Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Drain Fittinq with Detented Open Position
Technical Field
This invention relates to valves for plumbing installations
and more particularly to drain fittings for selectively opening
and closing drain passages in bathtubs, wash basins, sinks or
the like.
Backqround of the Invelltiorl
Many drain fittings for plumbing installations have a cover
or closure member which cannot simply be grasped and raised to
open the drain. Consequently, mechanical complications are
needed to enable opening of the drain~ In some instances, a
system of levers and other mechanism is provided to manipulate
the closure from a location situated away from the fitting itself.
Other fittings of this generaL type are self contained but require
springs or resilient sleeves to urge the closure towards the open
position. This makès it necessary to provide some form of
releasable latching mechanism to hold the closure at the closed
position against the force of the spring.
D*ain fittings of the type having a graspable closure which
is raised manually can have a relatively uncomplicated construction
and can therefore be less expensive and potentially more durable.
Fittings of this type require some means for maintaining the
closure at the open position without continual manual supportO
Such means should not involve substantial complication of the
mechanism and should be durable and reliable in order to fully
realize the advantages of this type of drain fitting. It is
more convenient if such means operates automatically when the
closure is raised to the open position without requiring rotation
of the closure or other additional movements in order to hold
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the drain fitting in the open position.
Prior drain fittings of the type which are opened by grasping
and raisin~ the closure and which do not require additional rotary
latching motions rely on friction to hold the closure at the
open position. In a typical prior construction of this kind
the closure is attached to a sleeve which is coaxlally positioned
on a vertical stem within the fitting and which is slidable along
the stem to enable movement of the closure between the open and
closed postions, A resilient split ring disposed in a coaxial
groove on the stem is in a state of radial compression so that
it exerts pressure against the inner surface of the sleeve. This
increases frictional resistance to movement of the sleeve and clos,
ure along the stem causing such elements to tend to remain at
any given position until it is manually forced away from that
position.
Friction increasing means of the above described kind tend
to wear rapidly and thereby become less effective for the intended
purpose. Such mechanism does not provide a positive holding
action at the open position but acts instead to require increased
effort by the operator at all stages of closure movemerlt~ A
more durable fitting construction that does not require such
ncreased operator effort and which provides a more positive
holding action at the open position would be highly advantageous.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems discussed above.
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Summarv of the Invention
In one aspect the present inven~ion provides a drain
fitting having a c~lindrical body adapted to be engaged within
a drain opening to d0fine a drain flow passage therethroug~, a
flow transmissive spider attached to said body and which
extends across said flow passage, first and second coaxial
members, one of which is a stem secured to said spider and
extending therefrom along the axis of said body and the other
of which is a sleeve disposed coaxially on said stem and being
slidable therealong, said sleeve having an axial passage
through which said stem extends, and a closure attached to the
upper end of said sleeve and being movable therewith between a
closed position at which said closure blocks flow into said
drain passage and an open position at which said closure is
spaced above said body to admit flow into said drain passage,
; wherein a first of said coaxial members has a radially directed
bore extending towards the second of said coaxial members and
the second of said coaxial members has a concavity facing said
first of said coaxial members, further including a detent
element disposed at least partially within said radially
directed bore and being movable relative thereto, and means for
urgin~ said detent element outwardly from said bore towards
said second coaxial member in position to receive a portion of
said detent element when said closure and sleeve are at said
open position, and wherein said stem has a protuberance which
i5 too large to enter said axial passage of said sleeve, said
protuberance being located on sald stem to stop further travel
of said sleeve and said ~losure when said detent element seats
in said concavity.
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In another more specific aspect of the invention, a
drain fitting of the type which is opened by grasplnq and
manually raising a closure has a cylindrical body defining a
drain passage and a spider member which extends into the
passage. A stem extends along the axis of the body and has one
end secured to the spider member and an enlargement at the
opposite end and a tubular sleeve is disposed in coaxial
relationship with the stem and is slidable along the stem. A
closure extends radially from the sleeve and is movable with
the sleeve between a closed position at which flow into the
drain passage is blocked and an open position at which flow may
be admitted to the drain passage. The fitting further includes
- means for defining a chamber around the enlargement of the
stem, the chamber being proportioned to stop further travel of
the sleeve and closure when the closure reaches the open
position, by abutment of the enlargement against a surface of
the chamber. The fitting is further provided with detent means
for inhibiting movement of the closure and sleeve towards the
spider memher when the clo:ure is at the opeD position.
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The invention provides a simple, durable and more easily
operated drain fitting of the type having a closure which is
grasped and raised manually to open a drain. The detent engages
automatically wherl the closure is raised to the open position
without additional motions or effort on the part of the operator~
The mechanism does not significantly increase resistance to
travel of the closure when it is away from the open position~
Brief Description of the Drawinqs
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drain fittirlg in accordance
with one embodimen~ o~ the invention shown installed in a ~ypical
plumbing installation.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the drain fitting of FIG. 1
depicting the internal construction of the fitting.
FIG. 3 is an axial section view of the drain fitting of the
preceding figures.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a modified
construction for certain components of the drain fittiny of the
precedirlg figures.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a drain fitting
in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is an axial section view of the embodiment of the
invent~on shown in FIG. 5.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the drain
fitting ll of this embodiment is designed for installatiorl in
a drain opening 12 at the base 13 of a bathtub, kitchen sink,
wash basin or other plumbing appliance in which water or other
liquid is to be temporarily retained.
Referring jointly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fitting 11 includes
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a cylindrical body 14 which forms the drain flow passage 16 and
which is provided with a flange 17 at the upper end. Body 14 is
adapted to be engaged in the drain opening 12, in this example9
by being provided with extexnal threads 18 which may be engaged
with internal threading 19 within a drain pipe elbow 21 situated
below the base 13 o~ th0 bathtub, wash basinl sink or the like.
An annular resilient gasket 22 is compressed against the rim of
the drain opening 16 by flange 17 to prevent leakage when the
drain fitting 11 is installed in this manner.
To support the movable closure 23, a spider member 24
extends across drain passage 16 at the base of body 14 and has
an internally threaded hub 26 situated at the axis of the body.
A rod shaped stem 27 has a threaded lower end engaged in hub 26
and extends upward from the hub in alignment with tne axis of
body 14. The upper end of stem 27 has a radially extending
enlargement 28, situated above body 14, for purposes which will
be hereinafter described.
Movable closure 23 is an assembly which includes a sleeve
member 29 disposed in coaxial relationship with stem 27 and
which is slidable along the stem. Sleeve 29, in this embodiment,
is integrally formed with a cover member 31 at the upper end
of the sleeve that has a diameter greater than the diameter of
the drain flow passage 16. An annular elastomeric skirt 32 is
disposed on the upper end of sleeve 29 adjacent cover 31 in
coaxial relationship with the sleeve and cover to close the drain
passage 16 when the closure 23 is moved down to its lowermost
position along the stem 27. At this closed position, gravity
and the pressuxe of liquid above the fitting 11 urge the rim o~
skirt 32 against flange 17 to provide a sealing action.
To facilitate grasping of the closure 23, a hollow knob 33
is situated above cover 31 and engaged with the cover by threads
3~. Knob 33 has an internal chamber 36 into which the upper end
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of stem 27 extends through a passage 37 in cover 31. Passage
37 is of smaller diameter than the enlargement 28 at the top
of stem 27. Thus upward travel of closure 23 along stem 27 is
limited by abutment of enlargement 28 against the base of chamber
36 thereby deEining the open position of the drain fitting.
Detent means 38 are provided ~or inhibiting downward movement
of the closure 23 from the open position in order to hold the
drain fitting 11 open without further manual effort. The detent
means 38 of this embodiment of the invention include a helical
compression spring 39 and a spherical detent element 41 disposed
in a radially directed bore 42 in stem 27. Spring 39 is iJI a state
of compression and thus urges the detent element 41 outwardly
towards the inner surface of sleeve 29.
A coaxial groove 43 in the inner surface of sleeve 29 defines
a concavity which the detent element 41 enters when the closure
23 is at the above described open position. Downward travel of
the closure 23 from the open position requires ejection of detent
element 41 from groove 43 which in turn requires compression of
spring 39. Thus the spring force resists such travel and the
closure 23 remains in the open position until it is manually
forced downward. The detent means 38 does not significantly
resist travel of the closure 23 except at the open position.
The closure 23 does not need to be turned in order to latch
ik in the open position but, in the embodiment described above,
the closure can rotate relative to stem 27. ReEerring now to
FIG. 4, such rotation can be prevented i-f desired by providing
a longitudinal slot 44 along the stem 27a and by providing a
threaded screw 46 on sleeve 29a that extends a short distance
inward from the inner surface o~ the sleeve within the slot~
Preventing rotation of the closure 23 relative to the stem 27
can facilitate assembly and disassembly of the fitting 11 as
turning of the closure then engages or disengages the stem at
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spider hub 26 enabling the closure and stem to be installed and
removed as a unitO
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 in conjunction, variations in
the drain fitting llb construction are possible including embod-
iments in which the spring 39b and ball 4lb elements of the detent
means 38b are carried by the sleeve 29b rather than the stem 27b.
The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a cylindrical
body 14b includir~g à spider 24b with threaded hub 26b which are
essentially similar to the corresponding elements of the previously
described embodiment and which ~an be mounted at a drain opening
16b in a similar manner. As in the previous instarlce, the stem
27b extends upward from hub 26b along the axis oE the body 14b
and has a radially exterlding enlargemellt 28b at the upper end.
The cover member 3lbin this embodiment and the graspable
knob 33b are formed as a single intregral element while sleeve
29b, disposed in coaxial relationship with stem 27b, is separable
from the cover member. Sleeve 29b is fastened to the cover member
3lb through a threaded annular portion 48 of the cover member
that extends down into a threaded opening 49 in the upper end of
the sleeve. The inner edge of elastomeric skirt 32b is clamped
between the underside of cover member 31b and the upper end of
sleeve 29b.
The chamber 36b within portion 48 of the cover member 31b
is of larger diameter than the inside diameter of sleeve 29b
and extends up into the body of the cover member in order to receive
the upper end of stem27b including the stem enlargement 28b.
Thus the drain fitting llb may be opened by grasping knob 33b
and pulling the cover member 31b and attached sleeve 29b upward
until the motion is stopped, at the open position of the fittirlg,
by abutment o~ sleeve 29b agains stem enlargement 28b.
The lower portion of stem 27b is provided with a flat
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sidewall 51. Rotation of the sleeve 29b relative to stem 27b
is prevented by a screw 52 engaged in the inner wall of the
sleeve that has a flat head which bears against sidewall 51.
The detent means 38bEor holding the drain fitting llb at
the open position includes a threaded spring housing 53 engaged
in a radially directed bore 54 in sleeve 29b. A helical com-
pression spring 39b within housing 53 urges a detent ball 41b
against the flat sidewall 51 of stem Z7b~ A concavity 56 in the
stem 27b at the upper end of sidewall 51 is positioned to be
entered by ball 41b when the cover member 31b and sleeve 29b are
traveled to the above described open position.
As in the previously described embodiment, downward movement
of the cover member 31b and skirt 32b from the open position is
resisted as such movement requires ejection of ball 41b from
concavity 56 against the force of spring 39b. It is advantageous
if the outer end of spring housing 53 is provided with a screw~
driver slot 57 or the like as this enables adjustment of the
degree of compression of spring 39b and thus adjustment of the
amount of force that is required to move the cover member 31
downward from the open position.
While the invention has been described with respect to
specific preferred embodiments, numerous structural variations
are possible and it is not intended to limit the invention
except as defined itl the following claims.
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