Adjustable plumbing fittings

Abstract

An adjustable plumbing fitting has a piston rotatably and telescopically engaged in a housing, with one end of the housing adapted to be connected to a first plumbing part, and a cylindrical extension on the piston projecting from an opposite end of the housing and adapted to be connected to a second plumbing part. In one embodiment, two housings and associated pistons are integrally joined together to form a T-fitting for connecting the overflow and drain of a bathtub. In another embodiment, the housing is integrally formed with a J-shaped drain trap, and in another embodiment the housing and/or piston is integrally formed with a water closet flange.

1 . An adjustable plumbing fitting for connecting one plumbing part to another plumbing part, comprising: 
 an elongate cylindrical housing having first and second opposite open ends, said first end being reduced in diameter relative to said second end, defining an interior annular tapered shoulder in the housing between the ends;    a piston reciprocable in the housing and rotatable relative thereto, said piston comprising an elongate cylindrical body having sealing means on a first end thereof for sliding sealing engagement with an interior surface of the housing, and a cylindrical extension on a second end thereof projecting beyond said second end of the housing, said piston having a continuous open passageway throughout its length and having an annular stop ring formed on an outer surface of the body in spaced relationship to the sealing means; and    a collar or cap secured on said second end of the housing for retaining the piston in the housing, said cap having a central bore through which the cylindrical extension of the piston extends, and defining an annular stop shoulder facing axially inwardly of the housing for cooperation with the stop ring on the piston body to retain the piston in the housing, said first end of the housing having means for attachment of a first plumbing part, and the cylindrical extension of the piston having means for attachment of a second plumbing part, whereby the adjustable plumbing fitting forms a slip joint that can be connected between two plumbing parts spaced various distances apart.    
   
   
       2 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the cylindrical extension of the piston has a fitting thereon adapted for attachment to a drain from a sink or lavatory or the like.    
   
   
       3 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first end of the housing and said cylindrical extension of the piston have different diameters for connection to different diameter plumbing parts, whereby said fitting comprises a reducing coupling.    
   
   
       4 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the cylindrical extension of the piston has a fitting thereon forming a part of a vacuum breaker assembly for a flush valve.    
   
   
       5 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the cylindrical extension of the piston in a first said fitting has an overflow attachment thereon for attachment to an overflow of a bathtub, and the cylindrical extension of the piston in a second said fitting has a drain attachment thereon for attachment to a drain of a bathtub, said first end of each said fitting being adapted for attachment to a T-fitting, whereby said first and second fittings are disposed in orthogonal relationship to one another and said overflow and drain attachments can be attached to the overflow and drain of a bathtub.    
   
   
       6 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a pair of said fittings are integrally joined together at said first ends of said housings, in orthogonal relationship to one another, to form a T-fitting, with the cylindrical extensions of the pistons in the respective housings projecting outwardly therefrom, one of said cylindrical extensions having an overflow attachment on it and the other of said cylindrical extensions having a drain attachment on it, whereby said T-fitting forms a unitary adjustable assembly for attachment to the overflow and drain openings of a bathtub.    
   
   
       7 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first end of said housing is connected to a T-fitting so that the housing extends orthogonally to the T-fitting, said T-fitting has means thereon for attachment to a drain from a sink, and the cylindrical extension of the piston in said adjustable fitting has means thereon for attachment to a drain from a sink, whereby said T-fitting and said adjustable fitting form an adjustable assembly for connecting drains from a double sink.    
   
   
       8 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first end of said housing is integrally formed with a J-shaped drain trap.    
   
   
       9 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first end of said housing is sized and shaped to telescopically engage with an end of a sewage drain pipe; and    a water closet flange is integrally formed with said cylindrical extension of said piston.    
   
   
       10 . An adjustable plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said cylindrical extension of said piston is sized and shaped to telescopically engage with an end of a sewage drain pipe; and    a water closet flange is integrally formed with said first end of said housing.