Patent Publication Number: US-2012025517-A1

Title: Floor Drain Stabilizer Ring

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/368,118, filed Jul. 27, 2010, on which priority of this patent application is based and which provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the installation of plumbing fixtures, and more particularly, to a method, apparatus and assembly for installing floor drains. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Unlike other types of plumbing fixtures, floor drains install directly into a concrete floor. Once installed, the rim of the fixture lies flush with the upper surface of the floor. In that position, liquid at floor level flows directly into the fixture and through an outlet at the bottom of the drain pipe beneath the floor. Such fixtures find widespread use and many floor drains appear in the concrete floors of buildings. Some of these buildings are many stories high and have many drains throughout. 
     Frequently, in multi-level buildings, the drain pipes extend through the incomplete skeleton structure. There is no floor to attach a stabilizing structure to make a drain “at grade”. The prior art stabilizing structure couples with the pipe and requires a floor for support for the pipe to further support the drain. In another application, after placing a sleeve over each drain pipe, the installer carefully fills the sleeves with sand to prevent collapse during the process of pouring the concrete floor. Once the sand is covering the drain pipe at each installation location, then workers can pour concrete and finish it at a predetermined floor level. The prior art installations involved time-consuming steps and is not possible in some situations. Therefore, a new and more efficient, less costly and less time-consuming way to install fixtures, such as floor drains, is sought. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect, the present invention provides for a stabilizing collar which is adapted to fasten to a drain pipe for stabilizing a drain. The stabilizing collar includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the body defines an opening for receipt of a pipe. The body defines an engagement member attached for securing the body to a pipe. The body further defines a support receiving portion adapted to receive a support member for supporting a drain on the stabilizing collar. The body may comprise a ring. Alternatively, the body may comprise segment. The support receiving portion may define a support receiving member which is integral with the body. The support receiving member may be in the form of a lug or boss, further defining a passageway therethrough. The support boss may include an engagement member to engage a support member. Alternatively, the support receiving member may further includes a threaded portion to coact with a threaded support member or it may not be threaded, in which case, a threaded ledge can hold a support member. 
     The body of the stabilizing collar may be a ring. An engagement member can be provided further including an adjustment member to contact a pipe. Alternatively, the stabilizing collar may define a segment having an adjustable diameter. A hinge may divide the segment and separate the stabilizing collar into two separate segments where the hinge attaches the two segments together. An engagement member may be present to adjustably press the two segment ends together, thereby adjusting the diameter. The stabilizing collar can further include a support member to coact with the support receiving members. 
     The support receiving members can be threaded support receiving members to receive threaded support members. Alternatively, a threaded support member can be received in a support receiving member where the support member is threadedly received by a threaded ledge. The threaded ledge can be a threadably adjusted nut that sits upon the support receiving member. In the alternative, the support receiving member can be sandwiched between two threadedly adjustable members threadedly attached to the support member. The inner surface of the stabilizing collar can define the pattern for providing a frictional connection between the stabilizing collar and the drain pipe. The stabilizing collar can be made of cast metal or plastic. 
     The present invention also provides for a stabilizing assembly for stabilizing a floor drain to a pipe. The stabilizing assembly includes a stabilizing collar and a receptacle body. The stabilizing collar, as discussed previously, has a body which has an outer surface and an inner surface defining an opening for adjusting the stabilizing collar to fit a pipe. The body further includes support receiving members for securing a support member for supporting the drain. Support members are received by the support receiving members and are attached to the body of the stabilizing collar and extend longitudinally from the stabilizing collar providing support for the receptacle body. The stabilizing assembly can further include a pipe, the opening in the body of the stabilizing collar adapted to secure to the pipe. 
     The present invention provides for a method of installing a stabilizing collar to stabilize a receptacle body of a drain. The method includes first providing a drain, the receptacle body thereof having a first end and a second end as in the previously discussed stabilizing collar assembly. Next, a stabilizing collar is coupled to a drain pipe. Then a support member is coupled to the stabilizing collar using one of several methods, such as an adjustment member received in an engagement member attached using a nut or threadable support members for coacting with threaded support receiving members. Next the receptacle body is attached to the pipe, leveled and the support members are adjusted so that at least one contacts the receptacle body and therefore provides support to keep the receptacle body at the same slope as the floor level. A further step includes concrete being poured onto the floor foundation while the stabilizing collar stabilizes the floor drain, thereby covering the stabilizing collar with the concrete. 
     According to a second aspect, the invention provides for a stabilizing collar for stabilizing a drain to a drain pipe wherein the drain pipe extends below a floor surface. The drain includes a receptacle body coupled to a support member. The receptacle body has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion located between the first and second portions. The receptacle body is configured such that the first portion can be located at or above the floor surface, and the second and third portions can be located below the floor surface and wherein the third portion includes downwardly opening bosses. The stabilizing collar comprises a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an opening configured for receipt of a portion of the drain pipe extending below the floor surface and an engagement member configured for cooperation with at least one adjustment member. The adjustment member can be adjustable with respect to a diameter of the drain pipe to secure the body on the drain pipe. The body defines a support receiving portion adapted to receive the support member coupled to the downwardly opening bosses within the third portion of the receptacle body of the drain so that the support member can support the drain on the stabilizing collar from beneath the floor surface. The support receiving member can comprise a plurality of bosses spaced apart radially along the outer surface of the body. According to one design, the plurality of bosses can comprise four bosses spaced at approximately 90° intervals about the support receiving member. Each of the bosses can include an engagement member and an adjustment member to engage the support member within the boss and the adjustment member is configured to adjust the diameter of the bosses. According to one design, the third portion of the receptacle body can comprise an underside of a flange of the receptacle body and the downwardly opening bosses can comprise threaded passageways that are drilled and tapped on the underside of a flange of the receptacle body. 
     The present invention also provides for a stabilizing assembly for stabilizing a floor drain to a pipe wherein the drain includes a receptacle body having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion of the receptacle body can be located at or above a floor surface and the second and third portions of the receptacle body can be located below the floor surface, wherein the second end of the receptacle body is adapted to fasten to the pipe at a location below the floor surface and the third portion includes downwardly opening bosses. The stabilizing collar, as discussed previously, has a body which has an outer surface and an inner surface defining an opening for adjusting the stabilizing collar to fit a pipe. An engagement member is associated with the body of the stabilizing collar and adapted to secure the body of the stabilizing collar on the pipe. The engagement member is configured for cooperation with at least one adjustment member wherein the adjustment member is adjustable with respect to a diameter of the pipe, and a support receiving portion is adapted to receive a support member to support the drain on the collar. At least one support member is provided for stabilizing the receptacle body relative to the stabilizing collar. The support member has a first end and a second end. The first end is configured for cooperation with the support receiving portion of the stabilizing collar at a location beneath the floor surface. The at least one support member longitudinally extends from the stabilizing collar such that the second end engages the downwardly opening bosses in the third portion of the receptacle body of the drain. According to one embodiment, the plurality of bosses can comprise four bosses spaced approximately 90° degrees apart about the circumference of the stabilizing collar. According to one design, the third portion of the receptacle body can comprise an underside of a flange of the receptacle body and the downwardly opening bosses can comprise four bosses for cooperating with the four bosses of the stabilizing collar and wherein the four downwardly opening bosses of the receptacle body include threaded passageways that are drilled and tapped on the underside of a flange of the receptacle body. The bosses and the engagement members with the adjustment members can be alternatingly interspersed about the stabilizing collar. 
     In addition, in a further step, a desired slope for a receptacle body is attained by adjusting the receptacle body to have a slope in accordance with the slope of a floor and the support members can be adjusted longitudinally to position the underside of the receptacle body causing the top of the receptacle body to attain a slope in conjunction with a floor level. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a stabilizing collar made in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a drain assembly including a drain pipe and a receptacle body in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a stabilizing collar made in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view, partly in section of the installed stabilizing collar of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are top elevational views of a side-by-side comparison of the stabilizing collar shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and another embodiment of a stabilizing collar made in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the installed stabilizing collar  200  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention is a stabilizing collar  10  used to support a receptacle body  26  of a prior art floor drain. The stabilizing collar  10  includes a ring-shaped body  12  having an inner surface A and an outer surface B. The inner surface A of the stabilizing collar  10  of the body  12  defines an opening  14  having a diameter D. The body  12  of the stabilizing collar  10  defines threaded holes  20  acting as engagement members, a plurality of which, are spaced radially along the outer surface B of body  12 , which receive threaded fasteners  19  acting as adjustment members, preferably screws or set screws. In this case, three threaded holes  20  are provided spaced 120° apart. The body  12  of the stabilizing collar  10  further defines support receiving portions  22  (shown in phantom), which include a plurality of axially opened bosses  16  acting as engagement members, integral to body  12  and spaced apart radially along the outer surface B of body  12  of the stabilizing collar  10 . In this case, three bosses  16  are provided, spaced 120° apart. The bosses  16  and the threaded holes  20  are circumferentially offset from each other. The axially opened bosses  16  define a passageway  18 . The axially opened bosses  16  further define threaded holes  21 , engagement members which receive threaded fasteners  24 , preferably screws or set screws acting as adjustment members, which adjust into the axially opened bosses  16  in order to contact support members  28 , which are received by passageways  18 , thereby securing support members  28  of stabilizing collar  10 . In another embodiment, not shown, the axially opened bosses can define threaded passageways for threadedly receiving, attaching and securing threaded support members. With further reference to  FIG. 1 , the stabilizing collar  10  can be made of plastic, cast iron, or other metals or polymeric materials. 
       FIG. 2  shows a floor drain support assembly  30  that includes a receptacle body  26  of a drain  50  coupled to a support collar  10  coupled to support members  28  and pipe P. Pipe P can be made of any material including, but not limited to, cast iron pipe, steel pipe, plastic pipe, extra heavy soil pipe and service weight pipe. The stabilizing collar  10  which has a diameter D greater than a diameter of pipe P is attached to pipe P when a threaded fastener  19  (such as a screw or a set screw), received by threaded holes  20  and threadably adjusted into threaded holes  20  until it contacts the outer surface of pipe P thereby securing stabilizing collar  10  to pipe P. Receptacle body  26  has a bottom end  34 , which is attached to pipe P. Support members  28  having a first end  27  are secured to the stabilizing collar  10  via the passageways  18  of the axially opened bosses  16 . Support members  28  can be made from threaded rod or rebar. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the first end  27  of support members  28  are received by passageways  18  of axially opened bosses  16  and the threaded fasteners  24  are adjusted into the engagement members  21  to contact and secure the support members  28 . Alternatively, support members (not shown) may have threadedly adjustable first ends for coacting with threaded passageways of support receiving members and can be threadedly attached. The second end  29  of support members  28  are placed in contact with receptacle body  26  of drain  50 . Receptacle body  26  can have downwardly opening bosses (not shown) for contacting the second end  29  of the support members  28 . The support drain body  26  can be, for example, a Zurn Z415-B drain. As shown in  FIG. 2 , axially opened bosses  16  are integral to the body  12  of stabilizing collar  10 . After the support members  28  are attached to the stabilizing collar  10  which is attached to pipe P and the receptacle body  26  is placed onto the second end  29  of support members  28 , concrete can be poured around drain  50  to a floor level  9  covering the floor drain support assembly  30  to the level of a floor foundation  11 . Typically, the floor drain pipe assembly extends above ground level or at grade. A portion of the drain  50  can be encased in concrete. The stabilizing collar  10  acts to stabilize drain  50  during the installation process. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a second apparatus having an inner surface A′ and an outer surface B′. A stabilizing collar  100  includes a body  113  in the form of an arcuate segment  101 . The arcuate segment  101  can be divided into a first arcuate segment  110  and a second arcuate segment  112  with a hinge  108  positioned therebetween. Inner surface A′ of body  113  defines an opening  114  having a diameter D′. An engagement member  105  can include a passageway  103  and  103 ′ (shown in phantom) through a first end  102  of first arcuate segment  110  and a first end  104  of second arcuate segment  112 , respectively, for receiving a threaded fastener  106  acting as an adjustment member. The threaded fastener  106 , preferably a screw or set screw, is adjusted to change the diameter D′ of the body  113  of stabilizing collar  100  to attach to a pipe P′. The body  113  of the stabilizing collar  100  defines lugs  116  acting as support receiving members. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , lugs  116  having a passageway  118 . The inner surface A′ defines a pattern to provide frictional support between the body  113  of the stabilizing collar  100  and the pipe P′. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  further show a second floor drain support assembly  130  having a drain receptacle body  126  having a top end  136  and a bottom end  134  and a stabilizing collar  100  (not shown to scale). The stabilizing collar  100 , as previously discussed, has an engagement member  105  for adapting stabilizing collar  100  to attach to pipe P′. A support member  128  having a threaded first end  127  is received by passageway  118  of support receiving member  116 . The support member  128  is threaded and attached to the body  113  of stabilizing collar  100  after first end  127  is passed through support receiving member  116  by attaching a nut  120  positioned adjacent a top surface  132  of body  113  forming a threaded ledge. The support member includes a second end  129 . A washer (not shown) can be further positioned between the nut  120  and the body  113 . A second nut  120 ′ can be positioned adjacent a bottom surface  133  of body  113  sandwiching the support receiving member  116  between first nut  120  and second nut  120 ′. The distance X between the receptacle body  126  can be adjusted by moving nuts  120  and  120 ′ longitudinally along the threaded support member  128 . The bottom end  134  of receptacle body  126  is resting on the support members  128 . 
     Stabilizing collar  100  is fastened to pipe P′ when the engagement member  105  is adjusted to secure stabilizing collar  100  to the pipe P′ by screwing adjustment member  106 , which is preferably a threaded thumbscrew until the first end  102  at first segment  110  abuts first end  104  of second segment  112  and diameter D′ of stabilizing collar  100  is adapted to secure to a diameter of pipe P′. The pipe P′ can also be a part of the second floor drain support assembly  130 . Floor drain receptacle body  126  is also adapted to attach to a pipe P′. Typically, the floor drain pipe assembly extends above ground level or at grade. A portion of the second floor drain support assembly  130  can be encased in concrete. The stabilizing collar  100  acts to stabilize the second floor drain support assembly  130  during the installation process. 
     The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a floor drain to a pipe P′. The receptacle body  126  is provided having a first end  136  and a second end  134 . A stabilizing collar  100  is provided, the stabilizing collar  100  having the features as discussed previously. The opening  114  of the stabilizing collar  100  is placed over pipe P′ and engagement member  105  is adjusted to attach the stabilizing collar  100  to pipe P′. Next, the support members  128  are coupled to the stabilizing collar  100 . 
     The support members  128  of the body  113  of stabilizing collar  100  are coupled to the support receiving members  116  when passed through the passageways  118 . For attachment as shown in  FIG. 4  to occur, a first adjustable member  120 , preferably a nut, is fastened to the support member  128  and a first end  127  of the support member  128  is received within the passageway  118  and the passageway  118  of the body apparatus  113 . The support member  128  passes through the passageway  118  and support receiving member  116  wherein the first adjustable member  120  abuts against the top surface  132  of the body  113  of the stabilizing collar  100 . A distance X between the receptacle body  126  and the stabilizing collar  100  can be increased or decreased by longitudinally moving the first adjustable member  120  in either direction, represented by arrow Y along the support member  128 . Once the distance X is determined, a second adjustable member  120 ′ is fastened onto the support member  128  at the first end  127  and moved toward the bottom surface  133  of the body  113  of the stabilizing collar  100 , thereby fixing the distance X between the receptacle body  126  and the stabilizing collar  100 . The distance X can still be adjusted by longitudinally moving both adjustable members  120 ,  120 ′ along the support member  128 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the support members  28  are received by passageways  18  of axially opened bosses  16  and secured with fastener members  24 , which are received into engagement members  21  and adjusted until the support members  28  are contacted by the fastener members  24 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , once the support members  128  are attached to the stabilizing collar  100 , the bottom end  134  of drain receptacle body  126  is attached to pipe P′. Next, the receptacle body  126  is leveled. Then, the support members are longitudinally adjusted, as previously described, until they contact bottom end  134  of receptacle body  126 , thereby stabilizing the receptacle body  126  in its level position. The receptacle body  126  can have a boss for contacting a support member  128 . The receptacle body  126  is rotated until contact occurs between at least one support member  128  and the receptacle body boss. The receptacle body  126  is checked to determine it is still leveled after the prior adjustments, if not it can be leveled again as many times as necessary. Each time the receptacle body  126  is leveled, the steps including adjustment of the support members  128  and rotating the receptacle body  126  to contact the support members  128  are repeated. 
     Once the receptacle body  126  is level and stabilized by the support members  128 , a concrete mixture can be poured around the floor drain assembly  130  covering the floor foundation  11 ′ until a floor level  9 ′ has been reached. 
     In addition to providing stabilization, the present invention provides for a support member to slope the receptacle body  126 . Sloping can take place by adjusting the support members  128  once they have been attached to the stabilizing collar  100 . The top surface  136  of receptacle body  126  is sloped to match a floor level  9 ′, then support members  128  are longitudinally adjusted to contact the bottom end  134  of receptacle body  126  in the sloped position so that it rests upon the support members  128  in such a way as to slope the top end surface  136  of the receptacle body  126 . The top end surface  136  having a slope that matches the slope of floor level  9 ′. 
     Similarly, the floor drain support assembly  30  in  FIG. 2  can be leveled or sloped, depending on the adjustment of the support members  28 . Once the receptacle body  26  is attached to the pipe P, the top surface  36  of receptacle body  26  is sloped to match floor level  9 . Alternatively, the top surface  36  of receptacle body  26  is leveled. Then support members  28  are longitudinally adjusted to contact the bottom end  34  of the receptacle body  26 . Leveling the receptacle body  26 , adjusting the support members  28  and rotating the receptacle body  26  can be repeated. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are top elevational views of a side-by-side comparison of the stabilizing collar shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and another embodiment of a stabilizing collar made in accordance with the present invention. The stabilizing collar shown in  FIG. 5A  is a top elevational view of the stabilizing collar of  FIG. 1 , which is discussed in detail above. Referring in particular to  FIGS. 5B and 6 , the other embodiment  200  of the present invention is now described. Stabilizing collar  210  includes ring-shaped body  212  defining a plurality of threaded holes  220  acting as engagement members which are spaced radially along the outer surface of body  212 . Holes  220  receive threaded fasteners  219  acting as adjustment members, preferably screws or set screws. In this case, four threaded holes  220  are provided spaced 90° apart. The body  212  of the stabilizing collar  210  further defines support receiving portions  222 , which include a plurality of axially opened bosses  216  acting as engagement members, integral to body  212  and spaced apart radially along the outer surface of body  212  of the stabilising collar  210 . In this case, four bosses  216  are provided, spaced 90° apart. The bosses  216  and the threaded holes  220  are alternatingly located and/or circumferentially offset from each other. The axially opened bosses  216  define a non-threaded passageway  218 . In another embodiment, the axially opened bosses  216  can define threaded passageways  218  for threadably receiving, attaching, and securing threaded support members  228 . The axially opened bosses  216  further define threaded holes  221  acting as engagement members which receive threaded fasteners  224 , preferably screws or set screws acting as adjustment members. Fasteners  224  adjust into the axially opened bosses  216  in order to contact support members  228 , which are received by passageways  218 , thereby securing support members  228  of stabilizing collar  210 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a floor drain support assembly  230  that includes a receptacle body  226  of a drain  250  coupled to stabilizing collar  210 , support members  228 , and pipe P″. The drain  250  can be configured to receive a perforated drain cover. The receptacle body  226  has a first portion  236 , a second portion  234  and a third portion  235  located between the first portion  236  and the second portion  234 . The receptacle body  226  can be configured such that the first portion  236  is located at or above the floor surface  9 ″ and the second portion  234  and the third portion  235  can be located below the floor surface  9 ″. The stabilizing collar  210 , which has a diameter D″ greater than a diameter of pipe P″, is attached to pipe P″ when a threaded fastener  219  (such as a screw or a set screw) is received by threaded holes  220  and threadably adjusted into threaded holes  220  until it contacts the outer surface of pipe P″ thereby securing stabilizing collar  210  to pipe P″. Receptacle body  226  has a bottom end  234 , which is attached to pipe P″. Support members  228  having a first end  227  are secured to the stabilizing collar  210  via the passageways  218  of the axially opened bosses  216 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 6 , the first end  227  of support members  228  are received by passageways  218  of axially opened bosses  216  and the threaded fasteners  224  are adjusted into the engagement members  221  to contact and secure the support members  228 . Alternatively, support members  228  may have threadedly adjustable first ends  227  for contacting with threaded passageways  218  of stabilizing collar  210  and can be threadedly attached. Receptacle body  226  can have downwardly opening bosses  232  that have been drilled and tapped into the third portion  235  of the receptacle body  226  for receiving the second end  229  of the support members  228 . The downwardly opening bosses  232  can be spaced apart radially along the underside of a flange  237  of the receptacle body  226 . In this case, four bosses  232  are provided, spaced 90° apart, and are aligned with the four bosses  216  of the stabilizing collar  210 . The second end  229  of support members  228  are threadedly attached to bosses  232  of receptacle body  226 . The stabilizing collar  210  and pipe P″ can be subsequently embedded in concrete. 
     It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the particular embodiments described in detail herein are illustrative only and are not limiting to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.