Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
An improved apparatus for securing, in fluid-sealing relationship, the waste outlet of a plumbing fixture to a waste receiving pipe extending through and beyond a mounting structure, such as a wall or a floor, the waste receiving pipe having a radially-extending flange about one end thereof with a plurality of open portions therein for receiving headed fasteners, and the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture extending into the waste receiving pipe, comprising: (a) gasket means having two sealing surfaces thereon, one sealing surface being disposed against the face of the flange of the waste receiving pipe and further having a plurality of apertures therein alignable with the open portions of the flange; (b) gasket support means juxtaposition to the other sealing surface of the gasket means and removably arranged about the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture and extending outwardly in a radial fashion therefrom and further having a plurality of apertures therein alignable with the plurality of apertures in the gasket means; (c) fluid sealing means removably secured to the gasket support means and disposed between the gasket support means and the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture and operably arranged in fluid sealing relationship therebetween, the fluid sealing means further permitting movement between the gasket support means and the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture; (d) headed fastening means for securing the flange of the waste receiving pipe to the gasket support means; (e) fluid sealing adjustment means for moving the gasket support means towards and allowing movement away from the gasket means to effectuate the selection of a fluid sealing relationship and no fluid sealing relationship between the gasket support means, the gasket, and the flange of the waste receiving pipe; and (f) means for surrounding the gasket means, the gasket support means, the headed fastening means and the fluid sealing adjustment means to prevent unauthorized adjustment thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
An improved apparatus for securing, in fluid-sealing relationship, the waste outlet of a plumbing fixture to a waste receiving pipe extending through and beyond a mounting structure, such as a wall or a floor, the waste receiving pipe having a radially-extending flange about one end thereof with a plurality of open portions therein for receiving headed fasteners, and the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture extending into the waste receiving pipe, comprising: (a) gasket means having two sealing surfaces thereon, one sealing surface being disposed against the face of the flange of the waste receiving pipe and further having a plurality of apertures therein alignable with the open portions of the flange; (b) gasket support means juxtaposition to the other sealing surface of the gasket means and removably arranged about the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture and extending outwardly in a radial fashion therefrom and further having a plurality of apertures therein alignable with the plurality of apertures in the gasket means; (c) fluid sealing means removably secured to the gasket support means and disposed between the gasket support means and the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture and operably arranged in fluid sealing relationship therebetween, the fluid sealing means further permitting movement between the gasket support means and the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture; (d) headed fastening means for securing the flange of the waste receiving pipe to the gasket support means; (e) fluid sealing adjustment means for moving the gasket support means towards and allowing movement away from the gasket means to effectuate the selection of a fluid sealing relationship and no fluid sealing relationship between the gasket support means, the gasket, and the flange of the waste receiving pipe; and (f) means for surrounding the gasket means, the gasket support means, the headed fastening means and the fluid sealing adjustment means to prevent unauthorized adjustment thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket means is an annular gasket formed of an elastomeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket support means is movably disposed about the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the movable gasket support means comprises: (a) an annular adapter, the central opening therethrough being larger than the outer diameter of the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture and disposed in contiguous relationship therewith, the rim of the central opening having a groove thereabout; and (b) an O-ring seal operatively nested in the groove about the central opening of the annular adapter so that when the adapter is positioned about the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture, a fluid sealing relationship is effectuated between the annular adapter and the body of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a beveled edge rimming the outlet of the waste outlet of the plumbing fixture to promote ease of engagement with the O-ring seal and to prevent goughing and damage thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the headed fastening means for securing the flange of the waste receiving pipe to the gasket support means, comprises a plurality of headed bolts having threaded shanks disposed through the aligned apertures in the gasket and the gasket support means and in the open portions of the flange of the waste receiving pipe, the heads of the fasteners having a pair of parallel, straight sides thereon and the sides of the apertures in the flange of the waste receiving pipe having complementary parallel, straight sides to matingly receive the parallel, straight sides of the heads of the fasteners so as to dispose the heads of the fastners in non-rotatable relationship to the sides of the apertures in the flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fluid sealing adjustment means comprises, in conjunction with the plurality of headed bolts having threaded shanks, a plurality of nuts adapted to be threadably mateable with the threaded shanks of the bolts so as to be axially moveable along the threaded shanks to move the gasket support means towards and allow movement away from the gasket so that when the gasket support means is moved into increasing intimate relationship with said gasket means a fluid sealing relationship is effectuated and when the gasket support means is moved away from the gasket the fluid sealing relationship is broken.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of nuts are security-type nuts which are not removable therefrom or adjustable with respect to the threaded shanks by unauthorized persons.