Patent Grant
12054930
The present invention relates to a connection structure, and more particularly to a connection assembly for a toilet.
Conventionally, a toilet is fixed in a wet fixing manner or a dry fixing manner. The wet fixing manner is to coat grout on a connection portion of a feces discharge tube and a drain orifice of the toilet and a connection portion of a bottom of the toilet and a floor, such that the toilet is fixed after the grout is solidified. TW Publication No. 356153 discloses the method of fixing the toilet in the wet fixing manner. To overcome above-mentioned defects, the toilet is fixed in the dry fixing manner, wherein a positioning plate is engaged on the feces discharge tube of the floor, and an expansion bolt is configured to screw the positioning plate on the floor, then the screw bolt on the positioning plate is inserted through two coupling orifices of two saddles of the toilet to screw with two screw nuts, thus fixing the toilet.
A fixing structure of a toilet is disclosed in TW Utility Model No. M448518. A toilet flange or a closet flange is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,421,036, 6,065,160, 6,634,034, 8,281,421 to fix the toilet on the floor of the building in the dry fixing manner.
The toilet flange is applicable for fixing the plumbing of the toilet so that the toilet is fixed on the floor and the drain orifice of the toilet is connected on the feces discharge tube of the floor, wherein the toilet flange contains a hub and a mounting flange, the hub is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the mounting flange is made of steel. In addition, the hub is made of metal or other plastic materials.
The toilet flange is connected on the feces discharge tube of the floor by using the hub so as to be fixed on the floor, and wax ring is sealed on a gap between the toilet flange and a bottom of the toilet, wherein the toilet includes two coupling orifices defined on the two saddles thereof so that two screw bolts are screwed with the two coupling orifices of the toilet.
The two screw bolts are inserted through the two coupling orifices to screw with two screw nuts so that the toilet is disposed on the toilet flange. However, a thickness of the floor is changeable based on different using requirements, so a height of the toilet flange is different from a height of a top of the floor, and a long screw bolt is applied to fix the toilet, but a part of the long screw bolt will extend out of the floor to cause poor appearance. Alternatively, the part of the long screw bolt is cut, thus having troublesome connection of the toilet.
In addition, the part of the screw bolt exposing outside the floor will cause corrosion.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a connection assembly for a toilet which is capable of fixing the toilet exactly, quickly, and securely and enhancing aesthetics appearance.
Further aspect of the present invention is to provide a connection assembly for a toilet by which the respective one locking element is screwed with the respective one T-shaped screw nut via the respective one fixing orifice of the toilet, so the length of the screw bolt of the respective one locking element is long to screw the screw bolt with the respective one T-shaped screw nut, the shank of the screw bolt of the respective one locking element is extended to locate below the toilet flange, thus preventing exposing of the shank to achieve the aesthetics appearance.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a connection assembly for a toilet by which the respective one guider is connected on the locating portion of the respective one positioning element so that when fixing the toilet, the respective one fixing orifice is aligned with and receives the respective one guider, and the toilet is fixed exactly and a part or all of the respective one guider is removed, the respective one locking element is screwed with the respective one T-shaped screw nut of the locating portion of the respective one positioning element to fix the toilet exactly and quickly.
To obtain above-mentioned aspects, a connection assembly for a toilet provided by the present invention contains: a toilet flange, two positioning elements, two T-shaped screw nuts, two guiders, and two locking elements.
The toilet flange is fixed on a floor of a building, and the toilet flange includes a hub configured to connect with a feces discharge tube, an annular fringe connected on a top of the hub, two receiving grooves defined on two opposite sides of the annular fringe, two through orifices formed on the two receiving grooves, and an elongated slot communicating with the two through orifices.
A respective one positioning element includes a locating portion and two flexible wings one-piece extending from two opposite sides of the locating portion of the respective one positioning element. The locating portion of the respective one positioning element has a passing orifice. A respective one flexible wing is configured to abut against a top fence of the toilet flange.
A respective one T-shaped screw nut includes a head and a tubular extension connected with the head, the head is limited to not rotate after being inserted through a respective one through orifice of a respective one receiving groove and is slid to a desired position by moving the tubular extension along the elongated slot of the respective one receiving groove, and the head is limited on a bottom fence of the elongated slot of the annular fringe; the tubular extension is fixed after extending the passing orifice of the respective one positioning element, and after the respective one flexible wing abuts against the top fence of the toilet flange, the respective one positioning element and the respective one T-shaped screw nut are forced by the respective one flexible wing to engage on the annular fringe.
A respective one guider is removably fixed on the locating portion of the respective one positioning element so as to be further received in a respective one fixing orifice of two fixing orifices of the toilet.
A respective one locking element is screwed with the threaded orifice of the respective one T-shaped screw nut, after at least one part of the respective one guider is removed, and the toilet is locked on the toilet flange.
With reference to
The toilet flange 10 is fixed on a floor 1 of a building, and the toilet flange 10 includes a hub 10a configured to connect with a feces discharge tube (not shown), an annular fringe 10b connected on a top of the hub 10a, two receiving grooves 12 defined on two opposite sides of the annular fringe 10b, two through orifices 121 formed on the two receiving grooves 12, and an elongated slot 122 communicating with the two through orifices 121. In this embodiment, the toilet flange 10 is locked on the floor 1 by multiple screws (not shown). Since such a locking structure is a well-known art, further remarks are omitted.
Referring to
A respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 includes a head 31 and a tubular extension 32 connected with the head 31, wherein the head 31 is limited to not rotate after being inserted through a respective one through orifice 121 of a respective one receiving groove 12 and is slid to a desired position by moving the tubular extension 32 along the elongated slot 122 of the respective one receiving groove 12, and the head 31 is limited on a bottom fence 112 of the elongated slot 122 of the annular fringe 10b; the tubular extension 32 is fixed after extending into the passing orifice 211 of the respective one positioning element 20. The respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 further includes a threaded orifice 33.
The respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 is connected with the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 by using the tubular extension 32, such that the respective one positioning element 20 is moved by using the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 to fix on a predetermined position of the toilet flange 10. When the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 is slidably moved to the predetermined position at which a distance between the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 and a vertical wall of the building is fixed so that the toilet 2 is secured relative to the vertical wall of the building exactly.
As shown in
As illustrated in
With reference to
Referring to
The tubular extension 32 further has a tilted face 322 formed above the groove 321 and configured to guide the tubular extension 32 to expand a respective one flexible hook 210 of the at least two flexible hooks 210.
The respective one guider 40 includes a notch 41 defined on a bottom thereof and engaged with the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20, and the respective one guider 40 includes a conical section 42 having a tip and configured to align with and guide the respective one fixing orifice 2a of the toilet 2, as shown in
With reference to
Referring to
When the locating portion 21 is pressed, the respective one flexible wing 22 deforms flatly, as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
In a second embodiment, the respective one flexible wing 22 of the respective one positioning element 20 has a limitation projection 24, as illustrated in
Referring to
The head 54 of the screw bolt 50b has a polygonal slot 541 configured to receive a specific hand tool, such that the screw bolt 50b is engaged and rotated by using the polygonal slot 541 and the specific hand tool. In this embodiment, the rotary knob 50a is integrally injection molded from plastic materials, and the rotary knob 50a has multiple recessed portions 542 so that a user grasps the rotary knob 50a securely, wherein the screw bolt 50b is made of metal material to reinforce a structure and a locking capacity of the screw bolt 50b.
With reference to
Referring to FIGS. the connection assembly for the toilet further comprises two decoration caps 70, wherein a respective one decoration cap 70 is engaged on the top fence 51 of the rotary knob 50a so that at least one part of the top fence 51 of the rotary knob 50a is covered in the respective one decoration cap 70 with the head 54 of the screw bolt 50b of the respective one locking element 50. Thereby, the rotary knob 50a is further configured to facilitate positioning of the respective one decoration cap 70. Preferably, the respective one decoration cap 70 enhances an aesthetics appearance and a tight sealing effect to avoid a corrosion of the head 54.
The top fence 51 of the rotary knob 50a has a surrounding trench 511 defined thereon; the respective one decoration cap 70 includes an external fence 71 and an extending rib 72 extending from an inner side of a bottom of the external fence 71 and configured to engage in the surrounding trench 511, wherein the external fence 71 is located outside the rotary knob 50a so that the rotary knob 50a is covered in the respective one decoration cap 70 with the head 54 of the screw bolt 50b, thus enhancing the aesthetics appearance and obtain the tight sealing effect.
As shown in
The respective one fixing orifice 2a of the toilet 2 is elongated and extending along two horizontal sides of the toilet 2, hence the respective one washer 80 is defined ahead of or behind the respective one fixing orifice 2a.
With reference to
In the third embodiment, the notch 41 of the respective one guider 40 has at least two flexible hooks 412 formed on at least two sides of the notch 41, as shown in
In another embodiment, the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 has the multiple vertical ribs 212 of the first embodiment, for example, the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 has four vertical ribs 212, and the four longitudinal recesses 411 are defined on the inner wall of the notch 41 so that four vertical ribs 212 are engaged in the four longitudinal recesses 411, thus connecting the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 with the respective one guider 40.
In a fourth embodiment, as shown in
The guiding seat 402 has the conical section 42 configured to align with and to pass through the respective one fixing orifice 2a of the toilet 2. It is to be noted that the guiding seat 402 is removed and the tubular seat 401 is maintained, after fixing the toilet 2.
The toilet flange 10 is fixed on the floor 1 of the building, but thicknesses of various floors are different, so when a base 2b of the toilet 2 contacts with a top face 1a of the floor 1, a distance between two saddles 2c of two sides of the toilet 2 and the toilet flange 10 is different. When the distance between two saddles 2c of two sides of the toilet 2 and the toilet flange 10 is short, the respective one guider 40 is applicable. When the distance between the two saddles 2c of the toilet 2 and the toilet flange is long, the respective one guider 40a is applicable, and the tubular seat 401 is maintained after the toilet 2 is fixed, as shown in
Alternatively, the tubular seat 401 is maintained or the respective one guider 40a is detachable based on using requirements.
The tubular seat 401 has a retaining trench 431 defined on a top thereof and surrounding the conducting orifice 43, and two vertical trenches 432 formed on two opposite sides of the retaining trench 431, the guiding seat 402 has an engagement cliff 441 extending on a bottom thereof, and the guiding seat 402 has two longitudinal protrusions 442 extending from two opposite sides of an outer wall of the engagement cliff 441 so that the guiding seat 402 is engaged in the retaining trench 431 by using the engagement cliff 441, and the two longitudinal protrusions 442 are slidably received in the two vertical trenches 432 so that the guiding seat 402 is limited to rotate and engage on the tubular seat 401. Thereafter, the guiding seat 402 is alternatively pulled to remove from the tubular seat 401 after the toilet 2 is positioned.
A length of the screw bolt 50b of the respective one locking element 50 is changeably designed based on the using requirements.
To move the head 31 of the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 to the bottom fence 112 of the elongated slot 122 via the respective one through orifice 121 of the toilet flange 10 smoothly and does not contact with an inner wall of the respective one through orifice 121, as illustrated in
Referring to
To avoid an oblique of the respective one guider 40, 40a when fixing the toilet 2, the respective one guider 40, 40a includes at least two securing ribs 46 extending downward from the bottom thereof, as illustrated in
Accordingly, the connection assembly of the present invention has advantages as follows:
1) The respective one locking element 50 is screwed with the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 via the respective one fixing orifice 2a of the toilet 2, so the length of the screw bolt 50b of the respective one locking element 50 is long to screw the screw bolt 50b with the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30, the shank 55 of the screw bolt 50b of the respective one locking element 50 is extended to locate below the toilet flange 10, thus preventing exposing of the shank 55 to achieve the aesthetics appearance.
2) The respective one guider 40, 40a is connected on the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 so that when fixing the toilet 2, the respective one fixing orifice 2a is aligned with and receives the respective one guider 40, 40a so that the toilet 2 is fixed exactly and a part or all of the respective one guider 40, 40a is removed, the respective one locking element 50 is screwed with the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 of the locating portion 21 of the respective one positioning element 20 to fix the toilet 2 exactly and quickly.
3) The respective one flexible wing 22 one-piece extends from the respective one positioning element 20 so that when the respective one flexible wing 22 is pressed to deform flexibly, the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 is inserted through the through orifice 121 of the toilet flange 10 and is slid into the elongated slot 122 of the toilet flange 10. After the respective one flexible wing 22 is released, the T-shaped screw nut 30 and the respective one positioning element 20 are fixed on the annular fringe 10b of the toilet flange 10 easily and quickly.
4) The respective one guider 40 or 40a is applied based on the using requirements to comply with the height between the toilet flange 10 and the floor 1, for example, when the respective one guider 40a is applied, a part of the respective one guider 40a, i.e.
the tubular seat 401 is maintained and is configured to guide the screw bolt 50b of the respective one locking element 50 to the respective one T-shaped screw nut 30 exactly and quickly.
5) The rotary knob 50a is rotated manually to screw with the screw bolt 50b tightly, and the specific hand tool rotates the screw bolt 50b to actuate the rotary knob 50a to force the respective one fixing orifice 2a of the toilet 2, thus fixing the toilet 2 easily and quickly.
6) The respective one decoration 70, 70a is configured to cover at least one part or all of the rotary knob 50a and the head 54 of the screw bolt 50b of the respective one locking element 50, thus enhancing the aesthetics appearance and the tight sealing effect to avoid the corrosion of the head 54.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202122480869.9 | Oct 2021 | CN | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5421036 | Stevens et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
| 6065160 | Winn | May 2000 | A |
| 6634034 | Rendell | Oct 2003 | B2 |
| 8281421 | Hughes | Oct 2012 | B2 |
| 9863133 | Edwards | Jan 2018 | B2 |
| 20110173743 | Jensen | Jul 2011 | A1 |
| 20150322662 | Schuster | Nov 2015 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 356153 | Apr 1999 | TW |
| M448518 | Mar 2013 | TW |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230203799 A1 | Jun 2023 | US |
