US20110119821A1 - Screw-tight plug for a sink - Google Patents

Abstract

A screw-tight plug for a sink has a plug body having a tube body with a drain hole and one end edge extending outwards to form an inclined flange. The drain hole of the plug body has an internal connector, and the connector has a threaded hole at a center portion and a plurality of drain gullies disposed around the opening of the threaded hole. A stop cock has a rounded disk-shaped cock head and a screw having a threaded portion, and the screw couples with the threaded hole of the connector. Based upon an engagement depth between the screw and the threaded hole, the cock head of the stop cock pushes against the flange to form a containment space, or the cock head separates from the flange to drain water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to the structure of a plug, and more particularly to a screw-tight plug for a sink which, based upon an engagement depth between the screw and the threaded hole, the cock head of the stop cock pushes against the flange to form a containment space, or the cock head separates from the flange to drain water
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• For a current prior art plug structure, please refer toFIG. 12 andFIG. 13. The prior art plug comprises aplug body40, a jacket set50 and a pop-upmember60. Theplug body40 has a flanged drain opening41, an inner threaded portion42 in theplug body40 and anoverflow drain43 placed at the lower end of the inner threaded portion42. Theplug body40 utilizes the drain opening41 for insertion into the opening of thesink70, and theplug body40 is secured onto thesink70 by securingmembers44. Agroove51 is formed at the center of the jacket set50, and thegroove51 has aspring52.Drain gullies53 are placed at the outer edge of thegroove51, and an outer thread54 is placed at the outer surface of the jacket set50, such that the jacket set50 is locked onto the inner threaded portion42 of theplug body40 by the outer thread54. A pop-upmember60 comprises atop cover62 installed on the upper end of acontrol rod61, and thecontrol rod61 is inserted in thegroove51 of the jacket set50. The pop-upmember60 utilizes aspring52, and with the relative sliding movement between the jacket set50 and thecontrol rod61, the plug can open or close the drain hole of the sink by one pressing movement.
• However, the above-mentioned structure has the following drawbacks:
• 1. The pop-upmember60 is controlled with a one-press movement; either trying to open or close the plug requires pressing the pop-upmember60, and both actions require working against thespring52 in thegroove51. Therefore, a certain amount of strength is required to operate the plug, and the force of resistance is at a maximum at the very end of the pressing movement, which can present significant difficulties for the elderly or children.
• 2. In operation, refuse follows waste water entering into theplug body40 and tends to attach onto the jacket set50, and the pressing movement of the pop-upmember60 often pushes this refuse into the control rod and thegroove51, which may subsequently be very difficult to clean.
• 3. With regards to the pressing movement of the prior art plug, after long periods of time the gap between the drain opening41 and thetop cover62 will not widen due to structural strength fatigue or elastic fatigue.
• 4. The pressing movement of the pop-up member results in a rapid closure between the drain opening41 and thetop cover62, and children may be accidentally injured.
• Therefore, it is desirable to provide a screw-tight plug for a sink to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• An objective of the present invention is to provide a screw-tight plug for a sink.
• A screw-tight plug for a sink comprises: a plug body and a stop cock. The plug body is a tube body with a drain hole, and one end edge extends outwards to form an inclined flange. The drain hole of the plug body has an internal connector, and the connector has a threaded hole at a center portion. A plurality of drain gullies are disposed around the opening of the threaded hole. The plug body has an overflow drain on the tube wall of the drain hole. An outer periphery of another end of the plug body other than the flange includes an outer thread for securing a bolt, and the bolt is accompanied with a gasket. The stop cock has a rounded disk-shaped cock head and a screw having a threaded portion. A roughened surface is formed on the upper surface of the cock head, and the roughened surface has a plurality of radial teeth, a radial-extending wave or is embossed. The threaded portion of the screw is double threaded such that one rotation of the screw advances a distance of two thread pitches. The screw is secured with the threaded hole of the connector. Based upon an engagement depth between the screw and the threaded hole, the cock head of the stop cock pushes against the flange to form a containment space, or the cock head separates from the flange to drain water.
• The plug body has an inner threaded portion in the drain hole, and the connector has a corresponding securing thread on its outer surface. The inner threaded portion of the plug body is locked with the securing thread of the connector. Therefore, the stop cock utilizes the threaded portion for locking onto the threaded hole of the connector, and achieves the same screw-tight plug structure for the sink.
• A slot is formed between the cock head and the screw of the stop cock, and an elastic ring is jacketed onto the slot. A washer is placed at an outer periphery of the elastic ring. When the stop cock is pushed towards the plug body, the washer of the elastic ring is placed between the flange and the cock head to increase the anti-leakage effect of the flange and the cock head. The stop cock has two positioning edges at the end of the screw; a securing hole is disposed at the center of the stop cock from the positioning edge along the screw axial direction; the two positioning edges are jacketed with a U-shaped stopper secured with a bolt in the securing hole. When the stop cock is rotated counter-clockwise to the end, the U-shaped stopper pushes against the outer edge of the threaded hole of the connector to prevent the stop cock from being too loose or detaching. An ornament may be embossed or screwed onto the upper surface of the cock head, and the ornament may display text or a figure, such as instructions or a manufacturer's logo.
• With the above-mentioned structure, the following benefits can be obtained: 1. Since the stop cock controls the opening and closing of the plug by the direction of its rotation, with the engagement allowance between the threaded portion of the screw and the threaded hole of the connector, it is very easy to rotate the stop cock, which provides a more user-friendly design.
• 2. Since the stop cock only uses the threaded portion of the screw for locking with the threaded hole of the connector of the plug body, if the connector becomes clogged with refuse, the rotational movement of the stop cock can push away the refuse to ensure a tight seal when closed.
• 3. The stop cock and the plug body are opened and closed by a rotating movement; therefore, even after long periods of time, the gap between the cock head and the flange will not widen due to structural strength fatigue or elastic fatigue.
• 4. The rotational movement of the stop cock can prevent children from getting accidentally injured.
• Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a movement schematic drawing of rotating to open a plug according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a movement schematic drawing of rotating to close the plug according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective detailed view of another embodiment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective detail view of a stop cock having an elastic ring according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a stop cock having an elastic ring according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a stop cock having a U-shaped stopper according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a perspective detailed view of a stop cock with an ornament according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing of a prior art plug being opened.
• FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing of a prior art plug being closed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 2 andFIG. 3. An embodiment screw-tight plug for a sink comprises: aplug body10 and astop cock20. Theplug body10 is a tube body with adrain hole11 and one end edge extends outwards to form aninclined flange12. Thedrain hole11 of theplug body10 has aninternal connector13, and theconnector13 has a threadedhole131 at a center portion and a plurality ofdrain gullies132 are disposed around the opening of the threadedhole131. Theplug body10 has anoverflow drain14 on the tube wall of thedrain hole11. An outer periphery of another end of theplug body10 other than theflange12 includes anouter thread15 for the securing of a bolt16 (as shown inFIG. 4), and thebolt16 is accompanied with agasket14. Thestop cock20 has a rounded disk-shapedcock head21 and ascrew22 having a threadedportion221. A roughenedsurface23 is formed on the upper surface of thecock head21, and the roughenedsurface23 has a plurality of radial teeth, a radial-extending wave pattern or is embossed. The threadedportion221 of thescrew22 is double threaded such that one rotation of thescrew22 advances a distance of two thread pitches. Thescrew22 is secured with the threadedhole131 of theconnector13. Based upon an engagement depth between thescrew22 and the threadedhole131, thecock head21 of thestop cock20 pushes against theflange12 to form a containment space, or thecock head21 separates from theflange12 to drain water.
• For actual operation, please refer toFIG. 4 andFIG. 5 with reference toFIG. 2. In the embodiment, theplug body10 is inserted in the drain hole of asink30, and thebolt16 is screwed to theouter thread15 of theplug body10 so that thebolt16 pushes upward against bottom of thesink30 to secure theplug body10 onto thesink30. Furthermore, thegasket17 is used for preventing thesink30 from leaking. Thestop cock20 is locked onto the threadedhole131 of theconnector13 by the threadedportion221 of thescrew22. When a user wants to drain water from thesink30, he or she uses the roughenedsurface23 of thecock head21 to rotate thestop cock20 so that thestop cock20 starts to rotate counter-clockwise along the threadedhole131 of theconnector13 by way of the threadedportion221. Thestop cock20 is moved towards the outer end of theplug body10 by this rotation, and thecock head21 separates from theflange12 such that waste water is able to flow into thedrain hole11 and pass through the drain gullies132 of theconnector13. Alternatively, if the user wishes to fill thesink30 with water, he or she uses the roughenedsurface23 of thecock head21 to rotate thestop cock20 so that thestop cock20 rotates clockwise along the threadedhole131 of theconnector13 by way of the threadedportion221. Thestop cock20 is thereby moved towards and further into theplug body10 by this rotation, and thecock head21 pushes against theflange12 such that water is stopped from flowing into thedrain hole11 and thus remains in thesink30. Accordingly, thestop cock20 controls the opening and closing of the plug by way of the direction of its rotation.
• For another embodiment, please refer toFIG. 6 andFIG. 7. Theplug body10 has an inner threadedportion18 in thedrain hole11; theconnector13 has acorresponding securing thread133 on its outer surface, and the inner threadedportion18 of theplug body10 locks with the securingthread133 of theconnector13. Therefore, thestop cock20 utilizes the threadedportion221 for locking to the threadedhole131 of theconnector13, and achieves the same screw-tight plug structure for the sink.
• Please refer toFIG. 8 andFIG. 9. Aslot24 is formed between thecock head21 and thescrew22 of thestop cock20, and anelastic ring25 is jacketed onto theslot24. Awasher251 is placed at an outer periphery of theelastic ring25. When thestop cock20 is pushed towards theplug body10, thewasher251 of theelastic ring25 is placed between theflange12 and thecock head21 to increase the anti-leakage effect of theflange12 and thecock head21. Please refer toFIG. 10. Thestop cock20 has twopositioning edges222 at the end of thescrew22; a securinghole223 is disposed at the center of thestop cock20 from thepositioning edge22 along the screw axial direction; the twopositioning edges222 are jacketed with aU-shaped stopper26 secured with abolt27 in the securinghole223. When thestop cock20 is rotated counter-clockwise to the end, theU-shaped stopper26 pushes against the outer edge of the threadedhole131 of theconnector13 to prevent thestop cock20 from being too loose or detaching. Finally, please refer toFIG. 11. Anornament28 is embossed or screwed onto the upper surface of thecock head21, and theornament28 may display text or a figure, such as instructions or the manufacturer's logo.
• With the above-mentioned structure, the following benefits can be obtained: 1. Since thestop cock20 controls the opening and closing of the plug by the direction of its rotation, with the fit allowance between the threadedportion221 of thescrew22 and the threadedhole131 of theconnector13, it is very easy to rotate thestop cock20, which provides a more user-friendly design.
• 2. Since thestop cock20 only uses the threadedportion221 of thescrew22 for locking with the threadedhole131 of theconnector13 of theplug body10; if theconnector13 is clogged with debris, the rotational movement of thestop cock20 can push the debris away to ensure a tight seal when closed.
• 3. Thestop cock20 and theplug body10 are opened and closed by the rotational movement; therefore, even after long periods of time, the gap between thecock head21 and theflange12 will not widen due to structural strength fatigue or elastic fatigue.
• 4. The rotational movement of thestop cock20 can prevent children from getting accidentally injured.
• Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims (15)

1. A screw-tight plug for a sink comprising:

a plug body having a tube body with a drain hole and one end edge extending outwards to form an inclined flange; the drain hole of the plug body having an internal connector, the connector having a threaded hole at a center portion and a plurality of drain gullies disposed around the opening of the threaded hole; and

a stop cock having a rounded disk-shaped cock head and a screw having a threaded portion, the screw secured with the threaded hole of the connector; wherein based upon an engagement depth between the screw and the threaded hole, the cock head of the stop cock pushes against the flange to form a containment space, or the cock head separates from the flange to drain water.

2. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the plug body and the connector are combined to provide a complete structure.

3. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the plug body has an the inner threaded portion in the drain hole, the connector has a corresponding securing thread on its outer surface, and the inner threaded portion of the plug body is locked with the securing thread of the connector.

4. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 4, wherein a slot is formed between the cock head and the screw of the stop cock, and an elastic ring is jacketed onto the slot.

5. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a washer is placed at an outer periphery of the elastic ring.

6. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the screw is double threaded such that one rotation of the screw advances a distance of two thread pitches.

7. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the stop cock has two positioning edges at the end of the screw; a securing hole is disposed at the center of the stop cock from the positioning edge along the screw axial direction; the two positioning edges are jacketed with a U-shaped stopper secured with a bolt in the securing hole.

8. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an ornament is embossed onto the upper surface of the cock head, and the ornament displays text or a figure.

9. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an ornament is screwed onto the upper surface of the cock head, and the ornament displays text or a figure.

10. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the plug body has at least one overflow drain on the tube wall of the drain hole.

11. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an outer periphery of another end of the plug body other than the flange includes an outer thread for securing a bolt, and the bolt is accompanied with a gasket.

12. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a roughened surface is formed on the upper surface of the cock head.

13. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the roughened surface has a plurality of radial teeth.

14. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the roughened surface has a radial-extending wave.

15. The screw-tight plug for a sink as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the roughened surface is embossed.

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