Method and apparatus for plumbing a tub and shower

An apparatus for maintaining a tub and shower valve in a desired position during construction of a bathroom prior to the tub and shower being ready to be trimmed out. The apparatus includes a base in the form of a planar plate having an opening for receiving a portion of the valve and an aperture for receiving a fastener; and a flange for handling the apparatus attached to the base. The method includes roughing in a tub and shower valve, securing the valve in place with a special fitting, removing the special fitting, and installing the trim package to finish the tub and shower.

BACKGROUND

(1) Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to a method of plumbing a tub and shower, and also to a special fitting for performing the method.

(2) Description of Prior Art

The commercial process of new home construction on site may require that the vertical studs of bathroom walls be erected prior to installation of the type of bath and shower tub that extends vertically beyond the height of water flow control fixtures. In such cases, plumbing to the tub, including a valve for controlling the flow of water to the tub and shower may be ‘roughed in’ prior to the installation of drywall or other finished wall material. This roughing in process is generally performed by a plumber that visits the site of the construction and then leaves the roughed in tub and shower until drywall installers, painters, electricians and the like complete their work in the bathroom. The plumber then returns to finish the tub and shower with trim pieces such as showerheads, tub spouts, tub and shower valve controls and the like.

FIG. 1shows a roughed in tub and shower10including a valve25connected to a water line71for a showerhead and a water line72for a tub spout. The valve25is not secured in place inFIG. 1and is therefore subject to becoming displaced during the plumber's absence to a position behind the tub64where the valve25is not accessible for attaching trim pieces when the plumber returns. To prevent this displacement from occurring, it is common to attach with a pair of fasteners a finish trim piece49to the valve25on the inside of the tub64, which is installed against the wall studs83, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

While this process has proven be satisfactory for securing the valve25in place, the trim piece49is often damaged during work performed in the bathroom by other workers during the plumber's absence. Also, the plumber may be required to purchase the trim piece49as part of a larger package prior to roughing in the tub and shower, and stock the remainder of the pieces in the larger package until the bathroom is ready to be trimmed out, which often leads to loss of or damage to some of the pieces in the larger trim package. Furthermore, if a homebuyer purchases the home in the interim and desires a different trim package than that of the one installed during roughing in, a different one of the larger packages may have to be ordered and the trim piece49replaced. Thus, there is a need for a method for plumbing a tub and shower of a new home construction that overcomes these problems.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides an improved method of plumbing a tub and shower, and also provides embodiments of a special fitting for performing the improved method. The method includes roughing in a tub and shower valve and securing the valve in place in a tub with a special fitting, which may take the form of a plate having flanges connected thereto at obtuse angles so that a plurality of the fittings can be stacked in nested relationship. The method also includes waiting until drywall or other finish walls are installed and ordering a trim package for the tub and shower. The special fitting is removed and the trim package installed to finish the tub and shower. This process may avoid the expense of stocking the trim package during the interim between roughing in and finishing the shower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, such terms as “forward,” “left,” “upwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Furthermore, the illustrations and descriptions provided are for describing embodiments of methods and apparatuses for plumbing tubs and showers and are not for limiting the methods and apparatuses to any particular embodiment shown or described.

FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate a method of plumbing a tub and shower10using a special fitting12for securing a tub and shower valve25in position in the tub64. With reference again toFIG. 1, the valve25is in position in the tub64but is subject to being displaced. InFIG. 4, a special fitting12, rather than the trim piece49shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, is attached to the valve25to secure it in place in the tub64andFIG. 5is an enlarged view of the tub64with the special fitting12installed. By using the special fitting12, the expense of purchasing the piece49, and thus, the larger package of trim pieces, which typically includes a showerhead and tub spout, before roughing in the bath and shower, can be avoided.

FIG. 6is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the fitting12showing a base2in the form of a plate that is a substantially planar disk having an opening10for receiving the valve and apertures13and15for receiving fasteners. Collars14and16are attached to the base2to form another pair of apertures17and19disposed in coaxial relationship with apertures13and15. The embodiment of the fitting shown inFIG. 6also includes a flange4circumscribing the base2and extending outwardly there from to facilitate handling the fitting12.

FIG. 7is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the fitting12showing the base2attached to the flange4. The base includes the apertures13and15for receiving fasteners.

FIGS. 8 and 9show additional embodiments412and512of the fitting12. The opening10formed by the fitting412includes an indentation418.

FIG. 10shows another embodiment of the special fitting112that can also be used to perform the method. The fitting112shown inFIG. 8also includes a base102including an opening110for receiving a portion of a valve and apertures113and115for receiving fasteners. The fitting112also includes and a flange104attached to the base102.

FIG. 11is another embodiment of the special fitting212showing a base202including an opening210and apertures213and215for receiving fasteners. The fitting212also includes a flange214attached to the base202.

FIG. 12shows a plurality of the special fittings12a,12band12cstacked with each fitting above the bottom one nested in the fitting below. Each flange4a,4band4cis attached to a base2a,2bor2cin a manner that forms an obtuse angle, such as the angle51, between the flange4aand the base2ato which it is attached. This permits the bases2aand2bof the fittings12aand12b, respectively, to be disposed above and in substantially parallel relation to the bases2band2c, in substantially horizontal planes that are above the bottom edges39band39cof the bases2band2c, respectively. The planes are also below the top edges37band37c, respectively, of the flanges4band4cattached to the bases2bor2cbelow, while the openings10a,10band10cin the bases2a,2band2care in substantially coaxial relationship with one another.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. All such modifications and improvements have not been described herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but may nonetheless properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.