Drain system for bathtub

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12385241-B2
Application number	US-202318233829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2023
Priority date	Dec 14, 2019
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A drain system for controlling a water level in a bathtub includes a drain exit assembly coupled to an exit drain of the bathtub and configured to receive water exiting the bathtub, a valve fluidly coupled to the drain exit assembly and operably coupled to a motor, and a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the valve and in fluid communication with the drain exit assembly. The motor is configured to change the operational state of the valve based on a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor to control a water level within the bathtub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drain system for a bathtub, the system comprising:
a drain exit assembly coupled to an exit drain of the bathtub, the drain exit assembly structured to receive water from the bathtub;
a valve fluidly coupled to and disposed downstream of the drain exit assembly, the valve structured to control water flow through the drain exit assembly, the valve including an air passageway configured to contain an air bubble pressurized by water in the bathtub; and
a housing positioned adjacent the air passageway of the valve the housing comprising at least one sensor operably coupled to the valve and in fluid communication with the drain exit assembly;
wherein the valve is structured to control water flow through the drain exit assembly based on an input from the at least one sensor satisfying a threshold, the threshold corresponding to at least one of a temperature setpoint or a level of water within the bathtub.

2. The drain system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is structured to sense at least one of a temperature or a pressure associated with the water from the bathtub.

3. The drain system of claim 2 , wherein a user device is configured to receive the input from the at least one sensor.

4. The drain system of claim 3 , wherein the user device is configured to determine an occupancy of the bathtub based on the rate of change.

5. The drain system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is structured to sense the pressure associated with the water from the bathtub, and wherein the user device is configured to determine a rate of change of the pressure.

6. The drain system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is structured to sense the pressure associated with the water from the bathtub by measuring a pressure within the air passageway.

7. The drain system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor operably coupled to the valve, the motor structured to control an operational state of the valve.

8. The drain system of claim 7 , further comprising a user device in communication with the motor, wherein the threshold is set by the user device.

9. The drain system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a first sensor and a second sensor.

10. The drain system of claim 9 , wherein the first sensor is a thermistor and the second sensor is a pressure sensor.

11. The drain system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense a pressure of the water from the bathtub, and wherein the valve is coupled to an inlet valve body, the inlet valve body configured to engage with one or more recesses of the housing.

12. The drain system of claim 11 , wherein the inlet valve body comprises an air pocket, and wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to sense a pressure within the air pocket.

13. The drain system of claim 1 , further comprising a flow meter device fluidly coupled between the exit drain and the valve.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Ritter David H
• Core Brian S
• Brouwer Douglas J
• Ruh Keith S
• Mcfaul Autumn-Storm Antoinette

Classifications

• E03C2001/2413

  Covers for temporarily closing off overflow outlets · CPC title

• E03C1/232

  combined with overflow devices (overflow devices for basins or baths per se E03C1/24) · CPC title

• E03C1/23

  with mechanical closure mechanisms · CPC title

• E03C2001/2311

  the actuation force being magnetic or electromagnetic · CPC title

• E03C1/24

  Overflow devices for basins or baths (E03C1/232 takes precedence) · CPC title