WASTE LINE INSERT

Abstract

A waste line insert is provided. A support upright for a plumbing fixture is cut and the waste line insert is inserted to provide an aperture through the supported upright that is of sufficient size for a horizontal waste line to pass through the upright.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a body having a front side and a back side with an aperture that passes from the front side to the back side; an upper extension that extends from a first side of the body in a plane orthogonal to the aperture and includes a first set of set screws; a lower extension that extends from a second side of the body in the plane orthogonal to the aperture and includes a second set of set screws; and wherein the first and second sets of set screws are configured to operatively connect the device to a first and second upright portions.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a first through bolt configured to extend through the first upright portion and the upper extension in a plane parallel to the aperture, the first through bolt being fastened to a first nut; and a second through bolt configured to extend through the second upright portion and the lower extension in the plane parallel to the aperture, the second through bolt being fastened to a second nut.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a first through bolt configured to extend through the first upright portion and the upper extension in a plane perpendicular to the aperture, the first through bolt being fastened to a first nut; and a second through bolt configured to extend through the second upright portion and the lower extension in the plane perpendicular to the aperture, the second through bolt being fastened to a second nut.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the aperture is obround in shape.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper extension has a first arm and a second arm and the first set of set screws cause the first arm and the second arm to press against an inside of the first upright portion; and wherein the lower extension has a third arm and a fourth arm and the second set of set screws cause the third arm and the fourth arm to press against an inside of the second upright portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The description contained herein refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements, of which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plumbing installation illustrating a waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of an exemplary waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective cutaway view of an exemplary waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective cutaway view of an exemplary waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plumbing installation 100 illustrating a wall carrier with a waste line insert in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. One or more upright posts 105 are illustratively mounted to a floor (not shown) to provide necessary structural support for a plumbing fixture 115. Upright posts 105 illustratively include a plurality of spaced slotted holes 130 that may be used to secure an upright, as described further below. Uprights 105 may also include smaller holes 205, described further below.

[0015] In a typical installation, the uprights 105 would be located within the void of a wall (not shown). An exemplary fixture interfacing structure 110 is illustratively attached to the uprights 105 by, for example, U-bolts 120. It should be noted that it is expressly contemplated that other types of fasteners may be utilized in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the description of the use of U-bolts 120 should be taken as exemplary only. Further, in alternative embodiments, the use of a fixture interface structure 110 may be optional. Therefore, the description of the fixture interface structure 110 contained herein should be taken as exemplary only.

[0016] A plumbing fixture 115 may then be mounted to the fixture interfacing structure 110. The fixture 115 may be any plumbing fixture, e.g., a sink, water fountain, water bottle filling station, lavatory, etc. The principles of the present invention may be utilized with any such plumbing fixture 115. Therefore, the fixture 115 shown and described herein should be taken as exemplary only.

[0017] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary insert 125 is shown that is operatively connected to one of the uprights 105 and provides a waste line opening that will enable a waste line (not shown) to pass through the upright 105.

[0018] While exemplary view 100 illustrates a single insert 125, is it is expressly contemplated that in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of inserts 125 may be utilized. For example, an insert 125 may be located on both of the uprights 105. Such use of a plurality of inserts may enable a common waste line to flow throughout a wall and be interconnected with a plurality of plumbing fixtures 115. A noted advantage of the present invention is that the inserts 125 may be easily located at varying heights along the uprights 105. Thus, in an installation having a plurality of fixtures in a line, e.g., in a commercial restroom, a waste line may be appropriately angled as it passes through the wall void. Each insert may be slightly lower than the one adjacent to it to enable the waste line to have an appropriate slope as desired by the installers.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view 200 of a waste line insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. View 200 illustrates a close-up of an installed insert 125 into an upright 105. Illustratively, uprights 105 have a plurality of spaced slotted holes 130 that may be aligned with spaces within the insert 125, shown in FIG. 3, that may then accept a set screw 305 which may fasten the insert 125 to the upright 105 by pressing the set screws 305 and the insert 125 against opposing walls within the upright 105. It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, alternative techniques for securing the insert 125 to the upright may be utilized. Therefore, the description of the use of a plurality of set screws should be taken as exemplary only. Smaller holes 205 may also be located along the upright 105. Smaller holes 205 may be utilized to install electrical boxes and/or plumbing brackets. Further, holes 205 may be utilized as indicators as to where the upright may be cut to install an insert 125.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view 300 of an exemplary waste line insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from exemplary view 300, the slotted holes 130 may be aligned with spaces within the insert 125 to accept a set screw 305 to fasten the insert 125 to the upright 105.

[0021] Further, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the insert 125 has a front side 315 and a back side 310 that are illustratively in planar alignment with the sides of the upright that are perpendicular to the plane of a wall. Through a central portion of the insert 125 is an aperture 320 that allows a waste line to pass through the insert and, in effect, through the upright. Top and bottom extensions 325 extend from the central portion of the insert in a narrowed fashion to allow insertion into the inside of the upright 105.

[0022] The positioning of the set screws 305 wholly within the extensions 325 ensures that they do not protrude beyond the bounds of the uprights 105, thereby posing no obstructions for fasteners, such as U-bolts 120, or the finished wall (not shown) around the uprights 105.

[0023] It should be noted that the specific shapes and sizes shown and described of the various components of the insert 125 should be taken as exemplary only. For example, aperture 320 is shown as substantially obround in shape; however, in alternative embodiments, aperture 320 may be other shapes, e.g., substantially circular, square, rectangular, etc. Therefore, the depiction of aperture 320 being substantially oval in shape should be taken as exemplary only. Similarly, while two set screws 305 are shown, in alternative embodiments, varying numbers of set screws may be utilized. It is expressly contemplated that the insert 125 may be asymmetrical with respect to the number of set screws. That is, the two extensions 325 may have differing numbers of set screws associated with each.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective cutaway view 400 of an exemplary waste line insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment the present invention. Exemplary view 400 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the insert 125 is designed to accept set screws 410 that are arranged in the same plane as the waste line aperture 320. These orthogonal set screws 410 may be used in place of, or in addition to, set screws 305 described above in relation to FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective cutaway view 500 of an exemplary waste line insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In exemplary view 500, the insert further includes the ability to inset a through bolt 505 to provide additional locking, strength, and/or stiffness to the overall assembly. The through bolt 505 may be used in addition to the set screws described above. Illustratively, the bolt 505 is fastened to a nut member 510 to secure the insert 125. In accordance with illustrative embodiments, the bolt 505 may be parallel to the set screws or may be perpendicular to the sect screws. Therefore, the depiction of the bolt 505 being perpendicular to set screws should be taken as exemplary only.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view 600 of an exemplary waste line insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. View 600 illustrates an exterior view of the insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view 700 of an exemplary waste line insert 125 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Exemplary view 700 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the insert 125 includes one or more set screws 705 that are set to cause an expansion of a first 710 and second 715 arm of an upper and lower extension of the insert. In this manner instead of set screws securing the insert, the expansion of the arms 710, 715 caused by the set screw 705 secures the insert to upright 105.

[0028] The present description is written in terms of various illustrative embodiments of the present invention. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. As such, the described embodiments should be taken as illustrative only.