U.S. patent number 3,671,982 [Application Number 05/108,397] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-27 for drain plug.
Invention is credited to James Norman Sayles.
United States Patent |
3,671,982 |
Sayles |
June 27, 1972 |
DRAIN PLUG
Abstract
The drain plug is provided with a tubular lower section for
insertion into the opening of a drain pipe; the tubular section is
provided with one or more flow passages and a cross-sectional
dimension such that the exterior wall of the section will
frictionally engage the interior wall of the drain pipe; the upper
portion of the plug is provided with flow deflecting surfaces
arranged so that, when a stream of water is directed against the
surfaces, the flow will be directed in a spray pattern upwardly and
outwardly from the drain plug towards the top edge of the basin to
wash down walls of the basin.
Inventors: |
Sayles; James Norman (St.
Joseph, MO) |
Family
ID: |
22321964 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/108,397 |
Filed: |
January 21, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
1/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47K
1/14 (20060101); A47K 1/00 (20060101); A47k
001/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/286-295,222 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Smith; Robert I.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A plug for a sink drain comprising an upper portion and a lower
portion, said lower portion having at least one fluid passage
therethrough and an exterior surface for frictionally engaging the
interior surface of a drain pipe so that said plug may be
selectively positioned with respect to the opening of said drain
between a first position wherein fluid flow through said passage is
prevented and a second position wherein fluid may flow from said
sink through said passage in said lower portion in said chain, said
upper portion of said plug having means including a first fluid
deflecting portion and a second fluid deflecting portion whereby a
fluid stream impinging on said first portion will be deflected
toward said second portion and said second portion will deflect the
stream in a spray pattern upwardly and outwardly of said plug.
2. The plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower portion
comprises a tubular member integrally formed at one end with the
base of said upper portion and open at its other end, said member
having a plurality of flow passages evenly spaced about its
circumference and spaced from said upper portion.
3. The plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid
deflecting portion of said upper portion comprises a base portion
formed integrally with said lower portion and a cone shaped surface
extending from said base portion in a direction away from said
lower portion.
4. The plug as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second fluid
deflecting portion comprises a bowl shaped segment formed
integrally with said base portion and having an interior wall
surrounding said base and sloping upwardly therefrom away from said
cone shaped surface.
5. The plug as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second fluid
deflecting portion comprises a bowl shaped segment formed
integrally with said base portion and having an interior wall
surrounding said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said wall
having a plurality of passages formed therethrough and evenly
spaced about its circumference and disposed adjacent to said base
portion so that fluid deflected from said cone shaped surface will
enter said passages and be directed upwardly and outwardly of said
plug in a controlled spray pattern.
6. The plug as claimed in claim 5 wherein said interior wall of
said bowl shaped segment slopes inwardly toward said cone shaped
surface.
7. The plug as claimed in claim 5 wherein said passages in said
wall each have a fluid inlet on the interior wall of said bowl
segment that is larger relative to each fluid outlet on the
exterior wall of said bowl segment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wash basin plugs and more
particularly to a type of plug having means in the form of flow
deflecting surfaces for directing a stream of water from a wash
basin tap in the direction of the top edge of the wash basin in a
controlled pattern to effect the removal of dirt, soap, and other
residues from the inside walls of the wash basin.
Frequently, after a sink or wash basin has been used to clean
kitchen utensiles, dishes and the like, and the wash water has been
drained from the basin, almost invariably a residue consisting of a
mixture of soaps suds, food, grease and other materials will adhere
to the walls of the basin. Cleaning such residues from the walls of
the basin often results in spillage of water over the top of the
basin resulting in further inconvenience to the individuals charged
with the cleaning operation.
Moreover, some of the wash basin configurations now in use are so
shaped that, if water is turned on at any great velocity, the
stream will impinge on the bottom of the basin and splash upwardly
and out of the basin onto the floor. In the plumbing structures of
a large number of wash basins, the tap is arranged to direct a
stream of water directly into a drain pipe positioned in the base
wall of the sink. In such arrangements, when a plug is inserted
into the drain opening when it is desired to fill the sink, an
individual must exercise some degree of care when first turning on
the tap so as to avoid splashing water out of the sink.
The structure of the wash basin plug of the present invention
provides means for controlling the stream of water from a tap both
to prevent splashing of the water as well as to provide a useful
spray pattern for washing down the side walls of the basin in which
the plug is disposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the drain plug of the present invention consists
in the provision of a hollow tubular lower section having apertures
therein for permitting the flow of liquid from the basin through
the plug into the drain. The upper portion of the plug is provided
with a plurality of flow deflecting surfaces whereby when a stream
of water from a spigot impinges upon the surfaces, it will be
directed in an easily controllable spray pattern against the side
walls of the basin for the purpose of rinsing dirt, soap, food
particles and other residue off the wash basin walls. The lower
portion of the plug is formed with cross-sectional dimensions so
that it will frictionally engage the interior wall of the drain
pipe. With this arrangement, the wash basin plug may be selectively
adjusted with respect to the drain plug opening. In one adjusted
position the plug will function as a conventional stopper when it
is depressed to its full depth in the drain pipe thereby closing
off the flow passages in the lower portion. In another embodiment
of the present invention, the upper portion of the plug is provided
with a centrally disposed stream deflecting surface which deflects
the flow of water to a plurality of radially disposed discharge
ports which directs the water in the form of jets upwardly and
outwardly from the plug towards the side walls of the basin. In
both embodiments, the direction of the stream may be controlled by
regulating the velocity with which the water impinges upon the flow
deflecting surfaces as well as by longitudinal adjustment of the
plug with respect to the drain opening.
It will be appreciated that the drain plug structure of the present
invention provides a simple and effective means for controlling the
stream of water issuing from a spigot and which can be used to
quickly and thoroughly cleanse the walls of a sink basin.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
wash basin plug for controllably deflecting a stream of water to
prevent the water from splashing out of the basin.
Another object is to provide a plug structure which will deflect a
stream of water impinging thereon upwardly and outwardly from the
plug and against the walls of the basin to rinse matter
therefrom.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a wash
basin plug which is selectively positionable in a drain opening so
that the plug may be positioned to function as a conventional
stopper.
A still further object is to provide a wash basin plug that is
simple and inexpensive to manufacture yet durable enough for long
use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and attendant advantages will become
apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed
description together with the associated drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section of one
embodiment of the drain plug of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in cross-section of another
embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view in cross-section showing the plug of
FIG. 1 disposed in an operative relationship in a drain pipe;
and
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the plug of FIG. 1 depressed to
its full depth in the drain opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like
parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 one
embodiment of the plug drain 10 of the present invention having a
bowl shaped upper portion 12 and a tubular lower portion 14.
Portion 14 is integrally formed with the base 16 of the upper
portion 12. A plurality of slots 18 are formed to extend
longitudinally of the tubular portion 14. While the slots 18 are
represented as being evenly spaced about the circumference of
portion 14, it should be understood that various other
configurations may be resorted to. It is desirable, however, that
the slots 18 be spaced a slight distance below the base 16 so that
when the plug is fully inserted into a drain pipe, for example as
shown in FIG. 4, fluid flow through the slots 18 will be prevented.
It is also desirable that the slots 18 be large enough to permit
passage of waste matter therethrough. The exterior diameter of the
lower portion 14 is suitably chosen so that when the plug is
inserted into a drain pipe the exterior wall portion 14 will
frictionally engage the interior wall of the drain.
The exterior wall 20 of base portion 16 is formed to taper upwardly
and outwardly from the top end of the lower portion 14 to serve as
an abutment shoulder for cooperation with a correspondingly tapered
shoulder 22 in drain pipe 24 as shown in FIG. 3. It will be
understood, of course, that the exterior surface of the plug 10 may
be appropriately shaped to cooperate with other drain pipe
configurations.
Extending upwardly from the base 16 is a cone shaped fluid
deflecting surface 26 which is centrally disposed with respect to
the interior wall 28 of the bowl shaped upper portion 12. A
plurality of radially disposed discharge passages 30 are formed
through the lower portion of the wall 28 adjacent the base 16 of
the plug 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the
inlets of passages 30, one of which is indicated at 32, are spaced
evenly about the cone shaped surface 26 and are larger relative to
the outlet opening of each passage 30 so that water passing
therethrough will issue in the form of jets. The passages
themselves are illustrated as sloping upwardly from the base 16 but
it will be understood that any desired orientation of the passages
30 may be effected to achieve a particular spray pattern.
With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown the plug 10 of
FIG. 1 in use as a stream deflector and a conventional stopper
respectively. By simply positioning the plug 10 with the outlet
ports of passages 30 above the rim of the drain pipe 24, the plug
is ready for use. When a stream of water is directed downwardly in
the direction of the arrows, the stream will impinge upon the cone
shaped surface 26 and be directed outwardly toward the inlets 32
and then through the passages 30 to be directed upwardly and
outwardly from the plug in a spray pattern. The height of the
pattern may be controlled by controlling the velocity with which
the water impinges upon the plug surfaces. By providing an inward
taper to the wall 28 of the upper portion 12, the stream will be
prevented from splashing out of the bowl portion. Additionally,
should the water pressure increase, the bowl will fill up and
overflow resulting in interference with the jets of water issuing
from the passages 30.
In FIG. 4, the plug 10 is shown inserted to its full depth in the
drain itself thereby closing off flow through the slots 18. A drain
port 34 may be provided to empty any water trapped in the bowl
portion 12 after the flow of water from the sink spigot is turned
off. The diameter of the port 34 is small enough so as not to
interfere with or deflect the spray pattern when the plug is in
use. With this arrangement the plug need not be withdrawn from the
drain pipe to empty water before it is fully inserted into the
drain pipe as shown in FIG. 4.
With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown another embodiment of the
drain plug of the present invention wherein the primed numerals
designate parts corresponding to the plug shown in FIG. 1 and to
which the foregoing description applies. In this embodiment, the
upper portion of the plug is provided with a bowl shaped portion 36
having an interior wall 38 that slopes outwardly away from and
surrounds the cone 26'. With this configuration, water impinging
upon the cone shaped surface 26' will be directed upwardly and
outwardly of the plug by the interior wall 38 in a continuous
pattern and at a much steeper angle than that of the stream when
the plug of FIG. 1 is used. Such a pattern is particularly useful
in a wash basin that has very high side walls.
The plugs of the present invention may be manufactured of hard
rubber or any suitable plastic material and may be fabricated from
several segments which are joined together by an adhesive, by
fusion bonding or any other suitable means.
The foregoing specific embodiments have been described for the
purpose of illustrating the principles of the present invention,
and the same are subject to extensive modification without
departure therefrom. Therefore the invention includes all such
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *