IP Library Granted Patent US 10,167,622
Granted Patent B2
US 10,167,622 · App. 15/340,676 · Granted Jan 1, 2019

Drain assembly with adjustable spherical frame

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,167,622
App. No.
15/340,676
Granted
Jan 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A floor drain assembly including a collar, a shank coupled to the collar, a frame, an insert coupled to the shank and capturing the frame between the insert and the shank, a strainer coupled to the frame, a protective cover coupled to the strainer, and a sleeve surrounding the collar, the shank, the frame, the insert, the strainer, and the protective cover. The shank is moveable relative to the collar and includes a spherically shaped shank surface. The frame includes a lower frame surface shaped to engage the shank surface and an upper frame surface. The insert is moveable relative to the shank and includes a spherically shape insert surface engaged with the upper frame surface such that the frame is captured between the insert and the shank.

Claims (38)

1. A floor drain assembly comprising:

a collar;

a shank coupled to the collar and moveable relative to the collar, the shank including a spherically shaped shank surface;

a frame including a lower frame surface shaped to engage the shank surface and an upper frame surface;

an insert coupled to the shank and moveable relative to the shank, the insert including a spherically shaped insert surface engaged with the upper frame surface such that the frame is captured between the insert and the shank;

a strainer coupled to the frame;

a protective cover coupled to the strainer; and

a sleeve surrounding the collar, the shank, the frame, the insert, the strainer, and the protective cover.

2. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the collar includes internal threads and the shank includes external threads, the internal threads of the collar engaged with the external threads of the shank.

3. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shank moves relative to the collar along a central axis.

4. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shank includes internal threads and the insert includes external threads, the internal threads of the shank engaged with the external threads of the insert.

5. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert moves relative to the shank along a central axis.

6. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert and the shank can be moved apart from one another to allow the frame to be tilted and rotated relative to a central axis.

7. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert and the shank can be moved together to inhibit the frame from moving.

8. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spherically shaped shank surface and the spherically shaped insert surface allow the frame to be tilted in any direction by about three degrees relative to a central axis.

9. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a cylindrical portion sized to engage the collar.

10. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a lip sized to engage the shank.

11. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a head area sized to surround the frame and strainer.

12. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a removable retaining ring.

13. The floor drain assembly of claim 12 , wherein the retaining ring includes a central aperture.

14. The floor drain assembly of claim 12 , wherein the retaining ring engages a head area of the sleeve with tabs.

15. The floor drain assembly of claim 12 , wherein the retaining ring is rotatably removable from the sleeve.

16. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a pull strip.

17. The floor drain assembly of claim 16 , wherein the pull strip is removable from the sleeve by a grasping and pulling action.

18. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a base coupled to the collar.

19. The floor drain assembly of claim 18 , wherein the sleeve further includes a cover that is slidably coupled to the base and is configured for different height installations.

20. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is coupled to the sleeve with a pull strip.

21. The floor drain assembly of claim 20 , wherein the pull strip is removable from the sleeve and the protective cover, and when removed detaches the protective cover from the sleeve.

22. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is an adhesive backed sticker.

23. The floor drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shank and the insert provide height and tilt adjustment of the frame and strainer before and during installation.

24. A method for installing a floor drain assembly, the method comprising:

coupling a floor drain assembly with a drain body, the floor drain assembly comprising a collar, a shank coupled to the collar and moveable relative to the collar, the shank including a spherically shaped shank surface, a frame including a lower frame surface shaped to engage the shank surface and an upper frame surface, an insert coupled to the shank and moveable relative to the shank, the insert including a spherically shaped insert surface engaged with the upper frame surface such that the frame is captured between the insert and the shank, a strainer coupled to the frame, a protective cover coupled to the strainer, and a sleeve surrounding the collar, the shank, the frame, the insert, the strainer, and the protective cover;

coupling the drain body with a drain pipe;

making a rough pour of concrete around a portion of the drain assembly;

adjusting a height of the strainer;

making a finish pour;

removing a portion of a retaining ring coupled to the sleeve; and

removing the protective cover from the strainer.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
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 Nov 1, 2016
From: BROOKS, SETH A.; MORRIS, JASON E.
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 040542/0775 →