Drain stopper device

Abstract

The present invention relates to plumbing fixtures, and more particularly to drain stopper assemblies used to control the flow of fluid through a drain opening of a sink or bathtub. More specifically, the present invention is a novel drain stopper device that can be attached or removed from a drain without the use of tools and without requiring a user to access the space underneath the drain. The device is preferably comprised of a drain stopper head portion having a repositionable push button in mechanical communication with a spring, a shaft and a pair of repositionable jaws such that the pair of jaws are repositioned to grip or release a pivot rod when the push button is repositioned between a first and a second position.

Claims

1. An improved drain stopper device comprising: a drain stopper head; a push button; a shaft; and a repositionable jaw assembly, wherein the repositionable jaw assembly comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, an opening between the first and second jaws, and a hinge pin and further wherein each of the first and second jaws are in mechanical communication with the push button and rotate about the hinge pin.

2. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 1, wherein the push button is repositionable between a first position and a second position, and further wherein a gap exists between the first jaw and the second jaw when the push button is in the first position and the gap does not exist when the push button is in the second position.

3. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 2 further comprising a spring.

4. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 3 further comprising a gasket.

5. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 4, wherein the push button is centered along a top surface of the drain stopper head.

6. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 5 further comprising a protective cover, wherein the shaft is positioned within the protective cover.

7. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 6 further comprising an outer casing.

8. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 7, wherein a width of the outer casing is larger than a width of the protective cover.

9. An improved drain stopper device comprising: a circular drain stopper head integrally formed with an outer casing and having a continuous opening therein; a push button at least partially positioned in the continuous opening; a shaft at least partially positioned in the continuous opening, wherein the circular drain stopper head is positioned on a first end of the shaft; and a repositionable jaw assembly positioned on a second end of the shaft, wherein the repositionable jaw assembly comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, an opening between the first and second jaws, and a hinge pin and further wherein each of the first and second jaws are in mechanical communication with the push button and rotate about the hinge pin.

10. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 9, wherein the push button is repositionable between a first position and a second position, and further wherein a gap exists between the first jaw and the second jaw when the push button is in the first position and the gap does not exist when the push button is in the second position.

11. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a spring.

12. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a gasket.

13. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 12 further comprising a protective cover, wherein the shaft is positioned at least partially within the protective cover.

14. The improved drain stopper device as recited in claim 13, wherein a width of the outer casing is larger than a width of the protective cover.

15. An improved drain stopper device comprising: a drain stopper head attached to an outer casing; a push button positioned along a top surface of the drain stopper head and repositionable between a first position and a second position; a spring in mechanical communication with the push button, wherein the spring is at least partially compressed when the push button is in the second position; a shaft, wherein the drain stopper head is positioned on a first end of the shaft; and a repositionable jaw assembly positioned on a second end of the shaft, wherein the repositionable jaw assembly comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, an opening between the first and second jaws, and a hinge pin, and further wherein each of the first and second jaws are in mechanical communication with the push button and rotate about the hinge pin, and yet further wherein a gag exists between the first jaw and the second jaw when the push button is in the second position and the gap does not exist when the push button is in the first position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a cutaway cross-sectional view of one potential embodiment of an improved drain stopper device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture, wherein the linkage between the push button and the repositionable jaws is fully displayed;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway cross-sectional view of one potential embodiment of the jaw assembly of the improved drain stopper device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the improved drain stopper of the present invention above a sink drain in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of an improved drain stopper device of the present invention installed in a drain in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

(7) As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved and self-contained drain stopper device that is easily removable from an existing drain by an individual if, for example, the device becomes damaged or if the drain become clogged and requires cleaning. Moreover, there is also a long-felt need in the art for an improved drain stopper device that is both repositionable within a drain and that is capable of being quickly and easily removed from a drain without requiring the user to access/physically enter the space below the drain, which may be difficult to access. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved drain stopper device that does not require the use of any additional tools, plumbing or otherwise, or specialized plumbing knowledge to remove the drain stopper device from the drain. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved drain stopper device that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and that is both safe and easy to use.

(8) The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an improved drain stopper device. The stopper device is comprised of a first end having a generally round/disc-like stopper head with a spring-activated push-button and rubber gasket seal, wherein the push button is in mechanical communication with a shaft and a set of spring loaded and repositionable jaws attached to a second opposing end of the shaft. More specifically, the jaws are attached to the shaft via a hinge pin that allows the jaws to open/close when a user presses or releases the push-button to allow the stopper device to attach/detach from a pivot rod below a sink of bathtub drain. As such, a user can easily and completely remove the stopper device from a drain assembly by simply depressing the push button to remove the stopper device jaws from around the pivot rod, and without the need for additional tools or to access the area underneath the sink to complete the removal.

(9) Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a cutaway cross-sectional view of one potential embodiment of an improved drain stopper device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture, wherein the linkage between the push button 134 and the repositionable jaws 162 is fully displayed. Generally stated, the improved stopper device 100 is comprised of a drain stopper head 130, a push button assembly 134, a shaft 150 and a repositionable jaw assembly 162. More specifically, the stopper device 100 is comprised of a first end 120 that is connected to a second end 160 by the shaft 150. The generally circular or disc-shaped stopper head 130 is positioned at the first end 120 of the stopper device 100, and is comprised of a top surface 132, an outer casing 140 and a continuous opening 142 that extends from the top surface in the direction of the second end 160. In differing embodiments of the stopper device 100 and unless otherwise stated herein, each of the components of the stopper device 100 may be comprised of a plurality of different materials such as, but not limited to a stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, or other durable and anti-corrosive materials.

(10) The center of the top surface 132 of the stopper head 130 is further comprised of a push button 134, which is repositionable between a first position (as best shown in FIG. 1) and a second position (as best shown in FIG. 3) within the continuous opening 142. The push button 134 is surrounded by a rubber gasket 136 that has a continuous opening 1360 therein, such that the gasket 136 is positioned completely around the push button 134 to ensure a water-tight seal with the interior walls of the stopper head 130 that form the opening 142 and to prevent water from entering into the opening 142 of the stopper head 132 (e.g., when the drain 10 is closed, as best shown in FIG. 4).

(11) As best shown in FIG. 1, the portion of the push button 134 that sits below the gasket 136 is further housed with the opening and is in mechanical communication with a spring 138 (also positioned in the opening 142) that further connects the push button 134 to the shaft 150. When the push button 134 is in the first position (as best shown in FIG. 1), the spring 138 is in its natural uncompressed state and retains the push button 134 in the first position. By comparison, when a user (not shown) depresses the push button 134 in the direction of the second end 160 so as to place the push button 134 in the second position (as best shown in FIG. 3), the spring 138 will be placed in a compressed state, and the bias therein will cause the push button 134 to return to the first position when the user is no longer depressing the same.

(12) FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway cross-sectional view of one potential embodiment of the jaw assembly 162 of the improved drain stopper device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the jaw assembly 162 is positioned on the second end 160 of the stopper device 100, and is attached to, or is in mechanical communication with, the shaft 150. The jaw assembly 162 is comprised of a curved first jaw 1620, a curved second jaw 1622, a hinged pivot or pin 1624, and a continuous opening 1626 positioned between the first jaw 1620 and the second jaw 1622 for receipt of pivot rod 14. By way of background, the pivot rod 14 is in mechanical communication with a handle or other actuation device (not shown) and is known in the art, and that enables a user to reposition the stopper device 100 within the drain opening 12 to close or open the drain 10 as desired to, for example, allow the sink or bathtub basin to fill with water (e.g., if the drain opening 12 is closed), or drain the water that exists in the sink or bathtub basin if the drain opening 12 is open.

(13) Each of the first and second jaws 1620, 1622 are linked together via a hinge/pivot pin 1624 that allows the first and second jaws 1620, 1622 to reposition from a closed position (as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) to an open position (as best shown in FIG. 3). More specifically, when the push button 134 is depressed into the second position (see FIG. 3), the spring 138 presses down against the bottom surface 1420 of the cavity 142 and the shaft 150 to allow the repositionable first and second jaws 1620, 1622 to pivot about the pin 1624 and separate slightly to form gap 1628 (see FIG. 3) so that the jaws 1620, 1622 can accept pivot rod 14 into the opening 1626. Once the pivot rod 14 is positioned within the opening 1626 and is mechanically connected to the stopper device 100 such that the operation of the pivot rod 14 causes the stopper device 100 to reposition within the drain opening 12, the push button 134 is released and the bias in the spring 138 causes the push button 134 to return to the first position (see FIG. 1) and the first and second jaws 1620, 1622 to close around the pivot rod 14 such that the gap 1628 will be eliminated.

(14) Therefore, a user need not crawl underneath the sink area to detach/attached the stopper device 100 from the pivot rod 14, as is required with existing drain stopper devices. Notwithstanding, it should be noted that in alternative embodiments of the stopper 100, the pivot pin 1624 may be connected to a spring 154 that is located within an interior of the shaft 150 such that the spring 154 is connected to the lower portion of the push button 1342 which can then allow the jaw assembly 162 to open and close as described. Further, in differing embodiments of the stopper device 100, the shaft 150 may be further comprised of an internal spring 154 that connects to the pin 1624 to allow the jaw assembly 162 to open/close upon the pressing/depressing of the push button 134.

(15) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the improved drain stopper 100 of the present invention above a sink drain 10 having a drain opening 12 therein in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the shaft 150 may be comprised of a waterproof, rigid, protective cover 152 that protects the same from soap buildup, grime, hair and other debris that may pass down the drain opening 12. Similarly, and as mentioned above, the stopper head 130 may be comprised of a waterproof, rigid, protective outer casing 140 that protects the opening 142 and its components from the same soap buildup, grime, hair and other debris that may pass down the drain opening 12. The width or diameter of both the outer casing 140 and the protective cover 152 must be less than the width or diameter of the drain opening 12 to allow the sink or tub basin to properly drain and, as best shown in FIGS. 1-3, the width or diameter of the protective cover 152 is substantially less than the width or diameter of the outer casing 140.

(16) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of an improved drain stopper device 100 of the present invention installed in a drain 10 in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As stated above, to install the stopper device 100 and attach the same to the pivot rod 14, the user would simply insert the stopper device 100 into the drain opening 12 until the closed jaw assembly 162 is resting on the pivot rod 14. The user would then depress the push button 134 to overcome the bias in the spring 138 and put the push button in the second position, which in turn causes the first and second jaws 1620, 1622 to pivot about the pin 1624 and separate slightly to form gap 1628 (see FIG. 3) so that the jaws 1620, 1622 can accept pivot rod 14 into the opening 1626. Once the pivot rod 14 is positioned within the opening 1626 and is mechanically connected to the stopper device 100 (i.e., such that the operation of the pivot rod 14 causes the stopper device 100 to reposition within the drain opening 12), the push button 134 is released and the bias in the spring 138 causes the push button 134 to return to the first position (see FIG. 1) and the first and second jaws 1620, 1622 to close around the pivot rod 14 such that the gap 1628 will be eliminated.

(17) Similarly, when a user desires to remove the stopper device 100 from the drain opening 12 to, for example, remove a damaged stopper device 100 or unclog the drain opening 12, the user would again simply depress the push button 134 to cause the first and second jaws 1620, 1622 to pivot about the pin 1624 and separate slightly to form gap 1628 (see FIG. 3) so that the jaws 1620, 1622 can release the pivot rod 14 from the opening 1626 via the gap 1628.

(18) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the improved stopper device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the improved drain stopper device 100 and its various components as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that other configurations of the improved drain stopper device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure.

(19) Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

(20) What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.