SHOWER RECEPTACLE ADAPTERS
An adapter assembly for coupling a shower receptacle to a drain includes a base and an upper member. The base includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, and a first aperture. The sidewall extends upward from an outer periphery of the bottom wall. The first aperture is disposed in the bottom wall. The upper member is adjustably coupled to the base and has a second aperture disposed therein. The upper member is configured to be selectively moved relative to the base to adjust a relative position between the first and second apertures. A portion of the base and a portion of the upper member cooperatively define an internal cavity for receiving a fluid therein.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/132,791 filed Mar. 13, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDThe present application relates generally to the field of bases or receptacles for baths (e.g., showers, bath tubs, etc.). More specifically, the present application relates to adapters for mounting a shower base or receptacle to an existing drain pipe or drain opening in a floor (e.g., a drain, a sewage pipe, etc.).
SUMMARYOne embodiment relates to an adapter assembly for coupling a shower receptacle to a drain. The adapter assembly includes a base and an upper member. The base includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, and a first aperture. The sidewall extends upward from an outer periphery of the bottom wall. The first aperture is disposed in the bottom wall. The upper member is adjustably coupled to the base and has a second aperture disposed therein. The upper member is configured to be selectively moved relative to the base to adjust a relative position between the first and second apertures. A portion of the base and a portion of the upper member cooperatively define an internal cavity for receiving a fluid therein.
Another embodiment relates to an adapter assembly for fluidly coupling a shower receptacle to a drain. The adapter assembly includes a base and an upper member. The base includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, and a first flange. The sidewall extends upward from a periphery of the bottom wall. The first flange extends from the bottom wall and defines a first aperture. The upper member is adjustably coupled to the base, and includes a second flange extending from the upper member and defining by a second aperture. The upper member is configured to be selectively moved relative to the base to adjust a relative position between the first and second apertures. The base is configured to be coupled to the drain at the first aperture and the upper member is configured to be coupled to the shower receptacle at the second aperture.
Another embodiment relates to an adapter for fluidly coupling a shower receptacle to a drain. The adapter includes a generally planar bottom wall and a seal. The seal extends upwardly from the bottom wall and along an outer periphery of the bottom wall. The seal includes an inner surface and a top surface. The inner surface of the seal and an upper surface of the generally planar bottom wall collectively define an internal cavity for receiving a fluid therein. The top surface of the seal is configured to engage a bottom surface of the shower receptacle to form a water-tight seal therebetween.
Generally speaking, conventional shower receptacles have generally been made having a size of 60×30 inches or smaller, and typically include a drain opening having a fixed location within the receptacle. The receptacle is typically installed onto a drain pipe located in an opening of a floor of a building to fix the relative position of the receptacle. More recently, shower receptacles have been made having a size of 60×32 inches or larger due to a need for more usable space in showers and baths. The shower receptacles having the larger 60×32 inch footprint typically include a drain opening having a fixed location that is different from the location of the drain opening in conventional receptacles having the smaller 60×30 inch footprint. This is undesirable, because when a conventional shower receptacle or bathtub is replaced with a new receptacle having a different drain location (such as during remodeling), significant modifications must be made to the existing drain pipe/floor to accommodate the new drain location, such as removing the old drain pipe from a cement subfloor.
For example, recently across the country there have been significant remodeling efforts in the hospitality industry (i.e., hotels and the like), which have included replacing bathtubs with showers. Typically, the bathtubs include a receptacle that has a 60×30 inch footprint with a drain location that is different than the drain location of a shower receptacle having a 60×32 inch footprint. This is problematic, because the opening in the subfloor of most hotel buildings for an existing drain pipe/drain must be enlarged. Thus, to replace the 60×30 inch bathtub with a larger shower, an installer/builder must enlarge the subfloor opening in, for example, a cement subfloor, to accommodate the new drain location of the shower receptacle. This requires significant modifications including removal of the old drain pipe from the cement subfloor, drilling/cutting a new drain opening in the subfloor, and providing a new, larger drain pipe in the new location of the subfloor. These modifications are both time consuming and expensive.
Accordingly, referring generally to the FIGURES, disclosed herein are adapter assemblies and adapters for mounting a shower or bath receptacle to an existing drain pipe or drain opening without having to modify the existing drain location and/or floor structure.
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For example, the upper member 11 can include an indicator 11b (e.g., a projection, a line, a mark, etc.) located on a top surface of the upper member. After the base 12 is installed onto a drain pipe or drain opening in, for example, a subfloor of a building via the first aperture and/or the flange 12d, an installer can determine the distance between the center of the drain pipe and the center of the drain opening in the receptacle at the installed position of the receptacle (i.e., the position of the receptacle drain opening relative to the drain pipe). This is the offset distance that the installer can use to position the second aperture of the upper member 11 (which is associated with the drain opening of the receptacle) relative to the first aperture of the base 12 (which is associated with the drain pipe in the floor).
Next, the upper member 11 and the collar 13 can be loosely coupled to the base 12 to allow for adjusting the position of the upper member relative to the base. According to other exemplary embodiments, the upper member 11 and the collar 13 are pre-installed onto the base 12 before the installer receives the adapter assembly 10 for installation. The installer can then move (e.g., rotate, etc.) the upper member 11 relative to the base 12 until the distance between the center of the second aperture and the center of the first aperture is the same as the distance between the center of the drain pipe in the floor and the center of the drain opening in the receptacle at the installed position (e.g., by using the markings 13c on the collar 13 and the indicator 11b on the upper member 11 as a guide). The installer can also move/adjust (e.g., rotate, etc.) the base 12 relative to the drain pipe in the floor, to further adjust the adapter assembly 10 position before installation of the receptacle.
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Once the upper member 11 is at the desired position, the collar 13 can then be securely fastened (e.g., coupled, threadably coupled, etc.) to the base 12, such that the upper member 11 is fixed relative to the base 12 (i.e., sandwiched between the collar 13 and the base 12). Lastly, the drain opening of the receptacle is fluidly coupled to the second aperture via the flange 11a of the upper member 11, such that fluid (e.g., water) flowing into the receptacle can be communicated/directed from the receptacle 11 to the drain pipe via the adapter assembly 10. According to other exemplary embodiments, the adapter assembly 10 is pre-installed onto the drain opening of the receptacle before the installer receives the assembly for installation onto the drain pipe.
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Next, the upper member 41 is slidably disposed (e.g., inserted, etc.) within the channels or slots of the base 42 defined by the shoulders 42e, such that the upper member 41 can be selectively moved/adjusted (e.g., translated, slid, etc.) along the channels relative to the base 42. According to other exemplary embodiments, the upper member 41 is pre-installed onto the base 42 before the installer receives the assembly for installation. The installer can then adjust (e.g., move, slide, translate, etc.) the upper member 41 relative to the base 42 (indicated by arrows “B” and “C” in
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Next, the receptacle 20 is installed onto a top surface 52a of the seal 52 with the drain opening 20a of the receptacle 20 positioned above or within the internal cavity of the adapter 50. The top surface 52a of the seal 52 and a bottom surface of the receptacle 20 form a water-tight seal, such that fluid (e.g., water) flowing through the internal cavity will not leak outside the adapter 50 (e.g., such that water can be contained within the internal cavity). According to the exemplary embodiment of
According to the various exemplary embodiments described herein, the adapter assembly components, such as the base and the upper panel, may be made out of various materials or combinations of materials that exhibit anti-corrosive properties, such as, for example, plastic, treated metal, composite, ceramic, rubber, or other materials suitable for plumbing applications. Additionally, the various adapters and adapter assemblies may include additional elements such as gaskets (e.g., gasket 22 shown in
The adapters/adapter assemblies described herein are particularly advantageous in that they allow for the installation of receptacles having drain locations that are different from the fixed locations of drain pipes without requiring an installer to perform substantial modifications at the installation site (e.g., moving drain pipes from there fixed locations). Additionally, the aforementioned assemblies are easy to install and allow for the effective and efficient draining of water.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the adapter assemblies and membranes/adapters as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.
Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, any element (e.g., base, upper panel, lower panel, seal/gasket, etc.) disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein.
Claims
1. An adapter assembly for coupling a shower receptacle to a drain, comprising:
- a base comprising: a bottom wall, a sidewall extending upward from an outer periphery of the bottom wall, and a first aperture disposed in the bottom wall; and
- an upper member adjustably coupled to the base, the upper member having a second aperture disposed therein;
- wherein the upper member is configured to be selectively moved relative to the base to adjust a relative position between the first and second apertures; and
- wherein a portion of the base and a portion of the upper member cooperatively define an internal cavity for receiving a fluid therein.
2. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first aperture is located offset from a center of the bottom wall, and wherein the second aperture is located offset from a center of the upper member.
3. The adapter assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper member is configured to be rotated relative to the base.
4. The adapter assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper member is configured to be translated relative to the base.
5. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be coupled to the drain at the first aperture.
6. The adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the upper member is configured to be coupled to the shower receptacle at the second aperture.
7. The adapter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first flange extending downward from a bottom surface of the base and surrounding the first aperture.
8. The adapter assembly of claim 7, further comprising a second flange extending upward from a top surface of the upper member and surrounding the second aperture.
9. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member is removably coupled to the base.
10. The adapter assembly of claim 8, further comprising a collar rotatably coupled to the base and configured to sandwich the upper member to the base between a portion of the collar and a portion of the base.
11. The adapter assembly of claim 10, wherein the collar is threadably coupled to the base.
12. An adapter assembly for fluidly coupling a shower receptacle to a drain, comprising:
- a base comprising: a bottom wall, a sidewall extending upward from a periphery of the bottom wall, and a first flange extending from the bottom wall and defining a first aperture; and an upper member adjustably coupled to the base; and
- a second flange extending from the upper member and defining a second aperture;
- wherein the upper member is configured to be selectively moved relative to the base to adjust a relative position between the first and second apertures; and
- wherein the base is configured to be coupled to the drain at the first aperture and the upper member is configured to be coupled to the shower receptacle at the second aperture.
13. The adapter assembly of claim 12, wherein a portion of the base and a portion of the upper member cooperatively define an internal cavity for receiving a fluid therein.
14. The adapter assembly of claim 12, wherein the first aperture is located offset from the center of the bottom wall, and wherein the second aperture is located offset from the center of the upper member.
15. The adapter assembly of claim 12, wherein the upper member is rotatably coupled to the base.
16. The adapter assembly of claim 12, wherein the upper member is slidably coupled to the base.
17. An adapter for fluidly coupling a shower receptacle to a drain, comprising:
- a generally planar bottom wall; and
- a seal extending upwardly from the bottom wall and along an outer periphery of the bottom wall, wherein the seal includes an inner surface and a top surface;
- wherein the inner surface of the seal and an upper surface of the generally planar bottom wall collectively define an internal cavity for receiving a fluid therein; and
- wherein the top surface of the seal is configured to engage a bottom surface of the shower receptacle to form a water-tight seal therebetween.
18. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the generally planar bottom wall further includes a drain hole disposed therein.
19. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the generally planar bottom wall is configured to have a drain hole selectively cut therein.
20. The adapter of claim 19, wherein the drain hole is configured to receive a drain pipe of a building therethrough.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2016
Inventors: SCOTT R. KNAPP (Sheboygan, WI), John K. Adams (Manitowoc, WI)
Application Number: 15/067,956