US20060060121A1

US20060060121A1 - Boat drain device

Info

Publication number: US20060060121A1
Application number: US10/945,383
Authority: US
Inventors: John Sollazzo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-20
Filing date: 2004-09-20
Publication date: 2006-03-23

Abstract

A boat drain device includes an adapter having a first opening forming a gravity drain, a second opening, and a siphon tube. The siphon tube extends at least partially through the second opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally related to a device used for draining a boat and more particularly, to a boat drain device for draining fluid from a boat including the boat's inner hull.
Most recreational boats include a drain opening that permits water to drain from a boat. A plug typically is inserted into the opening during use to prevent water from entering the boat through the opening. After use, the plug is removed to allow water to drain.
Although the drain opening is effective for allowing water to flow out of the boat, it is possible that not all water will drain from the drain opening. For example, water in the boat inner hull may not flow out the drain opening. Having water remain in the boat during storage can cause numerous concerns. For example, mold can form. In addition, the water could freeze and damage the boat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a boat drain device includes an adapter including a first opening, a second opening and a siphon tube extending at least partially through the second opening.
In another aspect, a method of draining a boat utilizing a boat drain device is provided. The boat drain device includes an adapter including a first opening and a second opening and a siphon tube extending at least partially through the second opening. The method includes inserting the adapter into a drain opening of the boat and positioning a siphon end of the siphon tube in an inner hull section of the boat.
In yet another aspect, an adapter for a boat drain includes a first opening and a second opening. The second opening is sized to receive a siphon tube extending at least partially through the second opening. The adapter also includes a first end with a first diameter, a second end with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body is tapered in diameter from the first end to the second end to maintain the adapter within a drain opening of a boat by a friction fit.
In another aspect, a boat drain device includes a siphon tube and at least one of a plurality of suction cups and a length of attachment devices and a length of fastening material configured to couple the siphon tube to a drain opening of a boat such that water can be siphoned from inside the boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a boat drain device.
FIG. 2 is a first end view of the boat drain device.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the boat drain device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the boat drain device.
FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the boat drain device.
FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the boat drain device.
FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a boat utilizing the boat drain device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate one embodiment of a boat drain device 10 configured to facilitate draining a boat including its inner hull. Boat drain device 10 includes an adapter 20 and a siphon tube 22.
In an exemplary embodiment, adapter 20 is substantially hollow and has an open end and a closed end with openings therethrough. Adapter 20 includes a first open end 30 and a second closed end 32. First end 30 has a first diameter D1 and second end 32 has a second diameter D2 such that first diameter D1 is greater than second diameter D2. A body 33 extends between first end 30 and second end 32. Body 33 tapers in diameter from diameter D1 at first end 30 to diameter D2 at second end 32, and adapter 20 is maintained within a drain opening of the boat by a friction fit of body 33 with an inner wall of the boat surrounding the drain opening.
In an alternative embodiment, adapter 20 has a substantially uniform diameter and is either friction fit within the boat drain or is threadedly coupled to the boat within the boat drain opening.
Adapter 20 further includes a first section 34, a second section 36, and a third section 38. First section 34 is adjacent second section 36 and both sections 34 and 36 are substantially half-moon shaped and together form first end 30. First section 34 includes a notch and a first opening 42 forming a gravity drain. Second section 36 includes a siphon opening 44. Third section 38 includes a common opening 46 at second end 32 that is common to both opening 42 and opening 44. In the exemplary embodiment, adapter 20 is fabricated from a rubber material. Siphon tube 22 extends through siphon opening 44 and includes a drain end 50 and a siphon end 52. In the exemplary embodiment, siphon tube 22 is fabricated from a flexible plastic.
FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of adapter 20 including a first end 30 of adapter 20, including a first opening 64 for a gravity drain and a second opening 66 sized to accommodate siphon tube 22 for a siphoning drain. Second end 32 includes an opening (not shown) common to both opening 64 and opening 66.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of adapter 20 including a first opening 80 for a gravity drain and a second opening 82 sized to accommodate siphon tube 22 for a siphoning drain. Siphon tube 22 extends through second opening 82. First opening 80 and second opening 82 extend through adapter 20 from first end 30 to second end 32.
FIG. 7 illustrates utilizing boat drain device 10 to drain a boat 100. In the exemplary embodiment, boat 100 includes a drain opening 110 located at a transom 112 of boat 100. When boat 100 is stored, such as on a lift or a trailer, the plug utilized during boating is removed and boat drain device 10 is inserted into drain opening 110. As described below, device 10 facilitates draining any fluids 130 that may have collected in boat 100.
Adapter 20 is coupled to drain opening 110 by inserting second end 32 of adapter 20 into drain opening 110. In an exemplary embodiment, adapter 20 is maintained within drain opening 110 substantially sealing the adjoined perimeter of adapter 20 and drain hole 110.
Siphon end 52 of siphon tube 22 is inserted into an inner hull 140 of boat 100. Drain end 50 of siphon tube 22 is inserted through adapter 20 coupled to drain opening 110, and siphon tube 22 extends out of boat 100. Fluid 130 located in inner hull 140 is siphoned through siphon tube 22 and out of boat 100. Fluid 130 located in the outer hull/floor 150 of boat 100 is drained by gravity flow through first opening 42 of adapter 20 and out of boat 100. When fluids 130 reach a certain level in boat 100, the main hull is gravity drained through boat drain device 10. The draining of fluid 130 from boat 100 through device 10 self-primes siphon tube 22 to facilitate automatically draining inner hull 140 through siphon tube 22.
In one embodiment, device 10 is coupled to drain opening 110 from inside boat 100. In another embodiment, device 10 is coupled to drain opening 110 from outside boat 100 when, for example, boat 100 has enclosed engine compartments obstructing access to drain opening 110 from inside boat 100.
In one embodiment, adapter 20 is fabricated from at least one of metal, plastic, and rubber and siphon tube 22 is fabricated from a rubber material. In addition, the outer surface of adapter 20 is textured to facilitate coupling adapter 20 to drain opening 110. In an alternative embodiment, adapter 20 is substantially solid and includes at least two openings extending therethrough.
In an alternative embodiment, boat drain device 10 includes siphon tube 22 utilizing at least one of a plurality of suction cups and a length of a fastening material such as string or rope to couple siphon tube 22 to boat 100. Siphon tube 22 is inserted through drain opening 110 and extends from inner hull 140, through drain opening 110 and out boat 100 extending below the bottom of the hull to facilitate automatically draining fluid 130 from inner hull 140 of boat 100. Utilizing this boat drain device, for example, a boat storage facility with external access to drain openings 110 of boats 100 can substantially simplify the draining of boats 100 under their care.
Boat drain device 10 is simple to install for draining boat 100. In addition, boat drain device 10 facilitates preventing fluid from being trapped in inner hull 140, freezing, and creating ice damage during cold days.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A boat drain device comprising an adapter comprising:

a first opening;

a second opening; and

a siphon tube extending at least partially through said second opening.

2. A boat drain device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter comprises at least one of rubber and metal, and said first opening forms a gravity drain.

3. A boat drain device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter comprises:

a first end with a first diameter;

a second end with a second diameter less than said first diameter; and

a body extending between said first end and said second end, said body tapered in diameter from said first end to said second end and configured to maintain said adapter within a drain opening of a boat by a friction fit.

4. A boat drain device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter is maintained in a drain opening of a boat by a threaded body.

5. A boat drain device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter has a substantially uniform diameter.

6. A boat drain device according to claim 5 wherein said adapter is maintained in a drain opening of a boat by at least one of a friction fit and a threaded coupling.

7. A boat drain device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter comprises:

a first end; and

a second end, said first opening and said second opening are in flow communication with a common opening at said second end.

8. A boat drain device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter comprises:

a first end; and

a second end, said first opening and said second opening extend through said adapter from said first end to said second end.

9. A method of draining a boat utilizing a boat drain device, the boat drain device including an adapter having a first opening and a second opening and a siphon tube extending at least partially through the second opening, said method comprising:

inserting the adapter into a drain opening of the boat; and

positioning a siphon end of the siphon tube in an inner hull section of the boat.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said inserting the adapter into the drain hole comprises maintaining the adapter in the drain hole by one of a friction fit, a threaded coupling and a plurality of suction cups and a fastening material.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said inserting the adapter into the drain hole comprises inserting the adapter from inside the boat.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein said inserting the adapter into the drain hole comprises inserting the adapter from outside the boat.

13. An adapter for a boat drain, said adapter comprising:

a first opening;

a second opening sized to receive a siphon tube extending at least partially through said second opening;

a first end with a first diameter;

a second end with a second diameter less than said first diameter; and

a body extending between said first end and said second end, said body tapered in diameter from said first end to said second end to maintain said adapter within a drain opening of a boat by a friction fit.

14. An adapter according to claim 13 wherein said adapter comprises at least one of a rubber material and metal.

15. An adapter according to claim 13 wherein said adapter is maintained in a drain opening of a boat by a threaded body.

16. An adapter according to claim 13 wherein said adapter comprises:

a first end; and

a second end, said first opening and said second opening in flow communication with a common opening at said second end.

17. An adapter according to claim 13 wherein said adapter comprises:

a first end; and

18. A boat drain device comprising:

a siphon tube; and

at least one of a plurality of attachment devices and a length of fastening material configured to couple said siphon tube to a drain opening of a boat such that water can be siphoned from inside said boat.

19. A boat drain device according to claim 18 wherein said devices comprise suction cups.

20. A boat drain device according to claim 18 wherein said fastening material comprises at least one of string and rope.