US3362425A

US3362425A - Adjustable top clean-outs

Info

Publication number: US3362425A
Application number: US547655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl L Morris; Robert C Salsbury
Original assignee: JAY R SMITH Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Smith Jay R Manufacturing Co; JAY R SMITH Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1966-05-04
Filing date: 1966-05-04
Publication date: 1968-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1985-01-09

Description

Jan. 9,'1968 E. L. MORRIS ETAL 3,362,425

ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-CUTS 'SQ/Ma? www Y @Trae/VE V52 Jan. 9, 1968 E L, MoRRls ET AL 3,362,425

ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-oms Filed May 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QQL L. Maze/s Reefer C. Sozsam/ A5 7 ORA/EVS.

United States Patent 3,362,425 ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-DUTS Earl L. Morris, Whittier, Calif., and Robert C. Salsbury, Paramus, NJ., assignors to Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., New Market, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,655 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-362) This invention relates to drain clean-outs capable of being adjusted as to the level of their tops, the drain clean-outs being adapted for installation in conc-rete slab floors. The invention particularly relates to an adjustable level waste drain clean-out which is protected from plugging by wet concrete during the pouring of the floor and can be carefully aligned so that all of the clean-outs of a series occupy exactly the same level; moreover, the invention provides means whereby the various clean-outs may be raised at a subsequent time in the event the level of the floor is to be increased, as for example when at a subsequent date it is desired to apply a tile floor upon the surface of the pre-cast concrete slab floor.

Every building generally includes a plumbing system and all waste and drain pipe need be installed before a concrete floor is poured. Numerous clean-out plugs must be provided in any large Ibuilding and, in many institutional buildings, a large number of oor outlets need be provided. It is necessary that all of the clean-out openings, drain openings, etc. be provided with covers, plugs, or other means for preventing dirt, concrete and the like from accidentally entering the pipes and lplugging them. Moreover, it is necessary that all iioor outlets to a waste pipe system be at the level of the finished floor, since it is both expensive and sometimes impossible to make a final adjustment which will place the drain outlet or cleanont at the finished floor level, after the concrete floor has been cast and has set.

The present invention permits clean-out covers to be installed at a precise desired level, usually co-planar with a desired iioor level. The invention provides a plug for the waste pipe as well as a cover which is adjustable to a desired level whereby all clean-out or drain openings in a concrete floor may be installed at the uniform, cornmon floor plane before the concrete is poured or placed, the construction of the device hereinafter described being such that cement or grout will not enter the waste pipes nor clog or impair the adjustability of the clean-out.

Furthermore, in the event, at a time subsequent to the completion of a cement floor slab (containing cleanouts of this invention), it is desired to raise the floor or apply a surfacing of tile or the like, the clean-out covers and rim rings can be easily adjusted to a new level without chipping or damaging the fioor. It is to be understood that the present invention is not only designed for the use of cleanouts which are to be employed or opened only in an emergency or clogging of a waste system, but may be also employed to properly position drain openings in the floor, as for example where an institutional building contains a number of adjacent shower rooms or the like.

Again, the present invention permits the removal of the cover without the use -of special tools, the plug being also readily removable after the cover is lifted. The construction hereinafter described in detail also permits the rim rings and/ or frames to be raised or removed even though they have become bonded to the surrounding concrete. The construction of this invention permits the cover plate to be changed in its elevation with respect to the plug and also with respect to the pipe fitting; moreover,

3,362,425 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 ICC the -rirn ring of the device may also be changed in its elevation with respect to the plug and/ or with respect to the fitting. As a result, a very flexi-ble construction and arrangement is provided permitting the plumber to readily adjust the levels of the covers both before the concrete floor slab is poured and at a subsequent date.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to disclose and provide an improved construction for Waste drain clean-outs and other openings adapted for installation in concrete slab floors.

Another Objectis to disclose and provide Waste drain clean-outs and covers which can be adjusted to any desired level, both before and after their installation in a floor.

Another object is to disclose and provide an improved and simple construction for a waste drain clean-out including built in means for lifting the covers whenever desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of certain exemplary forms, reference being had to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. l is an axial longitudinal section of an adjustable clean-out cover assembly in position in a concrete floor;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the assembly shown in FIG. l, part of the cover being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the elements employed in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an axial section illustrating the manner of lifting the cover;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating the position of the parts during raising or liberating of the -rim ring when it is desired to place the cover at a higher elevation than that of the original floor;

FIG. 6 Iillustrates an assembly with the cover in an adjusted, raised position;

FIG. 7 is a partial axial section of a modified form of adjustable clean-out cover.

In order to facilitate the application of the clean-out openings and covers of the present invention, a fitting generally indicated as 1 is employed, this tting being preferably provided with a lower end 2 provided with a v series of circumferential score lines or indentations such as 3, 3', and the like whereby the fitting can be broken off and readily adjusted as to length desired to fit into either the spigot or the bell end of a waste pipe indicated in dash lines. The fitting is also provided with an upper end indicated at 4 terminating in an internally threaded end porti-on 5 capable of threadedly receiving and engaging the circumferential flange portion of a plug 7. The transverse partition 8 of the plug 7 is provided with a recess 9 (best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) whereby the rotation of the plug into threaded engagement with the fitting may be facilitated. The preferred plug is also provided With a boss 10 having an internally threaded recess indicated at 11.

A headed bolt 12 having the head 13 is in threaded engagement with the internal threads 11 of the boss. The head 13 of the bolt 12 is provided with an axial recess 14 which is of larger diameter than the internally threaded downwardly extending blind bore 15. The shank 17 of a `locking screw 16 is in threaded engagement with the internally threaded blind bore 15; a nut 18 carried by such shank is retained within the enlarged axial recess 14 of the bolt.

A cylindrical frame member 20 surrounds the head of fitting 1; the frame 20 carries an inwardly extending flange 21 which normally rests upon the end of the fitting 1 as shown in FIG. l. For resting upon the ange of the frame is the liange 31 of a rim ring 30, the wall of the rim ring coacting with the upper surface of ange 31 to form a shoulder or recess adapted to receive the circumferential marginal portion of the cover plate 40.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the flange 21 of frame 2i) is provided with three or four internally threaded

bores

24, 24', 24"; similarly, the ange of the rim ring 30 is provided with internally threaded

bores

34, 34 and 34"; the cover 40 is also provided lwith threaded

bores

44, 44 and 44". These bore holes Z4, 34 and 44 are in alignment so that the cover may be firmly attached to the rim ring and the frame by suitable locking screws 54, 54', etc.

It will be noted that the cover 40 is provided with an axial port 41 having sides which provide a seat for the head of the locking screw 16. Before the cover is applied, the locking screw 16 is passed through the port and the nut 18 is applied to the shank 17 so that when the cover is applied and is seated on the head 13 of bolt 12, the nut 18 is received within the recess 14 and the locking screw may be threaded into the blind bore 15.

Moreover, means may be provided for translating rotation of the cover into rotation of the bolt 12 so as to vary the elevation of the cover with respect to the bolt and plug. Such means may comprise the downwardly extending boss 42 carried by the cover 40, said boss being provided with a socket 43 adapted to receive the head 13 of the bolt 12.

It is also to be noted that in order to properly position the rim ring 30 upon the frame 20, the ange of the rim ring 30 is provided with a downwardly extending tab 35 which fits into a notch 25 in the iiange of the frame 20. Such interengagement insures the proper alignment of the various internally threaded

bore holes

24, 34 and 44.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the locking screw 16 performs a dual function in that it also acts as a handle by means of which the entire cover 40 may be rea-dily removed. After the connecting screws 54 are removed, the locking screw 16 may be unthreaded from the blind bore 15 and it will project above the level of the cover 40. When in this position, it can be readily grasped and axial upward movement will be translated through the nut 18 to the cover 40 thereby permitting the entire cover to be readily raised. This raising position is illustrated in FIG. 4.

It will be noted that as shown in FIG. l the entire upper end of the fitting and waste pipe is protected against clogging by wet plastic concrete. The frame and rim ring collaborates with the cover to keep the plug completely enclosed and no cement or cement slurry can plug the drain pipe nor prevent subsequent ready removal of the plug from its fitting.

As previously indicated, there are times when after a concrete oor has been laid and the rim rings and covers and drain outlets are all in position, the architect or subsequent owner of the building desires to raise the level of the lioor as, for example, to the level indicated in dash lines in FIG. 5. At such time it is only necessary to remove the cover plate in the manner shown in FIG. 4, and utilize an auxiliary set of internally threaded bore holes 35', 35 and 36' formed in the rim ring 30. The rim ring is of course bonded to the adjacent concrete but, by placing the screws 54 into threaded openings 35', 35, etc. and screwing down upon the unbored portions of the flange 21 of frame 2l) (as illustrated in FIG. 5), the entire rim ring 30 may be readily raised to a desired position or level coplanar with the level of the new or increased elevation of the lioor. Circular shim rings 56 may then be inserted beneath the flange 31 and above the flange 21 (as shown in FIG. 6) and the cover 40 again screwed into place. In FIG. 6, the new or tile covering or the like is indicated at 58.

A simplified modification of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7. It also employs a pipe fitting 1, a

4 frame 20, a rim ring 30 and a cover 40 but the plug 7 is provided with an integral downwardly extending boss 10 and an upwardly extending integral polygonal head 19. This head 19 is received by a socket formed in the downwardly extending boss 42 of the cover 40 and supports the cover. The locking screw 16 extends downwardly into an internally threaded bore formed in the boss 10. Although rotation of the cover 40 will be translated into rotation of the plug 4 and thereby vary the elevation of the cover with respect to the pipe fitting 1, the locking screw in this embodiment does not act as a handle whereby the entire cover may be lifted by the locking screw as in the prior modification.

From the description given hereinabove it will be evident that the present device provides a simple, easily adjustable means for placing a rim ring and its cover on a waste outlet or clean-out at any desired elevation, either during initial construction or at a subsequent time. Means have been provided for translating rotation of a cover into rotation of a bolt so as to vary the elevation yof the cover with respect to a plug; means have been provided for translating rotation of the cover into a rotation of the plug itself so as to vary the elevation of the cover. Means have been provided whereby a rim ring may be readily liberated from its bond with adjacent concrete so as to raise it to a desired elevation. All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. An adjustable level waste clean-out and drain cap adapted for installation in concrete slab iioors including: a plug for closing the open end of a stationary waste pipe tting, said plug having threaded means connecting the plug to a fitting and for varying the elevation of the plug with respect to the end of the fitting;

a cylindrical frame encircling the plug and adapted to be positioned in a concrete fioor slab to protect said plug and fitting, said frame having an inwardly extending top ange extending over said tting;

a cover plate removably carried by the plug;

means for varying the elevation of the cover plate with respect to said plug;

a rim ring having an internal lower flange forming a shoulder adapted to receive and support the cover plate;

aligned means for removably connecting the cover plate to the rim ring and frame;

and selectively operable threaded means in said rim ring for raising said ring with respect to said frame flange,

whereby said cover plate and rim ring may be positioned at any desired floor elevation `with respect to the open end of a stationary waste pipe at a lower elevation.

2. An adjustable waste clean-out and drain cap as stated in claim 1 wherein said plug includes an internally threaded boss, an upwardly extending headed bolt in engagement with said internally threaded boss, the head of said bolt supporting said cover, and means for translating rotation of said cover into rotation of said bolt to vary the elevation of the cover with respect to said plug.

3. An adjustable waste clean-out and drain cap as stated in claim 1 including: means for releasably connecting the cover to said plug and for lifting the cover comprising: an internally threaded boss in said plug; an upwardly extending headed bolt in engagement with said internally threaded boss, said bolt having an axial, enlarged recess opening in the head of said bolt and a lower internally threaded blind bore; a headed cover locking screw provided with a shank extending through the cover plate into engagement with the threaded blind bore of said bolt, and a nut within the recess, whereby in one axial position said locking screw locks the cover plate to said bolt and plug and in another position disengages from the bolt and extends above the cover plate, further upward motion of 1,826,555 10/ 1931 Lonskey 210-163 the locking screw being translated by the nut into lifting 2,299,705 10/ 1942 Svirsky 210-165 XR force applied t0 the Cover- 2,930,295 3/1960 Haie 9434 References Cited 3,173,443 3/1965 Saville 137-362 5 3,263,579 8/1966 Dorris 94-34 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,180 8/ 1913 Reed 94-34 HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Primary Examiner.

1,639,495 8/1927 Frame 94-34

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LEVEL WASTE CLEAN-OUT AND DRAIN CAP ADAPTED FOR INSTALLATION IN CONCRETE SLAB FLOORS INCLUDING: A PLUG FOR CLOSING THE OPEN END OF A STATIONARY WASTE PIPE FITTING, SAID PLUG HAVING THREADED MEANS CONNECTING THE PLUG TO A FITTING AND FOR VARYING THE ELEVATION OF THE PLUG WITH RESPECT TO THE END OF THE FITTING; A CYLINDRICAL FRAME ENCIRCULING THE PLUG AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN A CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB TO PROTECT SAID PLUG AND FITTING, SAID FRAME HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING TOP FLANGE EXTENDING OVER SAID FITTING; A COVER PLATE REMOVABLY CARRIED BY THE PLUG; MEANS FOR VARYING THE ELEVATION OF THE COVER PLATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLUG;