Patent Application
20200263408
The subject disclosure relates to wall mount backflow toilets and the closet carrier assemblies for mounting such toilets.
Many toilets are arranged to connect to a drain through the floor of the room. Such toilets can rely on the components resting on the floor to support the weight and assist in making the seal with the waste pipe. In contrast, wall mount toilets, which are widely used in certain circumstances, connect to a waste pipe chase through a wall rather than through the floor. A wall hung toilet connector facilitates attachment of a wall hung toilet to a waste pipe. A typical connector supports the toilet off the floor and facilitates a fluid-tight connection between the waste pipe coupled to the toilet bowl and the waste pipe chase which carries wastewater out of the system.
For many reasons, including sanitary concerns, it is important that lasting support and strong, tight seals are made along the wastewater transmission line. Often, wall hung toilets are installed as part of large commercial projects where it can be difficult to quickly install the requisite number of toilet waste systems efficiency while still ensuring a quality seal is made in every case. Typical connectors have a threaded seal between the toilet and the waste pipe. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,027 entitled Toilet Carrier and issued on Dec. 27, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. Commonly, the assembly is slow and difficult. The threaded engagement can also cause failure of the seal when adjustments are made.
In view of the above, there is a need for a device which allows for quick and easy installation of wall hung toilets while effectively connecting the wall hung toilet to the waste pipe chase. In light of the needs described above, in at least one aspect, the subject technology relates to a closet carrier assembly that can be quickly and easily assembled and, if needed, de-assembled while holding the waste water passageway sealed.
In one embodiment, the subject technology is directed to a closet carrier assembly for a wall-mounted toilet comprising a face plate having a front face and a back face opposing the front face. The back face is configured to couple to a waste pipe chase. The face plate defines a central opening. A plurality of spacing rods extend from the front face, each spacing rod having a threaded distal end and a nut, wherein the nuts act as a stop. A retainer plate is mounted on the plurality of spacing rods against the stop and defines an opening aligned with the central opening of the face plate, wherein the retainer plate opening has at least one earhole extension. A waste pipe has a front end and a back end with the back end passing into the central opening for passage of waste water to the waste pipe chase. The front end of the waste pipe acts as a coupling horn. The front end has at least one tab sized and configured to pass through the at least one earhole extension. The front end also has a ridge so that when the at least one tab is passed through the at least one earhole extension and the waste pipe is rotated, the waste pipe is fixed in place by the retainer plate being captured between the at least one tab and the ridge. The closet carrier may also include a flange surrounding the central opening on the face plate, the flange having a groove with an o-ring for sealing between the face plate and the waste pipe. Support legs can extend from the face plate to the floor within the wall. Preferably, the front end of the waste pipe has an enlarged diameter relative to the back end and forms at least one slot for receiving a tool for rotating the waste pipe. A detent area on the retainer plate can create holding friction with the at least one tab.
Another embodiment of the subject technology is directed to a method for assembling a closet carrier assembly for a wall-mounted toilet comprising the steps of: providing a face plate with a front face and a back face opposing the front face wherein the face plate defines a central opening; coupling the back face to a waste pipe chase so that the central opening and an inlet of the waste pipe chase are aligned; mounting a plurality of spacing rods to extend from the front face, each spacing rod having stop; mounting a retainer plate on the plurality of spacing rods against the stop, the retainer plate defining an opening aligned with the central opening of the face plate, wherein the retainer plate opening has at least one earhole extension; providing a waste pipe having a front end and a back end, wherein the front end has at least one tab and a ridge so that a channel is formed between the at least one tab and the ridge; passing the back end of the waste pipe into the central opening of the face plate; passing the at least one tab through the at least one earhole extension until the ridge abuts the retainer plate; and rotating the waste pipe so that the waste pipe is fixed in place by the retainer plate being captured between the at least one tab and the ridge. The method may also include the steps of: verifying that the waste pipe is a proper length; and if the waste pipe is not a proper length, modifying the waste pipe to the proper length. Still another embodiment includes forming opposing slots in the front end of the waste pipe for receiving a tool for rotating the waste pipe.
It should be appreciated that the subject technology can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as an assembly, a method, a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, and 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 system pertains 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 wall hung toilets. In brief summary, the subject technology provides for quick connection while effectively sealing the waste water passageway of a wall hung toilet. Other advantages and features of the systems and methods 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 subject technology. Like reference numerals are used herein to denote like parts. Further, words denoting orientation such as “upper”, “lower”, “distal”, and “proximate” are merely used to help describe the location of components with respect to one another. For example, an “upper” surface of a part is merely meant to describe a surface that is separate from the “lower” surface of that same part. No words denoting orientation are used to describe an absolute orientation (i.e., where an “upper” part must always be on top).
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The closet carrier assembly 120 also include two support legs 126 that attach to the face plate 124 by bolts 128. A lower end of each leg 126 forms a foot 130 that rests on the floor (not shown). As such, the legs 126 support the face plate 124. Preferably, anchors 132 fix the legs 126 to the floor. The legs 126 can also attach to other structure for support such as a wall stud. In one embodiment, the support legs 126 are the same so that the legs are interchangeable. So that the legs 126 can easily be adjusted to support the face plate 124 at the proper height, the mounting holes 134 of the legs 126 are slots 127. Once the positioning is arranged, the bolts 128 thread into mounting holes 136 of the face plate to fix the components in place.
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The back end 172 of the waste pipe 122 is inserted through the opening 164 of the retainer plate 106 into the central opening 144 of the flange 142 of the face plate 124 with the tabs 178 passing through the earhole extensions 166. If the waste pipe 122 is too long, the waste pipe 122 can be removed for cutting the back end 172 to a desired length. Once the waste pipe 122 is the desired length, the back end 172 is re-inserted until the ridges 182 contact the retainer plate 106. To lock the waste pipe 122 in place, the waste pipe 122 is rotated so that the tabs 178 pass onto the opposite side of the retainer plate 106 as the ridges 182. As a result, the retainer plate 106 is captured snugly in the channel 198 between the tabs 178 and ridges 182. In one embodiment, a tool (not shown) is inserted into the slots 184 of the waste pipe 122 to rotate the waste pipe. An exemplary rotating tool is shown in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/656,567, filed on Apr. 12, 2018 and entitled WALL HUNG TOILET ASSEMBLY WITH A SLOPED GASKET, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In one embodiment, the face plate 124 is approximately 13.125 by 12.75 inches. The retainer plate 106 is 10.75 by 11.25 inches. The waste pipe 122 is approximately 8 inches long and varies in diameter from 4.5 to 4.75 inches. The tabs 178 and ridges 180 may be 0.25 inches thick.
In one embodiment, the tabs 178 and/or the ridges 182 are ramped shaped to facilitate rotation and provide a tight fit. In another embodiment, the retainer plate 106 forms a detent area for each tab to come to rest in as a fully rotated position. For example, the detent area may be at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. The detent may be a stamped indentation formed in the retainer plate. In another embodiment, the detent is one or more protrusions formed in the retainer plate to act as a rotational stop for the tabs and/or ridges. In another embodiment, the retainer plate and tabs are conjured so that wedge shaped tabs slide by a protrusion until the tabs drop in passing over the protrusion. Additional protrusions may prevent further rotation so that although the waste pipe may be rotated for removal, additional force may be required to overcome friction created by the protrusions.
Once the waste pipe 122 is secured in the desired location, the o-ring 138 creates a fluid tight seal between the waste pipe 122 and face plate 124 as shown in
As can be seen, the closet carrier assembly 120 provides for easy to assemble effective assembly. By using gaskets and/or o-rings, thread sealant on the waste pipe is not required. Further, front adjustment, mounting and assembly is possible as is often required in partially finished settings. Also, the closet carrier assembly can accommodate many configurations by setting the depth/length based on the wall configuration.
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 subject technology. For example, each claim may depend from any or all claims in a multiple dependent manner even though such has not been originally claimed.
