Bath Waste And Overflow Systems And Methods Of Use

Abstract

A bath waste and overflow drain system of the present disclosure may comprise both drain and overflow assemblies. The drain assembly generally includes a drain elbow, drain gasket, drain spud, drain trim, and drain stopper. The drain trim may possess weep channels that urge stagnated water from a periphery of the drain spud and into the drain. The overflow assembly generally includes an overflow elbow, overflow gasket, retaining nut, and overflow faceplate. The overflow faceplate may have bayonet channels that engage with a protrusion of the overflow elbow so as to accommodate variances in tub design when effecting an installation. An embodiment of the system may also comprise test plugs of the overflow and drain varieties which are, together, operable to permit pressure-related tests of the system prior to completing an installation. The overflow and drain test plugs are simple to manipulate and install/remove with quick-engaging, complementary locking features.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A bath waste and overflow system for attachment to a bathtub, the system comprising:
 a bath overflow coupling assembly comprising:
 an overflow elbow pipe having a first threaded portion; 
 a retaining structure having a second threaded portion that is complementary with the first threaded portion, wherein the retaining structure is configured to engage the overflow elbow pipe via the first and second threaded portions so as to retain the bathtub between the retaining structure and the overflow elbow pipe; 
 wherein an inner surface of the bath overflow coupling assembly defines an inner cavity of the bath overflow coupling assembly; 
   wherein the inner cavity of the bath overflow coupling assembly partially defines a fluid flow path from an interior of the bathtub through an output of the bath waste and overflow system;
 wherein a first locking feature is disposed along the inner surface of the bath overflow coupling assembly; and 
   a faceplate configured to couple to the bath overflow coupling assembly, the faceplate comprising a central hollow portion defined by a partition wall, the partition wall comprising a second locking feature that is configured to mate with the first locking feature of the bath overflow coupling assembly, such that when the first and second locking features are mated together a portion of the partition wall is disposed within the inner cavity of the bath overflow coupling assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate is further configured to conceal the retaining structure. 
     
     
         3 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retaining structure is a retaining nut;   the first threaded portion is an externally threaded portion of the overflow elbow pipe; and   the second threaded portion is an internally threaded portion of the retaining nut.   
     
     
         4 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the first locking feature relative to the second locking feature adjusts a distance between the overflow elbow pipe and the faceplate. 
     
     
         5 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the faceplate further comprises an outer hollow portion separated from the central hollow portion by the partition wall; and   when the first and second locking features are mated together, a portion of the retaining structure is disposed within the outer hollow portion.   
     
     
         6 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second locking feature comprises a channel that extends helically along the partition wall.   
     
     
         7 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the faceplate comprises a cover plate;
 when the first and second locking features are mated together, the cover plate is laterally spaced from the retaining structure in a first direction; and 
   the partition wall extends laterally in a second direction from the cover plate to within the inner cavity of the bath overflow coupling assembly; and   the second direction is opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         8 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 7 , wherein the central hollow portion at least partially defines the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         9 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the cover plate comprises a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the central hollow portion;   the partition wall extends laterally in a closed loop path to define a circumference of the partition wall; and   each of the openings of the plurality of opening are disposed within the circumference of the partition wall.   
     
     
         10 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second locking feature comprises a ridge and a sub-channel; and   rotation of the first locking feature relative to the second locking feature causes the first locking feature to pass by the ridge and into the sub-channel.   
     
     
         11 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 10 , wherein the ridge is configured to resist unmating of the first and second locking features. 
     
     
         12 . A bath waste and overflow system and overflow system for attachment to a bathtub, the system comprising:
 an overflow fitting configured to be attached to an overflow port of the bathtub, the overflow fitting including an exterior having an externally threaded portion, and an interior including a first locking feature;   a retaining structure having an internally threaded portion that is complementary with the externally threaded portion of the overflow fitting, the retaining structure being configured to engage the overflow fitting so as to retain the bathtub therebetween; and   
       wherein:
 the first locking feature is configured to mate with a second locking feature of a faceplate, thereby coupling the overflow fitting to the faceplate; 
 when the first locking feature is mated to the second locking feature, the faceplate conceals the retaining structure; 
 the first locking feature is configured to mate with a third locking feature of an overflow test plug; and 
 when the first locking feature is mated to the third locking feature, the overflow test plug is configured to seal the overflow fitting for a pressure test of the bath waste and overflow system. 
 
     
     
         13 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at any given point of time, the first locking feature can be mated to either the second locking feature or the third locking feature, but not both.   
     
     
         14 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 12 , wherein mating the first locking feature to the third locking feature comprises rotating the overflow test plug relative to the overflow fitting. 
     
     
         15 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 12 , wherein mating the first locking feature to the third locking feature comprises rotating the faceplate relative to the overflow fitting. 
     
     
         16 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 mating the first locking feature to the third locking feature comprises rotating the overflow test plug relative to the overflow fitting; and   mating the first locking feature to the third locking feature comprises rotating the faceplate relative to the overflow fitting.   
     
     
         17 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 16 , wherein
 mating the first locking feature to the third locking feature comprises rotating the overflow test plug relative to the overflow fitting in a first direction; and   mating the first locking feature to the third locking feature comprises rotating the faceplate relative to the overflow fitting in the first direction.   
     
     
         18 . A bath waste and overflow system for attachment to a bathtub, the system comprising:
 an overflow elbow configured to be attached to an overflow port of the bathtub, the overflow elbow including an exterior having an externally threaded portion, and an interior including a projection structure;   a retaining structure having an internally threaded portion that is complementary with the externally threaded portion of the overflow elbow, the retaining structure being configured to engage the overflow elbow so as to retain the bathtub therebetween; and   a faceplate configured to couple to the overflow elbow, the faceplate comprising:   a cover plate;   a partition wall extending laterally from the cover plate along an axis;   a central hollow portion;   an outer hollow portion separated from the central hollow portion by the partition wall; and   a channel disposed on the partition wall, wherein the channel has an open portion and a terminal portion, wherein the terminal portion is radially spaced form the open portion, wherein the open portion is configured so that moving the faceplate along the axis engages the projection structure into the channel, and wherein the channel is configured so that rotation of the faceplate in a first direction changes a relative location of the projection structure from nearer the open portion to nearer the terminal portion.   
     
     
         19 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 18 , wherein the channel extends helically along the partition wall. 
     
     
         20 . The bath waste and overflow system of  claim 18 , wherein the channel comprises a rotation resisting structure disposed between the open portion and the terminal portion, wherein the rotation resisting structure is configured to resist rotation of the faceplate in a second direction opposite the first direction.