US2266043A - Adjustable drain - Google Patents

Description

'Dec. 16, 1941. G, H. HUTCHINS I 2,266,043

' ADJUSTABLE DRAIN Filed May 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 194. G. H. HUTCHINS ADJUSTABLE DRAIN Filed May 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1941 I UNITED- sures 1 rice ADJUSTABLE DRAIN GeorgeHoward Hutchins, Hollywood, Calif. Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,319

2 Claims.

This invention relates to portable devices adapted to be positioned over the drain opening of a sink, or thelike, for controlling the flow of liquid into the drain. More particularly, the inventionrelates to devices for permittinga regulated flow into the drain, asdistinct from stopper devices that necessarily completely block the flow.

An object of the invention is to produce a simple, practicable and inexpensive drain device adaptable to any receptacle, such as a sink, wash basin, bath tub, or the. like, andwhich definitely 'limitsthe depth of water while permitting regulated flow of water into the drain from the bottom of the receptacle. Another object is to provide a drain device particularly useful in the washing of photographic prints or films in sinks, in that it is capable of maintaining a desired depth of water while permitting discharge of the bottom water, and is inherently non-cloggable by the prints or films.

Another object is to provide a drain device for a sink, which deviceis particularly usefulin washing vegetables, berries, dishes, and the like, inthat it maintains a substantial depth of water in the sink, while permitting a rapid flow of water from the bottom of the sink into the drain to carry away heavy foreign matter that settles to the bottom.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are achieved will become apparent from the following detailed description of. certain particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective. view of a, device in accordance with my invention, with a portion thereof broken away to better disclose the construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a portion of a sink equipped with the device of Fig. 1, showing the manner of use of the device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in the plane IVIV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 3, but illustrating an alternative construction; and

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are perspective views showing three alternative constructionsto that of Fig. 1.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the device therein depicted comprises two essential elements, namely a base portion 1, preferably, con.-

immediately in front of the window 7.

structeclof soft rubber or similar elastic, yieldablematerial, and a hollow column 2 which may be of rugged material, such as metal, and is frictionally attached to the base member -l' in fluid-tight relationjthereto. The column 2 may consist simpl of a short section of pipe open at both ends and having a lateral-discharge opening or window 3 adjacent'its lower end. The column 2 may also have a lateral overflow opening 4-adja-cent its upper end, although this opening may be eliminated when the device is used for certain purposes.

The base portion I comprises a tubular portion 5 and a flange or skirt portion fi-formed in tegrally therewith. The tubular portion 5 snugly receives the lower end of the column 2 to seal with the latter and frictionally retain it in any position of rotation into which it may be turned. The skirt portion 5- is of o verall-diameter sufiicient to cover the usual screen in the drain opening of a sink so that it can lie thereover and seal with the bottom of the sink surrounding the screen.- This skirt portion 6 is preferably made very thin and flexible so that it readily conforms to the sink in response to slight pressure of water or other liquid retained in the sink.

The tubular portion 5 of the base has a window I in the side thereof, which window is preferably of substantially the same shape and dimension as the-Window 3 in the column 2 so that when thecolumn is-rotated to bring the windows 3 and 1 into registration, a discharge passage having the full cross sectional, area of the window 3 is provided; The material ofthe base i is preferably extended inwardly at the lower, end of the tubular portion 5. to prov'ide a flange 8. which limits downward movement of the column Z-in the base portion to thereby facilitate the quick adjustment of the column in the base to bring the indows 3 and 1 at the sam level.

When the device is to be employed for washing prints, I preferably provide a plurality of upstanding fingers or posts 9 on the skirt portion 6 Three such posts have been shown in the drawings, but it is to be understood thata greater or a lesser number than three may be employed. These posts constitute additional guard means for preventing prints from being carried against the window I and blocking, the discharge of water therethrough.

The operation of the device when employed for washing prints in a sink, is illustrated in Fig. 2, which shows a conventional sink l0 having a wastepipe II leading therefrom and having a relatively large strainer plate I2 positioned above the wastepipe II for preventing large solid objects from entering the wastepipe. My device is positioned immediately over the strainer plate l2 and concentric relative thereto so that the flange or skirt 6 overlaps the strainer plate I2 on all sides and prevents leakage of water thereunder. Water is permitted to flow continuously into the sink from the faucet (not shown) and at the same time escape from the sink through the windows I and 3 into the column 2 and thence down through the strainer I2 of the sink into the wastepipe I I. The size of this discharge opening is adjustable by rotating the column 2 relative to the base I until the rate of discharge through the opening is less than the rate of flow from thefaucet into the sink so that the level of the water rises above the window I. Ordinarily the rate of discharge through the windows I and 3 will be made substantially less than the rate of inflow from the faucet so that the level of the water in the sink rises to the overflow opening 4. Therefore the excess water can discharge through the opening 4 so that the latter serves to limit the level and prevent it from rising clear to the top of the column 2. This is desirable when washing prints, illustrated at I3 in Fig. 2, because it is possible, when the level of the water is even with the top of the column 2, for a print to float across the top of the column and dam the upper end thereof, whereupon the sink might fill up and overflow onto the floor. Ordinarily the water is introduced into the sink in such a direction as to produce a revolving current therein, which tends to maintain the prints in a general horizontal position so that if one should float against the discharge opening 4 it would merely present an edge thereto and would not be apt to clog the opening.

Likewise, because of the fact that the prints usually assume roughly horizontal positions, there is little danger of a print being carried against the window I in such position as to dam it, even if the posts 9 are eliminated. The fact that the orifice of the opening 7 lies in a curved vertical plane, makes it much'less apt to be clogged by a print than if the orifice were horizontal.

The adjustable opening provided by the windows I and 3 being positioned closely adjacent the bottom of the sink, facilitates the discharge of heavy liquids or small solid objects, which would accumulate in the bottom of the sink if the only discharge therefrom were through the overflow opening 4 or through the top of the column 2. This is highly advantageous in washing photographic prints because the chemicals to be washed from the print tend to settle to the bottom where they are quickly discharged through the windows I and 3.

It is to be understood that the device is also useful when washing dishes, vegetables, etc., in a sink, under which conditions heavy particles of foreign matter settle to the bottom of the sink and are washed out through the windows I and 3. At the same time, grease and like elements which float to the top, discharge through the opening 4 or into the top of the column 2. When the structure is designed for general kitchen use, as distinct from the washing of photographic prints, the opening 4 may well be eliminated, as in the model shown in Fig. 6, causing the level of water in the sink to rise clear to the top of the column 2. This facilitates the discharge of light objects which float to the surface. Thus if berries are washed in a sink equipped with my device, they may contain as foreign matter to be removed, light objects such as leaves, and heavier objects or particles, such as sand. The light objects float to the surface and are discharged through the top of the column 2, (Fig. 6) while the heavier objects settle to the bottom and are carried off through the windows I and 3, this action being facilitated by the fact that the direct passage through the windows I and 3 provides for a rapid flow of water from the bottom of the sink.

Aside from its use for continuous washing purposes, my device is particularly useful as a sink stopper. Thus by rotating the sleeve 2 suificiently to completely close the window I, the device may be used to completely block continuous flow from the sink, provided the level of the water is not raised above the top of the sleeve (or above the opening 4 when the latter is present). When used as an ordinary stopper, the device has the important advantage of providing a safety overflow should one forget to turn the water off when the. sink has been filled to the desired depth. The device may be used in a bath tub'in place of the usual stopper when it is desired to insure against the water exceeding a desired level, as when permitting a small baby to play by itself in the tub.

An alternative construction is disclosed in Fig. 5. This construction is similar in all respects to that disclosed in Fig. 1, except that the column 2' is telescopically fitted about the tubular portion 5 of the base I instead of being fitted therewithin.' The remaining elements of the structure shown in Fig. 5 correspond exactly to those of Figs. 1, 3 and '4, and bear corresponding reference numerals.

The device described with reference to Figs. 1 and 5 employs a plurality of separate posts 9 or 9 positioned in front of the window I or I to prevent prints from being carried against the window by the flow of water thereinto. It is not necessary, however, that these walls assume the forms of posts, as described, and two alternative constructions are disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 7 a pair of radial walls 20 and 2| are extended outwardly from the tubular portion 5 of the base I, these walls 20 also merging at their low-er edges with the flange portions 6 of the base. This construction as disclosed in Fig. 7 has the substantial advantage that there is nothing directly in front of the windows I to impede the flow of the water thereinto, although it will serve to prevent large objects, such as prints, from being carried against the window I.

The structure of Fig. 8 differs from that of Fig. 1 only in that a solid wall 22 is provided in front of the window I, this wall rising from the flange portion 6 of the base I to a height which may be above or below the upper edge of the window I. In the drawing the wall 22 is shown extending slightly higher than the window I and is arcuately shaped about the axis of the pipe 2 as a center.

In all the modifications described, only one window I has been provided. Ordinarily one window is perfectly satisfactory and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. However, it is to be understood that if desired two, three or a larger number of windows may be provided at circumferentially spaced points on the pipe 2 and on the tubular portion 5 of the base I so that water can discharge into the wastepipe at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points,

For the purpose of explaining the invention, certain specific embodiments thereof have been described in detail, but it is to be understood that various departures from the specific construction shown can be made without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a base member of resilient, flexible material adapted to rest on the bottom of a sink over the drainhole therein, said member having a lower portion consisting of a thin annular skirt adapted to conform to the shape of and seal with the sink about the drainhole therein, and having an integral tubular portion also of resilient, flexible material, upstanding from the said lower portion and defining a passage adapted to communicate at its lower end with said drainhole, a sleeve member in telescoping relation at its lower end with said tubular portion of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said sleeve member and said tubular portion of said base member having lateral orifices therein adapted to be brought into varying degrees of registration with each other in response to relative rotation of said members, and said tubular portion yieldably, frictionally engaging said sleeve member to seal therewith in all positions of rotation.

2. A device as described in claim 1, with a guard wall upstanding from said flange in front of the orifice in said tubular portion, said guard wall being imperforate and of larger area than said orifice.

GEORGE HOWARD HUTCHINS.

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