Patent Publication Number: US-9422710-B2

Title: Method for attaching flooring to a drain assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/926,002 entitled “Adjustable Drain” filed Jun. 25, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/827,669 entitled “Adjustable Drain” filed Jul. 12, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,486,260, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/831,855 entitled “Adjustable Drain” filed Jul. 19, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entireties by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a drain assembly, more particularly, to a drain assembly with an adjustable collar. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Floor drain assemblies are widely installed in the floors of structures where there will be or is the potential for water to be present. Floor drain assemblies connect the floor to a waste removal system such as a storm or sanitary sewer. A variety of floor drain assemblies also include a collar that is adapted to secure linoleum or other waterproofing material between the collar and the body of the drain assembly. 
     For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,582 to Wade, et al discloses an adjustable square drain wherein the height of the drain may be adjusted by an adjustable square collar. The square collar is telescopically adjustable. This telescopic adjustment is provided by four set adjustment heights for collar via the use of four different-sized inserted pads. 
     Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,706 to Barnes discloses a fitting assembly for a vinyl-lined pool. A vinyl liner is sandwiched between a clamping ring and a fitting that is placed in a concrete wall of the pool. A fastener is used to secure the sandwiched connection between the vinyl liner and the ring and fitting. 
     However, such prior art drains do not include collars that may be adjusted vertically to accommodate for uneven flooring, and to ensure that the top edges of the drain and grate do not protrude from the floor or are sunken into the floor. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a drain assembly with an adjustable collar that can be adjusted vertically to accommodate for uneven flooring. A further need exists for a drain assembly that can be installed quickly, easily, and efficiently. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a drain assembly comprising a receptacle body with a first end and a second end defining a cavity therebetween and an adjustable collar. The first end of the receptacle body forms an opening into the cavity and includes a peripheral step with a connection flange extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a peripheral flange with a substantially horizontal support portion extending away from the connection flange. The connection flange includes a series of passageways for accommodating fastening members oriented in a first direction, and the connection flange and the peripheral flange define a channel therebetween. The adjustable collar includes a first flange positioned adjacent to the connection flange of the peripheral step, and a second flange extending substantially perpendicular from the first flange. The first flange includes a series of holes which align with the series of passageways in the connection flange. A grate supported by the peripheral step of the first end of the receptacle body may be positioned over the opening of the receptacle body. 
     The passageways may be elongated in a second direction. The first direction may be opposite of the second direction. For instance, the first direction may be horizontal and the second direction may be vertical. 
     Flooring, waterproofing material, linoleum or any combination thereof may be fitted in the channel between the connection and the peripheral flange and secured between the second flange of the adjustable collar and the peripheral flange by tightening the fastening members positioned in the passageways of the connection flange and the series of holes in the first flange. The passageways in the connection flange allow the height of the adjustable collar to be adjusted to accommodate for uneven flooring. 
     The peripheral flange may be connected to the first end of the receptacle body. Further, the second end of the receptacle body may be configured to receive a pipe. The grate, adjustable collar and receptacle body may be constructed from stainless steel, and the receptacle body may have a generally rectangular shape. 
     The present invention is also a method for attaching flooring to a drain assembly. The method includes the steps of providing a drain assembly. The drain assembly includes a receptacle body with a first end and a second end defining a cavity therebetween. The first end forms an opening into the cavity. The receptacle body includes a peripheral step with a connection flange extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. The connection flange includes a series of passageways for accommodating fastening members oriented in a first direction. The receptacle body also includes a peripheral flange with a substantially horizontal support portion extending away from the connection flange. The connection flange and the peripheral flange define a channel therebetween. The drain assembly also includes an adjustable collar comprising a first flange positioned adjacent to the connection flange of the peripheral step and a second flange extending substantially perpendicular from the first flange. The first flange includes a series of holes which align with the series of passageways in the connection flange. Once the drain assembly has been provided, the method continues by fitting flooring material in the channel between the connection flange and the peripheral flange. Next, the fastening members positioned in the passageways of the connection flange and the series of holes in the first flange of the adjustable collar are tightened thereby securing the flooring between the second flange of the adjustable collar and the peripheral flange. 
     The passageways may be elongated in a second direction. The first direction may be opposite of the second direction. For instance, the first direction may be horizontal and the second direction may be vertical. 
     The second end of the receptacle body may be coupled to a pipe. The passageways in the connection flange may be configured to allow the height of the adjustable collar to be adjusted to accommodate for uneven flooring. A grate may be positioned over the opening of the receptacle body. The grate may be supported by the peripheral step. 
     These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. As used in the specification and the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a drain assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drain assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the drain assembly of  FIG. 2  with a grate removed therefrom; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially exploded portion of a view of the drain assembly of  FIG. 3  enlarged for magnification purposes; and 
         FIG. 5  is a portion of a view of the drain assembly of  FIG. 4  enlarged for magnification purposes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a drain assembly, denoted generally as reference numeral  1 , includes a receptacle body  3  with a first end  5  and a second end  7  defining a cavity  9  therebetween, an adjustable collar  11  and a grate  13 . Receptacle body  3  is generally rectangular in shape including four sides. 
     First end  5  of receptacle body  3  forms an opening  15  into cavity  9 , and includes a peripheral step  17  with a connection flange  19  extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. Peripheral step  17  extends substantially perpendicularly from first end  5  of receptacle body  3 . Grate  13  is positioned over opening  15  of receptacle body  3  and supported by peripheral step  17 . First end  5  of receptacle body  3  also includes a peripheral flange  21  with a substantially horizontal support portion  23  extending away from connection flange  19 . Peripheral flange  21  may be welded to first end  5  of receptacle body  3  or may be formed integrally with receptacle body  3  or attached to the receptacle body  3  in any other manner. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , connection flange  19  includes at least one elongated, vertically oriented slot  25  (such as substantially elliptical shaped) for accommodating a horizontally-oriented fastening member  27 . Connection flange  19  extends peripherally around receptacle body  3  and includes four sides. Each side includes any necessary number of slots  25  and corresponding fastening members  27 . The slots  25  include a width W and a length L. The width W is less than the length L. The fastening member  27  includes a shaft  27   a  and a base  27   b . The shaft  27   a  has a diameter that is slightly less than the width W and less than the length L. The shaft  27   a  has a size that is greater than the width W and preferably less than the length L. An exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in the figures, includes three slots  25  and fastening members  27  for two parallel sides and two slots  25  and fastening members  27  for the other two parallel sides. Connection flange  19  and peripheral flange  21  also define a channel or passageway  29  therebetween. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , adjustable collar  11  includes a first flange  31  positioned adjacent to connection flange  19  of peripheral step  17  and a second flange  33  extending substantially perpendicular from first flange  31 . First flange  31  includes a series of holes  35  which align with the series of slots  25  in connection flange  19 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , second end  7  of receptacle body  3  is configured with an opening  36  to allow for a connection of a pipe  39  thereto. Pipe  39  may be connected to opening  36  of second end  7  of receptacle body  3  by welding pipe  39  thereto. Opening  36  may also be configured with threads (not shown) to allow for a threaded connection between opening  36  and pipe  39 . Any other suitable connections of pipe  39  to opening  36  are also envisioned. 
     Drain assembly  1  of the present invention is installed via the following steps. First, drain assembly  1  is positioned in an appropriate sized opening in a floor. Next, flooring material  37  is fitted in channel  29  between connection flange  19  and peripheral flange  21 . Flooring material  37  may be any appropriate flooring material such as, but not limited to, linoleum and waterproofing material. Flooring material  37  is then secured between second flange  33  of adjustable collar  11  and peripheral flange  21  by passing fastening members  27  through slots  25  of connection flange  19  and the series of holes  35  in first flange  31  of adjustable collar  11  and then tightening fastening members  27 . Adjustable collar  11  is secured to connection flange  19  by tightening fastening members  27  inserted through slots  25  of connection flange  19  and holes  35  of adjustable collar  11 . Vertical slots  25  in connection flange  19  allow the height of adjustable collar  11  to be adjusted to accommodate for uneven flooring. Finally, an appropriate sized pipe  39  is securely fastened via welding or any other appropriate method to opening  36  in second end  7  of receptacle body  3 . 
     Drain assembly  1  is positioned in a floor of a structure where there will be or is the potential for water to be present. Pipe  39  allows drain assembly  1  to connect the floor to a waste removal system such as a storm or sanitary sewer. 
     Drain assembly  1  preferably provides a fluid tight seal between itself and flooring material  37 . Further, slots  25  of connection flange  21  allow for vertical adjustments of adjustable collar  11  to compensate for uneven flooring. This allows for drain assembly  1  to be positioned on a floor without protruding from the floor or creating a recess in the floor and creating a pleasant flat appearance between the interface of flooring material  37  and grate  13 , even if flooring material  37  is uneven or sloped adjacent to grate  13 . 
     While the embodiments were described hereinabove in relation to a floor drain assembly, this is not to be construed as limiting as other uses for drain assembly  1  of the present invention have been envisioned, such as for use as a roof drain assembly. Further, while drain assembly  1  has been described as having a generally rectangular shape, this is also not to be construed as limiting as a variety of other configurations of drain assembly  1  have been envisioned, such as circular, triangular and the like. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.