Abstract:
A drain stopper includes a suction cup. The drain stopper is configured to block a drain opening and prevent water from entering the drain. The suction cup allows the drain stopper to be stored on a variety of surfaces, such as a vertical bathtub wall. In one form, the suction cup is on the bottom of the drain stopper and fits within the drain opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The following disclosure relates to drain stoppers and methods for using and storing drain stoppers, and has particular application to drain stoppers and methods for using and storing drain stoppers where the drain stopper can be removably mounted to a surface, such as a wall or shower door. 
     Drain stoppers are constructed to plug, or otherwise block, a drain opening to prevent or minimize the flow of water down the drain. Normally, drain stoppers are easily removable to allow water to flow out of a container, such as a sink or bathtub, and into the drain when blocking the drain is no longer desired. Numerous types of drain stoppers are available, such as a drain plug, that is sized to fit into and plug the drain opening in a fashion similar to a cork plugging the opening of a bottle. Other forms of drain stoppers do not fit within the drain opening, but instead fit over the top of the drain opening and extend beyond the drain opening. Typically, such drain plugs and other drain stoppers are made from hard rubber, or other hard rubber-like materials. Other forms of drain stoppers are made from a soft rubber or soft rubber-like material, such as soft PVC or equivalent material. In some instances, such drain stoppers can be a soft rubber-like material that fits over the drain, with the water pressure causing the stopper to seal against the surrounding bottom of the container so that little, if any, water flows into the drain. 
     However, drain stoppers similar to the above types can be somewhat annoying to use because there is often not a good place to store these drain stoppers when they are not being used to block a drain. In some cases, the drain stopper includes a metallic ring in the top that is connected to a portion of a sink or bath tub by a chain that is similar to pull chains used on light sockets. Often such drain stoppers are stored by wrapping the chain over the tub faucet or another nearby fixture. Other times, drain stoppers are placed on a ledge of the tub or sink where it is used. Some people even place the drain stopper in a drawer or in a sink cabinet when it is not in use. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed apparatus and methods avoids some of the disadvantages of prior apparatus and methods while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
    
    
     The disclosed apparatus and methods comprise certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present disclosed apparatus and methods. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drain stopper in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the drain stopper of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the drain stopper of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the drain stopper of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with the drain stopper rotated 90° and removably mounted to a wall; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG.  3  and including a partial sectional view of a drain opening in a container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a drain stopper  10  can be molded from a flexible and resilient material, such as thermoplastic rubber, soft PVC, an elastomer of the type sold under the trade name Santoprene, or silicone. In one form, drain stopper  10  can be one unitary piece molded from a translucent material. 
     Drain stopper  10  includes a body that can be in the form of a disk-like member referred to hereinafter as “disk”  12  having a bottom  14  and a top  16 . In one form, disk bottom  14  has a substantially concave surface. Alternatively, disk bottom  14  can have a substantially flat surface. In contrast, disk top  16  can have a substantially convex surface. However, in an alternative form, disk top  16  could be a substantially flat surface. In one form, disk  12  is larger than the opening of a drain with which it is to be used and blocks the drain when disk  12  is placed over the drain, thereby preventing water from entering the drain or minimizing the amount that enters the drain. In an alternate form, disk  12  is slightly smaller, or approximately the same size, as the size of the drain opening such that disk  12  can be inserted into the opening to block the drain. 
     A grip  18  can be formed on the disk top  16  to allow drain stopper  10  to be easily gripped. In one form, grip  18  has a maximum cross-sectional area (in a plane “P” perpendicular to line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3) that is approximately circular and has a circular profile when viewed from above (see FIG.  2 ). In one form, the cross-sectional area of grip  18  increases from disk top  16  toward plane “P”. Additionally, the cross-sectional area of grip  18  can increase from the grip top  19  toward plane “P.” 
     A suction cup  20  can be included with drain stopper  10  and can be located on disk bottom  14 . However, it is also possible that suction cup  20  could be located on the disk top  14  and may even form grip  18 . Suction cup  20  has a concave interior surface and is used to removably mount drain stopper  10  to a surface near a drain, such as a shower stall wall. Suction cup  20  can be an integral part of disk  12  or can be attached to disk  12  in any appropriate manner. If suction cup  20  is located on the disk bottom  14 , suction cup  20  can be made smaller than the drain opening that it would be used with to allow suction cup  20  to fit within the drain opening so that it does not interfere with disk  12  blocking the drain. In such case, suction cup  20  would normally be sized to be smaller than a standard size drain opening of the type with which the stopper  10  is intended to be used, such as a 4″ kitchen sink drain or a 1⅝″ drain. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in use, the user holds grip  18  and inserts suction cup  20  into drain opening  22 . The body of drain stopper  10  blocks drain  22  so that water is prevented from entering, or minimizing the amount that enters the drain, thereby blocking drain  22 . In one form, disk bottom  14  contacts the portion of the surface of the container  24  (such as a bathtub, shower, or sink) that surrounds drain  22 , thereby blocking drain  22 . As water is added, the pressure of the water on the top of drain stopper  10  increases the force between disk bottom  14  and container  24 , thereby creating a better seal that blocks drain  22 . 
     In order to drain container  24 , the user holds grip  18  and removes drain stopper  10  from the area in close proximity to drain  22 , thereby unblocking drain  22 . When not in use, drain stopper  10  can be stored by using grip  18  to removably mount suction cup  20  to any appropriate surface, such as vertical surface  24 , which can be a portion of a sink, bathtub, shower, a nearby wall or a nearby door. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.