US20240417962A1

US20240417962A1 - Bathtub overflow pipe structure

Info

Publication number: US20240417962A1
Application number: US18/335,654
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuang-Ming Kuo; Chih-Wei Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bridging Partners Corp
Priority date: 2023-06-15
Filing date: 2023-06-15
Publication date: 2024-12-19

Abstract

A bathtub overflow pipe structure includes an overflow pipe which includes an outlet end formed to an L-shaped end of the overflow pipe. An adaptor includes a passage defined axially therethrough which communicates with the first outlet of the overflow pipe. A first flange extends radially outward from one end of the adaptor to contact the outside wall of the bathtub. The outer periphery of the adaptor is detachably connected to the passage by threading engagement. A cover includes a cap and a column extends axially from the cap. A second outlet is defined axially in the column and communicates with the passage. The column includes two overflow holes. A ring is mounted to the outer periphery of the column which is inserted into the passage. The ring contacts against the inner periphery of the passage to combine the cover to the overflow pipe via the adaptor without any screw.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bathtub, specifically the combination structure of an overflow pipe installed inside of the bathtub for water drainage and a cover placed on the surface of the bathtub.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bathtubs are equipped with an overflow outlet located at a predetermined high water level. When a user fills water into the bathtub and it reaches the full water level, any excess water will flow out through the overflow outlet and directly connect to the overflow pipe, which is connected to the bathtub's drainage pipe. This ensures that the water is discharged directly without causing the bathtub to overflow and potentially flood the bathroom floor, leading to wet and slippery conditions.
There are various forms of combination structures for such overflow pipes and covers. For example, Taiwanese Patent No. M613952, titled “Replaceable Assembly Structure for Bathtub Overflow Outlet”, features an adaptor that includes a ring-shaped body. The inner diameter of this body is suitable for fitting onto the outer end of the overflow pipe. Within the body, two transverse connecting pieces extend across the centerline, and each transverse connecting pieces includes a through-hole. The two ends of this through-hole includes a side hole which is a rectangular side hole. The outer circumferential surface of the body has evenly spaced, vertically protruding claw-like connectors. The outer sides of these connectors are aligned with a circular trajectory. Along the radial direction, a groove is concavely formed on the entire surface to accommodate a compression ring, which is then fitted onto each connector, allowing the inner side of the cover to be forced against the outer side of the compression ring. This enables the locking hole on the end face of the overflow pipe to be connected to the cover, whether it is a single-hole, double-hole, or no-hole type, through the component of on adaptor.
The structure described above facilitates the design of the overflow pipe end as a single-hole or double-hole configuration, allowing both types of covers to be interchangeable when replacement is required in the future. However, the disclosed case has several concerns that have led to a lack of competitiveness in the market:

- 1. Higher cost: The complex shape of the cylindrical body formed at the end of the overflow pipe, along with the relatively complex configuration of the connecting piece, increases the production cost. The connecting piece includes a ring-shaped body with a transverse connecting piece extending across the centerline, the through-hole, and two elongated rectangular side holes that correspond in a straight line to the ends of the through-hole. The outer circumferential surface of the body has evenly spaced claw-like connectors, each with a groove for accommodating a compression ring. Therefore, the component design is relatively complicated.
- 2. Time-consuming assembly process: The assembly process requires the use of screw locking mechanisms, which adds to the time required. The overflow pipe has internal threaded locking holes, the connecting piece has a through-hole and two elongated side holes, and the cover also needs to have holes to allow bolts to pass through and secure them to the locking holes of the overflow pipe. This complex procedure increases the assembly time.
- 3. The connecting piece is typically made of metal, which adds to the production cost.

Therefore, the aforementioned concerns including increased manufacturing costs, have weakened the competitiveness of the product.
The present invention intends to provide a bathtub overflow pipe that eliminates the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bathtub overflow pipe structure and comprises an overflow pipe which is an elongated pipe and includes an L-shaped end in which an outlet end is formed. A first outlet is formed in the outlet end and a first connecting portion is formed to the inner periphery of the first outlet. An adaptor is ring-shaped and a passage is defined axially through the adaptor. The passage communicates with the first outlet of the overflow pipe. A first flange extends radially outward from one end of the adaptor. A second connecting portion is formed to the outer periphery of the adaptor and is detachably connected to the first connecting portion. A cover has a cap formed to one end thereof and a column extends axially from the inside of the cap. A second outlet is defined axially in the column and communicates with the passage. Two overflow holes are respectively formed through the wall of the column. A seal ring is mounted the outer periphery of the column. The column of the cover is inserted into the passage. The seal ring contacts against the inner periphery of the passage such that the cover is combined with the overflow pipe via the adaptor.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub overflow pipe structure that includes an adaptor between the outlet end of the overflow pipe and the cover, and the adaptor is detachably connected to the overflow pipe without need of any tool and screw. The cover includes a column and a seal ring is mounted to the column. The column is inserted into the passage of the adaptor, and the seal ring is fitted to the inner periphery of the passage. This allows the cover to be easily combined with the overflow pipe by the adaptor and efficient. In addition, the shape of the cover and the adaptor is not complicated and can be made without metal so as to be manufactured in low and reasonable cost.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the bathtub overflow pipe of the present invention installed to a bathtub;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the bathtub overflow pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the bathtub overflow pipe of the present invention installed to a bathtub;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show that a test cover is cooperated with the bathtub overflow pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly removed, to show the bathtub overflow pipe of the present invention installed to a bathtub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bathtub overflow pipe structure of the present invention comprises an overflow pipe 10 which is an elongated pipe and includes an L-shaped end formed to its distal end. An outlet end 11 is formed in the L-shaped end. A first outlet 12 is formed in the outlet end 11. A first connecting portion 13 is formed in the inner periphery of the first outlet 12. The first connecting portion 13 of the outlet end 11 of the overflow pipe 10 includes inner threads.
An adaptor 30 is a ring-shaped part and a passage 31 is defined axially through the adaptor 30. The passage 31 communicates with the first outlet 12 of the overflow pipe 10. A first flange 32 extends radially outward from one end of the adaptor 30. A second connecting portion 33 is formed to the outer periphery of the adaptor 30. The second connecting portion 33 of the adaptor 30 includes outer threads which are threadedly connected to the inner threads of the first connecting portion 13. The second connecting portion 33 is detachably connected to the first connecting portion 13. A rib 34 is formed to the passage 31 of the adaptor 30 and a test hole 341 is defined through the center of the rib 34. The rib 34 can be in a cross shape or the like, and a gap between the rib 34 and the inner periphery of the passage 31 communicates with the passage 31 so that the exceed water flows out from the gap and the passage 31.
A second flange 111 extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the L-shaped end of the overflow pipe 10, and the second flange 111 is located at a distance from the outlet end 11. A gasket ring 14 is mounted to the outer periphery of the L-shaped end of the overflow pipe 10 and contacts the second flange 111.
As shown in FIG. 3 , the outlet end 11 of the overflow pipe 10 extends through the gasket ring 14 and inserted through a hole in the wall of the bathtub 20. The wall of the bathtub 20 and the second flange 111 clamp the gasket ring 14, and the outlet end 11 is located close to the inside of the wall of the bathtub 20.
A cover 40 has a cap 41 formed to one end thereof, and a column 42 extends axially from the inside of the cap 41. A second outlet 43 is defined axially in the column 42 and communicates with the passage 31. Two overflow holes 421 are respectively formed through the wall of the column 42. The overflow holes 421 are used to drain water through the overflow pipe 10 via the adaptor 30 and the first outlet 12. A groove 44 is formed in the outer periphery of the column 42 of the cover 40, and a seal ring 45 is mounted to the outer periphery of the column 42 and partially engaged with the groove 44. The column 42 of the cover 40 is inserted into the passage 31, and the seal ring 45 contacts against the inner periphery of the passage 31 such that the cover 40 is combined with the overflow pipe 10 via the adaptor 30.
As shown in FIG. 5 , the bathtub includes a drainage pipe 21 which is located beneath the bathtub 20 and communicates with a drainage hole of the bathtub 20. A drain stopper 22 can be used to seal the drainage hole.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , after the completion of manufacturing the overflow pipe 10, it undergoes testing to check for any water leakage. In the testing process, a test cover 50 is used, which has a threaded rod 51 extending from one side of the test cover 50 and the threaded rod 51 is fitted with a washer 52. The test cover 50 is used to displace the cover 40 away from the passage 31 of the adaptor 30. The washer 52 is placed on the outer end face of the first flange 32 of the adaptor 30. The threaded rod 51 of the test cover 50 passes through the washer 52 and extends into the passage 31 of the adaptor 30 until it securely locks into the test hole 341 of the adaptor 30, ensuring that the test cover 50 firmly seals the opening of the passage 31 of the adaptor 30. The bathtub 20 is then filled with water to the desired level to test for any potential leakage through the passage 31 of the adaptor 30. The above description provides a general explanation of the function of the test cover 50, but this is not a unique feature of the present invention.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bathtub overflow pipe structure comprising:

an overflow pipe being an elongated pipe and including an L-shaped end in which an outlet end is formed, a first outlet formed in the outlet end, a first connecting portion formed in an inner periphery of the first outlet;

an adaptor being ring-shaped and a passage defined axially through the adaptor, the passage communicating with the first outlet of the overflow pipe, a first flange extending radially outward from one end of the adaptor, a second connecting portion formed to an outer periphery of the adaptor and detachably connected to the first connecting portion, and

a cover having a cap formed to one end thereof, a column extending axially from an inside of the cap, a second outlet defined axially in the column and communicating with the passage, two overflow holes respectively formed through a wall of the column, a seal ring mounted to an outer periphery of the column, the column of the cover is inserted into the passage, the seal ring contacting against an inner periphery of the passage such that the cover is combined with the overflow pipe via the adaptor.

2. The bathtub overflow pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second flange extends radially outward from an outer periphery of the L-shaped end of the overflow pipe, the second flange is located at a distance from the outlet end, a gasket ring is mounted to the outer periphery of the L-shaped end of the overflow pipe and contacts the second flange.

3. The bathtub overflow pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion of the outlet end of the overflow pipe includes inner threads, the second connecting portion of the adaptor includes outer threads which are threadedly connected to the inner threads of the first connecting portion.

4. The bathtub overflow pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rib is formed to the passage of the adaptor and a test hole is defined through a center of the rib, a gap between the rib and the inner periphery of the passage communicates with the passage.

5. The bathtub overflow pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove is formed in an outer periphery of the column of the cover, the seal ring is engaged with the groove.