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 fully tightened by hand 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 wherein the assembly allows for complete installation of the toilet bowl without requiring use of tools.
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
35 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 fully tightened by hand 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 wherein the assembly allows for complete installation of the toilet bowl without requiring use of tools. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. 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 fully tightened by hand 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, wherein the kit allows for complete installation of the toilet bowl without requiring use of tools. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. 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) fully tightening the knob manually on the bolt stem, wherein installation of the toilet bowl is completed using the method without requiring use of tools. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. 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, wherein the mounting block is formed of a material having sufficient strength for suspending a toilet during the installation and the mounting block is configured so that an installer can view and access the bolt stem for aligning the bolt stem when a toilet bowl is resting on the mounting block; (d) placing the 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. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. 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 fully tightened by hand 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 an outer peripheral configuration of the bolt locking knob is shaped for easy grabbing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. 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) positioning a mounting block on the mounting surface, wherein the mounting block is formed of a material having sufficient strength for suspending a toilet during the installation and the mounting block is configured so that an installer can view and access the bolt stem for aligning the bolt stem when a toilet bowl is resting on the mounting block; (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; (f) removing the mounting block; (g) 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 (h) fully tightening the knob manually on the bolt stem; wherein installation of the toilet bowl is completed using the method without requiring use of tools.
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Specification