Universal drain stopping device with enlarged stopper

Abstract

A universal drain stopping device with enlarged stopper is installable in drains having different sized central threaded bores. A stopping assembly with a stopper and hollow shaft is removably engageable with a reversible stem. The stopping assembly and stem are axially reciprocable relative to each other when engaged. The reversible stem has opposite threaded ends having different sizes. The device is installable into a drain by threaded mating of one end of the stem with the central threaded bore of the drain. The stem can be axially reversed for installation into another drain with a different sized threaded bore. The stopper has a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the drain in which the device is installed.

1 . A drain closure device for use in one of multiple tub drains with a central threaded bore, each respective drain defining a substantially cylindrical passage and having an upper flange that extends radially outwardly from the passage, the outer edge of the flange having a diameter, comprising:
 (a) a reversible stem having an axial length and opposite threaded first and second ends, the first end having thread of a first size for engagement with a central threaded bore of one drain and the second end having thread of a second size that is different from the first size; and   (b) a stopping assembly configured for detachable substantially coaxial engagement with the reversible stem and having a stopper that is axially reciprocable relative to the stem when the stopping assembly and stem are engaged, wherein   the drain closure device is installable in a drain by mating of either the first or second end of the stem with the central threaded bore of the drain, and the stopper has a diameter that is at least equal to the diameter of the upper flange of the respective drain.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, when the device is installed in a drain, the stopping assembly is reciprocable between a raised opened position permitting fluid communication between the tub and the passage and a lowered closed position substantially fluidly sealing the tub from the passage. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the stopping assembly comprises a shaft extending substantially coaxially from a stopper, the shaft being detachably slidingly engagable to the reversible stem and optionally detachable from the stopper. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the stopping assembly is maintained in the raised opened by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft and stopper are optionally detachable by cooperating male and female threaded units. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the stopper has a bottom portion from which a central projection extends, and a sealing member is positioned around the central projection and adapted to contact the drain to assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopper is in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the thread on the first end of the stem is approximately ⅜ inch size and the thread on the second end of the stem is approximately 5/16 inch size. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the first end of the stem is between approximately 78 percent and approximately 88 percent of the diameter of the second end of the stem. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stopping assembly comprises a polymeric sealing member adapted to contact the respective drain and assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopping assembly is in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . An interchangeable drain closure device for use in first and second tub drains that each define a substantially cylindrical passage, have outer radial edges with diameters, and a central threaded bore, the size of the respective central threaded bores differing from each other, comprising:
 (a) a stopper having a top portion and bottom portion and a diameter D 1 ;   (b) a hollow shaft extending downwardly from the stopper, the shaft and stopper being substantially coaxial;   (c) a reversible stem having an axial length and opposite first and second ends with respective threaded outer surfaces of different sizes, the hollow shaft being slidably engaged with and disengagable from the stem; wherein   the device is installable in a first drain by mating of the first threaded end of the stem and the threaded bore of the first drain to fix the stem in the first drain such that the stem and stopper can be slidingly reciprocated from a raised opened position to a lowered closed position fluidly sealing the tub from the first drain passage, and the device is installable in a second drain by disengagement of the stem from the hollow shaft, axial reversal of the stem and re-engagement to the hollow shaft, and mating of the second threaded end of the stem with the threaded bore of the second drain, the diameter D 1  of the stopper being at least equal to the diameter of outer radial edge of each of the first and second drains.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the stopper is optionally disengagable from the hollow shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the stopper and hollow shaft are optionally disengagable via cooperating male and female threaded units. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the stopper comprises a sealing member proximate the bottom portion adapted to contact the drain to assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopper is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing member is made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom portion of the stopper comprises a central projection around which a sealing member is positioned, the sealing member being adapted to contact the drain to assist in sealing the tub from the passage when the stopper is in the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , comprising a knob adapted to be grippable by an individual projecting from the top portion of the stopper. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the thread on the first end of the stem is approximately ⅜ inch size and the thread on the second end of the stem is approximately 5/16 inch size. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the stopper is maintained in the opened position with the stopper raised from the drain by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . A drain closure device for use in one of two tub drains with central threaded bores of different sizes, the respective tub drains each defining a substantially cylindrical passage and having an upper radial flange that extends radially outwardly from the passage, the outer edge of the flange having a diameter, comprising:
 (a) a reversible stem with an axial length, cylindrical wall and opposite threaded first and second ends, the first end being mateable with the central threaded bore of one drain and the second end being mateable with the central threaded bore of the other drain, the cylindrical wall having an axially extending opening defining a track;   (b) a stopper with a substantially circular cross section, an upper portion with a knob projecting therefrom, and a lower portion with a threaded recess; and   (c) a hollow shaft with an axial length, cylindrical wall with a lateral opening, and an upper threaded end that mates with the threaded recess in the stopper lower portion, the shaft being slidably and detachably engaged with the reversible stem by a removable pin extending through the lateral opening into the track, wherein   when the device is installed in a drain by threaded mating of one of the first and second ends of the stem with the respective drain bore to fix the stem in the drain, the stopper is manually reciprocable between a lowered closed position substantially fluidly sealing the tub from the respective passage and a raised opened position permitting fluid communication between the tub and the passage, the stopper being maintained in the raised opened position by a cooperating spring-loaded ball detent mechanism operable between the stem and the shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the diameter of the first end of the stem is between approximately 78 percent and approximately 88 percent of the diameter of the second end of the stem.