Adjustable-length water supply adapter
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorMatthew J. BALL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adapter includes a plurality of individually separable collars that allow for easy, on-site adjustment of the length of the adapter based on a measured offset of an outlet of a water supply assembly to which the adapter is attached. An exterior of each collar is configured to sealingly engage the outlet of the water supply assembly, such that the adjustment to the length of the adapter does not compromise the ability of the adapter to be sealingly coupled to the water supply assembly. A slip fitting provided along a downstream end of the adapter allows the plumbing fixture to be installed flush against a wall in a desired orientation, without compromising the sealing engagement between the adapter and either of the plumbing fixture or outlet opening.
Claims21
An adapter for coupling a plumbing fixture to a water supply assembly, comprising:
- an annular body configured to fluidly couple a plumbing fixture to an outlet of a water supply assembly, the annular body extending between a first end and a second end and defining a bore extending therethrough;
- a plurality of collars provided along an exterior of the annular body and spaced inwardly from the first end of the annular body such that each collar is separated from an adjacent collar by a portion of the exterior of the annular body along which no collars are provided;
- and
- an engagement structure provided along the exterior of the annular body second end and configured to releasably engage a corresponding structure provided by a plumbing fixture, the engagement structure comprising a channel defined by an exterior of the annular body within which a sealing gasket is supported;
- wherein the plurality of collars are each individually configured to releasably engage a corresponding structure provided by the water supply assembly such that, upon the removal of one or more collars from the adapter, a collar remaining attached to the annular body allows the adapter to be coupled to the water supply assembly.
A plumbing fixture assembly, comprising:
- a plumbing fixture configured to selectively dispense water, the plumbing fixture including an attachment structure;
- and
- an adjustable length adapter configured to couple the plumbing fixture to an outlet of a water supply assembly, the adapter comprising:
- an annular body extending between a first end and a second end and defining a bore extending therethrough;
- a plurality of collars provided along an exterior of the annular body and spaced inwardly from the first end of the annular body such that each collar is laterally offset from an adjacent collar by a recess;
- and
- an engagement structure provided along the exterior of the annular body at the second end, the engagement structure configured to engage the attachment structure to the plumbing fixture to couple the plumbing fixture to the adapter;
- wherein the plurality of collars are each individually configured to releasably engage a corresponding structure provided on the outlet of the water supply assembly, such that upon the removal of one or more collars from the adapter, at least one collar remains attached to the adapter and allows the adapter to be coupled to the water supply assembly.
A method of installing a plumbing fixture to an outlet of a water supply assembly located behind a wall, comprising:
- providing a plumbing fixture including an attachment structure;
- providing an adapter configured to couple the plumbing fixture to the outlet of the water supply assembly, the adapter comprising:
- an annular body extending between a first end and a second end and defining a bore extending therethrough;
- a plurality of collars provided along an exterior of the annular body and spaced inwardly from the first end of the annular body such that each collar is separated from an adjacent collar in a lateral direction by a recess;
- and
- an engagement structure provided along the exterior of the annular body at the second end, the engagement structure configured to engage the attachment structure to the plumbing fixture to couple the plumbing fixture to the adapter;
- instructing a user to separate a collar from the adapter along a first recess in response to an offset distance of the outlet from an outer surface of the wall being identified as being defined between a first range of offset distances;
- and
- instructing a user to separate two or more collars from the adapter along a second recess in response to the offset distance of the outlet being identified as being defined between a second range of offset distances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.