Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Title of Invention
Drain Trap
Field of Invention
This invention relates to a drain trap for
sinks and the like and particularly an easy-clean, no-spill
trap.
Background of the Invention
Easy-clean traps are known in the art, as
exemplified by the teachings in US. Patents 3,935,602
issued February 3, 1976 to HOD. Kale, 2,7~2,101 issued
April 17, 1956 to C. Stambaugh, and 1,210,201 issued
December 26, 1916 to WOW. Perkins. In each instance these
traps have a removable lower portion that can be quickly
and readily detached to retrieve any foreign objects that
have been collected therein. The problem with such traps
is that when the bottom is removed, liquid which is
normally retained in the inflow and outflow conduits, flows
out through the bottom of the trap making a mess unless it
is collected in a separate container. Removal of the
bottom of the trap often results in a spillage of the
liquid into the surrounding area even when using a separate
collecting container. Cabinets and other enclosures around
the sink limit the space and in many instances there is
insufficient room to get a container in ion requires a
specially designed container) to collect the liquid in the
conduits
2 7~8~
Various -types of traps are illustrated in the
following references:
United States Pa-tents
4,275,760 issued June 30, 1981 to B. Bessel
4,264,~42 issued April 28, 1981 to D. Jackson
4,230,582 issued October 28, 1980 to R. Tuleja
4~158,897 issued June 26, 1979 to M. Cocherel
3,751,734 issued August I 1973 to R. Loomed
3,725,964 issued April 10, 1973 to G. Wettest
277,888 issued May 22, 1883 to P. Connally
Canadian Patents
39,019 issued May 28, 1892 to J. Carroll
103,102 issued January 6, 1907 to J. Pardon
118,591 issued May 25, 1909 to J. Donovan
218,965 issued May 23, 1922 to E. Johansson
Summary of Invention:
on object of the present invention is to
provide an improvement to the foregoing traps such that
the liquid in the pipes can be collected, without spillage,
in the removable portion of the trap hereinafter referred to
as a container, thereby resulting in a spill free clean
out trap.
In order -to overcome the foregoing disadvan-
taxes, applicant has provided a trap wherein the container
is provided with additional liquid free volume (above the
_ 3 _ ~2%~9~
normal water level therein when in use) -to collect and hold
the liquid in the conduits when -the seal is broken between
the container and cover therefore to which an inlet and
outlet pipe is connected.
In keeping with the foregoing, there is
provided in accordance with the present invention a spill
free clean out type sink trap which, when mounted in situ
and during normal operation, has liquid therein that
extends upwardly into respective inflow and outflow
conduits comprising:
(a) a cover having liquid inlet and outlet
means there through, respectively for the inflow of liquid
into the trap via said inflow conduit and outflow of such
liquid from the trap via the outflow conduit; and
lo by a container detachably and sealingly
connected to said cover, said container having sufficient
volume above the normal water level therein during use so
as to receive and hold the additional liquid normally
retained in said conduit means, when the seal between the
cover and container is broken.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention is illustrated by way of example
in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of
a sink trap provided in accordance with the present
invention wherein there is an air space in the upper part of
the trap;
Figure 2, similar to Figure 1, illustrates a
modification where the container of the sink -trap extends
above the cover;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sink
trap wherein the inlet and outlet conduits have a common
opening in the container;
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view
of a still further embodiment;
Figure 5 is an exploded view illustrating
minor modifications to the trap;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5,
illustrating further modifications to the trap;
Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view
lo of the trap shown in Figure 6 when assembled including
an over center hold down clamp;
Figure 8 is a top plan view of a sink trap
of the type illustrated in Figure 6 with further
modifications thereto;
Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view
taken essentially along line 9~9 of Figure 8; and
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken
essentially along line 10-10 of Figure 8, and additionally
includes an o~er-centered clip for holding the components
of the trap in an assembled condition
- 5
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
Referring to the drawings, there is illustra-
ted in Figures 1 to 3, a sink trap comprising a container
10 detachably and sealingly connected to a cover 20.
Liquid inflow to the trap is via inlet conduit 30 and
liquid outflow via outlet conduit 40~ In each of the
embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the effective
open end of the conduit 30 and 40 in container 10 are
located selected distance downwardly from the cover
(i.e. the upper end of the container) providing a liquid
free space 50 in the container there above during use of
the trap.. Turing normal use of -the trap, the liquid 60
has a level designated 61 in the inlet conduit, a level
designated 62 in the container and a level designated
63 in the outlet conduit. The liquid free volume 50 in
the container, above liquid level 62, is at least equal
to and preferably greater than the volume of the portion
of liquid 60 contained in the inlet and outlet conduits
30 and I so that when the seal between the container 10
and cover 20 is broken, the liquid in the conduits will
flow into the volume 50 in the container This results
in collecting all of the liquid in the container with no
spillage occurring when removing the container 10 to
clean out the trap
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1,
- 6 - ~2~98~
the container 10 is detachably connected to the cover 20
by a threaded ring nut 21 and for sealing purposes there
is provided a gasket 22 between the container and the
cover. The cover 20 is also provided with threaded
spigots 23 and 24 on the upper side of the cover and
continuations thereof, designated AYE and AYE, project
from the opposite side of the cover downwardly into the
container. Conduits 30 and 40 project into respective
ones of the spigots 24 and 23 and sealing is provided in
a conventional manner by respective ring or gland nuts
25 and 26 having flanges cooperating with packing
material 27.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the
projecting portions AYE and 24~ shown in Figure 1 are
dispensed with and in place thereof inlet and outlet
conduits 30 and 40 may, if desired pass through the
respective spigots 24 and 23 and project downwardly a
selected amount into the container to provide the
necessary liquid free space in the upper portion of
the container,
Figure 2 also illustrates another important
variant in that the liquid free volume is located
exteriorly of the trap As will be noted from Figure 2,
the container 10 is provided with vernal threads 11 at
a position spaced downwardly from the upper edge 12 of
- 7
the container so that the volume 50, provided for
collecting the excess liquid, i.e. the liquid in the
conduits, is located entirely exteriorly of the trap.
The cover 20 is provided with external threads 21 that
mate with the threads 11 on -the container. A gasket 22
is interposed between the lower edge of a peripheral rim
on the cover and a ledge on the continuer. The advantage
of this embodiment is that seal 22 need only prevent the
egress of Lydia from the container as opposed to air.
If desired in the Figure 2 embodiment, inlet and outlet
conduits 30 and I could project a selected amount in-to
the container such that the liquid free volume is
partially interiorly and partially exteriorly of the trap.
The embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 is
similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 and
differs therefrom by having conduits 30 and 40 communique
tying with the interior of the container by way of a
common opening 70. The common opening 70 is provided by
a funnel-like element 71 located in the container and
having an upper outwardly directed flange 72 clampingly
engaged between the upper peripheral edge of the
container and the cover 20.
In Figure 4, there is illustrated a still
further embodiment wherein the inlet and outlet conduits
are concentric. Inlet conduit 30 projects into a further
- 8 I
conduit AYE (larger in diameter than conduit 30) to an
extent such that the lower open end thereof is below the
normal liquid level 80. Conduit AYE projects sufficiently
downwardly into the container such that the liquid free
volume 50 is greater than the volume of liquid contained
in the lower end of inlet conduit 30 and the further
conduit AYE.
In the embodiment illustrated, in Figure 1,
the conduits 30 and 40 project preferably an equal amount
into the container. Also, if desired, a screen or
strainer 100 may be placed in the container to prevent the
through flow of accidental dropped possessions. The
height of the screen need be no more than the normal
water level 62 in the container.
In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4, the
container 10 is circular and in some instances may take
up more space than available wherein it is to be
installed. In Figures 5, 6, and 8 to 10 there is
illustrated an embodiment, with various modifications
thereto, wherein the container is generally rectangular
in cross-section, minimizing the space required for the
trap. Referring to Figure 5, the sink trap as shown
therein comprises a molded plastics container lob having
a cover 20B detachably held thereon by one or more
(preferably 2 or I over-center draw down clamps 200,
I
(See Figures 7 and 10). The container lob has a lug 91
secured to the wall thereof (or molded integrally there-
with) for each clamp. On the lower edge of lug 91
there is a groove 92 for receiving the free end of the
S latch portion of the draw down clamp (or a shaft on the
free end thereof). In -the event there is a shaft on the
end of the hold down clamp, lip 95 of the groove 92 may be
partially flexible so that the shaft can be pressed
into the groove and held therein by the lip 95.
The cover 20B has passages there through for
inflow of liquid into the container and outflow of
liquid therefrom through respective conduits 30 and
40 connected to such passages In the embodiment
illustrated spigots AYE and AYE are formed integrally
with the cover as in the embodiment illustrated in
Figure 1. Alternatively, the inflow and outflow conduits
may project downwardly into the container as per the
embodiment illustrated in Figure 2.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figure 6
the container lob is provided with a ledge lock on the
internal surface, spaced downwardly from the upper edge
lo of the container so that when the cover is mounted
on the container it is spaced downwardly from the upper
edge of the container This provides an embodiment
corresponding to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2
- 10 27~
wherein the additional volume 50 for the container, i.e.
liquid free volume, is located exteriorly of the trap.
If spigots AYE and AYE are dispensed with, the liquid
free volume 50 would be entirely exteriorly of the trap
or if short spigots were used then a portion of the
liquid free volume would be interiorly of the trap and
the remaining portion exteriorly of the trap.
Various constructional details are illustrated
in Figure 7 to 10 which are believed self-evident there-
from and thus will only be described briefly It Willie noted in Figure 6 the ledge lo is flat, while the
corresponding ledge lye in the embodiment illustrated in
Figure 9 slopes inwardly, downwardly into the container.
The cover 20C illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 has a flange
GOD projecting downwardly therefrom into the container
reinforcing the cover to evenly distribute the force
from the tie-down clamp 200 in compressing the gasket
203 disposed between the cover and the ledge lock In
the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, an o-ring seal
204 is interposed between the sloping shoulder lye and
a groove around the periphery of the cover. The cover
designated 20~ has upstanding flanges 20F serving as an
abutment for the bent-over loop of the tie-down clamp
200 and reinforcement of the cover The over center
tie down clamp 200 shown in Figures 7 and 10 consists
I
of a bent over loop 201 which pivotal attaches to a
latch 202 by way of lugs projecting into respective ones
of a pair of apertures in the latch. The latch member
202 is a short length of an extrusion of plastics material
having a cross-sectional shape clearly illustrated in
Figures 7 and 10.
