Floor drain assembly and method

• US 10,184,238 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oatey Company (CRWS, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oatey Company (CRWS, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hull, Eric G
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughan, Jason L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meneghini, Amanda J
• Application Number:
  US15/226,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20160340886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/00 Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2005/0412 with means for adjusting their position with respect to the surrounding surface
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2005/0413 for height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2005/0414 for inclination adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/0407 Floor drains for indoor use
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/0409 Devices for preventing seepage around the floor drain
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/041 Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly for providing a drain in a floor. The drain assembly includes a drain conduit, a strainer and an adaptor. The drain conduit has an inner, surface that defines a fluid flow path, and an outer surface. The strainer is disposed above the drain conduit and has openings in fluid communication with the fluid flow path of the drain conduit. The adaptor may be securable in the drain conduit and may be connected to the strainer. Prior to securing the adaptor in the drain conduit, a position of the adaptor in the drain conduit may be moveable to allow a top surface of the strainer to be substantially aligned with the floor. A method of assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of installing a drain in a floor comprising the steps of:

pouring a hardenable substratum around a conduit, the conduit having an inner surface that defines a fluid flow path and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;

installing a floor substrate above the substratum such that an opening in the floor substrate provides access to the inner surface of the drain conduit;

inserting an adaptor into the drain conduit, the adaptor being connected to a strainer at a top portion of the adaptor; and

adjusting a position of the adaptor in the drain conduit to substantially align the strainer with a top surface of the floor substrate, wherein the adjusting step occurs after the substratum hardens into a hardened substratum.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the substratum partially defines the top surface of the floor.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of connecting the strainer to the adaptor, wherein the connecting step is performed prior to the inserting step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the inserting step is performed prior to the adjusting step.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising attaching a removable body to the strainer, wherein the attaching step is performed prior to the inserting step.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising, after the attaching step, abutting an end portion of the removable body against a top surface of the floor substrate, wherein the end portion of the removable body extends radially outwardly beyond an edge of the strainer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the abutting step is performed simultaneously with the adjusting step.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive to the adaptor prior to the inserting step.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of positionally fixing the adaptor relative to the conduit, such that after the adaptor is positionally fixed, the strainer is aligned with the top surface of the floor substrate.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the pouring step, hardening the hardenable substratum to form the hardened substratum, wherein the hardenable substratum is cement or concrete.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive to the adaptor prior to the inserting step.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of positionally fixing the adaptor relative to the conduit, such that after the adaptor is positionally fixed, the strainer is aligned with the top surface of the floor substrate.