GB2510353A

GB2510353A - Apparatus for scaling a plug or overflow hole

Info

Publication number: GB2510353A
Application number: GB1301689.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-31
Filing date: 2013-01-31
Publication date: 2014-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-31
Also published as: GB2510353B; GB201301689D0

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for sealing a plug P or overflow hole of a bath or basin, comprising a cover 11, having a central recess , at least one mounting bracket, which may be a threaded hooked rod 14 and wingnut 18, for securing the cover over the hole, and a resilient annular seal 12 for placing between the cover and a surface surrounding the hole to create a water-tight seal. The recess contains a resilient filler material 21 such as dense foam, rubber or cork so that any protruding grate over the hole being sealed is received in the recess and presses into and deforms the resilient material when the cover is secured over the hole. Later embodiments relate to apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a bath or basin characterised by a cover having an aperture, a recess surrounding the aperture, a resilient member extending across the recess and a mounting member extending through the aperture; and apparatus characterised by a cover having an aperture, a mounting member having a single hook extending through the aperture, a tightening member on the opposite side of the cover, and a resilient member between the cover and hole to be sealed.

Description

Apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole and, nR)re particularly, to an apparatus for scaling a plug or overflow hole of a bath/ sink / urinal/ bidet/ shower or drain.

Apparatuses are known \vhich comprise a harrier such as a cover which can he secured over an internal aperture of a building, such as a sink plug hole or overflow orifice. Such apparatuses can serve as flood prevention devices to prevent flood water entering the building via the sink plug hole or overflow orifice. However, they can be time-consuming to install which is disadvantageous in an emergency flood situation and can cause damage to the internal apertures of the building during installation. Furthermore, many known flood prevention apparatuses do not provide a reliably secure seal between the flood harrier and the portion of the building to which the harrier is intended to seal.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a basin or bath that substantially alleviates or overcomes one or more of the problems mentioned above.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a bath or basin, comprising a cover, having a hollow central recess, at least one mounting bracket for securing the cover over the hole, and a resilient annular seal for placing between the cover and a surface surrounding the hole to create a water-tight seal therehetween, wherein the recess contains a resilient filler material configured so that any protruding grate over the hole being sealed is received in the recess and presses into and deforms the resilient material \vhen the cover is secured over the hole. Jo

The cover may he cup shaped and may comprise a peripheral rim configured to surround the hole with the resilient annular seal disposed between said rim and the surface surrounding the hole to he seal ed.

The mounting bracket may comprise a threaded post with an engaging means at one end thereof for securing the post to the grate of a pug/ over-flow/ drain hole. The engaging means may comprise a hook portion. The cover may include a central aperture to receive the threaded post, and a retaining nut threadingly received on the post to secure the cover over the hole to he sealed. The apparatus may comprise a washer receivable on the threaded post between the cover and the retaining nut to create a water-tight seal over the hole in the cover.

The rim of the cover may include a groove to receive the first side of the resilient annular seal. In one embodiment, the rim of the cover includes a groove and the first side of the resilient annular seal includes a lip receivable in the groove. In another embodiment, the first side of the resilient annular seal includes a groove and the rim of the cover includes a lip receivable in the groove.

The resilient annular seal may comprise a gasket. The gasket may he resiliently deformahie and comprise a first side for sealing against the cover and a second side for sealing against the surface surrounding the hole, one of the first and second sides of the gasket being concave in cross-section in an un-deformed state and being deformable to a flatter configuration as said concave side is pressed against the cover/surface surrounding the hole.

The gasket may be a continuous dosed shape to entirely surround the perimeter of the hole to he covered and may he configured to maintain an air-tight space between the concave side of the gasket and the cover/surface against which it is in contact, so that the gasket can remain adhered thereto by force of suction.

In one embodiment, the other of the first and second sides of the gasket opposite the concave section comprises a bead which is deformable when pressed into contact with the cover/surface surrounding the hole to make a \vater-tight seal therewith. The gasket may he removable from the cover.

The resilient filler material may comprise rubber, foam or cork and may be secured within the cover by glue and/or heat sealing. Alternatively, the resilient filler material may he integrally formed with the covet or may he unattached to the cover or removable therefrom.

In one embodiment, the resilient fillet material only partially fills the hollow central recess in the cover. In another embodiment, the resilient filler material completely fills the hollow central recess in the cover. The resilient filler material may be configured to bias the grate in a direction extending towards the hole.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a bath or basin, comprising a covet having an aperture therethrough, a mounting member extending through the aperture for securing the cover over the hole to he sealed, a recess surrounding the aperture, and a resilient member to create a water-tight seal between the cover and the hole to be sealed, wherein the resilient member comprises a pad gasket which extends across the recess in the cover, such that the resilient pad gasket may he deflected into the recess when the apparatus is secured to a protruding grate over a hole being sealed.

The pad gasket may substantially enclose the recess in the cover. The recess may contain resilient material, and the recess may he tilled with the resilient material.

The resilient filler material may comprise foam or rubber.

The pad gasket may comprise a first pad gasket and the apparatus further comprises a second pad gasket on the cover on the opposite side of aperture to first pad gasket and configured to create water-tight seal around aperture through cover when the apparatus is secured over hole to be sealed.

The mounting member may comprise an elongate rod extending through the aperture, having an engagement element configured to he inserted into, and engage an edge of, a hole to he sealed, and a tightening member on the opposite side of the cover to the hook for tightening the cover over the hole to he sealed.

The engagement element may comprise one single hook configured to be inserted into, and engage an edge of, a hole to be sealed.

The rod may comprise a threaded post and the tightening member may comprise a nut. The or each pad gasket may be made of foam, cork and/or rubber.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a bath or basin, comprising a cover having an aperture therethrough, a mounting member extending through the aperture for securing the cover over the hole to he sealed, and a resilient member to create a water-tight seal between the cover and a hole to he sealed, wherein the mounting member comprises an elongate rod extending through the aperture, having one single hook configured to be inserted into, and engage an edge of, a hole to he sealed, and a tightening member on the opposite side of the cover to the hook for tightening the cover over the hole to he sealed.

The apparatus may further comprise a recess surrounding the aperture. The resilient member may comprise a pad gasket which extends across the recess in the cover, such that the resilient pad gasket may he deflected into the recess when the apparatus is secured to a protruding grate over a hole being sealed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now he described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, iii which: Figure 1 shows a perspective viexv including enlarged sectional view, of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in an unsealed position in place on a plug bole; Figure 3 shows a perspective sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a sealed position in place on a different, protruding, plug hole; Figure 4 shows a viexv of a bath xvith two devices according to the first embodiment of the invention secured in place over the plug hole and over-flow hole; and Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 5 secured over a grate of a sink overflow hole.

Referring now to Figures 1 -4, an apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown and is an apparatus for sealing closed plug holes and over-flow holes of baths and basins, and also for sealing closed urinal drain holes and shower tray drain holes (although for the sake of brevity, description of the invention hereafter will only refer to a plug hole' cover). The apparatus 10 comprises a cup-shaped cover 11 to cover a plug hole P', a resilient annular seal 12 and a support bracket 13 which comprises a threaded post 14 with a hooked end 15 at one distal end thereof. A resilient filler material 2! is provided within the cup-shaped cover 11, shown in Figures 2 and 3 not entirely filling the cover; however, in an alternate embodiment (not shown) the filling material may fill the cup-shaped cover 11 up to the level of the rim of the cover 11. The resilient filler material 21 comprises dense foam, al though in alternate embodiments the resilient filler material 21 may comprise other densities of foam, or other elastically deformable materials such as rubber or cork. The cover 11 includes a central hole 16 through xvhich the threaded post 14 extends, and a washer 17 and a threaded wing nut 18 are received on the post 14.

The resilient annular seal 12 is configured for placement between the rim 19 of the cup-shaped cover 11 and the surface of the basin/bath/shower tray/urinal and is shaped as a closed loop corresponding to the shape of the rim of the cup-shaped cover 11. In the first embodiment of the invention the resilient annular seal 12 is a gasket 12. As can be seen in the enlarged portion of Figure 1, the gasket 12 comprises a bead 12a \vith a seal portion 12h on one side thereof which is concave in cross-section and the gasket 12 is made from a resiliently deformable material (e.g. rubber or silicone) such that the seal portion 12h deflects when pressed against a surface to \vhich it is to form a \vater-tight seal. The gasket 12 also includes a protruding lip 12c disposed on the upper portion of the bead 12a, on the opposite side thereof to the concave seal 12b. A rim 19 of the cup-shaped cover 11 includes a corresponding groove 20 which is configured to receive the lip 12c of the gasket 12 as a friction fit and so the gasket 12 can he frictionally held in ilace on the rim 19 of the cup-shaped cover 11, as shown in Figure 1.

In use, the hooked end 15 of the bracket 13 is hooked under the plug/ over-flo\v/ drain hole cover (referred to hereinafter as a grate' (i-), to he sealed, and the cover 11 is slid down the threaded post 14 in the direction of arrow A' (see Figure 2) until it is located over the plug hole P with the gasket 12 between the rim 19 of the cover 11 and the surface of the basin/plug hole, with the seal portion 121) against the basin/plug hole. The washer 17 is placed on the threaded post 14 and the wing nut 18 is threaded onto the post 14 and screwed down until it contacts the cover 11 and is tightened further to pull the bracket 13 tight against the underside of the grate and the rim 19 of the cover 11 is pressed tightly against the upper surface of the basin/plug hole, with the gasket 12 disposed therehetween. The wing nut 18 and washer 17 make a water-tight seal over the hole 16 in the cover 11 and so the plug hole of the basin is then completely sealed to prevent flood water from passing up the waste pipe and spilling out therethrough. \Vhen in use with a basin or bath having a plug or overflow grate that protrudes from the surface of the basin/bath, the resilient filler material 21 deforms around the portion of the grate that protrudes out of the surface surrounding the drain hole, as shovn in Figure 3, to oppose the force exerted on the grate by the hooked end 15 during tightening of the wing nut 18, to provide support between the grate and the cover 11, and spread the force exerted on the grate over a greater surface area, preventing damage to the grate.

This can also serve to counter-act any excessive force exerted on the grate if the xving nut 18 is over-tightened when the cover 11 is secured in place.

The bracket 13 is shown with an end configured as a single hook 15. This is an advantageous configuration as it is an optimum configuration for ease of insertion of the hooked end into an aperture in the plug hole or plug hole grate. This is far more of an advantageous arrangement than, for example, a device having two or more hooked ends which would he very difficult, if not impossible, in practice to secure through an aperture in a plug hole or plug hole grate, since once one hook is engaged, it would be very difficult, if not impossible to secure the second or subsequent hook(s) in place.

The resilient filler material 21 may a'so provide an additional seal over the plug hole P. To fully seal a bath or sink, a second such device can be located and secured over the over-flow hole in the same manner as described above for the plug hole. Figure 4 shows a bath in which a flood prevention apparatus is secured over 1)0th the p'ug hole and the over-flow hole.

As described previously, the seal portion 121) of the gasket 12 is pressed against the basin surface so that it is deformed from its un-deflected concave shape to a flatter, /0 more splayed-out shape, anJ the resilience of the gasket t2 creates a suction cup' type effect anJ a negative pressure iii the small space between the seal portion I 2b of the gasket 12 anJ the surface of the basin. This, as well as the generally splayeJ-out configuration of the seal 121), results in a grcarly cnhanced water-tight scat being created between the gaskcr 12 and the basin. Thc bcad portion 12a and lip 12c of the gasket 12 are pressed against the rim 19 of the cup-shaped covet 11, with the lip 12c received in the groove 20, and deform to make a water-tight seal between the gasket 12 and thc cover rim 19.

It will be appreciated that although the embodiment of the invention described above has a groove 20 formed in the cover rim 19 and the lip I 2c formed on the gasket 12, in an alternate embodiment (not shown) these features could be reversed such that a groove is formed in the bead portion 12a of the gasket 12 and receives a protruding lip &)rmed on the rim 19 of the cover 11. Alternatively, the rim 19 of the COVer 11 may include a groove configured to entirely receive the head portion 12a of thc gasket 12, without a separate lip 12c being provided. It will also he appreciated that either configuration of gasket U of the apparatus 10 described above, is readily detachable from the cup-shaped cover it meaning that the gasket 12 alone can he supplied as a replacemcnt part independently of the other components of the flood prevention apparatus 10 and can easily be replaced when worn or damaged, making the apparatus of the invention cost effective in the long term for the user. however, it is also intended within the scope of the invention that the gasket 12 may be bonded to the cup-shaped cover 11. In another embodiment (not shown), the gasket 12 is integrally formed with the cup-shaped cover 11.

Although in the above-described embodiments the resilient annular seal is a gasket, having a partially concave cross-sectional profile when un-deformed to create a suction effect when pressed into position, in alternate embodiments the resilient annular seal may have an alternate cross-sectional shape when un-deformed such as circular or rectangular to create a water-tight seal simply by being compressed against the surface to which it is to seal. The resilient annular seal may comprise, for example, a conventional washer, square-cut seal, 0-ring or X-ring.

It will he appreciated that the gasket 12 of the apparatus 10 described above is readily detachable from the cover 11. This means that the gasket 12 alone can he supplied as a replacement part independently of the other components of the flood prevention apparatus and can easily be replaced when worn or damaged, making the apparatus of the invention cost effective in the long term for the user.

It is intended that a range of differently shaped cup-shaped covers and correspondingly shaped gaskets may he provided xvhich are specifically shaped according to whether the flood prevention apparatus 10 is to he used on a basin plug hole, bath plug hole, over-flow hole of a bath or basin, a shower tray or a urinal. Furthermore, cup-shaped covers and corresponding gaskets of different shapes/sizes may be produced dimensioned specifically to fit the products of different bath/basin/shower tray/urinal manufacturers, and so a user can purchase the one cover/gasket specific for their requirements. It is also envisaged that general cup-shaped covers and gaskets may he provided which are able to he used xvith a range of different bath/basin/shower tray/urinal shapes.

Although in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4 the cup-shaped cover is substantially conical, in alternate embodiments the cover may take the form of other shapes for example: cuboidal, prismatic, setni-spherical or cylindrical.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6, :an(l comprises an apparatus for sealing closed plug holes and over-flow holes, as per the first embodiment. The apparatus 110 comprises a cover 111 including a disc-shaped upper portion lila and a \vall 11 lb depending from a perimeter thereof to define a central recess 122 within the cover Ill. A resilient seal 112 in the form of a pad gasket is provided over one side of the cover Ill and over the recess 122. A support bracket 113 comprises a threaded post 114 with a hooked end 115 at one distal end thereof, and the cover ill includes a central hole 116 through which the threaded post 114 extends. A washer 117 and a threaded wing nut 113 are received on the post 114, and a secondary pad gasket 123 is received on the post t t4 between the washer 117 and cover! ! t. The threaded p° extends through a hole in the Pad gasket 112.

A resilient filler material 121 is provided within the recess 122 of the cover Ill.

Although shown in Figure 3 as entirely filling the recess 122, the invention is not limited to such an embodiment and the tiller material may alternatively only partially fill the recess 122. The resilient filler material 121 comprises dense foam, although in alternate embodiments the resilient filler material 121 may comprise other densities of foam, or other elastically deformahle materials such as rubber or cork.

in yet further alternative embodiments of the invention, the filler material 121 may be omitted entirely.

In use, the hooked end 115 of the bracket 113 is hooked under the plug/over-fowl drain hole cover, referred to hereinafter as a grate', to be scaled, and the cover 111 is slid down the threaded post 114 until it is located over the plug hole P with the pad gasket 112 covering the plug hole P or surface of the grate. The secondary pad gasket 123 and washer 117 are placed on the threaded post 114 and the wing nut 113 is threaded onto the post 114 and screwed do\vn until it contacts the washer 117 and is tightened further to pull the bracket 113 tight against the underside of the grate/hole. In doing so, the cover squashes the pad gasket 112 tightly against the surface of the basin/plug hole, or upper surface of the grate. The secondary gasket 123 and washer 117 create a water-tight seal over the hole 116 in the cover 111 and so the plug hole of the basin is then completely sealed. When in use with a -10-basin or bath having a plug or overflow grate that protrudes from the surface of the basin/bath, the tightening of the wing nut 118 pulls the cover 111 tight and the grate may begin to extend into the recess 122, thereby deforming the pad gasket 112 and resilient filler material 121, as shown in Figure 6. The pad gasket makes a water-tight seal over the grate holes. One advantage of having the resilient filler material 121 in the recess 122 is that it offers a force of resistance to oppose the force exerted on the grate by the hooked end 115 during tightening of the wing nut 118. This spreads the force exerted on the grate over a greater surface area and may help to prevent damage to the grate by cracking or bending. This can also serve to counter-act any excessive force exerted on the grate if the wing nut fig is over-tightened when the cover iii is secured in place. The squashing of the pad gasket 112 and filler material 121 deforms each against the threaded post 113 to help make a seal thereagainst to prevent water from the plug/overflow hole from seeping past the pad gasket 112 and filler material 121. Even if any water did pass these components, the secondary pad gasket 123 seals the top of the cover ii to prevent xvater leaking through the hole 116 therein. This double pad gasket arrangement is therefore particularly advantageous, and with the filler material 121 acting effectively as a third pad gasket, such a triple pad gasket arrangement is yet further advantageous for effective water-tight sealing.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus 110 of the second embodiment having the pad gasket 112 is useable to seal closed open sink overflow holes by the hook 115 engaging the edge of the hole, or plug holes with grates xvhich are recessed by the hook 115 being inserted into one hole in the grate and the pad gasket 112 sealing over the outer rim of the grate, or plug/overflow holes with protruding grates by the hook 115 being inserted into one hole in the protruding grate and the pad gasket 112 sealing over the holes in the outermost surface of the protruding grate. In the latter case, the recess 122 is advantageous as it permits a greater deformation of the pad gasket 112 (and filler material 121) to ensure an effective seal over the protruding surface of the grate than would he possible if the cover 111 was solid and any deflection would have to occur within the thickness of the pad gasket 112.

A yet further advantage of having the recess 122, optionally but preferably with a filler material 121, is that when sealing over protruding plug/overflow hole grates G that have a protruding lug on the outermost surface (for example, for attachment of a chain linking the grate G to a plug), the lug can be received within the resilient material of the pad gasket 112 (and filler material 121) within the recess 122 and an effective seal may still be made by the pad gasket 112 over the holes in the protruding surface of the grate C-. If there xvas no recess 121 in the cover Ill, the lug may press into the pad gasket and press against the cover Ill, and I event the pad gasket 112 being effectively sealed tightly against the grate C. In all embodiments, the threaded rod may preferably be between 1.5mm -6mm, and more preferably between 2mm -5mm, and preferably 4mm in diameter, to ensure the optimum balance between sufficient strength and being light-weight.

It will he appreciated that the embodiments of the invention may he used for preventing the ingress of flood water into a building through the sink/bath holes they can seal closed. The embodiments of the invention may also he useable to aid in the removal of a blockage in a sink plug hole. Conventionally, when a plunger is used to unblock a sink plug hole, air can escape through the air sink overflow allowing the pressure in the plug hole behind the blockage to equalise with the atmosphere and so prevents the pressure build up required in the plug hole to efflciently unblock it. To substantially alleviate this problem, the apparatuses of the present invention may be fitted over the sink overflow to provide an airtight seal.

The p'unger can then be used in the conventional manner to unblock the plug hose.

However, air is now prevented from escaping through the overflow and so the pressure behind the Nockage may be higher, which can enormously improve the effectiveness of the unhlocking process.

Alihough various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described above, the invention is not intended to he limited to these exemplary embodiments and any comhination of non mutually-exclusive features is intended to fall within the scope of the invention defined by the claims hereafter. -12-

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow heile of a bath or basin, comprising a cover having a central recess, at least one mounting bracket for securing the cover over the hole, and a resilient annu'ar seal for placing between the cover and a surface surrounding the hole to create a water-tight seal therehetween, wherein the recess contains a resilient filler material configured so that any protruding grate over the hole being sealed is received in the recess and presses into and deforms the resilient material when the cover is secured over the hole.
2. An apparatus according to claim I wherein the cover is cup shaped.
3. An apparatus according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the cover comprises a PeriPheral rim configured to surround the hole \vith the resilient annular seal disposed between said rim and the surface surrounding the hole to he sealed.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the mounting bracket comprises a threaded post with an engaging means at one end thereof for securing the post to the grate of a plug/ over-fiow/ drain hole.
3. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the cover includes a central aperture to receive the threaded post, and a retaining nut threadingly received on the post to secure the cover over the hole to be sealed.
6. An apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 3 wherein the engaging means comprised a hooked portion.
7. /\n apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 6 further comprising a \vasher receivable on the threaded post between the cover and the retaining nut to create a water-tight seal over the hole in the cover. -13-
8. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 -7 wherein the rim of the cover includes a groove to receive the first side of the resilient annular seal.
9. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 -7 vherein the rim of the cover includes a groove and the first side of the resilient annular seal includes a lip receivable in the groove.
10. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 -7 vherein the first side of the resilient annular seal includes a groove and the rim of the cover includes a lip receivable in the groove.
11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient annular seal comprises a gasket.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the gasket is resiliently deformable and comprises a first side for sealing against the cover and a second side for sealing against the surface surrounding the hole, one of the first and second sides of the gasket being concave in cross-section in an un-deformed state and being deformable to a flatter configuration as said concave side is pressed against the cover/surface surrounding the hole.
13. An apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said gasket is a continuous closed shape to entirely surround the perimeter of the hole to he covered.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said gasket is configured to maintain an air-tight space between the concave side of the gasket and the cover/surface against which it is in contact, so that the gasket can remain adhered thereto by force of suction. -14-
15. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 -14-wherein the other of the first and second sides of the gasket opposite the concave section comprises a bead which is deformable when pressed into contact with the cover/surface surrounding the hole to make a water-tight seal therewith. )
16. An apparatus according to any of claims II -15, wherein the gasket is attachable to the cover, or to a surface surrounding the hole to he covered by force of suction prior to placement and securing of the cover over the hole to he covered.
!7. An apparatus according to any of claims t t -16 wherein the gasket is removable from the cover.
18. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient filler material comprises foam, rubber or cork.
19. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient filler material is secured within the cover by glue and/or heat sealing.
20. An apparatus according to any of claims I -18 wherein the resilient filler material is integrally formed with the cover or is removable from the cover.
21. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient filler material only partially fills the hollow central recess in the cover.
22. An apparatus according to any of claims I -20 wherein the resilient filler material completely fills the hollow central recess in the cover.
23. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient filler material is configured to bias the grate in a direction extending towards the hole. -15-
24. An apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a bath or basin, comprising a cover having an aperture therethrough, a mounting member extending through the aperture for securing the cover over the hok to be sealed, a recess surrounding the aperture, and a resilient member to create a water-tight seas between the cover and the hole to he sealed, wherein the resilient member comprises a pad gasket which extends across the recess in the cover, such that the resilient pad gasket may be deflected into the recess xvhen the apparatus is secured to a protruding grate over a hole being sealed.
25. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the pad gasket substantially encloses the recess in the cover.
26. An apparatus according to claim 24 or claim 25 wherein the reccss contains resilient material.
27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein recess is filled with the resilient material.
28. An apparatus according to claim 26 or claim 27 wherein the resilient filler material comprises foam, rubber or cork.
29. An apparatus according to any of claims 24 -28 wherein the pad gasket comprises a first pad gasket and the apparatus further comprises a second pad gasket on the cover on the opposite side of aperture to first pad gasket and configured to create \vater-tight seal around aperture through cover when the apparatus is secured over hole to he sealed.
30. An apparatus according to any of claim 24 -29 wherein the mounting member comprises an elongate rod extending through the aperture, having an engagement element configured to be inserted into, and engage an edge of, a hole to be sealed, and a tightening member on the opposite -16-side of the cover to the hook for tightening the cover over the hole to he scaled.
31. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the engagement element comprises one single hook configured to he inserted itito, and engage an edge of, a hole to be sealed.
32. An apparatus according to claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the rod comprises a threaded post and the tightening member comprises a nut.
33. An apparatus according to any of claims 24 -32 wherein the or each pad gasket is made of foam.
34. An apparatus according to any of claims 24 -33 wherein the or each pad gasket is made of rubber.
35. An apparatus for sealing a plug or overflow hole of a hath or hasin, comprising a cover having an aperture therethrough, a mounting member extending through the aperture for securing the cover over the hole to he sealed, and a resilient member to create a water-tight seal between the cover and a hole to be sealed, wherein the mounting member comprises an elongate rod extending through the aperture, having one single hook configured to he inserted into, and engage an edge of, a hole to he sealed, and a tightening member on the opposite side of the cover to the hook for tightening the cover over the hole to he sealed.
36. An apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising a recess surrounding the aperture.
37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the resilient memher comprises a pad gasket which extends across the recess in the cover, such that the resilient pad gasket may be deflected into the recess when the apparatus is secured to a protruding grate over a hole being sealed. -17-
38. An apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising any feature defined in any of dairns 25 -29 and 32 -34.
39. An apparatus suhstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.