CA1137703A - Drain assembly for a lavatory basin - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A drain assembly for a lavatory basin which includes a drain tube having a flanged upper end adapted for support by the basin. A drain plug is carried within the drain tube.
A lift rod extends through the drain tube at a side opening therein and engages the plug. The lift rod is held in a sealed relationship against the tube by a retainer clamp which permits the lift rod to be shifted causing the drain plug to be corres-pondingly shifted between open and closed positions. The lift rod is connected to an extension link including a lockable pivot connection, one end of said link being adapted for gripping by a user of the basin to shift said plug as desired. The lockable connection permits adjustment of the extension link and tightening of the lockable connection to maintain the adjustment setting is readily accomplished.

Description

~` ~IL~3'77C~3 his application is a division of Applica-tion Serial No. 349,847, filed April 14, 1980.
~n~ry~ ion This invention relates to a drain ~sscmbly for a lavatory ~asin and will have specific applicabilit:y to a drain assembly which can be connectecl into a plu~iny system in a simple and rapid manner.
In the drain assembl~v of this invcntion thexe is a drain tube which i5 ~uita~le ~or connec~ion ~o the lavator~
basin and which extends downwardly Erom ~he bas:i.n ~or connec~ioll to a drain pipe which constitutes a part o~ the plumbing system of ~hc home, office or other s~xuctuxe. A
1'~'1' up ~lug is fitte~ slidably within tlle drain tub~ and make~ contact with a lift xod wllich extends into th~
drain tube below tlle basin through a side opening wi~hin the tu~e. The lift rod includes a rounded bearing secti.on which seats acJain5t the drain tub~ side OpenincJ and is f~eld the~e }~y zl retalr~e~ clam~ w~ c~ e~c~es ~he: d:rair, tube in a snap t~pe ~it. The li~t rod is pivoted in a generally vertic~l plane about its reurded bearin~
section to raise and lower the plug between open and cl~sed positio~s. Such movemen~ o~ ~he l.ift rod i.s accom-plished by an ~x~ension link to which the use~ o~ th~
lavatory basin has access and which includes an adjustabl~
~ivot which allows the extensiorl link t:o be sllited in a vertical line while moving the lit ~od in a non-binding, smooth operating effect.

The drain assembly is designed so as to minimize ~he amount o~ time and e~for~ required to connect it to th~
lavatory basin and into the plumbing system for the basin.
The preferred embodlment illustrated and abouk to be described may be entirely a5sembled by hand without the . ' ~,,.

~3~ 3 need of the usual forceful hand tools, such as wxenches and screwdrivers.
Accorclingly, it is an object of this inven-tion to r)ro-vide a drain assen~ly which is ~or a l.lvatory basin and ~, which is of economical construction.
j` It is another object of this invellt::ion to provicle a drain assen~l~ which is for a lavator~ basin and which may ; be connected between the basin and t}le drain pil?e of a ~ plumbing syst~m withou-t the use o~ llalld tools.
'' lo Still another object of this invention is to provide a drain asser~ly which is for a lavatory ~asin and which may be assembled in an eas~ and rapicl manner.
~ nd still another object of tllis invention is to pro~
vide a drain assernbly which is for a lavatory basln and which is of reliable operation.
Otl~er objects of this invention will become ap~arent ~, upon a reading o~ the invention's description.
Brief Des,cription of the Drawin~
A preferred er~odiment of this inventiorlllas been cllosen for purposes of illustration and description wherein:
~ ig. 1 is a sectional view o the drain tube, lift rod and retainer clamp utilized in the invention and shown in separated form.
Fig. 2 is el pictorial view of the retainer nut of the ' ~;~
invention.
Fig, 3 is a perspective view o~ the e~tension linlc, lift rod and retainer clamp of the invention.
Fig. ~ is a perspective view of the drain tube.
Fig. 4A is a pexspective view o~ thc pop-up plug of the invention.
Fig. 5 is a perspective vlew showing the drain asser~ly in assembled form and connected to a lavatory basin shown

- 2 -L137~13 sectionalized orm ~or puxposes of illustration.
Fig. G is a fra~lentary view of the lockable pivotjoint o~' the extension lin]c shown in separated form with selected components thereof sectionali~ed for purposes of illustration.
Fig. 7 is ~ cross-sectional view oE the extension link pivot joint.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing the lift rod and retainer clamp in assembled lo form.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view in fragmQn~ary form showing the drain assembly connected to a laboratory basin.
Description,of th,e Pr~eferred ~nbo~liment The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be e~haustive or to limit the invention ~ the precise form disclosed. It is choscn and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and i-ts appli-cation and practical use to thereby enable others skilled I in the art to best utilize the invention.

i 20 ~he drain assembly illustrated in Figs. 1-9 include a drain tube lO, a pop-up plug 12, a retainer nut 14, a lift rod 16, a retainer clamp 18 and an extension link 20.
The drain assembly is connected between a lavatory basin 22 and a drain pipe (not shown) o a building or household plumbiny systemO
Basin 22 includes a bottom wall 24 and an overflow drain 26 defined by a lower partition 28~ Openinys 30 are formed in side wall 32 of the basin at a predetexmined height above bottom wall 24 to accommodate water or liquid overflow within the basin. A drain openiny 34 is foxmed in bottom wall 24 and partition 28. A faucet cover plate 36 is carried by the upper rear flange 38 of basin 22. Cover

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plate 36 is norn)ally utilized ~o house ~e valve componcnts of the faucets (not shown) utilized witll basin 22. 'l'he particular construction of the lavatox~ basin and its asso-, ciated components such as the fauce~ asselllblics and any '~ cover plate can vary from basin to baS:LII.
Drain tube 10 o the drai.n assembly inclu~cs a side wall ~0 defining a liquid flow conduit 42 -through the tube. Drain tub~ 10 includes a ~langed seat 4~ whic}l is carri~d at its ' upper end. Drain overflow openings ~6 are formed ad.jacentl~
'~ lo below seat 44. Drain tube 10 is also pxovided with exkernal ~ threads 48 which are locatecl spacedly b~low ov~rflo~ openings ,, 46. A side open.ing 50,defined by a recessecl annular sl~oulder 52, is forrned in drain tl~e side w~ll 40 'below ,`; threads 48. ~ pair o~ shoulders 54 are formed in the outer surface of drain tube side wall 40 at oppositely spaced ~, generally diametrically located posi.tions from side opening j 50 in the tul)e.
j Drain tube 10 as above described has a generally ,~ uniform transverse dimension which enables it to be inserted downwardly through drain opening 34 in basin 22 until seat 44 oE the tube is supported by tlle bottom wall 2~ of the basin. ~ fl~ible sealing ring 56 or sealing material such as putty is placed between seat ~4 and basin bottom wall 24 about ~rain opening 34. Retainer nut 14 is plac~d over the lower end 58 o drain tube 10 and is turned onto threads 48 of the tube. Nut 1~ carries a sealing 0-ring 60 which is brought into sealing engagement with partition 28 o , basin 22 about drain opening 34 as the nut is tightened.

'~c tightening of nut 1~ may be accomplished b~ the hand for ' which the nut i.s provided with~grip tabs 62. The tightening rotation of nut 1~ causes sealing rings 56 and 60 to be brought into compressive liquid sealiny engagement with "~ ~
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basin 22. Overflow op~rlincJs 46 in drclirl kube 10 are posi-tioned so as to be located betw~en the bottom wall 24 and partition 28 of the basin. Threads 48 o~ drain -tu~e 10 are !~ spaced from the lower partition 28 o the basin to enable the drain t-~e to have a smooth cylindrical outer surface at the drain opening of the basin. This enables O-ring 60 to make secure sealin~ en~a~cmcnt with the drain t~e a~out the basin clrain opening without the need of sup~)lemen-tal putty or other type o~ s~alincJ matcrial.
lo Pop-up plug 12 its slidably witllin conduit 42 of the drain tube. Plug 12 includes a ~lancJ~cl annular cap 64 which maXes circumferential sealing engagement with seat . ,.

4~ of the drain tube when the plug i5 located in its lowermost ,ositioll within the clrain tubc. Plug 12 is shifte~ between s lower sealing position and a raised oper~ position, shown in Fiys. 5 and 9, by lift rod lG. Rod 16 has one end por-tion formcd into an enlarged spherical bearin~ surface 66 whicll terminates in a protrusion 6~ coaxially positioned witll respeck to the rod. The opposite encl of lift rod 16 is pivotally connected by a pin 70 tc) end 72 of extellsion link 20.
Retainer clamp 18 includes a pair of spaced arms 7~
interconnected by a web part 7G. ~ach axm 74 terlllinates in , an inturned flange -/8. Web part 76 of ~etainer clamp 18 has an opening 80 therein which is defined by an annular internal shoulder ~2 and a cylindrical side wall 84.
Arms 74 straddle retainer rod 16 with the rod extending through opening 80 in the clamp web part. Bcaring surface 6G of lift rocl 16 fits within opening 80 and against ; 30 shoulder 82 of thc clamp. With protrusion 68 of ti~ lift rod extending into side opening 50 of drain tube 10, retainer clamp 18 is pressed against side wall 40 of the :' , .

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.~ drain tube which causes arms 7~ O:e th~ clamp to ha sli~Jhkly flexed and ca~necl about the side wall. of thc! tube w~til flan~es 7~ of the clanlp are snap-fittecl arotlnd shoulders 54 of the tube ~s seen in Fig. ~. An 0-xin~ 86 is located at shoulder 52 of tube side opcnin(J 50. ~s xetainer clarnp 18 is interloc];ed with drain tube 10 bearin~J surface 66 of thc rocl is urged into sealin~ enya~cmcllt ~J.;.th 0-rincJ 8~.
l In this position lift rod lG can pivo-t relltlve to drain '! tube 10 ~ithin retainer clamp 1~ while a sellecl r~lat.ioll-lo sl~ip is maintaincd with the drain tubc. I~ottoln ~8 o~
pop-up plu~ 12 conkacts protrusion 68 of lift rod 16 within flow conduit 4~ of the tube. Shiftabl~ up and do~n movelllent of lift rod 16 causes plug 12 to b~ correspondedly sllifted ; betweell open ancl closed positions~ In the manner just .lescri~ed li~t rod 16 can be connectcd l:o drairl tubc 10 after the tube is attached to a suitable lavatoxy basin all without the need of hand tools.
Lif~ rod 16 is shifted by extension link 20 which is pivctally connectecl at its end 72 to the lift rod and which extends upwardly through openin~s 88 in basin 22 and cover plate 36 where its upper end 90 is accessible to the user of the basi.n. E}tension link 20 is of a two piece con-struction one piece bein~ a rod 92 and the other piece ~ bein~ bar 94. Rod 92 and bar 9~ are joined by an adjustable i lockable pivot connect.ion. Bar 94 is formed at its oppo-site elld ~rom lit rocl 16 into a yoke 96 deining a socket 98 having split halves. ~ baIl member 100 fits within '! socl;et 98 and i.ncludes at its exterior surface a plurality of protrusiolls 1020 A cliametricalbore 104 is formed throu ball member 100 with one side of the ball member bein~

split to the bore to allow a r~duction in transverse si~e of the bore upon a compressive force lein~ appliecl in a . .

1~37~3 .ransverse naturc to the baill member ~hcn in socket 98.
screw lOG ex~ends non-rotatably ~hrou-~h yo]ce 96 with a tiglltelling wheel 108 threaded OIltO thc exposed end o~ the screw. Upon turning of whcel 10~ upon scrcw 16, the two halves of yoke 96 are urgecl together causincJ ball member 100 to be compressed with its bore 1.04 beincJ reduced in cross-section.
One end of rocl 9' extends sli.dably tllrouc,~h bore 104 in ball member 100 with tightenirlc3 wheel 10~ loosened upon screw 106. This allows rod 92 to be proper].y positioned with its uppe.r encl 90 selectively prokrudinc~ from the top of basin 22 and its covex plate 3G. Once rocl 92 i5 vertically orlented and prope.rly positioned within basi.n 22, wheel 10~
i.S ti~htenecl upon screw 1()6 to cause the contract,ion of ball member 100 about the rod, thereby securing the rocl ~o the ~all men~er ~s yoke 96 is ti~htened about ball meJ~er 100, the ball membex is interlocked with the yoke so as to pre-vent pivotal movement of the ball member and .its accommodaiting rod 92 relative to bar 94. Protxusions 102 of ball member 100 are pressed illtO interlockin~ enga~ement with the inner surface of ~oke socket 98 to enhance thc interlockincJ
engagement between the ball mer~er and yoke 96. In this manner, rod 92 can be oriented so as to shift in a parallel relationship relative to the axis of drain tu~e 10, thus provi~iing for the smooth, non-bindinc3 up and down pivotal movement of lift rod 16.
Drain tube 10 except or perhaps its seat 44, pop-up plug 12 excep-t perhaps for its cap 64, retainer nut 1~, lift rocl 16 and bar 94 of extension link 20 may be formed of a molded plastic composition. Ball memiber 100 forming the lockable pivot connec-tion between rod 92 and bar 94 o extension link 20 is preferably formed of a material which :! - 7 -" ~:

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is harder in composition than yoke ~) o~ bar 9~ to iaci:Li-tate the interlockiny or bitin~J el-lgacJcmerlt he-twecrl ball member protrusions 102 and the inncr surEace o~ yoke socket 9~.
i~lthouc3h not shown, a suitable conduit, pipe or fitting will ~e connected to the lower end 58 o~ drain t:ube lO, serving to connect the drain tube into a plum~in~ drain system.
It is to be understood tllat thc invention is not: to be limited to tlle details above cJivell but may be rnodi-fied within the scope of the app-nded claims.

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Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a drain assembly fox a lavatory basin having a drain opening therein, said assembly including a drain the having an upper end adapted to be supported by said basin with the tube extending through said drain opening, said drain tube including a side wall defining a liquid conduit extending from its said upper end lengthwise through the tube and having a side opening therein in communication with the liquid conduit, a plug fitted into said liquid conduit at the upper end of said drain tube, a lift rod extending through said drain tube side opening and engaging said plug for lifting the plug out of liquid sealing engage-ment with the drain tube, an extension link having one end pivotally connected to said lift rod and its opposite end adapted for gripping by a basin user to open and close said plug upon shiftable movement of the lift rod, the improve-ment wherein said extension link is of a two piece con-struction joined intermediate its ends by a lockable pivot connection, one piece of said extension link in-cluding a rod, the other piece of said extension link including a bar, said bar terminating in a socket part having split halves, a ball member having a bore therethrough and including means wherein said bore is reduced in transverse dimension upon compression of the ball member, said link rod extending adjustably through said ball member bore, said ball member fitting adjustably in said bar socket part, and means for compressing said socket part halves about said ball member wherein said ball member is restrictively clamped and said bore thereof is reduced in transverse dimension to clamp said link rod, whereby a rigid joint is formed at said link pivot connection.

2. The drain assembly of Claim 1 , wherein said ball member includes surface projection means for penetrating said socket part halves upon compression of the halves about the ball member, whereby the restrictive clamp of the socket part about the ball member is enhanced.