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US 6,484,331 B2Granted
Waste and overflow system for a bathtub
AssigneeOatey Co.
InventorMichael W. Minnick
Life of this patent
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AssigneeOatey Co.
InventorMichael W. Minnick
Estimating the term…
A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
A waste and overflow system for a bathtub comprising an overflow conduit and an overflow cap having opposite ends, one of said ends of said overflow cap being threadedly connectable to an end of said overflow conduit to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween, an overflow passage extending through said overflow cap from one end to the other, a test cap portion removably connected to the other end of said overflow cap for closing off said overflow passage during pressure testing of the system, said test cap portion being removable from said other end of said overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up said overflow passage through said overflow cap, said test cap portion being integrally connected to said other end of said overflow cap by a frangible seam for ease of removal of said test cap portion from said overflow cap, and a handle integrally connected to said test cap portion to facilitate tightening of said overflow cap, said handle having a slot for receipt of a rod-like member for use in tightening said overflow cap.
A waste and overflow system for a bathtub comprising an overflow conduit and an overflow cap having opposite ends, one of said ends of said overflow cap being threadedly connectable to an end of said overflow conduit to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween, an overflow passage extending through said overflow cap from one end to the other, a test cap portion removably connected to the other end of said overflow cap for closing off said overflow passage during pressure testing of the system, said test cap portion being removable from said other end of said overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up said overflow passage through said overflow cap, said test cap portion being integrally connected to said other end of said overflow cap by a frangible seam for ease of removal of said test cap portion from said overflow cap, and a handle integrally connected to said test cap portion to facilitate tightening of said overflow cap, said handle having a slot for receipt of a rod-like member for use in breaking out said test cap portion from said overflow cap.
A waste and overflow system for a bathtub comprising an overflow conduit and an overflow cap having opposite ends, one of said ends of said overflow cap being threadedly connectable to an end of said overflow conduit to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween, an overflow passage extending through said overflow cap from one end to the other, a test cap portion removably connected to the other end of said overflow cap for closing off said overflow passage during pressure testing of the system, said test cap portion being removable from said other end of said overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up said overflow passage through said overflow cap, said other end of said overflow cap having a cylindrical rim, said test cap portion being integrally connected to said cylindrical rim by a frangible seam for ease of removal of said test cap portion from said other end of said overflow cap, and a locking ring insertable over said cylindrical rim upon removal of said test cap portion, said locking ring and said cylindrical rim having a lockable connection therebetween when rotated in a locking direction relative to one another.
A waste and overflow system for a bathtub comprising an overflow conduit and an overflow cap having opposite ends, one of said ends of said overflow cap being threadedly connectable to an end of said overflow conduit to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween, an overflow passage extending through said overflow cap from one end to the other, a test cap portion removably connected to the other end of said overflow cap for closing off said overflow passage during pressure testing of the system, said test cap portion being removable from said other end of said overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up said overflow passage through said overflow cap, and a handle connected to said test cap portion to facilitate tightening of said overflow cap, said handle having a slot for receipt of a rod-like member for use in applying a force to said test cap portion.
A waste and overflow system for a bathtub comprising an overflow conduit and an overflow cap having opposite ends, one of said ends of said overflow cap being threadedly connectable to an end of said overflow conduit to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween, an overflow passage extending through said overflow cap from one end to the other, a test cap portion removably connected to the other end of said overflow cap for closing off said overflow passage during pressure testing of the system, said test cap portion being removable from said other end of said overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up said overflow passage through said overflow cap, said other end of said overflow cap having a cylindrical rim, said test cap portion being removably connectable to said cylindrical rim, and a locking ring insertable over said cylindrical rim upon removal of said test cap portion, said locking ring and said cylindrical rim having a lockable connection therebetween when rotated in a locking direction relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto ; Sinks: overflow devices for basins or baths
Overflow devices for basins or baths: covers for temporarily closing off overflow outlets
Pipe joints or couplings: cap closures
Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water
Term ended 22 Feb 2021 (estimated)
This invention relates to a waste and overflow system for handling any overflow from a bathtub.
A typical waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes a standard overflow elbow that is held in sealed engagement with the back side of the tub in line with the tub overflow opening by self-tapping screws that extend through slots in a mounting bar overlying the overflow opening adjacent the front side of the tub and through the tub overflow opening into holes in a flange portion of the elbow.
When the waste and overflow system is initially installed, the elbow drain opening must be sealed in a fluid tight manner to permit pressure testing of the sanitary drainage system for leaks. Heretofore, this was typically done by inserting a gasketed test cap into the elbow drain opening through the tub overflow opening and threading a screw through a mounting hole in the mounting bar to cause the screw to press tightly against the test cap to hold the test cap in sealing engagement with the overflow elbow. After pressure testing is completed, the screw and test cap are removed and a cover plate is placed over the tub overflow opening and held in place by a mounting screw extending through the cover plate and into threaded engagement with the mounting hole in the mounting bar.
In the annexed drawings:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one form of waste and overflow system for a bathtub in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view showing the waste and overflow system of FIG. 1 in final assembled condition with a drain pipe connected to an overflow elbow;
One form of waste and overflow system 1 for a bathtub 2 according to the present invention is schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The system 1 includes an overflow elbow or other drain conduit 3 having an internally threaded end portion 4 and an overflow cap 5 having an externally threaded end portion 6 that is designed to be inserted through an overflow opening 7 in the bathtub and threaded into the overflow elbow 3 for securing the overflow elbow 3 against the back side of the tub. Alternatively, the overflow elbow or other conduit could be externally threaded and the end portion of the overflow cap internally threaded if desired. Before threading the overflow cap 5 and overflow elbow 3 together, an overflow gasket 8 is inserted over the threaded end portion 7 of the overflow cap. Also, Teflon tape or pipe joint compound (not shown) should be used on the threads 9 of the overflow cap before screwing the overflow cap into the overflow elbow. As the overflow cap is threaded into the overflow elbow, the gasket 8 is compressed between the flange 10 surrounding the internally threaded end portion 4 of the overflow elbow 3 and the back side of the tub to form a water-tight seal therebetween as schematically shown in FIG. 2.
The overflow cap 5 has a radial flange 11 adjacent the outer end thereof that engages the front wall of the tub during tightening of the overflow cap into the overflow elbow. Circumferentially spaced centering tabs 12 (shown in FIG. 1) may be provided on the back side of the flange 11 to prevent offset installations.
The overflow cap has an overflow passage 14 (see FIG. 4) extending from one end to the other that is initially closed by a test cap portion 16 removably attached to the outer end 15 of the overflow cap. This eliminates the need for having to install a separate test cap into the end portion 4 of the overflow elbow 3 before pressure testing the system.