U.S. patent application number 10/935434 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for water closet flange hub assembly.
Invention is credited to Greene, Dennis J..
Application Number | 20050050623 10/935434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34228832 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050050623 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greene, Dennis J. |
March 10, 2005 |
Water closet flange hub assembly
Abstract
A water closet flange hub assembly for use with a floor. The
assembly includes an annular base having a central through opening
and which is mounted to the floor. A water closet hub includes a
tubular and cylindrical pipe which is dimensioned to be slidably
and adjustably positioned within the base opening. The hub also
includes an outwardly extending toilet mounting flange at one end
of the pipe. A fluid seal is disposed between the pipe of the water
closet hub and the annular base to fluidly seal the base and hub
together at an adjusted position of the water closet hub. The water
closet hub is then secured to the floor by fasteners.
Inventors: |
Greene, Dennis J.; (Lapeer,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, GROH, SPRINKLE
ANDERSON & CITKOWSKI, PC
280 N OLD WOODARD AVE
SUITE 400
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
34228832 |
Appl. No.: |
10/935434 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60501239 |
Sep 8, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/252.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 11/17 20130101;
E03D 11/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/252.4 |
International
Class: |
E03D 011/16; E03D
011/17 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A water closet flange hub assembly for use with a floor
comprising: an annular base having a central through opening, said
base adapted to be mounted to the floor, a water closet hub having
a tubular and cylindrical pipe dimensioned to be slidably and
adjustably positioned through said base through opening, and an
outwardly extending toilet mounting flange at one end of said pipe,
means for securing said hub relative to the floor at an adjusted
position relative to said annular base.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising at least one
seal disposed between said base and said water closet hub.
3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said at least one
seal comprises a resilient O-ring.
4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said water closet
hub includes an annular groove formed around an outer surface of
said cylindrical pipe, said seal being positioned in said annular
groove.
5. The invention as defined in claim 3 and comprising at least two
resilient O-rings, said O-rings being positioned around an outer
surface of said cylindrical pipe of said water closet hub at
axially spaced positions.
6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means
comprises a threaded fastener.
7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said threaded
fastener threadably engages the floor.
8. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein a portion of the
floor overlaps a portion of said annular base and wherein said
threaded fastener threadably engages the floor.
9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said water closet
hub is made of plastic.
10. The invention as defined in claim 9 where said water closet hub
is of a one-piece construction.
11. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said toilet
mounting flange includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots
dimensioned to receive toilet retaining fasteners.
12. A water closet flange hub assembly for use with a floor
comprising: an annular base having a central through opening, said
base adapted to be mounted to the floor, a water closet hub having
a tubular and cylindrical pipe dimensioned to be slidably and
adjustably positioned through said base through opening, and an
outwardly extending toilet mounting flange at one end of said pipe,
fasteners which secure said hub relative to the floor at an
adjusted position relative to said annular base.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/501,239 filed Sep. 8, 2003, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] I. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to plumbing fittings and, more
particularly, to a water closet flange hub assembly.
[0004] II. Description of Related Art
[0005] The previously known water closet flange typically comprise
a tubular and cylindrical plastic pipe having an outwardly
extending flange adjacent its upper end. The pipe is secured,
typically by chemical welding, to the waste plumbing system of the
structure so that the flange is level with the building floor. A
toilet is then secured to the flange by conventional fasteners.
[0006] In some situations, for example where a new floor covering
is installed, the level of the floor changes from its prior level.
When this occurs, the flange is no longer even with the floor
surface. When this occurs, it has been previously necessary to
replace the entire closet flange. Such replacement is highly labor
intensive and therefore expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a water closet hub assembly
which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the
previously known devices.
[0008] In brief, the water closet flange hub assembly is designed
for use with a floor and includes an annular base having a central
through opening. This base is adapted to be mounted to the floor
and is typically constructed of plastic. Once the base is secured
to the floor, the circular through opening faces upwardly through
the floor. The lower portion of the base is fluidly connected to
the waste system for the structure.
[0009] A water closet hub includes a tubular and cylindrical pipe
which is dimensioned to be slidably and adjustably positioned
through the base through opening. This water closet hub includes an
outwardly extending toilet mounting flange adjacent one end. With
the cylindrical pipe of the water closet hub positioned within the
base throughbore, the lower surface of the toilet mounting flange
abuts against the top of the floor.
[0010] At least one and preferably two resilient O-rings are
positioned in between an outer surface of the water closet hub pipe
and an inner surface of the base around the through opening. The
O-ring seals thus fluidly seal the annular base to the water closet
hub at any adjusted position of the water closet hub relative to
the base.
[0011] With the cylindrical pipe of the water closet hub positioned
within the base, the toilet mounting flange is then secured to the
floor using conventional fasteners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] A better understanding of the present invention will be had
upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the
annular base mounted to a floor;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of a
preferred embodiment of the water closet flange; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the
assembled water closet flange hub assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0017] With reference first to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of
the water closet flange hub assembly 10 of the present invention is
shown. The water closet flange hub assembly 10 includes both an
annular base 12 as well as a water closet hub 14. Both the annular
base 12 and water closet hub 14 are preferably of a one-piece
plastic construction.
[0018] With reference now particularly to FIG. 2, the annular base
12 is shown in greater detail and includes a central cylindrical
throughbore 16. The annular base 12, furthermore, is generally
tubular and cylindrical in shape and includes a radially outwardly
extending flange 20 at a position spaced downwardly from an upper
open end 22 of the base 12. A lower end 24 of the base 12 is
fluidly connected to a waste system 26 (only partially illustrated)
of a structure. Typically, the waste system 26 is also constructed
of plastic and the base 12 is secured to the waste system 26 by
chemical welding.
[0019] Still referring to FIG. 2, the hub 12 is installed relative
to a floor 28 of a structure such that an upper surface 30 of the
flange 20 flatly abuts against a lower surface 32 of the floor 28.
The flange 20, and thus the base 12, is then secured to the floor
28 by any conventional means, e.g. threaded fasteners 36, which
extend through openings 38 in the flange 20 and into the floor
28.
[0020] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably a plurality
of circumferentially spaced openings 38 are formed through the
flange 20 in order to provide a firm attachment of the flange 20,
and thus the base 12, to the floor 28. Additionally, as best shown
in FIG. 1, one side 40 of the flange 20 may be removed to enable
the base 12 to fit closely adjacent a building framing member.
[0021] With reference now particularly to FIG. 3, the water closet
hub 14 is illustrated in greater detail. The water closet hub 14
includes a cylindrical pipe 50 having an outside diameter less than
the inside diameter of the base opening 22 (FIG. 2). A radially
outwardly extending toilet mounting flange 52 extends radially
outwardly from an upper end 54 of the water closet hub 14. A
plurality of circumferentially spaced throughbores 56 are formed
through the flange 52.
[0022] Still referring to FIG. 3, at least one and preferably two
annular grooves 58 are formed around an outer periphery 60 of the
pipe 50 adjacent a lower end 62 of the pipe 50. The grooves 58 are
axially spaced from each other and a resilient O-ring seal 64 is
disposed within each groove 58.
[0023] With reference now to FIG. 4, the operation of the present
invention will now be described. With the base 12 secured to the
floor 28 by the fasteners 36 as previously described, the through
opening 22 of the base 12 faces upwardly and adjacent, or slightly
recessed, from an upper surface of the floor 28. The lower end 62
of the water closet hub 14 is then inserted through the through
opening 22 until the toilet mounting flange 52 abuts against the
top of the floor 28. The toilet mounting flange 52 is then secured
to the floor 28 by conventional fasteners.
[0024] Upon insertion of the water closet hub 14 into the base 12,
the resilient O-rings 64 are compressed in between an outer
periphery of the pipe 50 of the water closet hub 14 and an inner
surface of the base 12. In doing so, the seals 64 fluidly seal the
water closet hub 14 and base 12 together.
[0025] When it is desired or necessary to alter the height of the
toilet mounting flange 52, the fasteners securing the toilet
mounting flange 52 to the floor 28 are removed and the hub 14 is
then removed from the base 12. After the flooring 28 has been
finished, e.g. by adding additional flooring, such as tile, to the
top of the floor 28, the water closet hub 14 is then reinserted
into the base 12. In doing so, since the height of the floor 28 has
varied, the degree of insertion of the water closet hub 14 into the
base 12 will vary in accordance with the height of the new floor
28. However, regardless of the insertion of the water closet hub 14
into the base 12, the fluid seals 64 will maintain the seal between
the water closet hub 14 and base 12 regardless of the adjusted
position of the water closet hub 14 relative to the base 12.
[0026] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present
invention provides a water closet hub assembly in which the height
of the toilet mounting flange may be varied as desired to
accommodate floors in which the height of the floor has been
changed, e.g. by the addition of new flooring. Having described my
invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent
to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation
from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *