Cover assembly having rapid installation features for covering undersink piping

• US 5,701,929 A
• Filed: 11/01/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Watertite Products Incorporated (Milliken & Company)
• Original Assignee: John A. Helmsderfer
• Inventors: Helmsderfer, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US08/742,507
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 137/375, 137/247.49, 137/797, 285/45, 285/47, 138/155, 138/157, 138/158, 138/159, 138/160, 138/161, 138/120, 138/178
• US Class Current: 137/375
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/12 Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto drainage devices in floors E03F5/04; Sinks wash-basins not connected to the waste-pipe A47K1/04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/32 Holders or supports for basins
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/321 Siphon or angle valve covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/021 comprising a single piece or sleeve, e.g. split sleeve, two half sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/022 with a single slit
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/16 Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/161 Housings for valves, tee pieces, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/168 Flexible insulating material or covers for flanges, junctions, valves or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/18 adapted for joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4606 Even diameter legs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 Jacketed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8811 Frangible

Abstract

An insulative cover assembly for insulating a P-trap drain piping assembly comprises a unitary body including a first section and a second section joined together at a third section, the first section having an body configured to cover a pipe and having a first end, and the second section having a body configured to cover a pipe and having a first end. The third section couples second ends of each of the first and second sections together and comprises a structurally weakened area therein which is manually separateable for forming first and second cover pieces from said unitary body. The ends of the separated first and second sections further include structurally weakened areas for trimming the lengths of the sections during installation whereby the piping assembly is quickly and efficiently covered and insulated generally without the need for special installation tools.

Claims

1. An insulative cover assembly for insulating a P-trap drain piping assembly located under a sink including a straight pipe, a J-shaped pipe, and an L-shaped pipe joined together at junctures by pipe nuts, the cover assembly comprising:

a unitary body including a first section and a second section joined together at a third section, the first section having body configured to cover a pipe and having a first end, end the second section having a body configured to cover a pipe and having a first end;

the third section coupling second ends of each of the first and second sections together to form said unitary body, the third section comprising a structurally weakened area therein which is manually separateable for thereby separating the second ends and forming first and second cover pieces from said unitary body, said structurally weakened area comprising a plurality of perforations extending in a generally circumferential line around the unitary body between the first and second sections;

the first and second sections each including a longitudinal slit thereon for being spread apart and positioned over the pipes when separated into first and second cover pieces;

whereby the piping assembly is quickly and efficiently covered and insulated generally without the need for special installation tools.

2. The insulative cover assembly of claim 1 wherein said first cover piece first end includes an approximately 180°

bend portion.

3. The insulative cover assembly of claim 1 wherein said second cover piece first end includes an approximately 90°

bend portion.

4. The insulative cover assembly of claim 1 wherein said second cover section comprises an end portion for coupling with an end portion of the first cover section when the unitary body is separated into the first and second pieces and positioned on the pipes of the undersink assembly whereby to generally completely cover the undersink assembly.

5. The insulative cover assembly of claim 4 wherein the end portions are configured to abut with each other when the first and second cover pieces are installed on the drain piping assembly.

6. The insulative cover assembly of claim 4 wherein an end portion of one of said first and second cover pieces comprises a structurally weakened area which is manually separateable for removing part of the end portion to vary the length of said end portion.

7. The insulative cover assembly of claim 6 wherein the structurally weakened area of the end portion comprises a sidewall area extending circumferentially therearound and having a second thickness which is less than a first thickness of the end portion for manually separating part of the end portion.

8. The insulative cover assembly of claim 6 wherein the structurally weakened area of the end portion comprises a plurality of perforations extending in a generally circumferential line around the end portion, a part of the end portion being manually separateable along said perforation line.

9. An insulative cover assembly for insulating a pipe of a P-trap drain piping assembly located under a sink, the cover assembly comprising:

a body including a first section and a second section joined together at ends thereof at a third section, the first and second sections each configured for covering respective pipes of the undersink assembly;

the third section comprising a structurally weakened area therein which is manually separateable for thereby separating the ends of the first and second sections and forming first and second cover pieces from said unitary body which may be positioned over respective pipes, said structurally weakened area comprising a plurality of perforations extending in a generally circumferential line around the unitary body between the first and second sections;

whereby the piping assembly is quickly and efficiently covered and insulated generally without the need for special installation tools.

10. The insulative cover assembly of claim 9 wherein said first and second cover pieces each include a longitudinal slit formed therein for being spread apart to position the pieces over the respective pipes.

11. The insulative cover assembly of claim 9 wherein the first section has an elongated body terminating in an approximately 180°

bend at another end of said first section, and the second section has an elongated body terminating in an approximately 90°

bend at another end of said second section.

12. The insulative cover assembly of claim 9 wherein one of said first and second cover pieces comprises an end portion for coupling with a portion of the other of said pieces when the first and second pieces are positioned over the pipes.

13. The insulative cover assembly of claim 12 wherein said end portion comprises a structurally weakened area which is manually separateable for removing part of the end portion to vary the length of said end portion.

14. The insulative cover assembly of claim 13 wherein the structurally weakened area of the end portion comprises a side wall area extending circumferentially therearound and having a second thickness which is less than a first thickness of the end portion for manually separating part of the end portion.

15. The insulative cover assembly of claim 13 wherein the structurally weakened area of the end portion comprises a plurality of perforations extending in a generally circumferential lien around the end portion, a part of the end portion being manually separateable along said perforation line.

16. An insulative cover assembly for insulating a pipe of a P-trap drain piping assembly located under a sink, the cover assembly comprising;

an elongated body having opposing ends, said body terminating in one of an approximately 180°

bend and an approximately 90°

bend at an end of said body section;

the body further comprising an end portion positioned at an end thereof, the end portion including a structurally weakened area for forming a circumferential part of said end portion which is manually separateable from the end portion for adjusting the length of the body for proper fit on a respective pipe when installed thereon, the structurally weakened area comprising a series of perforations extending in a circumferential line around the end portion,

whereby the pipe of the piping assembly is quickly and efficiently covered and insulated generally without the need for special installation tools.

17. The insulative cover assembly of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of structurally weakened areas for separating circumferential parts at discrete lengths along the end portion for selectively varying the length thereof.