Pop-Up Drain Assembly

• US 20110185494A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PF Waterworks LP
• Original Assignee: PF Waterworks LP
• Inventors: Ahuja, Sanjay, Beck, Harold Kent
• Granted Patent: US 9,745,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/689
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/23 with mechanical closure mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/2302 the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via rigid elements
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/2311 the actuation force being magnetic or electromagnetic

Abstract

A pop-up drain assembly for a sink has drain piping, a stopper in the drain piping, a pivot rod for opening and closing the stopper and tends not to clog because the pivot rod is not within a fluid flow path. In one embodiment the stopper has flow diverter plates that channel fluid flowing through the drain piping away from the pivot rod so that hair, waste and debris does not catch on and accumulate on the pivot rod. In another embodiment the stopper and the pivot rod are engaged through magnetic coupling, and the pivot rod does not protrude into the fluid flow path. The stopper is preferably variable in length for adjustment to fit different distances from the pivot rod to the top of the drain piping.

Claims

1. A pop-up drain assembly for a sink or basin having a drain opening, comprising:

piping for providing a fluid flow pathway from the sink or basin through the drain opening and through the piping;

a stopper for retaining fluid in the sink or basin, wherein the stopper is received in the piping while in operation and is moveable between an open position and a closed position; and

a pivot rod for moving the stopper between the open position and the closed position, wherein the pivot rod is in a generally horizontal position while in operation,

wherein the pivot rod is not in the fluid flow pathway while in operation, and while in operation,

wherein the pivot rod either protrudes inside the piping for moving the stopper and fluid flow is diverted around the pivot rod for preventing hair from catching on the pivot rod or the pivot rod does not protrude significantly inside the piping and is magnetically coupled to the stopper for moving the stopper.

2. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flow diverter fixed to the stopper for diverting flow away from the pivot rod while in operation.

3. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 2, wherein the flow diverter comprises two opposing plates that extend below the pivot rod while in operation.

4. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 3, wherein the flow diverter creates two fluid flow paths while in operation, one path being between one plate and an inside wall of the piping and another path being between the other plate and an inside wall of the piping, and wherein the pivot rod is between the two plates.

5. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 4, wherein the stopper has a central, longitudinal shaft, a cap on one end of the shaft and an open member on the other end for receiving the pivot rod, and wherein the two opposing plates are fixed to the shaft proximate to the cap.

6. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 4, wherein the stopper has a central, longitudinal shaft, a cap on one end of the shaft and an open member on the other end for receiving the pivot rod, and wherein the two opposing plates are fixed to the shaft proximate to the open member.

7. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper has a central, longitudinal shaft, further comprising a flow diverter fixed to the shaft for diverting flow away from the pivot rod while in operation, wherein the flow diverter comprises two opposing rigid, flexible and/or resilient plates that extend toward, to or past the pivot rod while in operation, wherein the plates are generally rectangular with opposing longitudinal edges, wherein at least a portion of the longitudinal edges is adjacent to the inside wall of the piping for forming a flow channel between each plate and the inside wall of the piping.

8. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 7, wherein a transverse cross-section of the shaft of the stopper has the general shape of a circular central portion with at least two opposing fins extending radially outwardly, and wherein each plate has a notch through which one of the fins extends.

9. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 8, wherein each plate has a fixed end that is fixed to the shaft and an opposing free end.

10. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flow diverter fixed to the stopper for diverting flow away from the pivot rod while in operation, wherein the stopper has a shaft and an open member attached to or integral with an end of the shaft for receiving the pivot rod, and wherein the open member is a solid ring through which the pivot rod may only be inserted or the open member is a cut ring through which the pivot rod may be inserted or which may be pressed onto the pivot rod.

11. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flow diverter fixed to the stopper for diverting flow away from the pivot rod while in operation, wherein the stopper has a shaft and an open member attached to or integral with an end of the shaft for receiving the pivot rod, wherein the open member has a slot in its longitudinal axis for receiving the pivot rod, and wherein the slot is long enough to accommodate more than one distance between the pivot rod and the drain opening in the sink or basin.

12. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 11, wherein the open member has a longitudinal slot that provides an opening for receiving the pivot rod in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the open member, and wherein the slot is defined to appear as a circle attached to another circle by a line.

13. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 12, wherein the pivot rod has a pair of opposing longitudinal fins, wherein the pivot rod may be received in the open member such that the fins on the pivot rod are received within a circle in the slot in the open member.

14. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 11, wherein the open member comprises two opposing prongs spaced apart, wherein the slot is defined between the two prongs, and wherein each prong has an elastomeric material that extends into the slot for engaging the pivot rod in a friction fit.

15. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a longitudinal shaft, a cap on one end of the shaft and a pivot-rod-receiving element, wherein the pivot-rod-receiving element has more than one opening for providing different distances between the pivot rod and the cap while in operation.

16. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 15, further comprising a flow diverter fixed to the stopper for diverting flow away from the pivot rod while in operation, wherein the flow diverter comprises two opposing plates that extend below the pivot rod while in operation.

17. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 16, wherein the stopper can be engaged with and disengaged from the pivot rod while the pivot rod is sealingly connected to the piping.

18. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot rod does not protrude significantly inside the piping, wherein the pivot rod is magnetically coupled to the stopper for moving the stopper, wherein the stopper comprises a magnet or magnetic material, wherein the pivot rod comprises a magnet or magnetic material, and wherein at least one of the stopper and the pivot rod comprises a magnet.

19. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 18, wherein the stopper comprises a shaft, a cap on one end of the shaft for providing a seal to prevent fluid from flowing into the piping while in operation, and a magnet (or magnetic material) mounted to the shaft on the opposing end.

20. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 18, wherein the stopper comprises a shaft, a cap on one end of the shaft for providing a seal to prevent fluid from flowing into the piping while in operation, and an extension fastened to or formed integral with the shaft on the opposing end, and wherein two or more magnets (or magnetic material) are fixed to the extension for providing two or more distances between the cap and the pivot rod.

21. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 18, wherein the stopper comprises a shaft, a cap on one end of the shaft for providing a seal to prevent fluid from flowing into the piping while in operation, and an extension fastened to or formed integral with the shaft on the opposing end, wherein a magnet (or magnetic material) having a length is fixed to the extension for accommodating more than one distance between the cap and the pivot rod.

22. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a hollow tube having an outer wall, and wherein a magnet (or magnetic material) is fixed to and/or embedded in the outer wall for magnetically coupling with the pivot rod.

23. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 22, wherein two or more magnets (or magnetic material) are fixed to and/or embedded in the outer wall for magnetically coupling with the pivot rod, and wherein the two or more magnets (or magnetic material) are spaced apart longitudinally.

24. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a magnetic material, and wherein the pivot rod comprises a magnet for moving the stopper between the open position and the closed position.

25. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 24, wherein the stopper comprises an elongated hollow tube having a cap on one end.

26. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a cap on an upper end while installed and an opposing lower end, wherein an extension plate having a longitudinal axis protrudes from the lower end, wherein the longitudinal axis of the extension plate is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and wherein the extension plate has one or more magnets or is comprised of a magnetic material.

27. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 26, further comprising a flow diverter fixed to the stopper for diverting flow away from the extension plate.

28. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot rod has a tip on one end that is a magnet or a magnetic material.

29. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 28, wherein the tip is moveable with respect to the pivot rod.

30. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 29, further comprising a spring or a resilient material for moving the tip longitudinally outwardly with respect to the pivot rod.

31. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pivot ball mounted on the pivot rod, wherein the distance between an end of the pivot rod and the pivot ball can be adjusted while installing the pivot rod.

32. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a hollow tube having an outer wall, the outer wall having an opening through which fluid in the sink or basin can pass while the stopper is in the open position, and wherein a magnet is fixed to and/or embedded in the outer wall or the outer wall comprises a magnetic material, further comprising a gasket or seal around the outer wall for sealingly engaging the piping while in operation.

33. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopper has a cap on one end and an opposing end, and wherein the distance between the cap and the opposing end is adjustable.

34. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for screening fluid that flows through the piping.

35. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 34, wherein the stopper incorporates the means for screening fluid.

36. A drain stopper for a sink or basin, comprising:

a shaft having an upper end and an opposing lower end;

a cap received on the upper end for providing a seal to retain fluid in the sink or basin;

a first plate having a length and opposing upper and lower ends for diverting flow away from the lower end of the shaft, wherein the upper end of the first plate is fixed to or formed integral with the shaft, and wherein the lower end of the plate is free; and

a second plate fixed to or formed integral with the shaft opposite of the first plate for diverting flow away from the lower end of the shaft, the second plate having a length and opposing upper and lower ends, wherein the lower end of the plate is free.

37. The drain stopper of claim 36, further comprising pivot rod engagement means fixed to and/or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft.

38. The drain stopper of claim 37, wherein the pivot rod engagement means is a pivot rod holder for physical engagement with a pivot rod.

39. The drain stopper of claim 38, wherein the pivot rod holder has an open slot so that the drain stopper can be pressed onto a pivot rod transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pivot rod.

40. The drain stopper of claim 38, wherein the pivot rod holder has more than one location for receiving the pivot rod so that the drain stopper can provide more than one distance between the upper end of the shaft and the location where the pivot rod will be received.

41. The drain stopper of claim 40, wherein the pivot rod holder has two parallel members that each have an edge, and wherein a slot is defined between the edges of the two parallel members.

42. The drain stopper of claim 41, wherein each edge has more than one recess, and wherein a recess on one edge opposes a recess on the other edge to form an opening for receiving the pivot rod.

43. The drain stopper of claim 41, further comprising a layer of an elastomeric material on each edge for receiving the pivot rod in a friction fit.

44. The drain stopper of claim 41, wherein the edge of one member has at least two indentations separated by a protuberance, wherein the edge of the other member has at least two indentations separated by a protuberance, and wherein the indentations and protuberance on one member opposes the indentations and protuberance on the other member, respectively, for providing a detent mechanism for holding the pivot rod.

45. The drain stopper of claim 44, further comprising a flanged pivot rod for moving the stopper, wherein the flanged pivot rod comprises a cylinder and a pair of opposing longitudinal flanges sized to fit the detent mechanism.

46. The drain stopper of claim 36, wherein the distance between the lower end of the shaft and the cap is adjustable.

47. The drain stopper of claim 36, further comprising pivot rod engagement means fixed to and/or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft and screening means fixed to and/or formed integral with the shaft.

48. The drain stopper of claim 36, further comprising pivot rod engagement means fixed to and/or formed integral with the lower end of the shaft and a magnet or magnetic material received on or in the pivot rod engagement means for magnetic coupling with a pivot rod.

49. A pop-up drain assembly for a sink or basin having a drain opening, comprising:

piping for providing a fluid flow pathway from the sink or basin through the drain opening and through the piping;

a stopper for retaining fluid in the sink or basin, wherein the stopper has a body that has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the stopper is received in the piping while in operation and is moveable between an open position and a closed position;

a pair of opposing flow diverter plates, wherein each flow diverter plate has a fixed end, which is fixed to the body of the stopper between the upper and lower ends of the stopper, and a free end that extends toward, to or past the lower end of the stopper, which is not fixed, wherein the stopper body is between the flow diverter plates; and

means for moving the stopper between the open position and the closed position, wherein

the flow diverter plates fit in the piping in a manner such that fluid flowing through the piping tends to be diverted away from the lower end of the body of the stopper.

50. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 49, wherein the means for moving the stopper is a pivot rod, a cam system, an electromechanical system, an electric-magnetic system, a human-manual system, a detent mechanism or a spring-loaded detent mechanism.

51. The pop-up drain assembly of claim 49, wherein each flow diverter plate has a width W, wherein the piping has an inside diameter of twice its radius or 2R, and wherein R is less than or equal to W and W is less than or equal to 2R.