Urinal Backup Flange Repair Kit for Damaged Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinal flange repair methods are time-consuming and costly due to the need to remove the urinal and potentially tear down parts of the wall, often caused by damage from over-tightening, misalignment, or corrosion, leading to leakage and breach in the sealed connection between the urinal effluent outlet and drainage pipe.
Innovation Solution
A urinal backup flange with a central arcuate recessed bottom and lateral ear or wing portions that can be positioned between the urinal and the wall, allowing securement with existing urinal bolts without removing the damaged flange, along with a repair kit including a gasket, adhesive seal tape, and fasteners, facilitating easy alignment and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the damaged flange is replaced by removing the urinal and tearing down wall portions, then the flange connection can be repaired, but the repair time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The backup flange acts as an intermediary component that interfaces between the urinal and the wall structure. It can be installed behind the damaged flange without requiring removal of the urinal or demolition of wall portions, thereby facilitating repair while minimizing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The flange assembly is segmented into functional components: the backup flange, the damaged flange, and the urinal. This segmentation allows the backup flange to be independently installed and secured with bolts, enabling repair without requiring complete disassembly of the wall-urinal connection
2Ease of repair
If the damaged flange is replaced by removing the urinal and tearing down wall portions, then the flange connection can be repaired, but the material cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backup flange serves as a mediator that simplifies the repair process by providing a direct replacement interface between the urinal and wall, eliminating the need for complex wall demolition and reconstruction operations
Solution Approach 2:
The backup flange is designed to be self-contained with integrated bolt receptacles and sealing surfaces, allowing it to be installed independently without requiring specialized tools or complex procedural steps
3Ease of manufacture
If harsh cleaning chemicals and water are sprayed on wall portions, then cleaning operations can be performed, but corrosion of the flange connection accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The backup flange provides a protective interface that shields the wall structure and existing flange connection from corrosive cleaning chemicals, preventing acceleration of corrosion while allowing routine cleaning operations to continue
Data Source
AI summary
A urinal backup flange according to the present invention comprises a central flange portion with an arcuate, recessed bottom that substantially conforms to the cross-sectional shape of an upper portion of a site's piping, and two side or lateral (e.g., ear or wing) portions extending laterally from each lateral end of the central flange portion and having slots for receiving urinal bolts. The urinal backup flange can be provided with one or more apertures and/or protrusions or tabs with apertures in the form of eyelets to allow securement of the device to the wall and/or the a damaged urinal flange already in place. After adjusting alignment and positioning, and optionally replacing the gasket, if necessary, urinal bolts may be used to secure the urinal to the wall through both the damaged urinal flange as well as the urinal backup flange. A urinal flange repair kit comprising the urinal backup flange according to the present invention and a method for its use are also disclosed.