Flexible flange apparatus for connecting conduits and methods for connecting same

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to improved water closet flanges and methods for installing such water closet flanges. In one exemplary embodiment, an improved water closet flange apparatus includes an outer flange and a flexible conduit portion (i.e. sleeve) extending downwardly therefrom. The flexible sleeve has a sufficient degree of flexibility to accommodate connection between offset, misaligned, angled, or otherwise incongruous plumbing fixture discharges and waste drain pipe outlets. In one embodiment, the flexible sleeve includes at least one corrugated portion to aid the desired flexibility. An upper portion of the flexible sleeve may include an inwardly extending lip portion to accommodate the desired seal between the plumbing fixture discharge and the flange apparatus. Related methods for installing the disclosed flange apparatus between plumbing fixture discharges and waste drainpipes are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flange apparatus, comprising:
 a sleeve unitarily formed of a flexible material, the sleeve having upper and lower portions, the upper portion comprising:
 an inward lip extending from an outer, top surface of the upper portion, the lip being sufficiently flexible to deflect downward when engaged by the plumbing fixture discharge, and 
 an outward flange extending from an outer, top surface of the upper portion, wherein 
   the sleeve is capable of at least ten degrees of deflection while maintaining a cross-sectional shape of the lower portion of the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The flange apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outer flange. 
     
     
         3 . The flange apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is operable to be coupled to the outer flange. 
     
     
         4 . The flange apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes one or more sealing elements. 
     
     
         5 . The flange apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more sealing elements are disposed about a lower portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The flange apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the sealing element includes a maximum outside diameter sized to directly engage an inside diameter of a waste drainpipe outlet. 
     
     
         7 . A method for substantially sealing a plumbing fixture discharge to a waste drainpipe outlet, comprising:
 providing a sleeve unitarily formed of a flexible material, the sleeve having upper and lower portions, the upper portion comprising:
 an inward lip extending from an outer, top surface of the upper portion, the lip being sufficiently flexible to deflect downward when engaged by the plumbing fixture discharge, and 
 an outward flange extending from an outer, top surface of the upper portion, wherein 
 the sleeve is capable of at least ten degrees of deflection while maintaining a cross-sectional shape of the lower portion of the sleeve; and 
   using the lip of the sleeve to substantially seal the plumbing fixture discharge to the sleeve; and   sealing, substantially, the waste drainpipe outlet to the sleeve.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the using the lip includes positioning the lip to be in contact with the plumbing fixture discharge. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the sleeve includes one or more sealing elements, and   the sealing includes using the one or more sealing elements of the sleeve to substantially seal the waste drainpipe outlet to the sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the using the one or more sealing elements includes positioning the one or more sealing elements to be in contact with the waste drainpipe outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the using the one or more sealing elements includes inserting the lower portion of the sleeve into the waste drainpipe outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sealing elements are disposed about a lower portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising
 providing an outer flange; and   positioning the sleeve inside the outer flange.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising deflecting the sleeve at least ten degrees while maintaining the cross-sectional shape of the lower portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising deflecting the sleeve less than ten degrees while maintaining the cross-sectional shape of the lower portion of the sleeve.