Drain plug

[57] ABSTRACT

The drain plug is provided with a tubular lower section for insertion into the opening of a drain pipe; the tubular section is provided with one or more flow passages and a cross-sectional dimension such that the exterior wall of the section will frictionally engage the interior wall of the drain pipe; the upper portion of the plug is provided with flow deflecting surfaces arranged so that, when a stream of water is directed against the surfaces, the flow will be directed in a spray pattern upwardly and outwardly from the drain plug towards the top edge of the basin to wash down walls of the basin.

Claims, 4 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED JUN 2 7 1372

3,671,982

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3,671,982

DRAIN PLUG

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wash basin plugs and more particularly to a type of plug having means in the form of flow deflecting surfaces for directing a stream of water from a wash basin tap in the direction of the top edge of the wash basin in a controlled pattern to effect the removal of dirt, soap, and other residues from the inside walls of the wash basin.

Frequently, after a sink or wash basin has been used to clean kitchen utensiles, dishes and the like, and the wash water has been drained from the basin, almost invariably a residue consisting of a mixture of soaps suds, food, grease and other materials will adhere to the walls of the basin. Cleaning such residues from the walls of the basin often results in spillage of water over the top of the basin resulting in further inconvenience to the individuals charged with the cleaning operation.

Moreover, some of the wash basin configurations now in use 2θ are so shaped that, if water is turned on at any great velocity, the stream will impinge on the bottom of the basin and splash upwardly and out of the basin onto the floor. In the plumbing structures of a large number of wash basins, the tap is arranged to direct a stream of water directly into a drain pipe 25 positioned in the base wall of the sink. In such arrangements, when a plug is inserted into the drain opening when it is desired to fill the sink, an individual must exercise some degree of care when first turning on the tap so as to avoid splashing water out of the sink.

The structure of the wash basin plug of the present invention provides means for controlling the stream of water from a tap both to prevent splashing of the water as well as to provide a useful spray pattern for washing down the side walls of the basin in which the plug is disposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the drain plug of the present invention consists in the provision of a hollow tubular lower section having apertures therein for permitting the flow of liquid from the basin through the plug into the drain. The upper portion of the plug is provided with a plurality of flow deflecting surfaces whereby when a stream of water from a spigot impinges upon the surfaces, it will be directed in an easily controllable spray pattern against the side walls of the basin for the purpose of 45 rinsing dirt, soap, food particles and other residue off the wash basin walls. The lower portion of the plug is formed with crosssectional dimensions so that it will frictionally engage the interior wall of the drain pipe. With this arrangement, the wash basin plug may be selectively adjusted with respect to the 50 drain plug opening. In one adjusted position the plug will function as a conventional stopper when it is depressed to its full depth in the drain pipe thereby closing off the flow passages in the lower portion. In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion of the plug is provided with a cen- 55 trally disposed stream deflecting surface which deflects the flow of water to a plurality of radially disposed discharge ports which directs the water in the form of jets upwardly and outwardly from the plug towards the side walls of the basin. In both embodiments, the direction of the stream may be con- 60 trolled by regulating the velocity with which the water impinges upon the flow deflecting surfaces as well as by longitudinal adjustment of the plug with respect to the drain opening.

It will be appreciated that the drain plug structure of the present invention provides a simple and effective means for 65 controlling the stream of water issuing from a spigot and which can be used to quickly and thoroughly cleanse the walls of a sink basin.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wash basin plug for controllably deflecting a stream of 70 water to prevent the water from splashing out of the basin.

Another object is to provide a plug structure which will deflect a stream of water impinging thereon upwardly and outwardly from the plug and against the walls of the basin to rinse matter therefrom. 75

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wash basin plug which is selectively positionable in a drain opening so that the plug may be positioned to function as a conventional stopper.

A still further object is to provide a wash basin plug that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture yet durable enough for long use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description together with the associated drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section of one embodiment of the drain plug of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in cross-section of another embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in cross-section showing the plug of FIG. 1 disposed in an operative relationship in a drain pipe; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the plug of FIG. 1 depressed to its full depth in the drain opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the plug drain 10 of the present invention having a bowl shaped upper portion 12 and a tubular lower portion 14. Portion 14 is integrally formed with the base 16 of the upper portion 12. A plurality of slots 18 are formed to extend longitudinally of the tubular portion 14. While the slots 18 are represented as being evenly spaced about the circumference of portion 14, it should be understood that various other configurations may be resorted to. It is desirable, however, that the slots 18 be spaced a slight distance below the base 16 so that when the plug is fully inserted into a drain pipe, for example as shown in FIG. 4, fluid flow through the slots 18 will be prevented. It is also desirable that the slots 18 be large enough to permit passage of waste matter therethrough. The exterior diameter of the lower portion 14 is suitably chosen so that when the plug is inserted into a drain pipe the exterior wall portion 14 will frictionally engage the interior wall of the drain.

The exterior wall 20 of base portion 16 is formed to taper upwardly and outwardly from the top end of the lower portion 14 to serve as an abutment shoulder for cooperation with a correspondingly tapered shoulder 22 in drain pipe 24 as shown in FIG. 3. It will be understood, of course, that the exterior surface of the plug 10 may be appropriately shaped to cooperate with other drain pipe configurations.

Extending upwardly from the base 16 is a cone shaped fluid deflecting surface 26 which is centrally disposed with respect to the interior wall 28 of the bowl shaped upper portion 12. A plurality of radially disposed discharge passages 30 are formed through the lower portion of the wall 28 adjacent the base 16 of the plug 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1,3 and 4, the inlets of passages 30, one of which is indicated at 32, are spaced evenly about the cone shaped surface 26 and are larger relative to the outlet opening of each passage 30 so that water passing therethrough will issue in the form of jets. The passages themselves are illustrated as sloping upwardly from the base 16 but it will be understood that any desired orientation of the passages 30 may be effected to achieve a particular spray pattern.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown the plug 10 of FIG. 1 in use as a stream deflector and a conventional stopper respectively. By simply positioning the plug 10 > with the outlet ports of passages 30 above the rim of the drain pipe 24, the plug is ready for use. When a stream of water is directed downwardly in the direction of the arrows, the stream will impinge upon the cone shaped surface 26 and be directed outwardly toward the inlets 32 and then through the passages ' 30 to be directed upwardly and outwardly from the plug in a

3,671,982 spray pattern. The height of the pattern may be controlled by controlling the velocity with which the water impinges upon the plug surfaces. By providing an inward taper to the wall 28 of the upper portion 12, the stream will be prevented from splashing out of the bowl portion. Additionally, should the water pressure increase, the bowl will fill up and overflow resulting in interference with the jets of water issuing from the passages 30.

In FIG. 4, the plug 10 is shown inserted to its full depth in the drain itself thereby closing off flow through the slots 18. A drain port 34 may be provided to empty any water trapped in the bowl portion 12 after the flow of water from the sink spigot is turned off. The diameter of the port 34 is small enough so as not to interfere with or deflect the spray pattern when the plug is in use. With this arrangement the plug need not be withdrawn from the drain pipe to empty water before it is fully inserted into the drain pipe as shown in FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown another embodiment of the drain plug of the present invention wherein the primed numerals designate parts corresponding to the plug shown in FIG. 1 and to which the foregoing description applies. In this embodiment, the upper portion of the plug is provided with a bowl shaped portion 36 having an interior wall 38 that slopes outwardly away from and surrounds the cone 26'. With this configuration, water impinging upon the cone shaped surface 26' will be directed upwardly and outwardly of the plug by the interior wall 38 in a continuous pattern and at a much steeper angle than that of the stream when the plug of FIG. 1 is used. Such a pattern is particularly useful in a wash basin that has very high side walls.

The plugs of the present invention may be manufactured of hard rubber or any suitable plastic material and may be fabricated from several segments which are joined together by an adhesive, by fusion bonding or any other suitable means.

The foregoing specific embodiments have been described for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the present invention, and the same are subject to extensive modification without departure therefrom. Therefore the invention includes all such modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.