Abstract:
An adjustable plumbing fitting has a piston rotatably and telescopically engaged in a housing, with one end of the housing adapted to be connected to a first plumbing part, and a cylindrical extension on the piston projecting from an opposite end of the housing and adapted to be connected to a second plumbing part. In one embodiment, two housings and associated pistons are integrally joined together to form a T-fitting for connecting the overflow and drain of a bathtub. In another embodiment, the housing is integrally formed with a J-shaped drain trap, and in another embodiment the housing and/or piston is integrally formed with a water closet flange.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to plumbing fittings, particularly to adjustable fittings that are easy to use and install. More specifically, the invention relates to adjustable closet flanges and repair couplings or tail pieces.  
         [0003]     2. Prior Art  
         [0004]     Plumbing fittings are provided in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs to facilitate connection of pipes to each other and to appliances and fixtures such as lavatories, sinks, bathtubs, showers, water closets, and the like, and for other purposes known to those skilled in the art. For example, these fittings may be designed to couple or adapt a pipe of a first diameter to a pipe of a different diameter, or to connect the overflow and/or drain from a bathtub or sink to a drain pipe, or to connect a water closet to a sewage drain pipe, or to repair previously installed pipes or fittings, and the like.  
         [0005]     The fittings generally are provided with either a threaded connection, a compression coupling, or parts that are adapted to be glued together to enable the fitting to be coupled with other plumbing parts and components. Some fittings are provided with telescopic connections to enable the length of the fitting to be adapted to the spacing between parts being connected.  
         [0006]     Examples of prior art fittings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,386,796, 4,687,232, 5,190,320, 5,297,817, 6,070,910 and 6,681,420.  
         [0007]     The telescopic pipe repair coupling described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,796 is designed for repairing a break in a length of pipe, and comprises an internally reinforced hollow piston  17  reciprocable within an externally reinforced cylinder  11  having inturned ends forming shoulders  33  and  35  at its opposite ends for limiting travel of the piston in the cylinder. The piston protrudes from one end of the cylinder to form a connector tube  53  for attachment to one end of the length of broken pipe, and the opposite end of the cylinder has a hollow bore for receiving an adjacent end of the length of broken pipe, whereby the broken ends are spliced or coupled together. An internal annular ring in the bore forms a butt shoulder  41  for limiting the extent of insertion of said adjacent end of the pipe into the cylinder.  
         [0008]     A similar telescopic pipe repair coupling is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,232, wherein a piston cylinder  20  having a piston section  26  and a pipe section  24  is reciprocable within a cylindrical housing  12 . A bushing  38  is adhesively secured within one end of the housing  12 , and a stop shoulder  23  is formed in the other end to retain the piston within the housing. The bushing is used to secure one end of the repair coupling to an end of the broken length of pipe, and a coupling member  50  is used to secure the pipe section  24  to an adjacent end of the broken length of pipe, thereby splicing or coupling the broken ends together.  
         [0009]     The &#39;796 and &#39;232 patents are both designed and intended for repairing a break in a pipe, and thus are constructed to couple together two lengths of pipe of the same diameter. Moreover, each of them has interior surfaces at right angles to the direction of flow, forming obstructions that can eventually trap sediment or other debris and lead to clogging of the pipe.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,320 discloses a telescoping closet flange for bringing a vertical sewage drain pipe even with the level of a floor. The flange includes a cylindrical body  26  that is slid over the end of the drain pipe, and a cylindrical seal  28 , slide  30  and seal cap  32  held together by shoulder bolts  56 . The seal  28  and associated components  30  and  32  have tapered surfaces that coact to tighten the seal about the body  26  when the shoulder bolts are tightened.  
         [0011]     A somewhat similar arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,817, except that the flange has an upper section  12 , separate lower section  14 , and a surrounding seal  16 , all adapted to be inserted into the end of the sewage drain pipe  36 . Bolts  18   a ,  18   b  and  18   c  are extended between the upper and lower sections to draw them toward one another to compress the seal against the inner surface of the drain pipe.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,910 discloses a push-in closet flange, wherein an o-ring seal  16  is positioned around the cylindrical end  14  of the flange, and the end  14  is then pushed into the end of the sewage drain pipe until the proper height of the flange is achieved.  
         [0013]     The devices disclosed in the &#39;320, &#39;817 and &#39;910 patents all have limited adjustment and require fairly close measurement and cutting of the drain pipe in order to achieve proper positioning of the flange. Moreover, the &#39;320 and &#39;817 devices require the use of separate fasteners and assembly of multiple parts, increasing the difficulty and time required to complete an installation.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,420 discloses a T-fitting for connecting the drain and overflow of a bathtub to a drain pipe. The one-piece T-fitting eliminates the several parts previously required to connect the overflow and drain of a bathtub to the drain pipe, but there are no telescopic parts and the components are rigidly connected after the pipe ends are inserted and glued in place in the T-fitting.  
         [0015]     It would be desirable to have a fitting that was simple in construction, involved a minimum number of parts, was easy to use, and that provided ample adjustment to accommodate the situations likely to be encountered in a typical installation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The present invention is a telescopic plumbing fitting that is substantially devoid of sharp internal shoulders, is simple in construction, involves a minimum number of parts, is easy to use, and provides ample adjustment to reduce the need to make accurate measurements and cuts during a typical installation.  
         [0017]     In accordance with its simplest aspect, the fitting of the invention comprises an in-line telescopic coupler or tailpiece for joining together two lengths of pipe of the same or different diameters, or for connecting a drain, overflow, dishwasher, garbage disposal, or other device or appliance to a drain pipe or water supply pipe, or other device as appropriate.  
         [0018]     According to a second aspect, the telescopic fitting is integrally incorporated in a drain trap.  
         [0019]     According to a third aspect, orthogonally disposed telescopic fittings are integrally incorporated in a T, especially adapted to connect the drain and overflow from a bathtub, for example.  
         [0020]     According to a fourth aspect, the telescopic fitting is integrally incorporated in a water closet flange.  
         [0021]     In all aspects of the invention, the telescopic fitting comprises a piston that is both reciprocable and rotatable within a cylindrical housing, forming a slip joint. A cylindrical extension of the piston projects from one end of the housing for attachment to a length of pipe, or to a drain fitting, or to another device or appliance. In some embodiments the other end of the housing is a cylindrical part adapted to be connected to a pipe or other device, and in other embodiments the other end of the housing is integrally formed with another plumbing part, such as a drain trap, or a T, for example. In still other embodiments, either the housing part or the piston part is integrally formed with a water closet flange, and the other part is adapted to be connected with a sewage drain pipe.  
         [0022]     The cylindrical housing is open at both ends, and in one embodiment one end has a larger diameter than the other end, defining an interior annular tapered shoulder between the ends. In the preferred embodiment, the smaller end has smooth interior and exterior surfaces and may be secured to another plumbing part by use of adhesive. The opposite end of the housing may be smooth for a glued connection, or may be threaded or flanged for other types of common and well known connections.  
         [0023]     The piston comprises an elongate cylindrical body with first and second closely spaced annular rings on one end thereof, and a cylindrical extension at the other end. An o-ring seal is retained between the first and second rings for affecting a sliding seal with the interior surface of the housing. A third annular ring is on the body, spaced from the pair of rings toward the cylindrical extension.  
         [0024]     A collar or cap is secured on said one end of the housing, with a reduced diameter portion having a central bore therethrough and defining an annular shoulder facing axially inwardly of the housing. The cylindrical extension on the piston extends slidably through the central bore in the cap, and the third annular ring on the piston cooperates with the annular shoulder in the cap to retain the piston in the housing. The end of the piston carrying the o-ring cooperates with the tapered annular shoulder in the housing to limit the extent of telescoping of the piston into the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the cap is threaded onto the housing.  
         [0025]     The fitting thus described can be used to connect two pipes together in coaxial relationship, or to connect other plumbing parts together when adjustment of the length of the fitting is helpful or necessary. For instance, the fitting can be adapted as a tailpiece to connect with a sink drain or flush valve or the like, or it can be combined with other parts to facilitate the connection of the overflow and drain of a bathtub to a drain pipe or T, or similar connections where length adjustment of the fitting is desired or necessary.  
         [0026]     The piston and housing can be integrally incorporated in a drain trap, or in a T-fitting to facilitate connection of plumbing parts, or they can be integrally incorporated in a water closet flange to facilitate the connection of a water closet with a sewage drain pipe.  
         [0027]     Use of the fitting of the invention makes it unnecessary to accurately measure and cut pipes to splice them together and/or connect them with other plumbing components, and enables a standard size fitting to be used to connect components having different spacing between the parts to be connected. For example, the T-fitting of the invention, incorporating two orthogonally disposed slip joints, greatly facilitates connection of the drain and overflow of a bathtub, and permits a single fitting to be used with tubs having different spacing between the overflow and drain.  
         [0028]     The water closet flange of the invention, incorporating a slip joint, makes it easy to adjust the height of the flange as necessary to accommodate the level of a floor in which the flange is being installed, and also permits the flange to be rotated to different angular positions to facilitate receipt of fasteners in securing a water closet to the flange.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inline telescopic fitting incorporating features according to a first aspect of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the fitting of  FIG. 1 , showing the parts in exploded relationship.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of the fitting of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the inline fitting wherein the cylindrical extension on the piston has a threaded collar or ring and is adapted to connect with a lavatory drain or other plumbing component.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the inline fitting wherein the cylindrical extension on the piston has an apertured end forming a part of a circuit breaker in a flush valve, for example.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a pair of the inline fittings adapted to connect the overflow and drain of a bathtub with a standard T-fitting.  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a T-fitting incorporating two orthogonally disposed slip joints according to the invention, adapted for connecting the drain and overflow of a bathtub with a drain pipe.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a side view in elevation of the fitting of  FIG. 7 , with portions shown in section.  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the inline fitting assembled with other plumbing parts to form a continuous waste fitting adapted to connect the drains of a double sink, for example, with a drain pipe.  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the slip joint of the invention integrally incorporated in a drain trap.  
         [0040]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a water closet flange integrally incorporating the slip joint of the invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 12  is a longitudinal sectional view of the water closet flange of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a water closet flange integrally incorporating the slip joint of the invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 14  is a longitudinal sectional view of the water closet flange of  FIG. 13 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0044]     An inline fitting incorporating the slip joint of the invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIGS. 1-3 . The fitting comprises a piston  11  that is both reciprocable and rotatable within a cylindrical housing  12 , forming a slip joint  13 . A cylindrical extension  14  of the piston projects from one end  15  of the housing for attachment to a length of pipe (not shown), or to a drain fitting (not shown), or to another device or appliance (not shown). In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the other end  16  of the housing is a smooth-surfaced cylindrical part adapted to be connected to a pipe or other device (indicated by broken lines at  17 ), typically by use of an adhesive. It should be understood, however, that this could be a threaded or other connection, as desired.  
         [0045]     The cylindrical housing  12  is open at both ends, and in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the end  15  has a larger diameter than the end  16 , defining an interior annular tapered shoulder  20  between the ends.  
         [0046]     The piston  11  comprises an elongate cylindrical body  21  with first and second closely spaced annular rings  22  and  23  on one end thereof, and the cylindrical extension  14  at the other end. An o-ring seal  25  is retained between the first and second rings for affecting a sliding seal with the interior surface of the housing. A third annular ring  26  is on the body, spaced from the pair of rings toward the cylindrical extension, and functions to help align the piston coaxially with the housing, and to retain the piston in the housing as explained hereinafter.  
         [0047]     A collar or cap  30  is secured on the end  15  of the housing, with a reduced diameter portion  31  having a central bore  32  therethrough and defining an annular shoulder  33  facing axially inwardly of the housing. The cylindrical extension  14  on the piston extends slidably through the central bore  32  in the cap, and the third annular ring  26  on the piston cooperates with the annular shoulder in the cap to retain the piston in the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the cap is threaded onto the housing. The end of the piston carrying the o-ring cooperates with the tapered annular shoulder  20  in the housing to limit the extent of telescoping of the piston into the housing.  
         [0048]     The outer end  24  of the cylindrical extension  14  may be externally threaded, as indicated at  35  in the split view of  FIG. 3 , or it may be smooth as indicated at  36  in the split view, or it may be flanged (not shown), or have other coupling means common in the art.  
         [0049]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cylindrical extension  14  of the piston is modified to have a threaded collar  40  for threaded engagement with the drain of a lavatory, for example. In this embodiment the slip joint  13  enables the drain from a sink or the like to be connected with a drain pipe quickly and easily, with a minimum number of parts and without the need to accurately measure and cut the drain pipe. This also would enable the same slip joint fitting and drain connection to be used (or re-used) with another sink having a different depth, for example.  
         [0050]     In  FIG. 5 , the cylindrical extension  14  is modified to have an apertured end  50  that forms a part of a vacuum breaker coupling in a flush valve (not shown), for example. The same advantages noted in connection with the  FIG. 4  embodiment apply also to this form of the invention.  
         [0051]     A further advantageous use of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , wherein first and second slip joint fittings  13 A and  13 B according to the invention are connected to a conventional T-fitting  60 , with the fittings  13 A and  13 B disposed orthogonally to one another for connection, respectively, to the overflow and drain of a bathtub (not shown). To this end, the cylindrical extensions  14 A and  14 B of the pistons in the respective slip joints have fittings  61  and  62  for connection with the overflow and drain, respectively, of a bathtub. The use of the slip joints  13 A and  13 B enables inventory and use of standard parts that are adaptable to different tubs having different spacing between and location of the overflow and drain openings in a bathtub, without the need for careful measurement and fitting of multiple components to make the connections, thus greatly facilitating the installation of these connections.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , wherein the slip joints  13 A′ and  13 B′ are integrally incorporated in a T-fitting  70 , whereby only a single part is needed to connect the overflow and drain of a bathtub. Moreover, because of the adjustability of the slip joints the same fitting  70  can be used with many different tubs having different locations and spacing of the overflow and drain openings.  
         [0053]      FIG. 9  depicts a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the slip joint  13  is incorporated in a continuous waste assembly  80  adapted to connect the drains of a double sink (not shown) with a drain pipe (not shown). The assembly  80  can be manufactured and sold as a single pre-assembled piece, thereby facilitating the ease and speed with which the drain connections of a double sink can be made, or the simple inline fitting  13  of  FIGS. 1-3  can be assembled on site with conventional plumbing fittings to make up the assembly shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0054]     A further example of a suitable use for the slip joint of the invention is shown at  90  in  FIG. 10 , wherein the slip joint  13 ′ is incorporated in the vertical part of a drain trap  91 , thus enabling the vertical positioning of the drain trap to be quickly and easily accomplished without the need for measuring, cutting and gluing various components.  
         [0055]     A first embodiment of a water closet flange for connecting a water closet (not shown) to a sewage drain pipe is indicated generally at  100  in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In this embodiment, the closet flange  101  is integrally formed with a cylindrical piston  102  rotatable and reciprocable in housing  103 . The lower end  104  of the housing is reduced in diameter, forming an interior annular tapered shoulder  105 , terminating at its inner margin in an annular rib  106 . As in the earlier embodiments, the piston comprises an elongate tubular body with a pair of first and second closely spaced annular rings  22  and  23  on one end thereof, and a cylindrical extension  14 ′ at the other end. An o-ring seal  25  is retained between the first and second rings for affecting a sliding seal with the interior surface of the housing, and a third annular ring  26  is on the body, spaced from the pair of rings toward the cylindrical extension, and functions to help align the piston coaxially with the housing. A cap or collar  30 ′ is secured on the end  15 ′ of the housing, with a reduced diameter portion  31 ′ having a central bore  32 ′ therethrough and defining an annular shoulder  33 ′ facing axially inwardly of the housing. The cylindrical extension  14 ′ on the piston extends slidably through the central bore  32 ′ in the cap, and the third annular ring  26  on the piston cooperates with the annular shoulder in the cap to retain the piston in the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the cap is threaded onto the housing. The end of the piston carrying the o-ring cooperates with the tapered annular shoulder  105  in the housing to limit the extent of telescoping of the piston into the housing.  
         [0056]     The diameter of the lower end of the housing is selected to telescopically receive the upper end of a sewage drain pipe  108 , so that the housing  103  is supported on the drain pipe. The piston and attached flange  101  can then be telescoped up or down as needed in order to position the flange relative to the surface of a floor in which the water closet flange is mounted. In addition, the piston and attached flange can be rotated relative to the housing to align the openings in the flange for receiving fasteners commonly employed for attaching a water closet to the flange.  
         [0057]     The flange assembly  100  can be manufactured and sold pre-assembled, so that minimum work is required on site when the flange is being installed.  
         [0058]     An alternate embodiment to that shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  is shown at  110  in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , wherein the relationship of the piston  111  and housing  112  is reversed from the prior embodiment. That is, the flange  101  is integrally formed with the housing, and the extension  113  of the piston is adapted to be telescoped in or over the upper end of the sewage drain pipe to mount the assembly to the pipe. Downward movement of the housing and flange relative to the piston is limited by engagement of the upper end of the piston with an inwardly projecting annular rib  114  in the upper end of the housing. In other respects, this form of the invention functions the same way as the  FIG. 11  embodiment.  
         [0059]     Although particular embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.