Tracking Drain Closure Device that Rotates between Open and Closed.

Abstract

A drain closure device for a vessel such as a bathtub or sink is provided. The drain closure device comprises a stopper fitted with a sealing gasket and equipped with track followers on a vertical post capped with a horizontal stopper, plus a flanged pipe emanating from said stopper that fits to the drainage hole in a vessel. The device is operable to be concentrically disposed with a hole in the bottom of the vessel. Rotation of the stopper causes travel of the followers on the stem to rise against the track cut into the interior of the flanged pipe. Resistance to closure when opened is provided by a terminal rest stop for each track follower on the upper part of the track. No springs, pins, or resistance seals are used. Reverse rotation of the stopper causes reverse travel of the followers back down the track to a low resting place located to effect closure of the horizontal stopper atop the flange of the pipe resting on the perimeter of the vessel hole. Once in place, the drain closure occupies the drain hole in the bottom of the vessel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]No cross reference is made to other applications.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT[0002]No Federal Government support was received in the development of this Invention.SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING[0003]No sequence listing, table, or computer program is attached or accompanies this Application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]This invention relates to a drain closure for a vessel, and more particularly a drain closure incorporating a rising track within a pipe internal wall to direct track followers to effect opening and closure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]A bath or sink, herein “vessel”, is drained by a “drain closure” assembly. The upper portion of this assembly consists of a “stopper”, which is fastened to a “strainer” by a plurality of methods. The “strainer” itself is a flanged pipe that threads through a vessel drain hole into further pipes beneath the bath to direct drain water o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The technical effect of this patent text is to design a drain closure that minimizes fouling by hair and debris. It allows for easy removal of the tracking drain stopper for complete access for cleaning. Additionally, the design allows for easy rotation of the stopper using rotational force on the outer rim, resulting in good torque.

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage of small springs used is the eventual failure to maintain an open position against the head pressure of liquid being drained from the vessel.

Such an open spring device is easily fouled by hair and other debris.

Both of these devices occupy a large fraction of the volume within the “strainer”, potentially slowing liquid drainage from the vessel.

All drain closures relying upon a spring have a limited functional life.

While this design avoids the shorter life span of springs and the volume occupied by sprung devices, it is delicate in that the user of a bath can ruin the device by simply standing upon it and breaking the pin.

Despite a range of drain closures being available for vessels such as baths and sinks, none of them satisfy all of these requirements.

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