EXTENDER FOR USE IN BATHROOM FIXTURE INSTALLATIONS

Abstract

An extender (E) for connection to an outlet of a water supply pipe (WSP) and to a water inlet of a bathroom fixture when the outlet end of the water supply pipe and the water inlet of the bathroom fixture are some distance apart.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on, and claims the benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application 62/812,349 filed Mar. 1, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to the installation of bathroom fixtures such as toilets, bidets, etc.; and, more particularly, to an extender for use in the installation of such fixtures.

[0004] In a typical bathroom installation, a water supply pipe projects through a bathroom wall and then turns upwardly. Connection of this end of the pipe to a bathroom fixture then involves connecting one end of a hose or pipe to the exposed end of the water supply pipe. The other, outlet end of the hose or pipe then delivers water, through an in-line water shut-off valve to the bowl of the toilet or bidet, or inlet of the sink.

[0005] While bathroom fixture installations are somewhat standard insofar as how high above a bathroom floor the water pipe outlet extends through the bathroom wall, and the distance between this point and the location of the fixture to which the outlet is connected, through the shut-off valve, by the hose or pipe, these distances may vary. Accordingly, to simplify installations of bathroom fixtures, when the height between the water pipe outlet and tank bowl inlet, for example, is some distance apart, it would be beneficial to have an inexpensive, easy to use and install extension or extender to readily facilitate such installations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is directed to an extender for use in simplifying the installation of a toilet, for example, when the inlet to the tank bowl is significantly above a water pipe outlet such that the distance cannot be readily bridged using conventional, standard pipes or hoses.

[0007] The extender is preferably a hollow metal cylinder the inner diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the exposed outer end of the water supply pipe for an inlet end of the extender to readily fit on and over the outer end of the pipe.

[0008] The length of the extender is sufficient to accommodate a wide range of distances between the outer end of the pipe and the water inlet to the toilet tank.

[0009] The extender preferably has a water shut-off valve formed at its upper outlet end for a user to readily shut-off water flow to the toilet if that becomes necessary.

[0010] The extender may also have fittings at each end to readily connect the extender to the outer end of the water pipe and the tank bowl inlet or fill-valve.

[0011] Other objects and fixtures will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1A illustrates the installation of a toilet in a bathroom, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a portion of the installation showing use of an extender of the present invention in effecting the installation:

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an extender of the present invention;

[0014] FIGS. 3 and 4 are respective elevation views of the extender viewed from different directions;

[0015] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of another embodiment of the extender; and,

[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the extender of FIG. 5.

[0017] Corresponding reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0019] Referring to the drawings, an extender E is shown in the drawings to include a hollow cylindrical sleeve 10 which can slide up and down over the outlet end of the water supply pipe for properly locating the extender with the water supply pipe and bathroom fixture. A fitting 12 on the lower end of sleeve 10 comprises a threaded nut threadably received on the exposed outlet end of a water supply pipe WSP shown in FIG. 1B which projects outwardly from a bathroom wall BW. At the opposite end of sleeve 10 is an outlet indicated generally 14 which extends transversely to the sleeve. One end of outlet 14 is capped, and a fitting 16 on the opposite end of the outlet comprises a threaded nut by which extender E is attached to an inlet of a water conduit C of a tank for flowing water into a bowl TB of the toilet.

[0020] A water shut-off valve indicated generally 18 is installed at the upper end of extender E. As shown in FIG. 6, a shoulder 20 is formed below an outlet opening 22 formed in sleeve 10 so to reduce the inner diameter of the sleeve. A rotatable valve housing 24 fits into the reduced diameter portion of the sleeve. Housing 24 includes a stem 26 formed at its upper end and which protrudes through a central opening 28 formed in a cap 30 integrally formed with sleeve 10 at this end of the extender. Stem 26 has a central bore 32 extending inwardly into the stem from its outer end. A valve handle 34 is attached to stem 26 by inserting a pin 36 into bore 32 through an opening 38 in the handle.

[0021] Housing 24 has an opening 40 formed in a sidewall of the housing. When handle 34 is rotated, opening 40 is brought into registry with outlet opening 22 formed in sleeve 10 so to allow water flowing through extender E to flow into the toilet bowl. When the handle is turned so opening 40 is rotated from opening 22, water flow to the tank bowl is shut-off. This requires about a 1/4 turn of the handle. Finally, housing 24 has at least one annular groove 42 extending completely about the housing. Washers (not shown) are fitted into these grooves to prevent leakage. Two such grooves 42 are shown in FIG. 6.

[0022] Because of the length of extender E, the extender can be used to enable a toilet, for example, to be readily attached to water supply pipe WSP supplying water to the fixture. In doing so, the lower end of the extender is fitted over the water pipe until the upper, outlet end of the extender is at the same level as the water inlet conduit for the toilet. Connector 12 is then connected to the outlet end of water supply pipe WSP and connector 16 to the inlet of the tank bowl TB water inlet. Once these connections are complete, handle 34 of shut-off valve 18 Is turned until water flows into the tank bowl from extender E.

[0023] The extender and its components are of a lightweight metal construction so to make the extender easy to carry and install.

[0024] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that extender E effectively increases the length of water supply pipe WSP so that the length of the pipe does not have to be excessive in order to effect connection of the pipe to the bathroom fixture thereby saving considerable time and cost for an installation.

[0025] In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention and other advantageous results have been achieved.

Claims

1. An extender for connecting a water supply pipe to a water inlet of a bathroom fixture in which an outlet of the water supply pipe is a distance from the fixtures water inlet comprising: a hollow cylindrical sleeve the length of which is sufficient to reach from the water supply pipe's outlet to the fixture's water inlet; a connector at an inlet end of the sleeve for connection to an outlet end of the water supply pipe; a connector at an outlet end of the sleeve for connection to the fixtures water inlet; and a water shut-off valve installed in the sleeve, at an upper end of the sleeve, and interposed between the inlet and outlet of the sleeve to control water flow through the sleeve.

2. The extender of claim 1 which is of a lightweight metal construction.

3. The extender of claim 1 in which the sleeve can slide up and down over the outlet end of the water supply pipe for properly locating the extender with the water supply pipe and bathroom fixture.