# US 11,029,711 B2 · Drain assembly for fluid tank and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,711 B2 - Document ID: US11029711B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/445,882 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-20 - Assignees: Michael Utter - Applicants: Michael Utter - Inventors: Michael Utter; Shaun Stuart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029711B2 ## CPC - B63B 35/24: Fish holds - G05D 9/02: without auxiliary power - A01K 97/05: Containers for live bait kept in water, e.g. for minnows or shrimps - B63B 35/26: for live fish - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A drain assembly for a fluid tank having a drain hole therein may include a hollow first member to be coupled with the drain hole, where the hollow first member has at least one opening therein. The drain assembly may further include a hollow second member slidably coupled with the hollow first member and movable along a longitudinal axis of the hollow outer member between first and second positions. The hollow second member may be configured to seal the at least one opening in the hollow first member when in the first position to define an upper spillover level for fluid within the tank, and to unseal the at least one opening in the hollow first member when in the second position to define a lower spillover level for fluid within the tank below the upper spillover level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drain assembly for a fluid tank having a drain hole therein, the drain assembly comprising: a hollow first member to be coupled with the drain hole, the hollow first member having at least one opening therein; and a hollow second member slidably coupled with the hollow first member and movable along a longitudinal axis of the hollow first member between first and second positions; wherein the hollow second member is configured to seal the at least one opening in the hollow first member when in the first position to define an upper spillover level for fluid within the tank, and wherein the hollow second member is configured to unseal the at least one opening in the hollow first member when in the second position to define a lower spillover level for fluid within the tank below the upper spillover level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow first member has a groove therein defining first and second locking positions respectively corresponding to the first and second positions of the hollow second member; and wherein the hollow second member has a locking pin coupled thereto movable within the groove of the hollow first member between the first and second locking positions as the hollow second member is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the hollow first member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow second member telescopes into the hollow first member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow first and second members are tubular. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow first and second members are coaxial. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow second member has a proximal end slidably coupled with the hollow first member and a distal end spaced apart from the hollow first member; and further comprising a strainer cage coupled to the distal end of the hollow second member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drain assembly of claim 6 wherein the strainer cage comprises a plurality of spaced apart ribs along an outer surface of the hollow second member, and a cover coupled to the ribs and spaced apart from the hollow second member by the ribs and defining fluid channels between the ribs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The drain assembly of claim 6 wherein the cover has a plurality of slits therein laterally offset from the ribs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The drain assembly of claim 6 wherein the strainer cage further comprises a cap covering the distal end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the drain hole is threaded, and wherein the hollow first member has a threaded end portion configured to threadably engage the threaded drain hole. ### Claim 11 A drain assembly for a fluid tank having a drain hole therein, the drain assembly comprising: a hollow outer member to be coupled with the drain hole; a hollow inner member having a proximal end carried within the hollow outer member and a distal end outside of the hollow outer member; and a strainer cage coupled to the distal end of the hollow inner member and comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the hollow inner member, and a cover coupled to the ribs and spaced apart from the hollow inner member by the ribs and defining fluid channels between the ribs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein the cover has a plurality of slits therein offset laterally from the ribs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein the hollow inner member telescopes into the hollow outer member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein the hollow inner and outer members are tubular. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein the strainer cage further comprises a cap covering the distal end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein drain hole is threaded, and wherein the hollow outer member has a threaded end portion configured to threadably engage the threaded drain hole. ### Claim 17 A drain assembly for a fluid tank having a drain hole therein, the drain assembly comprising: a hollow member having a proximal end to be coupled to the drain hole and a distal end; and a strainer cage coupled to the distal end of the hollow member and comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the hollow member, and a cover coupled to the ribs and spaced apart from the hollow member by the ribs and defining fluid overflow channels between the ribs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The drain assembly of claim 17 wherein the cover has a plurality of slits therein laterally offset from the ribs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The drain assembly of claim 17 wherein the hollow member is tubular. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The drain assembly of claim 17 wherein the strainer cage further comprises a cap covering the distal end.