NZ244073A

NZ244073A - Captive plug rotated and moved axially in sink waste pipe so that fluid drains through outer holes to interior of plug

Info

Publication number: NZ244073A
Application number: NZ24407392A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Albert Edward Worthington
Original assignee: Albert Edward Worthington
Priority date: 1992-08-25
Filing date: 1992-08-25
Publication date: 1995-07-26
Also published as: AU674143B2; AU4211493A

Description

Patents Form No. 5 Patent No: 244073 Dated: 25th August 1992 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION fLUU I, ALBERT EDWARD WORTHINGTON, a citizen of the United Kingdom, of 27 Glenrowan Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: a ' .. t \ - ^ V 1 C-f t v/ / J This invention relates to a plug assembly for use in connection with domestic, commercial and industrial drains, sinks, baths (etc).

Known sink assemblies and plugs are generally of two types • a sink plug that is totally separate from the sink unit into which it fits, and a sink plug that is attached in some manner (eg a chain) to the sink unit. Both of these have obvious drawbacks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly unit of sink and plug that avoids the problems inherent in these parts being separate.

The present invention provides a plug assembly unit including: a sink waste pipe unit of known type; a plug; and means for draining fluid from said sink to said pipe; wherein said unit includes inter-engaging means for said pipe and plug and means to secure said plug relative to said pipe wherein: said plug can be rotated and moved relative to said pipe but cannot be removed therefrom under normal operating conditions; said plug can be moved between an open and a closed position; and said fluid drains through one or more peripheral holes in said plug through the interior of said plug to the pipe.

Preferably said unit further includes means to enable the plug to be left in an open position for draining. Preferably also the unit includes means to enable the plug to sit flush with the sink when the plug is in the closed position. .. ♦ * ■ ' • ♦ r* the bottom of the plug when closed.

By way of example only a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a cross-section of the present invention with a first embodiment of a plug; yZ'' , <• " "v Fig. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention , Fig. 3 is a cross-section of part of a third embodiment of the plu^ of the CH V / 0 present invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of part of a fourth embodiment of the plug of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the plug of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fifth embodiment of the plug of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is thereshown. The assembly includes a plug 2 and waste pipe 3. The plug 2 includes: a pivotable handle 4 which is secured at one end to the top of the plug 2; a groove 5 for placement of a rubber O-ring (not shown); a hollow cylindrical body 8 with two or more draining holes 6 positioned adjacent said groove 5; and a shaped slot 7 positioned along the length of said body 8.

The handle 4 maybe secured to the plug 2 by a swivel pin (not shown). The handle 4 may be of known shape provided that when flat the exterior dimensions of the handle 4 are such that the handle 4 fits within the cross-sectional area of the plug 2. If the handle 4 is not so shaped, then it cannot lie flat or fit within a suitably shaped cavity (not shown) on the top of the plug 2. If so desired a top end 11 of the pipe 3 may include an indentation shaped to enable a tinger or tnumo to oe inserted under the handle 4 when the handle 4 is in a closed position.

As an alternative, the handle 4 may be secured rigidly to the plug 2 in a fixed position in known manner, if so desired.

The O-ring provides a seal between the plug 2 and waste pipe 3 when the plug 2 is in a closed position. The draining holes 6 allow fluid to move from the sink to the waste pipe 3 via the interior of the plug 2 within the cylindrical body 8 of the 24 4 0 7 3 plug 2 and through the open end 9 of the plug 2.

The waste pipe 3 includes a hole 10 through which a locking screw (not shown) may be secured. The locking screw is of known type, seals the pipe 3 so that fluid cannot escape through hole 10, and is dimensioned such that it slides freely within a slot 7.

The hole 10 is positioned adjacent the top end 11 of the pipe 3 such that the locking screw engages with the slot 7 in the plug 2. The slot 7 is shaped in the form of an E with the middle bar missing. Thus there is an open position (corresponding to the positioning of the locking screw in arm 7a of the slot 7) and a closed position (corresponding to the positioning of the locking screw in arm 7b of the slot 7) into which the plug 2 may be moved.

A spring 12 is positioned between the end 9 of the plug 2 and a retaining rim 13 within the pipe 3. The spring 12 is tensioned so that the plug 2 will remain in the open position once it is so placed, and cannot be accidentally knocked to the closed position. Also, the fact that the plug 2 can be locked in the open position allows for the avoidance of water hammer.

Referring to Fig. 2 a second preferred embodiment of the present assembly is thereshown. Ihe following elements ot the tirst preferred embodiment are also present and are as described above: handle 4; groove 5 (but shown with O-ring 13); draining holes 6; slot 7 (with arms 7a and 7b, corresponding respectively to the open and closed positions of the plug 2); cylindrical walls 8; open end 9; hole 10 (with locking screw not shown); and top end 11.

The plug 2 further includes a lower groove 14 positioned adjacent the open end 9 of the plug. The lower groove 14 includes an O-ring (not shown). This O-ring acts as a means to prevent the plug 2 sliding to the closed position of the plug 2 is knocked so that the locking screw is moved from a position in arm 7a (i.e. the open position).

If so desired the assembly can include a waste chamber cavity IS positioned adjacent the open end 9 of the plug 2 (when in the closed position).

Referring to Fig. 3 a third preferred embodiment of the plug 2 is thereshown. This embodiment is a variation of the second preferred embodiment. The draining holes 6 are positioned adjacent the lower end 9. A plurality of secondary draining holes 16 are positioned adjacent the handle 4. With this embodiment of the plug 2 the waste chamber cavity 15 is essential and must be positioned such that a lower portion of the plug 2 (including the draining holes 6) is within the cavity 15 when the plug 2 is in the closed position.

Alternatively, if so desired, secondary draining holes 16 are uniformly positioned across a grating 16a positioned below said handle 4.

Thus the flow of waste fluid is from the sink through the secondary draining holes 16, down the inside of the plug, out the draining holes 6 and into the waste chamber cavity 15.

The slot 7 is shaped in the form of an L with an arm 7a (corresponding to the I - I - o o • d ■ t corresponds to the location of the locking screw at the top of the L shape.

If so desired, the plug 2 shown in Fig. 3 may be positioned within the pipe 3 below the top end 11 of the pipe 3.

Referring to Fig. 4, a fourth preferred embodiment of the plug 2 is thereshown. This embodiment is a variation of the first or second preferred 24 4 0 73 embodiments. The draining holes 6 are adjacent the O-ring 13 and groove 5. The locking screw slides freely within slot 7, the upper arm 7a of which slopes downward to the lower arm 7b.

A small slot 19 is cut into the wall 8 of the plug 2 for retention of one end of the spring (not shown in Fig. 4). This slot 19 can be added to other embodiments for the same reason, if so desired.

Referring to Fig.s 5 and 6, a fifth embodiment of the plug 2 is thereshown. This is a variation of the third embodiment of the invention. The handle 4 is secured to the plug 2 by a swivel pin 17. The top of the plug 2 is shaped so that the handle 4 fits within the cross-sectional area of the plug 2.

The draining holes 6 and lower groove 14 are as described with reference to Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 6, the draining holes 16 are shown in plan and are positioned adjacent the handle 4 within the grating 16a. A finger groove 18 is appropriately positioned on the rim of the top of the plug 2 for insertion of a finger to lift the handle 4 to the upright position.

The plug 2 and pipe 3 may be made of the same or of separate materials that are suiiaoie tor sucn components, for example, ine piug may oe oi ora^ anu ine pipe 3 of a plastics material. The parts may, for example, be of a plastics material, brass, stainless steel, or a chromed material. The spring 12 may be of any suitable material but is preferably stainless steel.

The pipe 3 can be fitted to any sink or other unit in known manner. The plug 2 is then inserted into the pipe 3 and the hole 10 and slot 7 aligned. The locking screw is then secured in place. 24 4 0 7 5 It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described with reference to three separate preferred embodiments, the slot 7 described with reference to the third preferred embodiment (Fig, 3) may be used in the first or second embodiments. Similarly, the option of the waste chamber IS and lower positioning of the draining holes 6 may be used in any of the embodiments shown.

Claims

WHAT I CI .AIM IS:-

1. A plug assembly unit including: a sink waste pipe unit; a plug; and means for draining fluid from said sink to said pipe; wherein said plug assembly unit includes inter-engaging means for said pipe and plug and means to secure said plug relative to said pipe wherein: said plug can be rotated and moved relative to said pipe but cannot be removed therefrom under normal operating conditions; said plug can be moved between an open and a closed position; and said fluid drains through one or more peripheral holes in said plug through the interior of said plug to the pipe.

2. A plug assembly unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plug assembly unit further includes means to enable said plug to be left in an open position.

3. A plug assembly unit as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said pipe unit includes a waste chamber cavity immediately adjacent the bottom of said plug when said plug is in a closed position.

4. A plug assembly unit as claimed in either claim 2 or 3 wherein said plug groove for placement of a rubber O-ring; a hollow cylindrical body with two or more draining holes positioned adjacent said groove; and a shaped slot positioned along the length of said body. 244 0 7 3 A •

5. A plug assembly unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for leaving the plug in an open position includes a hole in the waste pipe through which a locking screw is secured, said locking screw engaging with said shaped slot.

6. A plug assembly unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the opening means further includes a spring positioned between the lower end of the plug and a retaining rim integrally formed with said pipe.

7. A plug assembly unit as claimed any one of the preceding claims wherein draining holes are positioned adjacent the lower end of said plug.

8. A plug assembly unit as claimed any one of the claims 4 to 7 (when dependant on any one of the claims 4 to 6) wherein said assembly unit further includes a plurality of draining holes in a grating position below and adjacent said handle.

9. A plug assembly unit substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. ALBERT EDWARD WORTHINGTON. by their authorised agents, P L. BERRY & ASSOCIATES.