GB2315501A

GB2315501A - Mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2315501A
Application number: GB9715555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Donnelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-23
Filing date: 1997-07-23
Publication date: 1998-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-23
Also published as: GB2315501B; GB9715555D0

Abstract

Mounting apparatus for a sanitary fitting comprises a plate member (20) formed as a plastic moulding. The plate member has first formations (22) by means of which it can be secured by fasteners (24) to a supporting surface. The plate member (20) also has second formations (30) for receiving fasteners (36) to secure a sanitary fitting (12) to the plate member. A waste outlet of the sanitary fitting extends separately from the mounting apparatus, not through it. The second formations are preferably provided in or on a respective boss, which boss (30) is upstanding from the plate member.

Description

MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR SANITARY FITTINGS The present invention relates to mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings.

It is conventional for a sanitary fitting such as a toilet bowl, a pedestal washbasin or a bidet to be installed by fixing the fitting to a floor or other supporting surface by means of fasteners which are passed through mounting holes in a base portion of the fitting.

While this arrangement has the virtue of being very simple and straightforward, it is often found in practice that fittings secured in this manner can be unstable.

Furthermore, it is also the case that fixing a fitting during its installation can be an awkward and timeconsuming operation, as a result of difficulty is accessing the fasteners and/or a supporting surface which is uneven or in some other way not ideal.

In some countries, such as the USA, it is conventional to provide a sealing ring on a floor to which a toilet bowl is coupled. This arrangement fixes the bowl to the floor and also couples an outlet of the bowl to a vertical waste pipe which extends downwardly below the bowl. However, in other countries, such as the UK, use of such an arrangement is prohibited by applicable regulations. In such countries, the waste is removed through a P-bend or an S-bend on the toiled bowl, which is then connected, by a flexible coupling, to a gently-sloping transverse pipe which is fed out through an external wall of a building, to connect externally with a vertical waste pipe.

It is am aim of the present invention to provide apparatus by means of which installation of a sanitary fitting can be facilitated.

According to the invention there is provided mounting apparatus for a sanitary fitting comprising a plate member1 the plate member having first formations by means of which it can be engaged by fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the plate to a supporting surface, and second formations for receiving fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the plate member, and wherein a waste outlet of the sanitary fitting extends separately from the mounting apparatus.

This arrangement provides surprisingly great benefits in use. It enables the more difficult task of securing fasteners to the supporting surface to be completed in the absence of the sanitary fitting. Since the sanitary fitting is heavy and cumbersome, this is very advantageous. Once the plate member is fixed to the supporting surface, attachment of the sanitary fitting to it is a relatively straightforward procedure.

The plate member may advantageously be formed as an integral plastics moulding. This is particularly convenient and economical for mass-production.

Typically, the first formations will comprise a plurality of through-holes through which fasteners such as screws may be passed to connect with a supporting surface. It will be appreciated that this arrangement permits a wide variety of fasteners to be used, to suit a particular installation.

The second formations may comprise a plurality of holes in which a fastener, such as a bolt or a screw, can be firmly and grippingly received. This arrangement is particularly simple and economical in manufacture. Such holes may be formed with a screw thread to engage with a complementary thread of the fastener. Typically, such threads would be formed in a machining step.

Alternatively, the holes may have a plain bore, the fastener being selected as being suited to cut its own thread.

In an alternative embodiment, the second formations may comprise inserts, e.g. of metal, embedded within the plate member. Such an arrangement can result in a firmer connection between the fasteners and the second formations.

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 is shows apparatus being a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 having a toilet bowl mounted on it; and Figure 3 is a part cut-away view of the arrangement of Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 show alternative embodiments of the invention; and Figures 6A and 6B show alternative arrangements of securing components applicable to embodiments of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, apparatus 10 for mounting a sanitary fitting is, in this embodiment, adapted for mounting a pedestal-type toilet bowl 12. As is well-known, such a toilet bowl has a supporting pedestal part which is formed by wall 14 of ceramic material, within which is an empty void 16. A lower end surface 18 of the wall 14 is generally flat to engage a floor or another surface on which the toilet bowl is mounted. A plurality of fastening holes (in this case, four) are provided which extend through the wall 14, close to its lower end surface 18, spaced apart around the circumference of the pedestal part. A waste outlet of the toilet bowl extends from it, generally horizontally, spaced from the surface on which it is mounted.

The apparatus comprises a mounting plate 20 formed as an injection moulding of plastic material. The plate 20 is formed to have a periphery shaped and dimensioned so that it fits closely within the wall 14 of the toilet bowl, adjacent its lower end surface 18.

The plate 20 has a plurality of slots 22 (constituting first formations which can be engaged by fasteners) through each of which a fastener, such as a woodscrew 24, can be passed in order to secure the plate to a mounting surface, such as a floor 26. Each of the slots 22 has a long dimension which is substantially greater than a coextensive dimension of the fastener, such that the plate can be moved by a limited amount until such time as the fasteners 24 are finally tightened. In this way, it is possible to make fine adjustments to the position of the mounting plate (and therefore, a toilet bowl mounted on it) to enable a precise connection to be achieved between the toilet bowl and surrounding walls and pipework, and it is also possible to select, within limits, a preferred location for each of the fasteners.

Four bosses 30 project upwardly from the plate 20.

Each boss 30 is disposed such that it is adjacent a respective mounting hole of a toilet bowl mounted on the plate 20. The bosses 30 constitute second formations for receiving fasteners. Each boss 30 comprises a bore 32 which bore 32 has an axis which, if extended outwardly from the boss 30, projects through the corresponding mounting hole. Within the bore 32, there is disposed a metal thread insert 34 which is retained in position by virtue of its being embedded in the plastic material of the plate 20, while in its molten state, during moulding of the plate 20. Each thread insert 34 has a through bore formed with an internal thread, and aligned to be coaxial with the bore 32. (In alternative embodiments, the thread inserts are not provided, the bores 32 each having an internal thread tapped directly into the material of the plate 20.) The mounting apparatus further comprises a sealing gasket 40 of flexible polymeric material. The gasket 40 has an approximately L-shaped cross-section, having a first porion which is disposed between the lower end surface 18 and the floor 26. A second portion extends upwardly, to overlie an outer lower marginal portion of the wall.

In an alternative arrangement, the gasket 40 may be replaced with a bead of polymeric sealant, for example, a silicone based sealing compound.

In order to install the toilet bowl, a first step is to establish an approximately correct position for the mounting plate 20 on the floor 26. This can be done, for example, by positioning the toilet bowl in its desired position and marking the position of its perimeter on the floor. Alternatively, this could be done by making suitable measurements from some datum point.

Next, the mounting plate 20 is placed in position and secured by means of the fasteners 24 passed through the slots 24. However, the fasteners 24 are not fully tightened at this stage, such that the mounting plate 20 can be moved on the floor 26; it is desirable that the fasteners 24 are tightened sufficiently to offer some resistance to movement of the mounting plate.

The toilet bowl 12 is then placed over the mounting plate. A respective fixing screw 36 is then passed through each of the fastening holes of the toilet bowl 12 to connect the toilet bowl 12 to the mounting plate 20.

The toilet bowl is then manoeuvred into its final position.

The fastening screws 36 are then removed, and the toilet bowl 12 is lifted clear of the mounting plate 20.

Care must be taken at this stage not to move the mounting plate 20. The fasteners 24 are then tightened to securely fix the mounting plate 20 in place.

Next, the sealing gasket 40 is applied to the toilet bowl 12, and the toilet bowl 12 is re-positioned on the mounting plate 20. The fixing screws 36 are then replaced to secure the toilet bowl 12 in place on the mounting plate 20. The toilet bowl 12 is thereby fixed securely in place on the floor 26 in the desired position.

It will be understood that the fixing screws 36 will, in many cases, be partially visible when the toilet bowl 12 is in its final position. In such cases, it is desirable to provide a decorative head 38 either secured to or integral with each fixing screw to provide a pleasing, finished appearance for the complete installation.

Following installation of the toilet bowl on the by means of apparatus embodying the invention, a connection can be made from the toilet bowl to a separate waste pipe, in a substantially conventional manner.

It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiment could also be used to secure other types of sanitary fitting, such as a pedestal wash-basin or a bidet.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, two alternative embodiments of the invention are shown. These embodiments have two bosses 30 instead of four, as in the first embodiment, and are therefore suitable for use with a toilet bowl, (or another sanitary fitting) which has just two mounting holes. Additionally, these embodiments have an alternative arrangements of slots 22 for receiving fasteners 24, which simply provide a wider variety of possible locations for the fasteners 24.

With reference to Figures 6A and 6B, there is shown an alternative arrangement of the bosses 30 which can optionally be applied to any of the above-described embodiments.

There will inevitably be some variation in the particular dimensions of individual pieces of sanitary apparatus. This may lead to mis-alignment between fastening holes in the apparatus and the bores 32 in the bosses 30.

In a first alternative arrangement, shown in Figure 6A, each boss 30 has formed in it a multiplicity of slots 100. The slots 100 are arranged in a grid formation, and are disposed to open adjacent to a mounting hole of the sanitary fitting. Each slot is suitable for receiving a fastener such as a self-tapping screw at any point along its length. This allows a fastener to be positioned in alignment with fixing holes in the fitting.

In a second alternative embodiment, there is provided on the boss 30 a multiplicity of small holes 102, each of which is capable of receiving a self-tapping screw to secure the sanitary fitting in place.

The embodiments above have been described in relation to use of the invention to mount a toilet bowl.

However, it will be understood that embodiments of the invention can, in a similar manner, be used to mount other sanitary fittings, such as a pedestal for a wash basin or a bidet.

Claims

1. Mounting apparatus for a sanitary fitting comprising a plate member, the plate member having first formations by means of which it can be engaged by fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the plate to a supporting surface, and second formations for receiving fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the plate member, and wherein a waste outlet of the sanitary fitting extends separately from the mounting apparatus.

2. Mounting apparatus according to claim 1 in which the plate member may advantageously be formed as an integral plastics moulding.

3. Mounting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 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. Mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second formations comprise a plurality of holes in which a fastener, such as a bolt or a screw, can be firmly and grippingly received.

5. Mounting apparatus according to claim 4 in which the holes are formed with a screw thread to engage with a complementary thread of the fastener.

6. Mounting apparatus according to claim 5 in which the threads are formed by a machining step.

7. Mounting apparatus according to claim 5 in which the holes may have a plain bore, the fastener being selected as being suited to cut its own thread.

8. Mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the second formations comprise a plurality of slots.

9. Mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the second formations comprise inserts, of metal, embedded within the plate member.

10. Mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second formations are provided in or on a respective boss, which boss is upstanding from the plate member.

11. Mounting apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3; to Figure 4 orto Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Mounting apparatus according to claim 11 modified as described with reference to Figure 6A or 6B of the accompanying drawings.

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

14. A sanitary installation according to claim 13 in which the sealing means is a gasket of flexible material.

15. A sanitary installation according to claim 13 in which the sealing means is formed from a polymeric sealing compound.

16. A sanitary installation according to any one of claims 13 to 15 in which the sanitary fitting is one of a toilet bowl, a pedestal wash basin, or a bidet.

17. A method of installing a sanitary fitting comprising the steps of: securing to a supporting surface mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12; securing the sanitary fitting to the mounting apparatus; connecting the sanitary fitting to water supply and waste water services.