초록 ▼

A washing machine outlet box includes a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings and two valve mount inserts insertable into selective openings for supporting water shut off valves therein. The two valve mount inserts may be individual valve mount inserts that are separately inserta

A washing machine outlet box includes a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings and two valve mount inserts insertable into selective openings for supporting water shut off valves therein. The two valve mount inserts may be individual valve mount inserts that are separately insertable into two of the openings or the two valve mount inserts may be joined together for insertion into at least one of the openings as a unit. A drain pipe may be connected to another opening in which the two valve mount inserts are not inserted. A twist on and twist off test cap may be used to seal off the drain pipe opening during pressure testing of a sanitary drainage system to which the drain pipe is connected.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A washing machine outlet box comprising a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings, two valve mount inserts selectively insertable into at least one of the openings to provide valve mounts for hot and cold water shut off valves, and a test cap that is inserta

What is claimed is: 1. A washing machine outlet box comprising a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings, two valve mount inserts selectively insertable into at least one of the openings to provide valve mounts for hot and cold water shut off valves, and a test cap that is insertable into an other of the openings, the test cap including means for sealing off the other opening during turning of the test cap in a tightening direction after inserting the test cap into the other opening, and being turnable in an untightening direction for removal of the test cap from the other opening, at least one locking tab on one of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts and a notch in the other of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts through which the locking tab is insertable for engagement with the other of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts upon turning the valve mount inserts in a locking direction, wherein one of the test cap and the bottom wall has at least one tab that is insertable through a notch in the other of the test cap and the bottom wall for engagement with the other of the test cap and the bottom wall upon turning the test cap in the tightening direction, and a recess in the other of the test cap and the bottom wall in circumferential spaced relation from each notch for capturing the locking tab during turning of each of the valve mount inserts in the locking direction, a first ramp leading into each recess when each of the valve mount inserts is turned in the locking direction, and a second ramp leading in the opposite direction from the notch that is engageable by the tab during turning of the test cap in the tightening direction to cause a seal on the test cap to press into sealing engagement with the bottom wall radially outwardly of the notch. 2. The box of claim 1 wherein the two valve mount inserts are each insertable in any two of at least three openings, and a drain pipe is connectable to the third opening in which the two valve mount inserts are not inserted. 3. The box of claim 2 wherein tail pieces surround each of the three openings in the bottom wall of the box. 4. The box of claim 2 wherein one of the openings is located between the other two openings whereby the one opening is a center opening and the other two openings are right and left hand openings, respectively, the two valve mount inserts are insertable into any two of the openings, and a drain pipe is connectable to the third opening for establishing any one of a center drain arrangement, a right hand drain arrangement or a left hand drain arrangement. 5. A washing machine outlet box comprising a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings, two valve mount inserts selectively insertable into at least one of the openings to provide valve mounts for hot and cold water shut off valves, and a test cap that is insertable into an other of the openings, the test cap including means for sealing off the other opening during turning of the test cap in a tightening direction after inserting the test cap into the other opening, and being turnable in an untightening direction for removal of the test cap from the other opening, wherein one of the openings is located equidistant between two other openings whereby the one opening is a center opening and the two other openings are right and left hand openings, respectively, and the two valve mount inserts are joined together in spaced relation a distance corresponding to the spacing between the center opening and the other two openings, whereby the two joined valve mount inserts are insertable in the center opening and either one of the two other openings as a unit, and a drain pipe is connectable to the other of the two other openings in which neither of the joined valve mount inserts is inserted for establishing either a right hand drain arrangement or a left hand drain arrangement. 6. The box of claim 5 wherein one of the test cap and the bottom wall has at least one tab that is insertable through a notch in the other of the test cap and the bottom wall for engagement with the other of the test cap and the bottom wall upon turning the test cap in the tightening direction to secure the test cap in place. 7. The box of claim 6 wherein the other of the test cap and the bottom wall has a ramp that is engageable by the tab during turning of the test cap in the tightening direction to force the test cap into sealing engagement with the bottom wall radially outwardly of the notch. 8. The box of claim 7 further comprising means for forming a fluid seal between the test cap and the bottom wall radially outwardly of the notch during turning of the test cap in the tightening direction. 9. The box of claim 5 further comprising a handle on the test cap to facilitate turning of the test cap in the tightening and untightening directions. 10. The box of claim 9 wherein the handle includes spoke-like finger engaging portions for ease of turning the test cap in the tightening and untightening directions. 11. The box of claim 5 wherein a single lever operated hot and cold water shut off valve assembly is mounted on the two joined valve mount inserts. 12. The box of claim 5 wherein individually operated hot and cold water shut off valves are mounted on the two joined valve mount inserts. 13. The box of claim 5 wherein the two joined valve mount inserts are connected together by a flange that overlies the center opening and the one of the two other openings in which the two joined valve mount inserts are inserted as a unit. 14. The box of claim 13 further comprising means for establishing a fluid seal between the flange and the bottom wall of the box completely surrounding the center opening and the one of the two other openings in which the two joined valve mount inserts are inserted. 15. The box of claim 5 wherein a drain pipe is connectable to the other of the two other openings in which neither of the two joined valve mount inserts is inserted. 16. The box of claim 5 further comprising a snap lock connection between the two joined valve mount inserts and an edge of the openings in which the two joined valve mount inserts are inserted. 17. The box of claim 5 further comprising a solvent weld or adhesive connection between the flange of the two joined valve mount inserts and the bottom wall of the box. 18. The box of claim 5 further comprising at least one tail piece on the bottom wall of the box surrounding the opening in which neither of the two joined valve mount inserts is inserted for connecting a drain pipe thereto. 19. The box of claim 5 wherein a single lever operated hot and cold water shut off valve assembly is mounted on the two joined valve mount inserts. 20. The box of claim 5 wherein individually operated hot and cold water shut off valves are mounted on the two joined valve mount inserts. 21. The box of claim 5 wherein the two joined valve mount inserts are connected together by a flange that overlies the center opening and the one of the two other openings in which the two valve mount inserts are inserted. 22. The box of claim 21 further comprising means for establishing a fluid seal between the flange and the bottom wall of the box completely surrounding the center opening and the one of the two other openings in which the two joined valve mount inserts are inserted. 23. The box of claim 21 further comprising a solvent weld or adhesive connection between the flange of the two joined valve mount inserts and the bottom wall of the box. 24. A washing machine outlet box comprising a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings, two valve mount inserts selectively insertable into at least one of the openings to provide valve mounts for hot and cold water shut off valves, and a test cap that is insertable into an other of the openings, the test cap including means for sealing off the other opening during turning of the test cap in a tightening direction after inserting the test cap into the other opening, and being turnable in an untightening direction for removal of the test cap from the other opening, wherein the housing has a top wall containing at least one opening to allow the box to be mounted upside down with the bottom wall at the top and the top wall at the bottom for top mounting of the two valve mount inserts inside the box and for connecting a drain pipe to the opening in the top wall instead of to the other opening in the bottom wall in which neither of the two valve mount inserts is inserted. 25. The box of claim 24 further comprising at least one locking tab on one of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts and a notch in the other of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts through which the locking tab is insertable for engagement with the other of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts upon turning the valve mount inserts in a locking direction. 26. The box of claim 25 further comprising a recess in the other of the bottom wall and the valve mount inserts in circumferential spaced relation from each notch for capturing the locking tab during turning of the valve mount inserts in the locking direction, and a ramp leading into each recess when each of the valve mount inserts is turned in the locking direction. 27. The box of claim 25 wherein one of the test cap and the bottom wall has at least one tab that is insertable through a notch in the other of the test cap and the bottom wall for engagement with the other of the test cap and the bottom wall upon turning the test cap in the tightening direction. 28. The box of claim 24 further comprising a removable knockout covering the opening in the top wall. 29. The box of claim 24 further comprising a tail piece surrounding the opening in the top wall. 30. A washing machine outlet box comprising a housing having a bottom wall containing at least three openings, one of the openings being located equidistant between the two other openings whereby the one opening is a center opening and the two other openings are right and left hand openings, respectively, two valve mount inserts joined together in spaced relation, the spacing between the two joined valve mount inserts being such that the two joined valve mount inserts are insertable into the center opening and either one of the two other openings as a unit to provide valve mounts for hot and cold water shut off valves, wherein the housing has a top wall containing at least one opening to allow the box to be mounted upside down with the bottom wall at the top and the top wall at the bottom for top mounting of the two joined valve mount inserts inside the box and for connecting a drain pipe to the opening in the top wall instead of to the opening in the bottom wall in which neither of the two joined valve mount inserts is inserted. 31. The box of claim 30 further comprising a removable knockout covering the opening in the top wall. 32. The box of claim 30 further comprising a tail piece surrounding the opening in the top wall.