Safety inlet assembly for pool drains

• US 6,912,739 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verve LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard Nowell
• Inventors: Nowell, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US10/727,469
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 4507-509, 210/169
• US Class Current: 4/507
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1236 Bottom drains

Abstract

A safety inlet drain assembly for main and skimmer drains of a swimming pool includes a perforated cylinder in the drain cavity mounted at a lower end on the drain return line and having a domed cap on the upper end to which the drain gate cover is attached by fasteners. The safety drain assembly is configured for precluding complete blockage by pool users in the event of displacement of the cover plate thereby preventing excessive suction conditions otherwise posing physical danger to the users.

Claims

1. In a pool installation having a reservoir supplied with water from a pump in a supply line and returned to the pump in a return line having a terminal end, a drain assembly including said terminal end comprising:

a drain body member having a peripheral wall defining a upwardly opening cavity;

aperture means on said drain body member for receiving into said cavity said terminal end;

a cover member overlying peripheral wall and said cavity;

a coupling member connected to said terminal end of said return line, said coupling member including an upwardly opening socket in fluid communication with said terminal end of said return line;

a sleeve assembly including a first cylindrical sleeve member including a plurality of apertures therein;

a cylindrical first collar connected to a lower end of said first sleeve member;

a cap member covering an upper end of said sleeve assembly, said collar being received in said upwardly opening socket and connected to said coupling member; and

fastener means connecting said cover member to said cap member; and

flow control apertures in said drain body member for allowing water flow into said cavity, through said sleeve assembly into said terminal end of said return line, said sleeve assembly precluding complete obstruction of said flow control apertures in the event said cover member becomes displaced.

2. The drain assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said flow control apertures are formed in said cover member.

3. The drain assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said terminal end is threaded end and said coupling member includes a threaded lower end connected thereto.

4. The drain assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said cap member is apertured and domed shaped.

5. The drain assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein an apertured second sleeve member is telescopically received within said first sleeve member and a said cap member is connected to an upper end of said second sleeve member.

6. The drain assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein a second collar connected to a lower end of said second sleeve member and having a sliding compressive fit with said first sleeve member whereby said second sleeve member and said cover member can be telescopically assembled onto said first sleeve member.

7. The drain assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said body member comprises a skimmer drain having a peripheral wall provided with said aperture means.

8. The drain assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said terminal end of said return line is an angled pipe.

9. The drain assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said drain body includes a branch conduit fluidly communicating with a skimmer drain.