Bathtub Drain Stopper

Abstract

A drain stopper assembly that can be simply pushed into and pulled out of a drain pipe includes an open-close mechanism, a cap, a drain seal, and a means for engaging the open-close mechanism with the drain pipe and preferably also includes a strainer. The means includes a wheel-shaped disc that rests on crossbars in the drain pipe and has an annular seal about its perimeter; a ball-and-spring detent mechanism for attaching the drain stopper to crossbars; and a magnet attached to the open-close mechanism, preferably with a ferrous adapter for the drain pipe. The open-close mechanism is a push mechanism, a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain stopper for a bathtub or a sink having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub or the sink at the drain opening, wherein the drain pipe has crossbars for anchoring the drain stopper, and wherein the crossbars have a central opening, the drain stopper comprising:
 an open-close mechanism having a longitudinal axis and upper and lower ends;   a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism;   a cap seal engaged with the cap, wherein the cap seal is designed and configured to engage the drain pipe or the drain flange on the drain pipe for retaining water in the bathtub or in the sink; and either   a ball-and-spring detent mechanism attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the open-close mechanism, wherein the ball-and-spring detent mechanism is designed and configured to pass through the central opening in the crossbars and for the ball to move radially outwardly after passing through the central opening for engaging the drain stopper with the drain pipe; or   a magnet attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the open-close mechanism, wherein the magnet is designed and configured to engage the crossbars in the drain pipe through magnetic attraction for anchoring the drain stopper.   
     
     
         2 . The drain stopper of  claim 1 , further comprising a strainer engaged directly or indirectly with the open close mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The drain stopper of  claim 2 , wherein the strainer comprises a basket having a frustoconical shape, wherein the basket has an entirely open end and an opposing end that comprises a perforated disc with a hole in its center through which the open-close mechanism passes, and wherein the basket is either oriented to catch hair on an inside surface or is oriented to catch hair on an outside surface. 
     
     
         4 . The drain stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the cap seal has a hollow frustoconical shape with a smaller end engaged with the cap and a relatively larger end, wherein the larger end is designed and sized to press downwardly on the drain flange on the drain pipe while the open-close mechanism is in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The drain stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the cap seal is designed and configured to engage an inside wall of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The drain stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the open-close mechanism is a push mechanism in which a first push downward on the cap moves the stopper from the open position to the closed position and a subsequent push downward on the cap moves the stopper from the closed position back to the open position or a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The drain stopper of  claim 2 , wherein the open-close mechanism is a push mechanism in which a first push downward on the cap moves the stopper from the open position to the closed position and a subsequent push downward on the cap moves the stopper from the closed position back to the open position or a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . A drain stopper for a bathtub or a sink having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub or the sink at the drain opening, wherein the drain pipe has crossbars for anchoring the drain stopper, and wherein the crossbars have a central opening, the drain stopper comprising:
 an open-close mechanism having a longitudinal axis, upper and lower ends, wherein the open-close mechanism is a push mechanism, a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism;   a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism;   a cap seal engaged with the cap, wherein the cap seal is designed and configured to engage the drain pipe or the drain flange on the drain pipe for retaining water in the bathtub or in the sink;   a strainer surrounding the open close mechanism; and   a ball-and-spring detent mechanism attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the open-close mechanism, wherein the ball-and-spring detent mechanism is designed and configured to pass through the central opening in the crossbars and for the ball to move radially outwardly after passing through the central opening for engaging the drain stopper with the drain pipe.   
     
     
         9 . A drain stopper for a bathtub or a sink having a drain opening and a drain pipe having a drain flange attached to the bathtub or the sink at the drain opening, wherein the drain pipe has crossbars or a rod for anchoring the drain stopper, the drain stopper comprising:
 an open-close mechanism having a longitudinal axis, upper and lower ends, wherein the open-close mechanism is a push mechanism, a lift-and-lock mechanism or a lift-and-turn mechanism;   a cap engaged with the upper end of the open-close mechanism; and   a drain seal engaged with the cap or the open-close mechanism, wherein the lower end of the open-close mechanism is designed and configured to engage the crossbars or the rod in the drain pipe through magnetic attraction.   
     
     
         10 . The drain stopper of  claim 9 , wherein a magnet is attached to or formed integral with the lower end of the open-close mechanism.