Patent Publication Number: US-6212709-B1

Title: Shower drain tool and method for installing and removing a shower drain

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to tools and, more particularly, to tools for use by plumbers or ceramic tile contractors for installing and removing drains. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides a tool to facilitate installation and removal of a shower drain typically employed in a shower having a tile floor. 
     Many tools have been developed for use by the construction industry. Various general purpose tools are commonplace, such as a hammer, saw, screwdriver, wrench, and numerous other tools. Certain tools have been developed or refined for particular trades, for example, roofing hammers have been developed for roofers, miter saws have been developed for finish carpenters, side cutters have been developed for electricians, and pipe wrenches have been developed for plumbers, etc. Specialized tools facilitate efficient completion of the work required to be performed by the particular tradesman. 
     By way of example, plumbers typically possess various tools, such as a pipe wrench, pipe cutter, breaker bar, T bar, etc. Plumbers also typically use specialized tools that enable them to more efficiently complete certain tasks, such as the installation of drain hardware. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,276 discloses a wrench for installing a strainer base ( 30 ) in a sink. The wrench includes a drive bar ( 16 ) attached to a depth limiting device ( 20 ). The depth limiting device ( 20 ) “. . .is dimensioned so as to permit it to enter the upper part of the throat ( 36 ), but to come to rest in a mid portion of the throat.” See column 6, lines 1-4 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,276. The drive bar ( 16 ) is configured to engage notches ( 40 ) in the strainer base ( 30 ). Consequently, the drive bar ( 16 ) is dimensioned to fit entirely through the throat ( 36 ) of the sink base and to reside in a position in which each end of the drive bar ( 16 ) engages one of the opposed notches ( 40 ). Therefore, the strainer base installation tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,276 is specialized for installation of an internally tapered strainer base having notches. 
     There are other types of drains, for example, shower drains, which are difficult to install and remove. One known type of shower drain is a type employed for drains in showers having tile floors and is commonly known as an E-Z Test drain. An E-Z Test drain, generally indicated by the numeral  1 , is shown in FIG.  1 . The E-Z Test drain  1  has an internally threaded flange  2  which is rotated onto an externally threaded drain pipe  3 . The flange  2  has a lip  4 . The E-Z Test drain  1  also has a rim  5 . A waterproof shower pan membrane  6  is captured between the flange  2  and the rim  5 , and the rim is mounted to the flange by bolts  7 . The rim  5  also has internal ribs  8  having threaded holes  9  for mounting a strainer screen (not shown) to the E-Z Test drain  1 . 
     Conventionally, in order to install the E-Z Test drain  1 , a plumber or ceramic tile contractor uses a pipe wrench. He or she places the pipe wrench over the lip  4  of the flange  2  of the E-Z Test drain  1  and applies torque to tighten the flange onto the drain pipe  3 . Then, the rim  5  is bolted onto the flange  2  to capture the shower pan membrane  6  between the flange and the rim. The plumber or ceramic tile contractor reverses the procedure to remove the E-Z Test drain  1 . Removal is often difficult, since the bolts  7  are embedded in grout and the flange  2  is often fused by corrosion to the drain pipe  3 . If the plumber or ceramic tile contractor simply grasps the rim  5  between the jaws of a pipe wrench and applies torque, the rim can break without effecting removal of the E-Z Test drain  1 . 
     Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a tool for removal of a commonplace shower drain used in a shower having a tile floor, such as the E-Z Test drain. It would also be desirable to provide a tool to facilitate installation of such a drain. Preferably, such a tool would be rugged in construction and inexpensive and yet provide an effective tool for removal and installation of a shower drain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present invention provides a tool to remove a shower drain commonly used as a drain for a shower having a tile floor. The shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention can also facilitate installation of the drain. 
     The shower drain tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a blade for engagement with the ribs of a shower drain so that the drain can be rotated by torque applied to the blade. The shower drain tool also comprises a stabilizer plate connected to the blade to seat the tool on the shower drain and prevent the tool from falling through the drain into the drain pipe. Additionally, the shower drain tool preferably comprises means coupled to the stabilizer plate for imparting rotation to the blade. 
     In one embodiment, the means coupled to the stabilizer plate for imparting rotation to the blade of the shower drain tool comprises a tool adapter comprising an approximately square nut to be spanned by an adjustable wrench or open-end wrench and rotated to apply torque via the blade to the shower drain to remove or install the drain. In an alternative embodiment, the tool adapter of the shower drain tool comprises an approximately square hole into which a socket wrench drive or the tip of a breaker bar or T bar can be inserted to rotate the tool. The tool adapter can also have a pipe wrench extension so that a pipe wrench can be used to rotate the tool. In a modified embodiment, the means coupled to the stabilizer plate for imparting rotation to the blade of the shower drain tool comprises means, such as a T bar, integrated with the stabilizer plate. 
     The present invention also provides a method for removing and installing a shower drain. The method for removing the shower drain comprises the steps of providing a shower drain tool having a blade and a stabilizer plate, positioning the tool on the shower drain with the blade engaging the ribs of the drain and the stabilizer plate preventing the tool from falling through the drain into the drain pipe, and rotating the blade to apply torque to the ribs of the drain to remove the drain. The method for installing the shower drain comprises the steps of providing a shower drain tool having a blade and a stabilizer plate, rotating the flange of the drain onto a drain pipe until finger-tight, temporarily securing the rim of the drain to the flange, positioning the tool on the rim with the blade engaging the ribs of the rim and the stabilizer plate preventing the tool from falling through the drain into the drain pipe, rotating the blade to apply torque to the ribs of the rim to tighten the flange on the drain pipe, removing the rim from the flange, positioning a shower pan membrane atop the flange, and permanently securing the rim to the flange. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a shower drain tool for removal of a commonplace shower drain used in a shower having a tile floor, such as the E-Z Test drain. The shower drain tool also facilitates installation of such a drain. Advantageously, while the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention provides an effective tool for removal and installation of a shower drain, the shower drain tool has a rugged construction and can be inexpensively produced. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and the concomitant advantages of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention will be better understood and appreciated by those persons skilled in the art after a consideration of the accompanying drawings in conjunction with the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follows. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known shower drain and one embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the shower drain tool shown in FIG. 5 in operative position; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings. One embodiment of the present invention provides a tool to remove a shower drain commonly used as a drain for a shower having a tile floor. The shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention can also facilitate installation of the drain. 
     One embodiment of the shower drain tool in accordance with the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral  10 , is shown in FIG.  1 . The tool  10  comprises a blade  20  for engagement with ribs  8  of a shower drain  1  so that the drain can be rotated by torque applied to the blade. The blade  20  is preferably constructed from a durable material, for example, a one-quarter-inch thick rectangular steel plate. The length of the blade  20  is preferably slightly less than the inside diameter of a rim  5  of the drain  1 . The height of the blade  20  is sufficient to frictionally engage the ribs  8  of the drain  1  without scarring the ribs or easily sliding along the length of the ribs when the blade is engaged with the ribs and the blade is rotated. In one implementation, the height of the blade  20  is one inch. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the tool  10  also comprises a stabilizer plate  22  connected to the blade  20  to seat the tool on the drain  1  and prevent the tool from falling through the drain into a drain pipe  3 . The stabilizer plate  22  is preferably constructed from a durable material, for example, a one-quarter-inch thick circular steel plate. The diameter of the stabilizer plate  22  is greater than the length of the blade  20  and is approximately the outside diameter of the rim  5  of the drain  1 . The diameter of the stabilizer plate  22  is sufficient that the stabilizer plate frictionally engages the upper edge of the rim  5  to maintain the tool  10  flush with the opening of the drain  1  when the tool is in operative position with respect to the drain and to maintain the tool seated on the drain while the tool is being rotated. Preferably, the blade  20  is welded to the stabilizer plate  22  to form a rigid connection between the blade and the stabilizer plate. 
     Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the tool  10  preferably comprises means  24  coupled to the stabilizer plate  22  for imparting rotation to the blade  20  of the tool. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the means  24  coupled to the stabilizer plate  22  for imparting rotation to the blade  20  consists of a tool adapter  26  comprising an approximately square nut  28  mounted to the approximate center of the stabilizer plate. The nut  28  is configured to be spanned by a rotation imparting means, such as an adjustable wrench (not shown) or open-end wrench (not shown), and rotated to apply torque via the blade  20  to the drain  1  to remove or install the drain. In one implementation, the nut  28  is a conventional steel pipe plug, and the dimension of the edge of the nut can be in the range of one-half inch as typically provided on a one-and-a-quarter-inch pipe plug to one-and-a-quarter inches as typically provided on a two-inch pipe plug. The height of the nut  28  provided on a conventional pipe plug is typically on the order of one-half inch to provide firm engagement with an adjustable or open-end wrench. In the case in which the nut  28  comprises a pipe plug, the pipe plug can be directly welded to the stabilizer plate  22 . 
     In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the tool adapter  26  comprises an approximately square hole  30  provided in the approximate center of the stabilizer plate  22 , into which a rotation imparting means, such as a socket wrench drive (not shown) or the tip of a breaker bar (not shown) or T bar (not shown), can be inserted to rotate the tool  10 . The hole  30  is preferably cut in the approximate center of the stabilizer plate  22  before the blade  20  is mounted to the stabilizer plate. Also, in order to accommodate the length of a socket wrench drive, or the tip of a breaker bar or T bar, a notch  32  is formed in the blade  20  in alignment with the hole  30  in the stabilizer plate  22 . The notch  32  is also preferably cut in the blade  20  before the blade and the stabilizer plate  22  are welded together. 
     In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the tool adapter  26  again comprises an approximately square hole  30  into which a rotation imparting means, such as a socket wrench drive or the tip of a breaker bar or T bar, can be inserted to rotate the tool  10 . In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, the hole  30  resides in a spacer  34  mounted to the approximate center of the stabilizer plate  22 . For example, the spacer  34  can be a conventional steel spacer having a square hole. The height of the spacer  34  is sufficient to accommodate the length of a socket wrench drive, or the tip of a breaker bar or T bar. The spacer  34  is welded to the stabilizer plate  22 . 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.  4 . The tool adapter  26  comprises a pipe wrench extension  36  mounted to the approximate center of the stabilizer plate  22  so that a pipe wrench (not shown) can be used to rotate the tool  10 . In one implementation, the pipe wrench extension  36  is a length of steel pipe welded to the stabilizer plate  22 . As shown in FIG. 4, the tool adapter  26  also preferably comprises the nut  28  mounted to the pipe wrench extension  36 . The tool adapter  26  shown in FIG. 4 can be constructed by welding a pipe plug in a length of pipe. Alternatively, the tool adapter  26  shown in FIG. 5 preferably comprises the spacer  34  mounted to the pipe wrench extension  36 . The tool adapter  26  shown in FIG. 5 can be constructed by welding the spacer  34  within a length of pipe. The height of the pipe wrench extension  36  is sufficient to enable a conventional pipe wrench  38  to grip the circumference of the pipe wrench extension, as indicated in FIG. 6, or to accommodate the tip of a breaker bar  40 , as also indicated in FIG.  6 . The inclusion of the nut  28  or hole  30  in addition to the pipe wrench extension  36  accommodates two different motion imparting means to rotate the tool  10 . 
     In a modified embodiment, the means coupled to the stabilizer plate  22  for imparting rotation to the blade  20  comprises means, such as a T bar  42 , integrated with the stabilizer plate  22 , as shown in FIG.  7 . For example, the tip of the T bar  42  can be welded in the hole  30  to construct a tool  10  having an integral rotation imparting means. 
     The present invention also provides a method for removing and installing a shower drain  1 . The method for removing the shower drain  1  comprises the steps of providing the tool  10  having the blade  20  and stabilizer plate  22 , positioning the tool on the drain with the blade engaging the ribs  8  of the drain and the stabilizer plate preventing the tool from falling through the drain into the drain pipe  3 , and rotating the blade to apply torque to the ribs of the drain to remove the drain. Although the drain  1  may be tightly connected to the drain pipe  3  due to corrosion, a great deal of mechanical force can be applied through the tool  10  to loosen and remove the drain. 
     The method for installing the shower drain  1  comprises providing the tool  10  having the blade  20  and stabilizer plate  22  and the following additional steps. Initially, the flange  2  of the drain  1  is rotated by hand onto the drain pipe  3  until finger-tight. Then, the rim  5  is temporarily secured to the flange  2  by the bolts  7 . Next, the tool  10  is positioned on the rim  5  with the blade  20  engaging the ribs  8  of the rim and the stabilizer plate  22  preventing the tool from falling through the drain  1  into the drain pipe  3 , and the blade is rotated to apply torque to the ribs of the rim to tighten the flange  2  on the drain pipe. Thereafter, the tool  10  is stowed. The rim  5  is then removed from the flange  2 , the shower pan membrane  6  is placed atop the flange, and the rim is finally permanently bolted to the flange. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a shower drain tool  10  to facilitate removal of a commonplace shower drain  1  used in a shower having a tile floor, such as the E-Z Test drain. The shower drain tool  10  can also be used during installation of such a drain  1 . Advantageously, the shower drain tool  10  has a rugged construction and can be produced using inexpensive components welded together. 
     Unlike the wrench disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,276, which includes the depth limiting device ( 20 ) which is dimensioned to enter the throat of the tapered strainer base ( 30 ), the shower drain tool  10  comprises the stabilizer plate  22 , which is dimensioned so that the stabilizer plate does not enter the drain  1  and, instead, remains firmly seated on the drain. Furthermore, unlike the wrench disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,276, which requires notches ( 40 ) provided in the strainer base ( 30 ), the tool  10  does not require any modification of the drain  1 . 
     While various embodiments of a shower drain tool are described above, the principles of the present invention also apply to shower drain tools in which the configuration of the tools is modified. For example, in a modified embodiment of the tool  10 , the blade  20 , stabilizer plate  22 , and means  24  coupled to the stabilizer plate for imparting rotation to the blade can be cast, forged, or machined from a single blank of durable material, such as steel. Although a particular socket wrench configuration is disclosed in FIG. 6, it is to be understood by one skilled in the art that any socket wrench configuration is contemplated to provide rotation imparting means. These and other changes and modifications and applications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.