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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 ▼

1. A method for manufacturing a flange apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: providing an outer flange for seating against a surface disposed substantially between the plumbing fixture discharge and the waste drainpipe outlet; andprovid

1. A method for manufacturing a flange apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: providing an outer flange for seating against a surface disposed substantially between the plumbing fixture discharge and the waste drainpipe outlet; andproviding a sleeve operable to be coupled 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 such that the sleeve is capable of at least ten degrees of deflection while maintaining a cross-sectional shape of 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; andone 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. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the outer flange. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removably connecting the sleeve to the outer flange. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the sleeve with a first material and wherein providing the outer flange comprises forming the outer flange with a second material. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the inwardly extending lip such that 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. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the sleeve of the flexible material. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the one or more sealing elements on an end of the lower portion of the sleeve. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the one or more sealing elements such that 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 method for manufacturing a flange apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: providing an outer flange for seating against a surface disposed substantially between the plumbing fixture discharge and the waste drainpipe outlet; andproviding a sleeve operable to be coupled 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 while maintaining a cross-sectional shape of a lower portion of the sleeve;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; andone or more sealing elements disposed about the 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. The method 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. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the sleeve of a unitary material having a hardness in the range of about 35 shore A to about 75 shore A. 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the lower portion of the sleeve with a unitary material having a hardness in the range of about 75 shore A to about 120 Rockwell R. 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming one or more corrugated portions in the lower portion of the sleeve, the corrugated portions aiding flexibility of the lower portion of the sleeve. 14. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the inwardly extending lip such that the inwardly extending lip has a first, unengaged position above the outer flange, and a second, engaged position substantially level with the outer flange. 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the one or more sealing elements on an end of the lower portion of the sleeve. 16. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the one or more sealing elements such that 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. 17. A method for manufacturing an apparatus for connecting between a plumbing fixture discharge and waste drainpipe outlet, comprising: providing a sleeve unitarily formed of a flexible material such that the sleeve is capable of at least ten degrees of deflection while maintaining a cross-sectional shape of a lower portion of the sleeve, the sleeve having an upper portion, and 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; andan 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; andwherein 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. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming one or more corrugated portions along the lower portion of the sleeve to impart flexibility to the sleeve. 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sleeve includes a first end having a first longitudinal axis and a second end having a second longitudinal axis, and wherein providing the sleeve comprises forming the sleeve with 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.