Apparatus for attaching a hot and cold water plumbing fixture to building water pipes

Abstract

A hot and cold water plumbing fixture having a pair of water supply lines arranged parallel to each other in a fixture housing is attached to building water pipes by means of a wall fitting which includes a pair of connecting pipes disposed parallel to each other adjacent one end, and extending at a substantial angle to each other at the opposite end. The parallel end portions of such connecting pipes are of such size and spacing that they may telescope with the supply lines of the plumbing fixture. The opposite ends of the connecting pipes are attached to the building water pipes, preferably by means of a compression coupling which allows for considerable axial tolerance between the building water pipes and the pipes of the wall fitting. The plumbing fixture is attached to the wall fitting by simply telescoping the water supply lines of the fixture with the connecting pipes of the fitting, and by then locking the fixture to the fitting by means of a locking screw or other device. Sealing means are provided to make water-tight the telescoped joints between the fixture supply lines and the connecting pipes of the wall fitting.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for attaching a hot and cold water plumbing fixture having a housing enclosing a pair of spaced water supply lines disposed substantially parallel to each other to hot and cold water pipes installed in a building, said apparatus comprising a wall fitting including a pair of connecting pipes which are arranged parallel to each other adjacent one end and adapted to be connected respectively to the building water pipes at their opposite ends, said opposite ends of said pipes extending at a substantial angle one to the other, the parallel portions of said connecting pipes being of such size and spacing as to receive and telescope with the spaced parallel fixture water supply lines, means holding said connecting pipes together with the parallel end portions spaced a fixed distance apart and permitting rotation of said connecting pipes about an axis through said parallel end portions in order to change the disposition of said opposite ends, said means for holding and permitting rotation includes a plate coextensive with a portion of the length of said connecting pipes at said opposite ends, said plate providing a pair of spaced apertures, each of said connecting pipes at said opposite end having a surface complementary to for receipt in juxtaposition on said plate, a stud projecting from each surface for receipt through each said apertures, means received by each said stud for fastening said connecting pipes to said plate, sealing means for making water-tight the joint between said connecting pipes and fixture supply lines when they are telescoped together, and means for mechanically locking said fixture housing and said wall fitting together when said connecting pipes and supply lines are in telescoped engagement. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite ends of each connecting pipe telescopes into a compression fitting by which such pipe may be attached with considerable axial tolerance to the building water pipes. .Iadd. 3. Apparatus for attaching a hot and cold water plumbing fixture to hot and cold water pipes installed in a building, said plumbing fixture having a housing enclosing a pair of spaced water supply lines disposed substantially parallel to each other, comprising wall fitting means including a pair of connecting pipes, said wall fitting means supporting said connecting pipes in a manner such that they are disposed parallel to each other adjacent one end and adapted to be connected respectively to the building water pipes at their opposite ends, the parallel portions of said connecting pipes being of a size and at a spaced disposition to telescopically engage with said water supply lines, sealing means for making water-tight the joint between said connecting pipes and water supply lines when they are telescoped together, and means for mechanically locking said housing and said connecting pipes together with said connecting pipes and water supply lines are in telescoped engagement, said locking means comprising a first pair of elongated ribs disposed substantially parallel with the connecting pipe axes and projecting from the housing one into contact with each connecting pipe, a second pair of elongated ribs also disposed substantially parallel with the connecting pipe axes projecting from the housing one into contact with each connecting pipe at a position spaced circumferentially about the connecting pipes from said first ribs, the ribs of at least one of the pairs of ribs having a sharp edge in contact with each connecting pipe, and a locking screw threaded into the housing bearing against both of said connecting pipes at positions spaced circumferentially from said ribs and pressing each of said connecting pipes against one rib of each pair of said ribs. .Iaddend..Iadd. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said ribs makes substantial line contact with the adjacent connecting pipe. .Iaddend..Iadd. 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said ribs of said first and second pair of ribs and said locking screw bearing portions are substantially equicircumferentially spaced about said connecting pipes. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. The apparatus of claim 3 including a boss, said boss supported in said housing and having a bore for threaded receipt of said locking screw, said boss further forming one rib of said first and second pair of ribs. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bearing portions of said locking screw define substantially point contacts with said connecting pipes. .Iaddend.