Water closet flange hub assembly

Abstract

A water closet flange hub assembly for use with a floor. The assembly includes an annular base having a central through opening and which is mounted to the floor. A water closet hub includes a tubular and cylindrical pipe which is dimensioned to be slidably and adjustably positioned within the base opening. The hub also includes an outwardly extending toilet mounting flange at one end of the pipe. A fluid seal is disposed between the pipe of the water closet hub and the annular base to fluidly seal the base and hub together at an adjusted position of the water closet hub. The water closet hub is then secured to the floor by fasteners.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/501,239 filed Sep. 8, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to plumbing fittings and, more particularly, to a water closet flange hub assembly.

II. Description of Related Art

The previously known water closet flange typically comprise a tubular and cylindrical plastic pipe having an outwardly extending flange adjacent its upper end. The pipe is secured, typically by chemical welding, to the waste plumbing system of the structure so that the flange is level with the building floor. A toilet is then secured to the flange by conventional fasteners.

In some situations, for example where a new floor covering is installed, the level of the floor changes from its prior level. When this occurs, the flange is no longer even with the floor surface. When this occurs, it has been previously necessary to replace the entire closet flange. Such replacement is highly labor intensive and therefore expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a water closet hub assembly which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices.

In brief, the water closet flange hub assembly is designed for use with a floor and includes an annular base having a central through opening. This base is adapted to be mounted to the floor and is typically constructed of plastic. Once the base is secured to the floor, the circular through opening faces upwardly through the floor. The lower portion of the base is fluidly connected to the waste system for the structure.

A water closet hub includes a tubular and cylindrical pipe which is dimensioned to be slidably and adjustably positioned through the base through opening. This water closet hub includes an outwardly extending toilet mounting flange adjacent one end. With the cylindrical pipe of the water closet hub positioned within the base throughbore, the lower surface of the toilet mounting flange abuts against the top of the floor.

At least one and preferably two resilient O-rings are positioned in between an outer surface of the water closet hub pipe and an inner surface of the base around the through opening. The O-ring seals thus fluidly seal the annular base to the water closet hub at any adjusted position of the water closet hub relative to the base.

With the cylindrical pipe of the water closet hub positioned within the base, the toilet mounting flange is then secured to the floor using conventional fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the annular base mounted to a floor;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the water closet flange; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the assembled water closet flange hub assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference first to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the water closet flange hub assembly 10 of the present invention is shown. The water closet flange hub assembly 10 includes both an annular base 12 as well as a water closet hub 14. Both the annular base 12 and water closet hub 14 are preferably of a one-piece plastic construction.

With reference now particularly to FIG. 2, the annular base 12 is shown in greater detail and includes a central cylindrical throughbore 16. The annular base 12, furthermore, is generally tubular and cylindrical in shape and includes a radially outwardly extending flange 20 at a position spaced downwardly from an upper open end 22 of the base 12. A lower end 24 of the base 12 is fluidly connected to a waste system 26 (only partially illustrated) of a structure. Typically, the waste system 26 is also constructed of plastic and the base 12 is secured to the waste system 26 by chemical welding.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the hub 12 is installed relative to a floor 28 of a structure such that an upper surface 30 of the flange 20 flatly abuts against a lower surface 32 of the floor 28. The flange 20, and thus the base 12, is then secured to the floor 28 by any conventional means, e.g. threaded fasteners 36, which extend through openings 38 in the flange 20 and into the floor 28.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 38 are formed through the flange 20 in order to provide a firm attachment of the flange 20, and thus the base 12, to the floor 28. Additionally, as best shown in FIG. 1, one side 40 of the flange 20 may be removed to enable the base 12 to fit closely adjacent a building framing member.

With reference now particularly to FIG. 3, the water closet hub 14 is illustrated in greater detail. The water closet hub 14 includes a cylindrical pipe 50 having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the base opening 22 (FIG. 2). A radially outwardly extending toilet mounting flange 52 extends radially outwardly from an upper end 54 of the water closet hub 14. A plurality of circumferentially spaced throughbores 56 are formed through the flange 52.

Still referring to FIG. 3, at least one and preferably two annular grooves 58 are formed around an outer periphery 60 of the pipe 50 adjacent a lower end 62 of the pipe 50. The grooves 58 are axially spaced from each other and a resilient O-ring seal 64 is disposed within each groove 58.

With reference now to FIG. 4, the operation of the present invention will now be described. With the base 12 secured to the floor 28 by the fasteners 36 as previously described, the through opening 22 of the base 12 faces upwardly and adjacent, or slightly recessed, from an upper surface of the floor 28. The lower end 62 of the water closet hub 14 is then inserted through the through opening 22 until the toilet mounting flange 52 abuts against the top of the floor 28. The toilet mounting flange 52 is then secured to the floor 28 by conventional fasteners.

Upon insertion of the water closet hub 14 into the base 12, the resilient O-rings 64 are compressed in between an outer periphery of the pipe 50 of the water closet hub 14 and an inner surface of the base 12. In doing so, the seals 64 fluidly seal the water closet hub 14 and base 12 together.

When it is desired or necessary to alter the height of the toilet mounting flange 52, the fasteners securing the toilet mounting flange 52 to the floor 28 are removed and the hub 14 is then removed from the base 12. After the flooring 28 has been finished, e.g. by adding additional flooring, such as tile, to the top of the floor 28, the water closet hub 14 is then reinserted into the base 12. In doing so, since the height of the floor 28 has varied, the degree of insertion of the water closet hub 14 into the base 12 will vary in accordance with the height of the new floor 28. However, regardless of the insertion of the water closet hub 14 into the base 12, the fluid seals 64 will maintain the seal between the water closet hub 14 and base 12 regardless of the adjusted position of the water closet hub 14 relative to the base 12.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a water closet hub assembly in which the height of the toilet mounting flange may be varied as desired to accommodate floors in which the height of the floor has been changed, e.g. by the addition of new flooring. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A water closet flange hub assembly for use with a floor comprising:

an annular base having a central through opening, said base adapted to be mounted to the floor,

a water closet hub having a tubular and cylindrical pipe dimensioned to be slidably and adjustably positioned through said base through opening, and an outwardly extending toilet mounting flange at one end of said pipe,

means for securing said hub relative to the floor at an adjusted position relative to said annular base.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising at least one seal disposed between said base and said water closet hub.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said at least one seal comprises a resilient O-ring.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said water closet hub includes an annular groove formed around an outer surface of said cylindrical pipe, said seal being positioned in said annular groove.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 and comprising at least two resilient O-rings, said O-rings being positioned around an outer surface of said cylindrical pipe of said water closet hub at axially spaced positions.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a threaded fastener.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said threaded fastener threadably engages the floor.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein a portion of the floor overlaps a portion of said annular base and wherein said threaded fastener threadably engages the floor.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said water closet hub is made of plastic.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 where said water closet hub is of a one-piece construction.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said toilet mounting flange includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots dimensioned to receive toilet retaining fasteners.

12. A water closet flange hub assembly for use with a floor comprising:

an annular base having a central through opening, said base adapted to be mounted to the floor,

a water closet hub having a tubular and cylindrical pipe dimensioned to be slidably and adjustably positioned through said base through opening, and an outwardly extending toilet mounting flange at one end of said pipe,

fasteners which secure said hub relative to the floor at an adjusted position relative to said annular base.