Patent Application
20070241563
The present invention is directed to a universal nipple for water delivery devices (such as showerheads, bath spouts and the like) and bathroom accessories (including but not limited to mirrors, shelves, towel bars, toilet tissue holders, tumbler holders and the like). More particularly, the present invention is directed to a universal fluid communication nipple that secures a plurality of wall-mounted water delivery devices to plumbing structure that is fixed behind a wall surface. The universal nipple of the present invention includes a shank of uniform diameter having a series of threads circumferentially disposed thereon at spaced intervals. This configuration accommodates varying installation depths required by different types of devices and accessories, thereby reducing the requisite time and cost for installation of wall mountable structures.
Common wall-mounted water delivery devices, such as showers and bath spouts, necessarily require fluid communication with a plumbing structure located behind the wall surface (hereinafter “behind-the-wall plumbing”). Mounting members for such devices must achieve fluid communication while sustaining the considerable weight of such water delivery devices and the large multi-directional forces inherently borne thereby. In addition, mere functionality is insufficient to accommodate the desired aesthetic effect of such devices. It is not uncommon, therefore, for such mounting members to conceal the member's support structure (i.e., via commonly used fasteners such as screws, washers, springs and the like).
Conventional mounting members, however, lack versatility with respect to water devices of varying shape and function. Multiple fasteners of varying dimension are often required to achieve watertight connection between the water delivery device and behind-the-wall plumbing. If more than one such device is mounted as part of a suite of sanitary fittings, multiple fasteners and corresponding support structures are required to fulfill the functional and aesthetic requirements of wall mounting. Thus, in spite of variances in weight, multi-directional forces and mounting distances between the wall surface and the behind-the-wall plumbing, the installer must always consider the individual characteristics of each device and ensure a watertight seal at various installation depths.
There are a plurality of available devices for securement of a wall-mountable device (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,013 to Robbins which discloses a support post mounting assembly having a bracket with first and second aperture sections and a jamb nut with internal threads; U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0023993 to Fleischmann et al. which discloses a wall-mountable accessory assembly having a bracket with an axial extension, a plate and an elongate escutcheon for receipt of the bracket extension therein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,463 to Ouano which discloses a mounting bracket for a wall-mounted accessory having a bracket with multiple flanges that engage an accessory post having a base with a cavity for receipt of the bracket thereby). There are also multiple commercially available devices for securing water delivery devices to a wall that are well known in the art. Heretofore, however, there are no devices that combine the functionality of accessory fasteners and water delivery connectors to ease the installation of such accessories and water delivery devices.
It is therefore desirable to provide a universal fluid connection and mounting device that facilitates relatively fast and accurate mounting of water delivery devices, bathroom accessories and similar structures. Such a device ensures watertight connections at a plurality of mounting thicknesses and desirably exhibits a simple structure for inexpensive manufacture.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a device that accommodates proper mounting of wall-mountable structures and water delivery devices.
It is another advantage of the present invention to customize such a device for proper securement in support structures of varying mounting thicknesses.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide such a device that remains hidden from view to promote an aesthetically desirable appearance.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide an economical device that accommodates unimpeded fluid flow therethrough when used in cooperation with a water delivery device and simultaneously supports the weight of such device without compromise. Such a device also successfully supports the weight of at least one of a plurality of wall-mountable accessories of varying weights and configurations.
In the attainment of these and other advantages, the present invention provides a universal nipple for securement of a wall-mountable structure to a mounting surface. The universal nipple of the present invention comprises a shank having an elongate body of predefined length. The body terminates in a proximate end and an opposed distal end, with the proximate end having an enlarged head portion from which the body depends generally normally. The distal end includes means defined thereat for engagement with the mounting surface. The body assumes a generally cylindrical configuration with a circumferential outer surface and an inner surface defining a lumen that is coextensive with the proximate and distal ends. The head desirably includes an open area therethrough that establishes communication with the lumen. The circumferential outer surface and the inner surface together define a predefined body thickness therebetween. The engagement means comprises at least one, and desirably plural, series of threads defined along the outer circumferential surface. Grooves are intermittently disposed between each thread series and may accommodate one or more corresponding seals thereat.
The lumen may have a tapering configuration wherein the lumen has a first diameter at the proximate end and a second smaller diameter at the distal end. The extent of the taper does not affect the unobstructed flow of fluid through the lumen.
The present invention also provides a system for effecting securement of a wall-mountable structure to a mounting surface. The system includes a wall-mountable device and a universal nipple as described hereinabove. The nipple's threads engage corresponding engagement means provided on preinstalled support structure located at or adjacent the mounting surface. Such engagement establishes communication between the wall-mountable structure and the support structure. The wall-mountable device of the present invention system may be a water delivery device selected from the group of water delivery devices including, but not limited to, showers, bath fillers, faucets and combinations thereof. Engagement between the inventive nipple and such water delivery devices easily establishes fluid communication between the water delivery device and preinstalled plumbing structure at or adjacent the support structure. Such fluid communication is established in combination with effective support of the water delivery device, regardless of the support structure thickness or the distance of the support structure from the plumbing structure.
In use, the present invention accommodates a plurality of accessories and water delivery device configurations, and successfully sustains such products in support structures of varying thicknesses. This is because the nipple body may be selectively truncated at a selected groove so as to remove a predetermined number of thread series and/or the head portion. The nipple is therefore easily modified for a plurality of installation configurations without detracting from the nipple's inherent benefits.
Various other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a universal nipple that yields a sturdy support for a water delivery device, bathroom accessory or other wall-mountable structure. The present invention provides a universal nipple that remains hidden from view and thereby produces an aesthetically desirable appearance. The universal nipple of the present invention does not incorporate specialized parts that undesirably increase the cost, time and complexity of manufacture of the device and/or installation of the wall-mountable structure.
Now referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein like numbers identify like elements, the universal nipple 10 of the present invention includes an elongate shank 12 having a body 14 that extends along length l and a longitudinal axis 4 defined therethrough. Shank 12 includes a proximate end 12a at which shank 12 depends generally normally from a head portion 16 (which head portion may assume the geometry of a hexagonal nut as shown in
Body 14 has a generally circumferential outer surface 14a and a tapering inner surface 14b that defines a tapering lumen 20 thereby through which fluid flows unobstructed. As shown, lumen 20 has a first diameter d1 at proximate end 12a of shank 12 and gradually tapers to a second smaller diameter d2 at distal end 12b. Along outer surface 14a, plural thread series 22 are disposed intermittently with grooves 24. Head portion 16 also has an open area 16a therewithin, shown as circumferential opening 16b having diameter d3 (although it is understood that neither head portion 16 nor open area 16a defined therewithin is limited to such geometry). It is understood that lumen 20 may have uniform diameter along its entire length or any portion thereof.
Referring further to
In order to secure shower fitting 50 firmly against mounting surface 44b and simultaneously ensure watertight engagement with elbow pipe 42, the installer measures the installation depth D (here defined as the distance between mounting surface 44b and the longitudinal axis defined through downwardly depending arm portion 42a of elbow pipe 42). It is understood that installation depth D is not limited to the depiction of
The present invention advantageously facilitates watertight mounting of water delivery devices at various installation depths, as further demonstrated by reference to
It is therefore seen that the present invention not only accommodates various water delivery devices, but also permits use of such devices with a plurality of behind-the-wall plumbing configurations. This advantage obviates the need for plural fastening members and further eliminates the need to make adjustments to the location and performance of pre-existing behind-the-wall plumbing. The present achieves these benefits without compromising the aesthetic effect of the water delivery device, thereby enabling the installer with broader design selections.
The present invention is not limited to use with water delivery devices. The present invention is also contemplated for use with sanitary accessories such as towel bars, shelves, toilet tissue holders, tumbler holders and the like. Although such implements do not require watertight fluid communication, it is desirable to provide a universal device that accommodates a plurality of functional and aesthetic goals. The universal nipple of the present invention does not incorporate specialized parts that undesirably increase the cost, time and complexity of manufacture of the device and/or installation of the wall-mountable structure. The present invention may therefore be adapted to such accessories without ameliorating the fluid communication and mounting benefits described hereinabove.
Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures are now evident to those skilled in the art. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is therefore offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.
