Foot-actuated drain stopper

• US 9,234,337 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ball, William T., Pilarczyk, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/912,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20130269100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 4286-295
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 1/14 Stoppers for wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/23 with mechanical closure mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/2306 the plug being operated by hand contact
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/262 combined with outlet stoppers

Abstract

A foot-actuated drain stopper is provided that is interconnected to a strainer of a wastewater outlet of a bathtub. The foot-actuated drain stopper is interconnected to the strainer by way of an adapter that includes a hub that receives a carrier on which the foot-actuated stopper travels.

Claims

1. A foot-actuated drain stopper, comprising:

a cap;

a seal associated with said cap;

an adapter comprising;

a body having at least one groove,

a flange extending from said body,

at least one arm interconnected to at least one of said body and said flange, and

a hub interconnected to said at least one arm and located generally in the center of the body;

a carrier interconnected to said hub;

wherein said adapter is adapted for insertion into a strainer that is associated with a drain port of a bathtub; and

wherein said cap is operatively interconnected to said carrier, and wherein said cap is capable of a first position of use that spaces the seal away from a flange of the strainer and a second position of use that engages the seal onto the flange of the strainer.

2. The drain stopper of claim 1, wherein said carrier is interconnected to the hub with a screw, said screw being engaged onto an inner surface of said cap by way of a spring.

3. A foot-actuated drain stopper adapted for interconnection to a strainer having a flange and a hub, comprising:

a cap;

a stopper body associated with said cap;

a seal interconnected to said cap;

a carrier associated with said hub;

a ring operably associated with at least one of said cap and said stopper body, wherein said carrier is rotatably interconnected to said ring, said carrier having a groove in its outer surface and said ring having an inwardly-extending detent that is operably received within said groove wherein movement of said ring along the length of the carrier causes at least one of said ring and said carrier to rotate; and

wherein said cap is capable of a first position of use that spaces the seal away from a flange of the strainer and a second position of use that engages the seal onto the flange of the strainer.

4. The drain stopper of claim 3, wherein said carrier is interconnected to the hub with a screw, said screw being engaged onto an inner surface of said cap by way of a spring.

5. The drain stopper of claim 3 wherein said groove has a path with a first portion that allows the ring to travel relative to said carrier to move said seal a first distance, said groove having a second portion that prevents said ring moving in a direction opposite from said first distance when said seal is located at said second distance, and a third portion further along said first distance that allows said ring to move relative to said carrier in a distance opposite said first distance.

6. The drain stopper of claim 3, wherein said ring is positioned between said cap and said stopper body.

7. The drain stopper of claim 6, wherein said ring is rotatably interconnected between said cap and said stopper body and said carrier is adapted to interconnect to the strainer such that movement of said stopper body rotates said ring.

8. The drain stopper of claim 6, wherein said ring is fixedly interconnected between said cap and said stopper body and said carrier is adapted to rotatably interconnected to the strainer such that movement of said stopper body rotates said carrier.

9. A foot-actuated drain stopper, comprising:

a cap;

a seal associated with said cap;

an adapter comprising;

a body having at least one groove,

a flange extending from said body,

at least one arm interconnected to at least one of said body and said flange, and

a hub interconnected to said at least one arm and located generally in the center of the body;

a carrier interconnected to said hub;

wherein said adapter is adapted for insertion into a strainer that is associated with a drain port of a bathtub;

wherein said cap is operatively interconnected to said carrier, and wherein said cap is capable of a first position of use that spaces the seal away from a flange of the strainer and a second position of use that engages the seal onto the flange of the strainer;

wherein said cap is interconnected to said seal by way of a stopper body; and

further comprising a ring operatively associated with at least one of said cap and said stopper body, wherein said carrier is rotatably interconnected to said ring, said carrier having a groove in its outer surface and said ring having an inwardly-extending detent that is operatively received within said groove wherein movement of said ring along the length of the carrier causes at least one of said ring and said carrier to rotate.

10. The drain stopper of claim 9 wherein said groove has a path with a first portion that allows the ring to travel relative to said carrier to move said seal a first direction towards said flange, said groove having a second portion that prevents said ring moving away from said flange when said seal is located at said second position of use, and said groove having a third portion that allows said ring to move relative to said carrier away from said flange.

11. The drain stopper of claim 9, wherein said ring is positioned between said cap and said stopper body.

12. The drain stopper of claim 11, wherein said ring is rotatably interconnected between said cap and said stopper body and said carrier is adapted to interconnect to the strainer such that movement of said stopper body rotates said ring.

13. The drain stopper of claim 11, wherein said ring is fixedly interconnected between said cap and said stopper body and said carrier is adapted to be rotatably interconnected to the strainer such that movement of said stopper body rotates said carrier.