GB2375549A

GB2375549A - Adjustable mounting apparatus for fixing a sanitary fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2375549A
Application number: GB0128956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Donnelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-20
Filing date: 2001-12-03
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-03
Also published as: GB0127884D0; GB2375549B; GB0128956D0

Abstract

Adjustable mounting apparatus for fixing a sanitary fitting comprising two fixing brackets (2) adjustably mounted onto a bar (4), each bracket (2) having first formations by means of which it can be engaged by first fasteners (24), which first fasteners serve to secure the apparatus to a supporting surface, and second formations for receiving second fasteners, which second fasteners (28) engage a tapered bush (30) and serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the bracket, a protective cap (32) being loosely attached adjacent to the upper surface of each bush (30), and wherein a waste outlet of the sanitary fitting extends separately from the mounting apparatus.

Description

Prior Art 1. Existing state of art reference: Patent Serial Number 2348650 New art preposes to improve substantially existing art through extensive design changes. That which provide significant time and cost saving for builders and plumbers, by reducing the number of fasteners required to secure the adjustable mounting apparatus to the supporting surface. It can be adjusted in situ to suit other designs. Also providing a greater range of positioning and adjustment, subject to the fixing holes located around the perimeter base [foot] of a WC pan or bidet, for example, fixing holes located in the extreme comers of sanitary fittings. Eliminating completely the risk of cracking or breaking sanitary fittings and removing the possibility of fasteners used to secure the sanitary fitting of becoming corroded through water splashing or moisture and creating an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Description THIS INVENTION concerns adjustable mounting apparatus for fixing sanitary fittings.

2. For more than 100 years the traditional method of installing sanitary fittings such as a WC pan, bidet and pedestal stands for hand wash basins is by securing the fitting to the floor or another supporting surface with various types of fasteners usually wood screws. Due to confinement of space, difficulty of position and awkwardness of fixing caused by the many different types of floor surfaces they encounter. Plumbers and installers of such fittings do not like fixing sanitary products and like even less removing and replacing the same, a process they believe should be relatively simple and straightforward.

3. The first obvious flaw is the use of conventional wood screws as a secure and effective fastener. 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 masonry plugs and the like.

4. The inherent design of a WC pan and bidet bowls base [foot] will not allow any straightforward effective, secure fixing to a floor surface owing to the fact there is a large void between the floor surface and the countersunk fixing hole in the WC pan base [foot]. This void, combined with, in many cases, an uneven floor surface, and the fact that the sanitary base surface is rarely exactly flat, creates stability and fixing problems. Some pedestal wash basin stands are referred to as half pedestals these fittings are fixed to the wall, they support other types of receptacles such as a faucet for drinking water, the same problems occur when fixing these products.

1. A further difficulty, particularly on cement and composite floors which are commonly used in modern construction, is the almost impossible task of successfully and correctly lining up the angle of the hole to be drilled and plugged because the installer cannot see past the fitting and is thus working totally blind.

2. Wooden floors, especially plywood, chipboard and other types of compressed wood products used in modem building, particularly in bathroom and toilets, create other serious problems. After time, unless pre-treated correctly, such flooring can become softened by the ingress of atmospheric moisture or actual water splash. This problem is very prevalent in caravans and static homes where the interior atmosphere may be damp. Thus, it is not possible to maintain or obtain a secure fixing for sanitary fittings.

3. Most fasteners used to secure a sanitary fitting are steel countersunk screws. There are many occasions when it is not possible to secure the screw perfectly square and aligned to the countersunk hole in the sanitary fitting, causing the countersunk head of the fastener to grind against the glazed surface of the sanitary fitting, causing it to crack or break the fitting.

4. There are some plastic devices that attempt to resolve the problems of cracked or broken sanitary fittings, comprising of a inferior special plastic washer and a similarly inferior plastic cap, the screw engages the washer prior to engaging the hole in the fitting. Unless the countersunk surface of the fixing hole in the fitting is perfectly symmetrical [they never are] and guaranteeing perfect alignment of the sanitary fixing hole with the screw to secure the sanitary fitting does the plastic washer and cap work. These conditions are virtually impossible to attain as a consequence the plastic washer easily distorts, affording little or no protection of the sanitary fitting. The distortion of the special washer prevents the cap from fitting over the head of the fastener to connect with the washer and provide protection for the fastener.

5. The atmospheric moisture and water splashing also create other problems. The fasteners used to secure the sanitary fitting are generally manufactured from carbon steel. Most have a galvanised protective coating which is invariably removed in the area where a screwdriver connects with the screw when the sanitary fitting is being secured, exposing the base metal, carbon steel is highly susceptible to rust and corrosion when it comes into contact with moisture or water.

1. In most countries, the waste is discharged through a P-bend or an S-bend on the toilet bowl which is then connected by a flexible coupling to a pipe leading to the external wall of the building to connect externally to a vertical waste pipe.

2. Document GB 2348650 A describes a similar type mounting apparatus comprising of three components, two base plate type fixing brackets and one adjustment bar. Assembled it is designed to universally fit sanitary fittings that have an oval shaped base [foot].

3. Sanitary fittings are designed with a wide variety of shapes particularly the base [foot] they can be square, rectangular, very rounded, or oval. Fittings that have a square or rectangular base have fixing holes that are usually located in the extreme comers fairly adjacent to the exit wall for the waste pipe. Many fittings have a very rounded base with four fixing holes located around their circumference, all these designs severely restrict the room to locate and secure a mounting apparatus with a base plate type fixing bracket.

4. It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus that will substantially increase the benefits that already exist. Through significant cost savings for builders, plumbers and installers by considerably reducing the number of fasteners required to secure the sanitary fittings. By providing an apparatus that will adjust to fit universally the complete range of manufacturer's designs whatever the shape of the base [foot]. It provides an increased range of adjustment allowing it to be adjusted in position to suit other designs. Eliminates completely the risk of cracking or breaking a sanitary fitting and removes the possibility of the fasteners used to secure the fitting of becoming corroded through water splashing or moisture and producing an aesthetically pleasing finished effect, also providing a design platform for bathroom product manufacturers.

5. According to the invention, there is provided, an adjustable mounting apparatus for fixing sanitary fittings, comprising of, two brackets and an adjustable retaining bar, two tapered bushes and two caps.

6. Each bracket as one formation by means of which it can be engaged by a fastener, the adjustable retaining bar as two elongated formations formed towards each end, which when assembled directly align with the formation in the brackets and are engaged by the same fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the assembled apparatus to a supporting surface, each bracket as second formations with varying degrees of axis for receiving fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the assembled adjustable mounting apparatus, the apparatus being adapted to be located beneath, and concealed by, a part of the fitting to be mounted on the supporting surface.

1. Assembly is achieved through sliding the adjustable retaining bar into the cut out provided in the fixing brackets.

2. This apparatus provides a great many advantages and benefits in its application. The major problems of creating a secure base are overcome. The assembled apparatus is very quickly secured and fastened to the supporting surface without the need to use the heavy and awkwardto-handle toilet bowl as a template. The apparatus is universally adaptable for the fixing of sanitary fittings that have varied designs at their base [foot].

3. Once the apparatus is secured to the supporting surface, attachment of the sanitary fitting is a simple straightforward procedure. The apparatus has another exceptional advantage in that it facilitates simple, straightforward plumbing maintenance by allowing ready removal of a toilet bowl for maintenance, plumbing, decorating and the laying of new floor surfaces such as ceramic tiles. Upon completion of the maintenance work, the toilet bowl is simply replaced on the apparatus in exactly the same position, an advantage that is not attainable using traditional methods of fixing sanitary fittings.

4. The apparatus can be fastened to the supporting surface in its correct position in advance of the sanitary fittings delivery, this is particularly advantageous on large building projects, such as hotels, multi-story office blocks, hospitals and housing estates, resulting in greatly reduced installation times and cost.

5. The apparatus comprises of seven separate parts, which may be manufactured as plastic mouldings. Using plastic mouldings in this manner is very convenient and economical for mass production.

6. Typically, the first formations comprise a hole and a slot that when aligned a fastener such as a screw maybe passed through it to connect with a supporting surface. This arrangement permits a variety of fasteners to be used, to suit a particular installation.

1. The second formation is comprised of an array of holes on an axis which have a plain bore, the fasteners being selected, such as wood screws will form their own thread.

2. 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 2 shows the apparatus being the embodiment of the invention Figure 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of the apparatus drawn on Figure 1 and 2 having a toilet bowl mounted on it, and Figure 5 and 6 illustrate the individual brackets and the adjustable retaining bar 3. 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 defining an internal and empty void 22. The bottom surface [foot] 12 of the wall 16 is rarely level when engaging a floor or any other supporting surface on which the bowl is mounted. A plurality of fastening holes 34 [in this case two] are provided which extend through wall 16 close to its bottom surface [base] 12, and spaced around perimeter of the pedestal base [foot] 12.

4. In accordance with the invention an adjustable mounting apparatus comprises seven separate components each formed by injection moulding of plastic material, preferably white in colour for light reflective purposes and aesthetics. The components consist of two fixing brackets 2 an adjustable retaining bar 4 two tapered bushes 30 and two caps 32. The main body of the apparatus 1 is comprised of components 2 and 4 it is assembled by sliding the ends of the adjustable retaining bar 4 into cut-out formations 26 on the underside of each bracket 2. The cutouts 26 have a machined tolerance that creates a friction sliding fit between the bar 4 and the cutouts 26 in the bracket 2. The cut-outs 26 extend throughout the bracket 2 width.

5. The bush 30 eliminates the possibility of the countersunk head of the fastener 28 grinding against the pedestal wall 16 thus preventing any cracks or breakage to the toilet bowl 14.

Adjacent to the countersunk rim of the bush 30 there is a ridge which coincides with an internal ridge on the cap 32 allowing for a trouble free snap on and of connection over the collar of the bush, concealing the fastener 28 thus protecting it from moisture and water splashing and creating an aesthetically pleasing effect.

1. Bush 30 as a tapered extension adjacent to its collar and a countersunk hole 38 through its length enabling it to freely locate in the pedestal fixing hole 34 at the same time the collar of the bush is supported by the pedestal wall 16. While protecting the sanitary fitting from the countersunk head of the fastener 28 the bush 30 is also designed to retain the freedom of tolerance for the fastener 28 that the hole 34 in the pedestal 14 affords, the collar of the bush 30 does not distort under pressure when the fastener 28 requires extra force to secure the toilet bowl 14 to the apparatus 1 due to misalignment of the fastener 28 with the hole 10 and thus preventing the cap 32 from snapping over the collar of the bush 30.

2. It will be seen that the adjustable retaining bar 4 as a series of vee formations 20 throughout much of its length which can thus be adjusted by snapping off using finger pressure the unwanted end regions of the bar 4 so that the assembled apparatus is adjusted to its required overall length thus to fit closely within and extended fully across the base of the toilet bowl 14 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

3. The assembled apparatus 1 as one hole 6 in each bracket 2 and two slots 8 in the adjustable retaining bar 4 which when assembled, directly align with each other constituting first formations which can be engaged by fasteners through which a fastener, such as a wood screw 24 can be passed in order to secure the apparatus 1 to a supporting surface, such as a floor 18.

Each of the slots 8 as a long dimension which is substantially greater than the coextensive dimension of the hole 6 in the bracket 2 and the fastener 24, such that the brackets 2 can both be moved and adjusted considerably, providing the means to adjust the width of the assembled apparatus 1 in situ by releasing the fasteners 24 sufficiently thus allowing the assembled apparatus 1 to be slidably adjusted enabling it to fit a different manufacturers designs 14.

4. Two bosses 36 project upwardly from the apparatus 1 defining an array of plain bores 10 as an axis. Which when the apparatus is assembled and secured in position to receive a toilet bowl shall enable at least one of the bores 10 in each boss 36 to become aligned with an adjacent fastening hole 34 extending through the wall 16 of the toilet bowl 14 in its base [foot] 12. The bush 30 is inserted into the bowl fixing hole 34. Thus, screws 28 may be inserted through the hole in the bush 30 to become threadedly engaged within the most adjacent of the bores 10 in the boss 36.

5. In use, to install a toilet bowl using the mounting apparatus of the invention, a first step is to establish a predetermined correct position from the mounting apparatus centre line on the floor 18. This may be achieved by marking on the floor surface a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the external wall through which the waste pipe is to pass.

I. Next, the assembled mounting apparatus 1 which is adjusted to size to match the toilet bowl is placed into position and secured by screws 24.

2. 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 a way as to form a bead around the perimeter of the sanitary fitting base [foot] 12 when the sanitary fitting is secured.

3. The toilet bowl 14 is then placed over the prefixed mounting apparatus 1 and connected via a flexible coupling to a pipe leading through the external wall of the building to connect externally to a vertical waste pipe. When these connections have been made the toilet bowl 14 is finally fixed and secured by inserting bush 32 into holes 34 then inserting screws 28 through holes 38 into holes 10 of the mounting apparatus 1. The screws form their own threads by displacing the plastic material of the brackets 2. When the screws 28 have secured the toilet bowl 14 to the adjustable mounting apparatus 1 the cap 32 is placed on top of the bush 30 collar and snapped into place.

4. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be used to secure other types of sanitary fittings such as a bidet, a pedestal wash basin or a half pedestal stand. Any variation in the width or other dimensions of individual sanitary fittings is accommodated by the friction sliding engagement of the bracket 2 on the adjustment bar 4, and the overall length adjustment of the latter. The provisions of the array of holes 10 in the fixing brackets 2 ensure that there will always be alignment of at least one bore 10 with each fixing hole 34 of the fitting. Still further adjustment may be accommodated if necessary by releasing one or both of the screws 24 in one or both of the brackets 2 and moving the same before re-tightening in a different position. These adjustments can be done while the apparatus 1 is in position accommodating many different designs.

5. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 a different arrangement of the bores 10 may be provided such that they extend towards the side walls of the bosses 36 in order to align with the fixing holes 34 of a different kind of pedestal toilet bowl where these holes are provided adjacent the bottom end of an upright wall 16 formation.

6. When it is required to install a pedestal having more than two fixing holes 34, a further such mounting apparatus 1 may be provided to align with the additional fixing holes.

Claims

Adjustable Mounting Apparatus for Fixing Sanitary Fittings CLAIMS 1. Adjustable mounting apparatus for a sanitary fitting comprising two fixing brackets adjustably mounted on to a bar, two taper bushes and two caps, each bracket having one formation by which it can be engaged by a fastener which same fastener engages with formations in the bar and serve to secure the apparatus to a supporting surface, and second formations for receiving second fasteners which fasteners engage a tapered bush and then serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the bracket, a protective cap is loosely attached adjacent to the upper surface of the bush.
2. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to claim 1 in which the fixing brackets, adjustable retaining member, the bushes and the caps are formed as plastic mouldings.
3. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the first formations comprise an aperture through which first fasteners may be passed to connect with the 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.
7. Adjustable mounting apparatus, fixing bracket according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the holes may have a plain bore, the fastener being selected as being 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.

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9. Adjustable mounting apparatus, according to any preceding claim in which the adjustable retaining bar as a series of vee formations along each edge.
10. A method of installing a sanitary fitting comprises the steps of : Securing to a supporting surface adjustable mounting apparatus according to aFy orie ol''Lo Securing the sanitary fitting to the adjustable mounting apparatus : Connecting the sanitary fitting to a water supply and waste water services:

10. Adjustable mounting apparatus, according to any preceding claim in which the second fastener engages a bush.

11. Adjustable mounting apparatus, according to any preceding claim in which the cap is loosely attached to the bush.

12. A sanitary installation comprising of 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 a sealing means is provided to form a liquid tight seal between the sanitary fitting and the supporting surface.

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

14. 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 pedestal support for a hand wash basin and other such like receptacles.

15. 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 a water supply and waste-water services.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 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 ; t can be engaged by first fasteners, which fasteners serve to secure the apparatus to a supporting surface, and second formations for receiving second fasteners, which second fasteners engage a tapered bush and serve to secure a sanitary fitting to the bracket, a protective cap seing noose ! y 3tlached adjacent to the upper surface of each bush 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, bar, bushes and caps are formed as plastic 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 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.

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.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

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