DRAIN FIXTURE

Abstract

This disclosure provides a drain fitting having a discharge potion comprising a chamber formed by walls extending between and around an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being wider than the outlet or having a greater cross-sectional area than the outlet and the walls having interior surfaces sloping inwardly between the inlet and outlet.

Claims

1. A drain fitting having a discharge potion comprising a chamber formed by walls extending between and around an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being wider than the outlet or having a greater cross-sectional area than the outlet and the walls having interior surfaces sloping inwardly between the inlet and outlet.

2. The drain fitting of claim 1, further comprise a connector portion having an outlet opening configured to be connected to a pipe for carrying water flowing through the drain fitting to a sewer system or elsewhere and walls forming a hollow body portion, which is in fluid communication with the outlet opening and the outlet of the chamber of the drain fitting.

3. The drain fitting of claim 2, wherein the chamber has a shape that is generally that of a truncated cone.

4. The drain fitting of claim 2, wherein the walls of the chamber merge with a wall or the walls of the connector portion.

5. The drain fitting of claim 4, wherein the walls of the chamber merge around a hole in the walls of the connector portion.

6. The drain fitting of claim 4, wherein the walls of the chamber merge with the walls of the connector portion in a generally elbow shaped manner.

7. A drain fitting or drain shoe comprising an inlet section having an opening and an outlet section having an opening, the inlet opening being larger than the outlet opening, walls extending around the inlet section and extending towards the outlet section, the walls having inner surfaces forming a generally conical section between the inlet section and the outlet section.

8. A drain shoe having an inlet and an outlet and interior walls between the inlet and outlet that converge towards each other about a central axis that extends through the drain inlet.

9. A shower or bath incorporating the drain fitting of claim 1.

10. A bath as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bath is a walk in bath.

11. A shower or bath incorporating the drain fitting of claim 7.

12. A bath as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bath is a walk in bath.

13. A bath comprising a water outlet in fluid communication a drain shoe having an outlet and an inlet with a diameter of more than 1½ inches and an axis extending through the center of the water outlet from the bath and the center of the inlet to the drain shoe, the drain shoe having interior walls that converge from adjacent the inlet of the drain shoe towards the axis; the bath having a water overflow passage and further comprising an overflow pipe connected to the passage and to the outlet of the drain shoe; the drain shoe being configured to optimize or increase the flow of water when the bath is drained and to cause water to fill the overflow pipe to a height approaching the height of water in the bath, so as to minimize entrapment of air in the water draining from the bath.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Some preferred embodiments will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a drain fitting according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a top view of a drain fitting according to the invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a top view of another drain fitting according to the invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view of the drain fitting of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4 in the direction shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a bath draining through a drain shoe or drain fitting of this disclosure into a waste pipe and connected to a typical over flow pipe system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a drain fitting (100) comprising an inlet (101) and an outlet (102) having walls (103) there between. Inlet (101) typically has a circular periphery (104) and may have seated therein a waste plug assembly (105) with a strainer (106). Walls (103) slope gradually inwards from inlet (101) to outlet (102), preferably forming a generally truncated conical shape. Walls (103) merge into the walls (107) of a generally cylindrical short tube (108), typically having one end closed at (109) and the other end open at (101) having an outlet (111) to form a drain tail piece having a connector element (112) for attachment to a sewer or waste pipe (not shown).

[0030] Walls (103) function to gather water exiting a bath or shower or the like through a relatively large inlet (101) and, despite the reduction in flow area caused by the smaller cross-sectional area of tube (108), achieve full capacity flow from that tube.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a drain fitting (200), according to this disclosure. Drain fitting (200) comprises an inlet (201) which is generally circular in cross section. Extending across the inlet (201) is a fitting (202) for receiving a drain closure (not shown).

[0032] Inlet (201) communicates with an internal chamber (203) formed by walls (204). As shown in FIG. 1, walls (204) converge or taper generally downwards towards outlet (205) to communicate with a tail piece fitting (206) comprising a cylindrical tube having an outlet (207) with an enlarged fitting (208) for connection to a sewer pipe.

[0033] A cable drain mechanism may be provided comprising a cable assembly (300) and an actuator (301) located at the bottom of chamber (203). In a conventional manner, cable assembly (210) operates actuator (211) to drive the closure upward and downward so as to open and close the water inlet.

[0034] In FIG. 3 there is shown a low profile drain fitting or drain shoe (300) comprising a plug assembly (301) that is intended to fit in the outlet of a shower or bath.

[0035] Plug assembly (301) comprises a fitting (302) having a central hole (303) for receiving a pop-up drain plug (not shown).

[0036] Fitting (301) provides a circular inlet (304) for water to flow into when in use draining a shower or bath. Inlet (304) is in fluid communication with a tail piece (305) extending generally perpendicularly to the central axis of inlet (304). Tail piece (305) comprises a generally cylindrical body (306) terminating in an outlet (307) formed by a connector portion (308), used for connecting to a waste or sewer pipe in a conventional manner.

[0037] The drain shoe in FIG. 3 further comprises a housing (309) for a cable mechanism (not shown) which can be used to open and close a pop-up closure (not shown). As can be seen in more detail in FIG. 4, fitting (301) comprises walls (310) that taper towards each other forming a generally frusto-conical shape that merges into the cylindrical body of the outflow connector (305). In order to make this embodiment a low profile drain shoe, wall (311) adjacent the outlet from the connector (305) is made relatively short and is substantially shorter than the opposing wall (312). Walls (311) and (312) form a chamber (313) which houses an assembly (314) for a pop-up valve (not shown). Adjacent the bottom wall (314) a connector portion there is provided a passageway (315) for receiving an actuator mechanism for the pop-up valve (not shown).

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a bath (500) containing water (501). The bath has an outlet (502) of which is connected to a drain fitting or drain shoe according to this disclosure (503).

[0039] A tail pipe (504) is connected to an overflow pipe (505) as well a pipe connection (506) to waste. Bath (500) has a wall (507) with a hole (508) receiving a conventional drain plug pop-up actuator (509).

[0040] When the Bath (500) is draining, the water in the bath produces a force on outgoing water. Similarly, water height in the overflow pipe (505) acts like a “water tower” and applies direct gravity force to the outgoing water in the drain pipe so that ultimately, for example at (510), the pipe system drains at full flow and gravity force and with preferably little or no trapped air and provide gravity pressure to accelerate the flow of the water into waste, such as a sewer pipe.