Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – Static constructional installations
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-18
2001-05-22
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
Static constructional installations
C312S292000, C312S242000, C004S287000, C004S111100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234193
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to boxes of the type that are typically recessed into walls for use in installing valves and drain lines for appliances such as washing machines, ice machines, and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to a molded plastic outlet box with dual drain outlets that is adapted for use in connecting valves and drain lines in different positions depending upon the configuration and relative positioning of water supply lines and drain pipes plumbed into a wall.
2. Description of Related Art
Molded plastic outlet boxes have previously been made with knockouts disposed in various locations for installation and use with various plumbing configurations. Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,004 discloses a molded plastic outlet box having three positions for selected use with a drain line disposed between two inlet lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,249 discloses in one embodiment a molded plastic outlet box useful with a single lever washing machine valve that permits the attachment of a drain line on either side of the two inlet lines connected to the single valve. This patent also discloses a lift-up tab on the drain knockout that is useful for reducing the likelihood of dropping the knockout into the drain line following pressure testing during installation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,4637,422 discloses a molded plastic outlet box with reversible mounting positions for selective use with downwardly or upwardly extending water pipes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,925 discloses a molded plastic outlet box with a removable, reversible base member containing two adjacent inlet apertures and a single outlet aperture, the idea being that the base can be selectively reversed depending upon whether the in-wall drain line is to the left or right of the hot and cold water inlet lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,072 discloses a molded plastic outlet box with three aperture positions in the bottom wall, each position having knockouts to facilitate use with either an inlet or drain line, thereby permitting a drain line to be disposed between or on either side of the inlet lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,410 discloses a molded plastic box with dual drain outlets wherein two inlet line positions are disposed between two outlet line positions, thereby permitting selective attachment to a drain line disposed on either side of the two inlet lines. Means for simultaneously connecting two drain lines to the two drain line positions are not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,119 discloses an outlet box having two inlet line positions in the bottom wall and a cylindrical sleeve in the back wall for receiving a horizontal drain line from a P-trap.
Notwithstanding the outlet boxes previously disclosed, there remains a need for a molded plastic outlet box that is adaptable for use in situations where drain lines from two different appliances are plumbed into a single outlet box, regardless of the relative positioning of the two drain lines to the water inlet lines. Dual drain outlets may be needed, for example, where a dishwasher drain line or an ice maker condensate line is plumbed to an outlet box that is also used for supplying water to and draining water from a clothes washing machine. An outlet box is also needed that will combine flows from two separate drain outlets into a single drain line. An outlet box is also needed that will accommodate the attachment of water inlet valves through the back wall of the box to flexible inlet lines behind the box without exceeding the total depth of a conventional in-wall installation. An outlet box is also needed that combines dual drain outlets with inlet ports in both the top and bottom walls of the box. Finally, a molded plastic outlet box is also needed that will reduce the likelihood of dropping a knockout plug into a drain line and simultaneously provide drainage for water that leaks or overflows inside the box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Outlet boxes are disclosed herein that are useful for connecting in-wall water supply and drain pipes to appliances. The outlet boxes of the invention are adapted to be recessed into a wall and are preferably made of molded plastic such as high impact polystyrene or another similarly effective moldable polymeric resin.
One outlet box disclosed herein comprises in both the top and bottom walls molded ports with knockouts for up to three inlet lines and two drain lines. Ports with knockouts are provided in both the top and bottom walls so that the box can, if needed, be rotated 180 degrees during installation to accommodate situations where the drain pipe is installed on either side of, or between, water supply lines. A Y-connector is also disclosed for use in combining the flows from both drain ports into a single drain pipe beneath the box if desired.
Another outlet box disclosed herein comprises four ports in the bottom wall, each port having knockouts to facilitate connection to either an inlet line or drain line as desired. This structure will allow connection to two inlet lines and either one or two drain lines in any order. Novel flange structures are disclosed for use on the bottom of the outlet box to permit attachment of a one-piece, molded connector for combining flows from two side-by-side drain ports if desired.
Another outlet box disclosed herein comprises two drain ports in the bottom wall and two inlet ports in the back wall for use with angle-stop valves connected to supply lines disposed behind the back wall.
Another outlet box disclosed herein comprises a stepped-down bottom wall having a transversely extending drain gutter across the front of the box and knockout members in the bottom wall. The knockout members are circular sections having a downwardly extending elongated tab that, when removed, forms an elongated vertical slot in the vertical portion of the stepped bottom wall. This elongated slot preferably extends downwardly to a position at or near the lowest portion of the stepped-down bottom wall and desirably provides a drain flow path from the transverse gutter to a drain outlet. The novel knockout member serves two-fold purpose of preventing the knock-out portion from falling into the drain pipe and draining water that accidentally leaks or overflows into the outlet box.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a dual drain outlet box is provided that comprises side-by-side drain outlets with inlet valves connected through either the top or bottom walls of the enclosure.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a dual drain outlet box is provided that comprises a sloped or inclined bottom wall adapted to drain leaked, spillage or overflow water forwardly into a transverse gutter. Drain outlet knockouts in the bottom wall are preferably defined by circumferentially extending, thinned, severable webs and most preferably comprise an upwardly facing protrusion that can be grasped by pliers to facilitate removal during installation. Removal of a knockout provides access to the top edge of a substantially vertical tab that is also defined by thinned wall sections. This tab can also be removed to establish fluid communication between the transverse gutter and a drain outlet. Another distinctive feature of the subject knockout is that it has a outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the underlying drain outlet port, thereby preventing the knockout from accidentally falling into and partially plugging a drain line during installation.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a molded, wall-mounted outlet box is provided for use in connecting angle-stop or in-line valves to potable water supplies and connecting drains to appliances, the outlet box having a recessed section in its back wall to facilitate connection to in-wall water supply lines, particularly flexible connector hoses, within the depth restrictions of a conventional wall.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2952271 (1960-09-01), Dick et al.
patent: 3831624 (1974-08-01), Doumany
patent: 3834781 (1974-09-01), Logsdon
patent: 4069837 (1978-01-01), Jirase
Crisman Charles T.
Hobbs Billy J.
Howe Sam H.
Mitchell Jerry P.
Mulvey Philip A.
Chambers A. Michael
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
McShane Thomas L.
Ross, Esq. Monty L.
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