Flexible sleeve for connection to a plumbing fixture

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an improved water closet flange for connection to a plumbing fixture. The improved flange comprises an anchoring element or outer flange, connected to a flexible conduit tube or flexible sleeve, in which is attached an O-ring type of gasket. The improved flange connects a toilet bowl outlet to a waste drainpipe outlet without any flow reduction in between both connecting elements. The improved flange allows the connection between a toilet bowl discharge and a well placed vertical waste drainpipe. The improved flange also allows the connection between a toilet bowl discharge and a waste drainpipe outlet that is offset, horizontally oriented, or diagonally placed. The improved flange may further comprise an O-ring type of gasket disposed on the exterior of the flexible sleeve to provide a tight seal between the outer surface of the flexible sleeve and the inner surface of a waste drainpipe. The flexible sleeve can be implemented in a variety of sizes or diameters, including, for example, 3 inch (7.5 cm) and 4 inch (10 cm) diameters. An alternative embodiment of the flexible sleeve can fit either 3 inch or 4 inch drainpipes with the help of an appropriate O-ring seal of the appropriate dimensions.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An improved flange operable to connect a plumbing fixture discharge to a waste drain pipe outlet, the improved flange comprising: 
 an outer flange operable to anchor the plumbing fixture to a surface;    a flexible sleeve operable to provide a conduit for fluids from the plumbing fixture discharge to a waste drain pipe outlet;    a sealing member disposed on the outer surface of the flexible sleeve, wherein the sealing member is operable to form a seal between the flexible sleeve and an inner surface of the waste drain pipe.    
     
     
         2 . An improved flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a flexible body having an upper portion having an inner sealing surface in which the plumbing fixture discharge can be seated creating hermetic seal, and having an attaching lip which is adapted to fit into the radial groove of the outer flange and firmly hook the flexible sleeve onto the outer flange; and having a flexible conduit portion adapted to fit inside a waste drain pipe and providing flexibility between the connection of the flexible sleeve to the waste drain pipe.  
     
     
         3 . An improved flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member provides a hermetic seal between the outer surface of the flexible sleeve and the inner surface of the waste drain pipe.  
     
     
         4 . An improved flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer flange comprises a annular plate body having: 
 an inner diameter;    an outer diameter;    an upper surface having a radial groove disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, wherein the radial grove is operable to retain and attach the upper portion of the flexible sleeve;    a lower surface operable to be placed in contact with the surface;    at least two first apertures extending through the outer flange between the upper surface and the lower surface, the first apertures being operable to retain fasteners for securing the outer flange to the surface; and    at least two second apertures extending through the outer flange between the upper surface and the lower surface, the second apertures being operable to retain fasteners connecting the outer flange to a plumbing fixture.    
     
     
         5 . An improved flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer flange and the flexible sleeve are permanently affixed to each other.  
     
     
         6 . An improved flange according to  claim 5  wherein the outer flange and the flexible sleeve are molded as a singular piece.  
     
     
         7 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member comprises a plurality of O-rings.  
     
     
         8 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member comprises a single O-ring.  
     
     
         9 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a thermoplastic rubber.  
     
     
         10 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a PVC compound.  
     
     
         11 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a material having a hardness in the range of about 35 shore A to about 55 shore A.  
     
     
         12 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member is molded as part of the flexible sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member is longitudinally displaceable along the flexible sleeve.  
     
     
         14 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the outer flange comprises metal.  
     
     
         15 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the outer flange comprises a synthetic plastic material.  
     
     
         16 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises an integral support apparatus having at least one circular support.  
     
     
         17 . An improved flange according to  claim 16  wherein the integral support apparatus comprises a longitudinally coiled wire.  
     
     
         18 . An improved flange according to  claim 16  wherein the integral support apparatus comprises a plurality of rings.  
     
     
         19 . An improved flange according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises a corrugated portion.  
     
     
         20 . An improved flange operable to connect a plumbing fixture discharge to a waste drain pipe outlet, the improved flange comprising: 
 an outer flange operable to anchor the plumbing fixture to a surface;    a flexible sleeve comprising a longitudinal portion and a flange portion, wherein the flexible sleeve provides a conduit for fluids from the plumbing fixture discharge to a waste drain pipe outlet;    a sealing member disposed on the outer surface of the longitudinal portion of the flexible sleeve, wherein the sealing member is operable to form a seal between the flexible sleeve and an inner surface of the waste drain pipe.    
     
     
         21 . An improved flange according to  claim 20 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a flexible body having an upper portion having an inner sealing surface in which the plumbing fixture discharge can be seated creating hermetic seal, and wherein the longitudinal portion of the flexible sleeve is adapted to fit inside a waste drain pipe and provide flexibility between the connection of the flexible sleeve to the waste drain pipe.  
     
     
         22 . An improved flange according to  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member provides a hermetic seal between the outer surface of the flexible sleeve and the inner surface of the waste drain pipe.  
     
     
         23 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the sealing member comprises a plurality of O-rings.  
     
     
         24 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the sealing member comprises a single O-ring.  
     
     
         25 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a thermoplastic rubber.  
     
     
         26 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a PVC compound.  
     
     
         27 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a material having a hardness in the range of about 35 shore A to about 55 shore A.  
     
     
         28 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the sealing member is molded as part of the flexible sleeve.  
     
     
         29 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the sealing member is longitudinally displaceable along the flexible sleeve.  
     
     
         30 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises an integral support apparatus having at least one circular support.  
     
     
         31 . An improved flange according to  claim 30  wherein the integral support apparatus comprises a longitudinally coiled wire.  
     
     
         32 . An improved flange according to  claim 30  wherein the integral support apparatus comprises a plurality of rings.  
     
     
         33 . An improved flange according to  claim 20  wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises a corrugated portion.