Device and method for concealing a flange of a waste water strainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11220810-B2
Application number	US-202016817160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2010
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A device used to conceal at least a portion of a wastewater strainer associated with a bathtub. More specifically, a plate having an opening therethrough is used to overlap a flange of the wastewater strainer wherein the opening in the plate generally coincides with an opening in the wastewater strainer so that the bathtub drain is unobstructed. The plate may include a downwardly extending lip to help facilitate orientation onto the flange of the wastewater strainer. The plate conceals the wastewater strainer, thereby facilitating reconfiguration of a bathtub as the existing wastewater strainer need not be removed and the plumbing system retested.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A concealing device for a wastewater strainer, the concealing device comprising:
a plate defining an opening therethrough, wherein the plate is configured to conceal a flange of the wastewater strainer;
a hub disposed within the opening and coupled to the plate; and
a connector comprising a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to the hub of the plate and the second end is configured to couple to a hub of the wastewater strainer so that the plate is engaged with the flange of the wastewater strainer.

2. The concealing device of claim 1 , further comprising a bolt coupled to the hub and extending therefrom.

3. The concealing device of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the connector is configured to threadingly couple to the bolt.

4. The concealing device of claim 3 , wherein the bolt threads into an internal diameter of the first end.

5. The concealing device of claim 2 , further comprising a stopper configured to selectively prevent fluid flow through the opening coupled to the bolt.

6. The concealing device of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the connector is configured to threadingly couple to the hub of the wastewater strainer.

7. The concealing device of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the connector has a different external diameter than the second end of the connector.

8. The concealing device of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the plate comprises a grate that supports the hub on the plate.

9. The concealing device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one arm extending between the plate and the hub so as to support the hub within the opening.

10. The concealing device of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier integral with the connector.

11. A concealing device for a wastewater strainer, the concealing device comprising:
a plate defining an opening therethrough, wherein the plate is configured to conceal a flange of the wastewater strainer;
a hub disposed within the opening and coupled to the plate;
a threaded bolt extending from the hub; and
at least one threaded rod connector comprising a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end comprises an internal diameter with threads and the second end comprises an external diameter with threads, and wherein the first end is configured to threadingly couple to the threaded bolt and the second end is configured to threadingly couple to a hub of the wastewater strainer so that the plate is engaged with the flange of the wastewater strainer.

12. The concealing device of claim 11 , wherein the second end of the at least one threaded rod connector comprises an internal diameter with threads so that the second end is configured to threadingly couple to the threaded bolt.

13. The concealing device of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the at least one threaded rod connector comprises an external dimeter with threads.

14. The concealing device of claim 11 , wherein the external diameter of the second end is different than an external diameter of the first end.

15. The concealing device of claim 11 , further comprising a stopper configured to selectively prevent fluid flow through the opening coupled to the bolt.

16. A concealing device for a wastewater strainer, the concealing device comprising:
a plate defining an opening therethrough, wherein the plate is configured to conceal a flange of the wastewater strainer;
a hub disposed within the opening and coupled to the plate;
a connector comprising a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to the hub of the plate and the second end is configured to couple to a hub of the wastewater strainer so that the plate is engaged with the flange of the wastewater strainer; and
a stopper configured to selectively prevent fluid flow through the opening.

17. The concealing device of claim 16 , further comprising a bolt coupled between the connector and the stopper.

18. The concealing device of claim 16 , wherein the opening of the plate comprises a grate that supports the hub on the plate.

19. The concealing device of claim 16 , further comprising at least one arm extending between the plate and the hub so as to support the hub within the opening.

20. The concealing device of claim 16 , wherein the stopper comprises a push pull stopper.

Assignees

• Wcm Ind Inc

Inventors

• Ball William T

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title

• A47K1/14

  Stoppers for wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like · CPC title

• E03C1/26

  Object-catching inserts or similar devices for waste pipes or outlets (E03C1/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E03C1/262 Primary

  combined with outlet stoppers · CPC title