IP Library Granted Patent US 8,881,490
Granted Patent B2
US 8,881,490 · App. 13/733,214 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Leveling mechanism for floor drain

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,881,490
App. No.
13/733,214
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A floor drain includes a head having a top surface, a leveling member, and a frame having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the frame is positioned adjacent the top surface of the head. The leveling member is positioned between the head and the bottom surface of the frame and is displaceable relative to the head in a first direction. A method of leveling a floor drain with a floor surface is also disclosed.

Claims (27)

1. A method of leveling a structure positioned adjacent to a floor surface comprising:

providing a structure comprising:

a head having a top surface;

a leveling member attached to the head, the leveling member having a top surface; and

a frame having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the frame positioned adjacent the top surface of the head, wherein the frame and the leveling member coact with each other, the top surface of the leveling member being positioned below the bottom surface of the frame;

displacing the leveling member in a first direction such that the leveling member engages the bottom surface of the frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engagement of the leveling member with the bottom surface of the frame displaces the bottom surface of the frame to substantially level the frame with the floor surface.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the structure further comprises a top plate positioned adjacent the top surface of the frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frame defines an access opening and at least a portion of the leveling member is aligned with the access opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of leveling members, each leveling member being circumferentially spaced from each other and positioned between the head and the bottom surface of the frame.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of selectively displacing one or more of the plurality of leveling members to rotate the frame about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the first and second axes lie in a plane substantially parallel to the top surface of the frame.

7. A method of leveling a structure positioned adjacent to a floor surface comprising:

providing a structure comprising:

a drain body having a top surface;

a frame having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the frame positioned adjacent to the top surface of the drain body, the frame secured to the drain body via a plurality of fasteners;

a top plate positioned adjacent to the top surface of the drain body, the top plate having a bottom surface; and

a leveling member attached to the drain body, the leveling member having a top surface positioned below the bottom surface of the top plate,

displacing the leveling member in a first direction extending away from the drain body to increase a distance between the drain body and the top plate at a position adjacent to the leveling member.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the drain body comprises a head having a threaded shank defining a central passageway and a flange portion extending outwardly from the threaded shank.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the frame is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the top plate.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the frame defines an access opening, at least a portion of the leveling member being aligned with the access opening.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the top surface of the leveling member engages the bottom surface of the frame.

12. The method of claim 7 ; wherein the leveling member comprises a screw threadably engaged with the drain body.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the top plate comprises a strainer.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the leveling member engages the bottom surface of the frame to displace the bottom surface of the frame to substantially level the frame and the top plate with the floor surface.

15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of leveling members, each leveling member being circumferentially spaced from each other.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of selectively displacing one or more of the plurality of leveling members to rotate the frame about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the first and second axes lie in a plane substantially parallel to the top surface of the frame.

Assignments (8)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY OF REEL/FRAME 066293/0879 Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS PRIOR AGENT (F/K/A CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 074947/0479 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY OF REEL/FRAME 057893/0121 Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS PRIOR AGENT (F/K/A CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 074945/0935 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066336/0603 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN WATER, LLC
Reel/Frame 066337/0918 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 057893, FRAME 0121 Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC (F/K/A ZURN INDUSTRIES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066067/0937 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: ZURN WATER, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066293/0879 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2021
From: AMERICAN DRYER LLC; GREEN TURTLE AMERICAS LTD.; WORLD DRYER CORPORATION; ZURN PEX, INC.; ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057893/0121 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2013
From: WROBLEWSKI, DOUGLAS R.; NICOLIA, CARL R.; STEFFAN, JONATHAN; MARINI, MARK
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 029559/0415 →