Patent Publication Number: US-10760250-B2

Title: Method of retrofitting a bathtub drainage pipe

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     The disclosed technology relates to a method of retrofitting a drainage pipe. More specifically, the disclosed technology relates to a method of retrofitting a concrete-encased drainage pipe adapted for a bathtub drain for use with a shower drain. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     Today, many apartment owners are attempting to sell their apartments as condominiums (“condos”). In order to raise the market value of their apartments, these owners often try to modernize their apartments as much as possible. Many of these improvements focus on modernization of bathroom and washroom facilities, including replacing bathtubs with showers. 
     If the building is relatively old and has worn-down drainage pipes, this replacement process can often prove to be a lengthy and costly affair. In addition to removing the bathtub itself and inserting a shower head, building codes require that the bathtub drain be replaced with one adapted for shower use and that the shower drain be properly attached with a watertight seal. This necessitates more than simply removing the bathtub drain and replacing it with a shower drain: in order to ensure that the drain is sufficiently watertight, a plumber must dig into the concrete surrounding the drainage pipe below the bathtub drain in order to place a small piece of modern piping material and a secure fastener below the body of the shower drain. 
       FIG. 1  shows a floor containing a drainage pipe and bathtub-adapted drain. As the figure shows, the amount of space used by the bathtub drain is far less than the space used by the shower drain and the piece of piping and the secure fastener. In addition to the extra cost and time incurred by the addition of these many pieces, in some cases, the pre-existing floor area is insufficient to hold all of these pieces, requiring the plumber to dig into the ceiling of the apartment below in order to complete the installation. This entire process leads to a greatly increased price as well as requiring permission being given from neighbors. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a method of retrofitting drainage pipes attached to drains adapted for bathtub use with drains adapted for shower use which is less costly and more space efficient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     Disclosed herein is a method of retrofitting a concrete-encased drainage pipe adapted for a bathtub drain in order to be used with a shower drain. In order to carry out this method of retrofitting, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, a pre-existing bathtub drain is removed to expose the concrete-encased drainage pipe. A gasket is then frictionally attached to an exposed end of the concrete-encased drainage pipe, and a drain body adapted for shower use is then connected to the rubber gasket. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, the drain body adapted for shower use is of a height which is less than a height of a retrofit shower drain which requires a separate fastener to be connected to the drainage pipe in a lower position. In some embodiments, the top-most edge of the drain body has a radial flange which is a width twice as large as a longest distance of the drain body, this longest distance being perpendicular to a diameter of the radial flange. 
     In various embodiments of the disclosed technology, the overall height between the shower floor and the concrete-encased drainage pipe is less than the height which would be used by a drain adaptor which has a drain body adapted for shower use as well as an attached lower radial screw-tightened fastener which is attached to said concrete-encased drainage pipe. 
     A strainer is fixedly attached to the top-most edge of the drain body, in some embodiments, and is placed concentrically within an area circumscribed by the outermost edge of the radial flange. This radial flange, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, forms a unitary structure with the top-most edge of the drain body, which is fixedly attached to the drainage pipe. 
     In some embodiments of the disclosed technology, the gasket is sized to fit circumferentially around the drainage pipe and to slide partially through the drain body from above. 
     In other embodiments of the disclosed technology, a method of retrofitting a concrete-encased drainage pipe adapted for a bathtub drain for use with a shower drain is disclosed herein. In carrying out this method, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, a pre-existing bathtub drain is removed and the concrete-encased drainage pipe is exposed. A rubber gasket is then frictionally attached to the exposed end of the concrete-encased drainage pipe, and a drain body adapted for shower use is then attached to the gasket. In various embodiments, the top-most edge of the drainage pipe has a radial flange which is of a width which is twice as large as a longest distance of the drain body which is perpendicular to a diameter of the radial flange. 
     In some embodiments, the drain body adapted for shower use is of a height which is smaller than a height of a retrofit shower drain which requires a separate fastener connected to the drainage pipe in a lower position. 
     In some embodiments, the drain body is sized to fit circumferentially around the gasket when the gasket is placed around the drainage pipe. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, this arrangement of drain body and gasket creates a water-tight seal when attached to the drainage pipe. 
     In some embodiments, this method has an additional step of attaching a separate fastener or fasteners to the drain body after the drain body has been attached to the gasket. 
     The methods above, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, form a retrofit drain adaptor adapted for shower use which has a gasket, a radial flange, a drain body, and a strainer. In various embodiments, the drain body has a top-most edge which forms a unitary structure with the radial flange and the strainer is fixedly attached to the top-most edge of the drain body and placed concentrically within an area circumscribed by the outermost edge of the radial flange. In some embodiments, the gasket is sized to fit circumferentially around a drainage pipe and to slide partially through the drain body from above. In other embodiments, the drain body is sized to fit circumferentially around the gasket when the gasket is placed around the drainage pipe. 
     In embodiments of the disclosed technology, the radial flange is of a width which is twice as large as the height of the drainage body. 
     The drain body and the gasket, in some embodiments, create a water-tight seal when attached to the drainage pipe. In various embodiments, a separate fastener or fasteners is/are attached to the drain body after the drain body has been attached to the gasket. 
     In various embodiments of the disclosed technology, the drain body adapted for shower use is of a height which is smaller than the height of a retrofit shower drain which a separate fastener to be connected to the drainage pipe in a lower position. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the following definitions are used. “Drain pipe” used interchangeably with “drainage pipe” is defined as “a pipe placed to carry waste water away from the place where it was used and into a sewage system.” “Retrofitting” is defined as adding new technology to old systems, adding to a system technology which was not added when said system was manufactured.” “Pre-existing” is defined as “existing prior to the carrying-out of the herein method.” “Bathtub drain” is defined as “a drain sized and shaped to connect between the floor of a bathtub which rests on a lower floor and between the end of a drainage pipe underneath the floor.” “Shower drain” is defined as “a drain sized and shaped to connect between a floor of a shower cubicle and between the end of a drainage pipe underneath the floor.” “Expose” is defined as “to make visible by removing something from around or in front of the thing being exposed.” “Taper” is defined as “to diminish or reduce in thickness toward one end, or to become narrower from one end to another end.” 
     Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. “Substantially” is defined as at least 95% of the term being described and/or “within a tolerance level known in the art and/or within 5% thereof. Any device or aspect of a device or method described herein can be read as “comprising” or “consisting” thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of a known conventional pre-existing bathtub drainage pipe system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a pre-existing drainage pipe retrofitted with a shower drain according to the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe of the present disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a drainage pipe retrofitted with the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 4A  shows an exploded side view of the drain body and the pre-existing drainage pipe of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a perspective side view of the drain body of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe attached to pre-existing drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 5  shows a close-up bottom perspective side view of the drain body of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe attached to pre-existing drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
         FIG. 6  shows a close-up partial exploded view of the drain body and threaded fastener of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a close-up top perspective side view of the drain body of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe attached to pre-existing drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     The present disclosed technology provides a method of retrofitting a concrete-encased drainage pipe, which is adapted for use with a bathtub drain, such that the concrete encased drainage pipe can be used with a shower drain. The method includes removing a pre-existing bathtub drain to expose the concrete-encased drainage pipe, attaching a gasket to an exposed end of the concrete-encased drainage pipe, and connecting a drain body adapted for shower use to the rubber gasket. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the figures. 
     Referring to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of a known conventional pre-existing bathtub drainage pipe system.  FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a pre-existing drainage pipe retrofitted with a shower drain according to the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe of the present disclosed technology.  FIG. 1  demonstrates the conventional bathtub drainage pipe system setup. In conventional bathtub drainage pipe systems, the drainage pipe  5  and the bathtub-adapted drain  10  is below or within the floor  15 . As shown by  FIG. 2 , the drainage pipe  5  and the shower-adapted drain  15  is also within the floor. Collectively, the figures demonstrate that the amount of space used by the bathtub drain  10  is far less than the space used by the shower drain  15 , extra piping  20 , and fastener  25 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4A-4B, 5, 6, and 7  simultaneously.  FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a drainage pipe retrofitted with the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology. The present disclosed technology provides a method of retrofitting the concrete-encased drainage pipe system shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4A  shows an exploded side view of the drain body and the pre-existing drainage pipe of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4B  shows a perspective side view of the drain body of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe attached to pre-existing drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 5  shows a close-up bottom perspective side view of the drain body of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe attached to pre-existing drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 6  shows a close-up top perspective side view of the drain body of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe attached to pre-existing drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 7  shows a close-up partial exploded view of the drain body and threaded fastener of the method of retrofitting a drainage pipe according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The object of the method of the present disclosed technology is to convert a concrete-encased drainage pipe system, which is adapted for a bathtub drain, for use with a shower drain without having to build an extra box to place the shower drain adaptor or digging into the concrete surrounding the pre-existing drainage pipe, which is below the pre-existing bathtub drain, in order to place a small piece of modern piping material and a secure fastener below the body of the shower drain. 
     In one embodiment, the method includes removing a pre-existing bathtub drain  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of a pre-existing drainage system and exposing the concrete-encased drainage pipe  35  (shown as  5  in  FIG. 1 ), attaching a gasket  40  to an exposed end  45  of the concrete-encased drainage pipe  35 , attaching a drain body  50  to the gasket  40 , attaching a strainer  55 , or retrofit shower drain, to the drain body  50 , and attaching the drain body  50  to the concrete-encased drainage pipe  35  via the gasket  40 . The drain body  50  and gasket  40  create a water-tight seal with and between the concrete-encased drainage pipe  35  when attached thereto. The drain body  50  includes a height that is less than a height of a conventional retrofit shower drain, which requires a separate fastener connected to the concrete-encased drainage pipe in a lower position to properly install the retrofit shower drain, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The drain body  50  is a drain adapted for shower use in that it is specifically sized, shaped, and configured for shower use and not bathtub use. The drain body  50  includes a threaded borehole  60 , a radial flange  65 , a first end  68  and a tapered second end  72 . The threaded borehole  60  extends longitudinally through a center of the drain body  50  from the first end  68  to the second end  72 . The threaded borehole  60  is configured to removeably receive a threaded fastener  62  therein so as to provide an added tightening mechanism for fastening the drain body  50  to the gasket  40  and pre-existing concrete-encased drainage pipe  35  in certain embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     The radial flange  65  extends annularly about a top-most edge  70  of the drain body  50 . The radial flange  65  extends perpendicularly outwardly from the drain body  50  and defines a planar face  75  including apertures  80  each configured to receive a fastener therethrough. In one embodiment, the radial flange  65  includes a width that is twice as large as a longitudinal length or longest distance of the drain body  50 . The longitudinal length or longest distance is perpendicular to the diameter of the radial flange  65 . In another embodiment, the radial flange  65  forms a unitary structure with the top-most edge  70  of the drain body  50 . The tapered second end of the drain body  50  is sized to fit circumferentially around the gasket  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5 . The drain body  50  is sized and configured to friction fit around the rubber gasket  40  when attached thereto, as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5 . The drain body  50  forms a water-tight seal with the gasket  40  when attached thereto. 
     In one embodiment, the gasket  40  is composed of, or comprises rubber and is frictionally attached to the exposed end of the concrete-encased drainage pipe, as shown in  FIG. 4A . In other words, the rubber gasket  40  is sized and configured to friction fit around the exposed end of the concrete-encased drainage pipe. In another embodiment, the gasket  40  is sized to fit circumferentially around the concrete encased drainage pipe  35 . The gasket  40  forms a water-tight seal with the concrete encased drainage pipe  35  when attached thereto. In yet another embodiment, the gasket  40  includes a diameter less than a diameter of the drain body, such that the gasket can slide through the borehole  55  of the drain body  50 . In alternative embodiments, the gasket  40  is tapered such that the gasket  40  can partially slide through the borehole  55  of the drain body  50  and friction fit therein. 
     In one embodiment, the method includes fixedly attaching the strainer to the top-most edge  70  of the drain body  50  and is placed concentrically within an area circumscribed by an outermost edge  85  of the radial flange  65 . In another embodiment, the method includes attaching one or more fasteners  90  to the drain body  50  after the drain body  50  has been attached to the gasket  40 . 
     In operation, the method of the present disclosed technology, forms an overall height between a shower floor and the concrete-encased drainage pipe  35  that is less than a height used by a conventional retrofit shower drain adaptor which has a drain body adapted for shower use and an attached lower radial screw-tightened fastener which is attached to the concrete-encased drainage pipe. 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosed technology provides a retrofit drain adaptor  95  adapted for shower use including the gasket  40 , the drain body  50 , and the strainer  55 . In one embodiment, the gasket  40  is sized to fit circumferentially around the concrete-encased drainage pipe via a friction fit and to slide partially through the drain body  50 . In one embodiment, the drain body  50  is sized to fit circumferentially around the gasket  40  via a friction fit when the gasket  40  is placed around the concrete-encased drainage pipe. In this way, the drain body  50  and said gasket  40  create a water-tight seal when attached to the concrete-encased drainage pipe. 
     In one embodiment, the drain body  50  includes the radial flange  65  forming a unitary structure with the top-most edge  70  of the drain body  50 . In another embodiment, the radial flange  65  includes a width that is twice the height of the drain body  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the strainer  55  is fixedly attached to the top-most edge  70  of the drain body  50 . In another embodiment, the strainer  55  is placed concentrically within an area circumscribed by the outermost edge  85  of the radial flange  65 . 
     In one embodiment, the retrofit drain adaptor  95  includes the one or more fastener  90  for attaching the drain body  50  to the concrete-encased drainage pipe after the drain body  50  has been attached to the gasket  40 . 
     In one embodiment, the drain body of the retrofit drain adaptor  95  includes a height that is smaller than a height of a conventional retrofit shower drain, which requires a separate fastener connected to the concrete-encased drainage pipe in a lower position. 
     The present technology can be carried out with one or more of the embodiments described. The drawings show embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction. The arrangements of the components are set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. 
     While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.