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

• US 9,015,876 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• 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): CRANE, LAUREN ASHLEY
• Application Number:
  US14/109,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20140101834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 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
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/26 Object-catching inserts or similar devices for waste pipes or outlets E03C1/28 takes precedence

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 wall having an inner surface, comprising:

a flange;

an insert wall extending from said flange, said insert wall that has a first end corresponding with said flange and a second end spaced from said first end, said insert wall having portions with an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the strainer wall, such that said portions of said insert wall are adapted to be spaced from the strainer wall;

an enlarged seal interconnected to said outer surface of said insert wall, said enlarged seal having a length that corresponds with the distance between said first end and the second end of said insert wall, wherein a first end of said enlarged seal is positioned adjacent to said first end of said insert wall, and a second end of said enlarged seal is positioned adjacent to said second end of said insert wall;

said enlarged seal includes an upper portion spaced from the strainer wall, a lower portion spaced from the strainer wall, and a mid portion that is adapted to contact the strainer wall when the waste water insert is positioned within the strainer, said mid portion having an outer extent that is substantially equal to the diameter of the inner surface of the strainer wall, whereby said waste water insert is positioned within and removed from the strainer without the need of tools; and

wherein said enlarged seal is made of a resilient material and forms an elastomeric layer of said insert wall.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said insert wall is devoid of grooves.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said enlarged seal possesses a tapered surface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said flange includes a lip that is adapted to cover a portion of an outer edge of a flange of the strainer that is interconnected to the strainer wall.

5. A waste water insert adapted to be positioned within a pipe, the pipe having an inner surface, consisting essentially of:

a flange;

a cylindrical wall extending from said flange, said cylindrical wall having an unbroken outer surface that has a first end corresponding with a lower surface of the flange and a second end spaced from said first end, wherein the distance between said first end and second end is constant, said cylindrical wall having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the pipe inner surface, such that said cylindrical wall is adapted to be spaced from the inner surface of the pipe when the waste water insert is positioned in the pipe;

a resilient seal that engages said cylindrical wall from about said first end to about said second end of said cylindrical wall, said resilient seal having a proximal end and a distal end, said resilient seal also having a tapered surface at said distal end, said resilient seal having a portion located above said tapered surface that is adapted to contact the inner surface of the pipe, said portion having an outer extent that is substantially equal to the diameter of the inner surface of the strainer wall; and

wherein said flange of said waste water insert is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an upper end of the pipe, wherein said cylindrical wall extends downwardly into an opening defined by the pipe, and said resilient seal is adapted to be positioned within a space provided between an outer surface of said cylindrical wall and the inner surface of the pipe, whereby said waste water insert is positioned within and removed from the pipe without the need of tools, such that when said waste water insert is positioned within the pipe, said proximal end and said distal end of said resilient seal do not contact the inner surface of the pipe; and

wherein said resilient seal has a cylindrical inner surface that resiliently grips said insert wall.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said resilient seal forms an elastomeric layer of said cylindrical wall.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said flange has an outer edge that comprises a downwardly extending lip.

8. In combination:

a) a tubular strainer having a strainer wall defining interior and exterior surfaces, and a first flange on the upper end of the strainer wall;

b) a tubular insert having a second flange carried by an insert wall having an unbroken cylindrical outer surface that has a first end corresponding with the second flange and a second end spaced from the first end, wherein the distance between the first end and second end is constant, the insert wall having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter of the strainer wall such that the insert wall is sized for reception by the tubular strainer;

c) an elastomeric seal having a tubular body that engages the insert wall from about the first end to about the second end of the insert wall;

d) the elastomeric seal configured for progressive compressive radial sealing engagement with the strainer wall interior surface when endwise inserted by the insert within the tubular strainer;

wherein the elastomeric seal is tubular to define internal and external seal surfaces, the seal external surface having a portion in compressive engagement with the internal surface of the strainer wall;

wherein the elastomeric seal external surface has an upper end portion proximate the insert flange; and

wherein the elastomeric seal external surface includes a tapered surface at a lower end portion of the elastomeric seal, a portion of the tapered surface located to engage the interior surface of the strainer wall after the elastomeric seal is introduced fully into the entrance opening defined by the strainer for receiving the elastomeric seal, wherein when the tubular insert is positioned within the tubular strainer, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the elastomeric seal do not contact the inner surface of the tubular strainer.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric seal has a cylindrical inner surface that resiliently grips the insert wall.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric seal forms an elastomeric layer of the tubular insert.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the second flange has an outer edge that comprises a downwardly extending lip.

12. A waste water insert adapted to be positioned within a pipe, the pipe having an inner surface, comprising:

a flange;

a cylindrical wall extending from said flange, said cylindrical wall having an unbroken outer surface that has a first end corresponding with a lower surface of the flange and a second end spaced from said first end, wherein the distance between said first end and second end is constant, said cylindrical wall having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the pipe inner surface, such that said cylindrical wall is adapted to be spaced from the inner surface of the pipe when the waste water insert is positioned in the pipe;

a resilient seal interconnected to said cylindrical wall, said resilient seal having a proximal end and a distal end that coincide with said first end and said second end of said cylindrical wall, said resilient seal also having a tapered surface at said distal end, said resilient seal having a portion located above said tapered surface that is adapted to contact the inner surface of the pipe, said portion having an outer extent that is substantially equal to the diameter of the inner surface of the strainer wall; and

wherein said flange of said waste water insert is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an upper end of the pipe, wherein said cylindrical wall extends downwardly into an opening defined by the pipe, and said resilient seal is adapted to be positioned within a space provided between an outer surface of said cylindrical wall and the inner surface of the pipe, whereby said waste water insert is positioned within and removed from the pipe without the need of tools, such that when said waste water insert is positioned within the pipe, said proximal end and said distal end of said resilient seal do not contact the inner surface of the pipe.

13. The waste water insert of claim 12, wherein said resilient seal has a cylindrical inner surface that resiliently grips said insert wall.