Kits, Assemblies and Methods for No-Tools Toilet Installation
First Claim
1. An assembly for installing a toilet bowl, comprising:
- (a) a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to receive a flange bolt;
(b) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so as to fit through the opening in the flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange; and
(c) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface is configured so that upon installation of the toilet bowl, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening in the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Kits and methods for installing a toilet bowl or assembly without tools are described. The methods and assembly work with an existing flange or can include a standard closet flange configured to receive a flange bolt. The kits and assemblies include a flange bolt wherein the bolt head is configured so as to fit through an opening in a flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the bolt stem extends upwardly; and a bolt locking knob, wherein the interior surface of the knob is configured so that when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the knob, it contacts the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob can be hand tightened. The bolts size is coordinated with the size of the locking knobs to eliminate the use of tools on installation.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. An assembly for installing a toilet bowl, comprising:
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(a) a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to receive a flange bolt; (b) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so as to fit through the opening in the flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange; and (c) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface is configured so that upon installation of the toilet bowl, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening in the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A kit for installing a toilet bowl comprising
(a) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so that upon installation it will fit through an opening in a closet flange so that the bolt head contacts a lower surface of a closet flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from an upper surface of a closet flange; -
(b) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface of the bolt locking knob is configured so that upon installation of a toilet bowl, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening in the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob; and (c) instructions for installing a bowl. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An assembly for installing a two-piece toilet assembly wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl portion and a separate tank portion, comprising:
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(a) a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to receive a flange bolt; (b) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, the bolt head will fit through the opening in the flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange; (c) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob; and (d) a handle fastener having an interior surface defining an opening therein configured to receive a tank locking bolt for fastening a toilet tank to a toilet bowl in a toilet assembly in locking engagement, the handle fastener having an outer surface configured for manual tightening.
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33. A kit for installing a two-piece toilet assembly wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl portion and a separate tank portion, comprising:
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(a) a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, the bolt head will fit through the opening in a closet flange so that the bolt head contacts a lower surface of a closet flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from an upper surface of a closet flange; (b) a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the interior surface is configured so that upon installation of a bowl portion of a two-piece toilet assembly, when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is able to be hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob; (c) a handle fastener having an interior surface defining an opening therein configured to receive a tank locking bolt for fastening a toilet tank to a toilet bowl in a toilet assembly in locking engagement, the handle fastener having an outer surface configured for manual tightening; and (d) instructions for installing a two-piece toilet assembly having a toilet bowl and a toilet tank.
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43. A method for installing a toilet bowl on a mounting surface without using tools, comprising:
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(a) providing a flange bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface; (b) inserting the flange bolt through an opening in a flange, wherein the flange comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and the opening, wherein the opening extends from the upper surface to the lower surface and is configured to receive a flange bolt, so that the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange, the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange and positioning the flange on a mounting surface; (c) placing a toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof over the stem of the flange bolt so that the end portion of the stem extends upwardly through the mounting hole; (d) placing a bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, wherein the bolt locking knob has an interior surface defining an opening extending through the locking knob and an interior portion thereof, wherein the bolt locking knob is placed so that when the end portion of the bolt stem is within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the bolt locking knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized so that upon placement of a toilet bowl over the flange bolt and placement of the bolt locking knob over the end portion of the flange bolt stem, the end portion of the flange bolt stem is substantially within the opening of the bolt locking knob; and (e) manually tightening the knob on the bolt stem.
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57. An installed toilet assembly wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl portion and a separate tank portion, comprising:
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a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface that is configured to receive a flange bolt, the lower surface of the flange contacting an installation surface; a toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof and an upper surface having a rear portion having a tank mounting hole extending therethrough; a flange bolt having a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface and the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange so that the bolt head contacts the lower surface of the flange and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from an upper surface of a closet flange; and a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending through the knob, wherein the end of the bolt stem is within the opening of the bolt locking knob, the interior surface of the knob contacts the exterior surface of the bolt stem in locking engagement and the knob is hand tightened on the bolt stem, wherein the length of the bolt stem is pre-sized and the end portion of the stem of the flange bolt is substantially within the opening in the bolt locking knob.
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64. A method for installing a toilet bowl on a mounting surface, comprising:
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(a) providing a flange bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt stem extending from the bolt head and having an end portion opposite the bolt head, wherein the stem has a length measured longitudinally along the stem and an outer surface; (b) inserting the flange bolt through an opening in a flange, wherein the flange comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and the opening, wherein the opening extends from the upper surface to the lower surface and is configured to receive a flange bolt, so that the bolt head fits through the opening in the flange, and the end portion of the stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange and positioning the flange on the mounting surface; (c) positioning a mounting block on the mounting surface; (d) placing a toilet bowl having a mounting hole extending through a base thereof so as to be near or over the stem of the flange bolt and lowering the toilet bowl until at least a portion of a lower surface of the toilet bowl rests on the mounting block; (e) ensuring that the stem of the flange bolt is within the mounting hole and upright; and (f) removing the mounting block.
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65. (canceled)
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Specification