US2477478A - Waste and overflow fitting - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1949.

P. F. DONAHUE WASTE AND OVERFLOW FITTING Filed June 12, 1946 IN VEIV TOR. [fondue Faintin- Patented July 26, 1949 WASTE AND ovEnFLoW FITTING Patrick F. Donahue, Waterbury, Conn, as slgnor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 12, 1946, Serial No. 676,212

- 16 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in waste and overflow fittings, and has for an object certain improvements over the construction illustrated and described in my co-pending similarly-entitled application filed August 31, 1944, Serial No. 552,049, now matured as Patent No. 2,444,340, dated June 29, 1948.

In common with the objects and announced purposes set forth in the specification of my prior application aforesaid, the present invention has for its purpose to provide a fitting for the over flows of bath tubs and the like so constructed and arranged that the internal parts and organization thereof are not revealed but on the other hand are most completely concealed behind the mask of a face plate which will resist removability by the vandalism of those not instructed in the interior construction of the fitting and not instructed in the plumbers art but who are casual laymen frequenting hotels and other public places where bath tub and other kindred fittings are required and which are the random prey to such persons.

Hotel guests will remove anything from public places that is not permanently aflixed or so obsoured and unobtrusive as to fail their attention, and it is accordingly another object of the invention to so construct and arrange the waste pipe fitting of a bath tub or the like that a face plate of extremely plain character is so mounted as to fully conceal all internal parts but at the same time afford ample port area for the effiuent overflow liquid from the tub, and further so constructed and arranged in its relationship and cooperation with the parts of the fitting by which it is carried that it fails to give any clue to the uninitiated as to how it is afiixed in place, and more particularly how it may be removed from the permanent parts of the fitting.

The invention aims to achieve the foregoing obiects by a construction essentially simple and having desirable characteristics of leak proofness and adaptability to inclinations of tub wall com paratively to the stand or overflow pipe.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and will be more fully pointed out in the appended claims. x

In the drawings in which like parts are denoted by similar reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through a bath tub with a drain and overflow fitting illustrated in edgeelevation as constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure .2 is .a front elevation of the improved fitting, removed from the bath tub, taken on an enlarged scale, and with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical central section taken on the line 3-.-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. t

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the face plate holder.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through a portion of the bath tub wall, overflow pipe and the parts of the invention shown in disassembled relation. and

Figure 7 is an edge elevational view of a form of face plate employed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings til designates generally a bath tub having a drain H and an overflow 12. A conventional form of drain plug is shown as closing the drain ll and as coupled to a customary captive chain It.

As shown to best advantage in Figure 6 the bath tub iii is provided with an overflow opening 15 with which the upper end of the overflow pipe i2 communicates. The upper curved or elbowed end of the overflow pipe -I 2 passes through regis- .tering openings it and I7 in a retainer ring it and gasket 19 respectively. The gasket I9 may be of rubber or some other compressible material and may be of a conventional ring type of rubber gasket.

The ring body ofthe gasket has a radial depth in relation to the tub opening 45 and the diameter and radial dimension of the ring t8 that substantial radial portions of the gasket l9 overlap the rear edge I3 of the overflow opening 15 of the bath tub it) in both inner and outer directions. Otherwise stated the diameter of the opening ii in the rubber gasket i9 is substantially smaller than that of the diameter of the tub overflow opening l5, while the overall diameter of the resilient gasket l9 substantially exceeds the diameter of the overflow opening [5. Such construc tion affords ample quantities of the gasket material at .both inner and outer sides of the annular rear edge 13 of the overflow opening it.

The retainer ring 18 is of rigid metal or other suitable material having the rearwardly divergent annular flanges 20 and 22. The body of the retainer ring I8 between these flanges 2i! and 22 is preferably flat for a substantial radial distance although the flanges 20 and 22 might meet together in an elbow or angular formation. It is preferred that the opening l6 in the retaining ring It be of a diameter approximating that of 3 the opening I? in the gasket it although it may be somewhat greater or lesser in diameter. Also the overall diameter of the retainer ring it is preferably somewhat in excess ofithe diameter of the tub overflow opening l5. Annular edges or ridges 23 and 24 are formed between the disc body of'the retainer ring l3 and its two *flanges 2t and 22. The radial distance between the ridges 23 and 24 marks oif the disc or flat portion of the retainer ring It and the outer diameter of this disc defined by the edge 23 is somewhat less than the diameter of the bath tub overflowopenin-g l5 to the end that the forward face of the diagonal outer flange 23 will be presented'at substantially right angles to'the rear edge lil of the overflow opening l5. 0n the other hand the forward flat face of the inner diagonal flange 22 which also engages the gasket W in the assembled position ofjithe parts as shown inFigure 3 lies substantiallyparallel to the outwardly flanged endZl of the overflow. pipe E2.

the diameterof the'openings It and ll in order to provide for a proper sealing joint at this upper 62 before it is attached to its connection, there being no flange at the bottom end of pipe l2, and moved upwardly to a position to engage th outer face of the flange 2i. I

On the inside of the tub 'is arranged the face plate 2'5 and the face "plate holder 26. This holder, as shown more particularly in Figure 5, may be made of asheet metal stamping of relatively heavy material of'a generally disc form having a plurality of arms 27, 28 and 29 of which the arm El is lowermost while the upper arms 28 and 29 may be outstretched diametrically in a substantiallyhorizontal line although this is not essential. The arms carry segments 36, Si and 32; Thesesegments are all separated circumferentially so as to allow for a proper drainage, through this spider holder plate 26. Furtherm'orefthe spaces between the segments allow ample room for the plumbers fingers in holding and adjusting the holder 26 in making the assembly with th rear ring l8. Offset arcuate beads 33, 38 and 39 in the segments act to stiffen and reinforce the holder 26 against any resiliency or bending action. Slots 3 are made in the beads 38 and 39 of a width substantially corresponding to the shanks of the attaching screws ttbut narrower than the screw heads 35 to prevent the heads pulling through the slots. As shown in Figure Sthese slots 34 open through the adjacent edges of the beads 38 and 3% to permit assembly of the holder 26 to the screws by a lateral sliding motion of the holder 26; The screws 35 pass through the gasket I9 and are threaded in the threaded bossesdl which are built up by additions of metal stock to the rear channel like trough of the retaining ring l 3.

Flanges HM and t2 are carried upon the outer edge portions of the segments-3!], 3i and 32, these flanges beingarcuate and adapted to tightly receive an annular flange i3 projecting rearwardly from the face plate 25 which is also preferably of sheetmetal possessing certain inherent resiliency. The flange 43 of the face plate is cut away or provided-with slots 44 in its lower quadrants op-. posite the cut-away portions in the lower part of the holder 26 at opposite sides of the bottom radia1 arm 2?; These slots 44 in 1 cooperation with The'overall di r ameter of the flange 2! is somewhat greater than the removed portions at the lowerquadrants afford egress to the overflow water in the tub ID.

A lug 45 divides the slots "44 and is givenan inward cant 43 in the radial direction toward the center of the fitting so as to increase its frictional factor of grip upon the flange lEl when the face plate 25 is assembled upon the holder or spider 2a. The flange 43 i also provided with one or more indented portions ll preferably in areas bordering upon the slots 44, which indented portions are; adapted to increase the frictional grip upon th'e flanges 4i and 42 of the holder or spider 2S. V

A'slot til in the lower flange id is adapted to receive the chain Id. The flanged retainer fing l8 may be conveniently made as a cast ring of channel construction, except at the places where the attachin-g screws 35 are assembled to the ring} Here built-up sections 3'! of the ring are made as integral parts of the castingthrough which are tapped the holesfor the screws 35.

In the present application-thegas'ket it is an ordinary annular washer which replaces" the gasket of my prior application which was odd shape and therefore more expensive.

In the present'applicationthe" spider member or holder 26 may be of ashee't metalstamping which takes the placeofthecasting of the prior application. I

It will be noted that the cap member 25 has no screws or even -the{ head of; a screw showing on its external face which is completely and per fectly plain. The'openings 54 are provided in the flanged portion Q3 of the cap to facilitate better drainage. The cap -me nber or faceplate 25 is held in place in -that its flange at has a slip fit overthe flanges iil; lllfyandtg of the spider arms, r

From an inspection of Figure 2 3 it will be understood that the lug 165 that divides the slots or openings it in theflange 43 of the face plate is on center so'as not to'interfere with the bead chain i l when the cap is assembled in place. The face plate 25is entered upon the holder 25 by originally rotating the face plate 25 to a posi tion where the lug t' istothe-right of the bottom flange it in which'case thefleftl'landindentation a? will be opposite the spacelbetween the lower arm 2? and theleft projecting ny 2%. In this position the face plate 251s forced axially in ward so that its flange 6?; fits over the flanges ll and 22 of the holder Subsequently the face plate El'iisrotated Lina clockwise'direction through an angular distance substantially equal to the width of -thelug,4E-so as to bring this lug to the position indicated in Figure 2 in which it laps substantially the lower-right hand half of the lowerflange lfirits leadlng edge stopping short of the chain This 'clockwise'rotation also moves the left'mdentation 47 up upon the lowerleft hand areaof the holder flangeriZ. The

crimpe'd or indentediportions tlithusclamp the flanges ll and 52 while' the inwardly canted portion hi of the lug lfi frictionally engages the right hand portion of the lower flange fill. Due to the indentations and resiliency of the face plate, the frictional binding between the "parts will be enhanced. The fact that the oantedj'parts it and 37 are adjacent the slots{414also enhances, the resiliency throughWhichtheseparts grip the flanges 30, ll and 42 of the holder 26..

It will be noted{that]the"slots fi are notcut all/the Way thf0iigh the""'flan ge' @310 tneflcusc of the face plate 25 but tli'at such slots have ja forward wall which 'is 'ada'pted to engage be-' tween beads of the chain l4 and push the. chain to the position shown in Figure 3 in which such chain is locked in the slot 48. In other words that part of flange 43 which is not removed by the slots it engages the outer portion of the flange iii. i

In use, the overflow is caused to flow around the outer plain and imperforate disc of the face plate 25 to the flange is at the side thereof where such overflow may enter through the slots M and pass through the openings between the arms of the holder 2t, thence through the opening it in the bath tub id and directly into the open elbow end of the overflow pipe [2.

When installed the unit exposes no visible screws but all that one sees is the entirely plain round ornamental flat plate 25 which conceals the fact that there are screws 35 beneath and which is held so tightly in place by the indentations t? and canted portion id in cooperation with the flanges 453, ii and 42 of the holder 25 that such face plate can not readily be removed and it has no gripping surfaces for this purpose. The fact that the face plate 25 is rotated into and out of place is a matter of mystery to the ordinary layman who will thus be confounded in his inexpert efforts to remove the same.

The invention in one phase resides in the unit provided by the association of the face plate 25 and the holder 26 and in thisaspect it is in1- material what type of gasket 01' retainer ring or other member that may be used in rear of the tub to connect with the overflow pipe iii.

In another aspect the invention consists in the combination of the peculiarly shaped retainer ring ill with a plain ordinary washer is in relation to the bath tub opening 15 as described; and this without relation to the specific type of holder and face plate employed.

In still another aspect the invention comprises the combination of the units which are in front of and behind the bath tub wall IE with the screws 35 which form the connecting means between these related and cooperating couples.

The presence of the flange 43 enhances the mystery of the construction and assembly of the fitting in that prying eyes or probing instruments are excluded. thereby from gaining any access which would be successful in solving the problem of removing the face plate The radially inturned resilient lip 46 is shown in Figure 2 as interlocking behind the lower holder segment 39, the lug 55 not appearing in this figure as it is in the same plane with the face plate flange 43. This Figure 2 also shows that the lug ie and its spring lip it are ofa circumferential width generally comparable to one-half that of the bottom flange id of the holder 26,;it being understood that the lug 45 engages only that half of the flange til that lies between slot 48 and the right hand edge of the flange 46. When the face plate 25 is rotated clockwise into place the leading edge of the lug 45 will contact the link between the two outer balls of the chain [4 if need be to act as a stop in the interlocked position of the face plate on the holder.

As shown in Figure 3 the annular ridge 23 of the retainer ring I8 because of its smaller diameter than that of the bath tub aperture l5 pinches the resilient material of the gasket at an intermediate portion of its mass between such ridge 23 and the rear corner portion of the aperture l5; so that the mass of the washer body is separated into inner and outer portions. The outer portion is shown as substantially wedge shape in cross section and is adapted to be rotated up against the rear wall of the bath tub ID at that portion surrounding the aperture id. The inner portion of the gasket mass which confronts the flat disc i8 of the retainer ring which forms the central portion of this ring is pushed into the aperture by the advancing retainer ring and the upper portion of this inner mass tends to rotate clockwise about the rear edge of aperture l5 and up against the wall of the aperture. A third mass of the gasket is encountered by the inner flange 22 and deflected downwardly and compressed against the wall of the overflow pipe 12 and against the flange 2 i. Thus the gasket I9 is readily deformable into these three separate fractions by the peculiar conformation of the sealing ring it in its relation to the diameters of the ap ertures l5 and H.

It will further be noted that the holder 28 cooperates with the retainer ring is in the act of exerting forward pressure against the gasket is because of the screws or other fastenings 35 which engage both holder 26 and retainer ring it. When the holder firmly engages the bath tub wall at the front side of the opening if) it forms a stiff and rigid abutment for the heads 36 of the screws 35 to take against. The tightened screws 35 thus have a forward thrust movement tending to pull the retainer ring it against the gasket iii. The elastic gasket l9 reacts to force this holder 25 firmly against the front wall portion of the bath tub. The face plate and its rim may also be of metal which is inherently resilient to cooperate in the resilient snap action of the lug and indentations in moving into and out of inter locking relation with the holder.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construe tion and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modiflcations being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An overflow fitting comprising a spider holder having spaced members, and a face plate having a slotted flange removably supported on said members, the slot of the flange adapted to register with a space between said members.

2. An overflow fitting comprising a spider holder having spaced members with reinforcing flanges, a face plate having a slotted flange with inwardly-offset portions adapted to slip over said reinforcing flanges, the offset portions adapted to inwardly grip said reinforcing flanges.

3. An overflow fitting comprising a holder of rigid metal having radial arms circumferentially separated and carrying segmental portions having raised beads and terminal flanges, said beads having open ended slots, and a face plate having a flange adapted to seat with a slip fit upon the flanges of said holder and having means to interlock with the flanges of the holder, and fastening means for securing said holder in place positioned to be received by the slots in said beads.

l. An overflow fitting comprising a holder having spaced segmental portions with rigid flanges, and a face plate having a flange adapted to slip over the flanges of the holder and be rotated thereon, said face plate flange having inturned portions adapted to frictionally engage with said holder flanges and place the holder under tension.

5. For use with an apertured bath tub Wall and an overflow pipe, a compressible gasket: of conventional form surrounding the overflow pipe and adapted to engage against the corner of the aperture .with'portions lying radially inward and outward of such corner, and a retainer member adapted to slide on the overflow pipe and movable against said gasket to force it against the edge of the aperture, said member having an annular ridge of smaller diameter than the edge of the aperture.

6.; For use with an apertured bathtub wall and'an overflow pipe,'a sealing device comprising a'tcompressible gasket of conventional cross section adapted to seat against an edgeioftheaper .tur'e with portions thereof lying'inwardly and outwardlyof such edge, and a retainer member for forcing said gasket against the edge andhaving a flange retreating backwardly from the gasket at the outer edge portion of. the retainer member. 7.:A sealing device as claimed in claim 6 characterized by the fact that said flange is rearwardly. divergent and its forward edge which merges with the body of the retainer inember constitutes an annular ridge lesser in diameter than the diameter of the aperture.

8. A sealing device as claimed in claim 6 where in a second inner flange retreats rearwardly from thelbody portion of the retainer member and is positioned to engage the inner body portion the gasket andcompress these-me against the overflow pipe.

, .9; A sealing device as claimed in claim 6 in which the: retainer member has a second inner flange and a body portion of disc form joining the ,forward annular edges of said flanges, said body portion having a flat forward face presented to-an intermediate portion of the gasket body, the-gasket being pinched between the edgeof the aperture'and the edge between the outer flange and the body portion of the retainer member to produce an outer ring gasketsubstantially wedge shape in cross section and adapted to flt against the rear wall of thebath tub, an intermediate body of gasket material fo'rwardly aloout the body portion of the retainer memberwlth apart adapted to seat against the internal wall ofthe aperture and a third portion of gasket material adapted to be compressed by theinner flange against said'overflow pipe. V .'-1 0, A, sealing device asclaimed inclaim 5 in which the retainer member is'in ring form-havingabody portion and an inner flange in addition to said outer flange, said flanges joined to the body portion by spaced annular ridges: 3

11. For use with an apertured bath tub wall and an overflow pipe, an overflow fitting comprising a compressible gasket adapted to seat against the rear edge of the aperture, retainer means extending about the overflow pipe and constructed andarranged to force said gasket against the 12. An outlet fitting as claimed in claim 11 characterized by the fact that the fastenings are screws which engage the tapped nut portions in said retainer ring which is in channel form. a 1

13. An overflow fitting comprising a holder having circumferentially spaced flanges, one flange being slotted, a chain .detachably receivedin the slot, aface plate having a flange to flt overthe flanges of the holder and having slots for the passage of water. i

14. An overflow fitting comprising a holder having circumierentially spaced flanges, one flange being slotted, a chain detachably received in the slot, a face plate having a'flange to fit over the flanges otthe holder and having slots for the passaged water, one of the flange portions between-the slots of said face plate serving to interlock said chain in the flange slot of said holder.

15. An overflow fitting comprising a holder having circumferentially spaced flanges, an im perforate face plate having a circumferential flange with spaced openings, said plate flange fltted over the flanges of said holder, and cooperative means on said plate and holder perinitting assembly by relative rotary motion and to only one position-such that the spaced'openings in said plate flange will rest in a downward posi' tion. i

'16. For use with an apertured bath tub wall and an overflow pipe having a flanged end,'a sealing device comprising a compressible gasket of a size to fit about said overflowpipe. and larger than said tub aperture, and a retaining memberv having wedging surfaces for forcing said gasket against the aperture edge and pipe flange as a-means for sealing and flexibly supporting said pipe to said tub wall.

. PATRICK F. DONAI-IUZE;

Name 572,818 Palmer Dec. 8, 1896 1,152,618 Farris, Sept. 7, 1915 1,618,777.; 'Pasman -4 Feb. 22, 1927 1,704,510 'Muend Mar. '5, 1929 1945 2,374,642 Bloch: May 1,

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