Patent Application
20110277232
The invention relates to a device for plumbing and method thereof. In particular, an improved one-piece device that provides a multi-use pipe assembly for use with a kitchen or bathroom sink that accommodates different size sewer pipes and different size drain pipes to facilitate quick and easy installation with a one piece device.
All sinks utilize multiple plumbing connections to a drain system. This plumbing usually involves drain fittings to connect the conduit to a sewer pipe, a trap, or U-shaped portion of the conduit, and a fitting to connect the conduit to the sink. Kitchen sink drains normally use a 1.5 inch diameter drain plumbing while bathroom sinks and other low-volume drains normally use a 1.25 inch diameter drain plumbing. Further, sewer pipes have varying sizes and are most commonly 1.5 inch, 1.75 inch or 2 inch in diameter. Prior art plumbing, such as drain fittings and traps, provide for connection to a specific diameter drain and/or sewer pipe. Further, prior art plumbing involves multiple pieces with a lengthy, complicated and precise installation process. Such prior art plumbing devices require custom sections to allow the plumbing to attach to the specific drain and pipe being used. Further, rigid conduit sections are difficult to install and require multiple pieces that are dimensioned with little tolerance. Still further, the same plumbing pieces cannot be versatilely used for the plumbing under a kitchen sink as for a bathroom sink due to the difference in diameter of the sewer and sink drain.
Therefore, there is a need for a one-piece under-sink plumbing assembly that can be utilized with various size drains and pipes and allows for easy and quick installation.
The present invention provides a one-piece plumbing device that can be used both under a bathroom or kitchen sink to connect to the sewer pipe and allows an easy installation.
The plumbing device of the present invention comprises a vertical end, a flexible neck, a connection, a trap section and a horizontal end. The vertical end of the pipe has two concentric walls, the first wall has a one and a half (1.5) inch inner diameter and a smaller second wall having one and a quarter (1.25) inch inner diameter nestled therein. The first wall and the second wall allow connection to the vertical end to sink drains having different diameters. The flexible neck has a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible neck is connected to the vertical end. The flexible neck is capable of extending up to sixteen (16) inches in any direction. The second end of the flexible neck is coupled to the trap section. The other end of the trap section is coupled to the horizontal end. The trap section has a rotatable joint that facilities maneuvering and ease of installation of the plumbing device. The horizontal end of the pipe has three concentric walls nested within. The outer wall has a two (2) inch inner diameter. Nested therein is the middle wall having a one and three quarter (1.75) inch inner diameter. Nestled therein is the inner wall, having a one and a half (1.50) inch inner diameter. The outer, middle and inner walls allow connection of the horizontal end to sewer pipes having different diameters. The horizontal and vertical ends optionally have rings or ribs to facilitate proper sealing around the sink drain and sewer pipe.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein:
With reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown in
A kitchen drainpipe, having a typical outer diameter of 1.5 inches is inserted into the vertical end 24 such that the kitchen drain pipe fits snuggly between the first and second walls 26 and 28. When used with a bathroom drain pipe having a typical outer diameter of 1.25 inches it is inserted into the vertical end 24, the outer surface of the bathroom drain pipe fits snuggly against the inner wall of the second wall 28.
The flexible neck 10 has a first end 12 and a second end 14. The second edge 22 of the vertical end 24 is coupled to the first end 12 of the flexible neck 10. The flexible neck 10 is an expandable neck such as a bellow hose that is capable of stretching in any direction. In an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible neck 10 is capable of stretching up to sixteen (16) inches. The flexible neck allows for easy installation as it may be moved in any direction to ease the installation process. The second end 14 of the flexible neck 10 is coupled to the trap section 15 by connection 20. Connection 20 couples the flexible neck 10 and the trap section 15 by glue, twist, clamp, threaded screw or any known fastening means known to one skilled in the art. The trap section 15 includes a U-shaped pipe which enables a water seal in the drain pipes to prevent sewer gases from entering the sink drain. Connection 20 may optionally be removed by having the flexible neck 10 coupled directly to the trap section 15.
In one embodiment of the present invention the trap section 15 has a rotatable joint 18 that facilities maneuvering of the plumbing device 100 and ease of installation. Joint 18 can be a snap fit with an o-ring there between or other connection types known to one skilled in the art.
The trap section 15 is coupled to the horizontal end 30. The horizontal end 30 has a first edge 31 and a second edge 32. As shown in
A bathroom sewer pipe having a typical outer diameter of 1.5 inches is inserted into the horizontal end 30 where the outer surface of the bathroom sewer pipe fits snuggly against the inside wall of the inner wall 38. When used with a bathroom or kitchen sewer pipe having a 1.75 inch outer diameter, the sewer pipe is inserted into the horizontal end 30 where the bathroom sewer fits snuggly between the inner wall 38 and middle wall 36. When used with a bathroom or kitchen sewer pipe having a 2 inch diameter, the sewer pipe is inserted into the horizontal end 30 where the sewer pipe fits snugly between the outer wall 34 and the middle wall 36.
The plumbing device 100 is easy to install even when obstacles arise such as the sink drain being close to the wall or far from the wall or the height of the drain or sewer pipe being located far from the drain. The rotatable joint 18 and the flexible neck 10 allow for easy installation regardless of the distance and location of the sink drain and the sewer pipe by allowing extension of the plumbing device 100 in any desired direction. The plumbing device 100 can be installed without the need for various different components having various sizes and precise measurements are not needed. Further, the plumbing device 100 allows for easy installation and replacement because it may be held by friction and can be installed, removed or replaced without the need for specific tools or the need for a skilled plumber.
Both the vertical and horizontal ends 24 and 30 are shown to have walls that are uniformly tubular. However, these walls may be slightly tapered such that a pipe inserted there between can be securely frictionally and sealingly held therein.
The one piece plumbing device 100 may be made of rigid PVC with rubber sealing. The flexible neck 10 may be constructed of a bellow hose made from plastic, rubber or metal with plastic lining.
To install the one piece plumbing device 100 of the present invention the sewer pipe is inserted into the horizontal end 30. Next, the sink drain S (not shown) is inserted into the vertical end 24. If the location of the sewer pipe and/or drain pipe requires, the plumbing device 100 may be extended or reduced by use of the flexible neck 10. Further, the rotatable joint 18 may be utilized to enable easy installation. To further secure the plumbing device 100 to the sink drain and sewer pipe, a removable clamp or may be used over the horizontal end 30 and vertical end 24.
The features of the invention illustrated and described herein are the preferred embodiments. Therefore, it is understood that the appended claims are intended to cover unforeseeable embodiments with insubstantial differences that are within the spirit of the claims.
