IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,385,240
Granted Patent B2
US 12,385,240 · App. 18/047,062 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Shower drain and protective cover

Inventors: Eric Pilarczyk (Colorado Springs, CO); William T. Ball (Colorado Springs, CO)
Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
E03C1/22E03C1/264
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,385,240
App. No.
18/047,062
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Shower drain assemblies and their components are disclosed. In examples, a shower drain assembly may include a receptor, a threaded flange, a plate, and a protective cover. The protective cover may protect the plate, the threaded flange, or other components from damage. The protective cover may be installed directly onto the threaded flange or onto the plate when the plate is installed onto the threaded flange. The same protective cover can thus be used to protect shower drain assemblies at different stages of installation—whether or not trim pieces such as the plate have yet been installed.

Claims (39)

1. A shower drain assembly comprising:

a receptor including:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion couplable to a drain pipe; and

a threaded flange including:

a flange portion with a top surface;

a threaded portion extending opposite the top surface, the threaded portion configured to thread into the upper portion of the receptor; and

an upper interior surface;

a plate configured to cover the flange portion when installed on the threaded flange; and

a protective cover including at least:

a first friction tab configured to frictionally engage the plate; and

a second friction tab configured to fictionally engage a feature of the upper interior surface when the plate is not installed on the threaded flange.

2. The shower drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first friction tab is configured to not frictionally engage the feature of the upper interior surface when the protective cover is installed directly onto the threaded flange.

3. The shower drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes at least a third friction tab configured to frictionally engage the feature of the upper interior surface when the plate is installed onto the threaded flange.

4. The shower drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the feature of the upper interior surface comprises a groove.

5. The shower drain assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second friction tab is configured to snap into the groove when the protective cover is installed onto the threaded flange without the plate and not to snap into the groove when the protective cover is installed onto the plate and the plate is installed onto the threaded flange.

6. The shower drain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first friction tab comprises a first hook portion that faces radially inward and the second friction tab comprises a second hook portion that faces radially outward.

7. The shower drain assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first friction tab is shorter than the second friction tab.

8. A shower drain assembly comprising:

a receptor including:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion couplable to a drain pipe; and

a threaded flange including:

a flange portion with a top surface;

a threaded portion extending opposite the top surface, the threaded portion configured to thread into the upper portion of the receptor; and

an upper interior surface;

a plate configured to cover the flange portion when installed on the threaded flange; and

a protective cover including at least:

a top surface;

a bottom surface;

a first pair of friction tabs extending from the bottom surface and configured to frictionally engage at least one of the plate or a feature of the upper interior surface when the plate is installed on the threaded flange; and

a second pair of friction tabs extending from the bottom surface and configured to fictionally engage the feature of the upper interior surface when the plate is not installed on the threaded flange.

9. The shower drain assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the first pair friction tabs includes a first hook portion and each of the second pair of friction tabs includes a second hook portion, and wherein the first hook portion faces radially inward and the second hook portion faces radially outward.

10. The shower drain assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the first pair of friction tabs is configured to not frictionally engage the feature of the upper interior surface when the protective cover is installed directly onto the threaded flange.

11. The shower drain assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plate includes at least a third pair of friction tabs configured to frictionally engage the feature of the upper interior surface when the plate is installed onto the threaded flange.

12. The shower drain assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the first pair friction tabs includes a first hook portion and each of the second pair of friction tabs includes a second hook portion, and wherein the first hook portion extends a different distance from the bottom portion than the second portion extends from the bottom portion.

13. The shower drain assembly of claim 12 , wherein each of the first pair friction tabs includes a first hook portion and each of the second pair of friction tabs includes a second hook portion, and wherein the first hook portion faces radially outward and the second hook portion faces radially outward.

14. The shower drain assembly of claim 8 , wherein the feature of the upper interior surface comprises a groove.

15. The shower drain assembly of claim 14 , wherein each of the second pair of friction tabs is configured to snap into the groove when the protective cover is installed onto the threaded flange without the plate and not to snap into the groove when the protective cover is installed onto the plate and the plate is installed onto the threaded flange.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2022
From: PILARCZYK, ERIC; BALL, WILLIAM T.
To: WCM INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 061443/0582 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 17506211 · Oct 20, 2021
Related Publication 20230122714A1 · Apr 20, 2023
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