Overflow assembly for bathtubs and the like

• US 8,505,132 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ball, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/461,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20120246822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 468/0, 467/9, 469/4, 465/1, 4683-685, 411/431, 285/3, 138 89- 90, 73/491
• US Class Current: 4/680
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/2413 Covers for temporarily closing off overflow outlets

Abstract

An overflow system in the bathtub has an overflow port and has a drain pipe in connection with the overflow port. A threaded flange has a stub shoulder on one end which is fitted into a circular sleeve on the overflow port. The threaded flange has exterior threads on its outer surface and a thin diaphragm secured to the end thereof opposite to the stub shoulder. A large internally threaded nut is threadably mounted on the outer end of the threaded flange. A decorative cap is frictionally snapped into engagement with protrusions on the outer surface of the nut. The cap can be removed when needed to permit the plumber to gain access to the diaphragm to cut it open for fluid flow after the system has been tested for leaks, or put in place after the cut takes place.

Claims

1. An overflow assembly for facilitating leak testing of a plumbing system that is adapted to be associated with a bathtub, comprising:

an overflow pipe including an upper and a lower end;

an elbow between said upper end and said lower end, said upper end having threads and being adapted to fit completely through an overflow port of the bathtub;

a lip extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the overflow pipe between said elbow and said upper end that is adapted to engage an outer surface of the bathtub adjacent to the overflow port;

a nut element associated with said overflow pipe adapted to secure said overflow pipe to an end of the bathtub wherein a wall of the bathtub is positioned between said lip and said nut element, said nut element comprising threads compatible with said threads of said upper end and said nut element having a plurality of lugs extending radially from said nut element;

a means for preventing fluid flow through said overflow pipe; and

a cap selectively interconnected to said nut element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is a diaphragm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a washer associated with said upper end of said overflow pipe, said washer physically adjacent to said nut element.

4. An overflow assembly for a bathtub, comprising:

an overflow port having a flange, said overflow port associated with a threaded portion extending from said flange, said threaded portion adapted to pass through a wall of the bathtub and to be at least partially positioned within the bathtub;

a means for preventing fluid flow through said overflow port that is associated with said threaded portion, said means for preventing fluid flow sealing an outer end of said threaded portion;

a nut, having a threaded center opening, threadably mounted on said threaded portion of said overflow port, said nut being adapted to secure said flange to the wall of the bathtub by exerting pressure towards said flange; and

wherein said nut has an outer periphery with a series of radially extending lugs which detachably engage an inner surface of a cap which fits over said nut.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is a selectively removable thin diaphragm.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is associated directly with said overflow port and does not extend into said threaded portion of said overflow port.

7. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said nut and said radially extending lugs constitute a single-piece unit.

8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow has a circular shape.

9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow has a diameter that is not less than the diameter of said threaded portion of said overflow port.

10. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow comprises a plastic material.

11. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is removable.

12. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is circular, has a diameter that is not less than the diameter of said outer end of said outlet port, is composed of a plastic material, and is removable.

13. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said preventing fluid flow comprises a member that is at least one of:

circular;

has a diameter that is not less than the diameter of said outer end of said outlet port;

is composed of a plastic material; and

is removable.

14. An overflow assembly for adapted for interconnection to a bathtub, which has a bottom, side walls, end walls, and an overflow port in one end wall, comprising:

an overflow pipe having an elbow portion defining an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion having an outer end defining an inlet and having threads on an outer surface thereof;

a lip extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of said overflow pipe between said elbow portion and said upper end portion and being spaced from said inlet;

an element associated with said outer end that closes said inlet to fluid flow;

a nut element with a threaded portion that is compatible with said threads of said overflow pipe for mounting said nut element to said upper end portion, said nut element having a series of radially extending cap retention elements that are spaced about a longitudinal axis defined by said nut element, there being gaps between each of said radially extending cap retention elements; and

a cap retained in a position of attachment to said radially extending cap retention elements, said radially extending cap retention elements being received within said cap.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said cap covers substantially all of said nut element.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said overflow pipe and said element associated with said outer end comprises a one-piece construction.

17. The assembly of claim 14, further including a washer that cooperates with said nut element and said lip to interconnect said overflow pipe to the bathtub.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said gaps possess an innermost surface having an arcuate shape.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said element associated with said outer end is a diaphragm.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said diaphragm is adapted to be selectively cut to provide a fluid flow path through said overflow pipe.

26. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said cap defines a fluid passing passage.

27. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said cap is in spaced relation to said nut element and is in sealing engagement with said inlet.

28. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said cap is adjustably retained to said nut element by the radially extending cap retention elements, which are circularly spaced and comprise small lips.

29. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the element associated with said outer end that closes said inlet to fluid flow comprises a diaphragm.

21. An overflow assembly for a bathtub, comprising:

an overflow port having a flange, said overflow port associated with a threaded portion extending from said flange, said threaded portion adapted to pass through a wall of the bathtub and to be at least partially positioned within the bathtub;

a nut, having a threaded center opening, threadably mounted on said threaded portion of said overflow port, said nut being adapted to secure said flange to the wall of the bathtub by exerting pressure towards said flange; and

said nut having an outer periphery with a series of radially extending lugs which detachably engage an inner surface of a cap which fits over said nut.

22. The assembly of claim 21, further comprising a means for preventing fluid flow through said overflow port that is associated with said threaded portion, said means for preventing fluid flow sealing an outer end of said threaded portion.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is a diaphragm.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is associated directly with said overflow port and does not extend into said threaded portion of said overflow port.

25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said means for preventing fluid flow is removable.