MANUALLY CLEANABLE DRAIN TRAP

Abstract

A drain trap facilitates resilient compression of a flexible trap section while blocking the simultaneous reverse flow of water out of the fixture inlet drain. The trap section may be manually squeezed or otherwise manipulated to dislodge unwanted materials clogging the trap section. The wall thickness of the trap section may be thinned-down and/or composed of a rubber or rubber-like elastomer or other compressible material to facilitate squeezing of the trap section. A one-way or check valve disposed in the fluid inlet section permits fluid to flow into the fluid inlet section and through the trap section, while preventing back flow from the trap section and into the fluid inlet section as the trap section is manually squeezed. The one-way or check valve may be a ball valve. The trap section may include a non-smooth or textured outer surface to assist a user in gripping and squeezing the trap section.

Claims

1. A manually cleanable drain trap, comprising: a bent tubular structure including a fluid inlet section, a fluid outlet section, and a U-shaped trap section disposed between the fluid inlet and outlet sections; wherein the construction of the trap section enables the trap section to be manually squeezed to dislodge unwanted materials clogging the trap section; and a one-way valve disposed in the fluid inlet section, the one-way valve permitting fluid to flow into the fluid inlet section and through the trap section, while preventing back flow from the trap section and into the fluid inlet section as the trap section is manually squeezed.

2. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the trap section has a wall thickness that is sufficiently thin to facilitate manual manipulation of the trap section.

3. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the trap section is constructed from a compressible, resilient material.

4. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve disposed in the fluid inlet section is a ball valve.

5. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 4, wherein: the ball of the ball valve is disposed in a bulbous section in the fluid inlet portion; and the bulbous section includes a circular seat that the ball engages with under pressure to close the valve.

6. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 5, wherein the bulbous section includes an inner wall with ribs that enable fluid to flow around the ball when the valve is not closed.

7. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the trap section includes a non-smooth, textured outer surface to assist a user in gripping and squeezing the trap section.

8. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet section is vertically oriented upon installation.

9. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet section is vertically oriented upon installation.

10. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet and fluid outlet sections both terminate in end portions with fittings facilitating connection to existing plumbing fixtures.

11. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein: both the fluid inlet and fluid outlet sections are vertically oriented upon installation; and the end section of the fluid inlet is positioned above the end section of the fluid outlet section.

12. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 1, wherein the fluid-inlet and trap sections of the bent, tubular structure are composed of the same compressible, resilient material.

13. A manually cleanable drain trap, comprising: a bent tubular structure including a vertically oriented fluid inlet section, a vertically oriented fluid outlet section, and a U-shaped trap section disposed between the fluid inlet and outlet sections; the trap section being composed of a compressible, resilient elastomeric or other material enabling the trap section to be manually squeezed to dislodge unwanted materials clogging the trap section; a one-way valve disposed in the fluid inlet section, the one-way valve permitting fluid to flow into the fluid inlet section and through the trap section, while preventing back flow from the trap section and into the fluid inlet section as the trap section is manually squeezed; wherein the fluid inlet and fluid outlet sections both terminate in end portions with fittings facilitating connection to existing plumbing fixtures; and wherein the end section of the fluid inlet is positioned above the end section of the fluid outlet section when installed.

14. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 13, wherein the one-way valve disposed in the fluid inlet section is a ball valve.

15. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 14, wherein: the ball of the ball valve is disposed in a bulbous section in the fluid inlet portion; and the bulbous section includes a circular seat that the ball engages with under pressure to close the valve.

16. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 15, wherein the bulbous section includes an inner wall with ribs that enable fluid to flow around the ball when the valve is not closed.

17. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 13, wherein the trap section includes a non-smooth, textured outer surface to assist a user in gripping and squeezing the trap section.

18. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 13, wherein the fluid-inlet and trap sections of the bent, tubular structure are composed of the same compressible, resilient material.

19. The manually cleanable drain trap of claim 18, further including a rigid or semi-rigid threaded fitting connected to the end of the fluid outlet section of the bent, tubular structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1A is a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0014] FIG. 1B is a section depicting details of a ball valve; and

[0015] FIG. 2 is an oblique, partially transparent view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the trap section includes a non-smooth or textured outer surface to assist a user in gripping and squeezing the trap section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1A is a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The device 100 generally comprises a bent tubular structure including a fluid inlet section 102, a fluid outlet section 104, and a U-shaped trap section 106 disposed between the fluid inlet and outlet sections. Both of the inlet and outlet sections terminate in respective end fittings 108, 110 facilitating connection to standard plumbing fixtures. For example, the diameter of the inlet end is preferably dimensioned to receive a washer 112 with an inside diameter to receive a tail piece 114 and compression nut 116. Likewise, fluid outlet section 104 preferably terminates in a threaded end 110 adapted to receive bent tubing 118 with flanged end 126 and compression nut 120 with threads to match threads 110 on the outlet end. Bent tubing 118 is typically a 90-degree tube that allows the fluid to exit horizontally to a coupling to a vertical drain line, for example. While the connection configuration just described is preferred for existing under-sink installations, the invention is not limited in this regard, so long as the unique combination of a compressible trap and one-way, back-flow-prevention, or check valve are provided as will now be described.

[0017] In accordance with the invention, the construction of the trap section 106 is such that it enables the trap section to be manually squeezed to dislodge unwanted materials and debris that might be clogging the trap section 106. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, with the exception of the threaded fitting 110 and ball 130, the entire bent tubular structure is composed of the same compressible, resilient material. Ring 110 is preferably composed of a more rigid material such as PVC and is frictionally fit, glued or otherwise bonded to fluid outlet section 104. Threaded ring 108 need not be as rigid, as its shape is maintained once installed over tailpiece 114. The use of a flexible, resilient material in the fluid inlet section also allows the ball 130 to be pressed into the ball housing as discussed further below.

[0018] The trap section may be made of a more rigid material such as PVC if the wall thickness is intentionally thinned to facilitate manual manipulation. However, in the preferred embodiments a more compressible, resilient material is used at least for the trap section. Indeed, the trap section may be composed of a material that is sufficiently flexible that the inner walls of the trap section may touch one another when that section of the trap is squeezed. Such materials at least include at least the following (though not in order of preference):

[0019] Coplyester

[0020] Copolyamide

[0021] TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

[0022] TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate)

[0023] SBC (Styrene Block Copolymers)

[0024] TPO (Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers)

[0025] Natural Rubber (Polyisoprene)

[0026] Polybutadiene rubber

[0027] Neoprene rubber

[0028] Butyl Rubber

[0029] Halogenated Butyl Rubber

[0030] Nitrile Rubber

[0031] Hydrogenated Nitrile rubber

[0032] PU (Thermoset Polyurethane rubber)

[0033] Silicone

[0034] TPSiV (Thermoplastic Silicone Vulcanizate)

[0035] EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate)

[0036] Fluorinated Silicone

[0037] Flouroeastomers

[0038] EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber)

[0039] Unique to this invention, a one-way, back-flow-prevention valve is disposed in the fluid inlet section. In operation, this valve permits fluid to flow into the fluid inlet section and through the trap section, while preventing fluid from flowing from the trap section and into the fluid inlet section as the trap section is manually squeezed. In the preferred embodiment the valve is a ball valve described in detail below. However, other types of one-way vales may alternatively be utilized, such as leaf or flap valves with any number of flaps. While the ball valve described herein conveniently relies on gravity in the open condition, biasing such as spring biasing may be used in conjunction with any desired valve type.

[0040] As mentioned, however, in the preferred embodiment a ball valve is used which includes ball 130 disposed in ball housing 132 which may constitute a bulbous section of the fluid inlet section. In the preferred embodiment, the housing includes an inner wall with ribs 134 that enable fluid to flow around the ball when the valve is not closed, and a circular seat 136 that the ball engages with under pressure to close the valve. FIG. 1B is a cross section of the ball 130, housing 132 and ribs 134, which may be more or fewer than the number shown in the drawings. The ball 130 is preferably hollow and may be similar in size and appearance to a common ping-pong ball.

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates an oblique, partially transparent view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the trap section includes a non-smooth or textured outer surface to assist a user in gripping and squeezing the trap section. Again, although the entire outer surface of the trap section is shown as being textured, a much smaller area may be non-smooth. For example, the trap section may be formed with two or more opposing button-like areas, or may include a flexible pleat. The combination of the buttons and the pleat allows the trap section 16 to be compressed inwardly by finger pressure on opposing buttons 18.