Method and apparatus for assembling and sealing bathtub overflow and waste water ports
AssigneeWCM Industries, Inc.
InventorWilliam T Ball
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bathtub drainage and overflow system assembly is a combination of a one-piece overflow pipe and a waste water drain assembly connected by a T-shaped elbow. The one-piece overflow pipe has an inverted L-shape having an elbow portion. A lip extends radially outwardly from an outer surface of the overflow pipe to engage an outer surface of the bathtub end wall around the bathtub overflow port. A thin diaphragm is used to close the inlet to fluid flow. The waste water drain has an L-shaped drain pipe having an annular flange resting on a bottom wall of the bathtub.
Claims17
An overflow assembly adapted for interconnection to a bathtub, which has a bottom, side walls, end walls, and an overflow port in one end wall, comprising:
- an overflow pipe with an elbow portion defining an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion having an outer end defining an inlet and having threads on an outer surface thereof;
- a lip extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of the overflow pipe between said elbow portion and said upper end portion and being spaced from the inlet;
- a sealing element associated with said outer end that closes said inlet to fluid flow;
- a nut element with a threaded portion that is compatible with said threads associated with said inlet for mounting said nut element to said upper end portion, said nut element having a plurality of lugs extending radially from said nut element wherein said nut element and said plurality of lugs constitute a single-piece unit;
- and
- a cap detachably interconnected to at least one of said plurality of lugs and covering the nut.
An overflow assembly adapted for interconnection to a bathtub, which has a bottom, side walls, end walls, and an overflow port in one end wall, comprising:
- an overflow pipe with an elbow portion defining an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion having an outer end defining an inlet, said upper end portion having threads on an outer surface thereof;
- a lip extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of the overflow pipe between said elbow portion and said upper end portion and being spaced from said inlet;
- a means for sealing associated with said outer end that closes said inlet to fluid flow;
- a nut element with a threaded portion that is compatible with said threads of said overflow pipe for threadingly mounting said nut element to said upper end portion, said nut element having a series of retention lugs spaced about a longitudinal axis defined by said nut element, wherein there is a gap between each retention lug;
- and
- a cap detachably interconnected to at least one of said series of retention lugs.
An overflow assembly adapted for interconnection to a bathtub, which has a bottom, side walls, end walls, and an overflow port in one end wall, comprising:
- an overflow pipe with an elbow portion defining an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion having an outer end defining an inlet, said upper end having threads on an outer surface thereof;
- a lip extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of the overflow pipe between said elbow portion and said upper end portion and being spaced from said inlet;
- a nut element with a threaded portion that is compatible with said threads of said overflow pipe, said nut element having an outer periphery with a series of radially extending lugs that detachably engage an inner surface of a cap that fits over said nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.