Patent Application
20250223789
The subject disclosure relates to closet carriers for wall-mounted toilets, and more particularly to closet carriers having frames designed for easier handling and installation.
Many toilets, particularly in commercial buildings, are wall hung. As a result, the drain pipe passes through the wall rather than the floor. The closet carrier that supports the toilet must be robust to carry a large load while facilitating a secure fluid-tight connection to the waste pipe. For example, see: U.S. Pat. No. 10,858,815 issued on Dec. 8, 2020 to Watts Regulator Co.; U.S. Pat. No. 10,851,534 issued on Dec. 1, 2020 to Watts Regulator Co.; U.S. Pat. No. 10,895,070 issued on Jan. 19, 2021 to Watts Regulator Co.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,027 issued on Dec. 27, 2005 to Watts Regulator Co.
Many prior art closet carriers are solid metal components designed to support well in excess of a normal weight during typical use. These closet carriers are heavy, which creates difficulty in transport and installation. Further, the heft and design may require multiple people to perform the installation. In view of the above, a need exists for a closet carrier assembly that is lighter to facilitate easy transport and quick, easy installation. The subject technology allows for easy manufacture, less raw material, and adjustments to fine tune the installation.
In one embodiment, the subject technology is directed to a closet carrier assembly for a wall-mounted toilet that includes two spaced apart frames that are typically identical. Each frame includes a front leg and a rear leg with an arm connecting the front and rear legs to form an opening. At least one face plate has a passageway with an inlet for coupling to a wall mounted toilet. The face plate is preferably adjustably secured to the front legs of the frames. A waste pipe chase couples to an outlet of the passageway of the face plate. The waste pipe chase has at least one conduit extending through the opening between the legs of one of the frames.
The face plate may be secured to front sides of the front legs of the frames. Spacing rods may extend from front sides of the front legs of the frames and through openings in the face plate, wherein distal ends of the spacing rods are adapted to receive a wall-mounted toilet. Preferably, a vertical position of the rods on the frames can be adjusted. In one embodiment, the conduit of the waste pipe chase comprises opposing first and second conduits, wherein the first conduit extends between the legs of the first frame and the second conduit extends between the legs of the second frame. There may also be a lower arm so that the conduit of the waste pipe chase extends between the legs and the arms of the frame. Preferably, the frames include one or more openings to reduce weight and/or provide a handle. In order to level the closet carrier assembly, the legs of the frames can extend upwardly from feet and the assembly can further include stackable shims for placement under the feet. If needed, the closet carrier assembly can include a first face plate secured to the front legs of the frames and a second faceplate secured to the rear legs of the frames with the waste pipe chase coupled to each of the outlets of the passageways of the face plates. Preferably, the frames are fabricated from plastic with structural webs extending between structural flanges. If necessary, the frames can include ribs connected to the webs and the flanges for additional structural reinforcement.
In another embodiment, the subject technology is directed to a frame assembly for a closet carrier assembly for a wall-mounted toilet assembly. The wall-mounted toilet assembly includes a face plate defining: an inlet configured to couple to the wall-mounted toilet; and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet. A waste pipe chase conduit has: a first portion configured to couple to the outlet of the face plate; and a second portion in fluid with the first portion and extending at an angle from the first portion. The frame assembly includes first and second frames configured to be spaced apart. Each frame includes a proximal post configured to couple to the face plate, a distal post, and a top chord portion connecting the proximal and distal posts so that the top chord portion and the proximal and distal posts of the first frame form an arch around the second portion of the conduit.
Preferably, each proximal post forms two threaded anchor bores that provide structural support and the face plate forms four holes with four spacing rods, each rod configured to extend through one of the four holes with a distal end configured to secure in the threaded holes and a proximal end configured to couple to the toilet assembly. The frames may be fabricated from plastic, each proximal post can form two additional threaded anchor bores for selectively coupling the four spacing rods in a different location, and each threaded anchor bore includes a threaded metal insert. In one embodiment, the first frame includes a bottom chord portion connecting the proximal and distal posts so that the top chord portion, the bottom chord portion, the proximal post, and the distal post of the first frame are configured to encircle the second portion of the conduit. The first frame may include an intermediate chord handle portion coupled to the top chord portion to form a recess to facilitate manually carrying the first frame, and the first frame defines a vent passage parallel to the posts of the first frame. There may also be provided, in a kit or otherwise, one or more stackable shims for leveling the closet carrier assembly by putting the stackable shim(s) under a foot of the post.
In still another embodiment, the subject disclosure is directed to a closet carrier assembly for a wall-mounted toilet assembly that includes a face plate defining: an inlet configured to couple to the wall-mounted toilet; and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet. A waste pipe chase conduit has: a first portion configured to couple to the outlet of the face plate; and a second portion in fluid with the first portion and extending at an angle from the first portion. A frame assembly includes first and second frames configured to be spaced apart. Each frame includes a proximal post configured to couple to the face plate and terminating in a first foot configured to be mounted to floor on a first side of the second portion of the waste pipe chase conduit. Each frame also includes a distal post terminating in a first foot configured to be mounted to floor on a second side of the second portion of the waste pipe chase conduit. A top portion connects the proximal and distal posts.
It should be appreciated that the subject technology can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as a kit, a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, a method for applications now known and later developed. These and other unique features of the system disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed technology appertains will more readily understand how to make and use the same, reference may be had to the following drawings.
The subject technology overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with closet carriers for wall-mounted toilets. The advantages, and other features of the technology disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present technology and wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements. Directional indications such as front, back, upward, downward, right, left and the like are used with respect to the figures and not meant in a limiting manner.
Referring now to
Now referring additionally to
Still referring to
The bottom and intermediate chords 156, 158 and the posts 150, 152 form an oval 160 that encircles the second portion 134 of the waste pipe chase conduit 130. As shown, the oval 160 also encircles a portion of the first elbow portion 132. The top and intermediate chords 154, 156 form another opening 162 that serves as a convenient lift point or handle to facilitate carrying and installation. Each proximal leg 150 is configured to couple to a distal end 128 of the respective rods 120.
As shown in
Referring now particularly to
Preferably, the frames are fabricated from plastic but may also be metal or other materials. Plastic fabrication allows for over-molding metal inserts 168, for example, in the threaded location bores 164. By utilizing plastic in the solid design with the flange and web construction, the frames are much lighter in weight than traditional metal legs but just as strong, durable and reliable. Each frame has two anchor points on the floor to provide stability. As a result, the closet carrier assembly is much lighter, easier to carry, as well as faster to position and install. In one embodiment, the closet carrier assembly can be carried by a single person, support 500 pounds, and be much more material and cost efficient to manufacture. It is envisioned that all or any combination of the components may be plastic and the like non-metal materials. Typically, the hardware such as rods, nuts and bolts might be metal.
Referring now to
Some similar elements to those described in connection with above-described embodiments are indicated with the like reference numbers. For example, the closet carrier assembly 200 includes a face plate 210 coupled to a frame assembly 240. Four threaded rods 220 are supported by and extend from the frame assembly 240. The face plate 210 also couples to a waste pipe chase conduit 230 that extends through the frame assembly 240.
The face plate 210 includes a nipple 211 extending forward from the inlet 212. The nipple 211 is configured to couple to a waste pipe of the wall-mounted toilet. The face plate 210 couples directly to the frame assembly 240 via holes 213. The face plate 210 forms four holes 216 for receiving the rods 220 as well as four slots 215 to adjust the height of the waste pipe chase conduit 230 as best seen in
Still referring to
To help stabilize the frames 242, the frame assembly 240 includes two optional braces 270 extending between the top chords 254 of the frames 242. Preferably, the braces 270 are securely attached to the frames 242 with fasteners (not shown). The braces 270 may also be plastic or steel and fix into slots formed in the frames 242.
The first and second frames 242 are again interchangeable with the proximal and distal posts 250, 252 being identically shaped. Each post 250, 252 forms two inner slots 282 for allowing adjustment to a height of the waste pipe chase conduit 230. Each post also forms two outer slots 284 for receiving the rods 220 for allowing adjustment to a height of the wall-mounted toilet. Markings 276 on the posts 250, 252 provide a visual indication of the toilet height. As can be seen by having symmetry of the frame assembly 240, a wall-mounted toilet may be hung on the front and back side of the frame assembly 240 by utilizing a second face plate and a waste pipe chase conduit so configured.
To adjust the waste line height, the closet carrier assembly 200 is largely assembled with fixing screws 278 (only one shown in
Similarly to adjust the toilet height, the closet carrier assembly 200 is largely assembled with the rods 220 passing through the post outer slots 284 and face plate holes 216 but without fixing the rods 220 in place until the rods 220 are at the proper height as indicated by the markings 276 or other measurement. The slots 284 allow ample vertical movement. Once the rods 220 for the toilet are at the proper height, the nuts 226 are tightened against the frames 242 to hold the rods 220 in place. The distal ends 228 may thread into the holes 216 or be secured thereto with another nut (not shown).
Referring now to
Some similar elements to those described in connection with above-described embodiments are indicated with the like reference numbers. For example, the closet carrier assembly 300 includes a face plate 310 coupled to a frame assembly 340. Four threaded rods 320 are supported by and extend from the frame assembly 340. The face plate 310 also couples to a waste pipe chase conduit 330 that extends through the frame assembly 340. As can be seen the closet carrier assembly 300 is configured to hold two opposing wall-mounted toilets (not shown). The following description is directed to a single side of the closet carrier assembly 300 for brevity.
The face plate 310 includes a nipple 317 forming the inlet 312. The face plate 310 and nipple 317 are plastic molded together as a single component. The nipple 317 is configured to couple to a collar 319 that connects to a waste pipe of the wall-mounted toilet. The face plate 310 includes an outer frame 318 to increase the structural strength.
To help stabilize the frames 342, the frame assembly 340 includes two optional plates 390 extending parallel to and behind the face plate 310. Each plate 390 mounts between the posts 350 of the frames 342. Preferably, the plates 390 are securely attached to the frames 342 with fasteners 351 and made of plastic or steel. One or no plates 290 may be used.
The two frames 342 are again interchangeable with all four posts 350 being identically shaped. Each post 350 also forms rod slots 384 for receiving the rods 320 for allowing adjustment to a height of the wall-mounted toilet. Each post 350 also forms slots 392 for allowing adjustment to a height of the waste pipe chase conduit 330 by variably mounting the plates 390. The slots 392 are not adjacent the face plate 310 but rather on a side 394. The markings 376 are also on the side 394 to provide a visual indication of the position. As illustrated by the second faceplate 310 and additional rods 320, a second wall-mounted toilet may be hung on the back side of the frame assembly 340. To adjust the waste line height and the toilet height, the slots 384, 392 of the closet carrier assembly 300 are similarly utilized as noted above.
As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art based upon review of the subject disclosure, the waste pipe chase conduit may vary to allow connecting a very long line of wall-mounted toilets. Thus, it may be necessary to adjust various heights to create proper flow as well as toilet heights for not just typical users but the very young and very old. Further, by creating structurally strong features, the components can be manufactured from plastic as opposed to metal to beneficially reduce the weight for easier carrying and installation by a single person. Additionally, the various slots and passages can be utilized to provide ample easy adjustments.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art that the functions of several elements may, in alternative embodiments, be carried out by fewer elements, or a single element. Similarly, in some embodiments, any functional element may perform fewer, or different, operations than those described with respect to the illustrated embodiment. Also, functional elements (e.g., connections, plates, conduits, flanges, ribs, webs, bolts, threads, rods and the like) shown as distinct for purposes of illustration may be incorporated within other functional elements in a particular implementation. Still further, various aspects of the different embodiments may be mixed and matched to other embodiments. Further, although the subject technology has been described with respect to the field of closet carriers for toilets, it is envisioned that the subject technology would be equally applicable to other fields and applications such as on urinals and other plumbing applications.
All patents, patent applications and other references disclosed herein are hereby expressly incorporated in their entireties by reference. While the subject technology has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the subject technology without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, each claim may depend from any or all claims in a multiple dependent manner even though such has not been originally claimed.
