Insertable vehicle floor drain

• US 6,290,279 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Auria Solutions Uk I Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Inventors: McIntosh, William Duncan, Haight, Dayne Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US09/344,512
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 296/38, 296/39.1, 296/39.3, 296/97.23, 296/208, 220/235, 220/288, 523/021, 523/027, 470/906
• US Class Current: 296/97.23
• 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 25/24 Superstructure sub-units with access or drainage openings having movable or removable closures; Sealing means thereforinlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 470/906 Nylon plug lock

Abstract

Floor drains are provided that can be inserted through floor coverings and through multiple floor panels of a vehicle body. An elongate hollow body terminates at an open distal end and at an open proximate end. A flange extends circumferentially around the open proximate end. One or more resilient members extend circumferentially around, and outwardly from, the body in adjacent spaced-apart relationship with the flange. The resilient members are configured to secure the floor drain within a vehicle floor panel such that the flange compressively engages the floor panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle floor drain apparatus, comprising:

an elongate hollow body terminating at an open distal end and an open proximate end and including

a threaded cylindrical bore that defines an axial direction;

a flange extending circumferentially around the open proximate end,

at least one resilient member extending circumferentially around and outwardly from the body adjacent the body distal end, wherein each at least one resilient member is configured to frictionally engage a vehicle floor when the body is inserted within an aperture in the vehicle floor, such that the flange is retained in compressive contact with the vehicle floor adjacent the aperture; and

a drain plug including a head and a threaded shank connected to the head, wherein the threaded shank is configured to threadingly engage the threaded cylindrical bore for moving the head of the drain plug along the axial direction toward and away from the hollow body proximate end when the drain plug is rotated about the axial direction in respective opposite directions.

2. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drain plug head has a conical frustum shape and wherein the body proximate end has a corresponding conical frustum shape that is configured to receive the drain plug head in countersunk relation therewith.

3. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

4. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be grasped by a user for manually rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

5. A vehicle floor drain apparatus, comprising:

an elongate hollow body terminating at an open distal end and an open proximate end and including a threaded cylindrical bore that defines an axial direction;

a flange extending circumferentially around the open proximate end;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart resilient members extending outwardly from the body in adjacent spaced apart relationship with the flange, wherein the resilient members are configured to secure the body within an aperture in a vehicle floor such that the flange is retained in compressive contact with the vehicle floor adjacent the aperture; and

a drain plug including a head and a threaded shank connected to the head, wherein the threaded shank is configured to threadingly engage the threaded cylindrical bore for moving the head of the drain plug along the axial direction toward and away from the body proximate end when the drain plug is rotated about the axial direction in respective opposite directions, wherein the drain plug head has a conical frustum shape, and wherein the body proximate end has a corresponding conical frustum shape that is configured to receive the drain plug head in countersunk relation therewith.

6. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

7. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be grasped by a user for manually rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

8. A vehicle floor drain apparatus, comprising:

an elongate hollow body terminating at an open distal end and an open proximate end and including a threaded cylindrical bore that defines an axial direction;

a flange extending circumferentially around the open proximate end;

at least one resilient member extending circumferentially around and outwardly from the hollow body adjacent the hollow body distal end, wherein each at least one resilient member is configured to frictionally engage the vehicle floor and to secure the body within an aperture in the vehicle floor such that the flange is retained in compressive contact with the vehicle floor adjacent the aperture; and

a drain plug including a head and a threaded shank connected to the head, wherein the threaded shank is configured to threadingly engage the threaded cylindrical bore for moving the head of the drain plug along the axial direction toward and away from the body proximate end when the drain plug is rotated about the axial direction in respective opposite directions, wherein the drain plug head has a conical frustum shape, and wherein the body proximate end has a corresponding conical frustum shape that is configured to receive the drain plug head in countersunk relation therewith.

9. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

10. A vehicle floor drain apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be grasped by a user for manually rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

11. A vehicle body, comprising:

a first floor panel comprising opposite first and second surfaces, and a first aperture formed therethrough;

a covering disposed on the first surface of the first floor panel, wherein the covering has a second aperture formed therethrough, and wherein the second aperture is in communication with the first aperture; and

a floor drain apparatus disposed within the first and second apertures. comprising;

an elongate hollow body terminating at an open distal end and an open proximate end and including a threaded cylindrical bore that defines an axial direction;

a flange extending circumferentially around the open proximate end;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart resilient members extending outwardly from the hollow body in adjacent spaced apart relationship with the flange, wherein a portion of the first floor panel and covering are configured to be secured between the flange and the resilient members such that the flange is retained in compressive contact with the covering adjacent the second aperture; and

a drain plug including a head and a threaded shank connected to the head, wherein the threaded shank is configured to threadingly engage the threaded cylindrical bore for moving the head of the drain plug along the axial direction toward and away from the body proximate end when the drain plug is rotated about the axial direction in respective opposite directions, wherein the drain plug head has a conical frustum shape, and wherein the body proximate end has a corresponding conical frustum shape that is configured to receive the drain plug head in countersunk relation therewith.

12. A vehicle body according to claim 11 further comprising a second floor panel in spaced apart adjacent relationship with the first floor panel, wherein the second floor panel includes a third aperture formed therethrough, wherein the body distal end extends through the third aperture, and further comprising at least one resilient member extending circumferentially around, and outwardly from, the body adjacent the body distal end, wherein each at least one resilient member is configured to frictionally engage the second floor panel adjacent the third aperture.

13. A vehicle body according to claim 11 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

14. A vehicle body according to claim 11 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be grasped by a user for manually rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

15. A vehicle body according to claim 11 wherein the floor covering comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

16. A vehicle body according to claim 15 wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer.

17. A vehicle body, comprising:

a first floor panel comprising opposite first and second surfaces, and a first aperture formed therethrough;

a second floor panel in spaced apart adjacent relationship with the first floor panel, wherein the second floor panel includes a third aperture formed therethrough;

a covering disposed on the first surface of the first floor panel, wherein the covering has a second aperture formed therethrough, and wherein the second aperture Is in communication with the first aperture; and

a floor drain apparatus disposed within the first, second, and third apertures, comprising;

an elongate hollow body terminating at an open distal end and an open proximate end and including a threaded cylindrical bore that defines an axial direction;

a flange extending circumferentially around the open proximate end;

at least one resilient member extending circumferentially around, and outwardly from, the body adjacent the body distal end, wherein each at least one resilient member is configured to frictionally engage the second floor panel adjacent the third aperture such that the flange is retained in compressive contact with the covering adjacent the second aperture; and

a drain plug including a head and a threaded shank connected to the head, wherein the threaded shank is configured to threadingly engage the threaded cylindrical bore for moving the head of the drain plug along the axial direction toward and away from the body proximate end when the drain plug is rotated about the axial direction in respective opposite directions, wherein the drain plug head has a conical frustum shape, and wherein the body proximate end has a corresponding conical frustum shape that is configured to receive the drain plug head in countersunk relation therewith.

18. A vehicle body according to claim 17 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

19. A vehicle body according to claim 17 wherein the drain plug head comprises a portion configured to be grasped by a user for manually rotating the drain plug about the axial direction.

20. A vehicle body according to claim 17 wherein the floor covering comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

21. A vehicle body according to claim 20 wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer.