AU2010100709B4

AU2010100709B4 - Plumbing fitting

Info

Publication number: AU2010100709B4
Application number: AU2010100709A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Simon Marriott; Bruce Sherriff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-02
Filing date: 2010-07-02
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-02
Also published as: AU2010100709A4

Abstract

A plumbing fitting including interlocking structure and a mounting portion. The mounting portion is mountable to an exterior of a first pipe and in use sealingly connected to the exterior of the first pipe about an opening in a wall of the first pipe. The first pipe is 5 greater than 30mm in external diameter. The fitting and the opening together define a passage for communicating an interior of the first pipe with an end of a second pipe. The interlocking structure is engageable by a cap for capping the passage.

Description

P/00/01Il Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Plumbing fitting The following statement Is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 Plumbing fitting Field of the invention The invention relates generally to plumbing fittings. Background of the invention 5 From time to time it is desirable to connect the end of an intersecting pipe to an intermediate point along another pipe. The conventional approach involves the use of a 'T piece'. A T piece is a hollow structure including three tubular branches which project outwardly from a common point. Two of the branches are coaxially aligned and thus extend in opposite directions. Typically the third branch projects perpendicularly to the 10 other two branches. Alternatively, the third branch might project at an oblique angle, in which case the fitting is sometimes referred to as a Y piece. Each branch typically includes an annular step projecting inwardly from its interior wall, the purpose of which will be described below. To connect the end of the intersecting pipe to the other pipe, the other pipe is cut at the 15 intermediate point across its diameter at two spaced locations to define a gap between two free ends of pipe. The interior of each branch of the T piece is coated in adhesive. The T piece is then placed into the gap so that each of the opposed branches receives a respective free pipe end. The free pipe ends are inserted into the T piece until they abut a respective annular step. Likewise, the free end of the intersecting pipe is inserted 20 into the third branch of the T piece until it abuts that branch's annular step. The adhesive is then allowed to set. The skilled person will appreciate that this can be a slow process. Care is required to make the initial cuts in the pipe so that the length of the gap corresponds to the spacing of the annular steps of the opposed T piece branches. Moreover, the adhesive bond is 25 typically not reversible. As such, the conventional approach is not convenient when it is desirable to only temporarily connect an intersecting pipe to another pipe.

3 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved plumbing fitting or at least to provide an alternative for those concerned with plumbing. It is not admitted that any of the information in this specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could reasonably be expected to have 5 ascertained, understood, regarded it as relevant or combined it in any way at the priority date. Summary of the invention Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a plumbing fitting including: interlocking structure and a mounting portion; 10 the mounting portion being mountable to an exterior of a first pipe and in use sealingly connected to the exterior of the first pipe about an opening in a wall of the first pipe, the first pipe being greater than 30mm in external diameter; the fitting and the opening together defining a passage for communicating an interior of the first pipe with an end of a second pipe; 15 the interlocking structure being engageable by a cap for capping the passage. The interlocking structure is preferably a thread. Most preferably, the fitting includes a tubular portion for partly defining the passage and the thread is formed about an exterior of the tubular portion. The mounting portion may include a concave cylindrical surface by which the fitting may 20 be adhesively bonded to the exterior of the first pipe to form the sealed connection. According to preferred forms of the invention, the fitting includes resiliently spreadable portions for embracing the exterior of the first pipe to at least temporarily maintain the mounted position.

4 In a second aspect the invention provides the above plumbing fitting when fitted with the cap or the second pipe. In a third aspect the invention provides a method of attaching a first pipe to a second pipe including: 5 mounting the above fitting to the exterior of the first pipe; forming said opening, preferably when the fitting is so mounted; and sealingly connecting the end of the second pipe to the passage. In a fourth aspect the invention provides a method of providing an access point along a first pipe including: 10 mounting the above fitting to the exterior of the first pipe; forming said opening, preferably when the fitting is so mounted; and engaging the cap with the interlocking structure. In a fifth aspect the invention provides a method of attaching a first pipe to a second pipe including: 15 removing the cap from an access point along the first pipe wherein the access point includes the above fitting; and sealingly connecting the end of the second pipe to the passage. In a sixth aspect the invention provides the above plumbing fitting when used in accordance with one of the above methods. 20 It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features 5 mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. Brief description of the drawings / figures The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the 5 accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plumbing fitting in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the plumbing fitting of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the plumbing fitting of Figure 1; and 10 Figure 4 is a top view of the plumbing fitting of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view the fitting of Figure 1 connecting a first pipe to a second pipe; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of an access point on a first pipe including the fitting of Figure 1. 15 Detailed description of the embodiments Figure 1 illustrates a plumbing fitting 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The fitting 10 is an integrally formed structure 12 which in this embodiment is formed of PVC. It is also contemplated that the fitting might be formed of Poly Ethylene, Poly Butylene, recycled plastic, copper, stainless steel or any other 20 suitable industrial material. The fitting 10 includes a pair of resilient arm members 20, which together form a slotted cylindrical sleeve. The free ends of the arm members 20 are spaced to define a slot 50 parallel to the sleeve.

6 A tubular boss 30 projects perpendicularly from a mid point of the sleeve defined by the arm members 20 away from the slot 50. An external thread 40 surrounds the outer extent of the boss 30. The plumbing fitting 10 is useful for communicating an intermediate point of a first pipe 1 with the end of a second pipe 2 or, as will be 5 described, providing an access point 3 to an intermediate point along the first pipe 1. The described embodiment is adapted to connect cylindrical storm water pipes. It is contemplated that the fitting should be provided in range of sizes to suit domestic storm water fittings and similar applications. The fitting is thought to be adaptable to suit pipes ranging in diameter from 30mm to 1,000mm. The skilled person will appreciate that 10 other variants of the invention might be adapted for other pipes such as downpipes which have a rectangular cross section. The arm members 20 together constitute a mounting portion and define a concave cylindrical surface 20A which, in use, conforms to the cylindrical external surface of the first pipe 1. The arm members are resiliently spreadable, i.e. the slot 50 can be made 15 wider against the bias of the arm members 20 to a width greater than the diameter of the pipe, so that the arm members 20 may be fitted over the exterior of the pipe. When the arms are released they relax to narrow the slot 50 under their own bias to firmly embrace the exterior of the pipe and thus retain the plumbing fitting 10 on the exterior of the pipe. 20 A preferred installation procedure involves coating the surface 20A with an adhesive before the fitting is engaged with an exterior of the pipe. The embracing action of the arms 20 serves to hold the fitting 10 in place whilst a more secure connection is formed by the adhesive. Typical PVC adhesive takes about 5 minutes to set. This adhesive is in fact a solvent 25 which temporarily dissolves the PVC which then sets to form a weld. Thereafter, an opening may be formed through the exterior of the first pipe 1 in a region defined by the boss 30. Preferably the opening is formed by passing a hole saw through the interior 60 of the boss 30. Alternatively the opening could be formed with a box cutter or hacksaw blade.

7 The opening in the first pipe 1 and the interior 60 together define a passage. It will be appreciated that the opening could take a variety of forms. Preferably the opening corresponds in size to the interior 60, but of course it could be smaller. Indeed, multiple openings might be formed within this region of the exterior of the pipe. What is important 5 is that the external wall of the pipe is breached to communicate the interior 60 with an interior of the first pipe. It will be observed that the adhesive connection between the interior surface 20A and the exterior of the pipe forms a seal about the periphery of the opening. As such the interior of the pipe and the interior 60 of boss 30 are sealingly communicated. 0 A second pipe 2 may then be threadingly engaged with the thread 40 to provide communication between the second pipe and the interior of the first pipe via the boss's interior 60. Optionally the engagement with the thread 40 may be sufficiently tight to form a fluid tight seal. Alternatively, some form of seal or sealing agent might be used. In a preferred arrangement, when a permanent connection is required, the second pipe 5 can be received and glued in place in the passage 60 of fitting 10, see Figure 2. The thread 40 is a form of interlocking structure. It provides a simple and convenient means for attaching the second pipe. Unlike other forms of attachment such as the use of adhesive, the attachment of the other pipe to the thread 40 is easily reversed and thus better suited to temporary installation. 0 Rather than being used to engage a second pipe, the thread 40 might instead engage with the internal threads of a cap 4 for capping the boss 30 as in Figure 6. By way of example, the plumbing fitting 10 might be fitted to pipe 1 along with cap 4 well in advance of installing the second pipe. It would then be a simple process to remove the cap and install the second pipe. 25 The plumbing fitting 10, in combination with the cap, provides a convenient access point to the pipe. By way of example, it is contemplated that the plumbing fitting 10 and the 8 cap 4 might be installed as a matter of routine to provide a convenient access point in case of a blockage along the pipe. It is contemplated that the plumbing fitting 10 should be provided in a range of sizes to complement popular plumbing pipe dimensions. Two inch, four inch and six inch 5 diameters are popular dimensions for PVC pipe. In the described embodiment the interior 60 of the boss 30 opens into the interior of the sleeve defined by the arm members 20. It is also contemplated that the interior 60 might be spanned by a web of material. By way of example the web might have a cylindrical form aligned with the cylindrical form of the arm members 20. Such a web of material 10 would be removed simultaneously with the removal of material to form the opening in the wall of the pipe. It is contemplated that this web of material might include a guide to assist with the formation of the opening e.g. the webbing might include a simple divot central to the interior 60 providing a pilot for the incoming hole saw.

Claims

1000648743.1 9 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A plumbing fitting including: interlocking structure and a mounting portion; the mounting portion having a centrally extending tubular portion and two resiliently spreadable arms extending from the tubular portion for embracing the exterior of a first pipe to at least temporarily maintain the mounted position, which in use sealingly connects to the exterior of the first pipe about an opening in a wall of the first pipe, the first pipe being greater than 30mm in external diameter; the tubular portion and the opening together defining a passage for communicating an interior of the first pipe with an end of a second pipe; the interlocking structure being a thread formed about an exterior of the tubular portion, such that the thread is removably engageable by a cap for capping the passage.

2. The fitting of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion includes a concave cylindrical surface by which the fitting may be adhesively bonded to the exterior of the first pipe to form the sealed connection.

3. A method of attaching a first pipe to a second pipe including: mounting the plumbing fitting of claims 1 or 2 to the exterior of the first pipe; forming said opening; and sealingly connecting the end of the second pipe to the passage.

4. A method of providing an access point along a first pipe including: mounting a fitting according to claim 1 or 2 to the exterior of the first pipe; forming said opening when the fitting is so mounted; and engaging the cap with the interlocking structure.

5. A method of attaching a first pipe to a second pipe including: 10 removing the cap from an access point along the first pipe wherein the access point includes a fitting according to claim 1 or 2; and sealingly connecting the end of the second pipe to the passage.