Pipe joints or couplings – Water closet type – floor-supported
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-02
2001-12-25
Nicholson, Eric K (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Water closet type, floor-supported
C285S344000, C285S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332632
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This patent relates to closet flanges. More particularly, this patent relates to a closet flange which can installed on top of a sewage drain pipe without the use of tools to form a watertight seal, in place of conventional cast iron closet flanges.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Conventional cast iron closet flanges traditionally have been connected to the top end of a sewage drain pipe by means of a lead and oakum sealed joint. This method entails beating down oakum fiber with a chisel or other implement to seal the joint between the drain pipe and the closet flange, pouring hot lead into the joint, and beating down the cooled lead. This method of installation is difficult, time consuming and costly.
Several easier-to-use replacement closet flanges have been proposed. For example, my U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,817 describes an improved closet flange with telescoping ability that can replace a 4-inch cast iron closet flange and does not require caulking or a lead and oakum seal. Instead, the flange slips inside the drain pipe and is tightened with three bolts. While this flange is useful where telescoping capability is desired, it requires a tool to tighten the bolts.
Adorjan U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,619 describes a closet flange having grooves of varying diameters and a complex-shaped gasket that can be stretched over the flange to fit in a selected groove. The seal is placed within the proper groove before the flange is installed in the drainage pipe. A disadvantage of the Adorjan flange is that it requires trial and error to determine the proper groove in which to place the gasket.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved closet flange that can replace conventional cast iron closet flanges requiring a lead and oakum sealed joint.
A further object is to provide a closet flange that can be installed without the use of tools.
A still further object is to provide a closet flange having a movable o-ring seal which, as the closet flange is installed, provides a compression fit between the closet flange and the drain pipe.
Another object is to provide a closet flange which can be used with Schedule 30 or Schedule 40 P.V.C. or A.B.S. pipe as well as cast iron pipe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a closet flange comprising a shoulder portion and a substantially cylindrical body extending from the shoulder portion in a downstream direction. The body has a smooth tapered downstream portion configured to receive an elastic seal or o-ring. The o-ring provides a watertight seal between the closet flange and the pipe. O-rings of various outer diameters may be provided to accommodate pipes having different internal diameters.
The flange is installed without tools by pushing the flange into the end of a drain pipe. When the flange is inserted into the pipe the o-ring travels up the tapered portion of the flange body. The flange is inserted until a good watertight seal is achieved between the o-ring and the pipe. The farther the flange is pushed into the drain pipe, the tighter the watertight seal becomes.
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Bullwinkel Partners Ltd.
Nicholson Eric K
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