U.S. patent application number 14/257456 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for tieplate with removable sealing member.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oakville Stamping & Bending Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Oakville Stamping & Bending Ltd.. Invention is credited to Christopher Adam McLeod.
Application Number | 20140310863 14/257456 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51727857 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140310863 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLeod; Christopher Adam |
October 23, 2014 |
TIEPLATE WITH REMOVABLE SEALING MEMBER
Abstract
The present invention provides a removable sealing member
associated with a shower drain or bathtub overflow fitting having a
grip positioned and contoured to facilitate handling during removal
and to resist passage into and through any downstream drainage
plumbing.
Inventors: |
McLeod; Christopher Adam;
(Oakville, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oakville Stamping & Bending Ltd. |
Oakville |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
Oakville Stamping & Bending
Ltd.
Oakville
CA
|
Family ID: |
51727857 |
Appl. No.: |
14/257456 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61814515 |
Apr 22, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03B 7/003 20130101;
E03C 2001/2413 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/293 |
International
Class: |
A47K 1/14 20060101
A47K001/14 |
Claims
1. A tieplate for threaded securement to a head fitting through an
overflow hole in a wall of a vessel, said tieplate comprising: a
pipe for extending through said hole; a tiplate flange extending
radially outwardly about a first end of said pipe for engaging said
wall about said hole; said pipe having a second end opposite said
first end; said second end having threads for said threaded
securement to said head fitting; a sealing member extending across
said pipe adjacent said first end and sealingly coupled to said
pipe through a frangible joint; said sealing member having a grip
extending therefrom outwardly of said pipe for facilitating
manipulation of said to sever said frangible join for removal of
said sealing member.
2. The tieplate of claim 1 wherein said grip is dimensioned to
avoid passage of said grip and sealing member through said head
fitting.
3. The tieplate of claim 1 wherein a mating flange extends radially
outwardly from said tieplate flange away from said pipe to define a
gap between said mating flange and said wall to slidably register
with a groove in a faceplate mountable over said mounting
flange.
4. The tieplate of claim 2 wherein a mating flange extends radially
outwardly from said tieplate flange away from said pipe to define a
gap between said mating flange and said wall to slidably register
with a groove in a faceplate mountable over said mounting flange.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61,814,515 filed Apr. 22, 2013. The entire
disclosure of the above application is incorporation herein by
reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to plumbing fixture fittings with
removable sealing members used for pressure testing of plumbing
installations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In new home construction, it is becoming common to pressure
test plumbing fittings prior to exposure to water. Generally,
certain fixtures such as drain and overflow fixtures are sealed and
the associated system is pressurized with air. The air pressure
(typically on the order of 15 psi) is monitored over a period of
time. If it remains constant then it is reasonable to conclude that
there are no fluid leaks within the system.
[0004] Sealing is effected in various ways. For example, a
removable membrane or test cap may be adhesively or mechanically
secured to the relevant fixtures, which are typically bath
overflows and shower drains. Alternatively, as shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,901,611 B2, an internal break out test plug may be provided.
A disadvantage to the former is the risk of rupture during
installation. A disadvantage of the latter is difficulty in
manipulating the break out plug (which is basically in the "throat"
of the fitting) to avoid it inadvertently falling into the
associated drainage plumbing necessitating significant encroachment
upon already installed walls and floors to access and remove the
offending plug.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a removable sealing member
associated with a shower drain or bathtub overflow fitting having a
grip positioned and contoured to facilitate handling during removal
and to resist passage into and through any downstream drainage
plumbing.
[0006] A tieplate is provided for threaded securement to a head
fitting through an overflow hole in a wall of a vessel. The
tieplate has a pipe for extending through the hole and a tieplate
flange extending radially outwardly about a first end of the pipe
for engaging the wall about the hole. The tieplate has a second end
opposite the first end, the second end has threads for the threaded
securement to the head fitting. A sealing member extends across the
pipe adjacent the first end and is sealingly coupled to the pipe
through a frangible joint. The sealing member has a grip extending
therefrom outwardly of the pipe for facilitating manipulation of
the sealing member to sever the frangible membrane for removal of
the sealing member.
[0007] The grip is preferably dimensioned to prevent passage of the
grip and the sealing member through the head fitting.
[0008] The tieplate may be provided with a mating flange extending
radially outwardly from the tieplate flange away from the pipe to
define a gap between the mating flange and the wall of the fixture
to slidably register with a groove in a faceplate mountable over
the mounting flange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described
in detail below with reference to the accompanying illustrations
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating
a tieplate according to the present invention mounted to a head
fitting;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tieplate according to the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front elevation corresponding to FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a section on line A-A of FIG. 3; and,
[0014] FIG. 5 is a detail of the encircled area B in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] One aspect of the present invention relates to a tieplate
for use in association with a slide-on groove and flange
faceplate-tieplate overflow sub-assembly of a sink or bath drain
assembly of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,266,735 B2, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
[0016] The tieplate according to the present invention is generally
illustrated by reference 10 in the accompanying illustrations. The
tieplate is designed for threaded securement to a head fitting 100
illustrated in FIG. 1. The tieplate 10 and head fitting 100
assembly would typically be used as an overflow for a bathtub
although a similar arrangement might find application as a drain
for a shower.
[0017] The tieplate 10 has a pipe 12 for extending through a hole
in a wall of vessel such as a bathtub or a floor such as in a
shower. The tieplate has a flange 14 extending radially outwardly
about a first end 16 of the pipe 12. The head fitting 100 has a
corresponding flange 114. The head fitting flange 114 and flange 14
capture the wall of the vessel therebetween about the periphery of
the hole to secure the tieplate and head fitting assembly to the
vessel (not illustrated). Suitable seals may be interspersed
between the vessel and the flange 14 (and possibly also the flange
114).
[0018] The pipe may have a second end 18 opposite the first end 16
which is threaded, as illustrated, for threaded securement to the
head fitting 100. Typically, the pipe will have external threads
and the head fitting will be provided with internal threads.
[0019] A sealing member 20 extends across the pipe 12 adjacent the
first end 16. The sealing member is sealingly coupled to the pipe
through a frangible joint 22 so as to provide an air tight
seal.
[0020] The sealing member 20 has a grip 30 extending therefrom
outwardly of the pipe 12 for facilitating manipulation of the
sealing member 20 to sever the frangible joints 22 for removal of
the sealing member 20.
[0021] As the grip 30 projects outwardly from the tieplate 10, it
can be grasped with pliers or another suitable tool for removal
with little risk of the sealing member and the grip falling into
the head fitting, which might require the cutting of walls or
floors to access the installation for removal of the sealing member
from the head fitting or downstream drainage plumbing.
[0022] Given that removal of the sealing member 20 will typically
leave a rough or jagged edge, fittings of the present type are best
suited for applications where a faceplate (bathtub overflow) or
drainage grate (shower drain) is mounted over the opening into the
pipe which would inhibit visual and tactile access to the rough or
jagged edge portions.
[0023] In order to facilitate the mounting of a faceplate over the
tieplate 10 of the present invention an arrangement such as taught
by U.S. Pat. No. 8,266,735 B2 may be utilized. The arrangement
provides for a mating flange 40 which extends radially outwardly
from the tieplate flange 14 away from the pipe 12 to define a gap
42 between the mating flange 40 and the wall of the fixture to
slidably register with a groove in a faceplate of the type
described in the above U.S. patent which is mountable over the
mounting flange 40.
[0024] The tieplate 10 may be provided with a protrusion 50 for
engaging a wrench to facilitate tightening of the tieplate 50 into
the head fitting 100. The protrusion 50 has hexagonally disposed
flats for registering with the wrench.
[0025] An "O" ring 60 may be provided between the tieplate 10 and
the head fitting 100 to avoid fluid leakage therebetween. Use of
the "O" ring would avoid the need of a seal between the flange 114
and the wall of the vessel as long as a seal is present between the
flange 14 and the wall of the vessel. Alternatively, sealing of the
tieplate to the head fitting may be accomplished with a suitable
sealant such as a silicone based sealant.
[0026] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments and
examples of the apparatus and process of the invention have been
presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to
limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of
the embodiments encompassed within the claims and/or their
equivalents.
* * * * *