Kits, assemblies and methods for no-tools toilet installation
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E03D-011/00
E03D-011/16
E03D-001/26
출원번호
US-0869404
(2015-09-29)
등록번호
US-10077549
(2018-09-18)
발명자
/ 주소
Jensen, Robert M.
Grover, David
Walsh, James P.
출원인 / 주소
AS IP HOLDCO, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Venable LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
29
초록▼
Kits and methods for installing a toilet bowl or toilet assembly without tools, and an installed toilet assembly, are described. The methods and assembly work with an existing flange or can include a standard closet flange configured to receive a flange bolt. The kits and assemblies include a flange
Kits and methods for installing a toilet bowl or toilet assembly without tools, and an installed toilet assembly, are described. The methods and assembly work with an existing flange or can include a standard closet flange configured to receive a flange bolt. The kits and assemblies include a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so as to fit through an opening in a flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange; and a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending therethrough, wherein the interior surface is configured so that when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem when a toilet bowl base is positioned in place over the flange and the bolts have a size that is coordinated with the size of the locking knobs to eliminate the use of tools on installation of the bowl. Handle fasteners for manual tightening may also be included for installation of a tank on the bowl also without the use of tools. Mounting blocks are also described which enable installation while minimizing potential for injury due to suspending a toilet bowl or assembly while aligning the bowl so as to sit on a flange bolt(s).
대표청구항▼
1. An assembly for installing a two-piece toilet assembly wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl portion and a separate tank portion, comprising: (a) a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to rece
1. An assembly for installing a two-piece toilet assembly wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl portion and a separate tank portion, comprising: (a) a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to receive a flange bolt;(b) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, the bolt head will fit through the opening in the flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange;(c) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob; and(d) a handle fastener having a closed end and an interior surface defining an opening therein configured to receive a tank locking bolt for fastening a toilet tank to a toilet bowl in a toilet assembly in locking engagement, the handle fastener having an outer surface configured for manual tightening. 2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flange nut configured to fit over the end of the bolt stem and over the stem so that at least a portion of the flange nut contacts the upper surface of the flange and is stably locked against the bolt stem. 3. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to be placed over the bolt locking knob. 4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flange has two openings and the assembly comprises two flange bolts. 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stem of the flange bolt is threaded and the interior surface of the bolt locking knob is threaded so that the outer surface of the flange bolt is configured for locking engagement with the interior surface of the locking knob through mating threads. 6. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting block, wherein the mounting block is configured for suspending a portion of a toilet bowl above a mounting surface for ensuring placement of a flange bolt through a mounting hole on a toilet bowl to be installed. 7. The assembly according to claim 6, comprising two mounting blocks, wherein one mounting block is configured for suspending a bottom surface of a toilet bowl in a front portion thereof above a mounting surface and another mounting block is configured for suspending the bottom surface of the toilet bowl in a rear portion thereof above the mounting surface. 8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the handle fastener is able to be fully tightened by hand, and wherein the assembly allows for complete installation of the toilet tank without requiring use of tools. 9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the handle fastener is an elongated handle configured to facilitate hand gripping and turning for manually tightening of the handle fastener by hand. 10. The assembly of claim 4, wherein grooves are provided in the outer surface of the handle fastener. 11. A kit for installing a two-piece toilet assembly wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl portion and a separate tank portion, comprising: (a) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, the bolt head will fit through an opening in a closet flange so that the bolt head contacts a lower surface of a closet flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from an upper surface of a closet flange;(b) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob;(c) a handle fastener having a closed end and an interior surface defining an opening therein configured to receive a tank locking bolt for fastening a toilet tank to a toilet bowl in a toilet assembly in locking engagement, the handle fastener having an outer surface configured for manual tightening; and(d) instructions for installing a two-piece toilet assembly having a toilet bowl and a toilet tank. 12. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the bolt locking knob further comprises a downwardly extending portion and the opening in the bolt locking knob extends through the knob and the downwardly extending portion thereof. 13. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the instructions describe a tool-free installation of the toilet assembly. 14. The kit according to claim 11, further comprising a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to receive a flange bolt. 15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein the flange has two openings and the kit comprises two flange bolts. 16. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the interior surface of the handle fastener is threaded for mating threaded engagement with threads on an exterior surface of a tank locking bolt. 17. The kit according to claim 11, wherein there are two handle fasteners for receiving two tank locking bolts. 18. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the handle fastener has a surface to facilitate gripping for manual tightening. 19. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the handle fastener is a two-piece fastener having a detachable handle portion. 20. The kit according to claim 11, further comprising at least one mounting block, wherein the mounting block is configured so as to suspend a portion of a toilet bowl above a mounting surface for ensuring placement of a flange bolt through a mounting hole on a toilet bowl to be installed. 21. A method for installing a toilet bowl on a mounting surface without using tools, comprising: (a) providing a flange bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface;(b) inserting the flange bolt through an opening in a flange, wherein the flange comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and the opening, wherein the opening extends from the upper surface to the lower surface and is configured to receive a flange bolt, so that the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange, the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange and positioning the flange on a mounting surface;(c) placing a toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof over the stem of the flange bolt so that the end portion of the stem extends upwardly through the mounting hole;(d) placing a bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, wherein the bolt locking knob has an interior surface defining an opening extending through the locking knob and an interior portion thereof and an outer peripheral surface having a shape having curved depressions for manual tightening of the knob, wherein the bolt locking knob is placed so that when the end portion of the bolt stem is within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the bolt locking knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that upon placement of a toilet bowl over the flange bolt and placement of the bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, the end portion of the flange bolt stem is substantially within the opening of the bolt locking knob; and(e) fully tightening the knob manually on the bolt stem, wherein installation of the toilet bowl is completed using the method without requiring use of tools, and wherein the bolt locking knob has a downwardly extending portion and the opening in the bolt locking knob also extends through the downwardly extending portion and the method further comprises placing the bolt locking knob such that the downwardly extending portion of the bolt locking knob also extends into the mounting hole in the base of the toilet bowl. 22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising positioning a flange nut over the bolt stem and over the stem so that at least a portion of the flange nut contacts the upper surface of the flange and is stably locked against the bolt stem prior to placing the toilet bowl. 23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising placing a cover over the bolt locking knob. 24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising inserting two flange bolts through two openings in the flange, and placing a toilet bowl having two mounting holes extending through a base thereof over the stems of the two flange bolts so that the end portions of the flange bolt stems extend upwardly through the mounting holes. 25. A method for installing a toilet bowl on a mounting surface without using tools, comprising: (a) providing a flange bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface;(b) inserting the flange bolt through an opening in a flange, wherein the flange comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and the opening, wherein the opening extends from the upper surface to the lower surface and is configured to receive a flange bolt, so that the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange, the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange and positioning the flange on a mounting surface;(c) positioning at least one mounting block on the mounting surface so that when the toilet bowl is placed over the end of the flange bolt, the toilet bowl is at least partially suspended over the mounting surface for better placement of the bolt in a mounting hole of the toilet bowl;(d) placing a toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof over the stem of the flange bolt so that the end portion of the stem extends upwardly through the mounting hole;(e) removing the at least one mounting block;(f) placing a bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, wherein the bolt locking knob has an interior surface defining an opening extending through the locking knob and an interior portion thereof, wherein the bolt locking knob is placed so that when the end portion of the bolt stem is within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the bolt locking knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that upon placement of a toilet bowl over the flange bolt and placement of the bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, the end portion of the flange bolt stem is substantially within the opening of the bolt locking knob; and(g) fully tightening the knob manually on the bolt stem, wherein installation of the toilet bowl is completed using the method without requiring use of tools. 26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising positioning two mounting blocks on the mounting surface, wherein one mounting block is positioned so as to be under a rear portion of a lower surface of the toilet bowl and another mounting block is positioned so as to be under a front portion of the lower surface of the toilet bowl, so that when the toilet bowl is placed over the end of the flange bolt, the toilet bowl is suspended over the mounting surface for better placement of the bolt in the mounting hole of the toilet bowl. 27. An installed toilet assembly having a bowl portion and a separate tank portion and installed according to the method of claim 21. 28. The installed toilet assembly according to claim 27, further comprising a flange nut configured to fit over the end of the bolt stem and over the stem, wherein at least a portion of the flange nut contacts the upper surface of the flange and is stably locked against the bolt stem. 29. The installed toilet assembly according to claim 27, wherein the toilet tank portion is positioned on a rear of the upper surface of the toilet bowl and having a toilet tank locking bolt having a lower end, the toilet tank locking bolt extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the toilet tank portion so that the lower end thereof extends through a tank mounting hole in the toilet bowl; and further comprises a handle fastener having an interior surface defining an opening therein configured to receive the end of the tank locking bolt, wherein the handle fastener is manually fastened on the end of the tank locking bolt in locking engagement, and the handle fastener has an outer surface configured for manual tightening. 30. The installed toilet assembly of claim 29, having two flange openings, two flange bolts, two mounting holes in the base of the toilet bowl and two tank mounting holes in the rear of the upper surface of the toilet bowl, two tank locking bolts in the toilet tank, and two handle fasteners. 31. The installed toilet assembly according to claim 27, wherein the toilet tank is sealingly installed on the toilet bowl. 32. The installed toilet assembly of claim 27, further comprising a wax seal on a lower surface of the toilet bowl and compressed between the upper surface of the flange and the lower surface of the toilet bowl. 33. The installed toilet assembly of claim 27, having a cover placed on the base of the toilet bowl over the bolt locking knob. 34. The method of claim 25, further comprising the bolt locking knob having an outer peripheral surface having a shape having curved depressions for manual tightening of the bolt locking knob. 35. A method for installing a two-piece toilet assembly on a mounting surface without using tools, comprising: (a) providing a flange bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface;(b) inserting the flange bolt through an opening in a flange, wherein the flange comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and the opening, wherein the opening extends from the upper surface to the lower surface and is configured to receive a flange bolt, so that the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange, the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange and positioning the flange on a mounting surface;(c) placing a toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof over the stem of the flange bolt so that the end portion of the stem extends upwardly through the mounting hole;(d) placing a bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, wherein the bolt locking knob has an interior surface defining an opening extending through the locking knob and an interior portion thereof, wherein the bolt locking knob is placed so that when the end portion of the bolt stem is within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the bolt locking knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that upon placement of a toilet bowl over the flange bolt and placement of the bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, the end portion of the flange bolt stem is substantially within the opening of the bolt locking knob; and(e) fully tightening the knob manually on the bolt stem,(f) installing a tank over the toilet bowl, by (i) providing a handle fastener having a closed end and an interior surface defining an opening in the handle fastener, and an outer surface configured for manual tightening of the handle fastener;(ii) placing a toilet tank having a tank bolt having an end extending downwardly therefrom over the toilet bowl so that the tank bolt extends downwardly through a tank mounting hole in a rear portion of an upper surface of the toilet bowl and the end of the tank bolt extends beyond the tank mounting hole;(iii) inserting the end of the tank bolt in the opening of the handle fastener; and(iv) manually tightening the handle fastener on the tank bolt, wherein installation of the two-piece toilet assembly is completed without requiring use of tools. 36. The method according to claim 35, wherein there are two handle fasteners for receiving two tank locking bolts and the method further comprises manually tightening the two handle fasteners on the two tank bolts. 37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the interior surface of the handle fastener is threaded and the method further comprises manually tightening the handle fastener by engaging a threaded interior surface of the handle fastener with threads on an outer surface of the tank bolt. 38. The method according to claim 35, wherein the handle fastener has a detachable handle portion and the method further comprises detaching the handle portion. 39. The method according to claim 35, further comprising installing a toilet seat on the toilet bowl. 40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the toilet bowl has toilet seat mounting bolts installed thereon for receiving the toilet seat prior to placing the toilet bowl on the flange. 41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the toilet seat is capable of manually attaching to the toilet seat mounting bolts without use of tools. 42. A two-piece toilet assembled according to the method of claim 35. 43. A method for installing a toilet bowl on a mounting surface, comprising: (a) providing a flange bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface;(b) inserting the flange bolt through an opening in a flange, wherein the flange comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and the opening, wherein the opening extends from the upper surface to the lower surface and is configured to receive a flange bolt, so that the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange, and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange and positioning the flange on the mounting surface;(c) positioning a mounting block on the mounting surface and positioning another mounting block on the mounting surface, wherein each of said mounting blocks is positioned so as to lie beneath a front and a rear portion of the lower surface of a toilet bowl when the toilet bowl is placed so as to be near or over the stem in step (d);(d) placing the toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof so as to be near or over the stem of the flange bolt and lowering the toilet bowl until at least a portion of a lower surface of the toilet bowl rests on each mounting block;(e) ensuring that the stem of the flange bolt is within the mounting hole and upright;(f) removing the mounting blocks; and(g) placing a bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, the bolt locking knob having an outer peripheral surface having a shape having curved depressions for manual tightening of the bolt locking knob. 44. The method according to claim 43, wherein step (e) further comprises moving the toilet bowl on the blocks until the stem of the flange bolt is within the mounting hole and upright. 45. The method according to claim 43, wherein each of the mounting blocks comprises a pull tab, and step (f) further comprises removing the mounting blocks by pulling the pull tab while lifting the toilet bowl. 46. The method according to claim 43, wherein each of said mounting blocks is formed of a material having sufficient strength for suspending a toilet during the installation and each mounting block is configured so that an installer can view and access the bolt stem for aligning the bolt stem when the toilet bowl is resting on the mounting blocks.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (29)
Piper Leroy C., Adjustable length closet fastener and method.
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