Abstract:
An adapter tube for strengthening pipe connections between a supply pipe and an apparatus mounted to the supply pipe having a first outwardly tapered section, a second inwardly tapered section and a threaded female adapter wherein when the adapter is threadably secured to a supply pipe a frictional fit between the supply pipe and adapter is created. An O-ring may also be provided on the first tapered section which is modified to have a steeper angle to improve the water tightness of the device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/864,743, filed Nov. 7, 2006. 
     
    
     1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to pipe connections and the like, and more particularly to an adapter tube for providing a more rigid and stronger connection between two pipe sections or a pipe section and an apparatus connected to the end of a supply pipe. 
       2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Items such as shower heads, dispensers for mixing an additive into a water supply and the like are typically secured to the end of a water supply line using a standard male and female thread connection, which connections are in general strong enough to hold the device in place without leaking or coming loose if the device is disturbed only minimally or every so often. However, increasingly such devices are being manufactured with variable settings that can only be set or changed by manually gripping the device and turning a knob or dial selector to change a setting or to activate a particular feature. For example, a typical modern shower head includes multiple spray settings, such as full body spray, jet massage, normal, and pulsating, which settings are typically selected by turning a dial selector on the face of the showerhead. In addition, separate devices for dispensing materials into the water stream, such as bath or shower salts, soap, and oils, are becoming increasingly popular. Such devices often require a permanent connection interposed between the shower pipe or water supply line and the conventional shower head. While such devices are fairly desirable, they add to the overall weight attached to the water supply line, and in addition usually require activation by turning or rotating a knob or the like on the device as well. 
         [0004]    As a result, there is an increased amount of stress placed on the standard threaded male-female connections between the water supply line and such devices, with the unfortunate result being that the connections more quickly and often become loosened due to such increased stress, causing leaks, or they may break altogether, potentially requiring an expensive repair or even causing major damage due to flooding caused by a break. Thus, there is a need for an arrangement that results in a stronger, rigid and more durable connection between a water supply line and a device such as a shower head or dispenser placed on the end of such supply line, which device does not substantially affect the water flow or pressure passing through the line. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a means for creating a stronger and more rigid and durable connection between a pipe line and a device connected to the end of said pipe line. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an adapter tube one end of which is fitted into the end of a water supply line and the other end of which is permanently secured to a device to be connected to the end of said water supply line, increasing the surface area of the connection and creating a more rigid, more durable, and stronger connection between the line and device. 
         [0007]    Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Disclosed is an adapter arrangement for creating sturdier pipe connections comprising an adapter tube having an upper end, a lower end, and an aperture extending longitudinally through the length of said valve. The adapter tube has a first outer surface section which is outwardly tapered extending from the upper end of the tube to a ledge, with the diameter of such outer surface section directly adjacent the ledge being just slightly less than the inner diameter of the supply pipe in which such section is to be secured. A second inwardly tapered outer surface section extends rearwardly from the ledge to approximately the midpoint of the tube, and a third outer surface section adjacent said second outer surface section is used to join the tube permanently to a device to be secured to the pipe line. Also included is a female adapter having an interior aperture, a section of which is dimensioned and tapered to correspond with the second inwardly tapered outer surface section of the adapter tube such that the female adapter is prevented from being removed from the tube, and having female threads arranged to receive male threads on the end of the supply pipe, whereby when the female adapter is secured to the supply pipe via the threads, the matching tapered sections of the female adapter and adapter tube are pressed together to create a frictional fit and sturdier connection between the supply pipe and device. An O-ring may also be provided on the outer surface of the first tapered section to provide an even more water tight fit so that the tube can be used with pipe of slightly different sizes without requiring teflon tape to be wrapped around the threads. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the adapter tube of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a dispenser device to be secured to the end of a water supply line illustrating the adapter tube of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing the adapter tube being used to connect a dispenser device to a water supply line. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention having an O-ring on the pipe engaging end of the adapter tube. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. The invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates the adapter tube  10  of the present invention. Adapter tube  10  is preferably molded from a single piece of plastic material, but could be made from any other suitable material, such as metal. Adapter tube  10  generally has a tubular shape with a rounded outer surface, and includes an upper end  12 , a lower end  14 , and a bore  16 , shown in dotted lines, extending longitudinally through its entire length. As shown generally in  FIG. 2 , upper end  12  is sized so as to fit snugly in the end of a water supply pipe, while lower end  14  is secured preferably permanently to a device to be connected to the water supply pipe, such as the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0015]    More particularly, adjacent upper end  12  of adapter tube  10  is a section  18  the outer surface of which tapers outwardly slightly from upper end  12  to ledge  20 . The diameter  22  of section  18  adjacent ledge  20  is just slightly less than the internal diameter of the supply pipe in which such section of the adapter tube is to be inserted, so that section  18  fits snugly in the supply pipe with the front edge of the pipe opening pressing against ledge  20 . In addition, the diameter of tube  10  at ledge  20  should be slightly less than the external diameter of the supply pipe, so that the tube does not interfere with the attachment of the male threads of the supply pipe connector to a female threaded adapter. Of course, the exact dimensions of section  18  of tube  10  may be varied and are dependent upon the dimensions such as the inner and outer diameter of the supply pipe to which the adapter tube  10  is to be fitted. 
         [0016]    Extending rearwardly from ledge  24  to point  26  is a gradually inwardly tapered section  24 . In addition, extending rearwardly from point  26  is section  28  of adapter tube  10 , the outer diameter of which section is generally constant to rear end  14 . The inner diameter  16  of adapter tube  10  will preferably be consistent as much as possible in most cases with the inner diameter of the valve or the like to which the adapter tube is connected, which of course will also be dependent and variable upon the exact nature of the device being connected to the supply line. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a dispenser device  30  which is to be attached to the end of a water pipe or supply line  32  by a female adapter  34  secured to the dispenser device, and further utilizing adapter tube  10  to create a stronger, more rigid and stable connection between device  30  and pipe  32 . In general, device  30 , which as illustrated is a device for dispensing an additive material such as baths salts or oils into a water supply line, is to be connected permanently or for long term use between shower pipe  32  and showerhead  36 . Since device  30  must be turned on and off by rotating handle  38 , such repeated turning places additional stress on the connection between shower pipe  32  and female adapter  34 , which connection as a result eventually will become loose or even break. Adapter tube  10  thus acts as a reinforcing member for such connection. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing adapter tube  10  in use with respect to the connection between shower pipe  32  and female adapter  34  for connecting dispenser device  30 . First, the outer surface of section  28  of adapter tube  10  is permanently secured, preferably by gluing, to the inner surface  36  of valve  38  of dispenser device  30 . If desired, a section of the walls of valve  38  may be cut away so that section  28  fits snugly in valve  38  with the inner diameter  16  being consistent with or equal to the inner diameter of valve  38 . Alternatively, the adapter may be integrally molded on the end of such valve or line. At the same time, the narrow end  40  of female adapter  34 , which narrow end has an internal taper  42  corresponding to the taper of the outer surface of section  24  of adapter  10 , is fitted around section  24  of adapter tube  10  (see  FIG. 1 ), thereby permanently securing female adapter  34  to dispenser device  30  via adapter tube  10 . 
         [0019]    Situated adjacent internal taper  42  of female adapter  34  is female threaded section  44 , which threads are dimensioned to threadably receive male threads  46  on the free end of water supply line  32 . Thus, to connect water supply line  32  to dispenser device  30 , female adapter  34  is brought into close proximity with supply line  32  so that front section  18  of adapter tube  10  is placed inside supply line  32 . Then as male threads  46  of supply line  32  are interlocked with female threads  44  of female adapter  34 , female adapter  34  is caused to move upwardly towards supply line  32  until the inner surface of tapered section  42  of female adapter  34  is wedged tightly and pressing outwardly against the outer surface of tapered section  24  of adapter tube  10 , creating a surprisingly strong frictional fit. Such arrangement thus not only provides the usual rigid connection of female threads  44  of female adapter  34  with male threads  46  of water supply line  34 , but also adds the further rigid connection between external tapered surface  24  of adapter tube  10  with the inner tapered surface  42  of smaller section  40  of female adapter  34 . A wider extension section  46  of female adapter  34  may also be provided, with the outer surface  48  of such extension, as shown in  FIG. 2 , having a patterned surface which may be easily gripped by a wrench or the like to facilitate tightening of the adapter to water supply pipe or line  32 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein section  18  of the adapter adjacent upper end  12  is provided having more of a cone shape or a steeper angle. In addition, an O-ring  44  will be provided approximately one eighth of an inch from upper end  12 , preferably situated in a groove at such position on the outer surface of the device. It has been found that since there are numerous slightly different sized pipes, previously in order to ensure a water tight fitting several layers or more of teflon tape would be wrapped around the threads and fitting. However, with the addition of O-ring  44 , such tape is no longer necessary as the O-ring provides a water tight fit with the threads when tightened. 
         [0021]    While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.