Drain assembly

Abstract

A drain assembly comprising a rigid fixture body having a longitudinal axis, an intake opening adapted to conduct a fluid into the fixture body, the intake opening generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis, an discharge opening adapted to conduct the fluid out from the fixture body, the discharge opening generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the intake opening, a divider plate disposed in the rigid fixture body along the longitudinal axis, the divider plate adapted to divide an internal space of the rigid fixture body and form a generally U-shaped fluid-conducting passageway from the intake opening to the discharge opening, a clean-out opening in fluid communication with the passageway and generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the discharge opening, and a removable cap adapted to close off the clean-out opening.

1 . A drain assembly comprising:
 a rigid fixture body having a longitudinal axis;   an intake opening adapted to conduct a fluid into the fixture body, the intake opening generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis;   an discharge opening adapted to conduct the fluid out from the fixture body, the discharge opening generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the intake opening;   a divider plate disposed in the rigid fixture body along the longitudinal axis, the divider plate adapted to divide an internal space of the rigid fixture body and form a generally U-shaped fluid-conducting passageway from the intake opening to the discharge opening;   a clean-out opening in fluid communication with the passageway and generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the discharge opening; and   a removable cap adapted to close off the clean-out opening.   
     
     
         2 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the divider plate further defines a contoured shape adapted to further guide the fluid from the fluid-conducting passageway toward the discharge opening. 
     
     
         3 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the divider plate further defines a domed shape adapted to further guide the fluid from the fluid-conducting passageway toward the discharge opening. 
     
     
         4 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clean-out opening is disposed directly below the intake opening when the drain assembly is connected to a sink drain. 
     
     
         5 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a hair trap coupled to the removable cap and adapted to trap debris. 
     
     
         6 . The drain assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the hair trap comprises a plurality of bristles and is detachably coupled to the removable cap. 
     
     
         7 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid fixture body comprises first and second portions securely fastened together, the first portion comprising the intake and clean-out openings, and the second portion comprising the discharge opening, the first portion being constructed of a material that permits a visual inspection into the first portion of the rigid fixture body. 
     
     
         8 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the divider plate further defines a reinforcing ridge near a bend in the U-shaped passageway adapted to form a narrowed portion of the passageway. 
     
     
         9 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clean-out opening comprises male pipe threading adapted to couple with female pipe threading of the removable cap. 
     
     
         10 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the divider plate is adapted to be seated and adhered to a seat defined in the rigid fixture body. 
     
     
         11 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the intake opening comprises a MPT fitting adapted to couple a tailpiece of a flexible hose using a slip-nut. 
     
     
         12 . The drain assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the slip-nut comprises:
 a circular flange; and   a ridge formed on the circular flange adapted to exert pressure against the tailpiece of the flexible hose when the slip-nut flange interfaces with the MPT fitting of the intake opening.   
     
     
         13 . The drain assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the intake opening is adapted to couple to a Y-pipe fitting operable to couple to two drain discharges. 
     
     
         14 . A sink drain system comprising:
 a rigid body having a longitudinal axis;   an intake opening adapted to conduct a fluid into the rigid body, the intake opening generally being oriented at an acute angle from the longitudinal axis, the intake opening being a threaded opening;   an discharge opening adapted to be coupled to a drain pipe and conduct the fluid out from the rigid body into the drain pipe, the discharge opening generally being oriented opposed from the intake opening and point away from the longitudinal axis and the intake opening;   a divider plate disposed in the rigid body along the longitudinal axis, the divider plate adapted to divide an internal space of the rigid body and forming a generally U-shaped fluid-conducting passageway from the intake opening to the discharge opening;   a clean-out opening in fluid communication with the passageway and generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the discharge opening;   a removable cap adapted to shut off the clean-out opening; and   a flexible hose having a tailpiece end adapted to be coupled to the threaded intake opening using a slip-nut.   
     
     
         15 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , wherein the divider plate further defines a contoured shape adapted to further guide the fluid from the fluid-conducting passageway toward the discharge opening. 
     
     
         16 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , wherein the clean-out opening is disposed directly below the intake opening when the drain assembly is connected to a sink drain. 
     
     
         17 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , further comprising a hair trap detachably coupled to the removable cap and adapted to trap debris. 
     
     
         18 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , further comprising a hair trap having a plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         19 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , wherein the rigid fixture body comprises first and second portions securely fastened together, the first portion comprising the intake and clean-out openings, and the second portion comprising the discharge opening, the first portion being constructed of a material that permits a visual inspection into the first portion of the rigid fixture body. 
     
     
         20 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , wherein the divider plate further defines a ridge near a bend in the U-shaped passageway adapted to form a narrowed portion of the passageway. 
     
     
         21 . The sink drain system of  claim 14 , wherein the divider plate is adapted to be seated and adhered to a seat defined in the rigid fixture body. 
     
     
         22 . A method of installing a drain assembly, comprising: 
       coupling a discharge opening of a drain assembly to a drain pipe, the drain assembly comprising:
 a rigid fixture body having a longitudinal axis; 
 an intake opening adapted to conduct a fluid into the fixture body, the intake opening generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis; 
 an discharge opening adapted to conduct the fluid out from the fixture body, the discharge opening generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the intake opening; 
 a divider plate disposed in the rigid fixture body along the longitudinal axis, the divider plate adapted to divide an internal space of the rigid fixture body and form a generally U-shaped fluid-conducting passageway from the intake opening to the discharge opening; 
 a clean-out opening in fluid communication with the passageway and generally being oriented to point away from the longitudinal axis and the discharge opening; and 
 a removable cap adapted to close off the clean-out opening; 
 
       orienting the drain assembly so that the clean-out opening is disposed directly below the intake opening;
 coupling the intake opening of the drain assembly to a first end of a flexible hose; and 
 coupling a second end of the flexible hose to a sink drain tailpiece. 
 
     
     
         23 . A drain assembly comprising:
 a rigid fixture body having a first and second portions coupled to one another;   an intake passageway and opening formed in the first portion adapted to conduct a fluid into the fixture body;   an discharge passageway and opening formed in the first portion adapted to conduct the fluid out from the fixture body;   the second portion of the fixture body fluidly coupling the intake passageway and opening to the discharge passageway and opening in a generally U-shaped configuration;   a clean-out opening in fluid communication with the intake passageway, and generally being oriented horizontally; and   a removable cap adapted to close off the clean-out opening.   
     
     
         24 . The drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the clean-out opening is disposed directly below the intake passageway and opening when the drain assembly is connected to a sink drain. 
     
     
         25 . The drain assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a hair trap coupled to the removable cap and adapted to trap debris. 
     
     
         26 . The drain assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the hair trap comprises a plurality of bristles and is detachably coupled to the removable cap. 
     
     
         27 . The drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the second portion of the rigid fixture body is constructed of a material that permits a visual inspection into the second portion.