NZ780758A - A puddle flange installation attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

A puddle flange installation attachment for an electric grinder, drill or the like comprises a locating cylinder and a grinding disc around the cylinder. The grinding disc has a grinding face orthogonal with respect to a rotational axis of the cylinder. The attachment is attachable to the electric grinder, drill or the like so that, in use, the locating cylinder can locate within a drain aperture so that the grinding face of the grinding disc can grind a recess around the drain aperture for subsequent installation of a puddle flange therein. As such, a puddle flange may be quickly and easily installed using the attachment. rinder, drill or the like so that, in use, the locating cylinder can locate within a drain aperture so that the grinding face of the grinding disc can grind a recess around the drain aperture for subsequent installation of a puddle flange therein. As such, a puddle flange may be quickly and easily installed using the attachment.

Description

A puddle flange installation attachment Field of the Invention This ion relates generally to an attachment for an electric grinder, drill or the like which can be used to prepare a recess around a drain re in a flooring sheet within which a puddle flange can be subsequently tly and easily installed.

Background of the Invention Floor waste interfacing puddle flange are often installed through fibrous floor panels (such as shower floor panels) to reduce or prevent leakage. A puddle flange comprises a wide annular flange which may be properly sealed against the floor surface such as by using silicon and comprises an integrally formed central drain portion which ts to a floor waste conduit.

Installation of the puddle flange may comprise manually cutting and shaping a hole in the floor panel to accommodate the central drain.

Once the puddle flange is installed, a waterproof membrane coat may be applied thereover whereafter tiling be installed.

The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for the lation of puddle flange which will overcome or ntially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative .

It is to be understood that, if any prior art ation is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an ion that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure There is provided herein a puddle flange installation attachment for an electric grinder, drill or the like. The attachment comprises a locating cylinder and a grinding disc around the cylinder.

The grinding disc has a grinding face orthogonal with respect to a rotational axis of the cylinder.

The attachment is attachable to the electric grinder, drill or the like so that, in use, the locating cylinder can locate within a drain aperture so that the grinding face of the grinding disc can grind a recess around the drain aperture for subsequent installation of a puddle flange therein.

As such, a puddle flange may be quickly and easily installed using the attachment.

The locating cylinder may locate within a preformed drain aperture or alternatively have a cutting edge to simultaneously itself form the drain aperture.

The grinding disc may be sized to accommodate cially available puddle flange diameters and the grinding face of the grinding disc may form contours according to specific puddle flange shapes.

The grinding disc may have apertures therethrough for lightweightness and escape of dust. The grinding pieces and/or the apertures may be evenly and symmetrically placed to avoid wobbling. rmore, the grinding pieces may sparsely populate the grinding phase to reduce the requisite torque.

The grinding pieces may be replaceable and may take the form of block-type grinding pieces or edged right in pieces in accordance with various embodiments.

The grinding disc may have t pads extending beyond the grinding pieces which contact the surrounding surface when the recess has been formed to the riate depth without damaging the surrounding surface.

Other s of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a ctive view of a puddle flange installation attachment in accordance with a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the puddle flange in accordance with the first embodiment; Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the puddle flange in accordance with a first embodiment; Figure 4 shows a side view of a puddle flange installation attachment in accordance with a second embodiment; and Figure 5 shows a bottom plan view of the puddle flange installation ment in accordance with the second embodiment. ption of Embodiments Figure 1 shows as attachment 100 attachable to an electric grinder or the like for forming a recess around a drainage hole in a floor sheet or surface for the subsequent lation of a puddle flange therein. The attachment 100 comprises a locating cylinder 101 and a grinding disc 102 around the cylinder 101.

The grinding disc 102 has a grinding face orthogonal with respect to a rotational axis of the cylinder 101.

The attachment 100 is attachable to the grinder, drill or the like so that, in use, the locating cylinder can be inserted into a drain re so that the grinding face of the grinding disc 102 can grind a recess around the drain aperture for subsequent installation of a puddle flange therein.

Exemplary dimensions are given in Figure 2 wherein the cylinder may comprise an outer diameter of approximately 150 mm.

The grinding face may therefore have an inner diameter of approximately 150 mm and an outer diameter of approximately 230 mm. As such, the grinding face may extend radially out from the cylinder 101 by approximately 40 mm.

The locating cylinder 101 may be flat edged to be inserted into a preformed drain aperture. However, in embodiments, the edge of the locating cylinder may be configured for cutting through a floor surface, such as by having teeth, being diamond studded or the like to form the drain aperture.

The grinding face may be defined by a ity of grinding pieces 103. With reference to Figure 2, the attachment 100 may comprise a l base plate 111 and an outer ring 112. The base plate 111 may comprise a l chuck attachment aperture 107 for the tool. With reference to Figure 5, the baseplate 107 may further comprise non-central chuck attachment res 108 for torsional engagement of the tool chuck.

The outer ring 112 may be approximately 10 mm thick.

The outer ring 112 may define a planar face on which the grinding pieces 103 are located.

As is evident from Figure 3, the grinding pieces 103 may be evenly spaced around the cylinder 101.

The grinding pieces 103 may have radial length. In other words, the grinding pieces 103 may be longer along the radial axis of the attachment 100 as ed to with respect to a tangential axis of the attachment 100.

Furthermore, the grinding pieces 103 may sparsely populate the grinding face.

In other words, the gaps between the grinding pieces 103 are greater than the widths of the ng pieces 103.

With reference to Figure 3, the grinding face may have apertures 105 therethrough. The apertures 105 may have tangential length (i.e. be longer along a tangential axis as compared to a radial axis) and furthermore may be radially symmetric. Furthermore, with nce to Figure 5, the central base plate 111 may itself comprise apertures 106 therethrough.

In the embodiment shown in s 1 - 3, the grinding pieces 103 take the form of blocks having grinding surfaces whereas, in the embodiment shown in s 4 and 5, the grinding pieces 103 are knife-edged.

The grinding surfaces of the block-type grinding pieces 103 may be planar and orthogonal with respect to the rotational axis of the cylinder 101. According to the exemplary dimensions of Figure 2, the block-type grinding pieces 103 may be approximately 10 mm thick. r, in embodiments, the grinding surfaces may be angled at or shaped to define puddle flange specific contours. For example, the block-type grinding pieces 103 may be angled outwardly or diminish in thickness outwardly.

Shown in Figure 3, the type ng pieces 103 may stably abut against the cylinder 101.

With reference to s 4 and 5, the knife-edged grinding pieces 103 may be supported by a backing 104 with respect to a rotational axis of the attachment 100 (the ment 100 rotates anticlockwise with reference to the orientation given in Figure 5) and wherein the backing 10 4 may extend orthogonally from the surface of the grinding disc 102.

The ng pieces 103 may be replaceable by releasing fasteners 109 through the backing 104.

Referencing Figure 4, the grinding pieces 103 may be replaceable by releasing fasteners 109 through the grinding disc 102.

According to the embodiment shown of Figure 4 and 5, the outer ring 112 extends radially beyond the grinding pieces 103. As such, attachment 100 may grind the recess until the outer ring 112 contacts the surrounding surface of the floor.

However, as is shown in Figure 5, the outer ring 112 may r comprise smooth contact pads 110, such as of felt which contact the surrounding floor surface t . As such, the operator may grind the recess until such time that the contact pads 110 contact the surrounding floor surface.

The foregoing description, for es of explanation, used specific nomenclature to e a thorough understanding of the invention. r, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific s are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and ption. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above ngs. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.

Claims (47)

Claims

1. A puddle flange lation attachment comprising a locating cylinder and a grinding disc around the cylinder, the grinding disc having a grinding face substantially orthogonal with respect to a rotational axis of the cylinder, the ment attachable to a tool so that, in use, the locating cylinder can locate within a drain aperture so that the grinding face of the grinding disc can grind a recess around the drain aperture for subsequent installation of a puddle flange therein.

2. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises an outer diameter of approximately 150 mm.

3. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grinding face has an inner diameter of approximately 150 mm

4. The ment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grinding face has an outer diameter of approximately 230 mm.

5. The attachment as d in claim 1, wherein the grinding face extends radially out from the er by approximately 40 mm.

6. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ng er is flat edged.

7. The ment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating cylinder has a cutting edge.

8. The attachment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cutting edge has at least one of cutting teeth and diamond studding.

9. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grinding face is d by a plurality of grinding pieces.

10. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a central base plate and an outer ring.

11. The attachment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outer ring is approximately 10 mm thick.

12. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a central chuck attachment aperture.

13. The attachment as claimed in claim 12, wherein the attachment further comprises non-central chuck attachment apertures.

14. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding disc defines a planar face on which the ng pieces are located.

15. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding pieces are evenly spaced around the cylinder.

16. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding pieces have radial length.

17. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding pieces are longer along the radial axis of the ment as compared to with respect to a tial axis of the attachment.

18. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, n the grinding pieces sparsely populate the grinding face.

19. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein gaps between the grinding pieces are greater than the widths of the grinding pieces.

20. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding face has apertures therethrough between the grinding pieces.

21. The attachment as claimed in claim 20, n the apertures have tangential length

22. The attachment as d in claim 20, wherein the apertures are longer along a tangential axis as compared to a radial axis.

23. The attachment as claimed in claim 20, wherein the apertures are ly symmetric.

24. The attachment as claimed in claim 20, wherein the grinding disc comprises further apertures therethrough within the cylinder.

25. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding pieces take the form of blocks having grinding es.

26. The attachment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the grinding surfaces are planar.

27. The attachment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the grinding surfaces are orthogonal with respect to the rotational axis of the cylinder

28. The attachment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the grinding piece are approximately 10 mm thick.

29. The ment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the grinding surfaces are angled with respect to a rotational axis of the cylinder.

30. The attachment as claimed in claim 29, wherein the grinding surfaces are angled dly.

31. The attachment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the grinding surfaces are nonplanar.

32. The attachment as claimed in claim 31, wherein the grinding pieces diminish in ess outwardly.

33. The attachment as claimed in claim 25, wherein grinding pieces abut against the cylinder.

34. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding pieces are knifeedged.

35. The attachment as claimed in claim 34, wherein the grinding pieces are supported by a backing with respect to a rotational axis of the attachment.

36. The attachment as claimed in claim 35, wherein the backing extends orthogonally from the surface of the grinding disc.

37. The attachment as d in claim 9, wherein the grinding pieces are replaceable.

38. The attachment as claimed in claim 36, wherein the grinding pieces are replaceable by releasing fasteners through the backing.

39. The ment as claimed in claim 37, wherein the grinding pieces are eable by releasing ers through the grinding disk.

40. The attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grinding disc comprises an outer ring which extends radially beyond the ng pieces.

41. The ment as claimed in claim 40, wherein the outer ring ses contact pads.

42. The attachment as claimed in claim 41, where the contact pads comprise felt.

43. The attachment as claimed in claim 41, wherein the t pads locate radially beyond the grinding pieces.

44. A method of forming a recess in a e for the installation of a puddle flange therein using the ment as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising attaching the attachment to a tool to turn the attachment so that the grinding disc grinds a recess around a drain aperture in the surface.

45. The method as claimed in claim 44, n the method further comprises the attachment as claimed in claim 7, the method comprising using the locating cylinder to form the drain aperture.

46. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the attachment as claimed in claim 37, the method comprising replacing grinding pieces.

47. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the attachment as claimed in claim 41, the method comprising grinding the recess until the contact pads contact the nding surface.