Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Particular construction or configuration details
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-16
2004-11-23
Nguyen, Tuan N. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Particular construction or configuration details
C004S696000, C052S220800, C285S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06820289
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to methods for installing a tub and tub shoes useful in such methods.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1
shows a typical prior art system for connecting a drain TD of a tub TB to a main drain system MD. A tub shoe TS has a top opening TO connected to the tub drain TD and an exit opening EO connected to a pipe PP that flows to the main drain system MD. A tub overflow line TL also connected to a tub vent drain (see e.g.
FIG. 4
, item
21
) conducts water from the tub TB to the main drain system MD in the event of tub water level approaching overflow. The tub shoe TS extends through a floor FL beneath the tub and through a floor support truss ST (and/or the pipe PP) extends through the truss ST. Typically the tub drain TD has external threads that mate with internal threads at the top of the tub shoe TS. A gasket GK may be used between the tub drain and tub shoe and/or between the tub and the tub shoe.
The tub shoe TS is connected to the tub drain TD after the tub TB is installed above the floor FL. If the tub TB is to rest on a concrete slab, a depression is made in the concrete to accommodate the tub shoe TS. If the floor FL is a wood floor (without trusses like the truss ST), parts of the wood floor are cut, sawed, or notched, as needed, to allow room for the tub shoe TS. Optionally, additional floor support members are added to work around a tub shoe. Often the combined parts of the tub shoe TS and pipe PP are referred to as a “tub shoe”.
Many relatively newer floors use webbed trusses WT (
FIG. 2
) with top and bottom members called “chords” (CT and CB, respectively,
FIG. 2
) and open spaces between chords called “webs”. Some webs are alternating in direction of individual pieces PC (like 2×4's) in an open web design and open areas occur in an open web design as the webs alternate in position; or webs can be made of continuous material like plywood or wafer board. Preferably, the top and bottom chords present a continuous mass that is never interrupted, cut, sawed, notched, or drilled. Plywood webs can be drilled or notched without degrading a truss design.
Typically such floor trusses are spaced equally across a structure, e.g. a room or dwelling and it is not uncommon for a truss or part of a truss like a truss chord to end up in a position between a tub drain TA of a tub TT and a main drain conduit. In such a situation, a tub shoe TE, which must be connected between the tub's drain and the main drain conduit, can occupy the same space as the top chord of a truss (shown schematically in FIG.
2
). If the truss is moved to accommodate the tub shoe (which often occurs), another truss is often added with increased labor demands and at increased cost.
There has long been a need recognized by the present inventor, to avoid the problems encountered when a tub shoe's space requirements conflict with the position of part of a floor truss. There has long been a need, recognized by the present inventor, to permit a tub shoe and/or its associated connections to traverse a truss without degrading truss integrity and strength and without requiring the installation of an additional truss.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention, in certain embodiments, provides a method for installing a tub above a floor that includes a plurality of spaced-apart floor trusses so that a tub shoe, according to the present invention, associated with the tub has a portion that extends through an open web area of a truss so that the truss is not degraded and so that no additional truss is needed. Such a method includes positioning a tub on a floor which includes spaced-apart floor trusses; connecting a tub drain fixture to a first top end in a top upright portion of a tub shoe according to the present invention and, optionally, connecting a second bottom end in a lower portion of the tub shoe at an angle to the upper portion of the tub shoe and connecting the lower portion of the tub shoe to a main drain system using, if necessary, a secondary piece or flow pipe between the second end of the tub shoe and a flow conduit of the main drain system. The tub shoe is of sufficient length that its angled portion aligns with an open web area of the truss; thus the secondary piece or flow pipe extends through an open area of truss web without abutting a top or bottom chord of the truss. Optionally, a hollow extender piece provides the length necessary so that a connection can be made through the truss. As needed appropriate and suitable connections and fittings are used to connect the tub shoe to a secondary piece or a flow pipe and to connect the tub shoe to the conduit of the main drain system.
What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. In addition to the specific objects stated below for at least certain preferred embodiments of the invention, other objects and purposes will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art who has the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide:
New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods for installing a tub over a floor that has spaced-apart floor trusses without degrading truss integrity and without installing additional trusses or over a floor through which an appropriate opening is made through which part of a tub shoe passes;
Such a system and method in which a tub shoe according to the present invention is used which is fashioned, dimensioned, and configured so that it does not abut chords of any adjacent trusses and a lower part of the tub shoe extends through an open web area of a truss and/or a pipe connected to the tub shoe extends through an open web area of a truss and/or extender pieces—upright and/or non-upright—are used to achieve this; and
Such a tub shoe that permits efficient connection of a tub drain to a main drain system when the tub is emplaced over a floor having spaced-apart trusses or a floor with appropriate open areas and methods of using such a tub shoe according to the present invention.
Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their structures and functions. Features of the invention have been broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described below and which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments, given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions of further improvements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2121984 (1938-06-01), Rieger
patent: 2202147 (1940-05-01)
McClung Guy
Nguyen Tuan N.
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