GB2241642A

GB2241642A - Fitting for fixing sanitary unit to wall or floor

Info

Publication number: GB2241642A
Application number: GB8927801A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Connor Paul Bernard Antony O
Original assignee: CONNOR PAUL BERNARD ANTONY O
Current assignee: CONNOR PAUL BERNARD ANTONY O
Priority date: 1989-12-08
Filing date: 1989-12-08
Publication date: 1991-09-11
Also published as: GB8927801D0

Abstract

A fitting for fixing a sanitary unit e.g. lavatory pan, bidet, wash basin, basin pedestal, urinal, bath or shower unit to a floor or wall comprises a base member 60 attachable to the floor or wall and provided with a part 66 or parts for securing the sanitary unit thereto. The base member may be a plastics or metal plate. The part 66 may be a protuberance, threaded stud, or dovetail section rib. The base member may be attached to floor or wall by fasteners or adhesive. The part 66 may be integral or non-integral with the base member. <IMAGE>

Description

A SANITARY UNIT ASSEMBLAGE This invention relates to sanitary units.

The term "sanitary unit", when used herein, is intended to include lavatory pans, bidets, pedestal and wall mounted wash hand basins, urinals, baths and shower units, and any other items of bathroom and toilet units or furniture generally.

Sanitary units are often bolted to the floor or wall by means of threaded studs which are anchored into the wall or floor. Sometimes they are held in place by means of screws which pass through the unit and are screwed into the wall or floor; large headed screws and washers are required for this purpose because of the weight of the unit.

The screw heads and washers are generally rather inelegant and, in any case, because of their environment quickly become oxidized and even rusty. Because of this the units are usually designed so that the holes for the fixing screws are out of sight and therefore access is difficult for the plumber or fitter when he is securing the unit in place.

For the above reason it is preferred to use threaded studs protruding from the wall or floor and so positioned as to align with the fixing holes already formed in the sanitary units. In that arrangement, the unit is placed in position so that the studs protrude through the fixing holes, and washers and nuts are threaded on to the studs, the nuts then being tightened on to the unit.

Access to the nuts by a suitable wrench or spanner is a fairly simple and uncomplicated matter.

However, the studs need to be positioned accurately to match the position of the fixing holes in the unit, and this calls for skilful measurement and setting out of the required studs.

For instance, in the fitting of a pedestal lavatory pan or bidet onto a concrete or concrete-based floor, enlarged holes need to be chiseled into the floor and the studs cemented in place. This placement of the studs is difficult and a slight accidental knock to the studs before the cement is fully set is sufficient to disalign them from their required location.

Further, it is often found that when a wall mounted unit is being secured to a studded or partition wall, the fixing holes do not align with the vertical or horizontal timbers and substantial restructuring is necessary before the work can progress.

A further disadvantage is in fact that in order to mark the position of the required fixing holes in the wall or floor, the bulky and often heavy sanitary unit has to be man handled and held in position while the required markings are made through the fixing holes with a pencil or other implement.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of and means for fixing sanitary units that does not suffer from the above difficulties and disadvantages.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device for use in fixing a sanitary unit to part of a building, comprising a base member, separate from the sanitary unit, and adapted to be secured to the part of the building, the base member being provided with means for securing the sanitary unit thereto.

In one aspect of the invention the device includes means for securing the sanitary unit thereto, which means include at least one member projecting from the base member and adapted to project into at least part of the sanitary unit.

Preferably the projecting member or members comprise screw threaded stud or studs which project through at least part of the sanitary unit.

The base member is preferably formed as a flat plate substantially identical in outline shape to its associated part of the sanitary unit, and is adapted to be drilled to enable screws or bolts to pass therethrough to secure the plate to the part of the building.

The plate may be provided with a rim projecting at right angles therefrom to fit around the associated part of the sanitary unit and may also be formed with a peripheral co-planar projection adapted to locate beneath or behind floor or wall cladding materials.

The base member may be provided with parts which are adapted to locate with co-operating parts of the sanitary unit, for example the base member may have projections which fit within recesses formed in the sanitary unit, or the base member may be formed with recesses to receive projections formed on the sanitary units.

The invention further includes the combination of a base member as above described with a sanitary unit which is adapted to co-operate therewith.

The sanitary unit combination may be mounted on the floor of the building or alternatively on a wall surface.

The invention also includes a method of fixing a sanitary unit to part of a building comprising securing a base member to a surface of the building, the base member being provided with sanitary unit retaining means, and thereafter assembling the sanitary unit with the base member so that the retaining means project into at least part of the sanitary unit. The retaining means may be screw threaded and after assembling the sanitary unit to the base member, nuts may be threaded on to the retaining means and tightened to secure the sanitary unit to the base member.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lavatory pan and cistern with fixing plates according to the invention being shown exploded therefrom, Figure 2 is a plan view of the floor fixing plate as seen in Figure 1, Figure 3 is the front elevation of the parts seen in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side elevation of a wall mounted wash hand basin and its associated fixing plate with parts shown in section, Figure 5 is a front elevation of the fixing plate seen in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a front elevation of a wash hand basin pedestal and its floor mounted fixing plate, parts being broken away for clarity, Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the parts seen in Figure 6, Figure 8 is a plan view of a floor mounted fixing plate for use with a pedestal, Figure 9 is an underneath plan view of the base of the pedestal seen in Figure 6, Figure 10 is a side elevation of a wall mounted urinal and its fixing plate, Figure 11 is a front elevation of the fixing plate of Figure 10, Figures 12 and 13 are scrap cross sectional views of fixing plates in accordance with the invention, showing two alternative methods of mounting the bolts thereto.

Figure 14 is a scrap section view of an alternative arrangement.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated a lavatory pan 2 and its associated cistern 4. The pan 2 is intended to be located and fixed on a floor F and the cistern to be fixed to a wall W.

In order to facilitate fixing of the pan, there is provided a fixing plate 6 having integral studs 8 which are so positioned as to align with fixing holes 10 formed in the base 11 of the pan.

The plate 6 is shown having an upstanding peripheral lip 12 arranged to fit snugly around the periphery of the base of the pan.

The plate 6 is preferably made of a rigid plastic material and may be made by an injection moulding process.

As illustrated the plate is also formed with four upstanding dome-like locating portions 14 which are adapted to locate with part-spherical recesses 16 formed in the underside of the base 11.

In use the plate 6 is positioned on the floor where it is required and suitable holes are drilled through the plate in situ to suit the circumstances and accommodation present, e.g. to align with floor joists. The plate is then screwed or otherwise fastened to the floor after which the pan 2 is located on the plate, the integral studs 8 passing through the holes 10, and the portions 14 locating in the recesses 16.

If the floor is uneven, as illustrated in Figure 3, one or more levelling strips 18 are used as packing pieces underneath the plate.

When the pan is suitably located, washers 20 and nuts 22 are threaded on to the studs 8 and tightened on to the base 11.

As also seen in Figure 1, a cistern 4 is provided with a fixing plate 24 which is formed with integral studs 26 and dome-like portions 28, the portions 28 aligning, in use, with recesses 30 formed in the rear faces of the cistern.

In use the plate 24 is suitably positioned on the wall W, and drilled through as required and convenient according to the type of wall. For example, in the case of a studded or partition wall, its fixing holes are drilled to align with the timber framing. The plate is then fixed by means of screws passing into the timbers and the cistern is correctly located on the dome-like portions with the studs 26 passing through suitable holes in the back wall 32 of the cistern. Washers 34 and nuts 36 are then threaded on to the studs 26 and tightened to secure the cistern in place.

In the case of a masonry wall, the fixing holes are drilled through the plate 24 in situ and the wall is marked through those holes to assist in drilling and plugging the wall correctly to receive the plate fixing screws.

Although not shown in Figure 1 the plate 24 may, as in the case of the mounting plate 6, be provided with an projecting peripheral lip adapted to locate snugly around the periphery of the cistern.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a somewhat similar arrangement for locating and fixing a wash hand basin on to a wall.

A wash hand basin 38 is formed with a hole 40 and a fixing plate 42 having integral studs 44 and a peripheral lip 46 affords a similarly convenient fixing method.

The plate 42 is located as required and drilled through according to the type of wall to which it is to be fixed, as described with reference to the cistern fixing plate of Figure 1. When the plate 42 has been screwed to the wall the wash hand basin 38 is offered up to the wall plate, the studs 44 passing through the holes 40, after which the washers 46 and nuts 48 are threaded on to the stud 44, and tightened to secure the wash hand basin firmly in place.

Figures 6 to 9 illustrate a similar fixing method for use in conjunction with a wash hand basin pedestal. A fixing plate 50 is provided with integral studs 52 which are adapted to locate within recesses 54 formed in the base 56 of a pedestal 58.

The plate 50 is positioned as required and drilled through as convenient and suitable for the floor F to which it is to be affixed. The plate 50 is then screwed to the floor as in the previous cases and the pedestal is slid on to the plate, its recesses 54 passing around the upstanding studs 52. The washers and the nuts 60, 62 are then used to tighten the pedestal to the plate.

Figure 10 illustrates a wall mounted urinal and its mounting plate. The mounting plate 64 is provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending protuberance or stud 66 and a peripheral rim 68. The urinal 70 is provided with a hole 72, and after the plate 64 has been screwed to the wall in a manner similar to that described with reference to the wash hand basin of Figure d, it is lifted and mounted on to the plate so that the upstanding protuberance or stud 66 locates within the hole 72, and the rim 68 of the fixing plate fits snugly around its periphery. A suitably shaped washer and a nut are then tightened on the stud to retain the urinal in position.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate two different methods of providing locating and fastening studs to a plate, instead of those studs being cast or moulded integrally with the plates.

As seen clearly in Figure 12 a plate 74 is formed with a hole 76 countersunk at 78 and a stud 80 is located within the hole 76 and is provided with a head 82 which locates in the countersink 78.

Figure 13 shows a similar arrangement for a substantially horizontally projecting stud. The plate 74A is bored at 76A and is countersunk at 78A. A stud 80A is located within the hole 76A and its countersink head 82A locates within the countersink 78A.

In use the plates 74, 74A are assembled with their studs before fixing to the wall or floor as required.

Although the various embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to studs which co-operate with nuts and washers to anchor the units in position, it is possible within the scope of the invention to provide an arrangement which does not rely on the use of such studs, nuts and washers.

For example, in Figure 14 there is illustrated an arrangement where a base plate 106 is formed with upstanding dovetail section ribs 108, and the base 111 of the sanitary unit 102 has longitudinal channels 110 formed therein.

In use the plate 106 is conveniently fixed to the floor F by a screw 112 and the sanitary unit is positioned with the channels 110 over the ribs 108. In this embodiment the base plate 106 with its ribs 108 is made of a resilent material, and by suitable manipulation the channels 110 are caused to fit on to, over and around the ribs 110. The use of soap suds as a lubricant assists entry of the ribs into the channels.

Other forms of interengaging elements may, of course, be employed. For example the ribs and channels may be of square or buttress section, or may be formed as short inverted pyramidal or frusto-conical projections and matching recesses.

Although Figures 1 and 2 show dome-like portions 14 which co-operate with recesses 16 formed in the base 11, the arrangement may be reversed, i.e. the dome-like projections may be formed in the base 11 and the recesses in the plate 6.

It is envisaged that the sanitary unit will be secured to the base plate by means of studs and nuts and washers, but this will not always be the case. For instance as illustrated in Figure 10 the base plate 64 may be provided with an outwardly and upwardly projecting protuberance 66 and the urinal 70 is merely hung onto that protuberance by the hole 72 provided therein. The protuberance 66 does not then need to be screw threaded.

Although the examples have been described as having a fixing plate secured to the wall or floor, it is possible, at least in respect of the floor mounted units, to secure the plate to the building surface by a suitable adhesive.

It is found that the arrangements according to the invention simplifies the operation of fixing the sanitary unit and the provision of the integral sealing lip improves hygiene. Further, the decorating or tiling can be done around a fixed plate, but before installation of the sanitary units. It has also been found easier to remove the sanitary unit for repair or replacement etc., as there is no need to remove or disturb the surrounding decorations or tiling as the tiling or decorating or even carpets or vinyl floor coverings are fitted up to the base plate, and not to the base itself.

In Figures 4, 5, 10 and 11 there is indicated a peripheral outwardly extending flange 47, co-planar with the plate. The flange is of a very thin section and tiles or other decorative wall covering may overlap the flange after the plate has been fixed in place.

The same type of flange may of course, be provided on any of the fixing plates used in the other embodiments of the invention.

Although the fixing plates of the invention are preferably made of a plastic material by an injection moulding process, they may equally well be made of metal, e.g. by casting, pressrue casting or fabricating by welding.

Claims

1. A device for use in fixing a sanitary unit to part of a building, comprising a base member, separate from the sanitary unit, and adapted to be secured to the part of the building, the base member being provided with means for securing the sanitary unit thereto.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the means for securing the sanitary unit thereto includes at least one member projecting from the base member and adapted to project into at least part of the sanitary unit.

3. A device according to Claim 2 where the projecting member or members comprise a screw threaded stud or studs which project through at least part of the sanitary unit.

4. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base member is formed as a flat plate substantially identical in outline shape to its associated part of the sanitary unit.

5. A device according to Claim 4 wherein the plate is adapted to be drilled to enable screws or bolts to pass therethrough to secure the plate to the part of the building.

6. A device according to Claims 4 or 5 wherein the plate is provided with a rim projecting at right angles therefrom to fit around the associated part of the sanitary unit.

7. A device according to Claims 4, 5 or 6 where the plate unit is formed with a peripheral co-planar projection adapted to locate beneath or behind floor or wall cladding materials.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims where the base member is provided with parts adapted to locate with co-operating parts of the sanitary unit.

9. A device according to Claim 8 where the base member is provided with projections adapted to fit within recesses formed in the sanitary unit.

10. A device according to Claim 8 where the base member is formed with recesses adapted to receive projections formed on the sanitary unit.

11. The combination of a device according to any of the previous claims with a sanitary unit which is adapted to co-operate therewith.

12. A combination according to Claim 11 where the sanitary unit is mounted on the floor.

13. A combination according to Claim 11 where the sanitary unit is mounted on a wall.

14. A method of fixing a sanitary unit to part of a building comprising securing a base member to a surface of the building, the base member being provided with sanitary unit retaining means, and thereafter assembling the sanitary unit with the base member so that the retaining means project into at least part of the sanitary unit.

15. A method of fixing a sanitary unit according to Claim 14 where the retaining means are screw threaded, and after assembling the sanitary unit to the base member, nuts are threaded on to the retaining means and tightened to secure the sanitary unit to the base member.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

16. A device according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

17. The combination of a device according to claim 16 with a sanitary unit which is adapted to co-operate therewith.

18. A method of fixing a sanitary unit to part of a building according to claim 14 and substantially as herein described.