Drain Assembly
20260015879 ยท 2026-01-15
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A drain assembly includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing includes a base and a first plurality of sidewalls extending from the base. The inner housing is configured for connection with the outer housing and includes a second plurality of sidewalls, a center hub disposed inward relative to the second plurality of sidewalls, and a plurality of inner portions connected to the second plurality of sidewalls and the center hub. In an assembled configuration, the inner housing is connected with the outer housing such that (i) the inner portions and portions of the base define a plurality of fluid conduits and (ii) the second plurality of sidewalls are offset from the first plurality of sidewalls defining a void, the fluid conduits are arranged in a vortex-shaped configuration, and the void is in fluid communication with the fluid conduits and the center hub.
Claims
1. A drain assembly comprising: an outer housing including a base and a first plurality of sidewalls extending from the base; and an inner housing configured for connection with the outer housing and including a second plurality of sidewalls, a center hub disposed inward relative to the second plurality of sidewalls, and a plurality of inner portions connected to the second plurality of sidewalls and the center hub, wherein, in an assembled configuration: the inner housing is connected with the outer housing such that (i) the inner portions and portions of the base define a plurality of fluid conduits and (ii) the second plurality of sidewalls are offset from the first plurality of sidewalls defining a void, the fluid conduits are arranged in a vortex-shaped configuration, and the void is in fluid communication with the fluid conduits and the center hub.
2. The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the inner portions includes a rib.
3. The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of sidewalls and the second plurality of sidewalls are arranged in a polygonal-shaped configuration.
4. The drain assembly of claim 1 further comprising an insert removably disposed in the center hub.
5. The drain assembly of claim 4 wherein: the insert includes a cone-shaped fluid diverter; the base includes an outlet; and the fluid diverter is configured to guide fluid flowing through the fluid conducts into the outlet.
6. The drain assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hydrostatic valve and a valve stake, wherein: the hydrostatic valve is removably connected to the inner housing, the valve stake is removably connected to the outer housing, and in the assembled configuration, the hydrostatic valve is in fluid communication with the valve stake.
7. The drain assembly of claim 6 wherein: fluid is permitted to flow through the hydrostatic valve and out of valve stake when a fluid pressure in the fluid conduits exceeds a pressure threshold; and fluid is inhibited from flowing through the hydrostatic valve when the fluid pressure in the fluid conduits is less than the pressure threshold.
8. The drain assembly of claim 6 wherein the hydrostatic valve is accessible via the center hub.
9. The drain assembly of claim 1 wherein: the base includes an outlet that is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the plurality of fluid conduits; and a plug is removably disposed in the outlet such that an outer surface of the plug is aligned flush with an inner surface of the base.
10. The drain assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is configured (i) for connection with the inner housing and (ii) to rotate relative to the inner housing.
11. A drain assembly comprising: an outer housing including a base; and an inner housing configured for connection with the outer housing and including a plurality of inner portions, wherein, in an assembled configuration: the inner housing is connected with the outer housing such that the inner portions and portions of the base define a plurality of fluid conduits, and the fluid conduits are arranged in a vortex-shaped configuration.
12. The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of the inner portions includes a rib.
13. The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein the outer housing includes a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged in a polygonal-shaped configuration.
14. The drain assembly of claim 11 further comprising an insert removably disposed in a center hub of the inner housing.
15. The drain assembly of claim 14 wherein: the insert includes a cone-shaped fluid diverter; the base includes an outlet; and the fluid diverter is configured to guide fluid flowing through the fluid conducts into the outlet.
16. The drain assembly of claim 11 further comprising a hydrostatic valve and a valve stake, wherein: the hydrostatic valve is removably connected to the inner housing, the valve stake is removably connected to the outer housing, and in the assembled configuration, the hydrostatic valve is in fluid communication with the valve stake.
17. The drain assembly of claim 16 wherein: fluid is permitted to flow through the hydrostatic valve and out of valve stake when a fluid pressure in the fluid conduits exceeds a pressure threshold; and fluid is inhibited from flowing through the hydrostatic valve when the fluid pressure in the fluid conduits is less than the pressure threshold.
18. The drain assembly of claim 16 wherein the hydrostatic valve is accessible via a center hub of the inner housing.
19. The drain assembly of claim 11 wherein: the base includes an outlet that is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the plurality of fluid conduits; and a plug is removably disposed in the outlet such that an outer surface of the plug is aligned flush with an inner surface of the base.
20. The drain assembly of claim 11 further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is configured (i) for connection with the inner housing and (ii) to rotate relative to the inner housing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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[0021] In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Introduction
[0022] With reference to
[0023] With reference to
Housing Assembly
[0024] With reference to
[0025] With reference to
[0026] In various implementations, the first sidewalls 92 may be arranged in a polygonal-shaped configuration (e.g., square, rectangle, etc.). In various implementations, the base 90 may include and/or may define a first outlet 96-1, a second outlet 96-2, and a third outlet 96-3, among others. The first outlet 96-1 may be disposed in the center and/or in the middle of the base 90. The first outlet 96-1 may connect with a pipe of a filtration system of the pool construct 12. The second outlet 96-2 may connect with the plug 70 or a pipe of the filtration system. The third outlet 96-3 may connect with the valve stake 60. While the outer housing 80 is generally shown and described herein as including three outlets, the outer housing 80 may include more or less than three outlets.
[0027] Referring now to
[0028] As illustrated in
[0029] With reference to
[0030] In various implementations, the second sidewalls 110 and/or the center hub 112 may define a polygonal-shaped configuration (e.g., square, rectangle, etc.). In some example configurations, at least some of the inner portions 114 may include a rib 116. The rib 116 may be received by a slot 100 of the outer housing 80 to facilitate the alignment and/or connection of the inner housing 82 with the outer housing 80.
[0031] In various implementations, the insert 40 may be removably disposed in the center hub 112. In some instances, a cover 118 may be removably coupled to the center hub 112. In various implementations, the hydrostatic valve 50 may be removably coupled to the inner housing 82. For example, as illustrated in
[0032] With reference to
[0033] In various implementations, in the assembled configuration, the second sidewalls 110 are offset from the first sidewalls 92 defining a void 126 therebetween. In some example configurations, the void 126 may extend continuously and uninterrupted along an entire perimeter of the housing assembly 20. In the assembled configuration, the void 126 is in fluid communication with the fluid conduits 124 and the center hub 112.
[0034] With reference to
Cover Assembly
[0035] Referring again to
Insert
[0036] With reference to
Hydrostatic Valve and Valve Stake
[0037] With continued reference to
[0038] In various implementations, the hydrostatic valve 50 regulates pressure in the fluid conduits 124. For example, during operation of the drain assembly 10, fluid from the environment (e.g., groundwater) external to the drain assembly 10 may flow through the hydrostatic valve 50 and into the fluid conduits 124 and/or the second outlet 96-2 when a fluid pressure in the environment exceeds a pressure threshold in the fluid conduits 124. In some implementations, fluid may be permitted to flow through the hydrostatic valve 50 and out of the valve stake 60 when a fluid pressure in the fluid conduits 124 exceeds a pressure threshold to reduce the pressure in the fluid conduits 124. In some examples, high fluid pressure in the fluid conduits 124 may cause damage to the drain assembly 10 and/or may cause the drain assembly 10 to operate incorrectly. In various implementations, fluid is inhibited from flowing through the hydrostatic valve 50 when the fluid pressure in the fluid conduits is less than the pressure threshold.
Plug
[0039] With reference to
Operation of Drain Assembly
[0040] With reference to
[0041] In various implementations, the vortex arrangement of the fluid conduits 124 provides various operational benefits for the drain assembly 10. For example, the vortex arrangement of the fluid conduits 124 permits fluid and debris disposed in the fluid to flow smoothly, efficiently, and/or uninterrupted through the drain assembly 10. The foregoing enables efficient circulation and optimal filtration of the pool construct 12.
[0042] In various implementations, the vortex arrangement inhibits debris buildup in the drain assembly 10 such that stagnant water in the pool construct 12 is reduced. In various implementations, each fluid conduit 124 includes a curved configuration that has a length (e.g., length 150) from a respective sidewall 110 of the inner housing 82 to the center hub 112 that is greater than a length (e.g., length 152) of a straight line from the sidewall to the center hub 112 (see, e.g.,
CONCLUSION
[0043] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. In the written description and claims, one or more steps within a method may be executed in a different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Similarly, one or more instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium may be executed in a different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Unless indicated otherwise, numbering or other labeling of instructions or method steps is done for convenient reference, not to indicate a fixed order.
[0044] Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.
[0045] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular articles a, an, and the may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms comprises, comprising, including, and having, are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0046] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including connected, engaged, coupled, adjacent, proximate, next to, on top of, above, below, and disposed. Unless explicitly described as being direct, when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship encompasses a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements as well as an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present between the first and second elements. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0047] The term set does not necessarily exclude the empty set in other words, in some circumstances a set may have zero elements. The term non-empty set may be used to indicate exclusion of the empty set in other words, a non-empty set will always have one or more elements. The term subset does not necessarily require a proper subset. In other words, a subset of a first set may be coextensive with (equal to) the first set. Further, the term subset does not necessarily exclude the empty set in some circumstances a subset may have zero elements.
[0048] The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. These elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example configurations.
[0049] The term set generally means a grouping of one or more elements. The elements of a set do not necessarily need to have any characteristics in common or otherwise belong together. The phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C. The phrase at least one of A, B, or C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR.
[0050] The following Clauses provide an exemplary configuration for a drain assembly, as described above.
[0051] Clause 1: A drain assembly comprising: an outer housing including a base and a first plurality of sidewalls extending from the base; and an inner housing configured for connection with the outer housing and including a second plurality of sidewalls, a center hub disposed inward relative to the second plurality of sidewalls, and a plurality of inner portions connected to the second plurality of sidewalls and the center hub, wherein, in an assembled configuration: the inner housing is connected with the outer housing such that (i) the inner portions and portions of the base define a plurality of fluid conduits and (ii) the second plurality of sidewalls are offset from the first plurality of sidewalls defining a void, the fluid conduits are arranged in a vortex-shaped configuration, and the void is in fluid communication with the fluid conduits and the center hub.
[0052] Clause 2: The drain assembly of clause 1, wherein at least one of the inner portions includes a rib.
[0053] Clause 3: The drain assembly of clause 1 or 2, wherein the first plurality of sidewalls and the second plurality of sidewalls are arranged in a polygonal-shaped configuration.
[0054] Clause 4: The drain assembly of any of clauses 1 through 3, further comprising an insert removably disposed in the center hub.
[0055] Clause 5: The drain assembly of clause 4, wherein: the insert includes a cone-shaped fluid diverter; the base includes an outlet; and the fluid diverter is configured to guide fluid flowing through the fluid conducts into the outlet.
[0056] Clause 6: The drain assembly of any of clauses 1 through 5, further comprising a hydrostatic valve and a valve stake, wherein: the hydrostatic valve is removably connected to the inner housing, the valve stake is removably connected to the outer housing, and in the assembled configuration, the hydrostatic valve is in fluid communication with the valve stake.
[0057] Clause 7: The drain assembly of clause 6, wherein: fluid is permitted to flow through the hydrostatic valve and out of valve stake when a fluid pressure in the fluid conduits exceeds a pressure threshold; and fluid is inhibited from flowing through the hydrostatic valve when the fluid pressure in the fluid conduits is less than the pressure threshold.
[0058] Clause 8: The drain assembly of clause 6, wherein the hydrostatic valve is accessible via the center hub.
[0059] Clause 9: The drain assembly of any of clauses 1 through 8, wherein: the base includes an outlet that is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the plurality of fluid conduits; and a plug is removably disposed in the outlet such that an outer surface of the plug is aligned flush with an inner surface of the base.
[0060] Clause 10: The drain assembly of any of clauses 1 through 9, further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is configured (i) for connection with the inner housing and (ii) to rotate relative to the inner housing.
[0061] Clause 11: A drain assembly comprising: an outer housing including a base; and an inner housing configured for connection with the outer housing and including a plurality of inner portions, wherein, in an assembled configuration: the inner housing is connected with the outer housing such that the inner portions and portions of the base define a plurality of fluid conduits, and the fluid conduits are arranged in a vortex-shaped configuration.
[0062] Clause 12: The drain assembly of clause 11, wherein at least one of the inner portions includes a rib.
[0063] Clause 13: The drain assembly of clause 11 or 12, wherein the outer housing includes a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged in a polygonal-shaped configuration.
[0064] Clause 14: The drain assembly of any of clauses 11 through 13, further comprising an insert removably disposed in a center hub of the inner housing.
[0065] Clause 15: The drain assembly of clause 14, wherein: the insert includes a cone-shaped fluid diverter; the base includes an outlet; and the fluid diverter is configured to guide fluid flowing through the fluid conducts into the outlet.
[0066] Clause 16: The drain assembly of any of clauses 11 through 15, further comprising a hydrostatic valve and a valve stake, wherein: the hydrostatic valve is removably connected to the inner housing, the valve stake is removably connected to the outer housing, and in the assembled configuration, the hydrostatic valve is in fluid communication with the valve stake.
[0067] Clause 17: The drain assembly of clause 16, wherein: fluid is permitted to flow through the hydrostatic valve and out of valve stake when a fluid pressure in the fluid conduits exceeds a pressure threshold; and fluid is inhibited from flowing through the hydrostatic valve when the fluid pressure in the fluid conduits is less than the pressure threshold.
[0068] Clause 18: The drain assembly of clause 16, wherein the hydrostatic valve is accessible via a center hub of the inner housing.
[0069] Clause 19: The drain assembly of any of clauses 11 through 18, wherein: the base includes an outlet that is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit of the plurality of fluid conduits; and a plug is removably disposed in the outlet such that an outer surface of the plug is aligned flush with an inner surface of the base.
[0070] Clause 20: The drain assembly of any of clauses 11 through 19, further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is configured (i) for connection with the inner housing and (ii) to rotate relative to the inner housing.