Pre-form for drain installation

Abstract

A pre-form for drain installation is provided. The pre-form comprises a cap portion, a bottom portion, and an outer portion. The cap portion defines an interior for receiving a top end of an upwardly extending drain pipe and is configured to cover an opening of the drain pipe. The bottom portion is detachedly coupled to the cap portion and comprises an aperture through which the drain pipe may pass so as to enable the bottom portion to slide along the length of the drain pipe. The outer portion is coupled to and extends upwardly from the bottom portion so as to define a perimeter for displacing concrete proximate to the drain pipe when inserted into a wet concrete flooring surface.

1 . A method of installing a drain fixture, the method comprising:
 installing a sub-floor plumbing system comprising an upwardly extending drain pipe;   positioning a pre-form on a top end of the drain pipe, wherein the pre-form comprises:
 a cap portion that substantially covers an opening of the drain pipe; 
 a bottom portion detachedly coupled to the cap portion; and 
 an outer portion coupled to and upwardly extending from the bottom portion; 
   building a concrete flooring surface proximate to the drain pipe;   applying a downward force to the pre-form so as to cause the cap portion to detach from the bottom portion;   sliding the pre-form down the length of the drain pipe until the bottom portion is at least partially inserted into the concrete flooring surface proximate to the drain pipe while the concrete flooring surface is wet, wherein the cap portion remains positioned on the top end of the drain pipe;   removing the pre-form after the concrete flooring surface sets;   cutting the drain pipe to a desired length, thereby resulting in a shortened drain pipe; and   installing a drain on a top end of the shortened drain pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion, the bottom portion, and the outer portion are cast using a common injection mold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sliding the bottom portion of the pre-form down the length of the drain pipe until the bottom portion is at least partially inserted into the concrete flooring surface comprises:
 displacing an amount of concrete proximate to the drain pipe, wherein the amount of displaced concrete is defined by dimensions of at least one of the bottom portion and the outer portion   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein building the concrete flooring surface comprises:
 pouring concrete proximate to the drain pipe and evenly spreading the concrete above the drain pipe area.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying a downward force to the pre-form comprises applying a downward force to a top edge of the outer portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is inserted into the concrete flooring surface until the concrete flooring surface is substantially level with a marker disposed on an outside surface of the outer portion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the drain pipe is received within an interior of the cap portion when the pre-form is positioned on the top end of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion is detachedly coupled to the bottom portion via a perforated seam that is broken when the downward force is applied to the pre-form. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises an aperture through which the drain pipe passes when the bottom portion of the pre-form is slid down the length of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drain pipe is cut so that the height of the shortened drain pipe does not extend above a level of the finished flooring surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein installing the drain comprises:
 coupling the drain to the top end of the shortened drain pipe; and   sealing a space between the drain and the concrete flooring surface.   
     
     
         12 . A pre-form for drain installation comprising:
 a cap portion defining an interior for receiving a top end of an upwardly extending drain pipe;   a bottom portion detachedly coupled to the cap portion and comprising an aperture through which the drain pipe passes so as to enable the bottom portion to slide along the length of the drain pipe; and   an outer portion coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom portion so as to define a perimeter for displacing concrete proximate to the drain pipe when inserted into a wet concrete flooring surface.   
     
     
         13 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein the cap portion substantially covers an opening of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein the cap portion is detachedly coupled to the bottom portion via a perforated seam that is broken when a downward force is applied to the bottom portion or the outer portion. 
     
     
         15 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein the cap portion remains positioned on the top end of the drain pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein the outer portion comprises a marker for at least one of:
 identifying a height to which a pre-form is to be inserted into a wet concrete surface; and   identifying a height to which the drain pipe is to be cut.   
     
     
         17 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein an outer edge of the bottom portion is coupled to a bottom edge of the outer portion, and wherein the bottom edge of the outer portion defines a perimeter that is smaller than a perimeter defined by a top edge of the outer portion. 
     
     
         18 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein the cap portion, the bottom portion, and the outer portion are cast as one piece using a common injection mold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein building a concrete flooring surface proximate to the drain pipe comprises building a thin set mortar surface proximate to the drain pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The pre-form of  claim 12 , wherein the concrete includes thin set mortar.