Patent Application
20060225191
The invention relates to two-piece toilets having a tank and a base.
In installation of plumbing for toilets, in order to properly mate with standard toilet bowl fixtures, it is conventional to locate the drainpipe receiving the discharge of the toilet a specific distance from a wall adjacent to which the toilet is installed. In particular, it is conventional to position the center of the drainpipe twelve inches from a wall against which the toilet is to be installed. The distance of the center of the drainpipe from the wall is typically referred to as the pipe “rough-in”. While a 12 inch rough-in is most common, ten and fourteen inch rough-ins are also used. Consistent with this convention, toilets are designed such that when the discharge port is mated with the drainpipe, a remainder of the toilet, including the tank, is located properly relative to the adjacent wall. Thus, it is common to provide different toilet base models, each specifically designed for 10 inch, 12 inch, and 14 inch rough-in's, respectively. Alternatively, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,819,326 and 6,108,826, it is known to provide a connector having an adjustable length to connect the discharge port and the drainpipe inlet.
A need exists for an improved, inexpensive, and readily-installed two-piece toilet adapted to accommodate multiple drainpipe rough-in sizes.
In one aspect, the invention is an adjustable two-piece toilet comprising a tank and a base having a tank mounting platform. The tank mounting platform is provided with a water inlet slot and at least two fastener slots. The tank is provided with a water outlet sized and shaped to fit the water inlet slot and at least two fastener holes. The tank is operatively connectable to the base by fasteners installed in the fastener holes and fastener slots such that the tank is infinitely adjustable relative to the base between a forward position and a rearward position.
In a second aspect, the invention is an adjustable two-piece toilet comprising a base and a tank, wherein the tank is operably connectable to the base in at least first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately ten inches. In the second position, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately twelve inches. In the third position, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately fourteen inches.
The foregoing and other features of the invention and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form of the invention which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The base 20 includes a bowl 22 surrounded by a rim 24 in a conventional manner. Adjacent the rim 24 is a tank mounting platform 26. Seat mounting holes 28 are preferably provided in the platform 26, as are a water inlet 30 and at least two tank fastener slots 32. The water inlet 30 is formed as a slot, and is sized and shaped to mate with a downspout 42 that depends down from the bottom of the tank 40. The downspout 42 defines an outlet hole 44 in the bottom of the tank 40 for channeling water from the tank 40 into the base 20.
The tank 40 includes the outlet hole 44 and at least two tank fastener holes 46. Screws 48 or other conventional fastening devices are inserted into the holes so as to depend downward form the tank 40 as shown in
When the toilet 10 is being installed, the base 20 will be mated with a conventional drainage plumbing and connected to the floor 12 in a conventional manner. In order to accommodate adjustment of the tank 40 relative to the base 20, while at the same time preventing leakage, a seal or gasket 52 is preferably installed between the tank 40 and the base 20. The seal 52 is made from conventional sealing materials, such as cork, silicone or rubber. The seal 52 includes an opening 54, which is preferably in the shape of an elongated slot, however other shapes are also possible, including circular. In the illustrated embodiment, the seal itself is rectangular in shape, however, again, other shapes are possible.
Although the illustrated embodiment includes a seal 54, it is contemplated that if the downspout 42 has a sufficient length to extend into the slot 20, the seal could be eliminated.
With the base 20 properly connected to the drainpipe and secured to the floor 12, the installer will proceed to position the tank 40 near the wall 14, sliding the tank 40 relative to the base 20 along the tank mounting platform 26. In particular, the tank outlet 42 can preferably be mated with the water inlet 30 in an infinitely adjustable manner over a length of travel L1. Preferably, the length of travel is at least 4 inches. With this preferred length of travel L1, the tank 40 can be secured to the base 20 is a rearward position 50, wherein the toilet 10 is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension R1 of approximately ten inches, or in an intermediate position 52, wherein the toilet 10 is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension R2 of approximately twelve inches, or in a forward position R3, wherein the toilet 10 is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately fourteen inches.
From this disclosure, the person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the base fastener slots 32 could be replaced with three sets of holes adapted to receive fasteners extending from the tank holes 44. In this alternative arrangement, the tank 40 would not be infinitely adjustable between the rearward position 50 and the forward position 54, but would rather be capable of being positioned relative to the base 20 in discrete first, second, and third positions, 60, 62, and 64, respectively.
With the tank 40 properly positioned near the wall 14, the installer can proceed to secure the tank 40 to the base 20 by tightening fasteners (not shown) extending through the tank fastener holes 44 and through the base fastener slots 32. The remaining elements of the toilet 10 (for example, a flush valve assembly (not shown)) are conventional, and are installed in a conventional manner.
The two-piece toilet 10 is readily-installed and provides an inexpensive solution to the problem of accommodating multiple drainpipe rough-in sizes. The tank and base can me made of any conventional material, including porcelain.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
