Abstract:
A thimble that extends through an opening is a structural element comprising: a hollow body sized and shaped to extend through the opening; an exterior seal substantially extending around an exterior portion of the body that has a selected size and shape prior to installation through the opening and a different size and shape at a time after installation through the opening to substantially seal at least a portion of the opening against passage of moisture and/or ambient air between the opening and the hollow body; an anchor on one end portion of the hollow body to substantially fix one end portion of the hollow body to the element; and an interior seal sized and shaped to sealingly engage a throughpiece extending through the hollow body to seal at least a portion of the throughpiece to the hollow body against passage of moisture and/or ambient air between the throughpiece and the hollow body.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to thimbles that extend through an opening in a structural element, particularly wall thimbles that may be installed from the interior of a building. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various types and sizes of thimbles have been used to create a sealed access through a structural element such as a wall or roof, for example. However, many of the thimbles in use today, require installation from both the inside and outside of the structure. This is particularly problematic in high rise buildings, especially in the case of refurbishments after construction of the building and where no exterior scaffolding is present. Such conditions make it difficult to install thimbles. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    I disclose thimbles that extend through an opening in a structural element comprising: a hollow body sized and shaped to extend through the opening; an exterior seal substantially extending around an exterior portion of the hollow body that has a selected size and shape prior to installation through the opening and a different size and shape at a time after installation through the opening to seal at least a portion of the opening against passage of moisture and/or ambient air between the opening and the hollow body; an anchor on one end portion of the hollow body to substantially fix one end portion of the hollow body to the element; and an interior seal sized and shaped to sealingly engage a throughpiece extending through the hollow body to seal at least a portion of the throughpiece to the hollow body against passage of moisture and/or ambient air between the throughpiece and the hollow body. 
         [0004]    I also disclose methods of installing thimbles through a structural element from one side of the element comprising: creating an opening through the element; determining the approximate thickness of the structural element proximate the opening; adjusting the length of the thimble such that the exterior seal will engage the opening at one side portion of the element and the thimble will extend substantially through the opening to another side portion of the opening; inserting the hollow body into the opening; allowing the exterior seal to be exposed to moisture; fixing the anchor to the element; and before or after any other steps, inserting the throughpiece into the hollow body such that the exterior seal substantially engages the opening at or adjacent the one side portion of the element and the one end portion substantially terminates at or adjacent the another side portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    For purposes of illustration, the drawings show selected, representative structures, it being understood that the thimbles are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a wall thimble. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of the wall thimble shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the wall thimble shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the wall thimble of  FIG. 1  broken into its constituent pieces. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of an interior sealing ring. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of the sealing ring of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a hollow body piece of the wall thimble of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the hollow body piece of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines IX-IX of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a locking ring. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the locking ring of  FIG. 10  taken at phantom line XI. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a section taken at the lines XII-XII of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of another wall thimble. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a partial sectional view of the wall thimble of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the wall thimble of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the wall thimble of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the wall thimble of  FIG. 13  fitted with a throughpiece. 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the wall thimble of  FIG. 13  installed in a structural element. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    It will be appreciated that the following description is intended to refer to specific representative structures selected for illustration in the drawings and is not intended to define or limit this disclosure, other than in the appended claims. 
         [0025]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-12 , a thimble  10  is shown. The thimble includes a hollow body  12 , an exterior seal  14 , an interior seal  16  and an anchor  18 . 
         [0026]    The hollow body  12  includes a ribbed body piece  20  and a flat body piece  22 . The flat body piece  22  has a diameter that is larger than the ribbed body piece such that the body pieces  20  and  22  are substantially concentrically slidable with respect to each other. Ribbed body piece  20  has a plurality of spaced apart ribs  24  that extend over at least a portion of its outer surface. 
         [0027]    A locking ring  26  surrounds at least a portion of flat body piece  22  and has a diameter that is sufficiently large enough relative to the diameter of flat body piece  22  that locking ring  26  is substantially concentrically slidable with respect to flat body piece  22 . Flat body piece  22  has four locking tabs  28  that are formed from and partially cut out of the material used to form flat body piece  22 . Each locking tab  28  has a flat, somewhat elongated arm portion  27  and a distal end portion with a locking rib  29 . Flat body piece  22  also has a distal rib  30 . Locking ring  26  also has a rolled edge  32  to facilitate sliding/locking action with respect to locking tabs  28 . Also, rolled edge  32  may be located on both sides of locking ring  26 . 
         [0028]    Exterior seal  14  as shown in  FIG. 2  is in an expanded configuration. However, as shown by the arrows A exterior seal  14  is initially covered with a barrier material  34  which limits the size and shape of the exterior seal to a smaller diameter which is a small fraction of the diameter of exterior seal  14  when it is in the expanded position. In other words, when thimble  10  is first manufactured, exterior seal  14  is covered with the barrier material  34  and has a particular reduced size and reduced shape. At the time of installation, barrier material  34  is removed by the installer to permit exterior seal  14  to expand to a size and shape such as shown in  FIG. 2  by arrows A. 
         [0029]    Exterior seal  14  can be made of any number of materials that are expandable into different sizes and shapes. The material selected for exterior seal  14  should be resistant to and substantially seal a structural element from penetration of ambient air and/or moisture. One type of expandable foam is a moisture activated foam such as hanoband, manufactured by Imbema Denso. 
         [0030]    Interior seal  16  as shown in particular in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is a flexible or elastic ring which is mounted to hollow body  12  on the interior of ribbed body piece  20 . One type of material suitable for interior seal  16  is a silicone such as SI3603-08N, manufactured by Argomm. The material selected for interior seal  16  should be weather resistant and substantially seal a structural element from penetration of ambient air and/or moisture. Interior seal  16  has an outer base  36  and a seal portion  38  that extends inwardly of the ring. The diameter of the inner edge  40  of interior seal  16  is sized to be less than the outermost diameter of a throughpiece (not shown in  FIGS. 1-12 ) that will extend through thimble  10 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13-16 , another thimble is shown. The structure of the thimble of  FIGS. 13-16  is similar to the thimble shown in  FIGS. 1-12 . One significant difference is that the flat body piece  22  of  FIGS. 13-16  is elongated relative to that of  FIGS. 1-12  and ribbed body piece  20  has a flattened portion substantially not present in the ribbed body piece  20  of  FIGS. 1-12 . Hence, the most of the constituent elements of the thimble of  FIGS. 13-16  are labeled with like reference numbers except that they have been multiplied by ten. The difference noted above permits the thimble of  FIGS. 13-16  to be used in structural elements that are thicker than the thimble of  FIGS. 1-12 . For example, a thimble of  FIGS. 1-12  can be used with thicknesses of about  6 - 9  inches. A thimble of  FIGS. 13-16  can be used with thicknesses of about 9-12 inches. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 13-16  also show another difference relative to  FIGS. 1-12  wherein locking ring  120  of  FIGS. 13-16  is positioned in a fully “locked” position. The locking ring  12  of  FIGS. 1-12  is shown in a partially “locked” position. Nonetheless, operation of the relative components is the same in both thimbles 
         [0033]      FIG. 17  shows a throughpiece  44  installed in a thimble  100 . Throughpiece  44  in this configuration is a vent terminal which is adapted for use in heating appliance to which it is adapted. However, throughpiece  44  can be associated with any type of heating appliance and can be manufactured in any number of configurations to suit the particular connection with a water heater such as an instantaneous water heater. Throughpiece  44  can also be utilized in connection with any type of ventilation passing through a structural element. 
         [0034]      FIG. 18  shows thimble  100  installed in an opening  44  in a wall  46 . Anchor  180  is shown positioned adjacent to or against an interior surface  48  of wall  36 . On the other hand, exterior seal  140  is expanded against a distal portion of opening  44  at or adjacent exterior surface  50  of wall  46 . The distal most portion of ribbed body piece  200  extends slightly beyond exterior surface  50 . A set of screws (not shown) mounts anchor  180  to wall  46  through openings  420  (see  FIG. 15 ). 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIGS. 11-18  in general, one manner of installing a thimble into a wall  46  is described. With particular reference to  FIG. 18 , an installer creates an opening  44  in wall  46 . The opening  44  extends between the interior surface  48  and exterior surface  50 .  FIG. 18  shows a solid wall  46  made of any type of material such as concrete, solid block or the like. However, any type of wall may be used. For example, a typical “stud” wall having an inner surface  48  made of a material such as plaster or sheet rock may be used. An exterior surface of stucco, brick, vinyl siding, wood siding, shakes and the like may be used. The interior space between the interior and exterior materials can typically be some type of insulating material such as fiberglass, foam or the like or some other type of solid/semi-solid material. 
         [0036]    Then, the installer determines the approximate thickness between the interior surface  48  and the exterior surface  50 . This can be done in any conventional way such as with a tape measure or the like. Then, with the approximate thickness of the wall at hand, the thimble can be adjusted by sliding body piece  220  relative to body piece  200  such that the distance between the inner surface  540  of anchor  180  and the exterior surface  540  of exterior seal  140  is the same as or about the same as the thickness of wall  46 . 
         [0037]    Once the bodies  200  and  220  have been slid into the appropriate position based on the measured wall thickness, locking ring  260  may be slid into a locking position in the direction shown by the arrow B in  FIG. 13  such that the front edge  32  of locking ring  120  substantially abuts against rib  300  to cause locks  280  to engage ribs  240 , in particular by locking the ribs of locking tab  280  to engage ribs  240  of ribbed body piece  200 . This action prevents further relative movement of body pieces  200  and  220  with respect to each other to ensure that the thimble  100  maintains its appropriate length. 
         [0038]    At this stage, thimble  100  is nearly ready for insertion into opening  44 . However, prior to insertion, barrier  340  should be removed from exterior seal  140 . Subsequent to removal of barrier  340 , the distal end of thimble  100  that carries exterior seal  140  is inserted into opening  44  such that interior surface  520  of anchor  180  is substantially against interior surface  38  of wall  46 . This will cause exterior surface  540  of exterior seal  140  to be substantially flush with exterior surface  50  of wall  46 . The relative humidity contained in the ambient atmosphere will, over the course of time, cause exterior seal  140  to expand from its initial shape and size radially outwardly to engage a portion of the interior surface of wall  46  at opening  44  to thereby create a seal which substantially prevents ambient air and/or moisture/water from entering wall  46  in the space between hollow body  120  and opening  44 . 
         [0039]    Then, the installer can secure the proximal end of hollow body  120  that carries anchor  180  to inner surface  48  of wall  46 . At that point, throughpiece  44  may be introduced into hollow body  120  so that it engages seal  160  and seals the space between throughpiece  44  and hollow body  120  against penetration of ambient air and/or water/moisture. Throughpiece  44  can then be connected to the appropriate heating appliance (or for any other ventilation function). 
         [0040]    It should be understood, however, that throughpiece  44  can be inserted through hollow body  120  prior to installation of thimble  100  into wall  46 . The timing of insertion of throughpiece  44  is optional. One advantage to inserting throughpiece  44  into hollow body  120  prior to installation of thimble  100  into wall  46  is that the distance that throughpiece  44  extends beyond outer surface  50  of wall  46  can be predetermined. 
         [0041]    In any event, thimble  100  allows an installer to completely install thimble  100  into a wall, roof or other structural element completely from the inner space of the structure. There is no need for an installer to be on the exterior of the building. This reduces time, effort and cost, particularly on high rise structures and further in particular in retrofit situations where there is no exterior scaffolding available to the installer. 
         [0042]    A variety of modifications to the structures and methods described will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure provided herein. Thus, aspects of the structures and methods may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the thimbles and methods. 
         [0043]    One example is that the thimble  100  can be made from any number of materials. Those materials should be preferably corrosion resistant and preferably fire resistant. One particularly preferred material is stainless steel, for example. As noted above, exterior seal  14 / 140  can be made from any number of materials so long as they are capable of expanding into opening  44  to create a substantially weatherproof seal. For example, an adjustable/expandable lip may be used. Also, any number of materials may be used to substantially fix the anchor  18 / 180  to interior surface  48  of wall  46 . Although screws have been described, other materials such as adhesives and the like may be used. Also, anchor  18 / 180  is shown essentially as a flat, round plate. Other shapes, sizes and points of fixation to flat body piece  22 / 220  are contemplated. For example, anchor  18 / 180  could be configured similarly to exterior seal  14 / 140 . Another example is that anchor  18 / 180  could be one or more devices that are fixed to or into wall  46 , but cause flat body piece  22 / 220  to remain in a fixed position. Such devices can include nails, screws, spacers and the like. 
         [0044]    Body pieces  20 / 200  and  22 / 220  have been shown as being ribbed and flat, respectively. However, other entirely different length adjustability system may be employed. For example, accordion type or longitudinally expandable material similar to flexible natural gas piping may be used. Also, both of body pieces  20 / 200  and  22 / 220  can be threaded so that the length of hollow body  12 / 120  is adjustable. Other means of adjusting the length of hollow body  12 / 120  can be employed. For example, hollow body  12 / 120  can be a single piece and the material can be made so that a selected portion can be cut away and anchor  18 / 180  applied to the remaining portion of hollow body  12 / 120 . 
         [0045]    Although the means for establishing the relative sliding position of body pieces  20 / 200  and  22 / 220  are shown and described with respect to locking ring  26 / 260 , any number of other means of locking the relative positions of body pieces  20 / 200  and  22 / 220  may be employed. 
         [0046]    Although the drawings show thimbles  10 / 100  that are suitable to receive vent terminals for heating appliances, the above-described structures may be employed for other types of applications such as plumbing applications wherein a pipe extends through a structural element or electrical conduits or wires. Optical cables can also be employed with thimbles in accordance with the scope of this disclosure.