Low profile circular drain with water stop for swimming pool

• US 9,869,103 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquastar Pool Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aquastar Pool Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Mjelde, Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Klotz, William R
• Application Number:
  US15/392,345
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 4292, 4504, 4506-507, 4510, 4613, 4679, 210163-164, 210166
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1236 Bottom drains
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A sump drain includes a ring-shaped chamber having an inner sidewall with a diameter of at least about 18 inches and an outer sidewall, and a circular opening between the sidewalls preferably about an inch wide and optionally having a grid cover. Preferably the inner sidewall has a number of ports extending inwardly to radial conduits to a central hub for tying into a pool or spa filtering system, with the central hub operating as a clean out and having a removable cap. Upon installation, plaster substantially fills the space between the chamber and the central hub, such that the sump drain attractively blends in with the pool or spa floor. When installed, the top opening is preferably substantially flush with the pool or spa floor while being safely unblockable. And the sump drain preferably further includes channels both outboard and inboard from the chamber top opening and around the central hub, to help prevent water from passing through the plaster into the shotcrete of the pool or spa.

Claims

1. A sump drain for installation in a surface of a swimming pool or spa having a drain inlet, the sump drain comprising:

an annular chamber for embedding in the surface;

the annular chamber having a contiguous annular top opening defining an outer sidewall portion;

a central hub disposed radially inward from the annular chamber, the central hub in open communication with the annular chamber, and the central hub for embedding in the surface of the swimming pool or spa and coupling to the drain inlet;

the annular chamber being centered radially around the central hub, and the annular chamber being formed with a gutter on the outer sidewall portion for embedded anchoring in the surface of the swimming pool or spa; and

a removable cap above the central hub for accessing the drain inlet;

wherein the contiguous annular top opening is defined to contiguously extend fully about the central hub and remain substantially flush with the surface when the sump drain is installed in the swimming pool or spa.

2. The sump drain of claim 1 further comprising an inner sidewall, the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall together defining the contiguous annular top opening therebetween.

3. The sump drain of claim 2 wherein the inner sidewall portion of the annular chamber is configured to encircle a portion of the surface of the swimming pool or spa when installed.

4. The sump drain of claim 1 wherein the contiguous annular top opening is no less than about eighteen inches in diameter.

5. The sump drain of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ports extending radially inward from the annular chamber to the central hub.

6. The sump drain of claim 1 wherein the removable cap is no greater than about 2.5 inches in diameter.

7. The sump drain of claim 1 further comprising a circular grid sized to cover the contiguous annular top opening, the circular grid having a multiplicity of openings.

8. A sump drain for installation in a surface of a swimming pool or spa having a drain inlet embedded in the surface of the swimming pool or spa, the sump drain comprising:

an annular chamber having a contiguous annular top opening defining an outer sidewall portion, the contiguous annular top opening being defined to contiguously extend fully about the drain inlet;

a ring shaped grid cover covering the contiguous annular top opening, the ring shaped grid cover defining a plurality of slots;

the annular chamber being in open communication with the ring shaped grid cover slots and the drain inlet, the annular chamber being formed with a gutter on the outer sidewall portion for embedded anchoring in the surface of the swimming pool or spa; and

a removable cap surrounded by the ring shaped grid cover, the removable cap disposed above the drain inlet.

9. The sump drain of claim 8 further comprising an inner sidewall, the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall defining the contiguous annular top opening therebetween.

10. The sump drain of claim 9 wherein the inner sidewall portion of the annular chamber is configured to encircle a portion of the surface of the swimming pool or spa when installed.

11. The sump drain of claim 8 wherein the contiguous annular top opening is no less than about eighteen inches in diameter.

12. The sump drain of claim 8 further comprising conduits coupling the annular chamber to the drain inlet.

13. The sump drain of claim 8 wherein the removable cap is no greater than about 2.5 inches in diameter.

14. A sump drain apparatus having a rounded anti-entrapment configuration for partially embedded installation within a water immersible surface of a pool or spa, the apparatus comprising:

a body assembly defining a water receiving structure, the body assembly having an intake opening extending about an intermediate portion for admitting water therethrough, the intake opening forming a loop having a predetermined anti-entrapment diametric extent, the intermediate portion being configured relative to the intake opening to be embedded within the water immersible surface when installed;

a gutter portion formed to extend about an outer sidewall of the body assembly for embedded anchoring in the water immersible surface; and

,

a hub portion coupled to the body assembly through the intermediate region to remain in open communication with the intake opening, the hub portion being configured to guide the water admitted through the intake opening to a filtering system of the pool or spa, the intake opening being defined to contiguously extend fully about the hub portion.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the predetermined anti-entrapment diametric extent defines an inner diametric dimension of at least 18 inches approximately for the intake opening.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the predetermined anti-entrapment diametric extent defines an outer sidewall diametric dimension of approximately 21 inches about the intake opening.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the intake opening defines a substantially circular contour about the intermediate portion of the body assembly.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the intermediate portion defines a plurality of radial conduits extending between the intake opening and the hub portion for guiding the water admitted by the intake opening radially inward.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the gutter portion forms a channel projecting radially outward relative to the outer sidewall of the body assembly and extending contiguously about the intake opening.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a removable cap covering the hub portion and disposed in substantially coplanar arrangement relative to the body assembly at the intake opening when installed in the water immersible surface.