Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
FLUID OVERFLOW RELIEF SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system and apparatus for relieving fluid,
preferably water, overflow
conditions in bathtubs.
3.0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water overflow prevention devices are universally used in bath tubs to prevent
the overflow of
water in the event the tub supply tap is left open while filling the bath.
Without such a device,
the tub would overflow resulting in potentially extensive and costly water
damage to the area
surrounding the tub.
Currently-used overflow systems typically comprise multiple pieces of pipe and
fittings that
connect an overflow intake with the tub drain. The pipe and fittings are
typically connected
together using material-appropriate glue or threaded hardware to produce the
overflow system.
In practice, the tub is installed during construction and the supply and drain
lines are attached
and tested for leaks. Afterwards, the various pipes and fittings are installed
in place to produce
the overflow system. However, by having the overflow system installed in this
fashion, manual
manipulation of the overflow pieces is required by the plumber and the
multiple fittings
introduces potential leak (failure) points as well as increasing installation
costs.
Canadian patent application 2,248,822 teaches a bath tub water overflow system
using a c-
shaped trough that can be affixed to a bath tub to join an overflow inlet with
a tub drain.
Canadian patent 2,109,081 teaches sink basin having a water overflow device
comprising an
integrated, multi-channeled conduit.
Canadian patent 2,171,383 teaches a bath tub water overflow system using a c-
shaped trough
joining the overflow inlet to the tub drain and adaptable to the shape of the
tub wall and base.
Canadian patent 2,358,171 teaches removable bath tub system that can be
installed in a shower
to convert the shower to a bathtub and which possesses an overflow orifice
connected to the tub
drain via a channel.
- 1 -
CA 2837391 2020-01-08
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
Canadian patent 2,480,298 teaches a bath tub overflow assembly comprising
multiple pieces that
are assembled and attached after bath tub installation.
There remains a need for a bath tub overflow system that is efficient, durable
and easy to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an overflow relief system for a bathtub. The
bathtub has a drain
opening and an overflow opening on a sidewall thereof. The system comprises a
unitary conduit
integrally formed to the bathtub and which connects to both the overflow
opening and the drain
opening. The conduit delivers water from the overflow opening to a drainpipe.
Similarly water
flows from the drain opening to the drainpipe. Preferably, both the tub and
the conduit are coated
by a protective coating.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an overflow
relief system
comprising a tub having a base and a sidewall, the tub defining a drain
opening formed in the
base and an overflow opening formed in the sidewall; an adapter having a first
end attached to
the drain opening for receiving fluid from the drain opening and a second end
remote from the
first end for connection to a drain pipe, the adapter defining an adapter body
between the first
end and the second end of the adapter, the adapter body defining a hollow
interior surrounded by
a sidewall, the sidewall of the adapter defining an adapter body opening; a
unitary conduit
integrally formed to the tub, the conduit having a first open end connected to
the overflow
opening and a second open end connected to the adapter body opening, the
conduit defining a
fluid passageway from the overflow opening to the adapter; and wherein the
adapter forms a
passageway for fluid to flow from the drain opening to the drain pipe and for
fluid to flow from
the second end of the conduit to the drainpipe.
In another embodiment, the conduit can be fabricated from a single piece of
material. In another
embodiment, the conduit can comprise multiple pieces.
In another embodiment, there is provided a bath tub overflow relief system
comprising a bath tub
having a fiberglass base and a fiberglass side wall, the bath tub defining an
drain opening in the
base and an overflow opening formed in the sidewall, an adapter having a
gasketed first end
attached to the drain opening for receiving fluid from the drain opening and a
threaded second
end remote from the first end for connection to a drain pipe, the adapter
defining an adapter body
- 2 -
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
between the first end and the second end of the adapter, the adapter body
defming an adapter
body opening; an elbow shaped unitary conduit having a flattened oval shaped
cross-section
integrally formed to the tub side wall, the conduit having a gasketed first
open end connected to
the overflow opening and a second end integrally connected to the adapter body
opening, the
conduit defining a fluid passageway from the overflow opening to the adapter,
wherein the
adapter forms a passageway for fluid to flow from the drain opening to the
drain pipe and for
fluid to flow from the second end of the conduit to the drain pipe.
In yet another embodiment, there is provided a bath tub overflow relief system
comprising a bath
tub having a fiberglass base and a fiberglass side wall, the bath tub defining
an drain opening in
the base and a generally rectangular overflow opening formed on the sidewall,
an adapter having
a gasketed first end attached to the drain opening for receiving fluid from
the drain opening and a
second end remote from the first end for connection to a drain pipe, the
adapter defining an
adapter body between the first end and the second end of the adapter, the
adapter body defining
an adapter body opening, an elbow shaped conduit formed from a linear conduit
piece and at
least two elbow shaped fittings and having a flattened oval shaped cross-
section integrally
formed to the tub side wall, the conduit having a gasketed first open end
connected to the
overflow opening and a second end integrally connected to the adapter body
opening, the conduit
defining a fluid passageway from the overflow opening to the adapter, and
wherein the adapter
forms a passageway for fluid to flow from the drain opening to the drain pipe
and for fluid to
flow from the second end of the conduit to the drain pipe.
Further and other embodiments will become apparent to the skilled person.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the overflow relief system of
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view of the overflow relief system of the
present invention;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary top view of the overflow relief system of the
present invention;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the overflow relief system of the
present invention;
- 3 -
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
Figure 5 is a cross-section side view of an alternate embodiment of the
overflow relief system of
the present invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system of
the present
invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system of
the present
invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system of
the present
invention;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system of
the present
invention;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a gasket component of the overflow relief
system of the
present invention;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
- 4 -
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
Figure 17 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention;
Figure 19 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention; and
Figure 20 is a perspective view of a component of the overflow relief system
of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the present invention provides fluid
overflow relief system
1 for a tub. The fluid is preferably water. The fluid overflow relief system 1
comprises a tub 10
having base 12 and a sidewall 14. The tub defines a drain opening 13 formed in
the tub base 12
and an overflow opening 15 formed in the tub sidewall 14. The tub 10 is
preferably a bath tub
commonly found in residential bathrooms. The tub can be made of materials
known in the art.
Preferably the tub is constructed from fiberglass.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, an adapter 20 has an adapter first end 22
attached to the drain
opening 13 and an adapter second end 24 for attachment to a drain pipe (not
shown). In a
preferred embodiment, the adapter second end 24 is threaded. The adapter 20
includes an
adapter body sidewall 26. The adapter 20 defines a hollow interior 52
surrounded by the adapter
body sidewall 26. The adapter 20 further defines an adapter body opening 28
formed in the
sidewall 26. In a preferred embodiment, an adapter first end gasket 21 is
located between the
adapter first end 22 and the drain opening 13 to provide a watertight seal
between the adapter
first end 22 and the drain opening 13.
In an alternate embodiment, the second end of the adapter can be used to
connect the adapter to a
roughed in drain pipe for fluidly connecting the drain opening to the drain
pipe. Preferably, the
second end of the adapter can be adapted to fit a drain pipe having a size
commonly used in the
art. In this alternate embodiment, more preferably the second end the adapter
comprises a
threaded end to connect to a drain pipe using a threaded connector. In other
embodiments, the
- 5 -
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
drain opening is fitted with a strainer. In a certain embodiment the overflow
opening is fitted
with an overflow plate.
In another embodiment, the adapter first end gasket 21 exists proximate the
adapter first end 22
to ensure a watertight seal with the drain opcning.
With reference to Figures 1 and 4, a unitary conduit 30 has a first open end
32 attached to the
overflow opening 15 in the tub sidewall 14 and a second open end 34 attached
to the adapter
body opening 28, providing a fluid passageway between the overflow opening 15
and the adapter
20. The unitary conduit 30 is integrally formed to the tub 10. In a preferred
embodiment, the
conduit second end 34 and the adapter body opening 28 are integrally formed.
This provides for
a watertight connection between the adapter and the conduit and increases the
strength and
rigidity of the overflow relief system. In another embodiment, a first open
end gasket 31 is
located between the first open end 32 and the overflow opening 15 to provide a
watertight seal
between the first open end 32 and the overflow opening 15. Preferably the
conduit 30 has a
conduit elbow 35 to allow the conduit 30 to follow the contour of the tub
sidewall 14 and tub
base 12. Preferably the conduit elbow 35 is corrugated. Preferably, the
conduit 30 has a
generally flattened oval cross-section.
With reference to Figure 4, in an alternate embodiment, the unitary conduit 30
can be
substantially elbow shaped which allows the conduit 30 to follow the contour
of the tub base 12
and sidewall 14. In this context, the term "substantially elbow shaped" means
L-shaped wherein
the angle between the two arms of the L is greater than about 90 . The elbow
can be corrugated
to impart further strength to the conduit 30.
With reference to Figures 5 to 12, in another alternate embodiment, the
unitary conduit 30 can
comprise an additional fitting member. The fitting member can be any one of
the fitting
members 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E or 33F, shown in Figures 6 to 11,
respectively, with fitting
39 as shown in Figure 12 to achieve the substantially elbow shape. Preferably
these fittings are
connected using glue or adhesive.
In another embodiment, the conduit 30 can have a substantially oval cross-
section. In this
context, the term "substantially oval cross-section" means the shape is oval
or elliptical and not
circular. The conduit can be made from a polymer, preferably a polymer
commonly used in the
art.
- 6 -
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
To further enhance the strength and durability of the water overflow relief
system of the present
invention, the unitary conduit 30 and the bathtub 10 are preferably coated
with a coating 40.
Preferably the coating is a fiberglass resin coating. More preferably the
coating is continuous
over the conduit and tub sidewall. The coating adds strength and durability to
the overflow
system.
With reference to Figures 5, 6, 14, 15 and 20, in an alternate embodiment, the
first open end 32
has a rectangular attachment 36 as shown in Figure 14 and a rectangular frame
36A as shown in
Figure 20 attached to the rectangular overflow opening 16 in the tub sidewall
14. A decorative
rectangular cap 37 as shown in Figure 15 covers the rectangular overflow
opening 16. The
conduit 30 has a second open end 38 attached to fittings 33A and 39 and the
adapter body
opening 28, providing a fluid passageway between the overflow opening 16 and
the adapter 20.
The conduit 30 is integrally formed to the tub 10. In another embodiment, the
conduit second
end 38, fittings 33A and 39 and the adapter body opening 28 are connected with
adhesive. This
provides for a watertight connection between the adapter 20 and the conduit
and increases the
strength and rigidity of the overflow relief system. In another preferred
embodiment, a first open
end gasket 31 is located between the first open end 32 and the overflow
opening 16 to provide a
watertight seal between the first open end 32 and the overflow opening 16.
Preferably, the
conduit 30 and fittings 33A and 39 have a generally flattened oval cross-
section.
With reference to Figure 17 a metal strainer 44 is positioned in the drain
opening 13 to prevent
excess hair, objects or the like from entering the adapter 20.
In operation, the drain opening 13 is stoppered by a plug to allow water to
enter and fill the tub
10. Once the water level reaches the overflow opening 15, water begins flowing
into the
overflow opening. Water then enters the conduit 30 through the first open end
32. The water
travels the length of the unitary conduit 30 to the second end 34 of the
conduit 30. Since the
second end of 34 of the conduit 30 is connected to the adapter body opening
28, water flows
through the adapter body opening 28 and into the hollow interior of the
adapter 20. The water
continues to flow through the adapter to the second end 24 of the adapter. The
water then flows
into the connected drainpipe.
In operation of an alternate embodiment, the drain opening 13 is stoppered by
a plug to allow
water to enter and fill the tub. Once the water level reaches the rectangular
overflow opening 16,
water begins flowing into the overflow opening. Water then enters the conduit
30 through the
- 7 -
CA 02837391 2013-12-19
first open end 32. The water travels the length of the conduit 30 to the
conduit second open end
38, through fittings 33A and 39 to the adaptor body opening 28. Water then
flows through the
adapter body opening 28 and into the hollow interior 52 of the adapter 20. The
water continues
to flow through the adapter to the second end 24 of the adapter. The water
then flows into the
connected drainpipe.
Removal of the plug from the drain opening 13 allows water to flow through the
drain opening
13. Water then flows from the drain opening into the hollow interior of the
adapter 20. The
water continues to flow through the adapter to the second end 24 of the
adapter. The water then
flows into the connected drainpipe. Where water is contemporaneously flowing
from the
overflow opening 15 or the rectangular overflow opening 16 through the conduit
30, water from
the drain opening 13 and from the overflow opening 15 or the rectangular
overflow opening 16
will mix in the hollow interior 52 of the adapter 20. Through this operation,
the water in tub 10
does not overflow the tub and cause water damage to the area surrounding the
tub.
The construction of the system as a unitary apparatus comprising a bathtub and
an overflow
relief conduit provides an efficient system. The fiberglass protective layer
covering the bathtub
and the conduit helps to avoid damage to the system during transport.
The scope of the claims should not be limited to by the preferred embodiments
set forth in the
examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a
whole.
- 8 -
