Patent Application
20220298762
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to plumbing manifolds and systems. More particularly, the subject matter relates to a plumbing manifold device including a base or mount for the plumbing manifold. The base or mount may be designed to organize plumbing lines distributing water to and/or from the manifold. A related system and method is also disclosed.
Plumbing manifolds serve as centralized locations for the receipt and distribution of water from primary service or supply lines to other areas or locations. For example, a manifold may receive cold water from a main water supply line. The manifold may also receive hot water from a water heater or boiler. The manifold may have outputs for multiple distribution water lines, either hot water lines or cold water lines, in order to deliver water to appliances, devices, and other fixtures throughout a house or building. As examples, hot and cold water lines may run from the manifold to a washing machine, a sink, a bathtub/shower, and other locations in the house or building.
The plumbing manifold itself should be located in the house or building such that it is readily accessible for maintenance and/or for adding or removing water lines as additional devices or locations need to be connected. The plumbing manifold may ideally be located where it will not interfere with occupants of the house or building and will not take up unnecessary space. For example, in residential buildings such as single family houses, the plumbing manifold is often located in the basement. However, in many buildings, the plumbing manifold may be unaesthetic and may also interfere with a resident's desire to have a finished basement.
The plumbing manifold also often requires support. For example, the plumbing manifold may be attached to a wall or to a stud or other framing member. Such locations again interfere with aesthetic choices of the residents. Further, they may interfere with, or even prevent, the user from finishing the basement location (for example, using sheetrock) since the manifold must remain accessible.
Moreover, using conventional manifolds, the distribution water lines are not organized or arranged, but are haphazardly attached to the manifold without any additional organization or support. Such arrangements make it difficult to accurately identify which distribution water line goes to which device or location, are not aesthetically pleasing, take up excess space, and interfere with the user's use of the basement or other location. Further, conventional attempts to organize the distribution water lines, such as drilling holes in studs or framing members, do not fully remedy these deficiencies and unnecessarily weaken the studs or framing members. Such weakening of framing members should be avoided wherever possible in order to maintain proper structural integrity.
Improved plumbing manifold devices, as well as systems including the same and methods of them, would be well received in the art.
According to one aspect, a plumbing manifold system comprises a manifold configured to attach to at least one supply line and at least one distribution line, and a base configured to mount to at least one framing element of a building and to organize the at least one distribution line, wherein the manifold is configured to attach to the base, wherein the base includes at least one set of corresponding passageways for the at least one distribution line, and wherein the at least one distribution line passes through the at least one set of corresponding passageways when the at least one distribution line is attached to the manifold.
According to another aspect, a plumbing manifold mount apparatus, comprises a base configured to receive a plumbing manifold, wherein the base is configured to mount to at least one framing element of a building, wherein the plumbing manifold is configured to attach to at least one supply line and at least one distribution line, and wherein the base has at least one set of corresponding passageways configured for passage of the at least one distribution line when the at least one distribution line is attached to the plumbing manifold.
According to another aspect, a method of organizing a plurality of water lines, comprises providing a plumbing manifold, a supply line, and a distribution line, providing a base configured to mount to at least one framing element of a building, wherein the base has a set of corresponding passageways configured for passage of the distribution line, passing the distribution line through the set of corresponding passageways, attaching the plumbing manifold to the base, and attaching the supply line and distribution line to the plumbing manifold.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
In brief overview, a mountable plumbing manifold base and system that can organize a manifold and water lines on the base without structurally damaging or weakening any framing members is disclosed.
Referring firstly to
The manifold 110 may receive a supply line such as supply lines 120. For example, as shown in the embodiment depicted in
Depending on the configuration of the manifold 110, a building (not shown) in which the manifold 110 is to be used, and the arrangement of other fixtures in the building, the cold supply line 121 may connect the manifold 110 to a main water supply or main service line (not shown). Similarly, the hot supply line 122 may connect the manifold 110 to a water heater (not shown), boiler, or similar device.
The manifold 110 may distribute water through a distribution line such as distribution lines 130. For example, as shown in the embodiment depicted in
The plumbing manifold system 100 also comprises a base 150, also sometimes referred to as a mount 150. As shown in the embodiment depicted in
The base or mount 150 may be made of any suitable material. For example, the base or mount 150 may be made of wood, metal, plastic, composite materials, or other materials.
The base or mount 150 may be configured to attach or mount to a framing element of the building or structure. For example, the base may be configured to mount to a wall, to a stud, or to another structural component of the building or structure.
In some embodiments, the base 150 may be directly attached to the framing element, for example, using a screw, bolt, nail or other fastener. In some embodiments, the base 150 may include a plate or other component such that the base 150 may be fastened to the framing element, for example, using a screw, bolt, nail, or other fastener. Alternatively, the base 150 may be connected to the framing element using a hook, strap, or other device. Additional attachment means may be used such as a press fit, snap fit, tension fit, and the like.
Referring now to
The base 150 may include right side portion 152 and a left side portion 151. Again, these features may be clearly seen in
The base 150 may also include a panel 155. Again, the panel 155 is clearly shown in
As shown most clearly in
In the depicted embodiment, the manifold 110 is mounted on the panel 155, for example, on the side of the panel 155 opposite from the cavity 161. Again, the manifold 110 may reside within the volume 160, partially within the volume 160, or outside the volume 160. In some embodiments, it is possible for the manifold 110 to be located within the cavity 161. For example, the manifold 110 could be mounted on the back 170 of the base 150 or in other locations.
The cavity 161 may receive the distribution lines 130. The distribution lines 130 may be bundled or gathered together as shown. For example, the distribution lines may be tied together using zip ties, Velcro ties, cords, or other holding elements. These elements may serve to help organize and arrange the distribution lines 130.
As shown in
Referring now to
Further, in the embodiment shown, sets of corresponding passageways are used. Each set of corresponding passageways comprises a first passageway 183 and a second passageway 184. Again, multiple sets of corresponding passageways, each comprising a first passageway 183 and a second passageway 184, are used. For example, as shown in
While only the right side portion 152 is shown in the
As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, such as that shown in
As discussed above, in some embodiments, the arrangement of sets of corresponding passageways, including any distance X or distance Y, may be symmetrical between the right side portion 152 and the left side portion 151 or may vary between the respective side portions. For example, one respective side portion may use a vertical offset distance Y that is different from the other side. Likewise, one respective side portion may use a vertical offset distance Y while the other respective side portion does not use any vertical offset.
In some embodiments, the sets of corresponding passageways may begin or end at different heights on the respective side portions. Such an arrangement may provide more room for the distribution lines 130 as they enter and exit the cavity 161.
Further, in some embodiments, the distance X may differ between the respective side portions. For example, respective second passageways 184 of one side may be located closer to the back 170 while respective second passageways 184 of the other side may be located further from the back 170. Again, such an arrangement may provide more room for the distribution lines 130 as they enter and exit the cavity 161, for example, by providing horizontal spacing between the distribution lines 130 entering the cavity from different respective side portions.
The plumbing manifold system 100 may be used to attach or organize a plumbing system of a building. The plumbing system of the building may include supply lines such as supply lines 120 and distribution lines such as distribution lines 130. Additional elements such as a water supply, water heater, boiler, etc. may be included, as may the devices, fixtures, and locations to which water is to be distributed.
The plumbing manifold system 100 may also be used in a method of setting up or organizing the plumbing system of the building. The method may include the step of providing a base or mount such as the base or mount 150 described above. The step of providing the base or mount may include attaching or mounting the base or mount onto a framing element of the building.
The method may include the step of providing a plumbing manifold such as the plumbing manifold 110 described above. Providing the plumbing manifold may include attaching or mounting the plumbing manifold onto the base or mount.
The method may also include the step of providing one or more supply lines such as the supply lines 120 described above. Further, the method may include the step of attaching the supply lines to the plumbing manifold. As described above, the supply lines may supply water to the plumbing manifold from a water source or from water heater or other device.
The method may also include the step of providing one or more distribution lines such as the distribution lines 130 described above. Further, the method may include the step of attaching the distribution lines to the plumbing manifold. As described above, the distribution lines may supply water from the plumbing manifold to a device, fixture, or other location in the building.
The method may include the step of passing the distribution lines through passageways, such as the first passageway 183 and second passageway 184 described above, as part of the step of attaching the distribution lines.
Further, the method may include the step of gathering or bundling multiple distribution lines, for example, within a cavity such as cavity 161.
In embodiments of the method, the distribution lines may be provided along with the base or mount having a removable panel such as panel 155 described above. The panel may be removed to allow easy access into a volume such as the volume 160 described above and/or a cavity such as the cavity 161 described above. The distribution lines may then be passed through the respective passageways and/or bundled or gathered. Performing these steps with the removable panel removed may facilitate quick and easy threading of the distribution lines through the passageways. Once the distribution lines are arranged as desired, the panel may be replaced. It will be understood that these steps may be performed in an alternative order. For example, the distribution lines may be attached to the manifold first and then threaded through the respective passageways and bundled or gathered. The plumbing manifold may have already been attached to the panel, for example, using a plate or component as discussed above, or may be attached to the panel after the panel is replaced. Likewise, the manifold may have already been connected to the supply lines or may be connected at this time and the distribution lines may now be connected.
Referring now to
The description of methods, including the flowchart of
The systems, devices, arrangements, and methods described herein allow the manifold 110 to be positioned within the structure as needed, for example, on a framing element located in the basement. Further, the systems, devices, arrangements, and methods allow the manifold 110, supply lines 120, and distribution lines 130 to be arranged and organized in an efficient, space-saving manner while remaining accessible. The systems, devices, arrangements, and methods also avoid weakening or comprising framing elements of the building or structure while still providing the benefits described herein.
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and their derivatives are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish elements and are not used to denote a particular order.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
