Wastewater drain stopper system

• US 10,233,622 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ball, William T., Pilarczyk, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Loeppke, Janie
• Application Number:
  US15/171,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20160356028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/2302 the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via rigid elements
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/262 combined with outlet stoppers

Abstract

A wastewater drain assembly is provided that includes a selectively openable drain stopper. The wastewater drain assembly is interconnected to a fluid basin wherein a flange, which is interconnected to wastewater plumbing, is situated within the sink. The flange receives an insert that has a portion that conceals the flange.

Claims

1. A wastewater drain system, comprising:

a ball rod;

a body having a first end and a second end adapted for interconnection to a wastewater drain pipe, the body having an opening for receipt of the ball rod and a seat positioned within the body;

a flange interconnected to the first end of the body;

a shoulder positioned within the body and proximate the first end;

at least one groove defined in the body, wherein the at least one groove extends axially in a direction from the first end towards the shoulder;

a nut adapted to be abutted against an exterior of a fluid receptacle, wherein the flange is abutted against an interior of the fluid receptacle, and wherein the body is secured to the fluid receptacle by the flange and the nut;

a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is operatively interconnected to an end of the ball rod and the proximal end includes a stopper;

an insert selectively interconnectable to the first end of the body, the insert comprising an insert flange and an annular insert wall extending therefrom, wherein the insert wall has an annular lower surface that is configured to engage with the shoulder when the insert is interconnected to the body; and

wherein the ball rod is configured to actuate the stem between a first position that engages the stopper against the seat preventing fluid flow through the body, and a second position that separates the stopper from the seat allowing fluid flow through the body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the body is threaded and the flange is threadingly interconnected to the body.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert includes an upper surface comprised of a strainer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert flange comprises a lip around a periphery of the insert flange, the insert flange adapted for engagement with the flange, and wherein the insert wall comprises an outer surface of an outer diameter extending downwardly from the insert flange, the outer surface being spaced from an inner diameter of the flange.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert wall is interconnected to an inner surface of at least one of the flange and the body with a seal member.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the seal member is an o-ring.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the seal member has a proximal end and a distal end made of a resilient material, the seal member also having a tapered surface at the distal end, the seal member extending along an outer surface of the insert wall from the insert flange to a lower portion of the insert wall, the seal member having a portion between the proximal end and the distal end and above the tapered surface that is adapted to contact the inner surface of at least one of the flange and the body, the seal member when installed does not contact at least one of the flange and the body at the proximal end and the distal end of the seal member.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the seal member further comprises a tapered surface at the proximal end.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the insert wall is devoid of grooves or threads, and wherein the seal member has a cylindrical inner surface that resiliently grips the insert wall.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the insert flange includes a lip that is adapted to cover a portion of an outer edge of the flange.

11. A wastewater drain system interconnected to a sink drain port, comprising:

a body having a first, threaded end and a second end adapted for interconnection to a wastewater drain pipe, the body having an opening for receipt of a ball rod and a shoulder positioned within the body and proximate the first end, wherein the first end of the body comprises at least one groove defined therein, and wherein the at least one groove extends axially in a direction from the first end towards the shoulder;

a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is operatively interconnected to an end of the ball rod and the proximal end includes a stopper; and

an insert associated with the drain port and selectively interconnectable to the body, the insert comprising an insert flange and an annular insert wall extending therefrom, wherein the insert wall has an annular lower surface that is configured to engage with the shoulder when the insert is interconnected to the body.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the insert includes an upper surface comprised of a strainer.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the insert flange comprises a lip around a periphery of the insert flange, the insert flange adapted for engagement with a portion of the body, and wherein the insert wall comprises an outer surface of an outer diameter extending downwardly from the insert flange, the outer surface being spaced from an inner diameter of the body.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the insert wall is interconnected to an inner surface of the body with a seal member.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the seal member is an o-ring.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the seal member has a proximal end and a distal end made of a resilient material, the seal member also having a tapered surface at the distal end, the seal member extending along an outer surface of the insert wall from the insert flange to a lower portion of the insert wall, the seal member having a portion between the proximal end and the distal end and above the tapered surface that is adapted to contact the inner surface of the body, the seal member when installed does not contact the body at the proximal end and the distal end of the seal member.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the seal member further comprises a tapered surface at the proximal end.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the insert wall is devoid of grooves or threads, and wherein the seal member has a cylindrical inner surface that resiliently grips the insert wall.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the insert flange includes a lip that is adapted to cover a portion of an outer edge of a flange of the body.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the body comprises a boss that at least partially defines the opening that receives the ball rod, and wherein the boss is recessed within the body such that an outer surface of the boss is aligned with or below an outer diameter of the body.