Self-adhesive washer for a bathtub or shower

Abstract

A self-adhesive washer including a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides of a center layer. The washer is preferably used to attach a drain shoe to a bathtub in combined bathtub and shower units to eliminate the need for more than one installer. The washer may be adapted to fit the shape of the drain shoe. Washers having both adhesive layers and a center layer, preferably cellular plastic, may serve both to adhere the drain shoe to the bathtub, and after completion of the drain assembly installation, to seal the drain shoe to the bathtub.

1 . A drain assembly combination comprising: 
 a drain shoe adapted for placement underneath a bathtub drain hole; and    a self-adhesive washer comprising:    a flexible layer having a first side and a second side;    a first adhesive layer on said first side of the flexible layer;    a second adhesive layer on said second side of the flexible layer;    wherein said first adhesive layer is stuck to a top surface of a drain shoe; and wherein said second adhesive layer is adapted to be stuck to a bottom surface of a bathtub to secure the drain shoe up against said bottom surface.    
   
   
       2 . A drain assembly combination as in  claim 1 , wherein said self-adhesive washer comprises a first release liner on said first adhesive layer, and wherein said first release liner is removably secured to said first adhesive layer and adapted to be removed prior to attachment of the washer to the drain shoe.  
   
   
       3 . A drain assembly combination as in  claim 1 , wherein said self-adhesive washer comprises a second release liner on said second adhesive layer, and wherein said second release liner is removably secured to said second adhesive layer and adapted to be removed prior to attachment of the washer and drain shoe to the bottom surface of the bathtub.  
   
   
       4 . A drain assembly combination as in  claim 1 , wherein said self-adhesive washer is a circular shape.  
   
   
       5 . A drain assembly combination as in  claim 4 , wherein said self-adhesive washer has a circular inner diameter and a circular outer diameter.  
   
   
       6 . A combination of a bathtub and a drain assembly, wherein the bathtub has a bottom wall with a bottom surface, a top surface, and a drain hole through the bottom wall; and 
 wherein the drain assembly comprises:    a drain shoe underneath the bathtub drain hole and having a top surface; and    a self-adhesive washer comprising:    a flexible layer having a first side and a second side;    a first adhesive layer on said first side of the flexible layer;    a second adhesive layer on said second side of the flexible layer;    wherein said first adhesive layer is stuck to the top surface of a drain shoe; and wherein said second adhesive layer is stuck to the bottom surface of the bathtub to secure the drain shoe up against said bottom surface, so that a plumber can release the drain assembly and the drain assembly will remain affixed to the bottom surface of the bathtub.    
   
   
       7 . A combination as in  claim 6 , wherein said bathtub is a portion of a combined bathtub and shower unit.  
   
   
       8 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies on a combined bathtub and shower unit, comprising the following steps of: 
 using a self-adhesive washer having a flexible layer having a first side and a second side;    a first adhesive layer on said first side of the flexible layer;    a second adhesive layer on said second side of the flexible layer;    attaching said drain shoe with said second adhesive layer to a bottom surface of a bathtub by means of the second adhesive layer sticking to the bottom surface of the bathtub; and    installing a strainer from a top surface of said bathtub.    
   
   
       9 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , wherein said self-adhesive washer comprises a first release liner on said first adhesive layer, and wherein said first release liner is removably secured to said first adhesive layer and after removing said first release liner said first adhesive layer is secured to a top surface of said drain shoe.  
   
   
       10 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , wherein said self-adhesive washer comprises a second release liner on said second adhesive layer, and wherein said second release liner is removably secured to said second adhesive layer and after removing said second release liner, said drain shoe and washer are attached to said bottom surface of the bathtub.  
   
   
       11 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , wherein said self-adhesive washer is a circular shape.  
   
   
       12 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 11 , wherein said self-adhesive washer has a circular inner diameter and a circular outer diameter.  
   
   
       13 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , wherein said bathtub is a portion of a combined bathtub and shower unit.  
   
   
       14 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , wherein said flexible layer is compressible foam.  
   
   
       15 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , wherein said flexible layer is cellular plastic.  
   
   
       16 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 8 , further comprising providing a centering tool releasably and threadably engaging said drain shoe and extending up from the drain shoe to align the drain shoe and washer around a drain hole.  
   
   
       17 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 16 , wherein said centering tool is inserted into said drain hole from the bottom of the bathtub, and, upon lifting the drain shoe up toward the drain hole with the centering tool inside the drain hole, said washer affixes the drain shoe to the bottom surface of the bathtub.  
   
   
       18 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 16 , wherein said centering tool is cylindrical.  
   
   
       19 . A method of installing waste and overflow assemblies as in  claim 18 , wherein said centering tool comprises a threaded lower portion for threadably engaging the drain shoe and a non-threaded upper portion for being inserted into the drain hole.