Universal clamping ring

Abstract

A clamping ring having a clamping ring flange for use with at least first and second different configurations of drain bases to permit the rotation of the clamping ring flange relative to the drain flange of both type “A” and type “B” drain bases. The clamping ring flange includes a plurality of first aperture portions, each of which has a second elongated arcuate slot portion extending in a counterclockwise direction from the first aperture portion and a third elongated arcuate slot portion extending in a clockwise direction from the first aperture portion, at different distances from the center of a central flange aperture with one corresponding to the positions of threaded apertures in the type “A” drain base and the other corresponding to the positions of the threaded apertures in the type “B” drain base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clamping ring for use with at least first and second different configurations of drain bases, each of the configurations of drain base having a drain base flange and a drain base portion located below the drain base flange and sized for connection to a drain pipe, with the drain base flange having a central drain base flange aperture and a plurality of threaded apertures positioned outward of the central drain base flange aperture and positioned about a center of the central drain base flange aperture, the first configuration of drain base having each of the plurality of threaded apertures at a first distance from the center of the central drain base flange aperture and the second configuration of drain base having each of the plurality of threaded apertures at a second distance from the center of the central drain base flange aperture, where one of the first distance and the second distance is larger than the other, each threaded aperture being sized to receive a threaded shaft portion of a fastener having a head portion wider in at least one direction than the threaded shaft portion, comprising:
 a clamping ring flange and a clamping ring base portion located below the clamping ring flange, the clamping ring flange having a central clamping ring flange aperture and a plurality of clamping ring flange attachment apertures having a first aperture portion positioned outward of the central clamping ring flange aperture and positioned about a center of the central clamping ring flange aperture, each of the first aperture portions being sized and position at a distance from the center of the central clamping ring flange aperture to permit the head portion of one of the fasteners to pass therethrough as the clamping ring flange is moved toward the drain base flange when the fasteners are at least partially threaded into the threaded apertures of the drain base flange whether at the first distance or the second distance, each of the clamping ring flange attachment apertures further including a second aperture portion having an arcuate shape extending in a clockwise direction from the first aperture portion at a distance from the center of the central clamping ring flange aperture corresponding the first distance of the first configuration of drain base and a third aperture portion having an arcuate shape extending in a counterclockwise direction from the first aperture portion at a distance from the center of the central clamping ring flange aperture corresponding the second distance of the second configuration of drain base, the second aperture portion being shaped to permit counterclockwise rotation of the clamping ring flange relative to the drain base flange to position the head portion of the fastener initially extending through the first aperture portion at a position along the second aperture portion where the head portion of the fastener may be moved into a locking engagement with the clamping ring flange when the clamping ring is used with the first configuration of drain base, and the third aperture portion being shaped to permit clockwise rotation of the clamping ring flange relative to the drain base flange to position the head portion of the fastener initially extending through the first aperture portion at a position along the third aperture portion where the head portion of the fastener may be moved into a locking engagement with the clamping ring flange when the clamping ring is used with the second configuration of drain base.