Overflow cover interconnection system

• US 10,563,385 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2016
• 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:
  US15/597,691
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 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 1/24 Overflow devices for basins or baths E03C1/232 takes precedence

Abstract

An overflow cover interconnection system utilizes an overflow elbow with an upper portion for insertion through an overflow drain hole in a bathtub wall; a nut, ring, or other component that fits on or around the upper portion to secure the overflow elbow in position; and an overflow cap that shields the upper portion and nut, ring, or other component from view of a user of the bathtub. The system is configured for use with bathtubs having varying wall thicknesses, without necessitating any modifications thereof.

Claims

1. An overflow cover system comprising:

an overflow elbow comprising an interior passageway and a substantially cylindrical upper portion defining an inlet to the interior passageway, wherein the inlet comprises an inner surface, and wherein the inlet is free from cross-beams or protrusions that accommodate screw holes; and

an overflow cap comprising a front wall, a substantially cylindrical sidewall, one or more tabs extending into a volume defined by both the sidewall and the front wall, and a rear opening defined by the sidewall and adapted to receive at least a section of the upper portion, wherein when the overflow elbow is received within the overflow cap, at least a portion of the one or more tabs deflect inwardly and in a direction away from the sidewall to engage with at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper portion.

2. The overflow cover system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more tabs deflecting inwardly comprises compression of the at least a portion of the one or more tabs to engage with the at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper portion.

3. An overflow cover system comprising:

an overflow elbow comprising a substantially cylindrical portion, the substantially cylindrical portion having a wall and an inner surface extending from the wall, wherein the inner surface at least partially defines an internal passageway extending through the overflow elbow;

an overflow cap comprising a front wall having an inside face and a substantially cylindrical sidewall extending from the inside face; and

a connection member extending from the inside face of the front wall and spaced apart from the sidewall, wherein when the overflow cap is coupled to the overflow elbow, the connection member extends past the wall of the substantially cylindrical portion and directly engages with the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical portion.

4. The overflow cover system of claim 3, further comprising a receiving member formed on the inner surface of the overflow elbow, wherein when the overflow cap is coupled to the overflow elbow, the connection member engages with the receiving member.

5. The overflow cover system of claim 4, wherein when the connection member engages with the receiving member, the overflow cap is rotatable relative to the overflow elbow.

6. The overflow cover system of claim 3, wherein at least one aperture is defined within the overflow cap such that when the overflow cap is coupled to the overflow elbow fluid is flowable through the overflow cap and into the internal passageway.

7. The overflow cover system of claim 6, wherein the at least one aperture is defined at least partially within the sidewall.

8. The overflow cover system of claim 3, wherein the substantially cylindrical portion comprises a threaded outer surface, and the system further comprises a nut having internal threads, wherein when the nut is coupled to the overflow elbow, the nut threadingly engages with the substantially cylindrical portion.

9. The overflow cover system of claim 8, wherein the nut comprises an outer edge having alternating flats and peaks.

10. The overflow cover system of claim 3, further comprising an O-ring disposed between the connection member and the overflow elbow, when the overflow cap is coupled to the overflow elbow.

11. The overflow cover system of claim 10, wherein the O-ring is coupled to the inner surface of the overflow elbow.

12. The overflow cover system of claim 3, wherein the connection member comprises a cylindrical wall.

13. The overflow cover system of claim 12, wherein the cylindrical wall comprises one or more openings.

14. The overflow cover system of claim 3, further comprising an annular washer.

15. An overflow cover system comprising:

an overflow elbow comprising a flange and a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the flange, wherein the substantially cylindrical portion comprises an inlet and an inner surface extending from the inlet to at least the flange, wherein the inner surface has a first diameter, and wherein the inner surface at least partially defines an internal passageway extending through the overflow elbow; and

an overflow cap comprising a front wall, a substantially cylindrical outer sidewall extending from an edge of the front wall, and one or more inner sidewalls extending from the front wall and offset from the outer sidewall, wherein the one or more inner sidewalls are circumferentially spaced on the front wall, wherein the spacing defines a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter so that the one or more inner sidewalls can fit within the substantially cylindrical portion, and wherein when the overflow cap is coupled to the overflow elbow, the one or more inner sidewalls extend at least partially within the internal passageway and at least a portion of the one or more inner sidewalls directly engage with at least a portion of the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical portion.

16. The overflow cover system of claim 15, wherein at least one inner rib is defined on the inner surface of the overflow elbow, wherein when the overflow cap is coupled to the overflow elbow, at least a portion of the one or more inner sidewalls engage with at least a portion of the at least one inner rib.

17. The overflow cover system of claim 16, wherein the at least one inner rib extends substantially circumferentially along the inner surface of the overflow elbow.

18. The overflow cover system of claim 16, wherein the at least one inner rib is defined within the inner surface.

19. The overflow cover system of claim 15, wherein the one or more inner sidewalls are deflectable.