Patent Abstract:
In molding a seal in a concrete wall, the front end of a tubular element is inserted between an outer tubular wall which forms part of the opening in the concrete wall and a conical seal that is integrally molded with the outer tubular wall. The tubular element includes a foot having a fastener portion that is spaced from and coplanar with the back end of the tubular element.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/112,700, filed Dec. 18, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention: 
     The invention pertains to seals, more specifically to a seal for casting in a concrete wall of a container of a septic system fluid distribution system, that forms an opening through the concrete wall that is closed by the seal. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,040 patented Feb. 15, 1994 by N. W. Gavin describes a unitary molded seal comprising a cylindrical outer wall and a cup-shaped seal attached to a first end of the cylindrical wall at the open end of the cup. The seal is held in the mold for a wall of a concrete container by a cup-shaped protrusion that extends from a first wall of the mold into the open end of the cup. The first wall contacts the first end of the cylindrical wall, and a second wall of the mold contacts the second end of the cylindrical outer wall so that the cylindrical wall forms the opening in the hardened concrete wall and lines the full length of the opening. 
     When the cylindrical wall is shorter than the distance between the first and second walls of the mold, a concrete flash covers part or all of the opening adjacent to the bottom of the cup. 
     A ring extends radially from the cylindrical outer wall. The ring anchors the cylindrical wall in the concrete wall against axial thrust of pipe when pipe is inserted through an opening in the bottom of the cup which is made by tearing out a portion of the bottom sealing wall of the cup. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,214 patented Jun. 11, 1974 by Kyle, Sr. describes a pair of frustoconical shells supporting an annular resilient O-ring on an annular groove that is semicircular in cross section. The O-ring supporting groove is formed by quarter-circle in cross section annular grooves, one on one end of each shell which abut to form the semicircular groove when the two frustoconical shells are drawn together by a bolt which passes through the outer wall of the concrete form, through one shell, and screws into the other shell. The mold outer wall, pair of shells, and mold inner wall form a hole through the concrete wall when the wall is molded. When the shells are withdrawn from the molded wall, the inner wall of the hole mirrors the shape of the joined shells and contains the O-ring the outer circumference of which is embedded in an annular groove, half-circle in cross section, in the concrete. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,149 patented Mar. 17, 1987 by Poulette et al. describes a metal cylinder extending to an inside wall and an outside wall of a form for a concrete wall. The metal cylinder is surrounded by a flexible rubber or elastomeric sleeve that extends to the inside wall and the outside wall. A narrow gasket surrounds the sleeve. The inner diameter of the gasket comprises an annular ring, arrowhead in cross section, that is embedded in an annular groove around the sleeve. The outer diameter of the gasket is T-shaped in cross section, for being molded into the concrete as an annular anchor for the gasket. After the concrete is poured between the inside and outside walls of the form, and sets, bolts holding the metal cylinder between the walls are removed, the form walls are removed, the metal cylinder is removed, and the rubber sleeve is pulled radially inward off the annular ring and is withdrawn from the hole through the concrete wall made by the sleeve on the cylinder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the invention to provide a seal for casting in a concrete wall comprising a first tubular outer wall element molded with one end of a cup shaped element designed for receiving pipe through the bottom of the cup, and a second, independent tubular element inserted between the first tubular outer wall element and an outer wall of the cup shaped element. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a seal for casting in a concrete wall comprising a first tubular element having a first open end and a second sealing end adapted for sealing around pipe, the first end being molded with a first end of a second tubular element, the second sealing end extending into the second tubular element, and a third tubular element extending between the first tubular element and the second tubular element. Preferably the third tubular element is made of a stiffer material than the integrally molded first and second tubular elements. Preferably the third tubular element is removably inserted between the first and second tubular elements. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention be more fully comprehended, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a seal of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hollow cylindrical portion of the seal of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a diaphragm seal portion of the seal of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section view of the seal of FIG. 1 taken along  4 — 4  shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section view of the seal of FIG. 1 in a concrete wall. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section view of another seal of the invention in a portion of a concrete wall casting form for a septic tank. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hollow cylindrical portion of the seal of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the seal portion of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic back view of the seal portion of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic cross section view of the seal of FIG. 6 before it is installed in the concrete wall casting form. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a septic tank containing the seal of FIG. 6 supporting a plastic liquid flow baffle in the tank. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the detail of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, hollow cylindrical portion  22  of two-part seal  20  is preferably made of a stiff plastic or other stiff material. Diaphragm portion  24  is preferably made of rubber or other elastic material suitable for making a tight seal around a pipe, and preferably molded in one piece. 
     Front end  26  of frustoconical or angled wiper blade  23  is attached to front end  41  of wall  38  at front end  44  of portion  24  of seal  20 . Wiper blade  23  extends radially inward of cylindrical wall  38  and inwardly from the attachment of front end  26 . 
     During installation in a mold (not shown) for a concrete wall, portion  22  is inserted  30  into portion  24 . Cylindrical wall  34  radially inward of inner surface  39  of wall  38  supports cylindrical wall  38  against the inward crushing force  40  of the liquid concrete  42 . After the concrete hardens, portion  22  may be removed  51  from the concrete wall. 
     Radially extending anchor flange  36  on outer surface  37  of wall  38  anchors portion  24  in the cement. 
     Cylindrical wall  38  has front end  41  and-back end  43 . 
     Seal diaphragm  46  attached to back end  25  of angled wiper blade  23  may be torn out in selected diameters  52 ,  54 ,  56  by tearing along weakened annular lines  62 ,  64 ,  66  respectively. 
     Guide pins  70 ,  72  position portion  24  in the mold. 
     Curved walls  76 ,  78 , guide wall  34  of portion  22  into annular slot  84  between cylindrical wall  38  and angled wiper blade  23 . Walls  34 ,  38 , and  23  may be tubular, including not circular in cross section and not constant in diameter. 
     Curved walls  76 ,  78  preferably have annularly spaced  80  sides  82  to receive a different hollow cylindrical portion which will be discussed later. 
     If annular spaces are not desired for the purpose described later, a continuous wall may be used instead of the two curved walls. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6-11 for illustration of elements, in FIG. 6, two-part seal  120  is mounted between form inner wall  130  and form outer wall  132  of mold  124  for concrete wall  128  of septic tank  134 . 
     Cup-shaped cavity  136  that is formed by seal diaphragm  146  and angled wiper blade  123  of diaphragm portion  138  of seal  120  fits over support cup  142  that is bolted  144  to outer wall  132  of the form. 
     Front end  154  of hollow cylindrical portion  150  is inserted between cylindrical wall  158  and angled wiper blade  123 . Back end  160  of hollow cylindrical portion  150  is in contact with form inner wall  130 . Back end  160  preferably curves radially outward  162 . 
     Fastener feet  164  of brackets  166 ,  168  contact form inner wall  130 . Concrete is poured between walls  130 ,  132 . 
     When the concrete is set walls  130 ,  132 , and support cap  142  are separated and removed. Concrete wall  128  is formed with brackets  166 ,  168  enclosed by the concrete. Rearward  170  facing end  172  of fastener feet  164  are coplanar with inner face  174  of wall  128 . Back end  160  of hollow cylindrical portion  150  is coplanar with inner face  174 . Front end  180  of diaphragm portion  138  is coplanar with outer face  182  of concrete wall  128 . This leaves an opening  188  through wall  128  that is sealed watertight by seal  120 . The seal can be broken by tearing out a portion of seal diaphragm  222 . The remaining portion of the seal diaphragm, or the angled wiper blade, depending upon how much seal material is removed, seals around pipe that is forced through the torn seal. 
     In FIG. 10, cylindrical portion  150  front end  154  is inserted between cylindrical wall  158  and angled wiper blade  123  when seal  120  is installed between walls  130 ,  132 . 
     Preferably, cylindrical portion  150  is inserted until brackets  166 ,  168  are adjacent to radially extending anchor flange  190 . For this, opposed curved walls  196  and  198  of diaphragm portion  138  are like curved walls  76  and  78  of seal  20  which have annularly spaced  80  ends  82 . Brackets  166 ,  168  can be moved into adjacentcy with anchor  190  by passing them between annularly spaced sides  202  of walls  196 ,  198 . 
     Brackets  166 ,  168  are alike. Ribs  210  strengthen the brackets. The brackets are preferably molded in one piece with cylindrical wall  208 , but may be attached to the wall by fastening means comprising welding, pins, adhesive or other means. Feet  164  are tubular, adapted for receiving fastener means from a fluid flow diverter shield. 
     In FIG. 11, fluid flow diverter shield  214  is attached to inner face  174  of wall  128  by fasteners  216  which extend into ends  172 , not shown, of the feet. Ends  172  are adapted to fasten with fasteners  216 . Preferably ends  172  comprise tubular openings that grip the fasteners. Other accessories can be attached to the wall by fasteners fastening to the feet, including a filter. 
     Pipe  220  extends through seal diaphragm  222 , torn away at annular groove  228 . Septic tank  134  is designed to receive effluent by way of pipe  220 . 
     Pipe  234  passes through another seal  120  in wall  236 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details be limitations upon the scope of the invention. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5