CA2075324C - Unitary article comprising protective system components - Google Patents

Unitary article comprising protective system components

Info

Publication number
CA2075324C
CA2075324C CA2075324A CA2075324A CA2075324C CA 2075324 C CA2075324 C CA 2075324C CA 2075324 A CA2075324 A CA 2075324A CA 2075324 A CA2075324 A CA 2075324A CA 2075324 C CA2075324 C CA 2075324C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
article
sections
section
end portions
tubular section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA2075324A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2075324A1 (en
Inventor
Thomas W. Trueb
Steven R. Trueb
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Watertite Products Inc
Original Assignee
Truebro Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/754,048 external-priority patent/US5163469A/en
Application filed by Truebro Inc filed Critical Truebro Inc
Publication of CA2075324A1 publication Critical patent/CA2075324A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2075324C publication Critical patent/CA2075324C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Thermal Insulation (AREA)

Abstract

A unitary article is cut into sections to provide pieces that are configured for emplacement upon under-sink piping, as insulation against burn injury from contact with hot surfaces.
Three pieces cooperate with one another to provide a system for enclosing an installed P-trap assembly.

Description

207~324 Regulations in place in many municipalities re~uire that the so-called "P-trap" assembly (i.e., the waste water piping under sinks and the like) be insulated so as to prevent injury from contact with hot metal surfaces. Wheelchair bound indivi-duals are at particular risk.
The required thermal insulation may be supplied by wrap-ping or otherwise applying lengths of insulation (such as of foam rubber and the like) about the pipes. Such practices are however undesirable for a number of reasons: application is often difficult and time-consuming; the applied insulating material tends to become disoriented and displaced; the finished installation is typically unaesthetic; and often the result is simply ineffective.
The prior art suggest a wide variety of pipe covering techniques and structures. For example, Farr et al United States patent No. 3,598,157, issued August 10, 1971, discloses preformed covering pieces made of foamed plastics and con-figured for various pipe fittings. Blundell United States patent No. 4,205,105, issued May 27, 1980, shows an elongated pipe-insulating structure that is axially slit along one side, and Martin United States patent No. 3,402,731, issued September 24, 1968, provides foamed insulating sleeves for pipe elements.
United States patents Nos. 2,650,180, issued August 25, 1953, 2,937,662, issued May 24, 1960, 3,153,546, issued October 20, 1964, 3,559,694, issued February 2, 1971, 4,441,743, issued April 10, 1984, and 4,840,201, issued June 20, 1989, to Walker, Green, Dunn, Volberg, Steenbergen and Botsolas, respectively, all show encased insulating structures applied to pipes and fittings; United States patents Nos. 3,960,181, issued June 1, 1976, 4,463,780, issued August 7, 1984, and 4,669,509, issued June 2, 1987, to Baur et al, Schultz et al and Botsolas, re-spectively, provide one-piece covering wrappings fabricated from flexible plastic materials; and United States patents Nos. 3,177,528, issued April 13, 1965, and 3,719,209, issued March 6, 1973, to Flower et al and Rush et al, respectively, are directed to electrically insulated coatings for pipe fit-tings and to extruded plastic plumbing traps.
Despite the activity in the art indicated by the fore-going, there has been a need for means by which under-sink piping can quickly, easily, and inexpensively be thermally insulated. Although Applicants' copending application Serisl No. 07/569,995, now issued as U.S. patent No. 5,054,513, pro-vides a thermal insulation system and installation by and in which the foregoing needs are satisfied, advantage is seen in simplifying manufacture, handling and packaging of system com-ponents of the kind described therein.
Accordingly, the broad objects of the present invention are to provide a novel article from which such an insulation system is readily produced, and to provide a novel method for thermally insulating a piping assembly utilizing the same.
More specific objects of the invention are to provide such an article which is, in addition to the foregoing, of rela-tively simple and inexpensive construction, is facile to handle and package, and is quick and easy to employ.
It has now been found that certain of the foregoing and related objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a unitary article comprising a first, substantially J-shaped tubular section, a second, substantially straight tubular sec-tion, and a third, substantially L-shaped tubular section.
The article is fabricated as a single piece from a resiliently yieldable material having thermal insulating properties, and the sections thereof are disposed in end-to-end relationship to one another, with the "first" section interposed between the "second" and "third."
The sections of the article will usually be of substan-tially the same cross-sectional dimensions along their lengths, and so constructed as to enable emplacement over a corresponding part of an installed P-trap piping assembly with overlapping end portions of the "second" and "third" sections disposed in overlapped relationship with portions at the op-posite ends of the "first" section; for that purpose! the overlapping end portions will normally be of enlarged cross-sectional dimensions, relative to the "same" dimensions.
In preferred embodiments, the overlapping end portions will be at opposite ends of the unitary article, and the "second" and "third" sections will extend substantially parallel to one another from the "first" section, with the overlapping end portion of the "third" section extending beyond and lying substantially over the overlapping end portion of the "second" section. The sections of the article will normally be longitudinally slit, to permit spreading of the marginal portions that extend therealong, and they will preferably be demarcated by indicia thereon, designating locations for severance.
Other objects of the invention are attained by the pro-vision of a method for thermally insulating a P-trap piping assembly, using an article having the construction herein described. In accordance with the method, the article is initially severed to separate the sections thereof from one another; the sections are then placed over corresponding parts of an installed P-trap piping assembly, and secured in position with end portions thereof overlapped, as described.
Figure 1 is an elevational view of an article embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the article of Figure 1, cut into three pieces; and Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the pieces of which the article of Figure 1 is comprised, installed upon P-trap under-sink plumbing.
Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a unitary article embodying the invention, fabricated from a resiliently yield-able, rubbery, thermally insulating material. The article consists of a substantially J-shaped tubular section, a sub-stantially straight tubular section, and a substantially L-shaped tubular section, generally designated respectively by the numerals 10, 12 and 14. In Figure 2, the same sections are shown as separate pieces, having been produced therefrom by severance along the lines a-a and b-b, bearing "-CUT-" indicia.
The J-shaped section or piece 10 includes a toric portion 16 and a straight portion 18, and is slit at 22, along its entire length. The toric portion 16 has a clean-out aperture-forming element 20 projecting from a radially outer wall por-tion thereof, in a medial plane and in an arcuately centralized location.
The straight piece 12 consists of an elongate cylindrical portion 28 and a short collar portion 30 at one end; slit 34 extends longitudinally therealong. A circumferential groove 32 surrounds the collar portion 30 adjacent its open end, and a series of similar grooves 38 are provided at equidistantly spaced locations on the cylindrical portion 28.
L-shaped piece 14 consists of a straight portion 40 and a collar portion 42, with a 90 arcuate portion 44 therebetween.
The collar portion 42 has a circumferential groove 46 extending thereabout adjacent its open end, and a series of like grooves 48 surround the straight portion 40 at equidistantly spaced locations. The piece 14 is longitudinally slit at 50, thereby defining relatively displaceable marginal portions 40' along the length thereof. It will be appreciated that the slits 22, 34, 50 are elements of a continuous slit made in the unitary article, and that like displaceable portions are also defined on the pieces 10 and 12.
With particular reference now to Figure 3, the drain plumbing for a sink "S" (shown in phantom line) is depicted, and includes a tailpiece member consisting of two, telescop-ically interengaged parts 52, 54, a J-bend 56, and a waste arm 58 extending from wall "W." The plumbing components have standard flanged and threaded end portions (not shown), which enable them to be joined by the nuts 60, 62 in end-to-end relationship. A clean-out access port is formed through the outer wall of the toric section of the J-bend 56, and is sur-rounded by a short neck portion 63, normally closed by the "nut" or cap 64. The upper part 52 of the tailpiece assembly is threadably engaged with the bottom of the sink S, and is formed with an access port surrounded by a short neck portion 65, partially closed by an annular cap 66, through which ex-tends the operating arm 68 for a "pop-up" drain plug mechanism (not illustrated). In conventional manner, the linkage 70 connects the arm 68 to an operating handle, and is secured on the arm 68 by a spring clip 71; the neck portion 65 is accom-modated by cutting a hole 36 of appropriate diameter through the portion 28 of the straight piece 12, which would usually be done at the time of installation.
The J-shaped piece 10 of the insulation system is instal-led over the J-bend 56 of the piping assembly with the neck portion 63 and nut 64 of the clean-out structure protruding into the element 20. Emplacement is achieved of course simply by spreading the marginal portions along the slit 22, which portions thereafter resume their original shape due to the inherent resiliency, or elastic memory, of the material from which the piece is fabricated. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that access to the nut 64 is afforded simply by cutting away the projecting element 20.
The nut 60 and associated parts, as well as the corrugated end portion 24 of the J-piece 10, are accommodated within the recess 42' defined by collar portion 42 on the L-shaped piece 14, the latter being applied to the waste arm 58 in the manner previously described. Plastic bands 72, seated within the circumferential grooves 46 and 48 at the opposite ends of the piece 14, secure it to the piece 10 and to the P-trap compo-nents 56, 58; it will be appreciated that the bands 72 will conveniently incorporate an automatic locking ratchet mechanism (not shown), the structure of which is conventional.
The straight tubular piece 12 is similarly applied to encase the tailpiece assembly 52, 54; the nut 62 and associated parts, together with the corrugated opposite end portion 26 of the J-shaped piece 10, are seated within the enlarged recess 30' formed by the collar portion 30 thereof. The straight piece 12 is secured to the J-shaped piece 10 and the drain components 52, 56 by use of banding elements 72 received in the circumferential grooves 32 and 38, with the plug-mounting structure 65, 66 protruding laterally through the hole 36 therein.

207532~
Although the drawings and the corresponding portions of the specification describe the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, and the configuration shown and described is particularly advantageous from manufacturing, packaging and handling standpoints, it will be understood that variations can be made without departing from the novel con-cepts hereof. Thus, while the unitary construction, in and of itself, affords substantial benefits, changes may be made for example in the shapes, features and relationships among the several sections of the article to best accommodate peculiar-ities of particular installations or styles of piping. The circumferential grooves and cooperating plastic bands shown in the drawings provide a highly effective means for securing the parts in assembly, but suitable alternatives may occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed. It might be mentioned that the series of grooves 38 and 48 on the straight and L-shaped pieces 12, 14, respectively, serve not only to receive the bands 72 in a very neat and functionally desirable manner, but also to designate locations for cutting; as a practical matter, these sections may be made to lengths that will normal-ly be excessive, intending that they be cut to size at the time of installation.
As has been mentioned, the preferred material for fabri-cation of the insulating pieces will usually be a synthetic elastomeric material, such as a polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride, or a silicon rubber, so as to provide the desired resiliency for facile installation; the material may or may not be of a foamed structure, and may of course be of any de-sired coloration. In most cases the article will be produced by molding using any technique that is appropriate under the circumstances, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
It might also be mentioned that the article will normally have a nominal wall thickness ranging from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch, with 1/4 inch often providing a most desirable balance of functional properties and cost factors; its overall length, width and depth will typically be somewhat less than about 16, 6 and 3 inches, respectively. Finally, it will be appreciated that the system described can be used to insulate piping of plastic as well as of metal, and that the components will nor-mally afford protection against impact injury as well as against burns.
Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a novel article from which is readily produced a system for quickly, easily and inexpensively insulating under-sink piping, so as to provide highly effective protection against burn injury from hot metal surfaces. The invention addi-tionally provides a novel method for insulating a piping assembly, utilizing the article described.

Claims (7)

THE CLAIMS

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is as follows:
1. A unitary article of thermal insulation for the P-trap piping assembly of a sink or the like, comprising a first, substantially J-shaped tubular section, a second, substantially straight tubular section, and a third, sub-stantially L-shaped tubular section, said article being fabri-cated as a single piece from a resiliently yieldable material having thermal insulating properties, and said sections being disposed in end-to-end relationship to one another with said first section interposed between said second and third sec-tions.
2. The article of Claim 1 wherein said sections are of substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions along their lengths, and are so constructed as to enable emplacement over a corresponding part of an installed P-trap piping assembly with overlapping end portions of said second and third sections disposed in overlapped relationship with end portions at the opposite ends of said first section, said overlapping end portions being of enlarged cross-sectional dimensions rela-tive to said same dimensions.
3. The article of Claim 2 wherein said overlapping end portions are at opposite ends of said article.
4. The article of Claim 3 wherein said second and third sections extend substantially parallel to one another from said first section, and said overlapping end portion of said third section extends beyond and lies substantially over said over-lapping end portion of said second section.
5. The article of Claim 2 wherein said sections are longitudinally slit to permit spreading of the marginal portions that extend along the slits.
6. The article of Claim 1 wherein said sections are demarcated by indicia designating locations for severance.
7. A method for thermally insulating the P-trap piping assembly of a sink or the like, including the steps:
(a) providing a unitary article comprising a first, sub-stantially J-shaped tubular section, a second, substantially straight tubular section, and a third, substantially L-shaped tubular section, said article being fabricated as a single piece from a resiliently yieldable material having thermal insulating properties, and said sections being disposed in end-to-end relationship to one another with said first section interposed between said second and third sections, said sec-tions being of substantially the same cross-sectional dimen-sions along their lengths, and being so constructed as to en-able emplacement over a corresponding part of an installed P-trap piping assembly, with overlapping end portions of said second and third sections disposed in overlapped relationship with end portions at the opposite ends of said first section, said overlapping end portions being of enlarged cross-sectional dimensions relative to said same dimensions;

(b) severing said article to separate said sections from one another;
(c) placing said sections over corresponding parts of an installed P-trap piping assembly, with said end portions so overlapped; and (d) securing said sections in such emplaced positions.
CA2075324A 1991-09-03 1992-08-05 Unitary article comprising protective system components Expired - Lifetime CA2075324C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/754,048 US5163469A (en) 1990-08-20 1991-09-03 Unitary article comprising protective system components
US754,048 1991-09-03

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2075324A1 CA2075324A1 (en) 1993-03-04
CA2075324C true CA2075324C (en) 1998-05-19

Family

ID=25033277

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2075324A Expired - Lifetime CA2075324C (en) 1991-09-03 1992-08-05 Unitary article comprising protective system components

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2075324C (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD807157S1 (en) 2014-12-09 2018-01-09 Zurn Industries, Llc Fastener
US10100967B2 (en) 2014-12-09 2018-10-16 Zurn Industries, Llc Trap cover and fastener arrangement

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD807157S1 (en) 2014-12-09 2018-01-09 Zurn Industries, Llc Fastener
US10100967B2 (en) 2014-12-09 2018-10-16 Zurn Industries, Llc Trap cover and fastener arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2075324A1 (en) 1993-03-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5163469A (en) Unitary article comprising protective system components
US5303730A (en) P-trap protecting system
US5540255A (en) Thermal insulation for P-trap piping
US5360031A (en) P-trap insulation and article
US5419364A (en) Angle valve insulation
US4888925A (en) Fire-retardant fluid coupling assembly and method
CA1123761A (en) Closure for a heat shrinkable longitudinally-slit cable-sleeve tube
US5727599A (en) Insulating sleeve for a fluid pipe
US4559745A (en) Devices for the fire stopping of plastics pipes
US5564463A (en) Cover assembly for covering undersink piping
US5649566A (en) Cover assembly and method for covering undersink piping
US5341830A (en) Cover assembly and method for covering undersink piping
US5701929A (en) Cover assembly having rapid installation features for covering undersink piping
CA2075324C (en) Unitary article comprising protective system components
US5685328A (en) Cover assembly and method for covering undersink piping
US5915412A (en) Cover assembly for covering undersink piping
CA2106177C (en) System for p-trap protection
CA2119427C (en) P-trap protective system
US20200284017A1 (en) Seal Cup and Mounting Caps for Toilet Installation
US5915413A (en) Cover assembly with integral measurement indicia for covering undersink piping
NO932490D0 (en) PIPE CONTAINING CONSISTING OF MULTIPLE CABLISHING PIPES OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS MANUFACTURING
CA2136026C (en) Angle valve insulation
CA2169579A1 (en) Thermal insulation for p-trap piping
US5913325A (en) Cover assembly for covering undersink piping utilizing wrappable collars
CA2136027A1 (en) P-trap insulation and article

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
MKEX Expiry