Water softener abstract
A water softener drain adapter system includes a tube having a
first end and a lumen, a plurality of air slots project into the
tube, an arcuate cap encloses an end of the tube opposite of the
first end, and a tapered barb connector tube projects through the
cap into the lumen. The tapered barb connector tube is for coupling
to the drain hose of the water softener, and the first end of the
tube engages the drain pipe within the sewage system. The plurality
of air slots prevent sewage from being siphoned back into the water
softener thereby preventing the water softener from being contaminated.
Water softener claims
I claim:
1. A water softener drain adapter comprising:
a tube having a first end, a lumen and a longitudinal axis; said
lumen near said first end having a diameter formed for snugly coupling
over a drain pipe of a sewage system for preventing the collection
of water and materials between said tube and said drain pipe;
a cap secured to said tube opposite of said first end;
a tapered barb connector tube secured within said cap, said tapered
barb having a duct therethrough, said barb connector projecting
into said lumen of said tube to permit fluid communication between
said lumen and said duct, said barb connector being for connecting
to a drain hose of a water softener, wherein said tapered barb is
coaxial with said longitudinal axis;
a plurality of air slots projecting into said tube substantially
parallel to said longitudinal axis for preventing sewage from said
sewage system from being siphoned back into said water softener;
and
a rib secured within said lumen to said tube radially positioned
with respect to said longitudinal axis and positioned a finite distance
from said first end and below said air slots, said rib being for
preventing said drain pipe from extending and covering said air
slots.
2. The water softener drain adapter of claim 1 wherein said cap
is dome shaped.
3. The water softener drain adapter of claim 1 wherein said air
slots have a length of 11/2 inches and a width of 1/4 inches.
4. The water softener drain adapter of claim 1 wherein said tube
has a diameter of 11/2 inches and wherein said tapered barb connector
tube has a diameter of 1/2 inch.
5. The water softener drain adapter of claim 4 wherein said tube
and cap are constructed from a polyvinlychoride material.
6. A water softener drain adapter comprising:
a tube having a first end, a lumen and a longitudinal axis; said
lumen near said first end having a diameter formed for snugly coupling
over a drain pipe of a sewage system for preventing the collection
of water and materials between said tube and said drain pipe;
a cap secured to said tube opposite of said first end;
a tapered barb connector tube secured within said cap, said tapered
barb having a duct therethrough, said barb connector projecting
into said lumen of said tube to permit fluid communication between
said lumen and said duct, said barb connector being for connecting
to a drain hose of a water softener, wherein a lower portion of
said tapered barb is coaxial with said longitudinal axis and an
upper concentric portion of said tapered barb includes an elbow
for providing a various angles of connecting to said drain hose;
a plurality of elongate air slots projecting into said tube and
oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis for preventing
sewage from said sewage system from being siphoned back into said
water softener; and
a rib secured within said lumen to said tube radially positioned
with respect to said longitudinal axis and positioned a finite distance
from said first end and below said air slots, said rib being for
preventing said drain pipe from extending into said lumen a distance
such that the drain pipe covers said air slots.
7. The water softener drain adapter of claim 6 wherein said elbow
has a 90 degree angle.
8. The water softener drain adapter of claim 6 wherein said cap
is dome shaped.
9. The water softener drain adapter of claim 6 wherein said air
slots have a length of 11/2 inches and a width of 1/4 inches.
10. The water softener drain adapter of claim 6 wherein said tube
has a diameter of 11/2 inches and wherein said tapered barb connector
tube has a diameter of 1/2 inch.
11. The water softener drain adapter of claim 6 wherein said tube
and cap are constructed from a polyvinlychoride material.
12. A water softener adapter system comprising, in combination:
a water softener having a drain hose;
a drain pipe leading to a sewage system; and
an adaptor, said adapter including
a tube having a first end, a lumen and a longitudinal axis,
said lumen near said first end for snugly coupling over the drain
pipe for preventing the collection of water and materials between
said tube and said drain pipe,
a cap secured to said tube opposite of said first end,
a tapered barb connector tube secured within said cap, said tapered
barb having a duct therethrough, said barb connector projecting
into said lumen of said tube to permit fluid communication between
said lumen and said duct, said barb connector being for connecting
to said drain hose of said water softener, wherein a lower portion
of said tapered barb is coaxial with said longitudinal axis and
an upper concentric portion of said tapered barb includes an elbow
for providing a various angles of connecting to said drain hose,
a plurality of elongate air slots projecting into said tube and
oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis for preventing
sewage from said sewage system from being siphoned back into said
water softener, wherein said cap is dome shaped,
a rib secured within said lumen to said tube radially positioned
with respect to said longitudinal axis and positioned a finite distance
from said first end and below said air slots, said rib being for
preventing said drain pipe from extending into said lumen a distance
such that the drain pipe covers said air slots,
wherein said air slots have a length of 11/2 inches and a width
of 1/4 inches,
wherein said tube has a diameter of 11/2 inches and wherein said
tapered barb connector tube has a diameter of 1/2 inch, and
wherein said tube and cap are constructed from a polyvinlychoride
material.
Water softener description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Drain Hose Devices and more particularly
pertains to a new water softener drain adaptor system for providing
a simple connector for a drain hose of a water softener for connecting
to a drain pipe within a sewage system of a structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of drain hose devices is known in the prior art. More specifically,
drain hose devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to
consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations,
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded
prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless
objectives and requirements.
Known prior art drain hose devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5312138;
U.S. Design Pat. No. 332481; U.S. Design Pat. No. 311573; U.S.
Pat. No. 4929002; U.S. Pat. No. 5354106 and U.S. Pat. No. 4109939.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives
and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new
water softener drain adaptor system. The inventive device includes
a tube having a first end and a lumen, a plurality of air slots
which project into the tube, an arcuate cap which encloses an end
of the tube opposite of the first end, and a tapered barb connector
tube which projects through the cap into the lumen.
In these respects, the water softener drain adaptor system according
to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides
an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a
simple connector for a drain hose of a water softener for connecting
to a drain pipe within a sewage system of a structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of drain hose devices now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides a new water softener drain adaptor system construction
wherein the same can be utilized for providing a simple connector
for a drain hose of a water softener for connecting to a drain pipe
within a sewage system of a structure.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new water softener
drain adaptor system apparatus and method which has many of the
advantages of the drain hose devices mentioned heretofore and many
novel features that result in a new water softener drain adaptor
system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or
even implied by any of the prior art drain hose devices, either
alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a tube
having a first end and a lumen, a plurality of air slots project
into the tube, an arcuate cap encloses an end of the tube opposite
of the first end, and a tapered barb connector tube projects through
the cap into the lumen.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable
of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not
be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as
a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems
for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.
It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including
such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially
the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not
familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither
intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured
by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope
of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
new water softener drain adaptor system apparatus and method which
has many of the advantages of the drain hose devices mentioned heretofore
and many novel features that result in a new water softener drain
adaptor system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested,
or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any
combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
water softener drain adaptor system which may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
water softener drain adaptor system which is of a durable and reliable
construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new water softener drain adaptor system which is susceptible of
a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor,
and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale
to the consuming public, thereby making such water softener drain
adaptor system economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new water softener drain adaptor system which provides in the
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
water softener drain adaptor system for providing a simple connector
for a drain hose of a water softener for connecting to a drain pipe
within a sewage system of a structure.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
water softener drain adaptor system which includes a tube having
a first end and a lumen, a plurality of air slots project into the
tube, an arcuate cap encloses an end of the tube opposite of the
first end, and a tapered barb connector tube projects through the
cap into the lumen.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new water softener drain adaptor system that allows a user to
easily connect a water softener drain hose to a drain pipe of a
sewage system of a structure.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide
a new water softener drain adaptor system that saves time and money
during the connection of a conventional water softener.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with
the various features of novelty which characterize the invention,
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description
makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a new water softener drain
adaptor system connected mesially to a drain hose and a drain pipe
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment wherein the tapered
barb connector tube includes an elbow.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG.
5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 through 6 thereof, a new water softener drain adaptor system embodying
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
More specifically, it will be noted that the Water Softener Drain
Adaptor System 10 comprises a tube 20 having a first end 26 a lumen
28 and a longitudinal axis. The lumen 28 near the first end 26 has
a diameter formed for snugly coupling to a drain pipe 16 of a conventional
sewage system. A cap 30 is secured to the tube 20 opposite of the
first end 26 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The cap
30 is preferably dome shaped as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings.
A tapered barb connector tube 40 is secured within the cap 30. The
tapered barb connector tube 40 projects into the lumen 28 of the
tube 20. The tapered barb connector tube 40 connects to a drain
hose 14 of a water softener 12 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.
The tapered barb is preferably coaxial with the longitudinal axis.
In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings,
an upper concentric portion of the tapered barb includes an elbow
42 for providing a various angles of connecting to the drain hose
14. The elbow 42 preferably has a 90 degree angle as best shown
in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The tube 20 preferably has a diameter
of 11/2 inches. Preferably, the tapered barb connector tube 40 has
a diameter of 1/2 inch. The tube 20 and cap 30 are preferably constructed
from a polyvinlychoride (PVC) material.
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings, a plurality of air
slots 22 project into the tube 20 substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis for preventing sewage from the conventional sewage
system from being siphoned back into the water softener 12. The
air slots 22 preferably have a length of 11/2 inches and a width
of 1/4 inches to provide maximum performance during operation of
the present invention. A rib 24 is preferably secured within the
lumen 28 to the tube 20 radially positioned with respect to the
longitudinal axis and positioned a finite distance from the first
end 26 and below the air slots 22 for preventing the drain pipe
16 from extending and covering the air slots 22 as shown in FIG.
4 of the drawings.
In use, the user positions the drain hose 14 from a water softener
12 onto the tapered barb connector tube 40. The user then applies
a sealant to the end of the drain pipe 16 and secures the drain
pipe 16 into the lumen 28 of the tube 20 until the drain pipe 16
engages the circular rib 24 thereby preventing the drain pipe 16
from covering the air slots 22. The waste water that flows from
the water softener 12 through the drain hose 14 enters the tapered
barb connector tube 40 where the waste water flows into the lumen
28 of the tube 20. The waste water thereafter flows into the drain
pipe 16 of the conventional sewage system. The air slots 22 prevent
siphoning of sewage from the conventional sewage system. The air
slots 22 also provide an outlet port if the conventional sewage
system should overflow thereby preventing sewage from being forced
back into the water softener 12.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation
of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the
manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily
apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described
in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present
invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of
the invention. |