US20220389697A1

US20220389697A1 - Overflow pipe assembly

Info

Publication number: US20220389697A1
Application number: US17/819,808
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuang-Ming Kuo; Chih-Wei Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bridging Partners Corp
Priority date: 2021-06-08
Filing date: 2022-08-15
Publication date: 2022-12-08
Also published as: US11466439B1

Abstract

An overflow pipe assembly includes an overflow pipe having an end portion. An adaptor is connected to the end portion of the overflow pipe and includes a first connection portion formed to the center thereof. A second connection portion which is a slot, and a third connection portion which is a bore, are respectively formed to two ends of the adaptor. A cover includes multiple protrusions which are engaged with the engaging portions of the adaptor to connect the cover to the adaptor. When installing the adaptor to an overflow pipe with two tubular parts, the adaptor does not shift by extending bolts through the second and third connection portions and connected to the two tubular parts. When installing the adaptor to an overflow pipe with a single tube, a bolt extends through the first connection portion and is connected to the tube.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to an overflow pipe assembly of a bathtub, and more particularly, to an adaptor for connecting a cover to the overflow pipe of different structure.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional bathtub generally includes an overflow hole at a desired height of the bathtub so that when the water level reaches the overflow hole, the excess water will flow from the overflow hole and into an overflow pipe, wherein the overflow pipe is directly connected to the bathtub and a cover is mounted to the distal end of the overflow pipe so as to avoid water from making the floor wet.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/341,768 discloses an adaptor for connecting a core to the overflow pipe. The disclosed adaptor is an H-shaped part which includes a first connection portion located at a center of the adaptor, and a second connection portion is formed to each of two ends of the adaptor. The adaptor further includes an engaging portion formed to two sides thereof. The cover includes multiple protrusions so as to be engaged with the engaging portions of the adaptor. When using the adaptor to the overflow pipe that has a single tube located at the center thereof, a bolt extends through the first connection portion of the adaptor and is connected to the tube so as to connect the cover to the overflow pipe. When using the adaptor to the overflow pipe that has two tubular parts formed to the inner periphery of the overflow pipe, two bolts extends through the two second connection portions of the adaptor and are connected to the two tubular parts so as to connect the cover to the overflow pipe.
However, when using the adaptor to the overflow pipe that has two tubular parts formed to the inner periphery of the overflow pipe, the two connection portions each are a slots which may allow the adaptor to be slide along the axis of the two slots. The loosened adaptor causes the connection between the adaptor and the cover, such that the cover may shift left or right relative to the overflow pipe.
The present invention intends to provide an overflow pipe assembly having an improved adaptor that eliminates the shortcomings mentioned above to ensure that the adaptor does not shift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an overflow pipe assembly, and comprises an overflow pipe having an end portion. An adaptor which is an elongate body, and the length of the elongate body is not longer than the diameter of the end portion of the overflow pipe. The adaptor is connected to the end portion of the overflow pipe, and includes a first connection portion formed to the center thereof, wherein the first connection portion is a hole. A second connection portion and a third connection portion are respectively formed to two ends of the adaptor. The second connection portion is a slot, and the third connection portion is a bore. Two engaging portions are respectively formed to two sides of the adaptor. A cover has at least one drainage formed to the periphery thereof, and the at least one drainage communicates with the end portion of the overflow pipe. Multiple protrusions extend from the inner bottom of the cover. The protrusions are engaged with the engaging portions of the adaptor so as to connect the cover to the adaptor.
Preferably, multiple ribs protrude from the periphery of the first connection portion to increase an axial height of the first connection portion.
The adaptor of the present invention is connected to the end portion of the overflow pipe of different structure, regardless of the end portion with single tube or two tubular parts.
When installing the adaptor to an end portion with two tubular parts, because the adaptor has a second connection portion which is a slot, and a third connection portion which is a bore, so that one bolt extends through the third connection portion and is connected to one of the two tubular parts first, and another bolt then extends through the second connection portion and is connected the other tubular part. The installation is easy and the adaptor does not shift relative to the end portion of the overflow pipe.
There are multiple ribs protruding from the periphery of the first connection portion to increase the axial height of the first connection portion so that when installing the adaptor to an end portion with a single tube, the periphery of the bolt is enclosed by the ribs to enhance the connection strength between the bolt and the first connection portion.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention, wherein the end portion of the overflow pipe includes a single tube at the center thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention, wherein the end portion of the overflow pipe includes two tubular parts;

FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention, wherein the cover includes two slot-type drainage and the end portion of the overflow pipe includes a single tube at the center thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention, wherein the cover includes two slot-type drainage and the end portion of the overflow pipe includes two tubular pasts, and

FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view of the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 8 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the overflow pipe assembly of the present invention comprises an overflow pipe 10 which is an L-shaped pipe and has an end portion 11. The end portion 11 is a tubular portion with an open end, and the end portion 11 is bent relative to the overflow pipe 10. A flange 111 extends outward from the end portion 11. The end portion 11 includes a path 12 that communicates with the overflow pipe 10. The end portion 11 is installed to the bathtub 20 as shown in FIG. 3 , wherein a seal ring 15 is clamped between the flange 111 and the inside of the bathtub 20. The end portion 11 extend beyond the bathtub 20 and is connected to a cover 40. A tube 13 is located along the axis of the end portion 11 of the overflow pipe 10. A first threaded hole 131 is formed in the distal end of the tube 13.
An adaptor 30 is an elongate and H-shaped plate. The length of the elongate body is not longer than the diameter of the end portion 11 of the overflow pipe 10, so that the adaptor 30 is connected to the end portion 11 of the overflow pipe 10. The adaptor 30 includes a first connection portion 31 formed to the center thereof. The first connection portion 31 is a hole. A second connection portion 33 and a third connection portion 34 are respectively formed to two ends of the adaptor 30. The second connection portion 33 is a slot which extends along an axis of the elongate plate of the adaptor 30 and opens to one of two ends of the adaptor 30. The third connection portion 34 is a bore which does not open to another one of the two ends of the adaptor 30. Two engaging portions 35, 351 are respectively formed to two sides of the adaptor 30. The two engaging portions 35, 351 are two straight sides. Multiple ribs 311 protrude from the periphery of the first connection portion 31 to increase the axial height of the first connection portion 31. The first threaded hole 131 is located corresponding to the first connection portion 31 of the adaptor 30. A bolt 16 extends through the first connection portion 31 of the adaptor 30 and is connected to the first threaded hole 131 of the tube 13 so as to connect the adaptor 30 to the tube 13 of the end portion 11.
A cover 40 includes at least one drainage 41 formed to the skirt portion that extends from the periphery of the cover 40. The drainage 41 as shown in FIG. 2 communicates with the path 12 of the end portion 11 of the overflow pipe 10. Multiple protrusions 43 extend from the inner bottom 42 of the cover 40. The multiple protrusions 43 are arranged in two rows and located corresponding to the engaging portions 35, so that the protrusions 43 are able to be engaged with the engaging portions 35 of the adaptor 30 to connect the cover 40 to the adaptor 30. Each of the protrusions 43 of the cover 40 includes a root 431 extending from the inner bottom 42 of the cover 40, and a hook 432 is formed to a distal end of the root 431. The hooks 432 of two rows of the protrusions 43 face each other so as to hook the two engaging portions 35.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the seal ring 15 is clamped between the flange 111 and the inside of the bathtub 20, and the end portion 11 is inserted into an opening of the wall of the bathtub 20. The first connection portion 31 of the adapter 30 is aligned with the first threaded hole 131 of the tube 13.
The bolt 16 extends through the first connection portion 31 of the adaptor 30 and is connected to the first threaded hole 131 of the tube 13 so as to connect the adaptor 30 to the tube 13 of the end portion 11. The drainage 41 of the cover 40 is located at the lower position of the cover 40, and the hooks 432 of the two rows of the protrusions 43 hook the tow engaging portions 35, 351 of the adaptor 30 to connect the cover 40 to the adaptor 30. Therefore, the cover 40 is connected to the end portion 11 of the overflow pipe 10. It is noted that the multiple ribs 311 protrude from the periphery of the first connection portion 31 to increase the axial height of the first connection portion 31 so that contact area between the bolt 16 and the first connection portion 31 of the adaptor 30 is also increased.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show that there are two tubular parts 14 extending respectively from the inner periphery of the end portion 11 of the overflow pipe 10. The two tubular parts 14 respectively includes a second threaded hole 141 and a third threaded hole 142 formed to the distal end thereof. The second and third threaded holes 141, 142 are located corresponding to the third connection portion 34 and the second connection portion 33 of the adaptor 30. Two bolts 161, 16 respectively extend through the second connection portion 33 and the third connection portion 34 of the adaptor 30, and are connected to the third threaded hole 142 and the second threaded holes 141. In this embodiment, the axial length of the end portion 112 is longer than the previous embodiment and protrudes beyond the bathtub 20. The cover 401 is slightly different from the cover 40 of the previous embodiment, the cover 401 includes longer skirt portion so as to be mounted to the end portion 11 properly and contact the bathtub 20. The skirt portion of the cover 401 has the drainage 41.
When installing, the third connection portion 34 is aligned with the second threaded hole 141, a bolt 16 extends through the third connection portion 34 and is connected to the second threaded hole 141 corresponding thereto. Then another bolt 161 extends through the second connection portion 33 and is connected to the third threaded hole 142. The adaptor 30 cannot shift relative to the end portion 11 because the bolt 16 extends through the third connection portion 34 which is a bore. The protrusions 43 of the cover 401 are then engaged with the engaging portions 35, 351 of the adaptor 30.
FIGS. 6 and 7 shows that the cover 402 including the longer skirt portion is used to be connected to the end portion 11 with a single tube 13. The depth of the cover 403 is increased so as to accommodate the end portion 11. The cover 402 includes two slot-type drainages 411 instead of the notch-type drainage as shown in FIG. 2 .
FIGS. 8 and 9 show that the cover 403 that has a longer skirt portion, is used to be mounted to the end portion 11 with two tubular parts 14. The depth of the cover 403 is increased so as to accommodate the end portion 11 as previously mentioned regarding to FIGS. 6 and 7 . The cover 403 includes two slot-type drainages 411 instead of the notch-type drainage as shown in FIG. 2 .
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An overflow pipe assembly, comprising:

an overflow pipe having an end portion;

an adaptor being an elongate plate, a length of the elongate body being not longer than a diameter of the end portion of the overflow pipe, the adaptor connected to the end portion of the overflow pipe and including a first connection portion formed to a center thereof, the first connection portion being a hole, a second connection portion and a third connection portion respectively formed to two ends of the adaptor, the second connection portion being a slot, the third connection portion being a bore, two engaging portions respectively formed to two sides of the adaptor, and

a cover having at least one drainage formed to a periphery thereof, the at least one drainage communicating with the end portion of the overflow pipe, multiple protrusions extending from an inner bottom of the cover, the protrusions engaged with the engaging portions of the adaptor so as to connect the cover to the adaptor.

2. The overflow pipe assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging portions are two straight sides, each of the protrusions of the cover includes a root extending from the inner bottom of the cover, a hook is formed to a distal end of the root, the protrusions are located corresponding to the two engaging portions and arranged in two rows, the hooks of two rows of the protrusions face each other.

3. The overflow pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tube is located along an axis of the end portion of the overflow pipe, a first threaded hole is formed in a distal end of the tube and located corresponding to the first connection portion of the adaptor, a bolt extends through the first connection portion of the adaptor and is connected to the first threaded hole of the tube, multiple ribs protrude from a periphery of the first connection portion to increase an axial height of the first connection portion.

4. The overflow pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein two tubular parts are respectively formed to an inner periphery of the end portion of the overflow pipe, the two tubular parts respectively includes a second threaded hole and a third threaded hole formed to a distal end thereof, the second and third threaded holes are located corresponding to the third connection portion and the second connection portion of the adaptor, two bolts extend through the second connection portion and the third connection portion of the adaptor, and are connected to the second and third threaded holes.