Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02556634 2006-08-22
TITLE: A MOTOR ACTIVATED BATHTUB DRAIN CLOSURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drain closures in bathtubs assume a variety of designs,
but normally include a stopper element that is manually moved
upwardly and downwardly to assume opened and closed
positions, respectively. The manual movement of the drain
closure means is sometimes an inconvenience to elderly people
or those with Borne physical infirmity.
In the past solenoids have been used to actuate the
bathtub drain closure in order to facilitate the opening and
closing of a drain closure. Though the solenoid is effective
at opening and c:Losing the drain closure, disadvantages have
occurred. For e:~ample, solenoids only have two positions,
fully opened and fully closed. Consequently, if one would
like for water to drain slowly from a bathtub for any
application, a solenoid does not allow for the partial
opening of the d=rain. Additionally, solenoids produce very
small amounts of force. Consequently, solenoids typically
have a difficult time opening larger drain elements.
Additionally, because of the little force that is generated
solenoids typica:Lly wear out quickly. Consequently, there is
a need in the art. for an alternative to a solenoid actuated
bathtub drain th<~t will allow for a partially opened drain,
and that will ha~Je more force than a solenoid thus, allowing
for application :i.n larger drains and also for allowing for
more use of the apparatus before the drain wears out.
Consequentl~Y~, it is a principal object of the present
invention to use a motor in combination with a movable
element to provide for an improved bathtub drain closure.
A further object of this invention is to provide a motor
activated bathtub drain closure which can be easily and
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quickly installed in the bathtub environment to facilitate
the opening and closing of a bathtub drain closure.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a
motor activated bathtub drain closure which is simple in
construction, economical to build and install, and trouble
free in its operation.
These and other objects will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A motor activated bathtub drain closure is associated
with the bathtub having a bottom with a drain opening
therein. A vert:i.cally movable drain stopper is mounted over
the drain opening. A drain pipe is connected to the drain
opening and is conventionally positioned below the drain
opening. A motor having a movable element that is located
outside the drain pipe and is preferably mounted on the drain
pipe. Linkage is secured to the movable element and extends
from the element into the drain pipe and terminates at an
inner end underneath the drain opening. The linkage is so
configured that when the element is moved by the motor from a
first position to a second position, the inner end of the
linkage will engage the stopper and raise it with respect to
the drain opening to permit fluid in the bathtub to flow by
gravity through 'the drain opening into the drain pipe. When
the movable element moves to a second position, the stopper
drops to its original position by gravity and closes the
drain opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO:L~ OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device of this
invention mounted on a bathtub drain wherein the drain
stopper has been removed;
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Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a drain pipe
located below the drain opening of a bathtub, with a portion
of the linkage oi= this invention shown in a partial sectional
portion of Fig. 2 in a configuration lifting the drain
stopper to an open position;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but shows the
linkage in a lowered position out of engagement with the
drain stopper wherein the drain stopper has moved to a closed
condition;
Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 2 taken on
line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view similar to that of
Fig. 1 but showing the drain pipe broken away and reflecting
the position of the linkage secured to the motor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A bathtub d:r~ain assembly 10 has a horizontal pipe
portion 12 which terminates in an elbow 14 wherein the upper
horizontal rim o:E' the elbow is conventionally affixed to a
drain closure fitting 16 which surrounds a drain opening 18
in the bottom 20 of a conventional bathtub 22.
A motor 24 having a movable element 26 is secured to
pipe 12 by clamp 28. Electrical leads 30 extend from the
motor 24 and are connected to a source of electrical energy
and a remote switch (not shown).
With reference to Fig. 2, a conventional drain stopper
32 includes a cover 34 which is adapted to engage and extend
over drain opening 18 when in its lowered position (Fig. 3).
Stopper 32 conve:ritionally has a stem 36 extending vertically
downwardly therefrom through hole 38 (Fig. 1) in bar 40 which
extends horizontally across the drain closure fitting 16.
Linkage 42 has one end secured to the movable element 26
of motor 24 (Figs. 1 and 5) with the other end pivotally
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connected to upstanding lever 44. The lower end of lever 44
is rigidly affixed to an outer end of crankshaft 46 which
extends horizontally through bearing 48 in elbow 14 into the
interior of the elbow, and below the drain opening 18. A
linkage arm 50 is rigidly secured to the inner end of
crankshaft 46 and. is adapted to move between a lower position
(Fig. 3) to an upper position (Fig. 2) when the movable
element 26 moves outwardly and inwardly, respectively, with
respect to the motor 24.
In operation, when the motor 24 is not electrically
energized by the remote switch, the movable element 26 of
motor 24 will be in an extended position wherein the linkage
will cause the lc=ver 44 to be in its tilted position as shown
in Fig. 3 wherein the linkage arm 50 on the inner end of
crankshaft 46 wi:Ll cause the linkage arm 50 to be in the
position of Fig. 3.
When the opc=_rator desires to lift the drain stopper 32
to an open or elevated position of Fig. 2, the motor 24 is
energized to cause the movable element 26 to retract, which
will move the linkage arm 50 to the upper position shown in
Fig. 2. When in this position, the linkage arm 50 engages
the lower end of stem 36 and pushes the stem upwardly through
the hole 38 in bar 40, thus lifting the drain stopper 32 from
out of engagemeni~, with the drain closure fitting 16. In that
condition, the water in the tub will move into the elbow 14
and thence through the pipe portion 12 to the conventional
drainage system.
It is there:Eore seen that this invention can be easily
installed, easily and efficiently operated, and is comprised
of a relatively :few parts wherein it is inexpensive to
manufacture. Thus, this invention will achieve at least all
of its stated objectives.
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