Overflow assembly for bathtubs and the like

• US 9,663,930 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• 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:
  US14/710,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20150275487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 4679-694
• 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 adapted for interconnection to a bathtub, which has a bottom, side walls, end walls, an overflow port in one end wall, and a pipe with an elbow portion defining an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the upper end portion having an outer end defining an inlet, the upper end portion having threads on an outer surface thereof, the pipe including a lip extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the overflow pipe between the elbow portion and the upper end portion and being spaced from the inlet, the improvement comprising:

a nut element with a threaded portion that is compatible with the threads of the overflow pipe, the nut element having an outer periphery that is adapted to detachably engage an inner surface of a cap that fits over the nut.

2. The overflow assembly of claim 1, wherein the nut element is comprised of a first portion that includes the outer periphery that is adapted to selectively engage the cap, and a second portion that extends from the first portion, the second portion having a portion that has an outermost dimension that is less than a maximum outer dimension of the outer periphery.

3. The overflow assembly of claim 1, wherein the nut element is comprised of a first portion that includes the outer surface, which includes the outer periphery, and a second portion that extends from the first portion, the second portion having a portion that has an outermost dimension that is less than that of the outer periphery.