BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved trap fitting assembly which prevents smoke and fire from spreading through the fitting mounted through a floor of a building. In particular, the present invention relates to a trap fitting assembly including a flammable tubular coupling mounted through the floor with a non-flammable sleeve mounted inside the coupling and with a non-flammabl J-pipe connected to an extension of the sleeve so that water is trapped in the J-pipe.

(2) Prior Art

Trap fitting assemblies are well known and generally include a non-flammable main conduit which penetrates the floor along a vertical longitudinal axis an a non-flammable J-pipe which is connected to a lower most end of the main conduit. Generally the pipe is provided through a pre-for ed opening in the floor which is larger in diameter than the conduit and the pipe is held in place by the structure of a drain or a tub box mounted on or in the floor. The problem is that this construction is expensive and smoke and fire can penetrate between the mai conduit and the opening. OBJECTS it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved trap fitting assembly and a building incorporating the trap fitting assembly wherein smoke and fire are prevented from moving through the floor by the fitting. Further, it is an object of the present

invention to provide a fitting assembly which is self-supporting in the floor. These and other objects will become increasingly apparent by reference to the following description and the drawings. IN THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front partial sectional view of a preferred trap fitting assembly of the present invention adapted as a floor drain outlet, such as for a shower stall drain, particularly illustrating a flammable coupling and a non-flammable sleeve mounted inside the coupling and with an extension from ^' the coupling below the floor and a non-flammable J-pipe mounted on the extension of the sleeve, wherein water retained in the J-pipe in use prevents smoke and fire from penetrating through the floor from below the floor. Figure IA is an enlarged section of Figure 1 showing the sleeve and a spacer holding the sleeve in the coupling.

Figure 2 is a cross-section along line 2-2 of Figure 1 particularly illustrating the preferred mounting of the sleeve by a spacer tube in the coupling.

Figure 3 is a front partial sectional view of another preferred trap fitting assembly adapted for bathtub mounting showing a coupling, sleeve and J-pipe similar to Figures 1 and 2 and particularly illustrating the mounting of a common pipe for an overflow pipe and a drain pipe in a tub box. Figure 3A is an enlarged section of Figure 3 showing a non-flammable sleeve and a spacer holding the sleeve in place in the coupling.

Figure 4 is a cross-section along line 4-4 of Figure 3, particularly illustrating a preferred flexible joint holding opposed ends of the J-pipe and extension together. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved trap fitting assembly which prevents the spread of fire and smoke through a floor of a building through the fitting assembly which comprises: a flammable tubular coupling

means having opposed ends which provides an opening along longitudinal axis through the floor with an outside wall secured to the floor and an inside wall which defines the opening; a non-flammable sleeve means with openings at opposed ends mounted on the inside of the coupling means between an upper and a lower level of the floor and with an extension below the lower level of the floor; and a non-flammable J-pipe means removably secured to the extension at a lower most of the openings of the sleeve means by a connection means, wherein in use the J-pipe means is filled with water in a lower portion of the J-pipe means thereby preventing smoke and fire from below the floor from moving up through the coupling means and sleeve means to above the floor. The present invention further relates to a building construction which prevents the spread of fires and smoke through a floor of the building which comprises: an improved trap fitting assembly which prevents the spread of fire and smoke through a floor of a building through the fitting assembly which comprises a flammable tubular coupling means having opposed ends which provides an opening along a longitudinal axis through the floor with an outside wall secured to the floor and an inside wall which defines the opening; a non-flammable sleeve means with openings at opposed ends mounted on the inside of the coupling means between an upper and a lower level of the floor and with an extension below the lower level of the floor; and a non-flammable J-pipe means removably secured to the extension at a lower most of the openings of the sleeve means by a connection means, wherein in use the

J-pipe means is filled with water in a lower portion of the J-pipe means thereby preventing smoke and fire from below the floor from moving up through the coupling means and sleeve means to above the floor; a floor mounting the coupling means of the fitting assembly through the floor; and a drain pipe connected to the J-pipe means to convey

the water overflowing from the J-pipe means through the building.

The trap fitting assembly is preferably mounts a floor drain or a tub drain. Other types of fitting assemblies for fluid draining through a floor can be used. In my U.S. Patent No. 4,724,858, I described a firestop stack fitting for sealing the opening of pipes which extend between floors of a building. A non-flammable sleeve is mounted inside a flammable coupling. This fitting works well where a trap is not required. SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

Figures 1, I and 2 show an improved trap fitting assembly Fi of the present invention. A flammable coupling 10 is embodied in a concrete floor 100 of a building along vertical axis a-a and held in place by concentric rings 10a around the outside of the coupling 10. A flange 10b serves to mount the coupling 10 on a temporary form (not shown) for pouring the concrete floor 100. This type of coupling is described in my U.S. Patent Nos. 4,261,598 and 4,623,170. My U.S. patent application Serial No. 88,376 filed August 14, 1987 shows flammable coupling which press fits into a cored opening in the floor with an adhesive which can also be used.

A conventional drain fitting 11 is secured by means of a flange 11a and bolts 12 to a connector 13 embedded in the concrete floor 100. The connector 13 is mounted above an uppermost end 10c of the coupling 10. A non-flammable sleeve 14 is mounted inside the coupling 10 adjacent an inner wall lOd. The sleeve 14 has an integral ring 14a, preferably at its ppermost end, which is the same diameter (d) as the coupling 10. A flammable spacer tube 15 is secured to the coupling 10 as by an adhesive or solvent welding (15a) so that the sleeve 14 is firmly held in place in the coupling 10. The sleeve 14 has an extension 14b which extends below the floor 100.

Optionally the spacer tube 15 can also extend below the floor 100 on the extension 14b. A non-flammable J-pipe 16

is connected to the opening in the extension 14b by means of a flexible joint 17 (such as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,420,176) and held in place by champs 18 and 19. A flammable elbow 20 is preferably connected to the J-pipe 16 by a second flexible joint 21 which is solvent welded inside the coupling 20 and held in place on J-pipe 16 by means of a clamp 22.

Various conventional connection means can be used to secure the J-pipe 16 to the extension 14b and to the elbow 20. As can be seen from Figure 1, a water 101 level L-L is maintained in the J-pipe 16 to prevent the spread of smoke and fire from below the floor 100 to above the floor 100.

Figures 3, 3A and 4 show a trap fitting assembly F2 coupling 30 with rings 30a and flange 30b mounted along vertical axis b-b in a concrete floor 200 of a building, in the manner of the trap fitting assembly Fj_ of Figures 1 and 2, with a tub box 31 mounted at an upper end of the coupling 30. A non-flammable sleeve 32 with ring 32a is mounted inside the coupling 30 by spacer tube 33 which is held in place by an adhesive or solvent welding 33a to the coupling 30. The J-pipe 34 is mounted at an opening of the extension 32b by joint 35 and clamps 36 and 37. Elbow 38 is secured to J-pipe 34 by second joint 39 and clamp 40 as in Figures 1 and 2.

The tub box 31 houses drain pipe 41 and overflo pipe 42 through T connector 43 and a common conduit 44. The common conduit 44 is mounted through a flexible connector 45 leading into the coupling 30 to provide a fluid and smoke-tight seal. As can be seen from Figure 3, the drain pipe 41 is recessed into the tub box 31 so that the bathtub 203 will mount properly with the tub drain 46 at the proper level. As can be seen the water 201 level L-L is such that the J-pipe prevents fire and smoke from going through the floor 200.

Numerous variations will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the foregoing description

be only illustrative of the present invention and that the present invention be limited only by the hereinafter appended claims.