IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0048208
(2011-03-15)
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등록번호 |
US-8353654
(2013-01-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Conrad, Paul D.
- Detweiler, Stephen C.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Mansfield Plumbing Products
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
23 |
초록
▼
A metallic bolt fastener assembly that includes a threaded shank, a head and an end, the head and a portion of the shank encapsulated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber or thermal plastic materials. The polymer com
A metallic bolt fastener assembly that includes a threaded shank, a head and an end, the head and a portion of the shank encapsulated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber or thermal plastic materials. The polymer composition provides improved corrosion resistance and superior fluid sealing properties when used as a water tank-to-toilet bowl or other similar plumbing fixture connection system.
대표청구항
▼
1. A removable fastener for securing a tank of a toilet to a corresponding bowl of the toilet, the tank having a tank bolt hole and the bowl having a corresponding bowl bolt hole, the removable fastener comprising a threaded bolt having a head and a shank extending along a shank axis from the head t
1. A removable fastener for securing a tank of a toilet to a corresponding bowl of the toilet, the tank having a tank bolt hole and the bowl having a corresponding bowl bolt hole, the removable fastener comprising a threaded bolt having a head and a shank extending along a shank axis from the head toward a distal end, the shank including a threaded portion extending toward the head from at least near the distal end, the threaded portion configured to threadingly engage an associated nut such that the fastener is a removable fastener, the shank having a length to extend through both an associated tank bolt hole and bowl bolt hole when in an installed position therein to allow an associated nut to selectively engage the threaded portion and force the fastener into a tightened condition, that shank further including a cross-sectional configuration to allow the shank to freely pass through the associated tank bolt hole and bowl bolt hole, the fastener further including a pliable composition coating permanently covering the entire bolt head and the coating extending down the shank toward the distal end such that the composition coating also covers a segment of the shank immediately adjacent to the head, the coating on the head having a lower face below the head and transverse to the shank axis general facing the distal end and the lower face forming a bearing surface for the engagement between the head and the associated tank when in the installed position, the bearing surface having an integral and compressible o-ring seal extending about the shank axis such that when the fastener is in the tightened condition the o-ring is compressed and at least partially produces a water tight seal about the associated tank bolt hole and the coating prevents water in the tank from engaging the head and the shank, the water tight seal is a first water tight seal, the composition coating covering further includes at least one transverse rib extending radially outwardly from the segment and about the shank axis, the at least one transverse rib deforming when the fastener is in the installed position by the engagement between the associated tank bolt hole, the at least one transverse rib producing a second water tight seal by at least partially sealing the associated tank bolt hole. 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the pliable composition is a polymer. 3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the pliable composition consists essentially of one of natural rubber, synthetic rubber and thermal plastic. 4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse rib has original configuration before it is in the installed position and having a compressed configuration when it is in the tightened condition, the pliable coating substantially returning to the original configuration when it is removed from the installed position. 5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse rib is at least two transverse ribs extending about the shank axis. 6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse rib includes a tapered portion facing the distal end to help guide the rib into the associated tank bolt opening. 7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the shank is circular wherein the shank has a shank diameter, the cross-section configuration of the segment also being circular wherein the segment has a segment diameter which is larger than the shank diameter, that at least one of the transverse rib and the segment producing a resistant fit between the fastener and the tank bolt hole. 8. The fastener of claim 1, further including a tool receiving configuration having at least two parallel flat edges in the circumferential dimension of the head and the pliable composition coating covering the head. 9. A removable fastener for securing a tank of a toilet to a corresponding bowl of the toilet, the tank having a tank bolt hole and the bowl having a corresponding bowl bolt hole, the removable fastener comprising a threaded bolt having a head and a shank extending along a shank axis from the head toward a distal end, the shank including a threaded portion extending toward the head from at least near the distal end, the threaded portion configured to threadingly engage an associated nut such that the fastener is a removable fastener, the shank having a length to extend through both an associated tank bolt hole and bowl bolt hole when in an installed position therein to allow an associated nut to selectively engage the threaded portion and force the fastener into a tightened condition, that shank further including a cross-sectional configuration to allow the shank to freely pass through the associated tank bolt hole and bowl bolt hole, the fastener further including a pliable composition coating permanently covering the entire bolt head and the coating extending down the shank toward the distal end such that the composition coating also covers a segment of the shank immediately adjacent to the head, the coating on the head having a lower face below the head and transverse to the shank axis general facing the distal end and the lower face forming a bearing surface for the engagement between the head and the associated tank when in the installed position, the bearing surface being compressible such that when the fastener is in the tightened condition the bearing surface compresses and at least partially produces a first water tight seal about the associated tank bolt hole and the coating prevents water in the tank from engaging the head and the shank, the composition coating covering further including at least one transverse rib on the segment extending radially outwardly from the shank axis, the at least one transverse rib deforming when the fastener is in the installed position by the engagement with the associated tank bolt hole, the at least one transverse rib producing a second water tight seal by at least partially sealing the associated tank bolt hole. 10. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the bearing surface further includes an integral and compressible o-ring seal extending about the shank axis such that when the fastener is in the tightened condition the o-ring is compressed and at least partially produces the first water tight seal about the associated tank bolt hole. 11. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the at least one transverse rib has original configuration before it is in the installed position and having a compressed configuration when it is in the tightened condition, the pliable coating substantially returning to the original configuration when it is removed from the installed position. 12. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the at least one transverse rib is at least two transverse ribs extending about the shank axis. 13. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the pliable composition coating is a polymer and encapsulates 10% to 50% of the fastener including the head and the segment of the shank. 14. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the pliable composition coating is a polymer and encapsulates 50% to 100% of the fastener including the head and the segment of the shank. 15. A removable fastener system for removably securing a tank of a toilet to a corresponding bowl of the toilet, the tank having a tank bolt hole and the bowl having a corresponding bowl bolt hole, the system comprising at least two bolts and at least two corresponding nuts, the at least two bolts each including a head and a shank extending along a shank axis from the head toward a distal end, the shank having a threaded portion adjacent the distal end, the threaded portion configured to threadingly engage an inner thread of one of the at least two nuts, the shank of the each bolt having a length to extend through both an associated tank bolt hole and bowl bolt hole when in an installed position therein such that the threaded portion is exposed thereby allowing the one nut to selectively threadingly engage the threaded portion and force the each bolt and one nut into a tightened condition, that shank further including a cross-sectional configuration to allow the shank to freely pass through the associated tank bolt hole and bowl bolt hole, the each bolt further including a pliable composition coating permanently covering the entire head and the coating extending down the shank toward the distal end such that the composition coating also covers a segment of the shank immediately adjacent to the head, the coating on the head having a lower face below the head and transverse to the shank axis general facing the distal end and the lower face forming a bearing surface for the engagement between the head and the associated tank when in the installed position, the bearing surface having an integral and compressible o-ring seal extending about the shank axis such that when the each bolt and nut is in the tightened condition the o-ring is compressed and at least partially produces a water tight seal about the associated tank bolt hole and the coating prevents water in the tank from engaging the head and the shank, the water tight seal is a first water tight seal, the composition coating covering further includes at least one transverse rib extending radially outwardly from the segment and about the shank axis, the at least one transverse rib deforming when the fastener is in the installed position by the engagement between the associated tank bolt hole, the at least one transverse rib producing a second water tight seal by at least partially sealing the associated tank bolt hole. 16. The fastener system of claim 15, wherein the at least one transverse rib has original configuration before it is in the installed position and having a compressed configuration when it is in the tightened condition, the pliable coating substantially returning to the original configuration when it is removed from the installed position. 17. The fastener system of claim 15, wherein the at least one transverse rib is at least two transverse ribs extending about the shank axis. 18. A removable fastener for securing a tank of a toilet to a corresponding bowl of the toilet, the tank having a tank bolt hole and the bowl having a corresponding bowl bolt hole, the removable fastener comprising bolt having a head and a shank joined to the head, the head and shank being composed of a single base material, the shank extending along a shank axis, the head having a base edge extending transversely from the shank axis and forming a bearing edge for the engagement between the fastener head and an associated tank of a toilet, the shank extending from the base edge along the shank axis to a distal end and including a threaded portion adjacent the distal end to threadingly engage an inner thread of a nut wherein the threading engagement of the nut on the threaded portion urges the fastener into a tightened condition, the bolt further including a pliable composition coating permanently covering the entire head and the coating extending down the shank thereby also covering a segment of the shank such that the coating is a unified coating covering the entire head and the segment, the coating including a sealing section covering the base edge thereby producing a pliable sealing ring extending about the shank, the pliable sealing ring being compressed between the bearing edge and the associated tank from a relaxed condition to a compressed condition when the fastener is urged into the tightened condition thereby producing a water tight seal extending about the associated tank bolt hole, the sealing ring generally returning to the relaxed condition when the fastener is removed from the associated toilet, the coating further including at least one sealing rib extending from the coating to enhance the water tight seal, the sealing rib also being compressible between a relaxed condition to a compressed condition when installed and the rib returning to the relaxed condition when the fastener is removed from the associated toilet, the coating preventing water in the tank from engaging the head and the shank when on the tightened condition.
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