This application is related to and claims the benefit of currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/014,544, filed Aug. 30, 2013, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The disclosed technology relates generally to a spacing and stabilizing device and method of installation configured to maintain the spacing between a toilet and a wall.
Above-ground toilets with bowls are typically spaced next to, but not touching, a wall. Typical porcelain toilets with high backs, as commonly found around the world, have drawbacks, in that the long narrow backs rise above the base of the toilet and are susceptible to shearing forces or forces transverse to the rise of the back of the toilet. This occurs simply when a person leans on the toilet to sit down or rise, or when leaning on the toilet for another reason. The result, if does not occur right away, then over time it may result in a leaky toilet, or potentially worse—a cracked toilet. Simply pushing on a toilet (the higher up from the ground, the greater the fulcrum) causes seals, such as those which utilize rubber washers, to open and the toilet to move. Over time, fissures or cracks can develop, and the toilet itself may leak, the seal between the toilet and ground may leak, or the toilet tank may even break away from the toilet bowl.
In public rest rooms, toilets are often designed without a high tank, instead relying on high water pressure; but even so, this set-up has other disadvantages, such as more expensive water systems and less aesthetic toilets. The problem is further exacerbated during renovations, for the simple reason that the positioning of toilets (cut-in holes) tends to vary. For example, in the United States, toilets previously were set 14 inches on center off the wall. Currently, they are set 12 inches on center off the wall. When installing a new toilet designed for the smaller distance, this leaves two extra inches between the wall and toilet, causing the above-mentioned problems of shear forces when pressure is applied on the tank of the toilet.
The disclosed invention provides a module which is preassembled prior to positioning/installation in the space between the toilet and the wall. Upon insertion into such space, a final adjustment is made in the longitudinal direction through rotation of the extension fastener(s), so that in the final position the module is tightly fit between the toilet tank and the wall. Once in final position, the flat surfaces of the extension fastener(s) and other module elements are aligned to form a continuous formation having a hexagonal, square or similarly shaped exterior and further secured and stabilized by a cover.
To resolve the issues of the prior art, the present invention provides a stabilization device and a method of installation thereof, which stabilizes the toilet tank, preventing movement that causes leakage and protecting against damage to the wall behind the toilet. The novel stabilization device and method is easy to install, cost effective and aesthetically pleasing.
An adjustable spacer device including a cover and method of installing same represent an essential aspect of the disclosed technology. The device includes an elongated toilet tank plate with a threaded member affixed thereto, a wall piece, and at least one extension fastener. A module is formed comprising a wall piece and at least one extension fastener. The module may also include toilet tank plate. Prior to installation, the module is loosely assembled, so that each piece is connected to another by the threading. Once assembled, the module fits into the limited space between the wall and the toilet tank. After being properly positioned within the space, through adjustment/rotation of the extension fastener (s) or bolt(s) (“fastener” and “bolt,” are terms known in the art and are used interchangeably in this disclosure), a final longitudinal adjustment is provided. Upon completion of the final longitudinal adjustment, the module is tightly positioned within the space, preventing any undesirable motion of the toilet tank relative to the wall.
One of the essential features of the present invention revolves around the step of adjustment, with at least one extension fastener being rotated (either to extend or retract) forming the final position of the module, wherein continuous flat surfaces including the exteriors of all multifaceted elements of the module are developed. At such final position, the flat exterior surfaces of the multi-faceted elements are aligned having the same longitudinal orientation, forming a continuous formation.
An alternative embodiment includes the toilet tank plate having a threaded bolt instead of a nut shaped formation. In this embodiment, the module elements appear inverse to the first embodiment. Further neither embodiment is limited to a square shaped exterior. Other interconnecting shapes such as a hexagonal (6 facet) exterior or similar are envisioned so long as the when the final adjustment is completed, all elements of the module are aligned to form a continuous formation along the longitudinal axis.
Another novel feature of the present invention is the cover which sits atop or designed to engage the exterior of the assembled module and/or other elements, after the spacer device and or the module are in the final adjusted position within the space between the wall and the toilet tank. The inner surface of the cover is formed with at least two flat surfaces provided to engage the exterior flat surfaces of the multifaceted elements of the module and other elements of the device. The cover is composed of resilient material having a longitudinal slit.
During installation, the cover in positioned over the preassembled module through the slit, so that the cover snaps or tightly fits over the module assembly exterior. In the finally assembled position, the inner flat surfaces of the cover engage the exterior flat surfaces of the module elements, stabilizing and retaining the continuous formation. In addition to the aesthetically pleasing nature, the cover also importantly serves to retain and stabilize the adjusted positions of the module elements and the entire device, thereby retaining alignment of the continuous formation. The cover can be formed as one unitary member, or can be formed by multiple breakaway sections to facilitate installation and provide flexibility to conform to varied lengths of the final module/assembly.
An adjustable spacer device 90 of the preferred embodiment of the disclosed technology has an elongated toilet plate 10. This plate 10 is formed having a unitary upper portion 14 and lower portion 20 connected by a breakaway joint 18. A toilet insert 12 is connected to, and non-obtusely angled from the upper portion of the elongated toilet plate in embodiments of the disclosed technology. A generally flat wall plate 52, connected to the adjustable length extension mechanism, is in parallel to the elongated side of the toilet plate 10. The adjustment mechanism includes at least one extension fastener 30 with a female threaded cavity 34 and male threaded region 32. The lower portion 20 of the elongated toilet plate 10 may have either female threads (see
Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more obvious in view of the following description of the figures.
The toilet insert 12 (as seen in use in
As illustrated in
In a method of using the adjustable spacer device 90 of the invention, one places the toilet insert 10 between the toilet lid 62 and a toilet tank 64, an elongated side of the toilet plate 10 is positioned against the toilet tank 64. The length of the extension mechanism is adjustable, such that a length of the adjustable spacer 90 is substantially equal to the distance from the toilet tank 64 to a wall 80, abuts the wall plate 52 against a wall 80, and secures the continuous module formation 70 under the cover 72. In a variation on this method, one may abut an elongated toilet plate 10 against a toilet tank 64, rotatably adjust a length of the adjustable spacer 90 by way of at least one threaded fastener 30 situated between the toilet plate 10 and a wall plate 52, and to attach the wall plate 52 to a wall 80.
The above method may have a step of placing a toilet insert 12 between a lid 62 of the toilet and said toilet tank 64, wherein the toilet insert 12 forms a unitary piece with said toilet plate 10. The toilet insert 12 may be at an acute or right angle with the toilet plate 10. The toilet plate 10 itself may have a breakaway joint 18 between an upper 14 and lower portion 20 thereof, this joint 18 being broken by hand before abutting the elongated plate 10 against the toilet tank 64, such that only the lower portion 20 of the toilet plate 10 is used and abutted to the exterior of the tank 64 of the toilet.
Each extension fastener 30 consists of a shaft with external or male threads 32 and a head 38 with internal or female threads 34. The head 38 of the extension fastener(s) 30 is generally formed having a multi-faceted exterior having multiple flat surfaces 36. For example, the exterior can have a square or four-faceted shape, as in
The adjustable spacer mechanism 90 may also include a cover 72, which is configured to fit over the exterior of the module 70 and the exterior of other elements, once it is formed and in place within the space 60 between the wall 80 and the toilet tank 64. In one embodiment of the invention, the cover 72 is connected to the lower portion 20 of the toilet plate 10 and is constructed with breakaway joints 74, having similar characteristics as the breakaway joint 18 between the plate upper 14 and lower portions 20 described herein. In another embodiment, the cover 72 is independent of the toilet plate. The cover 72 has an inner surface 76 formed with at least two continuous flat surfaces 82. In another embodiment, the cover 72 is provided with the inner surface, which is generally cylindrical or any other similar shape and is formed with at least two flat surfaces 82. The cover flat surfaces 82 are configured to engage the exterior flat surface(s) 36 of the extension fastener(s) 30, and/or a fastener head 55 of the wall piece 52, and/or the exterior of the element 22 of the toilet tank plate 10.
The cover 72 is made of a resilient material and includes a longitudinal slit 78 therethrough. During installation, the cover 72 is positioned on the continuous module 70 through the slit 78, so as to snap or tightly fit over its exterior. In the assembled position, the inner flat surfaces 82 of the cover engage the exterior flat surfaces 36 of the extension fastener(s) 30 and other elements of the device, thereby retaining the continuous formation of the module 70. The cover 72 is sized to match the length and geometric nature of the continuous formation of the module 70 by breaking away the excess length at the appropriate breakaway joint 74. In addition to providing an aesthetically pleasing surface, the cover 72 serves to retain the adjusted position of the continuous formation of the module 70 and other elements, and more specifically retains the alignment of extension fastener(s) 30.
The cover 72 prevents the fasteners 30 from shifting position and stabilizes the space by fitting tightly over the bolt head(s) once in the adjusted positions similar to that of a clamp. The cover 72 prevents longitudinal movement by stabilizing the position of the expansion fastener(s) 30 relative to the wall 80. The cover 72 can be formed as one unitary member or can be formed of multiple sections to facilitate installation and provide flexibility of application to match the various lengths of the final continuous formation 70.
The lid 62 depicted covers the tank 64 of the toilet 66. When there is no lid 64, it may be desirable to break away the top 14 of the toilet plate 10 at the breakaway joint 18 or simply use an adjustable spacer 90 which lacks the turned toilet insert 12 and optionally includes adhesive 56.
While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2810136 | Kearney | Oct 1957 | A |
3666225 | Weinberger | May 1972 | A |
5997412 | Benson | Dec 1999 | A |
6073899 | Omrani | Jun 2000 | A |
7093813 | Zirps | Aug 2006 | B1 |
20050025607 | Guantonio | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20150191902 | Vadnais | Jul 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14014544 | Aug 2013 | US |
Child | 15688991 | US |