Cover for concealed drain

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a cover for a drain and drain concealment structure and method of installation and use. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a drain body adapted to be connected to a conventional prefabricated waterproof shower or bath pan. The drain body may be connected to the shower pan by any suitable means, such as but not by way of limitation by being integrally molded therewith during manufacture of the pan, by connection post-manufacture or in situ in the field. Other embodiments do not require use of a prefabricated waterproof shower or bath pan. The preferred drain body is comprised of a waterproof structure having a floor section which defines a drain aperture, and a peripheral sidewall section. Structure for releasably attaching a drain cover to the drain body is employed. The cover, which is defined by a peripheral edge, is adapted to lie in registry with, and thereby cover, a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and as much of the drain body floor as is practicable. When connected to the drain body, the peripheral edge of the cover is spaced from the drain body sidewall so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture. In this way, water is permitted to exit the shower or bath without the drain aperture being visible. The drain apparatus of this invention is preferably utilized as part of a tileable shower or bath arrangement, whereby flooring material such as tile may be placed onto the shower or bath pan up to the peripheral sidewall of the drain body, and additional flooring may be placed upon the drain cover. In this way, the drain is fully operational yet unnoticeable. Interchangeable drain covers may be provided to permit alteration of the decorative appearance of the drain.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge and adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more wall or flooring materials, and where the cover does not define any grate free area within itself. 
     
     
         2 . A drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, building products such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar, stucco, and which is also adapted to be covered with one or more floor or wall covering materials, with or without the application of any floor or wall covering adhesive or setting material.
 the drain cover adapted to be placed substantially in registry with a drain body, the drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture, and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover in registry with the drain body;   the drain cover adapted to cover at least a portion of the drain body floor so as to conceal the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor.   
     
     
         3 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein when the drain cover is held in registry with the drain body, water is permitted to drain over a peripheral edge of the drain cover while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to drain without the drain aperture being visible. 
     
     
         4 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein when the drain cover is held in registry with the drain body, a peripheral edge of the drain cover is spaced from the drain body so as to define a gap therebetween through which water may pass while flowing toward the drain aperture, thereby permitting water to drain without the drain aperture being visible. 
     
     
         5 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein a lower surface of the drain cover and an upper surface of the drain body floor are spaced so that a sufficient gap is created between them so as to allow for water to drain therethrough into the drain aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover is adapted to be releasable and interchangeable with other tiled, tileable and non tileable drain tops, grates or covers so the that the drain apparatus can be fitted with either a tiled, tileable or nontileable drain top grate or cover. 
     
     
         7 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover is of the non-tileable variety and is adapted to be interchangeable with other drain covers of the tileable variety in such a fashion that the drain cover is vertically adjustable so that an upper surface thereof can be oriented so as to be substantially coplanar with an upper surface of any adjacent tiled, tileable or non tileable surface. 
     
     
         8 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein any tiled, tileable, and nontileable drain covers supplied are adapted to be removably held in registry with the drain body so as to provide, among other things, access to the drain aperture and the waste water system and to provide different drain cover finishes and styles. 
     
     
         9 . The drain cover of  claim 8 , wherein any drain cover supplied is held in registry with the drain body through an attachment structure which allows the position of the drain cover to be adjusted so as to be positioned coplanar with an adjacent tiled or tileable upper surface. 
     
     
         10 . The drain cover of  claim 8 , wherein the positioning of the one or more drain covers is accomplished by the use of adjusting structure selected from the group consisting of shims, washers, ball and detent arrangement and threads. 
     
     
         11 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , where the cover does not define any grate free area within itself. 
     
     
         12 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover defines grate free area within itself; 
     
     
         13 . The drain cover of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover is comprised of two or more separate pieces. 
     
     
         14 . A drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, steel, building materials such as concrete and stucco, and which is also adapted to be covered with one or more wall or flooring covering materials with or without the application of any floor or wall covering adhesive or setting material,
 the drain cover adapted to be placed substantially in registry with a drain body, the drain, body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture, and structure for releasably attaching the cover in registry with the drain body;   the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor so as to substantially conceal at least a portion of the drain aperture and at least a portion of the drain body floor.   
     
     
         15 . The drain cover of  claim 14 , where the cover does not define any grate free area within itself. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the drain cover is comprised of two or more separate pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The multi piece drain cover claim of  16 , wherein the two or more pieces comprising the drain cover define one or more grate free areas within them.