IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0212091
(2005-08-25)
|
등록번호 |
US-7814580
(2010-11-08)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Coronado, Eduardo
- Sada, Jorge
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
19 인용 특허 :
19 |
초록
▼
The present disclosure generally relates to improved water closet flanges and methods for installing such water closet flanges. In one exemplary embodiment, an improved water closet flange apparatus includes an outer flange and a flexible conduit portion (i.e. sleeve) extending downwardly therefrom.
The present disclosure generally relates to improved water closet flanges and methods for installing such water closet flanges. In one exemplary embodiment, an improved water closet flange apparatus includes an outer flange and a flexible conduit portion (i.e. sleeve) extending downwardly therefrom. The flexible sleeve has a sufficient degree of flexibility to accommodate connection between offset, misaligned, angled, or otherwise incongruous plumbing fixture discharges and waste drain pipe outlets. In one embodiment, the flexible sleeve includes at least one corrugated portion to aid the desired flexibility. An upper portion of the flexible sleeve may include an inwardly extending lip portion to accommodate the desired seal between the plumbing fixture discharge and the flange apparatus. Related methods for installing the disclosed flange apparatus between plumbing fixture discharges and waste drainpipes are also described.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A flange apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: an outer flange for seating against a surface disposed substantially between the plumbing fixture discharge and the waste drainpipe outlet; and a sleeve connected to
What is claimed is: 1. A flange apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: an outer flange for seating against a surface disposed substantially between the plumbing fixture discharge and the waste drainpipe outlet; and a sleeve connected to the outer flange, the sleeve being unitarily formed of a flexible material and having one or more corrugated portions along a lower portion of the sleeve, the sleeve further comprising: an inward lip extending from an outer, top surface of an upper portion, the lip being sufficiently flexible to deflect downward when engaged by the plumbing fixture discharge; an outward flange extending from the outer, top surface of the upper portion, the outward flange of the sleeve being seated on the outer flange; and one or more sealing elements disposed about a lower portion of the sleeve, wherein the sealing element comprises a maximum outside diameter of the lower portion and is sized to directly engage an inside diameter of the waste drainpipe outlet. 2. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the outer flange. 3. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is removably connected to the outer flange. 4. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the outer flange are formed of different materials. 5. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly extending lip has a first, unengaged position above the outer flange, and a second, engaged position substantially level with the outer flange. 6. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is a flexible sleeve capable of at least 10 degrees of deflection. 7. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the one or more sealing elements are disposed on an end of the lower portion of the sleeve. 8. A flange apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sealing elements define a longitudinal distance, whereby the one or more sealing elements has a maximum diameter at its upper longitudinal end and generally decreases in diameter to its lower longitudinal end. 9. A flange apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: an outer flange for seating against a surface disposed substantially between the plumbing fixture discharge and the waste drainpipe outlet; and a sleeve connected to the outer flange, the sleeve including: a first end having a first longitudinal axis; a second end having a second longitudinal axis, the sleeve being unitarily formed of a flexible material such that the second end of the sleeve can be distorted relative to the first end of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is capable of at least 10 degrees of deflection measured by the angular displacement of the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis; an inward lip extending from an outer, top surface of the first end, the lip being sufficiently flexible to deflect downward when engaged by the plumbing fixture discharge; an outward flange extending from the outer, top surface of the first end, the outward flange of the sleeve being seated on the outer flange; and one or more sealing elements disposed about a lower portion of the second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, wherein the sealing element comprises a maximum outside diameter of the lower portion and is sized to directly engage an inside diameter of the waste drainpipe outlet. 10. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sleeve is capable of deflection from 0 degrees to greater than 90 degrees measured by the angular displacement of the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis. 11. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are aligned when the sleeve is non-distorted. 12. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sleeve is formed of a unitary material having a hardness in the range of about 35 shore A to about 75 shore A. 13. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a lower portion of the sleeve is formed of a unitary material having a hardness in the range of about 75 shore A to about 120 Rockwell R. 14. A flange apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lower portion of the sleeve includes one or more corrugated portions, the corrugated portions aiding flexibility of the lower portion of the sleeve. 15. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the inwardly extending lip has a first, unengaged position above the outer flange, and a second, engaged position substantially level with the outer flange. 16. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising the one or more sealing elements are disposed on an end of the lower portion of the sleeve. 17. A flange apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one or more sealing elements define a longitudinal distance, whereby the one or more sealing elements has a maximum diameter at its upper longitudinal end and generally decreases in diameter to its lower longitudinal end. 18. An apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: a sleeve unitarily formed of a flexible material, the sleeve having upper and lower portions, the upper portion comprising: an inward lip extending from an outer, top surface of the upper portion, the lip being sufficiently flexible to deflect downward when engaged by the plumbing fixture discharge; and an outward flange extending from the outer, top surface of the upper portion, the flange being operable to be seated on a surface disposed between the plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet; and wherein the sleeve further comprises one or more sealing elements disposed about the lower portion of the sleeve, wherein the sealing element comprises a maximum outside diameter of the lower portion and is sized to directly engage an inside diameter of the waste drainpipe outlet. 19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the lower portion of the sleeve includes one or more corrugated portions along the lower portion to impart flexibility to the sleeve. 20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sleeve includes a first end having a first longitudinal axis and a second end having a second longitudinal axis, the sleeve being formed of a flexible material such that the second end of the sleeve can be distorted relative to the first end of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is capable of at least 10 degrees of deflection measured by the angular displacement of the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis.
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