Drain cover with fluid flow enhancer

Abstract

A fluid vortex inducing component adapted for placement between an anti-vortex drain cover of a pool or spa and the underlying drain. The device employs radially oriented blades to induce a cyclonic or vortex flow to the plurality of individual linear fluid streams traversing passages in the sidewall of the drain cover to enhance fluid flow in the underlying drain. It may be installed as a new part to existing or new drains or in a method for retrofitting existing drains a component to induce the vortex to drained water can be installed.

1 . A fluid vortex inducing component adapted for positioning between a drain cover having a planar top component and a plurality of fluid passages communicating through a sidewall forming a plurality of linear fluid flows, and an underlying drain, comprising:
 a plurality of blades extending from first ends adjacent to a central portion of a cavity formed between said drain cover and an engaged underlying drain, to distal ends adjacent to said fluid passages communicating through said sidewall;   said blades having width extending in the direction of a central axis of said underlying drain;   pathways formed between pairs of said blades, said pathways providing means to coerce fluid flow communicated therein from said fluid passages to a rotational fluid flow exiting toward said drain.   
   
   
       2 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said blades extending from a planar member; and   said planar member positioned between said planar top component of said drain cover and said underlying drain.   
   
   
       3 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said blades extending for said width from an engagement with a planar member, said planar member being a bottom surface of said planar top component of said drain cover.   
   
   
       4 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 3  further comprising:
 said blades and said planar top component being a unitary structure.   
   
   
       5 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 3  further comprising:
 said plurality of blades being adhesively engageable to said bottom surface of said top component.   
   
   
       6 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 2  further comprising:
 means for positioning said planar member adapted between said drain cover and said underlying drain and with said distal ends of said blades positioned adjacent to said fluid passages.   
   
   
       7 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 6  wherein said means for positioning said planar member comprises:
 a plurality of tabs extending from a circumference of said planar member; and   said tabs adapted for sandwiched engagement between a base portion of said drain cover and a mount for said base portion which surrounds a communication with said underlying drain.   
   
   
       8 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 1  wherein said blades are substantially linear form said first ends to said distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       9 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 1  wherein said blades are curved between their first ends and their distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       10 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 2  wherein said blades are substantially straight and radially oriented at an angle to said central axis adapted induce said vortex in fluid communicated from said fluid passages;
 said planar member having a mounting ring extending around a circumference of the distal ends of said blades; and   said mounting ring adapted for sandwiched engagement between a base of said said drain cover and an underlying mount for said base of drain cover.   
   
   
       11 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 2  wherein said blades are substantially linear form said first ends to said distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       12 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 3  wherein said blades are substantially linear from said first ends to said distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       13 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 3  wherein said blades are curved between their first ends and their distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       14 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 4  wherein said blades are substantially linear form said first ends to said distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       15 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 4  wherein said blades are curved between their first ends and their distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       16 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 5  wherein said blades are substantially linear form said first ends to said distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       17 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 5  wherein said blades are curved between their first ends and their distal ends and radially oriented around said central axis at an angle to said central axis, said radial orientation and said angle thereby inducing said vortex to a single fluid flow communicated to said drain formed of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between pairs of said distal ends of said blades. 
   
   
       18 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 3  wherein said blades additionally provide means to reinforce said planar component against damage from deflection. 
   
   
       19 . An anti-vortex drain cover for a pool and spa comprising:
 a drain cover adapted for engagement to a drain underlying a pool or spa;   said drain cover having a planar top planar component supported by a plurality of ribs engaged to a base;   said top planar component having a top surface exposed to said pool when engaged to an underlying drain, and having a bottom surface opposite said top surface;   said ribs defining a plurality of individual fluid passages communicating through said sidewall;   a plurality of blades extending away from said bottom surface of said planar component;   said blades having first ends adjacent to a central portion of said bottom surface and having distal ends opposite said first ends;   said distal ends terminating adjacent to said fluid passages communicating through said sidewall;   said distal ends of said blades arranged in a plurality of pairs of similarly shaped said blades;   at least one of said passages positioned between each of said pairs; and   a rotational substantially singular fluid flow being communicated to an underlying drain formed by a channeling of a plurality of individual fluid flows communicated from said fluid passages between each of a respective of said pairs, into said singular fluid flow.   
   
   
       20 . The fluid vortex inducing component of  claim 19  further comprising:
 said blades extending from said bottom surface of said planar component providing means to reinforce said planar component against deflection.   
   
   
       21 . A method of retrofitting an anti-vortex drain cover mounted in a pool or spa over an underlying drain to induce a singular cyclonic flow form the product of individual linear water flows communicating through individual fluid passages of said drain cover using a vortex inducing component having a plurality of blades extending away from a surface of a planar component with said blades having first ends adjacent to a central portion of said planar component and distal ends terminating adjacent to said fluid passages, comprising the steps of:
 dismounting the drain cover from its engagement to said underlying drain;   positioning said vortex inducing component to a mount between said drain cover and an underlying drain; and   remounting said drain cover to sandwich said vortex inducing component between said drain cover and said underlying drain.