Patent Abstract:
A pool drain for flush mounting in the surface of a swimming pool includes a central hub and elongated drain ports in fluid communication with the central hub. The elongated drain ports extend radially away from the central hub. The surface material individually surrounds the central hub and elongated drain ports when the pool drain is installed in the surface material. Internal dividers are located between the central hub and the elongated drain ports. The internal dividers are positioned so that they direct fluid away from the central hub, around each of the internal dividers and back toward the central hub. A water stop surrounding the central hub and elongated drain ports anchors the pool drain in the surface and prevents leakage.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Pool drains with enlarged or elongated channel sumps are popular in view of their compliance with the Virginia Graham Baker Pool &amp; Spa Safety Act (“VGB Act”), requiring swimming pool and spa drains to prevent body parts from covering the entire drain intake and becoming entrapped. Anti-entrapment channel drains generally comply with the VGB Act by providing multiple intake ports or being of a sufficient length that they cannot be simultaneously blocked. For example, if one drain port or a portion of a drain port is blocked, the other drain intake ports allow water to continue flowing into the drain, ensuring a low pressure differential at the intake. One example of such a drain is embodied in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0157510, which discloses a channel drain having a water stop for embedding in the surface of a pool. 
         [0002]    Pool drains having drain intakes separated from a central hub are also known in the art. These drains are typically installed in the plaster surface of a pool with the water transit between the drain intake and the central hub embedded in the plaster surface. While more aesthetically pleasing than a drain having an intake and filter connection at the same location, these drains are typically limited to a circular design. One example of such a drain is embodied in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0250581, which discloses a circular drain intake separate from and encircling a central drain hub. In addition to the limited design appearance of these drains, a problem persists in that if the drain intake is not equidistant from the central hub, a pressure differential is created at portions of the intake closer to the hub. For this reason, these drains remain limited to their circular shape. 
         [0003]    Thus there is a need for a pool drain that provides a large or lengthy intake, and wherein the drain intake is separated from a central hub. There is also a need for such a drain that can be produced in an aesthetic shape other than circular, but which maintains an even pressure differential across all drain intakes regardless of distance from the central hub. A drain accomplishing these and other objects is disclosed in the following summary, description and claims. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A pool drain for flush mounting in a surface material of a swimming pool or spa having a pump-driven filtering system, the pool drain includes a central hub having an access port. The central hub is in fluid communication with the pump-driven filtering system. A plurality of elongated drain ports are in fluid communication with the central hub, and the plurality of elongated drain ports extend radially away from the central hub. The surface material individually surrounds the access port and each of the plurality of elongated drain ports, separating the elongated drain ports from the access port when the pool drain is installed in the surface material. 
         [0005]    The pool drain also includes a removable lid covering the access port and a plurality of internal dividers, Each of the internal dividers is disposed between the central hub and one of the plurality of elongated drain ports. The plurality of internal dividers are positioned to direct fluid away from the central hub, around the plurality of internal dividers and back toward the central hub. 
         [0006]    A water stop surrounds the central hub to anchor the central hub within the surface material and prevent leakage. The pool drain may include a plurality of water stops surrounding each of the plurality of elongated drain ports to anchor the plurality of elongated drain ports within the surface material and prevent leakage. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the plurality of elongated drain ports comprises four elongated drain ports. The plurality of drain ports may also comprise two longitudinal drain ports oriented along a longitudinal axis and two lateral drain ports oriented along a lateral axis. In such a configuration, the longitudinal drain ports and the lateral drain ports are substantially narrower than the access port. 
         [0008]    The pool drain may also be configured as having a central hub in fluid communication with the pump-driven filtering system, with an arm extending from the central hub, the arm coupling an elongated drain port to the central hub. The arm has an internal divider partially occluding the arm and the internal divider is positioned in the arm to direct fluid entering the elongated drain port away from the central hub, around the internal divider, and back toward the central hub. 
         [0009]    In this configuration, the pool drain preferably includes a removable lid covering the central hub, and a water stop surrounding the central hub to anchor the central hub within the surface material and prevent leakage. The pool drain also includes a water stop surrounding the elongated drain port to anchor the elongated drain port within the surface material and prevent leakage. This configuration may also include a plurality of arms, each having an elongated drain port. Typically the plurality of arms consists of two opposing longitudinal arms arranged substantially perpendicular to two opposing lateral arms. 
         [0010]    In another configuration, the pool drain includes a central hub having an access port, the central hub in fluid communication with the pump-driven filtering system. Two longitudinal elongated drain ports extend away from the central hub in opposing directions along a first axis and two lateral elongated drain ports extend away from the central hub in opposing directions along a second axis, with the first axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis. 
         [0011]    In this configuration the pool drain includes a removable lid covering the access port and a plurality of internal dividers disposed between the central hub and each of the longitudinal elongated drain ports and the lateral elongated drain ports. The internal dividers are positioned to direct fluid away from the central hub, around the plurality of internal dividers and back toward the central hub, and the pool drain may include a water stop surrounding the central hub, the longitudinal elongated drain ports and the lateral elongated drain ports for anchoring the pool drain in the surface material to prevent leakage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view showing the top side of a pool drain having water diversion features; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view showing the bottom side of the pool drain; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the of the pool drain; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the pool drain; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a plaster surface of a pool showing the pool drain installed therein. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a pool drain with water diversion features (“pool drain”)  10  includes a central hub  12  the central hub  12  forming a sump  14  for installation in the plaster surface  100  of a swimming pool or spa having a pump-driven filtering system  102 . The central hub  12  includes a first tube  16 , second tube  18  and third tube  20  for drainage and connecting to the pump-driven filtering system  102 . The central hub  12  also includes a lid  22  for cleaning out the central hub  12  in the unlikely event the central hub  12  becomes clogged with debris. The lid  22  seats in an access port  24  and may be fastened to the access port  24  with tools necessary for removal to prevent unauthorized access. 
         [0018]    A first longitudinal arm  26  and second longitudinal arm  28  extend from the central hub  12 . Preferably the first longitudinal arm  26  and second longitudinal arm  28  are oriented in opposing directions away from the central hub  12 . A first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32  also extend from the central hub  12 . Preferably the first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32  are also oriented in opposing directions away from the central hub  12 , perpendicular to the first longitudinal arm  26  and second longitudinal arm  28 . Water enters the pool drain  10  through the first longitudinal arm  26 , second longitudinal arm  28 , first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32  and travels to the central hub  12 . Additionally, the first longitudinal arm  26 , second longitudinal arm  28 , first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32  impart a distinctive cross shape to the pool drain  10  on the pool&#39;s plaster surface  100 . 
         [0019]    To provide for economical manufacturing and transport, the pool drain  10  may comprise several component parts assembled on site during pool installation. A longitudinal basin  34  forms lower portions of the central hub  12 , and lower portions of the first longitudinal arm  26  and second longitudinal arm  28 . A first lateral basin  36  and a second lateral basin  38 , molded separately, form lower portions of the first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32 , respectively. The first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38  may be packaged parallel to the longitudinal basin  34 , including being nested in the longitudinal basin  34  to fit in a smaller package for transport. 
         [0020]    Since the longitudinal basin  34 , first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38  are open-topped, a complimentary longitudinal basin cover  40  is preferably included, forming upper portions of the central hub  12 , first longitudinal arm  26  and second longitudinal arm  28 . Likewise, a first lateral basin cover  42  and a second lateral basin cover  44 , form upper portions of the first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32 . The longitudinal basin cover  40 , first lateral basin cover  42  and second lateral basin cover  44  may also be stored in a parallel or nested configuration with other components of the pool drain  10  for ease of packaging and transport. 
         [0021]    To ensure efficiently assembly of the pool drain  10 , connectors  46  are provided. In one embodiment the connectors  46  are formed as part of the longitudinal basin  34 , and affix the first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38  to it. In the illustrated embodiment, a sliding channel-and-rail connector  46  is shown, although any preferred substantially water tight connection is contemplated. In another contemplated embodiment, the longitudinal basin cover  40  seats over the first lateral basin cover  42  and the second lateral basin cover  44 , thereby locking them over the first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38  when the longitudinal basin cover  40  seats over the longitudinal basin  34 . 
         [0022]    The longitudinal basin cover  40 , in addition to the access port  24 , includes a first elongated drain port  48  located over the first longitudinal arm  26  and a second elongated drain port  50  located over the second longitudinal arm  28 . A third elongated drain port  52  is located over the first lateral arm  30  and a fourth elongated drain port  54  is located over the second lateral arm  32 . The elongated drain ports  48 - 54  are all preferably substantially the same size and elongated shape, and are separated from the access port  24 , thereby providing an interesting and aesthetic appearance to the pool drain  10  by providing a cross shape when installed. 
         [0023]    To secure the pool drain  10  in pool plaster or similar surfacing material (not shown) a hub water stop  56  is formed around the access port  24 . Similarly, a first drain port water stop  58  is formed around the first elongated drain port  48 , a second drain port water stop  60  is formed around the second elongated drain port  50 , a third drain port water stop  62  is formed around the third elongated drain port  52 , and a fourth drain port water stop  64  is formed around the fourth elongated drain port  54 . 
         [0024]    Since the elongated drain ports  48 - 54  are oriented along the first longitudinal arm  26 , second longitudinal arm  28 , first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32 , respectively, greater suction forces are created in the elongated drain ports  48 - 54  as they near the central hub  12 . Correspondingly, lesser suction forces are created in the elongated drain ports  48 - 54  at a greater distance from the central hub  12 . Thus a disfavored uneven pressure differential is created in each of the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 . To solve this problem, a first internal divider  66  is placed in the first elongated drain port  48 , a second internal divider  68  is placed in the second elongated drain port  50 , a third internal divider  70  is placed in the third elongated drain port  52  and a fourth internal divider  72  is placed in the fourth elongated drain port  54 . 
         [0025]    The internal dividers  66 - 72 , like the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 , are preferably of substantially equal size and shape. The internal dividers  66 - 72  are each seated below in the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 , and located closer to the central hub  12  to shift the direction of water entering the elongated drain ports  48 - 54  away from the central hub  12 . The internal dividers  66 - 72  don&#39;t completely occlude the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 . Instead, the first internal divider  66  creates a first water passage  74  in the first elongated drain port  48 , the second internal divider  68  creates a second water passage  76  in the second elongated drain port  50 , the third internal divider  70  creates a third water passage  78  in the third elongated drain port  52  and the fourth internal divider  72  creates a fourth water passage  80  in the fourth elongated drain port  54 . 
         [0026]    The water passages  74 - 80  cause water entering the pool drain  10  to travel initially away from the central hub  12  before traveling back toward the central hub  12  through the first longitudinal arm  26 , second longitudinal arm  28 , first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32 , thereby equalizing suction pressure at the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 . 
         [0027]    The pool drain&#39;s  10  structure having been shown and described, its method of manufacture, assembly and operation will now be discussed. 
         [0028]    To form the components of the pool drain  10 , a open-topped longitudinal basin  34  is formed, having lower portions of a first longitudinal arm  26  and a second longitudinal arm  28  oriented in opposition away from a central hub  12 . Also formed in the longitudinal basin  34  are a first tube  16 , second tube  18  and third tube  20  serving as outflows for connecting to a pump driven pool filter. An open-topped first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38 , forming lower portions of the first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32  are also formed. 
         [0029]    A longitudinal basin cover  40  is formed for covering the longitudinal basin  34 . A first lateral basin cover  42  and a second lateral basin cover  44  are also formed for covering the first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38 , respectively. The longitudinal basin cover  40  has an access port  24 , a first elongated drain port  48  and a second elongated drain port  50  formed therein. A third elongated drain port  52  is incorporated into the first lateral basin cover  42 , and a fourth elongated drain port  54  is incorporated into the second lateral basin cover  44 . Internal dividers  66 - 72  sized to partially occlude the elongated drain ports  48 - 54  are also created. 
         [0030]    These components (including a lid  22  for covering the access port  24 ) may be aligned and preferably nested to fit in a relatively small and elongated package for transport. Also preferably included is a hub water stop  56  for installation around the access port  24 , and drain port water stops  58 - 64  for installation around the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 . In one preferred embodiment, the hub water stop  56  and drain port water stops  58 - 64  may be formed as part of the longitudinal basin cover  40 , first lateral basin cover  42  and second lateral basin cover  44  through injection molding or similar technology. 
         [0031]    To construct the pool drain  10 , the first lateral basin  36  and the second lateral basin  38  are joined to the longitudinal basin  34  at the central hub  12  with connectors  46 , preferably in a sliding arrangement. Thereafter, the internal dividers  66 - 72  are installed above the longitudinal basin  34  adjacent the central hub  12 , and above the first lateral basin  36  and the second lateral basin  38 . The first lateral basin cover  42  and second lateral basin cover  44  are then installed over the first lateral basin  36  and second lateral basin  38 , and the longitudinal basin cover  40  is installed over the longitudinal basin  34 , locking the first lateral basin cover  42  and second lateral basin cover  44  in place. If not integrally formed, the hub water stop  56  and drain port water stops  58 - 64  are installed over the central hub  12  and elongated drain ports  48 - 54 , respectively. The lid  22  is placed in the access port  24  to close the central hub  12 . 
         [0032]    To install the pool drain  10 , the first tube  16 , second tube  18  and third tube  20  are installed on pipes leading to the pump-driven filtering system  102  during initial construction of the pool. When the pool is plastered or surfaced with a similar material, the plaster surface  100  surrounds the pool drain  10  up to the entrances of the access port  24 , first elongated drain port  48 , second elongated drain port  50 , third elongated drain port  52  and fourth elongated drain port  54 . In the process, plaster completely surrounds the hub water stop  56 , first drain port water stop  58 , second drain port water stop  60 , third drain port water stop  62  and fourth drain port water stop  64 , thereby securing the pool drain  10  in the plaster and preventing cracking an leakage. 
         [0033]    In operation, when the pump-driven filtering system  102  is activated, water is drawn toward the pool drain  10  from suction pressure. The water must travel around the internal dividers  66 - 72  before passing through the water passages  74 - 80 , which equalizes suction pressure along the elongated drain ports  48 - 54 . Once the water clears the internal dividers  66 - 72 , it travels through the first longitudinal arm  26 , second longitudinal arm  28 , first lateral arm  30  and second lateral arm  32  and into the central hub  12  before leaving the pool drain  10  through the first tube  16 , second tube  18  and third tube  20 . If one or more of the tubes  16 - 20  becomes blocked, a user may simply deactivate the pump-driven filtering system, remove the lid  22  and clear the debris from the central hub  12 . With the debris removed, the lid  22  may be replaced and the pump-driven filtering system  102  reactivated. 
         [0034]    The pool drain  10  provides for an attractive and aesthetic cross pattern on the surface  100  of the pool which also avoids entrapment hazards by creating even suction pressure at multiple elongated drain ports  48 - 54 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 4