Clicker drain assembly and method of assembling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12018470-B2
Application number	US-202217575325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2022
Priority date	Feb 3, 2021
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A clicker drain assembly includes a unitary main drain body. The clicker drain assembly further includes a drain stopper assembly, a clicker drain seal, an actuating assembly, and a drain trim ring. The drain trim ring is configured to couple to the main drain body and receive the clicker drain seal and the actuating assembly. The stopper assembly is configured to couple to the actuating assembly and actuate the actuating assembly when pressed by a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clicker drain assembly, comprising:
a main drain body;
an actuating assembly;
wherein the actuating assembly further comprises:
a spring;
a cam insert;
a gasket and
a support stem coupled to the main drain body;

a stopper assembly coupled to the actuating assembly and configured to actuate the actuating assembly when pressed by a user;
a clicker drain seal; and
a drain trim ring coupled to the main drain body and configured to receive the clicker drain seal and the actuating assembly;
wherein the main drain body is a unitary body.

2. The clicker drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main drain body further comprises two overflow openings positioned proximate a first end of the main drain body, and wherein the two overflow openings are positioned opposite one another.

3. The clicker drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main drain body further comprises an internal cavity having a first diameter;
wherein the stopper assembly comprises a stopper head having a second diameter; and
wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter to seal the internal cavity when the stopper head is in a closed position.

4. The clicker drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drain trim ring further comprises:
a ring body defining an annular body;
an angled surface; and
a flange;
wherein the main body seal, the main body washer, and the main body nut extend radially outward from an outer surface of the main drain body.

5. The clicker drain assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the actuating assembly is a spring biased actuating assembly.

6. The clicker drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stopper assembly further comprises:
a stopper head; and
a stopper body comprising a plurality of grooves positioned along a rearward surface of the stopper body;
wherein the stopper head and the stopper body are coupled to create a snap-fit mechanism.

7. The clicker drain assembly of claim 6 , wherein the clicker drain seal is configured to abut an inner portion of the angled surface and is configured to interface with the plurality of grooves.

8. The clicker drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main drain body is a stainless steel main drain body.

9. A drain assembly, comprising:
a main drain body having a single unitary construction with a first end and a second end, the main drain body comprising:
one or more overflow openings positioned proximate the first end; and
an engagement structure disposed along the one or more overflow openings and at least a portion of the main drain body proximate the first end;

a main body seal;
a main body washer;
a main body nut disposed around the main drain body;
a drain trim ring configured to interface with the main drain body to form a seal, the drain trim ring comprising:
a ring body defining an annular body;
an angled surface; and
a flange; and

an actuating assembly at least partially received within the drain trim ring, the actuating assembly selectively repositionable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the main body seal, the main body washer, and the main body nut extend radially outward from an outer surface of the main drain body.

10. The drain assembly of claim 9 , wherein the one or more overflow openings defines two overflow openings positioned opposite one another along the main drain body.

11. The drain assembly of claim 9 , wherein the main body seal, the main body washer, and the main body nut extend radially outward from an outer surface of the main drain body.

12. The drain assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuating assembly further comprises:
a spring;
a cam insert;
a gasket; and
a support stem coupled to the main drain body;
wherein the actuating assembly is a spring biased actuating assembly.

13. The drain assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spring is in a compressed position when the actuating assembly is in the closed position, and wherein the spring is an extended position when the actuating assembly is in the open position.

14. The drain assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a stopper assembly comprising:
a stopper head; and
a stopper body comprising a plurality of grooves positioned along a rearward surface of the stopper body;
wherein the stopper head and the stopper body are coupled to create a snap-fit mechanism.

15. The drain assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a clicker drain seal configured to abut an inner portion of the angled surface and configured to interface with the plurality of grooves.

16. The drain assembly of claim 15 , wherein the stopper assembly, the clicker drain seal, and the actuating assembly are received by the drain trim ring along a drain seal area, and wherein actuating the actuating assembly into the closed position restricts a flow of fluid through the main drain body.

17. The drain assembly of claim 9 , wherein the main drain body is a stainless steel main drain body.

18. The drain assembly of claim 9 , wherein the engagement structure is threads, and wherein the drain trim ring is threadably coupled to the threads between the one or more openings and the first end of the main drain body.

19. A method of assembling a drain assembly, comprising:
providing a main body having a single unitary construction and comprising a main body seal, a main body washer, and a main body nut;
threadably coupling a drain trim ring to the main body;
threadably engaging the main body nut to secure the main body seal and the main body washer, wherein the main body seal and the main body washer abut an internal surface of an opening;
coupling a spring biased actuating assembly to the main body; and
configuring a spring inside the spring biased actuating assembly to be in a compressed position when the actuating assembly is in a closed position, and an extended position when the actuating assembly is in the open position.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising coupling a drain stopper assembly to the actuating assembly to reposition the actuating assembly between a released state and a compressed state.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Badiger Sharathkumar B

Classifications

• F16J15/3268

  Mounting of sealing rings · CPC title

• F16J15/3284

  characterised by their structure; Selection of materials · CPC title

• E03C1/2304

  the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via flexible elements, e.g. chain, Bowden cable · CPC title

• E03C1/2306 Primary

  the plug being operated by hand contact · CPC title