Water closet fitting installation assembly

• US 6,085,362 A
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rectorseal Corporation (CSW Industrials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Huber
• Inventors: Huber, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/350,636
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 4/252.1-252.6, 285/24, 285/27, 285/45, 138/90, 138/92, 138/94, 138/94.5, 138/96 R, 138/110, 137/68.19, 52/95, 52/96, 52/82
• US Class Current: 4/252.4
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/16 Means for connecting the bowl to the floor, e.g. to a floor outlet

Abstract

A water closet fitting installation assembly for installation and optional testing of a water closet fitting within a poured, permanently set floor. The assembly permits the fitting to be rapidly and efficiently installed flush with the floor surface, without risk of fouling the drainage system or blocking drainage of water from the system with slopped or mispoured floor material such as concrete; facilitates mounting and placement of a water closet stool. Optionally the system further facilitates pressure testing of the drain system after the fitting has been installed, without the necessity of placing permanent structures or other blockages in the drain system. The assembly comprises a water closet fitting; a flange adapted for rotatable engagement of an outer circumference of the fitting, whereby a water closet stool may be attached to the fitting in a desired rotational orientation relative to the fitting by means of mechanical fasteners passing through holes in the flange; a collar adapted to prevent contact between the flange, the fitting, and mechanical fasteners used to mount the stool and the material in which the fitting is installed; and a temporary or removable cover plate adapted to cover the fitting and to prevent unset flooring material from entering the water closet fitting or the drain system on installation, so that the fitting and said the system are kept free from the material, and from potential blockage thereby. Preferred embodiments of the fitting assembly further comprise a test baffle adapted to permit the water closet drain system to be tested for fluid tight integrity after the water closet fitting has been installed, without fouling the drain system with the test baffle or pieces thereof after the test has been completed.

Claims

1. A water closet fitting installation assembly for installation of a water closet fitting within a poured, permanently set floor, the assembly comprising:

a water closet fitting having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to engage a water closet drain system;

a flange adapted for rotatable engagement of an outer circumference of said second end, whereby the flange may be selectably positioned to engage a water closet stool in a desired rotational orientation relative to said fitting by means of mechanical fasteners passing through holes in the flange;

a collar comprising a cupped annular ring adapted to receive said flange and said second end, and thereby to prevent contact between said flange, said mechanical fasteners, and unset material during pouring and setting of the floor; and

a cover plate adapted to removably cover said second end, the cover and the second end adapted to be in flush alignment, when the second end is covered by the cover, with an upper surface of said unset material when the floor is poured;

whereby, upon installation of said fitting in an unset material comprising a poured floor, said removable cover prevents unset material from entering the water closet fitting, so that said fitting and said drain system are kept free from the material.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first end of the fitting comprises a seat circumferentially disposed into an interior surface of said fitting for fluid tight engagement of a test baffle, said seat having a diameter greater than an inside diameter of the fitting;

the apparatus further comprising a test baffle adapted to be received in said interior seat, the baffle comprising a convex central dome, having an unflexed diameter exceeding the inside diameter of said fitting, and being flexible, whereby said baffle may be flexed for removal from said fitting without leaving any portion of said baffle within said drain system, said convex central dome oriented such the dome tends to resist by means of internal compression a pressure applied to said dome from said drain system;

whereby said water closet drain system may be tested for fluid tight integrity without fouling said drain system with the test baffle.

3. The assembly of claim 2, said test baffle further comprising means for removal of the baffle from the fitting and the drain system following testing of the drain system.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said seat and said test baffle comprise means for releasable interengagement of the baffle by the seat.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said means for releasable engagement comprises a dependent member and a receiving member, the dependent member adapted for interfering fit within the receiving member.

6. A water closet fitting installation assembly for installation of a water closet fitting within a poured, permanently set floor, the assembly comprising:

a water closet fitting having a first end adapted to engage a water closet drain system and a second end adapted to engage a water closet stool in a selectably permanent, releasable engagement;

a cover plate adapted to removably cover said second end;

whereby upon installation of said fitting in an unset material comprising a poured floor said removable cover prevents the material from entering the water closet fitting, so that said fitting and said drain system are kept free from the material wherein said temporary cover and said second end are adapted to be in flush alignment, when said second end is covered by said cover, with an upper surface of said unset material when the floor is poured;

wherein said second end of said water closet fitting further comprises a flange adapted to engage a water closet stool by means of mechanical fasteners passing through holes in the flange; and

a collar comprising a cupped annular ring adapted to receive said flange and said second end and thereby to prevent contact between said flange, said mechanical fasteners, and said unset material during pouring and setting of the floor.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said collar and an upper side of said cover are flush with said unset material when the floor is poured.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said flange and said second end comprise distinct pieces, and an inner circumferential surface of said flange is adapted for rotatable engagement with an outer circumferential surface of said second end, whereby the flange may be selectably positioned to engage a water closet stool in a desired rotational orientation relative to said fitting.

9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said first end of said fitting comprises a seat circumferentially disposed into an interior surface of said fitting for fluid tight engagement of a test baffle, said seat having a diameter greater than an inside diameter of the fitting;

the apparatus further comprising a test baffle adapted to be received in said interior seat, the baffle comprising a convex central dome, having an unflexed diameter exceeding said inside diameter of said fitting, and being flexible, whereby said baffle may be flexed for removal from said fitting without leaving any portion of said baffle within said drain system, said convex central dome oriented such the dome tends to resist by means of internal compression a pressure applied to said dome from said drain system;

whereby said water closet drain system may be tested for fluid tight integrity.

10. The assembly of claim 9, said test baffle further comprising means for removal of the baffle from the fitting and the drain system following testing of the drain system.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said seat and said test baffle comprise means for releasable interengagement of the baffle by the seat.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said means for releasable engagement comprises a dependent member and a receiving member, the dependent member adapted for interfering fit within the receiving member.