Control for a bathtub waste water drain

Abstract

A control for a waste water drain in the bottom of a bathtub which has an overflow port above the drain in the end wall of the bathtub has a vertical drain pipe having upper and lower ends. A first fluid port is located at the upper end of the vertical drain pipe and a second fluid port is located below the first fluid port for connection to a bathtub waste water drain. A valve element is slidably mounted in the vertical drain pipe adjacent the second port and is movable between a lower position to close the second port to fluid flow, and an upper position which will open the second fluid port to fluid flow. An electrical motor system is mounted adjacent the first port. An elongated linkage connects the valve element to the motor so that the rotation of the motor will raise and lower the valve element. The vertical drain pipe is length-adjustable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Bathtub drains commonly have a closure element therein which can open or close the drain by being lifted manually upward to open the drain or drop to an initial seating position to close the drain. While such drain closures work well, they are not greatly convenient by reason of their being located on the bottom of the tub where the drain is located.[0002]Linkage systems do exist in at least lavatories or the like where the waste water drain is opened or closed through a linkage system wherein the operative mechanism is located above the bottom level of the basin. However, these are not easily adapted to the bathtub environment, and pose at least some problems in maintaining the cleanliness of the fixture around the exposed end of the linkage system where the closure is operated.[0003]Variations in tub dimensions and the like sometimes make the adaptation of linkage systems difficult to install.[0004]It is therefore a principal object of this inventi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]An overflow cap is mounted adjacent the first port. An elongated linkage connects the valve element to a motor system on the upper end of the drain pipe so that the movement of the motor stem in one d

Problems solved by technology

While such drain closures work well, they are not greatly convenient by reason of their being located on the bottom of the tub where the drain is located.

However, these are not easily adapted to the bathtub environment, and pose at least some problems in maintaining the cleanliness of the fixture around the exposed end of the linkage system where the closure is operated.

Variations in tub dimensions and the like sometimes make the adaptation of linkage systems difficult to install.

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