Device for providing improved drainage

• US 10,443,220 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ball, William T., Pilarczyk, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Loeppke, Janie M
• Application Number:
  US15/675,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20180044899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/232 combined with overflow devices overflow devices for basins or baths per se E03C1/24
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/244 Separate devices to be placed on the outlet opening

Abstract

An overflow assembly for a bathtub includes an elbow having a first threaded section and a retainer nut having a second corresponding threaded section. The retainer nut is configured to threadably mount onto the elbow. The overflow assembly further includes an overflow cover including at least one overflow opening and at least one vent opening defined therein. The overflow cover is configured to engage with the retainer nut and substantially cover the first threaded section and the retainer nut.

Claims

1. An overflow assembly for a bathtub comprising:

an elbow comprising a first threaded section;

a retainer nut comprising a second corresponding threaded section, wherein the retainer nut is configured to threadably mount onto the elbow; and

an overflow cover comprising;

a face;

an exterior wall extending from the face, wherein an end of the exterior wall opposite of the face defines a mounting surface;

at least one overflow opening defined at least partially by the exterior wall; and

at least one vent opening comprising a recess formed on the mounting surface and extending towards the face, wherein when the overflow assembly is coupled to the bathtub, the first threaded section extends through a wall of the bathtub and received by the retainer nut positioned adjacent to the wall, and wherein when the overflow cover is engaged with the retainer nut, at least a portion of the first threaded section and the retainer nut are disposed within the overflow cover, and the mounting surface is positioned at least partially against the bathtub so that the at least vent opening is formed between the bathtub and the overflow cover.

2. The overflow assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one vent opening is configured to equalize air pressure inside the elbow with air pressure outside of the overflow assembly and increase a flow rate of a liquid through the at least one overflow opening.

3. The overflow assembly of claim 1,

wherein the exterior wall is sized and shaped to receive the retainer nut.

4. The overflow assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one vent opening is at least partially defined by the exterior wall.

5. The overflow assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one vent opening is only partially defined by the mounting surface.

6. The overflow assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one overflow opening is completely defined by the exterior wall.

7. The overflow assembly of claim 3, wherein the retainer nut further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially extending lugs, wherein the exterior wall has a projection configured to frictionally engage with the plurality of lugs, and wherein the at least one vent opening has a length greater than a length of a lug of the plurality of lugs.

8. The overflow assembly of claim 1, wherein the overflow cover comprises an interior surface having at least one surface feature configured to increase a flow rate of a liquid through the overflow assembly.

9. An overflow assembly for a bathtub comprising:

an elbow;

a retainer nut;

a bracket configured to secure the retainer nut to the elbow; and

an overflow cover comprising;

a face;

an exterior wall extending from the face, wherein an end of the exterior wall opposite of the face defines a mounting surface;

at least one overflow opening defined at least partially by the exterior wall; and

at least one vent opening defined therein comprising a recess formed on the mounting surface and extending towards the face, wherein the overflow cover is configured to engage with the retainer nut and substantially cover the bracket and the retainer nut.

10. An overflow cover comprising:

a face;

an exterior wall extending from the face, wherein the exterior wall is sized and shaped to receive and engage a retainer nut of an overflow assembly, wherein an end of the exterior wall defines a mounting surface that is configured to be positioned against a bathtub when the overflow cover is mounted over an overflow port, and wherein at least one overflow opening is at least partially defined by the exterior wall and at least one vent opening comprises a recess formed on the mounting surface and extending towards the face;

a horizontal centerline dividing the overflow cover between an upper half and a lower half; and

a vertical centerline extending substantially orthogonal to the horizontal centerline and dividing the overflow cover between a right half and a left half, wherein the at least one overflow opening is positioned on the exterior wall opposite of the at least one vent opening relative to the horizontal centerline, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one overflow opening and at least a portion of the at least one vent opening are positioned along the vertical centerline.

11. The overflow cover of claim 10, wherein the at least one vent opening is only partially defined by the mounting surface.

12. The overflow cover of claim 11, wherein the exterior wall comprises an interior surface having a projection extending therefrom, the projection is offset from the mounting surface and configured to frictionally engage a retainer nut, and wherein the at least one vent opening extends from the mounting surface to a depth that is less than or equal to the offset distance.

13. The overflow cover of claim 10, wherein the at least one overflow opening is completely defined by the exterior wall.

14. The overflow cover of claim 13, wherein the exterior wall comprises an interior surface having a projection extending therefrom, the projection is offset a distance from the mounting surface and configured to frictionally engage a retainer nut, and wherein the at least one overflow opening is positioned between the projection and the face.

15. The overflow cover of claim 10, wherein the face comprises an interior surface having at least one surface feature configured to increase a flow rate of a liquid through the overflow assembly.

16. The overflow cover of claim 15, wherein the at least one surface feature comprises at least one fin extending from the interior surface.

17. The overflow cover of claim 15, wherein the at least one surface features comprises a textured surface.

18. The overflow cover of claim 10, wherein the exterior wall defines a length, and wherein the at least one overflow opening is offset along the length from the at least one vent opening.

19. The overflow cover of claim 10, wherein the at least one vent opening is disposed substantially opposite the at least one overflow opening.