# US 7,055,184 B2 · Closet flange with knockout retainer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,055,184 B2 - Document ID: US7055184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/749,729 - Filed: 2003-12-30 - Published: 2005-06-30 - Granted: 2006-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-30 - Assignees: IPS Corporation - Inventors: Jeffrey A. Humber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7055184B2 ## CPC - E03D 11/16: Means for connecting the bowl to the floor, e.g. to a floor outlet - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR ## Abstract A closet flange is provided for coupling the base of a toilet to a drain pipe. A main generally cylindrical body portion is dimensioned for connection to the upper end of a drain pipe and has a through bore for communicating with the interior of the drain pipe. An attachment flange portion extends radially outward from an upper end of the cylindrical body portion and is configured for connecting to the base of a toilet. A knockout temporarily seals the through bore and is removable by breaking away a peripheral edge of the knockout. A retainer extends radially inward from an inner wall of the cylindrical portion below the knockout and is configured to prevent the knockout from falling down the through bore and into the drain pipe when broken away in order to prevent drain clogging. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A closet flange for coupling the base of a toilet to a drain pipe, comprising: a main generally cylindrical body portion dimensioned for connection to the upper end of a drain pipe and having a through bore formed by an inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for communicating with the interior of the drain pipe; an attachment flange portion extending radially outward from an upper end of the cylindrical body portion and configured for connecting to the base of a toilet; a knockout temporarily attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for sealing the through bore and removable by breaking away a peripheral edge of the knockout at a junction with the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion; and a retainer extending radially inwardly from the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion below the region where the knockout is attached and having an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the knockout to prevent the knockout from falling down and through bore when broken away, the through bore having a diameter below the retainer which is larger than the outer diameter of the knockout. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical body portion is made of plastic and is dimensioned for solvent welding around the outside of a standard smaller size diameter plastic drain pipe, or within the inside of a standard larger size diameter plastic drain pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the attachment flange portion has an annular shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the retainer is an annular lip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the knockout is formed with a raised ring configured for gripping with pliers to facilitate breaking away the knockout. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of the knockout is integrally formed with a junction of the cylindrical body portion and the attachment flange portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the attachment flange portion is formed with a pair of semi-circular diametrically opposed key-shaped slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion is tapered. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the knockout is recessed from an upper surface of the attachment flange portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The closet flange of claim 1 wherein the knockout is formed with a pattern of reinforcing ribs. ### Claim 11 A closet flange, comprising: a plastic cylindrical body portion dimensioned for solvent welding around the outside of a standard smaller size diameter plastic drain pipe, or within the inside of a standard larger size diameter plastic drain pipe, and having a through bore formed by an inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for communicating with the interior of the drain pipe; a plastic attachment flange portion extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the cylindrical body portion and configured for connecting to the base of a toilet; a plastic knockout attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion for temporarily sealing the through bore and removable by breaking away a peripheral edge of the knockout at a junction with the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion, the knockout having an outer diameter less than a diameter of the through bore of the cylindrical body portion; and a plastic retainer in the form of an annular lip extending radially inwardly from the inner wall of the cylindrical portion below the knockout and having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the knockout to prevent the knockout from falling down the through bore when broken away and to form a downwardly facing surface opposing a butt end of the standard smaller size drain pipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the attachment flange portion has an annular shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the knockout is formed with a raised ring configured for gripping with pliers to facilitate breaking away the knockout. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the peripheral edge of the knockout is integrally formed with a junction of the cylindrical body portion and the attachment flange portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the attachment flange portion is formed with a pair of semi-circular diametrically opposed key-shaped slots. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the inner wall of the cylindrical body portion is tapered. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the knockout is recessed from an upper surface of the attachment flange portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The closet flange of claim 11 wherein the knockout is formed with a pattern of reinforcing ribs.