Adjustable top clean-outs

Jan. 9, 1968 e. l. morris etal 3,362,425

ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-OUTS

Filed May 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Jan. 9, 1968 e. l. morris etal 3,362,425

ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-OUTS Filed May 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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United States Patent Office 3,362425

Patented Jan. 9, 1968

3,362,425 ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-OUTS

Earl L. Morris, Whittier, Calif., and Robert C. Salsbury, Paramus, N.J., assignors to Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., New Market, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey

Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,655 3 Claims. (Cl. 137—362)

This invention relates to drain clean-outs capable of being adjusted as to the level of their tops, the drain clean-outs being adapted for installation in concrete slab floors. The invention particularly relates to an adjustable level waste drain clean-out which is protected from plugging by wet concrete during the pouring of the floor and can be carefully aligned so that all of the clean-outs of a series occupy exactly the same level; moreover, the invention provides means whereby the various clean-outs may be raised at a subsequent time in the event the level of the floor is to be increased, as for example when at a subsequent date it is desired to apply a tile floor upon the surface of the pre-cast concrete slab floor.

Every building generally includes a plumbing system and all waste and drain pipe need be installed before a concrete floor is poured. Numerous clean-out plugs must be provided in any large building and, in many institutional buildings, a large number of floor outlets need be provided. It is necessary that all of the clean-out openings, drain openings, etc. be provided with covers, plugs, or other means for preventing dirt, concrete and the like from accidentally entering the pipes and plugging them. Moreover, it is necessary that all floor outlets to a waste pipe system be at the level of the finished floor, since it is both expensive and sometimes impossible to make a final adjustment which will place the drain outlet or cleanout at the finished floor level, after the concrete floor has been cast and has set.

The present invention permits clean-out covers to be installed at a precise desired level, usually co-planar with a desired floor level. The invention provides a plug for the waste pipe as well as a cover which is adjustable to a desired level whereby all clean-out or drain openings in a concrete floor may be installed at the uniform, common floor plane before the concrete is poured or placed, the construction of the device hereinafter described being such that cement or grout will not enter the waste pipes 45 nor clog or impair the adjustability of the clean-out.

Furthermore, in the event, at a time subsequent to the completion of a cement floor slab (containing cleanouts of this invention), it is desired to raise the floor or apply a surfacing of tile or the like, the clean-out covers 50 and rim rings can be easily adjusted to a new level without chipping or damaging the floor. It is to be understood that the present invention is not only designed for the use of cleanouts which are to be employed or opened only in an emergency or clogging of a waste system, but 55 may be also employed to properly position drain openings in the floor, as for example where an institutional building contains a number of adjacent shower rooms or the like.

Again, the present invention permits the removal of ₆₀the cover without the use of special tools, the plug being also readily removable after the cover is lifted. The construction hereinafter described in detail also permits the rim rings and/or frames to be raised or removed even though they have become bonded to the surrounding con- _6gCrete. The construction of this invention permits the cover plate to be changed in its elevation with respect to the plug and also with respect to the pipe fitting; moreover, the rim ring of the device may also be changed in its elevation with respect to the plug and/or with respect to the fitting. As a result, a very flexible construction and arrangement is provided permitting the plumber to readily adjust the levels of the covers both before the concrete floor slab is poured and at a subsequent date.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to disclose and provide an improved construction for waste drain clean-outs and other openings adapted for installation in concrete slab floors.

Another object is to disclose and provide waste drain clean-outs and covers which can be adjusted to any desired level, both before and after their installation in a floor.

Another object is to disclose and provide an improved and simple construction for a waste drain clean-out including built in means for lifting the covers whenever desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of certain exemplary forms, reference being had to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial longitudinal section of an adjustable clean-out cover assembly in position in a concrete floor;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1, part of the cover being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the elements employed in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an axial section illustrating the manner of lifting the cover;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating the position of the. parts during raising or liberating of the rim ring when it is desired to place the cover at a higher elevation than that of the original floor;

FIG. 6 illustrates an assembly with the cover in an adjusted, raised position;

FIG. 7 is a partial axial section of a modified form of adjustable clean-out cover.

In order to facilitate the application of the clean-out openings and covers of the present invention, a fitting generally indicated as 1 is employed, this fitting being preferably provided with a lower end 2 provided with a series of circumferential score lines or indentations such as 3, 3', and the like whereby the fitting can be broken off and readily adjusted as to length desired to fit into either the spigot or the bell end of a waste pipe indicated in dash lines. The fitting is also provided with an upper end indicated at 4 terminating in an internally threaded end portion 5 capable of threadedly receiving and engaging the circumferential flange portion of a plug 7. The transverse partition 8 of the plug 7 is provided with a recess 9 (best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) whereby the rotation of the plug into threaded engagement with the fitting may be facilitated. The preferred plug is also provided with a boss 10 having an internally threaded recess indicated at 11.

A headed bolt 12 having the head 13 is in threaded engagement with the internal threads 11 of the boss. The head 13 of the bolt 12 is provided with an axial recess 14 which is of larger diameter than the internally threaded downwardly extending blind bore 15. The shank 17 of a locking screw 16 is in threaded engagement with the internally threaded blind bore 15; a nut 18 carried by such shank is retained within the enlarged axial recess 14 of the bolt.

A cylindrical frame member 20 surrounds the head of fitting 1; the frame 20 carries an inwardly extending

3,362,425 frame 20, a rim ring 30 and a cover 40 but the plug 7 is provided with an integral downwardly extending boss 10' and an upwardly extending integral polygonal head 19. This head 19 is received by a socket formed in the downwardly extending boss 42 of the cover 40 and supports the cover. The locking screw 16' extends downwardly into an internally threaded bore formed in the boss 10'. .Although rotation of the cover 40 will be translated into rotation of the plug 4 and thereby vary the elevation, of the cover with respect to the pipe fitting 1, the locking screw in this embodiment does not act as a handle whereby the entire cover may be lifted by the locking screw as in the prior modification.

From the description given hereinabove it will be evident that the present device provides a simple, easily adjustable means for placing a rim ring and its cover on a waste outlet or clean-out at any desired elevation, either during initial construction or at a subsequent time. Means have been provided for translating rotation of a cover into rotation of a bolt so as to vary the elevation of the cover with respect to a plug; means have been provided for translating rotation of the cover into a rotation of the plug itself so as to vary the elevation of the cover. Means have been provided whereby a rim ring may be readily liberated from its bond with adjacent concrete so as to raise it to a desired elevation. All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.