Bathtub overflow stopper

Abstract

The present invention includes an overflow stopper apparatus for reversably blocking the cut-outs in the overflow opening cover, thereby allowing a bathtub to be filled beyond the level of the overflow opening cover. The overflow stopper is formed from a laminar sheet of resilient material, such as closed-pore foam rubber. For additional strength, the overflow stopper may have a facing of stretchable cloth made of a water-impervious synthetic material, such as nylon or polyester, which is unaffected by mildew. The overflow stopper may be stamped or cut from a larger sheet of the resilient material, or it may be molded. The overflow stopper includes a laminar body having a circular aperture which has a diameter less than that of a typical overflow opening cover plate. The overflow stopper is stretched to fit around the periphery of the overflow opening cover plate. Preferred embodiments of the invention include tabs or corners which facilitate the stopper's installation on and removal from the overflow opening cover plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bathtub overflow stopper comprising a laminar body having first and second major planar faces, said body having a circular central aperture, the axis of which is perpendicular to said major planar faces, said aperture being sized to stretchably fit around a circumferential edge of a bathtub overflow opening cover plate.  
     
     
         2 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , which further comprises a facing layer of stretchable cloth.  
     
     
         3 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said facing layer is woven from fibers made of a water-impervious synthetic polymeric material.  
     
     
         4 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 3 , wherein said polymeric material is selected from the class of synthetic materials consisting of nylon, polyester, and acrylic.  
     
     
         5 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient material is closed-pore foam rubber.  
     
     
         6 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said central aperture has a diameter that is about 75 to 95 percent of the diameter of the overflow opening cover plate with which it is to be used.  
     
     
         7 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said central aperture has a diameter of between 65 and 81 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body is rectangularly shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 8 , wherein said body is square shaped.  
     
     
         10 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body is triangularly shaped with radiused apices.  
     
     
         11 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body is annularly shaped.  
     
     
         12 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body is primarily annularly shaped, but having at least one tab coextensive therewith.  
     
     
         13 . A bathtub overflow stopper comprising: 
 a laminar body having first and second major planar faces, said body made of resilient material, said body having a circular central aperture, the axis of which is perpendicular to said major planar faces, said aperture being sized to stretchably fit around a circumferential edge of a bathtub overflow opening cover plate; and    at least one facing layer of stretchable cloth bonded to a major face.    
     
     
         14 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 13 , wherein said facing layer is woven from fibers made of a water-impervious synthetic polymeric material.  
     
     
         15 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 14 , wherein said polymeric material is selected from the class of synthetic materials consisting of nylon, polyester, and acrylic.  
     
     
         16 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient material is closed-pore foam rubber.  
     
     
         17 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 13 , wherein said central aperture has a diameter that is about 75 to 95 percent of the diameter of the overflow opening cover plate with which it is to be used.  
     
     
         18 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 13 , wherein said central aperture has a diameter of between 65 and 81 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 8 , wherein said body is square shaped.  
     
     
         20 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body is triangularly shaped with radiused apices.  
     
     
         21 . The bathtub overflow stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body is primarily annularly shaped, but having at least one tab coextensive therewith.