Low profile circular drain with water stop for swimming pool
View Patent ↗A sump drain includes a ring-shaped chamber having an inner sidewall with a diameter of at least about 18 inches and an outer sidewall, and a circular opening between the sidewalls preferably about an inch wide and optionally having a grid cover. Preferably the inner sidewall has a number of ports extending inwardly to radial conduits to a central hub for tying into a pool or spa filtering system, with the central hub operating as a clean out and having a removable cap. Upon installation, plaster substantially fills the space between the chamber and the central hub, such that the sump drain attractively blends in with the pool or spa floor. When installed, the top opening is preferably substantially flush with the pool or spa floor while being safely unblockable. And the sump drain preferably further includes channels both outboard and inboard from the chamber top opening and around the central hub, to help prevent water from passing through the plaster into the shotcrete of the pool or spa.
1. A low profile drain for installation in a surface of a swimming pool or spa formed of a surface material and having a drain inlet, the low profile drain comprising:
a sump embedded in the surface when installed, the sump forming a top side defining an annular top opening no less than about eighteen inches in inner diameter exposed through the surface, the sump forming an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall on opposite sides of the annular top opening, the outer sidewall having an upper peripheral edge about the annular top opening;
the sump having a tray-shaped water stop extending radially therefrom and adjacent to the upper peripheral edge for catching migrating water and for embedded anchoring in the surface when installed;
the sump extending to a central connection to the drain inlet disposed within the surface material when installed, the sump defining an open chamber spanning beneath the annular top opening to receive water admitted therethrough, the sump being configured to maintain open communication between the annular top opening and the central connection, the annular top opening defined to extend without substantial interruption about the central connection;
the sump being configured to receive water admitted through the annular top opening and guide the water to the central connection through portions of the sump embedded in the surface when installed; and
the sump being configured with the annular top opening encircling surface material substantially filling the space inside the inner sidewall when the low profile drain is installed, the top side of the sump forming the annular top opening being substantially flush with the surface when the low profile drain is installed, and the sump outside the annular top opening being substantially covered by the surface material to blend in with the surface when the low profile drain is installed.
2. The low profile drain recited in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sump is removable from above the central connection to access the drain inlet for purposes of cleaning out the drain inlet.
3. The low profile drain as recited in claim 1 further comprising a drain cover coupled to the sump to cover the annular top opening.
4. A low profile drain for installation in a surface of a swimming pool or spa formed of a surface material and having a drain inlet, the low profile drain comprising:
a sump embedded in the surface when installed, the sump forming a top side defining an annular top opening no less than about eighteen inches in inner diameter exposed through the surface, the sump forming an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall on opposite sides of the annular top opening, the outer sidewall having an upper peripheral edge about the annular top opening;
the sump having a tray-shaped water stop extending radially therefrom and adjacent to the upper peripheral edge for catching migrating water and for embedded anchoring in the surface material when installed;
the sump extending to a central connection to the drain inlet within the surface material when installed, the sump being configured to maintain open communication between the annular top opening and the central connection, the annular top opening defined to extend without substantial interruption about the central connection;
the sump being configured to receive water admitted through the annular top opening and guide the water to the central connection through portions of the sump embedded in the surface material when installed; and
the sump being configured with the annular top opening encircling surface material disposed to substantially fill a space surrounded by the inner sidewall when the low profile drain is installed, the top side of the sump forming the annular top opening being substantially flush with the surface when the low profile drain is installed, and the sump outside the annular top opening being substantially covered by the surface material to blend in with the surface when the low profile drain is installed;
wherein the water stop includes a horizontal shelf and a vertical wall collectively forming a gutter, the water stop being endlessly looped about the outer sidewall.
5. The low profile drain as recited in claim 1 , wherein both the inner and outer sidewalls are formed with the water stop, the water stop extending radially inward from the inner sidewall and radially outward from the outer sidewall.
6. The low profile drain as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sump includes defines a ring-shaped chamber, and a plurality of radial conduits extending between the ring-shaped chamber and the central connection.
7. The low profile drain as recited in claim 2 , wherein the central connection includes a hub extending upwardly to be about coplanar with the top annular opening.
8. The low profile drain as recited in claim 7 , wherein the portion of the sump removable from above the central connection includes a central cap no greater than about 2.5 inches in diameter.
9. The low profile drain as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sump is configured to accept a substantial amount of the surface material between the inner sidewall and the central connection.
10. A sump drain for installation in a surface of a swimming pool or spa formed of a surface material and having a drain inlet, sump drain comprising:
a body partially embedded in the surface material to define a top opening through the surface, the top opening forming a ring surrounded by and surrounding portions of the surface when installed;
the top opening in fluid communication with a hub, the hub being open to the drain inlet;
the hub being smaller in circumference than the top opening, the hub being positioned below the top opening in elevation relative to the surface and centered relative to the top opening radially inward of the top opening;
a removable cap defined above the hub; and
a water stop surrounding the annular top opening, the water stop extending from the sump drain to be embedded within the surface material below the surface;
wherein the top opening is defined to extend fully without substantial interruption about the hub, portions of the body defining the top opening remaining substantially flush with the surface when the sump drain is installed in the swimming pool or spa.
11. The sump drain as recited in claim 10 further comprising a removable grid cover coupled to the body to span the top opening.
12. The sump drain as recited in claim 10 , wherein the water stop includes a horizontal shelf and a vertical wall collectively forming a gutter.
13. The sump drain as recited in claim 10 , wherein the water stop is endlessly looped about the top opening, and the body defines a chamber disposed to receive water admitted through the top opening.
14. The sump drain as recited in claim 13 , wherein the chamber forms a ring-shaped structure, with a plurality of radial conduits extending between the chamber and hub.
15. The sump drain recited in claim 10 , wherein the removable cap is no greater than about 2.5 inches in diameter, and is separate from the body.
16. The sump drain recited in claim 10 wherein the removable cap closes a top end of the hub.