Receptacles – In ground – nontank container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-07-24
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
In ground, nontank container
C206S518000, C206S519000, C220S004240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264056
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to certain improvements in tub boxes used to form a cavity in a concrete slab for installing a tub waste and drain or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tub boxes are commonly used to form a cavity in a concrete slab for receiving a trap for a bath tub or the like so the tub can easily be connected to the drain system. Typically such tub boxes comprise two identical plastic housing portions fitted together, each including continuous side walls forming a hollow enclosure open at one end and closed at the other end. Surrounding the open end of each housing portion is a radially outwardly protruding edge flange adapted to be placed in mating engagement with the edge flange of another housing portion to form a joint therebetween.
Suitable round knockouts are provided in one or more side walls, and if desired, in the closed end wall of each housing portion. When removed, these knockouts provide one or more round access openings for passage of a pipe used to connect the trap within the tub box to the drain system. Also, it is generally known to extend the knockouts in the side walls all the way to the open end of each housing portion so that when one of the knockouts is removed, the plumber can locate the pipe in the resulting knockout opening without having to insert the end of the pipe through the knockout opening.
In some installations the plumber may want a round knockout opening in a side wall of the tub box in order to provide a close fit with a round pipe extending through the opening, whereas in other installations the plumber may want the convenience of having the knockout opening extend all the way to the open end of the housing portion to eliminate having to insert the end of the pipe through the opening. This has the drawback that the same tub box could not be used for both applications.
Another drawback of previous tub boxes is that the joint that is formed between the engaging edge flanges of two housing portions is not always effective in keeping concrete or dirt that is placed around the tub box after installation from entering the tub box between the flange portions.
Moreover, when adhesive is used to bond the edge flanges of the housing portions together to secure the trap cavity within the box from concrete, rodents and vermin, it is sometimes difficult to keep a bead of adhesive in place on the edge flanges of the housing portions before the edge flanges are pressed into engagement with each other.
Further, it is somewhat difficult to cut off the top portions of previous tub boxes that protrude above the concrete slab. Also, there is a risk that if the top portions of the tub boxes are inadvertently kicked or hit before they are cut off, they might break off with a jagged break and have to be dug out and replaced.
Another disadvantage of previous tub boxes is that the housing portions sometimes stick together when stacked during storage and shipping, making it difficult to pull them apart when desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the tub box of the present invention is formed from two substantially identical plastic housing portions each including one or more round knockouts in one or more side walls of the housing portions and one or more edge flange knockouts in an edge flange surrounding an open end of the housing portions and the side walls in line with the round knockouts and terminating in close proximity to the round knockouts. This gives the plumber/installer the flexibility of being able to remove only the round knockouts to provide round openings in one or more side walls, or to remove both the round knockouts and associated edge flange knockouts to extend the knockout openings all the way to the open end of the housing portions if desired.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the round knockouts in the side walls of the housing portions are formed by a thinner frangible section than the edge flange knockouts to permit removal of the round knockouts without removing the edge flange knockouts.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, pull tabs are provided on the round knockouts in the side walls of the housing portions to facilitate removal of the round knockouts from the housing portions.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the pull tabs are located a predetermined distance from the closed end of each housing portion to limit the amount of nesting of the housing portions inside one another when stacked for storage and shipment so the housing portions won't stick together when they are pulled apart.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, reinforcement ribs are provided on the underside of the edge flange of each housing portion in circumferentially spaced relation to the pull tabs which terminate in line with the pull tabs to provide in conjunction with the pull tabs a series of stacking stops limiting the amount of nesting of the housing portions inside one another.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a lip protrudes axially outwardly from the radial outer edge of the edge flange around one half of the periphery of the open end of each housing portion whereby when the edge flanges of two housing portions are placed in engagement with one another, the lips of each housing portion overlap the outer edge of the other housing portion to act as a dam to prevent concrete or dirt that is placed around the tub box after installation from seeping into the tub box between the engaging edge flanges.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the axially protruding lip and adjacent edge flange of each housing portion form a generally L-shape pocket or recess for holding a bead of adhesive on the edge flanges of two housing portions before the edge flanges are pressed into engagement with each other to permanently bond the housing portions together.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially extending score lines are provided in the side walls of each housing portion for ease of breaking or sawing off the top portion of the tub box protruding above a concrete slab that is poured around the tub box after installation.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the score lines are in the exterior of the side walls of the housing portions rendering them easily visible from the exterior of the tub box.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, concentric smaller and larger diameter knockouts may be provided in the closed end wall of each housing portion, the smaller diameter knockout being formed by a thinner frangible section than the larger diameter knockout to permit removal of the smaller diameter knockout without removing the larger diameter knockout.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pull tab protrudes outwardly from the small diameter knockout in the closed end wall of each housing portion to aid in removal of the smaller diameter knockout without removing the larger diameter knockout.
These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2986300 (1961-05-01), Parrish
patent: 2999611 (1961-09-01), Paulson
patent: 3251460 (1966-05-01), Edmonds
patent: 3593344 (1971-07-01), Logsdon
patent: 3596695 (1971-08-01), Stevenazzi
patent: 3620403 (1971-11-01), Rump
patent: 4742585 (1988-05-01), Logsdon
patent: 4925045 (1990-05-01), Logsdon
Moy Joseph M.
Oatey Co.
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
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