Tileable drain and cover apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is directed to 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 apparatus, comprising;
 a drain cover for a drain apparatus, the drain cover defining a peripheral edge and being adapted to be at least partially covered with one or more wall or flooring materials;   a drain body comprised of a floor section which defines a drain aperture, a peripheral sidewall section, and structure for releasably attaching the drain cover to the drain body;   the drain cover adapted to cover a portion of the drain body floor such that when the drain cover is connected to the drain body, the peripheral edge of the drain 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.   
     
     
         2 . The drain apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drain cover is attached to the drain body by structure which allows a height of an upper surface of the drain cover to be adjustable so to be positioned to be coplanar with an upper surface of an adjacent floor, and further wherein the drain cover is releasably attachable to the drain body via structure for releasably attaching. 
     
     
         3 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the structure for releasably attaching the drain cover to the drain body is comprised of at least one post attached to either the drain body or the drain cover, and a corresponding at least one socket attached to the drain cover or the drain body, respectively, wherein when the at least one post is connected into the at least one socket the drain cover is releasably held in position relative to the drain body. 
     
     
         4 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising floor or wall covering material at least partially covering the drain cover. 
     
     
         5 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a strainer attachable to the drain body. 
     
     
         6 . The drain apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a strainer attachable to the drain body. 
     
     
         7 . The drain apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a strainer attachable to the drain body. 
     
     
         8 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover is made from any material selected from the group comprising plastic such as PVC or ABS, polyurethane, polyethylene, metal such as copper, cast iron, aluminum or steel, building material such as stone, concrete, marble, cultured marble, mortar and stucco. 
     
     
         9 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover does not define any grate free area within itself. 
     
     
         10 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2  wherein a lower surface of the attached 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. 
     
     
         11 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain cover is adapted to be removable and interchangeable with other tiled, tileable and/or non tileable drain covers so that the drain apparatus can have a tiled or non tileable finish. 
     
     
         12 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a non tileable drain cover is adapted to be interchangeable with the tileable drain cover in such a fashion as to be vertically adjustable so that an upper surface of either drain cover can be oriented to be coplanar with an adjacent surface. 
     
     
         13 . The drain apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the drain cover is attachable to the drain apparatus through an attachment structure which allows the position of an upper surface of the drain cover to be oriented coplanar with an upper surface of an adjacent floor. 
     
     
         14 . The drain apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment structure comprises at least one post attached to either the drain body or the drain cover, and a corresponding at least one socket attached to the drain cover or the drain body, respectively, wherein the at least one post is adapted to be connected into the at least one socket to releasably retain the drain cover in position relative to the drain body, and wherein the position of the insert relative to the drain body is adjustable by the use of one or more spacers in association with the one or more of said posts. 
     
     
         15 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain body is adapted to be integrally associated with a prefabricated shower pan so that the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the prefabricated shower pan floor. 
     
     
         16 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain body is adapted for use with a partially prefabricated shower pan so that the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of a floor of the partially prefabricated shower pan adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the partially prefabricated shower pan floor. 
     
     
         17 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain body is adapted to be integrally associated with a mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor so that the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the mortar bed or other hand made shower pan floor. 
     
     
         18 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain body is adapted to be integrally associated with a surface or fixture so that the drain body is sufficiently recessed into or below an upper surface of the surface or fixture adjacent the drain body so that an upper surface of the drain cover is substantially coplanar with an adjacent upper surface of the surface or fixture. 
     
     
         19 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover defines grate free area within itself. 
     
     
         20 . The drain apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the drain cover is comprised of two more separate pieces. 
     
     
         21 . The drain apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the two or more pieces of drain cover defines one or more grate free areas therein.