US2010269913A1PendingUtilityA1

Gravity-assisted drain valve for restricting intake of mildew spores

37
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 22, 2009Filed: Apr 21, 2010Published: Oct 28, 2010
Est. expiryApr 22, 2029(~2.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Steven J. Hollinger
Y10T137/3149E03C 1/298
37
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A drain valve that prevents entry of odious airborne particulates into the habited environment while allowing for drainage of wastewater. The improvements include a disc with leaves cantilevered from a perimeter lip allowing the valve to operate in a drain with limited clearance between the opening and the drain crosshair below, a structural brace that effectively seals the center of the drain while allowing for through-passage of the drain strainer bolt, a gap at the perimeter edge of each leaf to prevent interference with an opposing edge, and rounded leaf edges and rounded vertices to prevent snagging of hair follicles and other draining matter. Also disclosed is a combined drain strainer and drain valve, and a drain valve installable within a drain pipe beneath the drain opening.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A drain valve installable on a wastewater drain having a vertical drain pipe and a drain opening with an adjacent drain rim, the drain valve comprising:
 a substantially flexible disc having a perimeter rim portion and a central portion;   the perimeter rim portion having top and bottom surfaces and being adapted to substantially sealingly engage the drain rim;   the central portion having a flexible leaf unified at its proximal end with the perimeter rim portion and otherwise separated from remaining surfaces such that the leaf is cantilevered over the drain opening; and   the cantilevered leaf having sufficient resilience in its connection to the perimeter rim such that it collapses into the drain opening with the weight of water droplets on its upper surface and returns to a closed position upon the discharge of the droplets into the drain opening.   
     
     
         2 . The drain valve of  claim 1  wherein:
 the central portion is bisected by a brace portion unified at both ends with the perimeter rim and having a cantilevered leaf on either side of the brace.   
     
     
         3 . The drain valve of  claim 2  wherein:
 said drain valve is installable on a wastewater drain having a threaded drain strainer bolt mated to a threaded crosshair in the drainpipe; and   the brace has hole at its center point such that the hole can accept the through passage of the drain strainer bolt to align the drain valve on center with the drain opening.   
     
     
         4 . The drain valve of  claim 2  wherein:
 the valve is a unified construction.   
     
     
         5 . The drain valve of  claim 3  wherein:
 the valve is composed of a polymeric material.   
     
     
         6 . The drain valve of  claim 1  wherein:
 a gap at the perimeter of the cantilevered leaf prevents the leaf from snagging on burrs produced during manufacture and particulate matter such as soapscum adhering to the leaf and opposing edges during drainage.   
     
     
         7 . The drain valve of  claim 6  wherein:
 the gap at the perimeter of the leaf has rounded endpoints and rounded vertices such that debris is incapable of being wedged into an acute corner or snagged on an acute point.   
     
     
         8 . The drain valve of  claim 7  wherein:
 the central portion is bisected by a brace portion unified at both ends with the perimeter rim and having a cantilevered leaf on either side of the brace.   
     
     
         9 . The drain valve of  claim 8  wherein:
 said drain valve is installable on a wastewater drain having a threaded drain strainer bolt mated to a threaded crosshair in the drainpipe; and   the brace has hole at its center point such that the hole can accept the through passage of the drain strainer bolt to align the drain valve on center with the drain opening.   
     
     
         10 . The drain valve of  claim 8  wherein:
 the valve is a unified construction.   
     
     
         11 . The drain valve of  claim 9  wherein:
 the valve is composed of a polymeric material.   
     
     
         12 . A drain valve installable on a wastewater drain having a vertical drain pipe and a drain opening with an adjacent drain rim, the drain valve comprising:
 a drain strainer portion installable over the drain opening having a plurality of small apertures and a concave underside with a perimeter edge larger than the drain opening;   a substantially flexible disc having a perimeter rim portion affixed to the underside of the drain strainer within the perimeter edge and a central portion aligned over the drain opening;   the central portion having a flexible leaf unified at its proximal end with the perimeter rim portion and otherwise separated from remaining surfaces such that the leaf is cantilevered over the drain opening; and   the cantilevered leaf having sufficient resilience in its proximal connection to the perimeter rim such that it collapses into the drain opening with the weight of water droplets on its upper surface and returns to a closed position upon the discharge of the droplets into the drain opening.   
     
     
         13 . The drain valve of  claim 12  wherein:
 a gap at the perimeter of the cantilevered leaf prevents the leaf from snagging on burrs produced during manufacture and particulate matter such as soapscum adhering to the leaf and opposing edges during drainage.   
     
     
         14 . The drain valve of  claim 13  wherein:
 the gap at the perimeter of the leaf has rounded endpoints and rounded vertices such that debris is incapable of being wedged into an acute corner or snagged on an acute point.   
     
     
         15 . The drain valve of  claim 14  wherein:
 the central portion is bisected by a brace portion unified at both ends with the perimeter rim and having a cantilevered leaf on either side of the brace.   
     
     
         16 . The drain valve of  claim 15  wherein:
 said drain valve is installable on a wastewater drain having a threaded drain strainer bolt mated to a threaded crosshair in the drainpipe; and   the brace has hole at its center point such that the hole can accept the through passage of the drain strainer bolt to align the drain valve on center with the drain opening.   
     
     
         17 . A drain valve for installation in a wastewater drain having a vertical drain pipe and a drain opening, the drain valve comprising:
 a cup installable inside the drain opening having a cylindrical wall substantially sealing the inside wall of the drainpipe and a floor;   the cup floor comprised of a substantially flexible disc having a perimeter rim and a central portion;   the central portion having a flexible leaf unified at its proximal end with the perimeter rim portion and otherwise separated from remaining surfaces such that the leaf is cantilevered over the drain pipe; and   the cantilevered leaf having sufficient resilience in its proximal connection to the perimeter rim such that it collapses into the drain pipe with the weight of water droplets on its upper surface and returns to a closed position upon the discharge of the droplets into the drain pipe.   
     
     
         18 . The drain valve of  claim 17  wherein:
 a gap at the perimeter of the cantilevered leaf prevents the leaf from snagging on burrs produced during manufacture and particulate matter such as soapscum adhering to the leaf and opposing edges during drainage.   
     
     
         19 . The drain valve of  claim 18  wherein:
 the gap at the perimeter of the leaf has rounded endpoints and rounded vertices such that debris is incapable of being wedged into an acute corner or snagged on an acute point.   
     
     
         20 . The drain valve of  claim 19  wherein:
 the central portion of the cup floor is bisected by a brace portion unified at both ends with the perimeter rim and having a cantilevered leaf on either side of the brace.

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