Drain stopper assembly

摘要

A drain stopper assembly for selectively closing an outlet from a water basin includes a stopper that axially slidably interacts with a support post to move between raised and lowered positions. In a raised position, the stopper can be laterally displaced to facilitate periodic cleaning of debris trapped in the drain passage. Lateral displacement can be accomplished in a variety of ways including by way of groove and follower pin relationships, pivoting sections of the support post and/or post interface of the stopper, and by a flexible support post.

主权项

1. A drain stopper assembly for selectively closing the outlet from a water basin such as a sink or bathing tub, said stopper assembly comprising:
a housing adapted to insert into a drain hole opening in a basin for establishing a drain passage through which water flows when draining from the basin; said housing defining a longitudinal axis; a support post supported relative to said housing within said drain passage; a stopper; said stopper including a post interface axially slideably engaging said support post for allowing said stopper to move axially between respective raised and lowered positions, whereby when said stopper is in said raised position water is generally free to flow through said drain passage of said housing and in said lowered position said stopper prevents water from flowing through said drain passage; and lateral displacement means for allowing said stopper to move laterally relative to said longitudinal axis when in said raised position to facilitate periodic cleaning of debris trapped in said drain passage; wherein said lateral displacement means includes at least one groove in said support post and a follower pin carried by said post interface; wherein said at least one groove comprises a first track in which said follower pin is located when stopper is in said lowered position; wherein said at least one groove includes a second track disposed axially above said first track and in which said follower pin is located when stopper is in an intermediate raised position; and wherein said at least one groove comprises a third track disposed axially above said second track and in which said follower pin is located when stopper is in a full raised position above said intermediate raised position; said lateral displacement means being at least partially immobilized until said follower pin enters said third track.