Patent ID: 8910321

Claim:
A flange apparatus for connecting a plumbing fixture to a drain pipe of a drainage system, the flange apparatus comprising: a fastener; a flange comprising a central portion and arm portions extending from the central portion, the arm portions being made of a threadable material that forms threads when the fastener is driven into the threadable material, wherein the central portion comprises a central opening defined therethrough, the arm portions each comprise a plurality of apertures defined therethrough, the plurality of apertures are elongated apertures each having an axis along the elongation of the aperture extending along a common axis in a lengthwise direction of the respective arm portion, each aperture is enclosed by the respective arm portion, the plurality of apertures are respectively operable to receive the fastener, and a width of each aperture is smaller than a width of the fastener; and a flexible sleeve disposed through the central opening of the flange, the flexible sleeve comprising a first end portion including an outwardly extending annular element mounted on an upper surface of the central portion of the flange, and a sealing element, wherein an inner wall of the flexible sleeve is generally linear from the outwardly extending annular element to a terminal end of a second end portion.