Actuator arm  44  is fixedly attached to linkage shaft  40 , such that when the actuation arm is in a horizontal position, substantially parallel to horizontal axis  18  of tubular member  10 , ball valve  20  is opened, i.e. it is positioned such that its centrally located channel  21  is aligned parallel with vertical axis  16  of the tubular member, providing a completely open pathway between open top  12  and open bottom  14  of tubular member. (See  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 ). 
         [0026]    By vertically raising actuator arm  44  from this position, linkage shaft  40  rotates, which in turn rotates and slides linkage arm  34  forward. This causes linkage crank member  32  to also rotate forward, resulting in shaft  22  rotating ball valve 90°, such that central channel  21  is now aligned parallel to horizontal axis  18  of tubular member  10 . In this position, top wall surface  23  of ball valve  20  extends the width of tubular member  10 , between the inner surface of the tubular member. This closes ball valve  20 , thereby closing drain  2 . (See  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8 ,  10  and  12 ). 
         [0027]    A fluid sealing system is provided to ensure that fluid flowing into the drain does not leak through ball valve  20  or leaks from the sink to the exterior of tubular member  10 . The sealing system, best seen in  FIG. 5 , comprises O-ring  60  positioned within notched opening  28  of sleeve element  26 . Washer  62  overlays O-ring  60  and top  12  of tubular member  10 , between the bottom of sink  1  and threaded nut  5 . Once nut  5  is threadably connected to threaded connection  6  of drain  2 , sleeve element  26  is securely compressed between ball valve  20  and the fluid sealing system, i.e. O-ring  60  and washer  62 . Fluid is thus prevented from leaking outside tubular member  10  or through ball valve  20  when it is in the closed position. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 7-10  show the unique system of the present invention utilized as an originally installed assembly of a sink drain, As best seen in  FIG. 9 , this assembly is a part of sink drain  2   a  formed by threaded connector  46  extending down from sink drain plate  48 . The entire unit is secured to sink  1  by locking nut  50 . Similar to the tailpiece add-on  4 , tubular member  52  is an elongated cylindrical pipe extended by threaded connector  46 . Tubular member  52  has open bottom  54 , longitudinal vertical axis  56  and horizontal axis  58 , perpendicular to the vertical axis. Threaded connector  57  is provided for attachment to the additionally required, normal drainage piping. Also, as previously described with regard to the tailpiece add-on  4 , the assembly comprises tubular ball valve  20 , linkage assembly  30  and actuator arm  44 . Linkage assembly  30  comprises linkage crank member  32 , fixedly attached to rotatable shaft  22 , U-shaped linkage arm  34 , pin  36  within slot  38  and linkage shaft  40 . Linkage assembly  30  operates by means of actuator arm  44 , as previously described with regard to tailpiece add-on  4 . Housing  70  encloses the assembly. 
         [0029]    The fluid sealing system again comprises the use of O-ring  60  with the addition of bottom drain member  64  threadably secured to threaded connector  46  in order to compress sleeve element  26  between ball valve  20  and the bottom drain member. As previously described, this prevents leakage from the sink drain through ball valve  20  or into housing  70 . 
         [0030]    In both the add-on tailpiece and originally install sink assemblies, actuator arm  44  is designed to be vertically raised at an angle of less than 90° from its horizontal position and optimally at an angle between 30° and 45°, so that it can be used in small areas, usually the minimal space under the sink. The extent of movement of actuator arm  44  can be controlled either by the use of a small tab extending from ball valve  20  which contacts the inner surface of tubular member  10 , or by limiting the angular distance the arm be moved. For instance, by the size of the slotted openings  8  and  72 , in housings  7  and  70 , through which actuation arm  44  extends or by providing shroud  42  over linkage shaft  40 , with an opening  43  of a specific size designed to allow limited movement of the arm in relation to the linkage shaft. 
         [0031]    Manual actuation of the system can be accomplished by control rod  80 , pivotally connected to actuator arm  44 . As seen in  FIG. 11 , control knob  82 , located above sink  1  and connected to rod  80 , is pulled upward, actuator arm  44 , pivotably mounted to rod  80 , is raised the appropriate less than 90° angle, actuating linkage assembly  30  to open ball valve  20 , as previously described. By the same token, pushing down on handle  82  lowers actuator arm  44  back to its horizontal position to close ball valve  20 . 
         [0032]    Actuator arm  44  can also be controlled by a cable operating system utilizing a cable secured at one end of the arm. The cable could then be secured by brackets or other means to housing  7  and extend up to knob  82 , which controls the movement of the cable, thereby allowing arm  44  to be raised and lowered. 
         [0033]    The raising and lowering of arm  44  can also be controlled remotely by a servo-motor linked to the arm. Appropriate input to the motor would actuate the motor to move the arm  44  up and down. 
         [0034]    Other equivalent means to control the movement of arm  44  would include a rotary handle secured to the after end of the arm, mounted under the sink, employed primarily for industrial use. 
         [0035]    The means to control actuation arm  44  described herein are not to be considered so restricted. Equivalent actuation arm control means are contemplated for use with the present invention. 
         [0036]    Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.