Granted Patent B2

US 9,068,678 · App. 13/238,956 · Granted Jun 30, 2015

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A replacement closet flange for installing into an end of a drain pipe having an inner surface, said replacement closet flange comprising:

a main body comprising a substantially cylindrical section and a flange section extending radially outward from and approximately perpendicular to an upper end of the cylindrical section;

a flexible seal attached to at least a portion of the cylindrical section proximate a lower end thereof and configured, when the replacement closet flange is installed, to sealingly engage with the inner surface of the drain pipe; and

at least one retaining clip attached to a location about an outer periphery of the cylindrical section,

wherein the retaining clip includes a retaining tab proximate an end thereof configured, when the replacement closet flange is installed, to fixedly engage with an inner surface of the drain pipe, thus locking the replacement closet flange in position,

and wherein the flange section includes a groove extending into a portion thereof proximate the upper end of the cylindrical section, and the retaining clip includes an installation tab located proximate a second end thereof configured to engage with a surface within the groove, thus securing the retaining clip to the main body.

2. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the retaining tab extends outward and upward from the retaining clip.

3. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the retaining tab includes at least one pointed end configured to facilitate engagement with the inner surface of the drain pipe.

4. The replacement closet flange of claim 3 , wherein the retaining tab includes two pointed ends configured to facilitate engagement with the inner surface of the drain pipe.

5. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the replacement closet flange includes a plurality of retaining clips approximately equally spaced about an outer periphery of the cylindrical section.

6. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprising the flange section and the cylindrical section is a single part.

7. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the flange and cylindrical sections are constructed of a rigid plastic material, the flexible seal is constructed of an elastomeric material, and the retaining clip is constructed of a rust inhibitive material.

8. The replacement closet flange of claim 7 , wherein the rust inhibitive material is stainless steel.

9. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cylindrical section proximate the lower end thereof has a decreased outer diameter and is configured to position the flexible seal.

10. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the flexible seal is attached to the portion of the cylindrical section via a stretch fit.

11. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the flexible seal further comprises at least one outwardly extending tapered ring configured, when the replacement closet flange is installed, to sealingly engage with the inner surface of the drain pipe.

12. The replacement closet flange of claim 1 , wherein the flexible seal includes a plurality of outwardly extending tapered rings configured, when the replacement closet flange is installed, to sealingly engage the inner surface of the drain pipe.

13. A method of assembling a replacement closet flange, said method comprising:

receiving a main body comprising a substantially cylindrical section and a flange section extending outward from and approximately perpendicular to an upper end of the cylindrical section;

receiving a flexible seal;

receiving at least one retaining clip, wherein the retaining clip includes an outwardly extending retaining tab located proximate an end thereof, the retaining clip configured, when the replacement closet flange is installed, to fixedly engage with an inner surface of a drain pipe;

attaching the flexible seal around at least a portion of the cylindrical section proximate a lower end thereof; and

attaching the retaining clip to a location about an outer periphery of the cylindrical section of the main body,

wherein the flange section includes a groove extending into a portion thereof proximate the upper end of the cylindrical section, wherein the retaining clip includes an installation tab located proximate a second end thereof, and wherein the step of attaching the retaining clip to a location about an outer periphery of the cylindrical section of the main body comprises inserting the second end of the retaining clip into the groove such that the installation tab engages with a surface within the groove, thus securing the retaining clip to the main body.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of receiving at least one retaining clip comprises receiving a plurality of retaining clips, each retaining clip including an outwardly extending retaining tab located proximate an end thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of retaining clips includes an installation tab located proximate a second end thereof, and wherein the step of attaching the retaining clip to a location about an outer periphery of the cylindrical section of the main body comprises inserting one end of each of the plurality of retaining clips into the groove of the flange section at approximately equal spacing about the outer periphery of the cylindrical section.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the flexible seal around at least a portion of the cylindrical section proximate a lower end thereof comprises stretching the flexible seal around the portion of the cylindrical section proximate the lower end thereof to create a stretch fit.

Assignments (26)