Bathtub drain connection systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11674294-B2
Application number	US-202016990659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2020
Priority date	Aug 12, 2019
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A bathtub drain connection system includes a first drain pipe configured to couple to a drain opening of a bathtub and a second drain pipe configured to mount to a floor structure. A drain connector is extends between the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe so that the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe are coupled in fluid communication. The drain connector is configured to allow the first drain pipe to be disposed offset relative to the second drain pipe and in a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bathtub drain connection system comprising:
a first drain pipe configured to couple to a drain opening of a bathtub, wherein the first drain pipe comprises a first inlet and an opposite first outlet with a first longitudinal axis defined therebetween, the first inlet comprising a first flange configured to secure the first drain pipe to the bathtub;
a second drain pipe configured to mount to a floor structure, wherein the second drain pipe comprises a second inlet and an opposite second outlet with a second longitudinal axis defined therebetween, the second inlet comprising a second flange configured to mount the second drain pipe to the floor structure, and wherein the second inlet is wider than the first inlet; and
a drain connector coupled between the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe so that the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe are coupled in fluid communication, and wherein the drain connector is configured to allow the first drain pipe to be disposed offset relative to the second drain pipe and in a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor structure.

2. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 1 , wherein the drain connector comprises a flexible pipe.

3. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 2 , wherein each end of the flexible pipe is substantially rigid and a middle section is flexible.

4. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 1 , wherein the second inlet has a larger diameter than the second outlet.

5. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 4 , wherein the second inlet comprises a substantially frustoconical shape.

6. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 1 , wherein the drain connector comprises an inlet and an opposite outlet, and wherein the inlet of the drain connector is pivotably coupled to the first drain pipe.

7. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 6 , further comprising a seal coupled between the outlet of the drain connector and the second drain pipe.

8. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 1 , the first inlet comprising the first flange and a threaded outer portion, and wherein the system further comprises a lock nut configured to threadingly engage the first drain pipe and secure the first drain pipe to the bathtub.

9. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 8 , wherein the first outlet of the first drain pipe extends at least partially into the second drain pipe.

10. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 8 , further comprising a seal disposed between the lock nut and the flange around the first drain pipe.

11. A bathtub drain connection system comprising:
a first drain pipe comprising a first longitudinal axis and configured to couple to a drain opening of a bathtub, wherein the first drain pipe comprises a first inlet and a first flange configured to secure the first drain pipe within the drain opening of the bathtub;
a second drainpipe comprising a second longitudinal axis and configured to mount to a floor structure, wherein the second drain pipe comprises a second inlet and a second flange configured to mount the second drain pipe within the floor structure, and wherein the second inlet is wider than the first inlet; and
a flexible drain connector comprising an inlet and an opposite outlet, wherein the inlet couples to the first drain pipe and the outlet couples to the second drain pipe so that the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe are coupled in fluid communication, and wherein the flexible drain connector is configured to allow the bathtub to be movable relative to the floor structure and the first longitudinal axis of the first drain pipe to be substantially parallel to and offset from the second longitudinal axis of the second drain pipe.

12. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 11 , wherein the flexible drain connector comprises an inlet, an opposite outlet, and a middle section, and wherein the middle section is flexible.

13. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 11 , wherein the second drain pipe comprises the second inlet and an opposite second outlet, and wherein the second inlet of the second drain pipe has a larger diameter than the second outlet of the second drain pipe.

14. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 13 , wherein the second inlet of the second drain pipe comprises the second flange.

15. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 11 , wherein the flexible drain connector is configured to allow the bathtub to be moveable in any 360° direction relative to the second drain pipe.

16. A bathtub drain connection system comprising:
a first drain pipe comprising a first longitudinal axis and configured to couple to a drain opening of a bathtub, wherein the first drain pipe comprises a first inlet and a first flange configured to secure the first drain pipe to the drain opening of the bathtub;
a second drain pipe comprising a second longitudinal axis and configured to mount to a floor structure, wherein the second drain pipe comprises a second inlet and a second flange configured to mount the second drain pipe to the floor structure, wherein the second inlet is wider than the first inlet; and
a drain connector comprising an inlet and an opposite outlet, wherein the drain connector is configured to couple to both the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe so that the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe are coupled in fluid communication, and wherein the drain connector is pivotable relative to at least one of the first drain pipe or the second drain pipe to allow the bathtub to be movable relative to the floor structure and the first longitudinal axis of the first drain pipe to be substantially parallel to and offset from the second longitudinal axis of the second drain pipe.

17. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 16 , wherein the inlet of the drain connector is coupled to the first drain pipe with a ball joint.

18. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 16 , further comprising a seal disposed between the outlet of the drain connector and the second drain pipe.

19. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 18 , wherein the seal is coupled to the outlet of the drain connector.

20. The bathtub drain connection system of claim 16 , wherein an axial length of the second drain pipe is greater than an axial length of the drain connector.

Assignees

• Wcm Ind Inc

Inventors

• Pilarczyk Eric

Classifications

• F16L27/1017

  Joints with sleeve or socket · CPC title

• E03C1/20 Primary

  Connecting baths or bidets to the wastepipe · CPC title

• F16L27/073

  one of the cooperating surfaces forming the sealing means · CPC title

• F16L27/04

  with partly-spherical engaging surfaces · CPC title

• F16L27/107

  the ends of the pipe being interconnected by a flexible sleeve · CPC title