Drain and cleanout spacer

• US 5,623,971 A
• Filed: 09/12/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William E. Foernzler
• Original Assignee: William E. Foernzler
• Inventors: Foernzler, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brinson, Patrick F.
• Application Number:
  US08/527,338
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 138/89, 138/89.1-89.4, 138/91, 138/104, 138/96 R, 138/96 T, 215/306, 215/255, 215/278, 220/375, 4/286, 4/293, 52/103, 52/220.1, 116/209
• US Class Current: 138/89
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2005/0413 for height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2005/0416 with an odour seal
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/0406 the odour seal being easily accessible for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/0407 Floor drains for indoor use
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/041 Accessories therefor

Abstract

A drain and cleanout spacer which facilitates height adjustment of the drain strainer and cleanout port after pouring a concrete slab floor. The device comprises two cup-shaped plastic spacers joined by a flexible web. The first spacer has inside dimensions slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the drain strainer, while the second spacer has inside dimensions slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the cleanout port. The spacers are preferably made from a frangible material, such as plastic. The spacers are placed over the drain strainer and the cleanout port prior to pouring the concrete slab floor. After the concrete has hardened, the tops of the spacers are broken away and the height of the drain strainer and the cleanout port are adjusted to the level of the floor. Thereafter, caulking is applied around the dram strainer and the cleanout port in order to seal them to the floor. A flag is coupled to one of the spacers in order to easily signal the location of the device. This reduces the chance that the device will be inadvertently covered with concrete or stepped on by a worker. Also, a flexible web couples the first and second spacer and provides a downward moment to each spacer which acts to keep the spacers in place when the concrete is poured.

Claims

1. A drain and cleanout spacer, comprising:

a first spacer having a round first top section and a hollow cylindrical first rim section coupled circumferentially to the first top section, wherein the first top section and the first rim section together form a first cylindrical space;

a second spacer having a round second top section and a hollow cylindrical second rim section coupled circumferentially to the second top section, wherein the second top section and the second rim section together form a second cylindrical space; and

a flexible web coupling the first and second spacers; and

maintaining proper placement of the spacers on a drain and a cleanout port, respectively, during the pouring of concrete wherein the first and second spacers are formed from a frangible material and;

wherein the first and second spacers are adapted to be removed from said drain and said cleanout port, respectively, after concrete has cured around them, by breaking them into pieces.

2. The drain and cleanout spacer of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongate pole coupled to one of the first and second top section; and

a flag coupled to the elongate pole, wherein the flag is operable to signal a location of the drain and cleanout spacer.

3. The drain and cleanout spacer of claim 1, wherein the flexible web is constructed of rubber.

4. The drain and cleanout spacer of claim 1, wherein the first and second spacers are constructed of plastic.