GB2348650A

GB2348650A - Adjustable mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2348650A
Application number: GB0004864A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Donnelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-22
Filing date: 2000-02-22
Publication date: 2000-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-22
Also published as: GB0004864D0; GB2348650B

Abstract

Adjustable mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings comprises two fixing brackets (2) attached to a bar (4). The apparatus is provided with first formations (6) by means of which it can be secured to a supporting surface and second formations (10) for receiving a sanitary fitting.

Description

Prior Art 1. Existing state of art reference: Patent Serial Number GB2315501.

New art preposes to improve substantially existing art through its adjustability and the varying degrees of axis of the plurality of hole formations for receiving fasteners. These two new features are signifantly advantageous in that the Adjustable Mounting Apparatus is capable of receiving different manufacturers model range of sanitary ware.

Existing art GB2315501, Title of Invention: Mounting Apparatus for Sanitary Fittings, is restricted to receiving one model of one sanitary ware manufacturers range of products.

Description Adjustable Mounting Apparatus for Sanitary Fittings 2. For over 100 years the traditional method of fixing/installing sanitary fittings such as a toilet bowl, a bidet or a pedestal wash basin is by fixing the fitting to the floor or other supporting surfaces. There are two distinct conditions one in old and one in new installations. Due to confinement of space, difficulty of position and/or awkwardness of fixing, created by the many types and condition of floor surface's they encounter.

Plumbers/installers do not like fixing sanitary products, and like even less removing and replacing the same, a process they feel should be relatively simple and straightforward.

3. The first obvious flaw is the use of conventional screws as a secure and effective fasteners. A fastener such as a wood screw is designed to tighten and secure correctly and effectively when two surfaces are pulled together making direct contact and ideally without the aid of fixing devices such as rawl plugs and the like.

4. The design of toilet, bidet bowls and wash stand base's [foot] will not allow any straight forward effective, secure fixing to a floor surface, simply because there is a large void between the floor surface and the finished ceramic counter sunk surface of the connecting hole of the toilet bowl base [foot]. This technical deficiency combined with frequent uneven floor surface and the sanitary fittings base [foot] surface rarely being flat, create stability and fixing problems that are both time consuming and costly.

5. The second flaw particularly on cement and composite floors, [which is the floor surface most commonly used in modem construction.] Is the almost impossible task of successfully and correctly lining up the angle the plumber/installer has to drill and fix a rawl plug, because they are working totally blind.

1. Wooden floors especially plywood, chipboard and other types of compressed wood chip products used in modem building, particularly in bathrooms and toilets create other serious problems. After time unless treated correctly, due to urine and water splashing wooden floors become almost impossible to fix bathroom products to. These same problems are very prevalent with owners of caravans and static homes.

2. In the UK and other countries, the waste is removed through a P-bend or an S-bend on the toilet bowl, which is then connected, by a flexible coupling, which is then connected to the pipe leading to the external wall of the building, to connect externally with a vertical waste pipe.

3. It is the aim of this invention to provide apparatus by means of which the existing problems are removed and installation of a sanitary fitting can be adapted universally to accommodate different sanitary ware manufacturers products.

4. According to the invention there is provided an adjustable mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings comprising of, two fixing brackets and an adjustment bar. When assembled having first formations by means of which it can be engaged by fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the assembled apparatus to a supporting surface, and second formations with varying degrees of axis for receiving fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the assembled Adjustable Mounting apparatus.

5. Assembly is achieved through sliding the Adjustment bar into the cut out provided in the fixing brackets.

6. This design provides a great many advantages and benefits in its application. The major problems of creating a secure base for the fixing of a toilet bowl are immediately over come. The assembled mounting apparatus is quickly and securely fastened to the supporting surface without the need to use the heavy awkward toilet bowl. It is possible using this arrangement to be able to accommodate bathroom upgrades on one housing project where new owners choose different bathroom manufacturers products.

1. Once the assembled Adjustable Mounting Apparatus is secured to the supporting surface, attachment of the sanitary fitting is a simple straight forward procedure. The apparatus as another exceptional advantage in that it facilitates simple straight forward plumbing maintenance, by allowing simple removal of the toilet bowl for all types of maintenance, plumbing, decorating and the laying of new floor surfaces such as ceramic tiles. Upon completion of maintenance requirements the toilet bowl is simply replaced in exactly the same position, a benefit that is not attainable using traditional methods of fixing sanitary fittings.

2. The Adjustable Mounting apparatus can be fastened to the supporting surface in its correct posistion in advance of the sanitary fittings delivery, this is particularly advantageous on large building projects, such as housing estates, hotels and hospitals, resulting in greatly reduced installation time and cost.

3. The Apparatus comprises of three separate parts which may be manufactured as plastic mouldings. Using plastic mouldings in this manner is very convenient and economical for mass production.

4. Typically, the first formation will comprise a plurality of through holes or slots through which fasteners such as screws maybe passed to connect with a supporting surface. This arrangement permits a wide variety of fasteners to be used, to suit a particular installation.

5. The second formation is comprised of a plurality of holes which have a plain bore, the fasteners being selected, such as ordinary wood screws will form their own thread.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 and 1 A shows the apparatus being the embodiment of the invention: Figure 2 and 2A are a cross sectional views of the apparatus drawn on Figure 1 having a toilet bowl mounted on it, and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus drawn on Figure I Figures 4 and 5 and 5A illustrate the individual components.

1. With reference to the drawings, adjustable mounting apparatus 1 for mounting a sanitary fitting, is in this embodiment, adapted for mounting a pedestal type toilet bowl 14. Such a toilet bowl has a supporting pedestal part that is supported by a wall 16 of ceramic material, within which is an empty void 26. The lower end surface base [foot] 12 of the wall 16 is rarely level when engaging a floor or another surface on which the bowl is mounted. A plurality of fastening holes [in this case two] are provided which extend through wall 16, close to its lower end surface base [foot] 12 spaced apart around the circumference of the pedestal base [foot] 12.

2. The adjustable mounting apparatus comprises of three separate components 2 and 4 formed as an injection moulding of plastic material the colour white is preferred due to its reflective qualities. The three components are assembled together by sliding the Adjustment bar 4 into the cut out 32 formed in fixing bracket 2. The now assembled Adjustable mounting apparatus I is formed to have a periphery shape and dimensioned by removing the snap off vee segments 24 on the adjustment bar 4 so that it fits closely within wall of the toilet bowl, adjacent its lower end surface base [foot] 12.

3. The assembled adjustable mounting apparatus 1 as a plurality of slots 6 and holes 22 [constituting first formations which can be engaged by fasteners] through each of which a fastener, such as a wood screw 8 and 20, can be passed in order to secure the adjustable mounting apparatus to a mounting surface, such as a floor 18. Each of the slots 6 as a long dimension which is substantially greater than a coextensive dimension of the fastener, such that the fixing brackets 2 can be moved a limited amount. In this way, it is possible to make fine adjustments if necessary to the adjustable mounting apparatus 1 [and therefore, a toilet bowl mounted on it] this combined with the centre line marked on the adjustment bar, enable a precise connection to be achieved between the toilet bowl and surrounding walls and pipework, it is also possible to select within limits, a preferred location for each of the fasteners.

4. Two bosses 28 projects upwardly from the adjustable mounting apparatus 1. Each boss 28 is disposed such that it is adjacent a respective mounting hole of a toilet bowl mounted on the adjustable mounting apparatus 1. The boss 28 constitute second formations for receiving fasteners through a plurality of holes 10 as an axis which, if extended outwardly from the boss 28 projects through the corresponding toilet bowl 14 mounting hole.

1. In order to install a toilet bowl, a first step is to establish a predetermined correct posistion for the adjustable mounting apparatus 1 on the floor 18. This is achieved by marking on the floor 18 the predetermined distance from the inside of the external wall from which the waste pipe is to exit.

2. Next the the assembled mounting apparatus 1 is placed in posistion by means of fasteners 8 and 20 passed through slots 6 and holes 22 and secured tightly.

3. It is normal at this stage to have prepared a liquid tight sealing compound, for example a silicon based sealing compound which is to be applied in such away as to form a bead around the circumference of the sanitary fittings base [foot] 12 when the sanitary fitting is finally secured.

4. The toilet bowl 14 is then placed over the adjustable mounting apparatus 1, it is then connected to the requisite flexible coupling which is then connected to the pipe leading to the external wall of the building, to connect externally with a vertical waste pipe.

When these connections have been made the toilet bowl 14 is finally fixed and secured using a respective fixing screw 30.

5. The fastener 30 used to fix the toilet bowl 14 to the adjustable mounting plate 1 could be a wood screw which is capable of forming its own thread by displacing the plastic material used in the manufacture of the fixing brackets 2.

6. It will be appreciated that the above described design can be used to secure other types of sanitary fittings, such as a bidet or a pedestal wash basin.

7. Both manufacturers of sanitary fittings and plumbers/installers refer to the pedestal base of a piece of sanitary ware as in a toilet bowl, bidet and pedestal wash basin as the foot.

1. There will inevitably be some variation in the dimensions of individual pieces of sanitary fittings. These dimensional variations are overcome through the use of the adjustment bar 4 and particularly any dimensional variation in the fastening holes in the toilet bowl 14 through the ceramic wall 16 at the lower end surface base (foot) 12. The multiplicity of holes 10 provided in boss 28 are advantageous in that, at all times they allow a fastener to be posistioned in the correct alignment with the fixing holes in the toilet bowl 14.

2. It will be appreciated that where there are four holes spaced apart around the circumference of a sanitary fitting base [foot] 12 the same procedure for fixing can be adopted as in the case of the previously described design for two holes spaced apart around the circumference of the sanitary base [foot] 12.

3. With reference to Figure 2 there is shown an alternative arrangement illustrating the adaptability to different manufacturers products. The toilet bowls 14 illustrated show one with a straight base [foot] 12 and the other showing a shallower shaped base [foot] 12.

Claims

Adjustable Mounting Apparatus for Sanitary Fittings CLAIMS I. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus for sanitary fittings comprising of three component parts, namely two fixing brackets and one adjustment bar, when assembled they form an adjustable mounting apparatus, able to be used as an Adjustable Mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings of varying models and manufacturers products.

2. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus having first formations by means of which it can be engaged by fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the adjustable mounting apparatus to a supporting surface, and second formations on the fixing bracket for receiving fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the adjustable mounting apparatus.

3. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus adjustment bar according to claim I or claim 2 the adjustment bar as a series of vee formations directly opposite on either side of the bar which are set close together when gripped by a holding device, small sections can be snapped off to facilitate adjustment 4. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus fixing bracket according to claim 1 or claim 2 is left or right handed in its application.

5. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus according to claim 1 to 4 in which the component parts may advantageously be formed as plastic mouldings.

6. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus according to claim 2 to 5 in which the first formations comprise a plurality of through-holes through which fasteners such as screws may be passed to connect with a supporting surface.

7. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus according to claim 2, claim 4 to 6 in which the second formations on the fixing brackets comprise a plurality of holes with varying degees of axis having a plain bore, the fastener being selected as being suited to form its own thread by displacing the plastic moulded material.

8. Adjustable Mounting apparatus according to any previous claim in which the second formations are provided on a respective boss, which boss is upstanding from the fixing bracket.

9. Adjustable Mounting Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to lA through to Figures 5 to SA inclusive.

10. A sanitary installation comprising a sanitary fitting and Adjustable mounting apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the Adjustable mounting apparatus is secured to a supporting surface, the sanitary fitting is secured to the Adjustable Mounting apparatus, and sealing means is provided to form a liquid tight seal between the sanitary fitting and the supporting surface.

11. A sanitary installation according to claim 10 in which the sealing means is formed from a polymeric sealing compound.

12. A sanitary installation according to any one of claims 10 tol I in which the sanitary fitting is one of a toilet bowl, a bidet or pedestal wash basin.

13. A method of installing a sanitary fitting comprising the steps of : securing to a supporting surface Adjustable Mounting apparatus according to any one of claims I to 9 ; securing the sanitary fitting to the Adjustable Mounting apparatus connecting the sanitary fitting to water supply and waste water services.

Adjustable Mounting Apparatus for Sanitary Fittings CLAIMS 1. Adjustable mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings, comprising of three component parts. Namely two fixing brackets and one adjustment bar. When assembled they form an adjustable mounting apparatus which can be engaged by fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the assembled mounting apparatus to a supporting surface, usually a floor or a wall, and second formations on the fixing brackets for receiving fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the adjustable mounting apparatus, and wherein a waste outlet of the sanitary fitting extends seperately from the mounting apparatus.
2. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim one 1 in which the component parts may be advantageously be formed as plastic mouldings.
3. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 when assembled in which the first formations comprise a plurality of through-holes through which fasteners such as screws may be passed to connect with a supporting surface.
4. Adjustable mounting apparatus, fixing brackets according to any preceding claim in which the second formations comprise a plurality of holes with varying degrees of axis in which a fastener, such as a bolt or a screw, can be firmly and grippingly received.
5. Adjustable mounting apparatus, fixing bracket according to claim 4 in which the holes may have a plain bore, the fastener being selected as being suited to form its own thread.
6. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second formations are provided on a respective boss, which boss is upstanding from the fixing bracket.
7. Adjustable mounting apparatus, adjustment bar according to claims 1 to 3 in which the adjustment bar having first formations for receiving fasteners also as a series of vee formations on each side along part of its length from each end towards its centre and stopping prior to the first formations for fasteners.
8. Adjustable mounting apparatus, adjustment bar according to any preceding claim when the adjustment bar is gripped by a holding device such as a pair of plyers. Small sections can be easily snapped of at the vee intersection, to facilitate width adjustment when the adjustment bar is inserted into the cut outs provided in the fixing brackets.
9. Adjustable mounting apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to lA through to Figures 5 to 5A inclusive, of the accompanying drawings.
10. A sanitary installation comprising a sanitary fitting and adjustable mounting apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the adjustable mounting apparatus is secured to a supporting surface, the sanitary fitting is secured to the adjustable mounting apparatus, and sealing means is provided to form a liquid tight seal between the sanitary fitting and the supporting surface.
11. A sanitary installation according to claim 10 in which the sealing means is formed from a polymeric sealing compound.
12. A sanitary installation according to any one of claims 10 to 11 in which the sanitary fitting is one of a toilet bowl, bidet or a hand wash basin.
13. A method of installing a sanitary fitting comprising the steps of : Securing to a supporting surface adjustable mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9: Securing the sanitary fitting to the adjustable mounting apparatus: Connecting the sanitary fitting to water supply and waste water services.

13. A method of installing a sanitary fitting comprising the steps of : securing to a supporting surface adjustable mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9: securing the sanitary fitting to the adjustable mounting apparatus: connecting the sanitary fitting to water supply and waste water services.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Adjustable Mounting Apparatus for Sanitary Fittings CLAIMS 1. Adjustable mounting apparatus for a sanitary fitting comprising two fixing brackets adjustably mounted onto a bar, each bracket having first formations by means of which it can be engaged by first fasteners, which first fasteners serve to secure the apparatus to a supporting surface, and second formations for receiving second fasteners, which second fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the bracket, and wherein a waste outlet of the sanitary fitting extends separately from the mounting apparatus.

2. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 1 in which the brackets and bar are formed as plastics mouldings.

3. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first formations comprise a plurality of through-holes through which first fasteners may be passed to connect with a supporting surface.

4. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 3 in which the first fasteners are screws.

5. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second formations comprise a plurality of holes in which a second fastener can be firmly and grippingly received.

6. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 5 in which the second fastener is a screw or bolt.

7. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the holes have a plain bore and the fastener is selected as suited to form its own thread.

8. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second formations are provided on a respective boss, which boss is upstanding from the fixing bracket.

9. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the bar has a series of vee formations along each edge.

10. A sanitary installation comprising a sanitary fitting and adjustable mounting apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the adjustable mounting apparatus is secured to a supporting surface, the sanitary fitting is secured to the adjustable mounting apparatus, and sealing means is provided to form a liquid tight seal between the sanitary fitting and the supporting surface.

11. A sanitary installation according to claim 10 in which the sealing means is formed from a polymeric sealing compound.

12. A sanitary installation according to any one of claims 10 to 11 in which the sanitary fitting is one of a toilet bowl, bidet or a hand wash basin.