RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/250,628, filed September 30, 2021, entitled "Side Wall Seal For Piping," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a side wall seal for piping. More specifically, the invention relates to a side wall seal for piping for pipes exiting a building at a right angle to the side wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Pipes exit the side wall of buildings and require a water resistant seal. Such pipes may be for linesets, e.g. for an air conditioning system; for a gas line; for a drain line; or for similar pipes exiting the side wall of a building. The seal may be for a single pipe or for multiple pipes.

[0004] Seals for piping are known in the prior art such as the TSS575 Airex Titan GS303/4" Gray Lineset Wall Seal System comprising a rectangular box covering an opening in a building side wall through which a pipe extends and having a rubber gasket fitted over the pipe and against the box to provide a seal. This seal includes a number of parts, cannot be used in retrofit installation and cannot be used in tight quarters because of its size.

[0005] While the prior art seals may provide some benefits, improvement is possible, including providing a water resistant seal which is inexpensive and easy to use. The present invention addresses these issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A primary object of the invention is to provide a side wall seal for piping.

[0007] Another primary object of the invention is to provide a water resistant seal for piping exiting from a side wall of a building, including for a single pipe or for multiple pipes.

[0008] Another primary object of the invention is to provide a side wall seal for piping which is water resistant and useful for pipes exiting a building side wall at a right angle.

[0009] Another primary object of the invention is to provide a side wall seal for piping which is water resistant and which may be used for retrofit installation for existing pipes or for pipes in new construction.

[00010] Another primary object of the invention is to provide a side wall seal for piping which is water resistant, one-piece and is made of plastic and overmolded with a flexible rubber and is minimally sized to fit into tight places.

[00011] The invention is directed to a side wall seal for piping comprising an annular ring adapted to be attached to a building sidewall, a wall extending outwardly from said annular ring and having a seam in said wall, a first ear extending outwardly from said wall adjacent a first side of the seam and a second ear extending outwardly from the wall adjacent a second side of the seam, and a closure mechanism for closing the seam around said piping. The side wall seal may also be used with a wedge member to angle the side wall seal downward. The wedge member is also useful when the building sidewall is not completely vertical, e.g. where the sidewall has a thatched siding.

[00012] These primary and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00013] The following detailed description of the specific non-limiting embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structures are indicated by like reference numbers.

[00014] Referring to the drawings:

[00015] FIGURE 1A is a perspective view of the side wall seal for piping of the present invention.

[00016] FIGURE IB is another perspective view of the side wall seal of Figure 1.

[00017] FIGURE 1C is a bottom view of the side wall seal of Figure 1.

[00018] FIGURE 2A shows the side wall seal of Figure 1 for angling the side wall seal downward by using a wedge member.

[00019] FIGURE 2B is a side view of the assembly of Figure 2A.

[00020] FIGURE 2C is a front perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2A.

[00021] FIGURE 3A is a perspective exploded view of the seal and the wedge member of Figure 2.

[00022] FIGURE 3B is another perspective exploded view of the seal and the wedge member of Figure 2.

[00023] FIGURE 4A is a perspective front view of the wedge member of Figures 2 and 3.

[00024] FIGURE 4B is a perspective back view of the wedge member of Figures 2 and 3.

[00025] FIGURE 4C is a back view of the wedge member of Figures 2 and 3.

[00026] FIGURE 4D is a side view of the wedge member of Figures 2 and 3.

[00027] FIGURE 4E is a bottom view of the wedge member of Figures 2 and 3.

[00028] FIGURE 4F is an enlarged view of section A of Figure 4E.

[00029] FIGURE 5A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the side wall seal of the invention.

[00030] FIGURE 5B is is another perspective view of the side wall seal of Figure 5A.

[00031] FIGURE 5C is another perspective view of the side wall seal of Figure 5A.

[00032] FIGURE 5D is a top view of the side wall seal of Figure 5A.

[00033] FIGURE 6A is a perspective view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 with a wedge member as shown in Figure 8.

[00034] FIGURE 6B is another perspective view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 with a wedge member as shown in Figure 8.

[00035] FIGURE 60 is a front view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 with a wedge member as shown in Figure 8.

[00036] FIGURE 6D is a side view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 with a wedge member as shown in Figure 8. [00037] FIGURE 7A is a perspective exploded view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 and the wedge member of Figure 8.

[00038] FIGURE 7B is another perspective exploded view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 and the wedge member of Figure 8.

[00039] FIGURE 70 is a side exploded view of the side wall seal of Figure 5 and the wedge member of Figure 8. [00040] FIGURE 8A is a front perspective view of the wedge member of Figures 6 and 7.

[00041] FIGURE 8B is another front perspective view of the wedge member shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[00042] FIGURE 8C is a side view of the wedge member shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[00043] FIGURE 8D is a rear view of the wedge member shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[00044] FIGURE 8E is a bottom view of the wedge member shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[00045] FIGURE 8F is an enlarged view of the area A of Figure 8E.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [00046] The invention is directed to a side wall seal for piping. Specifically, a water resistant seal is required for piping exiting from a side wall from a building, including for a single pipe or for multiple pipes. The device is useful for pipes exiting a building side wall at a right angle to the side wall. The device may be used for retrofit installation for existing piping or for piping in new construction installation. The seal is made of plastic such as, but not limited to, ASA (acrylic-styrene- acrylonitrile copolymer), and overmolded with a flexible rubber such as, but not limited to, a thermoplastic elastomer such as Santoprene®. The seal is minimally sized to fit into tight spaces.

[00047] A first embodiment of the side wall seal is shown in Figures 1A-1C. The seal 10 includes an annular ring 12 having a collar 12A having an opening through which a pipe extends. The seal 10 is attached to a side wall of a building by fasteners (not shown) extending through apertures 14. The seal 10 further includes an outwardly extending substantially annular wall 16 extending from ring 12 having an opening through which a pipe extends. Wall 16 includes a seam 18 and ears 20 and 22 extending outwardly from wall 16. Seal 10 is easily installed by retrofit over existing piping extending from a building side wall because seam 18 may be pulled apart and slipped over an existing pipe or a bundle of pipes. After the seam 18 is installed over the piping, the ears 20 and 22 are grasped and squeezed to close the seal and seam 18 by bringing the ears 20 and 22 together. The seam is closed by a tongue 23A and groove 23B closure mechanism. In some instances, a band or hose clamp (not shown) may be used to further hold the seal 10 in a closed and sealed relation. The band or hose clamp extends around wall portion 24 and is secured by a retaining member 26. In one preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the side wall seal are about 2.13 inches from the annular collar to the top of wall 16 with a diameter of the opening of about 2.35 inches when the seam 18 is open and 2.25 inches when the seam is closed. It is understood that these dimensions will vary depending on the piping. [00048] Referring to Figures 2-4, there is shown a side wall seal assembly 40 for angling the seal 10 downward by using a wedge member 50 with seal 10. Wedge 50 is an accessory to the side wall seal 10. It is useful in angling the seal downwards for better water resistance. Wedge 50 is also useful when the building side wall is not completely vertical, e.g. where the building has a thatched siding, thereby allowing the side wall seal 10 to extend from the building side wall at a substantially 90 degree angle. The wedge member 50 may be attached to the building side wall and the seal 10 attached to the wedge 50. Wedge 50 includes a front wall 52, a side wall 54, a rear wall 56, a top portion 58 and a bottom portion 60. There is a split seam 62 in bottom portion 60 such that the wedge 50 may be pulled apart to fit around the pipe exiting the building side wall and then closed and held in place by seam closure members 64 and 66. The side wall seal 10 is first aligned with wedge 50 by lugs 68 of the wedge which are inserted into openings 68A of the seal 10. The seal 10 is then attached to wedge 50 by fasteners (not shown) extending through apertures 14 of side wall seal 10 and apertures 14A of wedge 50 then into the building side wall. In one preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the wedge member are about 1.12 inches from the back wall to the front wall at the top portion and about 0.15 inches at the bottom portion. It is understood that these dimensions will vary depending on the piping.

[00049] A second embodiment of side wall seal 100 is shown in Figures 5-8. The seal 100 is substantially similar to the first embodiment 10 and further includes an additional closure mechanism 180. The seal 100 includes an annular ring 112 having a collar 112A having an opening through which a pipe extends. The seal 100 is attached to a side wall of a building by fasteners (not shown) extending through apertures 114. The seal 100 further includes an outwardly extending substantially annular wall 116 extending from ring 112 having an opening through which a pipe extends. Wall 116 includes a seam 118 and ears 120 and 122. Seal 100 is easily installed by retrofit over existing piping extending from a building side wall because seam 118 may be pulled apart and slipped over an existing pipe or a bundle of pipes. After the seam 118 is installed over the piping, the ears 120 and 122 are grasped and squeezed to close the seal and seam 118 by bringing the ears 120 and 122 together. The seam is closed by closure 180 as discussed below. In some instances, a band or hose clamp (not shown) may be used to further hold the seal 100 in a closed and sealed relation. The band or hose clamp extends around wall portion 124 and is secured by a retaining member 126. Closure 180 comprises a snap connection having snap 182 and aperture 184 in ear 122 for receiving snap 182. Snap 182 includes arms 186,188 for engaging an outside wall of aperture 184 of ear 122.

[00050] Referring to Figures 6-8, there is shown a side wall seal assembly 140 for angling the seal 100 downward by using a wedge member 150 with seal 100. Wedge 150 is an accessory to the side wall seal 100. It is useful in angling the seal downwards for better water resistance. Wedge 150 is also useful when the building side wall is not completely vertical, e.g. where the building has a thatched siding, thereby allowing the side wall seal 100 to extend from the building side wall at a substantially 90 degree angle. The wedge member 150 may be attached to the building side wall and the seal 100 attached to the wedge 150. Wedge 150 includes a front wall 152, a side wall 154, a rear wall 156, a top portion 158 and a bottom portion 160. There is a split seam 162 in bottom portion 160 such that the wedge 150 may be pulled apart to fit around the pipe exiting the building side wall and then closed and held in place by members 164 and 166. The side wall seal 100 is first aligned with wedge 140 by lugs 168 of the wedge which are inserted into openings 168A of the seal 100. The seal 100 is then attached to wedge 140 by fasteners (not shown) extending through apertures 114 of side wall seal 100 and apertures 114A of wedge 150 then into the building side wall. Additionally, split seam 162 may be held together by fasteners (not shown) extending through apertures 114A.

[00051] The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the appended claims.