U.S. patent application number 11/161942 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for a motor activated bathtub drain closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to WCM INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to William T. BALL.
Application Number | 20070044231 11/161942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37770796 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070044231 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BALL; William T. |
March 1, 2007 |
A MOTOR ACTIVATED BATHTUB DRAIN CLOSURE
Abstract
A motor activated bathtub drain closure is associated with the
bathtub having a bottom with a drain opening therein. A vertically
movable drain stopper is mounted over the drain opening. A drain
pipe is connected to the drain opening and is conventionally
positioned below the drain opening. A motor having a movable
element is located outside the drain pipe and is preferably mounted
on the drain pipe. Linkage is secured to the movable element and
extends from the movable element into the drain pipe and terminates
at an inner end underneath the drain opening. The linkage is so
configured that when the movable element is moved by the motor from
a first position to a second position, the inner end of the linkage
will engage the stopper and raise it with respect to the drain
opening to permit fluid in the bathtub to flow by gravity.
Inventors: |
BALL; William T.; (Colorado
Springs, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZARLEY LAW FIRM P.L.C.
CAPITAL SQUARE
400 LOCUST, SUITE 200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2350
US
|
Assignee: |
WCM INDUSTRIES, INC.
2121 Waynoka Road
Colorado Springs
CO
|
Family ID: |
37770796 |
Appl. No.: |
11/161942 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/689 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/2302 20130101;
E03C 1/23 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/689 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/23 20060101
E03C001/23 |
Claims
1. A motor activated bathtub drain closure, comprising: a bathtub
having a bottom with a drain opening therein; a vertically movable
drain stopper mounted over the drain opening; a drain pipe
connected to the drain opening and positioned below the drain
opening; a motor having a movable element located outside and
secured to the drain opening; linkage secured to the movable
element and extending from the movable element and terminating in
an inner end in the drain pipe underneath the drain opening; the
linkage being so configured that when the movable element is moved
by the motor from a first position to a second position, the inner
end of the linkage will engage the stopper and raise it with
respect to the drain opening to permit fluid in the bathtub to flow
by gravity through the drain pipe; and a clamp member securing the
motor to the drain pipe.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the stopper has a downwardly
extending stem which is engagable with the inner end of the
linkage.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the drain pipe includes a
horizontal portion to which the motor is secured and an elbow
portion that extends to the drain opening.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the movable element moves from the
second position to the first position, the stopper is free to move
by gravity to close the drain opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Drain closures in bathtubs assume a variety of designs, but
normally include a stopper element that is manually moved upwardly
and downwardly to assume opened and closed positions, respectively.
The manual movement of the drain closure means is sometimes an
inconvenience to elderly people or those with some physical
infirmity.
[0002] In the past solenoids have been used to actuate the bathtub
drain closure in order to facilitate the opening and closing of a
drain closure. Though the solenoid is effective at opening and
closing the drain closure, disadvantages have occurred. For
example, solenoids only have two positions, fully opened and fully
closed. Consequently, if one would like for water to drain slowly
from a bathtub for any application, a solenoid does not allow for
the partial opening of the drain. Additionally, solenoids produce
very small amounts of force. Consequently, solenoids typically have
a difficult time opening larger drain elements. Additionally,
because of the little force that is generated solenoids typically
wear out quickly. Consequently, there is a need in the art for an
alternative to a solenoid actuated bathtub drain that will allow
for a partially opened drain, and that will have more force than a
solenoid thus, allowing for application in larger drains and also
for allowing for more use of the apparatus before the drain wears
out.
[0003] Consequently, it is a principal object of the present
invention to use a motor in combination with a movable element to
provide for an improved bathtub drain closure.
[0004] A further object of this invention is to provide a motor
activated bathtub drain closure which can be easily and quickly
installed in the bathtub environment to facilitate the opening and
closing of a bathtub drain closure.
[0005] A still further object of this invention is to provide a
motor activated bathtub drain closure which is simple in
construction, economical to build and install, and trouble free in
its operation.
[0006] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A motor activated bathtub drain closure is associated with
the bathtub having a bottom with a drain opening therein. A
vertically movable drain stopper is mounted over the drain opening.
A drain pipe is connected to the drain opening and is
conventionally positioned below the drain opening. A motor having a
movable element that is located outside the drain pipe and is
preferably mounted on the drain pipe. Linkage is secured to the
movable element and extends from the element into the drain pipe
and terminates at an inner end underneath the drain opening. The
linkage is so configured that when the element is moved by the
motor from a first position to a second position, the inner end of
the linkage will engage the stopper and raise it with respect to
the drain opening to permit fluid in the bathtub to flow by gravity
through the drain opening into the drain pipe. When the movable
element moves to a second position, the stopper drops to its
original position by gravity and closes the drain opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention
mounted on a bathtub drain wherein the drain stopper has been
removed;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a drain pipe located
below the drain opening of a bathtub, with a portion of the linkage
of this invention shown in a partial sectional portion of FIG. 2 in
a configuration lifting the drain stopper to an open position;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but shows the
linkage in a lowered position out of engagement with the drain
stopper wherein the drain stopper has moved to a closed
condition;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of FIG. 2 taken on
line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view similar to that of FIG.
1 but showing the drain pipe broken away and reflecting the
position of the linkage secured to the motor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] A bathtub drain assembly 10 has a horizontal pipe portion 12
which terminates in an elbow 14 wherein the upper horizontal rim of
the elbow is conventionally affixed to a drain closure fitting 16
which surrounds a drain opening 18 in the bottom 20 of a
conventional bathtub 22.
[0014] A motor 24 having a movable element 26 is secured to pipe 12
by clamp 28. Electrical leads 30 extend from the motor 24 and are
connected to a source of electrical energy and a remote switch (not
shown).
[0015] With reference to FIG. 2, a conventional drain stopper 32
includes a cover 34 which is adapted to engage and extend over
drain opening 18 when in its lowered position (FIG. 3). Stopper 32
conventionally has a stem 36 extending vertically downwardly
therefrom through hole 38 (FIG. 1) in bar 40 which extends
horizontally across the drain closure fitting 16.
[0016] Linkage 42 has one end secured to the movable element 26 of
motor 24 (FIGS. 1 and 5) with the other end pivotally connected to
upstanding lever 44. The lower end of lever 44 is rigidly affixed
to an outer end of crankshaft 46 which extends horizontally through
bearing 48 in elbow 14 into the interior of the elbow, and below
the drain opening 18. A linkage arm 50 is rigidly secured to the
inner end of crankshaft 46 and is adapted to move between a lower
position (FIG. 3) to an upper position (FIG. 2) when the movable
element 26 moves outwardly and inwardly, respectively, with respect
to the motor 24.
[0017] In operation, when the motor 24 is not electrically
energized by the remote switch, the movable element 26 of motor 24
will be in an extended position wherein the linkage will cause the
lever 44 to be in its tilted position as shown in FIG. 3 wherein
the linkage arm 50 on the inner end of crankshaft 46 will cause the
linkage arm 50 to be in the position of FIG. 3.
[0018] When the operator desires to lift the drain stopper 32 to an
open or elevated position of FIG. 2, the motor 24 is energized to
cause the movable element 26 to retract, which will move the
linkage arm 50 to the upper position shown in FIG. 2. When in this
position, the linkage arm 50 engages the lower end of stem 36 and
pushes the stem upwardly through the hole 38 in bar 40, thus
lifting the drain stopper 32 from out of engagement with the drain
closure fitting 16. In that condition, the water in the tub will
move into the elbow 14 and thence through the pipe portion 12 to
the conventional drainage system.
[0019] It is therefore seen that this invention can be easily
installed, easily and efficiently operated, and is comprised of a
relatively few parts wherein it is inexpensive to manufacture.
Thus, this invention will achieve at least all of its stated
objectives.
* * * * *