| CPC E03C 1/262 (2013.01) [A47K 1/14 (2013.01); E03C 1/2302 (2013.01); E03C 1/2306 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
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1. A drain stopper for a bathtub or a sink having a drain hole and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub or sink at the drain opening, wherein the drain pipe may or may not have crossbars for anchoring the drain stopper, wherein the crossbars may or may not have a central opening, and wherein the central opening may have one of more than one size, the drain stopper comprising:
an open-close mechanism having a longitudinal axis, upper and lower ends, a distance between the upper and lower ends and an open position and a closed position, wherein the open-close mechanism is a push mechanism, a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism, and wherein the distance between the upper end and the lower end differs between the open position and the closed position;
a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism;
a drain seal engaged with the cap or the open-close mechanism for retaining water in the bathtub or the sink while the open-close mechanism is in the closed position;
means for engaging the open-close mechanism with the drain pipe, wherein the means is secured to or formed integral with the lower end of the open-close mechanism; and
a strainer surrounding the open-close mechanism, wherein the strainer is entirely inside the drain pipe and above the means for engaging the open-close mechanism with the drain pipe while in operation,
wherein the open-close mechanism, the cap, the drain seal, the strainer and the means for engaging the open-close mechanism with the drain flange form a unitary assembly while assembled, wherein the unitary assembly has a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the open-close mechanism at all times while assembled, wherein the unitary assembly is radially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the open-close mechanism at all times while assembled, and
wherein the means for engaging the open-close mechanism with the drain pipe is designed and configured to allow a user to push the unitary assembly into the drain pipe and to pull the unitary assembly out of the drain pipe without requiring any assembly or disassembly.
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