Vehicle floor drain

• US 10,549,790 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Marchlewski, Jack, Reiners, Robert, Wagner, Darrin Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US15/964,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20190329828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 296 9723, 29619307
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/04 of floor mats or carpets
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/07 Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, B60J10/25 take precedence; integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/20 Floors or bottom sub-units sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/24 Superstructure sub-units with access or drainage openings having movable or removable closures; Sealing means thereforinlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05

Abstract

A vehicle flooring system including a floor. A flooring component is positioned above the floor to define a gap. A drain assembly is coupled with the flooring component which includes a plug having a one-way valve and defining a plug opening. A drain defines a drain aperture to accept the plug. The drain defines a drain opening in alignment with the gap.

Claims

1. A vehicle flooring system, comprising:

a floor;

a flooring component positioned above the floor to define a gap; and

a drain assembly coupled with the flooring component comprising;

a plug comprising a one-way valve and defining a plug opening; and

a drain defining a drain aperture to accept the plug, wherein the drain defines a drain opening in alignment with the gap.

2. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1, wherein the plug is configured to couple with the drain such that the plug opening and the drain opening are in alignment with the gap when the drain assembly is in a closed position.

3. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1, wherein the drain defines a drain shed lip positioned above the drain opening.

4. The vehicle flooring system of claim 3, wherein the plug is configured to couple with the drain such that the plug opening is in alignment with the drain shed lip when the drain assembly is in an intermediate position.

5. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1, wherein the plug defines a plurality of plug openings positioned in a radially spaced apart configuration around the plug.

6. The vehicle flooring system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of drain openings are positioned above the one-way valve.

7. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1, wherein the drain defines a plurality of drain openings positioned in a radially spaced apart configuration around the drain.

8. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1, wherein the flooring component defines an aperture to couple the drain assembly.

9. The vehicle flooring assembly of claim 8, wherein the flooring component defines a recess around the aperture to which the drain couples.

10. The vehicle flooring assembly of claim 9, wherein the drain is positioned within the recess.

11. The vehicle flooring assembly of claim 1, wherein the drain extends through a floor opening defined in the floor.

12. The vehicle flooring assembly of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the plug is substantially planar with an exterior surface of the flooring component.

13. A vehicle flooring system, comprising:

a flooring component positioned above a floor to define a gap; and

a drain assembly, comprising;

a plug comprising a plug opening; and

a drain coupled to the floor and configured to accept the plug and defining a drain opening in alignment with the gap, wherein the plug is operable between a closed position where the plug opening and drain opening are aligned and an intermediate position where the plug opening and drain opening are not aligned.

14. The vehicle flooring system of claim 13, wherein the plug comprises a one-way valve positioned below the plug opening.

15. The vehicle flooring system of claim 13, wherein the drain defines a drain shed lip configured to engage the plug.

16. A vehicle flooring system, comprising:

a flooring component positioned above a floor to define a gap; and

a drain assembly coupled with the flooring component comprising;

a drain defining a drain aperture, wherein the drain defines a drain opening in alignment with the gap; and

a plug threadably engaged within the aperture of the drain comprising a one-way valve and defining a plug opening in alignment with the gap and the drain opening.

17. The vehicle flooring system of claim 16, wherein the drain defines a drain shed lip extending around a circumference of the aperture.

18. The vehicle flooring system of claim 16, wherein the plug comprises a one-way valve substantially planar with a bottom of the drain.

19. The vehicle flooring system of claim 18, wherein the drain extends through the flooring component.

20. The vehicle flooring system of claim 19, further comprising:

a seal positioned around the drain at an interface between the drain and the floor.