Cover and method for covering the flange of a waste water strainer

• US 8,607,376 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ball, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heitzer, Lauren
• Application Number:
  US13/669,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 428/6, 429/5, 429/2
• US Class Current: 4/650
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/22 Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks stoppers A47K1/14

Abstract

A waste water insert has a wall surrounding a vertical bore. A horizontal flange extends outwardly from the upper end of the wall and has a lip formed on its outer periphery. The horizontal flange of the waste water insert is super-imposed over the horizontal flange of a waste water strainer located in a bathtub, sink or the like. The wall of the insert extends downwardly through the cylindrical wall of the waste water strainer with the two walls being spaced from each other by virtue of the cylindrical wall of the insert having a smaller diameter than that of the strainer.

Claims

1. A waste water insert adapted to be associated with a strainer that includes a strainer flange with an interconnected strainer wall having an inner surface of a first diameter, comprising:

a horizontal flange having a lip around a periphery of said flange;

an insert wall having an outer surface of a second diameter extending downwardly from said horizontal flange, said outer surface being devoid of grooves, ridges, or serrations, said insert wall adapted to be spaced from said strainer wall;

a seal having a proximal end and a distal end made of a resilient material, said seal also having a tapered surface at said distal end, said seal extending along said outer surface of said insert wall surface of said insert wall from said horizontal flange to a lower portion of said insert, said seal having a portion between said proximal end and said distal end and above said tapered surface that is adapted to contact the inner surface of the strainer wall, said seal when installed does not contact the strainer wall at said proximal end and said distal end of said seal; and

wherein said horizontal flange of said waste water insert is adapted to rest on the strainer flange, wherein said insert wall extends downwardly into an opening defined by the strainer, and said seal is adapted to be positioned within a space provided between an outer surface of said insert wall and the inner surface of the strainer wall.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said seal extends said seal extends the entirety of said outer surface of said insert wall.

3. The waste water insert of claim 1, wherein said seal further comprises a tapered surface at said proximal end.

4. The waste water insert of claim 1, wherein said seal has a cylindrical inner surface which resiliently grips said insert wall.

5. The waste water insert of claim 1, wherein said seal has a mid-section that extends laterally farther from said insert wall, as compared to an extension of the seal at its distal end.

6. A waste water insert, adapted to be associated with a strainer that includes a strainer flange interconnected to a strainer wall having an inner surface of a first diameter, comprising:

an insert flange extending from a first end of a waste water insert, said insert flange having a lip at its outer perimeter;

an insert wall that extends downwardly from said insert flange, said insert wall being cylindrical in shape and having a diameter sized for receipt into the strainer and spaced from the inner surface of the strainer wall;

an enlarged seal made of a resilient material and having a top end and a lower end, said enlarged seal extending along said insert wall from a position near said insert flange to a position near a lowermost portion of said insert wall, said enlarged seal having a tapered surface at its lower end to facilitate insertion of the waste water insert into the strainer, said enlarged seal having an integral sealing portion above said tapered surface that is adapted to contact the inner surface of the strainer wall when said insert flange is engaged with the strainer flange; and

wherein when said enlarged seal centers the waste water insert within the strainer.

7. A waste water insert, adapted to be associated with a tubular strainer that includes a strainer wall having an inner surface of a first diameter, comprising:

a horizontal flange extending from a first end of a waste water insert, said horizontal flange having a lip at its outer perimeter that fits over an outer periphery of a horizontal flange of the tubular strainer;

an insert wall having an outer surface being devoid of grooves that extends downwardly from said horizontal flange of said waste water insert, said insert wall being cylindrical in shape and having a diameter sized for receipt into said tubular strainer,

an enlarged seal made of a resilient material having a top end and a lower end and having a smooth interior surface, said enlarged seal extending from said insert wall from a position near said first end of the waste water insert to a position near a lowermost portion of the waste water insert, said enlarged seal having a tapered surface at its lower end to facilitate insertion into the tubular strainer, said enlarged seal having a portion above said tapered surface adapted to contact the strainer wall and block the space between the insert wall and the strainer wall and to center the waste water insert within the tubular strainer.