LIGATURE RESISTANT DRAIN

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/708,627, filed October 17, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/821,951, filed June 11, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a drain, such as a floor or shower drain. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a drain with ligature resistant features.

BACKGROUND

In some facilities, such as clinical, prison, and mental health institutions, there may be concerns of attempts of suicide or self-harm by patients or institutionalized persons.

SUMMARY

A drain may include ligature resistant features to inhibit anchoring a ligature or string to or around the installed drain (e.g., to reduce or mitigate the potential for self-harm).

In one independent aspect, a drain includes an outer body and an inner body. The outer body has a central opening and an interior wall extending around the central opening. The inner body is coupled to the outer body and has a central surface positioned within the central opening of the outer body. The inner body has an exterior wall extending around a perimeter of the central surface, the exterior wall spaced radially inward from the interior wall of the outer body to form an annular gap therebetween, the inner body further including a lower wall spaced apart from the central surface and extending radially outward from the exterior wall of the inner body.

In some aspects, the lower wall extends radially outward beyond the interior wall of the outer body.

In some aspects, the inner body is coupled to the outer body by a connection extending between the lower wall and the outer body.

In some aspects, the annular gap forms a first opening between an upper surface of the outer body and the central surface of the inner body and forms a second opening between a lower portion of the outer body and the lower wall of the inner body.

In some aspects, the first opening has a width that is a first distance, an upper end of the second opening is vertically offset from the first opening by a second distance, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

In some aspects, the second distance is approximately 0.4 inches or greater.

In some aspects, the second distance is at least 1.5 times the first distance.

In some aspects, the exterior wall of the inner body extends outwardly from the central surface to the lower wall.

In some aspects, a radially outer end of the lower wall is positioned radially outward of the interior wall of the outer body.

In some aspects, the exterior wall of the inner body has a campanulate shape.

In another independent aspect, a drain includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a channel. The upper portion has an upper opening and has a center axis. The lower portion is coupled to the upper portion and has a lower opening. The channel fluidly connects the upper opening to the lower opening. The channel has an upper channel portion directing fluid flowing through the upper opening in a substantially radial direction toward a lower channel portion of the channel. The lower channel portion is radially offset from the upper opening.

In some aspects, the lower channel portion directs fluid toward the lower opening in a direction that is substantially parallel to the center axis.

In some aspects, the upper opening is one of a plurality of upper openings, the lower opening is one of a plurality of lower openings, and the channel is one of a plurality of channels fluidly connecting one of the upper openings with one of the lower openings.

In some aspects, the plurality of upper openings are spaced circumferentially from one another about the center axis.

In some aspects, the lower channel portion is offset radially inward relative to the upper opening.

In some aspects, the upper portion includes an overhanging portion positioned vertically above the lower channel portion.

In some aspects, a ledge extends perpendicular to the center axis from a wall of the lower portion and proximate the lower opening.

In yet another independent aspect, a drain includes an upper portion having an upper opening; a lower portion having a lower opening; and a channel fluidly connecting the upper opening to the lower opening. The channel has an offset portion such that at least a portion of the channel has a serpentine shape preventing fluid flowing between the upper opening and the lower opening from moving along a linear path.

In some aspects, the upper opening is radially offset from the lower opening.

In some aspects, the upper opening has a width that is a first distance, an upper end of the lower opening is vertically offset from the upper opening by a second distance, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drain assembly according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drain assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the drain assembly of FIG. 1, viewed along section 3—3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another section view of the drain assembly of FIG. 1, viewed along section 4—4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the drain of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the drain of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of a drain according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a lower perspective view of the drain of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the drain of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a section view of the drain of FIG. 7, viewed along section 10—10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10B is an enlarged portion of the section view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is an upper perspective view of a lower portion of the drain of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a lower perspective view of an upper portion of the drain of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drain according to another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the drain of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the drain of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

In general, the present disclosure relates to a drain having a ligature resistant design. Some facilities, such as clinical, prison, and mental health institutions, have concerns of attempts of suicide or self-harm by patients or institutionalized persons. A major area of concern is asphyxiation, hanging, or choking through the use of a ligature fastened or anchored to an object in the facility. In the interest of the safety and well-being of such individuals, facilities may provide drains that prevent or discourage using the drain as an anchor point for a ligature (such as a string, rope, cord, cloth, or wire). Conventional drains may include multiple holes or slots to permit sufficient fluid flow, but the holes can be used to anchor or attach the ligature by looping the ligature through one hole and out another hole.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a drain 10. In some embodiments, the drain 10 may be positioned in a floor or shower pan; in other embodiments, the drain 10 may be positioned in a sink or basin. The drain 10 may include a baffle or inner portion or lower portion 14 that is coupled to a strainer or outer portion or upper portion 18. The upper portion 18 may include a central circular opening and be generally ring shaped. The interior lower portion 14 may have a generally circular upper surface 22 positioned concentrically within the central opening of the upper portion 18 to form a single ring opening or channel or annular gap 26 for liquid to flow through the drain 10. In some embodiments, the upper portion 18 may have a have a central opening with other shapes, and the upper surface 22 of the lower portion 14 may have a shape that is substantially similar to the central opening such that an opening or gap 26 has a substantially constant width along the peripheral edge of the lower portion 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an exterior wall 30 of the lower portion 14 (i.e., interior of the annular gap 26) and an interior wall 34 of the upper portion 18 (i.e., exterior of the annular gap 26) may be separated by a substantially constant width (e.g., the exterior wall 30 and interior wall 34 may be substantially parallel), which can inhibit wedging in the annular gap 26. The exterior wall 30 of the lower portion 14 may extend below a lower end 38 of the interior wall 34 of the upper portion 18, and a lower end of the exterior wall 30 may slope or flare outwards to form a radially outwardly extending diverter or lower wall 42. In some embodiments, the exterior wall 30 has a campanulate or bell-shaped profile. A transition from the interior wall 34 of the upper portion 18 to the lower end 38 may be smooth or radiused and may generally correspond to the slope or radius of a transition of the exterior wall 30 to the lower wall 42 of the lower portion 14. That is, in some embodiments, the annular gap 26 may have a generally constant cross-sectional area flow path through the drain 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the lower wall 42 of the lower portion 14 may extend radially outwardly past the interior wall 34 of the upper portion 18 such that there is no visible opening or direct path opening through the drain 10 (thereby reducing an individual’s ability to manipulate any ligature that may be passed through the annular gap 26 of the drain 10). The annular gap 26 formed by the lower portion 14 and upper portion 18 may form a fluid flow path or channel from a first or upper opening 26a (FIG. 4) to a second or lower opening 26b (FIG. 4). The fluid flow path or channel may be curved, bent, offset, or angled (e.g., having a serpentine or circuitous path) such that the lower opening 26b is visually obstructed from the upper opening 26a (i.e., there is not a direct, linear, or free path from the upper opening 26a to the lower opening 26b). In addition to not being able to see an object or ligature pushed through the lower opening 26b of the annular gap 26, the outward flare of the lower wall 42 of the lower portion 14 directs any ligature or other object that is passed through the annular gap 26 outwardly and inhibits or discourages looping the ligature back through an opposite portion of the annular gap 26 to use as an anchor.

As shown in FIG. 4, the annular gap 26 may have a width W1 between the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 18. The upper opening 26a may be offset a distance or height H1 from an upper end of the lower opening 26b (i.e., approximately the thickness of the upper portion 18 or height of the interior wall 34). In some embodiments, the width W1 may be between approximately 0.2 inches and approximately 0.32 inches, which can inhibit physical access through the annular gap 26 and satisfy a heel-proof requirement of the upper finish of the drain 10 while still providing sufficient area to satisfy minimum flow requirements (e.g., at least five GPM flow at 0.5 inches of head pressure). In some embodiments, the height H1 may be between approximately 0.4 inches and approximately 0.5 inches. A ratio of the height H1 to the width W1 may be approximately 1.5:1 (e.g., the width W1 may be approximately 0.28 inches). In some embodiments, the ratio of the height H1 to the width W1 may be 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, or greater. Providing a relatively large height H1 and/or a large ratio of height H1 to width W1 can increase the difficulty of manipulating a portion of a ligature extending through the lower opening 26b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the lower portion 14 may be coupled to the upper portion 18 by one or more posts or connections 46 extending upwardly from an outer portion of the lower wall 42 to the lower end 38 of the upper portion 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the connections 46 may include apertures 50 corresponding to threaded apertures 54 in the upper portion 18 for fastening the lower portion 14 to the upper portion 18. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper portion 18 may include recessed portions or notches 48 that receive the connections 46. The notches 48 can help align and secure the connections 46 (and align the apertures 50 with threaded apertures 54) to assemble the drain 10. This two-piece design for the drain 10 can simplify manufacturing as well as aid in maintenance and cleaning of the drain 10 by being able to separate the lower portion 14 from the upper portion 18. In other embodiments, the connections 46 may be snap or quick fit type connections. In other embodiments, the upper portion 18 may include a groove or recess corresponding to the connections 46 such that the lower portion 14 could be rotated or threaded onto the upper portion 18. In still other embodiments, a lower portion and upper portion may be a unitary body permanently connected to one another.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the connections 46 may be positioned at an outer edge of the lower wall 42 of the lower portion 14, which makes forming an anchor for a ligature around the connection 46 difficult. Moreover, the drain 10 may be configured such that an outer edge of the connection 46 is close to an outer wall of a pipe or conduit that the drain is installed within such that the limited space between the connection 46 and wall make it even more difficult to thread around the connection 46. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the drain 10 may be attached to a fitting or coupling 58 to form a drain assembly 62 for installation in floors, shower pans, basins, sinks, or the like. The coupling 58 may include a pipe or conduit 66 (e.g., having a cylindrical shape in the case of a circular drain 10, as shown) axially extending from a radial flange 70. The drain 10 may be received within the conduit 66 of the coupling 58 such that the gap or space between the wall of the conduit 66 and the outer edge of the connection 46 is small. The drain 10 may include apertures 74 (e.g., in an outer portion of the upper portion 18) corresponding to apertures 78 in the coupling 58 (e.g., in the flange 70) for fastening the drain 10 to the coupling 58 (e.g., using tamper-proof or vandal-resistant fasteners). The conduit 66 may include external threads 82 for coupling the drain assembly 62 to downstream piping and for ease of adjusting the height of the upper surfaces of the drain assembly 62 relative to the installation surface (e.g., the floor, shower pan, basin, sink, etc.).

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exterior wall 30 of the lower portion 14 may be slightly angled or tapered outwards from the upper surface 22 to the lower wall 42 (e.g., the lower portion 14 may have a bell-shaped or campanulate profile with a larger end positioned proximate the lower wall 42). This tapering can encourage a ligature that is attempted to be tied or wrapped around the lower portion 14 to slip off when a force is applied to the ligature. The edges of the annular gap 26 (e.g., outer perimeter of the upper surface 22 of the lower portion 14 and inner edge of upper portion 18) and other features of the drain 10 may be radiused to encourage slippage of attempted ligature anchors. The smooth internal geometries and radiused edges also reduce cut risks and minimize crevices that could promote bacterial growth.

As shown in the illustrated embodiments in FIGS. 1-5, the annular gap 26 may generally provide an uninterrupted fluid path, except that one or more webs may extend between the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 18. The webs may connect to or be formed as a part of connections 46 and may partition the annular gap 26 (e.g., the lower opening 26b) so that no accessible anchor point is introduced by the web. As shown in the illustrated embodiments in FIGS. 1-5, the webs and/or connections may not be visible from a top view of the drain 10 (i.e., the lower opening 26b may be partitioned while the upper opening 26a is unitary or undivided). In other embodiments, the webs may extend to the upper opening 26a such that the upper opening 26a and lower opening 26b are each partitioned by the web.

FIGS. 7-12 illustrate a drain 110 according to another embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the drain 110 may include an upper body 114 (e.g., a top plate or grate or strainer) coupled or fixed to a lower body 118 (e.g., bottom baffle). The drain 110, and the upper body 114 and lower body 118, may be centered about an axis 120. An upper surface 122 of the upper body 114 may include one or more apertures or slots 126, and the lower body 118 may include one or more apertures or orifices or openings 130 corresponding to the slots 126. As shown in FIG. 10, corresponding slots 126 and openings 130 may be fluidly connected by fluid flow channels 134. As shown in FIG. 10, an upper chamber or upper portion 138 of channel 134 may direct fluid radially inward to a lower leg or chamber or lower portion 142 of channel 134 that is offset from the upper portion 138. The lower portion 142 and the opening 130 may be offset from the slot 126 in the upper surface 122 such that there is no visible opening or direct path for a ligature or other object to pass through the channel 134 from the slot 126 to the opening 130. Thus, even if a ligature can be passed through the channel 134, the portion of the ligature that passes through the opening 130 cannot be easily manipulated by an individual. Moreover, as best shown in FIG. 10B, a wall or ledge 144 may extend substantially horizontally proximate the opening 130 to prevent or inhibit a ligature that is inserted through the slot 126 from exiting the opening 130. The ledge 144 may extend from a radially inward wall of the lower portion 142 (e.g., at a lower end of the lower portion 142), and the ledge 144 may extend from the wall of the lower portion 142 at a large angle (e.g., perpendicular or approaching perpendicular). Put another way, the ledge 144 may extend substantially perpendicular relative to the center axis 120 of the upper body 114. An end of a ligature that is pushed through the channel 134 may be moving in a direction substantially parallel to the lower portion 142 (or substantially parallel to center axis 120) and consequently abut the ledge 144 to stop the end of the ligature from passing through the opening 130.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a lower wall 146 of the upper portion 138 of the channel 134 directs fluid in a radial direction toward the offset lower portion 142. As best shown in FIG. 11, the lower wall 146 may taper or slope downwardly toward the lower portion 142 to encourage fluid flow in that direction. The lower portion 142 may then redirect the fluid generally downward to exit through the openings 130. As shown, the lower portion 142 of the channel 134 may be slightly angled such that the openings 130 may be offset from the upper end of the lower portion 142 in a radially outward direction. This provides a serpentine path or a switchback in the channel 134 to further impede a direct or linear or free path for a ligature or other object to pass through the channel 134 in a way that it could be manipulated past the opening 130.

The lower portion 142 may be offset from the slot 126 in a radially inward direction. In other embodiments, the lower portion 142 may be offset from the slot 126 in a radially outward direction. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, an overlap or overhang 150 of the upper body 114 may be positioned directly above the lower portion 142 of the channel 134 while still allowing flow from the upper portion 138 to the lower portion 142. The overhang 150, the transition from the upper portion 138 to lower portion 142, and other features of the drain 110 may be radiused, curved, or smoothed to inhibit anchoring a ligature to any portion of the drain 110.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper body 114 and lower body 118 may each include vertical walls or spacers 154, 158 separating adjacent slots, openings, and channels 126, 130, 134 from each other. The upper body 114 and lower body 118 may each include corresponding apertures 162, 166 for fastening the upper body 114 and lower body 118 together and ensuring the slots, openings, and channels 126, 130, 134 are properly aligned. Similar to drain 10, this two-piece construction of drain 110 can simplify manufacturing as well as aid in maintenance and cleaning of the drain 110 by being able to separate the lower body 118 from the upper body 114. Similar to the lower portion 14 and upper portion 18 of drain 10, the upper body 114 and lower body 118 of drain 110 may be coupled or fixed together by other means, such as snap or quick fits, rotational threading, or formed as a unitary body.

As shown in FIG. 10, the lower wall 146 of the upper portion 138 of channel 134 may be vertically offset a distance or height H2 from an upper end of the opening 130. In some embodiments, the height H2 may be approximately 0.25 inches, 0.35 inches, or 0.45 inches. As shown in FIG. 8, the lower body118 may include extensions 170 that extend downwardly beyond a portion of openings 130 to further separate adjacent openings 130 and inhibit looping a ligature between openings 130.

As illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-12, the drain 110 may include multiple (e.g., twelve) slots 126 circumferentially spaced around a circular upper body 114. In other embodiments, the slots 126 (and corresponding channels 134) may be aligned or positioned to form rows. In some such embodiments having a single row of slots 126, the direction of the corresponding openings 130 may be alternated such that each opening 130 is spaced further apart from the nearest opening 130 facing the same direction or positioned on the same end of a flow channel 134. In some such embodiments having multiple rows of slots 126, the direction of openings 130 of each row may face away from openings 130 of another row.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate a drain 210 according to another embodiment. Features that are similar to features of the drain 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6 are identified with similar reference numbers, plus 200. Some similarities and differences between the drain 210 and drain 10 are described herein.

The lower portion 214 may be arranged concentrically in the upper portion 218 to form an annular gap 226 that provides a fluid flow path or channel from a first or upper opening 226a (FIG. 13) to a second or lower opening 226b (FIG. 14). The fluid flow path or channel may be curved, bent, offset, or angled such that the second opening 226b is visually obstructed from the upper opening 226a. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the lower portion 214 of the drain 210 may be coupled to the upper portion 218 by one or more connections 246 extending upwardly from an outer portion of the lower wall 242 to a lower end 238 of the upper portion 218. The connections 246 may include apertures 250 corresponding to threaded apertures 254 in the upper portion 218 for fastening the lower portion 214 to the upper portion 218 using fasteners or hardware 260. In other embodiments, the connections 246 may engage and secure to the lower end 238 by other means, such as snap or quick-fit connections. An upper end of the connection 246 may abut and engage the lower end 238 of the upper portion 218 when the lower portion 214 and upper portion 218 are coupled together. The lower end 238 of the upper portion 218 may be generally uniform or positioned at a consistent height relative to a top surface of the upper portion 218 around the circumference of the upper portion 218.

It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. Features described and illustrated with respect to certain embodiments may also be implemented in other embodiments. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since other possible embodiments of the disclosure may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is understood that examples herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present disclosure. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the illustrated examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and accompanying drawings. Such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications are deemed to be covered by the disclosure.