Patent Publication Number: US-11643832-B1

Title: Low profile circular drain with water stop for swimming pool and diverter for use therein

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/876,351, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain with Water Stop for Swimming Pool and Diverter For Use Therein,” filed May 18, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/673,299 entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Nov. 14, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/530,659, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,465,404, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Aug. 2, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/439,883, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Jun. 13, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/210,850, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,323,429, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Dec. 5, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/863,236, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,214,930, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Jan. 5, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/392,345, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,869,103, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Dec. 28, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/794,376, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,540,837, entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain With Water Stop For Swimming Pool,” filed Mar. 11, 2013, which claims priority to provisional application No. 61/660,566 filed Jun. 15, 2012 entitled “Low Profile Circular Drain Covers,” and to provisional application No. 61/734,267 filed Dec. 6, 2012 entitled “Channel Drain With Water Stop,” which applications are incorporated in their entirety herein by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Twin 7-Year Old Virginia Graham Baker was the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker III. In June 2002 she became stuck to the hot tub drain and was unable to pull herself free and she drowned. After her tragic death the family lobbied Congress for a law to require anti-entrapment drain covers and other safety measures. As a result, The Virginia Graham Baker Pool &amp; Spa Safety Act (“VGB Act”) was enacted in December, 2007. 
     The 2007 VGB Act changed everything for those in business of providing swimming pool and spa suction outlets or drains. Among one of the ways of complying with the Act was separating two drains by more than three feet, such that a single individual could not likely block both drains with his or her body and become stuck. This also led to increased popularity of channel drains, rectangular and longer than three feet, which accomplished this objective but looked unsightly. 
     Even before the VGB Act, pool manufacturers were concerned about the aesthetic appearance of drains and were developing products and methods towards making drain covers more attractive. Among products available were small approx. 12 inch diameter round covers having a recessed upper surface forming a cavity to receive aggregate material matching the aggregate surface of the pool. Among disadvantages of this product were that the aggregate material was retained inside a portion of the cover itself, such that changing covers requires filling the new cover with matching new batch of the aggregate material. And also, these small drains are subject to being damaged by being kicked by swimmers and users of hot tubs. 
     Pool drains or sumps, as currently known in the art, generally comprise a plastic or fiberglass body including a chamber into which water flows from the pool as it gets recycled through the pool&#39;s pump and filter. The chamber includes an opening, or outlet port, that connects to a pipe extending to the pool pump and filter apparatus. Pipes are typically installed in gunite or shotcrete material forming the supporting walls of the pool. The terminal end of a pipe is then encased in plaster along with the drain to which it is connected. The plaster covers the gunite or shotcrete and serves as a barrier between water in the pool and the gunite or shotcrete. 
     As alluded to above, elongate channel sumps are popular in view of their compliance with the VGB Act, requiring swimming pool and spa sumps to prevent a person&#39;s body from covering the entire sump intake and becoming entrapped. Anti-entrapment channel sumps generally comply with the VGB Act by providing multiple intake ports, and being of a sufficient length that the ports cannot be simultaneously blocked, i.e., if one intake port is blocked, the other intake ports allow water to continue to flow into the pump and filtering system. 
     A problem with pool sumps, particularly elongated channel sumps, is that the plaster into which these large sumps are embedded forms cracks over time One area most prone to form cracks is where the pool sump and plaster meet. Water may seep into the surrounding plaster and then down into the supporting walls of the pool causing damage. It therefore would be advantageous to provide a pool sump that helps prevent water from migrating down cracks as they form between the pool sump and the plaster surrounding it. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to a sump drain for installation in a surface of a swimming pool or spa having a drain inlet. The sump drain comprises an annular chamber having a contiguous annular top opening formed by an inner side wall, an outer side wall and a bottom surface, at least one outlet port along the bottom surface of the chamber, and at least one diverter plate configured to be placed over the outlet port. 
     Each diverter plate can have a rounded end and a straight end, a convex bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposed sides of the convex bottom surface. 
     Alternatively, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the diverter plate is convex. 
     The diverter plate can be curved along its length and can have a rear wall extending downward from the rounded end. 
     Ideally, the first diverter plate embodiment further comprises two fasteners for coupling the diverter plate to the annular chamber. 
     Optionally, the diverter plate can have two opposed straight ends. 
     Optionally, the diverter plate has an upper surface that is configured to extend from the inner side wall to the outer side wall of the annular chamber such that water cannot flow vertically down into the outlet port. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a first embodiment of my circular drain assembly; 
         FIG.  2    is a side elevation view of the first embodiment of my circular drain assembly of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a top plan view of the first embodiment of my circular drain assembly of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment of my drain assembly of  FIG.  1    with the temporary plaster cover shown; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view of the first embodiment of my drain assembly of  FIG.  1    with the grid cover shown as well as the removability of the center cover; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of my drain of  FIG.  1    installed into the surface of a pool with the plaster cover; 
         FIG.  7    is a section view taken from  FIG.  6    along line  7 - 7 ; 
         FIG.  8    is a section view taken from  FIG.  6    along line  8 - 8 ; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of my drain of  FIG.  5    with the grid cover installed in a pool; 
         FIG.  10    is an enlarged section view taken from  FIG.  9    along line  9 - 9 , showing the grid cover installed and the water stop feature; 
         FIG.  11    is an enlarged section view of  FIG.  10    taken along line  11 , wherein the water stop feature is shown; 
         FIG.  12    is an enlarged section view of  FIG.  10    taken along line  12  showing the center cover installed and again the water stop feature; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a second embodiment of my circular drain assembly; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of the second embodiment of my circular drain of  FIG.  13    installed in a pool; 
         FIG.  15    is section view taken from  FIG.  14    along line  15 - 15 ; 
         FIG.  16    is an enlarged portion of  FIG.  15    taken along line  16  showing the water stop feature; 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of a third embodiment of my circular drain assembly; 
         FIG.  18    is a side perspective view of the third embodiment of  FIG.  17   ; 
         FIG.  19    is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of  FIG.  17   , wherein a plurality of diverter plates are shown and the removability of a grid cover is shown; 
         FIG.  20    is a top plan view of the third embodiment of  FIG.  19   , wherein the diverter plates and grid cover are removed; 
         FIG.  21    is a top plan view of the third embodiment of  FIG.  20   , wherein the diverter plates as positioned inside the drain; 
         FIG.  22    is a top plan view of the third embodiment of  FIG.  20   , wherein the grid cover is positioned on the drain; 
         FIG.  23    is a section view taken from  FIG.  22    along line  23 - 23 ; 
         FIG.  24    is an enlarged portion of  FIG.  23   , wherein the diverter plate position is shown; 
         FIG.  25    is perspective view of a first diverter plate embodiment; 
         FIG.  26    is an enlarged portion the third drain embodiment, wherein the function of the first diverter plate embodiment is shown; 
         FIG.  27    is a perspective view of a second diverter plate embodiment; 
         FIG.  28    is an enlarged portion of the third drain embodiment, wherein the function of the second diverter plate embodiment is shown; 
         FIG.  29    is a perspective view of a third diverter plate embodiment; 
         FIG.  30    is an enlarged portion of the third drain embodiment, wherein the function of the third diverter plate embodiment is shown; and 
         FIG.  31    is a section view of the third drain embodiment, wherein the flow path of the water is shown when the diverter plates are in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to drawing  FIGS.  1 - 11   , the low profile circular drain  10  or suction outlet or sump of the preferred embodiment is disclosed. As best shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , the drain  10  has an annular ring-shaped body or chamber  12  although optionally the drain  10  may be other preferably rounded shapes such as oval or merely with rounded corners (not shown). The chamber  12  has an inner sidewall  14  having a diameter of about 18 inches (dimension D as labeled in  FIG.  7   ) and outer sidewall  16  having an outside diameter of about 21 inches, and the depth of the chamber from top to bottom is about 3.5 inches. The top side of the chamber  12  is generally open, forming an annular or ring-shaped space  18  between the sidewalls  14 ,  16 , which may be sized to receive a corresponding circular grid cover  22 . The grid cover  22  may include a large number (here there are about 150) rectangular, radial slots  24 . Optionally, the cover  22  may have other types of openings (not shown), most anything that allows water to pass through while stopping larger debris such as leaves. 
     The inner sidewall  16  has multiple openings or outlet ports  26  connecting to one or more conduits or pipes  28 . The conduits  28  extend radially inward to a central hub  30  that connects to the pump and filtering system  32  in the floor of the pool or spa. The hub  30  preferably has about a 2.5 inch inner diameter, and its length from the bottom of the chamber  12  to the end is about 2.5 inches. The top side of the hub  30  includes a cap  34  on which a manufacturer&#39;s logo, here ABC, may be displayed, and the cap  34  is removable for purposes of cleaning out the drain  10  should it become clogged with debris. It&#39;s held on by a pair of flat head Phillips screws  36  ( FIG.  5   ). 
     Next referring to  FIGS.  4 - 12   , installation of the drain  10  as well as further features may be described.  FIG.  4    shows a plastering cover  38  which is temporarily placed in the chamber  12  opening  18 , to keep plaster from getting into the chamber  12  when the drain  10  is being installed in the floor of a pool or spa. The plastering cover  38  preferably includes several, at least two thumb/index finger holds  40  for facilitating later removal of the plastering cover  36  once the drain  10  is embedded in the pool or spa.  FIG.  5    shows the grid cover  22  which is then added, held on by eight (8) screws  36 .  FIG.  6    shows the drain  10  being installed in the plaster surface  42  floor of a swimming pool or spa, with the plaster  42  covering up the temporary cover  38  and the center hub cap  34 . Optionally, it may also be installed vertically in a lower wall of a pool or spa (not shown).  FIG.  7    shows the top side opening  18  into which the plastering cover  34  fits, along with the hub cover  34  (also see  FIG.  12   ), being substantial flush with the plaster surface  42 .  FIG.  8    shows that there is a substantial amount of plaster  42 , as well as the underlying gunite or shotcrete material  44 , between the annular chamber  12  and the center hub  30 . With the drain  10  being installed in this fashion, it offers improved structural integrity in that any load from a swimmer&#39;s foot or occupant of a hot tub will impact only a small portion of the drain  10  and tend to be absorbed by the surrounding floor or wall of the pool or spa. 
       FIGS.  9 ,  10    shows the plastering cover  34  removed and replaced with the grid cover  22 . As indicated in  FIG.  5   , the grid cover is secured in place in the top opening  18  by several Phillips head screws  36 . Thus, the grid cover  22  and center cap  34  are the only parts of the drain  10  seen upon installation, and they blend into the plaster surface  42  of the floor of the pool or spa.  FIG.  11    shows the cover  22  is substantially flush with the surrounding plaster  42 , and as per  FIG.  12    the center hub cap  34  is similarly substantially flush with the plaster  42  floor. 
       FIGS.  11 ,  12    also show water stops  50 ,  60  for stopping any water that intrudes between the sump  10  and plaster  42  into which the sump  10  is embedded. In the preferred embodiment the water stop  50 ,  60  is tray-shaped like a gutter or channel  52 ,  62  and extends around the sump  10  to collect water seeping into cracks between the sump  10  and the plaster  42 . The water stop  50  also serves to anchor the sump  10  in the plaster  42 . The gutter or channel  52  is located inboard the grid cover  22 , and the same channel  52  is built in around the hub cover  34 . A slightly differently configured water stop  60  is located outboard the grid cover  22 , as the gutter or channel  52  is molded into the chamber body  22  adjacent to the screws  36  which attach the cover  22 . Each water stop  50 ,  60  preferably includes a horizontal shelf  54  and a vertical wall  56 , again to catch water migrating between the sump  10  and the plaster  42  in which the sump  10  is installed. The vertical wall  56  may extend above and below the horizontal shelf  54 , providing an effective anchoring mechanism during sump  10  installation. 
     Now also referring to  FIGS.  13 - 16   , a second alternate embodiment  110  is discussed. This drain  110  has a round sump body  112 , and an inner leaf trapper ring  114  and an outer leaf trapper ring  116 . The leaf trapper rings  114 ,  116  are located concentric to each other and provide a narrow, circular gap  118  (d equals about 0.875 inches wide in  FIG.  16   ) for water to pass but small enough to prevent larger objects from passing such as leaves. As best seen in  FIGS.  15 ,  16   , the leaf trapper rings  114 ,  116  have upper surfaces  120 ,  122  which are substantially flat and approximately align with one another. This embodiment  110  may include a temporary plaster cover  36  as described above; it does not include the circular grid cover  22 . 
     The end result is a highly effective drain system flush with the surface of the pool, with plaster or other aggregate material having the same color and texture both inside and outside the concentric rings or circular grid. The drain has a nearly invisible, pleasing aesthetic appearance. The drain is a safe, VGB compliant drain, large enough to be unblockable by a single person. The drain is rugged, not susceptible to being easily damaged, and the water stop feature helps maintain the structural integrity of the surrounding plaster in the pool or spa floor for many years. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  17 - 24   , there is shown a third circular drain embodiment  300  with a plurality of diverter plates  400  positioned within the drain  300 .  FIGS.  17  and  18    show the drain  300  fully assembled. This drain  300  is similar in shape and has features similar to the first and second drain embodiments  10 ,  110  discussed above, such as an annular ring-shaped body or chamber  12 , the chamber  12  having an inner sidewall  14  and outer sidewall  16 . The top side of the chamber  12  is generally open, forming an annular or ring-shaped space  18  between the sidewalls  14 ,  16 , which may be sized to receive a corresponding circular grid cover  22 . The grid cover  22  may include a large number of radial slots  24 . Optionally, the cover  22  may have other types of openings (not shown), most anything that allows water to pass through while stopping larger debris such as leaves. The grid cover  22  is held on to the drain  300  by a plurality of fasteners or screws  36 . 
     The chamber  12  has multiple openings or outlet ports  26  connecting to one or more conduits or pipes  28 . The configuration of the outlet ports  26  in this drain  300  is different than the first and second drain embodiments  10 ,  110 . Notably, each outlet port  26  is located in a bottom surface  17  of the chamber  12  and each outlet port  26  is connected to a separate conduit or pipe  28 , and each conduit/pipe  28  couples to the pump and filter system in the floor of the pool or spa. Each outlet port  26  can also have a rear wall  27  (best seen in  FIG.  26   ) that projects upward, away from the outlet port  26  and towards the grid cover  22 . All dimensions discussed above with respect to the first and second embodiments  10 ,  110  generally apply to this drain  300 . 
       FIG.  19    shows all of the components of the third drain embodiment  300 . Unlike the first and second embodiments  10 ,  110 , this drain  300  has a plurality of diverter plates  400  that are removably coupled to an interior surface of the chamber  12 . The number of diverter plates  400  necessary for the drain  300  corresponds to the number of outlet ports  26  the drain  300  has. In  FIG.  19   , there are four diverter plates  400 , one for each outlet port  26 . 
       FIG.  20    shows a fully disassembled drain  300 . The grid cover  22  and the diverter plates  302  have been removed, leaving just the drain  300  and its chamber  12 , with four outlet ports  26 . 
       FIG.  21    shows the diverter plates  400  re-installed in the chamber  12  of the fully disassembled drain  300 . As discussed above, there is a diverter plate  400  positioned over each outlet port  26 . 
       FIG.  22    shows the drain  300  fully re-assembled, where the grid cover  22  has been placed over the chamber  12 . 
       FIGS.  23  and  24    are cut-away views of the fully re-assembled drain  300 . Placement of the diverter plates  400  over the outlet ports  26  can be seen.  FIG.  23    provides a good view of the placement of rear wall  27  of the outlet port  26 , which can be seen on left-side cutout and is missing from the right-side cutout (because of where the cross-section was taken). 
       FIGS.  23  and  24    also show water stops  50 ,  60  for stopping any water that intrudes between the drain  300  and plaster  42  into which the drain  300  is embedded. In the preferred embodiment the water stop  50 ,  60  is two gutters or channels  52 ,  62 , wherein water stop  60  extends around an exterior surface of the drain  300  and water stop  50  extends around an interior surface of the drain  300 . Both water stops  50 ,  60  are configured to collect water seeping into cracks between the drain  300  and the plaster  42 . Water stops  50  and  60  also serve to anchor the drain  300  in the plaster  42 . Water stop  50  (and gutter or channel  52 ) is located inboard the grid cover  22  and is molded into an exterior surface of chamber side wall  14 . Water stop  60  is located outboard the grid cover  22 , as the gutter or channel  52  is molded into an exterior surface of chamber side wall  16  adjacent to the screws  36  which attach the cover  22 . Each water stop  50 ,  60  preferably includes a bottom surface  53  that is angled slightly inward from top to bottom, with bottom being proximate the drain  300 , and a slightly angled side wall  55 , similarly oriented wherein a bottom  57  of the side wall  55  is proximate the drain  300 , and a top  59  of the side wall  55  is distal the drain  300 . 
       FIGS.  25  and  26    show a first diverter plate embodiment  400 . In this diverter plate  400 , the diverter plate  400  is curved to follow the curved contours of the chamber  12  in which it must fit. The diverter plate  400  has a rounded end  402  and a straight or flat end  404 . The rounded end  402  of the diverter plate  400  is configured to removably couple to the rear wall  27  of the corresponding outlet port  26 . This effectively seals off one side of the outlet port  26  so that hair can only enter the outlet port  26  from one direction. 
     At least a portion of a bottom surface  406  of diverter plate  400  is convex along its center axis and this is best seen in  FIGS.  23  and  24   . Preferably, the entire bottom surface  406  is convex, as shown in Figures. The diverter plate  400  has two side walls  408 A,  408 B that extend upward, away from opposed sides of the convex bottom surface  406 . The side walls  408 A,  408 B are configured to leave little to no gap between the side walls  408 A,  408 B of the diverter plate  400  and the sidewalls  14 ,  16  of the chamber  12 . This configurations means that hair, labeled H in  FIG.  26   , can only enter the outlet port  26  below the diverter plate  400  via one entrance which is under the straight end  404  of the diverter plate  400 . This is shown in  FIG.  26   . Optionally, at least a portion of the bottom surface  406  of the diverter plate  400  is concave, or optionally, the entire bottom surface  406  of the diverter plate  400  is flat. 
     Three fasteners  410  are used to secure the diverter plate  400  to the interior of the chamber  12 , one fastener  410  located at the rounded end  402  of the diverter plate  400  and the other two fasteners  410  are opposed each other, along the side walls  408 A,  408 B of the diverter plate  400 . All three fasteners  410  can be seen in  FIG.  19   , as  FIG.  26    only shows two fasteners  410 . Optionally, there can be more than three fasteners  410  used to removeably couple the diverter plate  400  to the sidewalls  14 ,  16  of the chamber  12 . 
       FIGS.  27  and  28    show a second diverter plate embodiment  500 . In this embodiment, the diverter plate  500  has a rounded end  502  and a straight or flat end  504 , but the plate  500  is shorter in length than the first diverter plate embodiment  400 . The rounded end  502  has an end wall  506  that projects downward, towards the outlet port  26 , and prevents hair, labeled H in  FIG.  28   , from curving under the rounded end  502  and entering the corresponding outlet port  26 . In this embodiment, the outlet ports  26  of the drain  300  do not have rear walls  27 . As such, end wall  506  on the diverter plate  500  is necessary to block off one entrance to the outlet port  26 . Optionally, drain  300  has rear walls  27  at each outlet port  26 , and diverter plate  500  does not have end wall  506  and rounded end  502  is configured like rounded end  402  on the first diverter plate  400 . 
     This diverter plate  500  has a bottom surface  508  with at least portion of the bottom surface  508 A being concave rather than convex like the first diverter plate embodiment  400 . Optionally, at least a portion of the bottom surface  508  of the diverter plate  500  is convex, or optionally, the entire bottom surface  508  of the diverter plate  500  is flat. There are two fasteners  510  used to secure the second embodiment  500  to the chamber  12  that are located on opposing sides of the rounded end  502  of the diverter plate  500 . Optionally, only one fastener  510  can be used or, more than two fasteners  510  can be used. 
       FIGS.  29  and  30    show a third diverter plate embodiment  600 . In this embodiment  600 , hair, labeled H in  FIG.  30   , is permitted to access the corresponding outlet port  26  from both ends of the diverter plate  600  as the diverter plate  600  has two opposed straight ends  602 A,  602 B. In this embodiment  600 , the diverter plate  600  is also curved to follow the curvature of the chamber  12  in which the diverter plate  600  must fit. Additionally, a portion  604 A of a bottom surface  604  of diverter plate  600  is concave and the diverter plate  600  has two side walls  606 A,  606 B that extend upward, away from opposed sides of the bottom surface. Optionally, at least a portion of the bottom surface  604  of the diverter plate  600  is convex, or optionally, the entire bottom surface  604  of the diverter plate  600  is flat. 
       FIG.  31    shows the third drain embodiment  300  installed in a pool surface  42  in much the same fashion that the first and second drain embodiments  10 ,  110  are installed. Optionally, the drain  300  may also be installed vertically in a lower wall of a pool or spa (not shown). Like the first and second embodiments  10 ,  110 , there is a substantial amount of plaster  42 , as well as the underlying gunite or shotcrete material  44 , between the inner side walls  14  of the annular chamber  12 . With the drain  300  being installed in this fashion, it offers improved structural integrity in that any load from a swimmer&#39;s foot or occupant of a hot tub will impact only a small portion of the drain  300  and tend to be absorbed by the surrounding floor or wall of the pool or spa. 
     The flow of water is shown by the arrows in  FIG.  31   , where water enters the annular chamber  12  through the grid cover  22 . The diverter plates  400  divert water and only allow water to enter one side of each outlet port  26 . This prevents dangerous tangling of hair that can take place if hair is allowed unfettered access to the outlet ports  26 . Because the rounded ends  402  of the diverter plates  400  do not have a back wall, water that is not diverted under the straight end  404  of the diverter plate  400  is free to continue along the circular path created by the annular chamber  12  until the water reaches another diverter plate  400  that permits the water to access the corresponding outlet port  26 . 
     While the apparatus and method have been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present description cover that modifications and variations of the apparatus and method provided, while it is only the appended claims and their equivalents which define the scope of the invention.