Washing machine overflow control means

Claim 2

An overflow control valve for connecting a washing machine drain hose to a stand-pipe comprising: a. cylindrical plug means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, one end of said plug means being connected to the upwardly extending end portion of the stand-pipe, the other end of said plug means being connected to the drain hose of the washing machine; and, b. by-pass valve means positioned within a sidewall of said cylindrical plug means, said by-pass valve means having an open position for connecting said axially extending passageway with the atmosphere when said washing machine is not in a drain cycle and a closed position when said washing machine is in a drain cycle.

Claim 3

The overflow control valve of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical plug means is provided with an enlarged portion at one end thereof for connecting same to said stand-pipe and a reduced diameter portion at the opposite end thereof for connecting said plug means to said drain hose and which includes shoulder means formed by the interconnection of said enlarged portion with said reduced diameter portion, said by-pass valve means interconnecting said passageway within said enlarged portion with the atmosphere through said shoulder means.

Claim 4

The overflow valve of claim 2 wherein said by-pass valve means comprises a ball valve element positioned with a second passageway formed in said enlarged end portion, said second passageway being substantially parallel to said central axially extending passageway, said second passageway having a lower extending bore and an upwardly extending bore, said upwardly extending bore having a reduced diameter, a valve seat formed at the junction of said lower and upwardly extending bores, and a stop means traversing the lower end portion of said lower extending bore for maintaining said ball valve element therein.

Claim 5

The overflow valve of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical plug means comprises an annular plug means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, said by-pass valve means being formed within a sidewall of said annular plug, threads disposed within said passageway of said annular plug, adapter fitting means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, and threads on a portion of the external surface of said adapter fitting means for threadedly engaging said adapter fitting means within said annular plug means.

Claim 6

A washing machine overflow control unit for connecting a washing machine drain hose to a stand-pipe comprising: a. a wall mounted outlet box having a drain therein, said drain being connected to and in fluid communication with the stand-pipe; b. a cylindrical plug means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, said plug means being positioned within the said box and having an upwardly extending end portion connected to the drain hose of said washing machine, said plug means further being provided with by-pass valve means in the side wall thereof having an open position for connecting said passageway with the atmosphere when said washing machine is not in a drain cycle and having a closed position when said washing machine is in a drain cycle; c. pressure sensing means operably connected to said plug means and in fluid communication with said central axially extending passageway; d. a power circuit including a normally closed switch means connected to said sensing means and adapted to be opened when pressure in said passageway extends above a given level; and e. socket means operably connected through said switch means to said power circuit to apply power to said washing machine when said switch means is closed.

Claim 7

A washing machine overflow control unit for connecting a washing machine drain hose to a stand-pipe comprising: a. a wall mounted outlet box having a drain therein, said drain being connected to and in fluid communication with the stand-pipe; b. a cylindrical plug means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, said plug means being positioned within the said box and having an upwardly extending end portion connected to the drain hose of said washing machine, said plug means further being provided with by-pass valve means in the side wall thereof having an open position for connecting said passageway with the atmosphere when said washing machine is not in a drain cycle and having a closed position when said washing machine is in a drain cycle; c. pressure sensing means operably connected to said plug means and in fluid communication with said central axially extending passageway; d. a power circuit including a normally closed switch means connected to said sensing means and adapted to be opened when pressure in said passageway extends above a given level; and e. socket means operably connected through said switch means to said power circuit to apply power to said washing machine when said switch means is closed.

Claim 8

The overflow control unit of claim 5 wherein said control valve means is provided with an enlarged portion at one end thereof for positioning in said drain and a reduced diameter portion at the oppposite end thereof for connecting to said drain hose and which includes shoulder means formed by the interconnection of said enlarged portion with said reduced diameter portion, said by-pass valve means interconnecting the passageway within said enlarged portion with the atmosphere through said shoulder means.

Claim 9

The overflow control unit of claim 6 wherein said reduced diameter portion is provided passageway traversely disposed to the axis of the central axially extending passageway, and includes conduit means sealed within said passageway and connected at its other end to said pressure sensing means.

Claim 10

The overflow control unit of claim 7 wherein said by-pass valve means comprises a ball valve element positioned within a third passageway formed in said enlarged end portion, said third passageway being substantially parallel to said central axially extending passageway, said third passageway having a lower extending bore and an upwardly extending bore, said upwardly extending bore having a reduced diameter, a valve seat formed at the junction of said lower and said upwardly extending bores, and stop means traversing the lower end portion of said lower bore for maintaining said ball valve element therein.

Claim 11

The overflow control unit of claim 8 wherein said control valve means comprises an annular plug means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, said by-pass valve means being formed within a sidewall of said annular plug, threads disposed within said passageway of said annular plug, adapter fitting means having a central axially extending passageway therethrough, and threads on a portion of the external surface of said adapter fitting means for threadedly engaging said adapter fitting means within said annular plug.

Claim 12

The overflow control unit of claim 9 which includes audio and visual signal means operably connected to said pressure sensing means.

Claim 13

The overflow control unit of claim 10 wherein said pressure sensing means, and said switch means are encased in a housing member secured with said wall mounted outlet box.

Claim 14

In a washing machine overflow control unit for connecting a washing machine drain hose to a stand-pipe wherein said unit is provided with a pressure sensing means operatively connected to a control means for deactivating the washing machine when a pressure build-up is detected within the drainage system, the improvement being a control valve means comprising a cylindrical plug means having a first central extending passageway therethrough, one end of said cylindrical plug means being connected in a fluid-tight relationship, to the upwardly extending end portion of said stand-pipe, the other end of said cylindrical plug means being connected in a fluid-tight relatinship, to the drain hose of the washing machine; by-pass valve means positioned within a side wall of said cylindrical plug means, said by-pass valve means having an open position for connecting said first central axially extending passageway of said cylindrical plug means with the atmosphere when said washing machine is not in a drain cycle and a closed position when said washing machine is in a drain cycle; a second passageway transversely disposed within the side wall portion of said cylindrical plug means and intersecting said first central axially extending passageway; and, conduit means sealably connected at one end thereof to said second passageway and sealably connected at its other end to said pressure sensing means to provide fluid communication between the first central axially extending passageway of said cylindrical plug means and said pressure sensing means.

Claim 15

In a washing machine overflow control unit for connecting a washing machine drain hose to a stand-pipe wherein said unit is provided with a pressure sensing means operatively connected to a control means for deactivating the washing machine when a pressure build-up is detected within the drainage system, the improvement being a control valve means comprising a cylindrical plug means having a first central extending passageway therethrough, one end of said cylindrical plug means being connected in a fluid-tight relationship, to the upwardly extending end portion of said stand-pipe, the other end of said cylindrical plug means being connected in a fluid-tight relatinship, to the drain hose of the washing machine; by-pass valve means positioned within a side wall of said cylindrical plug means, said by-pass valve means having an open position for connecting said first central axially extending passageway of said cylindrical plug means with the atmosphere when said washing machine is not in a drain cycle and a closed position when said washing machine is in a drain cycle; a second passageway transversely disposed within the side wall portion of said cylindrical plug means and intersecting said first central axially extending passageway; and, conduit means sealably connected at one end thereof to said second passageway and sealably connected at its other end to said pressure sensing means to provide fluid communication between the first central axially extending passageway of said cylindrical plug means and said pressure sensing means.

Claim 16

The washing machine overflow control unit of claim 12 wherein said cylindrical plug means is provided with an enlarged portion at one end thereof for connection to said stand-pipe and a reduced diameter portion at the opposite end thereof for connection to said drain hose and which includes shoulder means formed by the interconnection of said enlarged portion with said reduction diameter portion, said by-pass valve means interconnecting said first central axially extending passageway within the enlarged portion with the atmosphere through said shoulder means.

Claim 17

The washing machine overflow control unit of claim 13 wherein said by-pass valve means comprises a ball valve element positioned within a third passageway formed in said enlarged end portion, said third passageway being substantially parallel to said first central axially extending passageway, said third passageway having a lower extending bore and an upwardly extending bore, said upwardly extending bore having a reduced diameter, a valve seat formed at the junction of said lower and said upwardly extending bores, and stop means traversing the lower end portion of said lower bore for maintaining said ball valve element therein.

Claim 18

The washing machine overflow control unit of claim 14 wherein said cylindrical plug means comprises an annular plug means and an adapter fitting means, said annular plug means forming said enlarged end portion and said adapter fitting means forming said reduced diameter portion, said annular plug means and said adapter fitting means operably connected to form said first central axially extending passageway and wherein said second passageway is positioned within said adapter fitting means.