WO1997035507A1

WO1997035507A1 - A removable pushbutton sink plug

Info

Publication number: WO1997035507A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1997/000041
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Girvan Forrester
Original assignee: James Girvan Forrester
Priority date: 1996-03-27
Filing date: 1997-03-27
Publication date: 1997-10-02
Also published as: AU2182797A

Abstract

My invention relates to a waste plug for baths and sinks featuring a flow/no-flow facility operated by centre pushbutton. Pushbutton (12) for flow, push again for no-flow. The underside is conically shaped (6) to help locate position on waste outlet. The plug can remain semi-permanent in waste outlet achieving a flow/no-flow operation by an internal high/low mechanism. High creates flow (30), low no-flow (32). The plug creates a seal on the waste outlet through contact with flange seal (3). This position is no-flow and flow position achieved when flange seal is raised out of contact with waste outlet flange. It also operates without flange seal by movement of stopper (14) from flow position to no-flow position when in contact with ring (2). The said plug is made from acetyl plastic and urethane flange seal, and a stainless steel spring.

Description

A Removable Pushbutton Sink Plug

Technical Field

My invention relates to a sink plug for domestic use. The purpose of which is to retain water in a sink or bath. It is essential that the plug be available at the sink for use, if this is not so, water wastage is inevitable. The plug should be simple to use.

Background Art

Prior designed plugs range from rotating on/off device of which flow/no flow is achieved by clockwise or anti-clockwise movements. A push/pull device of which flow/no flow is achieved by up/down movements to operate, being a permanent fixture installation and maintenance is expensive. Lastly to a rubber moulded flower design manufactured in Canada, push centre to flow, push outside for no flow, and is available in one size only. All of the above use two different movements to operate. Disclosure Of Invention

My invention provides a waste plug which features a flow/no flow facility while in an operative position on a waste outlet. Said plug can remain in a semi-permanent position in sink waste outlet.

Plug is operated by a pushbutton in the centre of the device, push for flow and push again for no flow. The underside is a conical shape to help locate and centralise plug flange for sealing on waste outlet. Reference to the description are on: Fig 1 is a section of the plug in the no-flow position.

Fig 2 is a section of the plug in the flow position. Fig 3-5 show the movements of the plug during operation.

Fig 6 show an isometric view of the plug with the flange seal.

In Fig 2 the ring flange 2 sits on the sink waste outlet flange 1. The horizontal ring flange 2 extends from a thicker vertical ring 4. Five arms 6 extend radially downwards to a control tube 8 which is open at both ends. The stopper consists of a stopper tube 10 which coaxially overlaps the central tube 8 and slides thereon. The stopper tube 10 an overlap seal is capped by a button 12 and a stopper disk 14. The central tube

8 has an integral seat 16 which supports a washer 18.

A plunger 20 extends axially from the stopper button through the washer 18 and ends in a cap seal 22 which abuts the underside of seat 16 and limits the rise of the stopper. The stopper disk 14 is a slide fit in the thicker vertical ring 4. The flange seal 3 if used comes in and out of contact with flange 1.

The seat 16 supports a sleeve 24 bearing a ring of ratchet teeth 26. The underside of the button has a complimentary ring of ratchet teeth 28 which engage and disengage as the plunger is pressed. The plunger passes through the sleeve 24 and the washer 18. The lower half of the plunger Fig 1 has four equally spaced splines 30 and the circumference between the ends of the adjacent splines is relieved by a shallow recess 32 about the same width as the splines. The four recesses and four splines together in a circular path present stops of two different depths for four studs 34 to ride in. The studs project from aleeve

24 Fig 2 first into a recess, then into a spline and then into a recess as the plunger operates and the ratchet teeth engage and disengage thereby rotating the sleeve 24. The plunger motion is returned by spring 36. The apposition of the moving parts is seen in Figs 3-5, of which A.B.C. are a close up view of the movements in order between sleeve

24 and ratchet teeth 28 and 26 also 32 and 30 on cap seal 22. The accidental or idle operation or rotation of the button 12 does not affect plug operation. Fig 6 shows view of plug with or without flange seal 3. When used it makes or breaks contact with waste outlet flange to produce a seal, when flange seal is not used stopper disk and ring produce a seal by fitting inside the ring, or raised out of contact to break seal. The stopper moves with a positive stop motion.

Connected to the stopper is a plunger with a rotational feed and a bias member which gives the stopper stability in the raised and lowered positions.

The rotational feed is preferable but not essential. A course screw feed achieves the same effect. So does a series of links allowing the stopper to rise and fall.

The plunger and rotational feed may be housed in a axial, generally tubular part upon which both the stopper and the ring are mounted. The generally tubular part may comprise of a pair of coaxially overlapping tubes, the ring tube being open and the stopper being blind. Stopper plunger may depend from the blind end of the stopper tube. The generally tubular part may be supported on the ring by two or more arms which allow flow around them. Three four five and six arm versions are useful. Fewer arms mean faster flow. It is preferable if the arms lie in a conical formation so as to assist self-centering when the stopper is only approximately positioned.

The plunger may have circumferential slots which permit the movement of the stopper between the flow and no-flow modes. The continual change between flow and no-flow positions is made possible by a sleeve which rises and falls on the plunger which has a pin which enters the slots wherein the slots limit the travel of the stopper. The sleeve may have a click feed namely ratchet teeth which upon opening and closing progress unindirectionally. The ratchet teeth have ramp faces which impinge on plunging. The plunger may have an extension which is retained by the spider to render the fitting captive. With the said plug the object is to have a simple to operate, self centering, semi-permanent plug for use in all domestic situations, with emphasis on vanity basins where there is water wastage due to lack of usage. The plug can be manufactured in acetyl plastic with the flange seal made from urethane.

Claims

-6- 1. A pushbutton sink plug comprising of a centre pushbutton. When said button is operated the internal high/low mechanism produces a flow/no flow operation in a sink waste outlet.

11. The sink plug of claim 1 with a flange seal (3) achieves a seal by coming in and out of contact with waste outlet ( 1 ) to produce flow and no flow. 111. The sink plug of claim 1 with a stopper (14) and ring seal (2) that produces flow/no flow when coming in and out of contact with each other.

1V. The sink plug of claim 1 with a flange seal (3) achieves a seal by coming in and out of contact with ring seal (2) that produces flow/ no flow when coming in and out of contact with each other. V. The conical formation of the spider arms (6) locate the plug in a waste outlet even at close proximity.

V1. The high/low mechanism of claim 1 (30) (32) and (26) (28) that enables plug to come in and out of contact with seals to produce flow/ no flow. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 2 September 1997 (02.09.97); original claims 1-6 replaced by amended claims 1-6 (2 pages)]

1. A removable sink plug in which a conical shaped spider guides and locates ring flange to seal on existing sink or bath waste outlets. A horizontal ring flange extends to a vertical ring of which spider arms extend radially downwards to a central tube. A stopper disc capped by a button on top, and on underside a tube which overlaps central tube. A plunger extends axially from stopper button through a rotating sleeve retained by spring and washer, then ends in a cap seal which abuts a seat in the said tube. Said cap and sleeve limits the rise and fall of said stopper disc. The underside of said stopper disc bears a ring of saw teeth when said button is pressed downward, said spring becomes compressed and said ring of teeth reline and abut with matching teeth on top of said sleeve. When said button is released upwards, said sleeve and cap seal come together and produce a high or low position after each push of said button. Claims

11. A removable sink plug of claim 1 , with a flange seal of flexible material attached to stopper button and overlying horizontal ring flange to seal on existing waste outlet flange. 111. A removable sink plug of claim 1, with a flange seal of flexible material attached to stopper button to seal on horizontal ring flange.

1V. A removable sink plug of claim 1 , with a series of fine grooves on underside of horizontal ring flange. V. A removable sink plug of claim 1 , with a ring of compressable packing on underside of horizontal ring flange. VI. A removable sink plug of claim 1 with stopper disc outside diameter being a slide seal fit inside vertical ring flange.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICAL 19 Submitted claims sheet no. 6 is amended and replaced with claims sheet no. 6 & 7. The abstract sheet no. 7 submitted will now become sheet no. 8. Claim 3 horizontal ring flange seal, not shown on drawings but very similar to claim 2 waste outlet flange seal with the vertical sealing lip removed (3). Claim 4 series of grooves not shown on drawings, grooves on underside of horizontal ring flange (2) to produce a seal using surface tension. Claim 5 ring of compressable packing not shown on drawings, placed on the underside of horizontal ring flange (2) just like a thin washer seal.