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US 10,240,329 B2Granted
Pop-up drain assembly
AssigneePF Waterworks LP
InventorsHarold Kent Beck, Sanjay Ahuja
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AssigneePF Waterworks LP
InventorsHarold Kent Beck, Sanjay Ahuja
Estimating the term…
A pop-up drain assembly for a sink has drain piping, a stopper in the drain piping, a pivot rod for opening and closing the stopper and tends not to clog because the pivot rod is not within a fluid flow path. In one embodiment the stopper has flow diverter plates that channel fluid flowing through the drain piping away from the pivot rod so that hair, waste and debris does not catch on and accumulate on the pivot rod. In another embodiment the stopper and the pivot rod are engaged through magnetic coupling, and the pivot rod does not protrude into the fluid flow path. The stopper is preferably variable in length for adjustment to fit different distances from the pivot rod to the top of the drain piping.
A pop-up drain assembly for a sink or basin having a drain opening, comprising:
A drain stopper for a sink or basin, comprising:
A drain stopper for use with a pop-up drain assembly in a sink that has a drain opening, the pop-up drain assembly having a drain pipe in the drain opening and a drain flange sealed against the sink and surrounding the drain opening, the drain stopper comprising:
The drain stopper of 22, wherein the lower end of the pivot rod holder has a “V” shape, and wherein the “V” shape points inwardly toward the gap for feeding the pivot rod into the gap.
The drain stopper of 22, wherein there are four radial flanges that extend along the length of the shaft and project radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, further comprising a disc at the upper end of the shaft that projects radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a threaded stud that projects from the disc along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the cap is threadedly connected to the threaded stud.
The drain stopper of 22, wherein the maximum diameter of the cap is between 2.0 and 3.0 times the diameter of the circumference defined by the radial flanges.
The drain stopper of 22, wherein the drain flange has a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the uppermost portion of the cap is greater than the diameter of the drain flange.
The drain stopper of 22, further comprising a disc at the upper end of the shaft that projects radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a threaded stud that projects from the disc along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the cap has a lower portion that comprises a bore defined by threads, wherein the threaded stud is received in the bore, and wherein the cap has a maximum diameter that is at least 1.75 times the diameter of the disc.
The drain stopper of 22, further comprising a strainer around the shaft, wherein the strainer has a lowermost base, wherein the base of the strainer has a slot extending along its diameter, wherein the slot is sized and designed for the pivot rod holder to pass through the slot, wherein opposing projections define the slot, wherein the projections press against the pivot rod holder for providing friction for securing the strainer to the pivot rod holder, wherein the stopper has a transition portion above an upper portion of the pivot rod holder, wherein the transition portion has a rectangular cross-section, wherein the upper portion of the pivot rod retainer has a rectangular cross-section that is larger than the rectangular cross-section of the transition portion, wherein a shoulder is defined between the transition portion and the upper portion of the pivot rod holder, wherein the projections that define the slot in the base of the strainer are adjacent to the transition portion and above the shoulder so that the shoulder tends to keep the strainer from sliding down past the pivot rod holder while in use.
A pop-up drain stopper for a sink or basin, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
With mechanical closure mechanisms: the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via rigid elements
Wash-stands; Appurtenances therefor: stoppers for wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like
Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks: with mechanical closure mechanisms
With mechanical closure mechanisms: the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via flexible elements, e.g. chain, Bowden cable
About 4 years 3 months of term left · ends 2 Feb 2031 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
This present invention pertains to a pop-up drain assembly used to retain fluid in and release fluid from a sink or basin and more particularly to preventing debris such as hair from being caught in a drain pipe either by directing flow away from a pivot rod or by eliminating the pivot rod from within the drain pipe.
2. Description of the Related Art
A better understanding of the invention can be obtained when the detailed description of exemplary embodiments set forth below is considered in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a side elevation of a sink or basin and a pop-up drain assembly, according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a side elevation of a pop-up drain assembly, according to the present invention.
The present invention provides a pop-up drain assembly for a sink or basin for receiving and retaining a fluid, which is typically water, and a drain opening is provided in a lowermost portion of the sink or basin for draining the fluid. The pop-up drain assembly includes piping that can be placed through the drain opening and fastened to the sink or basin. The piping is typically connected to a drain pipe, and the piping provides a fluid flow pathway from the sink or basin through the drain opening and through the piping to the drain pipe for conveying fluid from the sink or basin to the drain pipe and away for disposal and/or treatment. After the drain assembly is installed on a sink, a drain stopper is received in the piping and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the stopper provides a seal with the piping for retaining fluid in the sink or basin, and in the open position, fluid can enter the piping and drain away through the drain pipe. A pivot rod is used to move the stopper between the open position and the closed position. The pivot rod pivots about a generally horizontal position and engages the stopper, raising the stopper to the open position and lowering the stopper to the closed position.
In the drain assembly of the present invention, the pivot rod is not in the fluid flow pathway while in operation. The pivot rod either protrudes inside the piping for moving the stopper and fluid flow is diverted around the pivot rod for preventing hair and other debris from catching on the pivot rod or the pivot rod does not protrude significantly inside the piping and is magnetically coupled to the stopper for moving the stopper. In a prior art pop-up drain assembly, the pivot rod was typically in the fluid flow pathway, and hair and debris caught on the pivot rod and stopper, which clogged the drain assembly. The present invention provides a pop-up drain assembly in which the pivot rod is not in the fluid flow pathway, so clogging in the drain assembly should be reduced.
Turning now to the drawings and with reference to FIG. 1, a pop-up drain assembly 10 is shown according to the present invention. Drain assembly 10 is received in a sink or basin 12, such as is typically used in a lavatory. Sink 12 has a lower surface 12a that drains into a drain opening 12b. Sink 12 has an overflow port 12c in a side wall 12d, which is an optional feature. An outer wall 12e and side wall 12d define an overflow channel 12f, and side wall 12d has an overflow drain port 12g for draining overflow fluid into a port in drain assembly 10. A faucet 14 is mounted on a top deck 12h of sink 12 for supplying water or other fluid to sink 12.