[0001] THIS INVENTION concerns adjustable mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings.
[0002] For more than 100 years the traditional method of installing sanitary fittings such
as a toilet bowl, bidet or pedestal wash basin is by attaching the fitting to the
floor or other supporting surface, usually with screws. Due to the confined space,
difficulty of position and awkwardness of fixing caused by the many different types
and conditions of floor surfaces which they encounter, installers of such fittings
do not like fixing sanitary products and like even less removing and replacing the
same, a process which they believe should be relatively simple and straightforward.
[0003] One difficulty arises from the use of conventional screws as effective fasteners.
A fastener such as a wood screw is designed to tighten and secure correctly and effectively
when two surfaces are pulled together making direct surface to surface contact and
ideally without the aid of supplementary fixing devices such as masonry plugs and
the like.
[0004] The inherent design of the pedestal base or foot of a toilet, bidet or wash basin
stand does not enable straightforward, effective and secure fixing to a floor surface
owing to the fact that there is a large void between the floor surface and the countersunk
aperture in the base region of the fitting. This void, combined with, in many cases,
an uneven floor surface, and the fact that the sanitary fitting base surface is rarely
exactly flat, creates stability and fixing problems which are both time consuming
and costly.
[0005] A further difficulty, particularly on cement and composite floors which are commonly
used in modern constructions, is the almost impossible task of successfully and correctly
lining up the angle of the hole to be drilled and plugged because the installer cannot
see past the fitting and is thus working totally blind.
[0006] Wooden floors, especially plywood, chipboard and other types of compressed wood products
used in modern building, particularly in bathrooms and toilets, create other serious
problems. After time, unless pre-treated correctly, such flooring can become softened
by the ingress of atmospheric moisture or actual water splash. This problem is very
prevalent in caravans and static homes where the interior atmosphere may be damp.
Thus, it is not possible. to maintain or obtain a secure fixing for the sanitary fittings.
[0007] In most countries, the waste is discharged through a P-bend or an S-bend on the toilet
bowl which is then connected by a flexible coupling to a pipe leading to the external
wall of the building to connect externally to a vertical waste pipe.
[0008] Document GB-A-2315501 describes a mounting apparatus for sanitary fittings comprising
a base plate which may be screwed or otherwise fixed to the floor surface, and having
several upstanding formations each with an aperture to receive a screw introduced
through an aligned aperture in the base region of the sanitary fitting. Such apparatus
is design to match one type or model of sanitary fitting so that the apertures in
the upstanding formations align accurately with the apertures in the fitting, and
thus cannot be used universally with fittings of different manufacture, shape and
size.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus by means of which the
aforementioned problems are substantially avoided, and installation of a sanitary
fitting can be achieved universally, accommodating different sanitary wear manufacturers'
products.
[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided, an adjustable mounting apparatus
for a sanitary fitting, comprising two fixing brackets one or each of which is adjustably
mounted with respect to the other on a retaining member, each bracket having at least
one first formation for receiving at least one first fastener to enable the bracket
to be secured to a supporting surface, and at least one second formation for receiving
at least one second fastener to enable a sanitary fitting to be secured to the bracket,
the apparatus being adapted to be located beneath, and concealed by, a part of the
fitting to be mounted on the supporting surface.
[0011] The retaining member may be a separate bar of adjustable length slidably mounted
with respect to the brackets.
[0012] This apparatus provides a great many advantages and benefits in its application.
The major problems of creating a secure base for the fixing of a toilet bowl are immediately
overcome. The assembled mounting apparatus is quickly and securely fastened to the
supporting surface without the need to use the heavy and awkward-to-handle toilet
bowl as a template. The apparatus is universally adaptable for the fixing of sanitary
fittings of many different designs.
[0013] Once the apparatus is secured to the supporting surface, attachment of the sanitary
fitting is a simple, straightforward procedure. The apparatus has another exceptional
advantage in that it facilitates simple, straightforward plumbing maintenance by allowing
ready removal of the toilet bowl for maintenance, plumbing, decorating and the laying
of new floor surfaces such as ceramic tiles. Upon completion of the maintenance work,
the toilet bowl is simply replaced on the apparatus in exactly the same position,
an advantage which is not attainable using traditional methods of fixing sanitary
fittings.
[0014] The apparatus can be fastened to the supporting surface in its correct position in
advance of delivery of the sanitary fitting, which is particularly advantageous in
large building projects such as housing estates, hotels and hospitals, resulting in
greatly reduced installation time and cost.
[0015] The apparatus may comprise three separate parts which may be manufactured as plastics
mouldings. This is very convenient and economical for mass production.
[0016] Typically, the first formation will comprise a plurality of holes or slots through
which fasteners such as screws may be passed for attachment to the supporting surface.
This arrangement permits a wide variety of fasteners to be used, to suit a particular
installation.
[0017] The second formation may be comprised of a plurality of holes, each having a plain
bore, so that the fasteners, such as ordinary wood screws, will form their own thread.
[0018] An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mounting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, having a toilet
bowl mounted upon it;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a mounting apparatus according to a second embodiment of
the invention;
and Fig. 4 is part sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 having a toilet
bowl mounted upon it.
[0019] With reference to the drawings, adjustable mounting apparatus for mounting a sanitary
fitting is, in this embodiment, adapted for mounting a pedestal type toilet bowl 14.
Such a toilet bowl has a supporting pedestal part which is supported by a wall 16
of ceramic material defining an internal and empty void 26. The bottom surface 12
of the wall 16 engages a floor surface 18 on which the bowl is mounted. The floor
is rarely level. A plurality of fastening holes 5 (in this case two) are provided
which extend through the wall 16 close it its bottom surface 12, and spaced apart
around the circumference of the pedestal base region.
[0020] In accordance with the invention an adjustable mounting apparatus comprises three
separate components each formed by injection moulding of plastics material, and preferably
white in colour for light reflective purposes. The components consist of two fixing
brackets 2 and the retaining member in the form of a bar 4 of adjustable length. The
components may be assembled by sliding the ends of the bar 4 into cut-out formations
32 on the underside of each fixing bracket 2. The cut-out 32 may be of dovetailed
formation thus slidably to retain the bracket 2. The cut-outs 32 may extend part way
across the width of each bracket 2 or alternatively may extend throughout its width.
[0021] It will be seen that the bar 4 is notched as at 24 throughout much of its length
which can thus be adjusted by snapping off the unwanted end regions of the bar 4 so
that the assembled apparatus is adjusted to its required overall length thus to fit
closely within and extend fully across the base of the toilet bowl 14 as shown in
Figs. 2 and 4.
[0022] Each bracket 2 consists of a first formation in the form of a base plate 22 having
a pair of elongated spaced slots 6 therein for receiving a fastener such as a wood
screw 8 for attachment of the brackets to the floor 18. If required, further screws
20 may be inserted through a central region of the bar 4 again for attachment to the
floor 18. The slots 6 afford limited linear adjustment of each bracket 2 with respect
to the bar 4 to provide fine adjustments of the overall width or length of the apparatus
so that it may match exactly, the internal dimensions of the base region of the toilet
bowl pedestal.
[0023] Each bracket 2 further comprises a second formation in the form of an upstanding
boss 28 defining an array of inclined plain bores 10 which when the apparatus is assembled
with a pedestal shall enable at least one of the bores 10 in each boss 28 to become
aligned with an adjacent fastening hole 5 extending through the wall 16 of the pedestal
in its base region. Thus, screws 30 may be inserted through the holes 5 to become
threadedly engaged within the most adjacent of the bores 10 in the bosses 28.
[0024] In use, to install a toilet bowl using the mounting apparatus of the invention, a
first step is to establish a predetermined correct position for the mounting apparatus
on the floor 18. This may be achieved by marking on the floor surface a predetermined
distance from the inner surface of the external wall through which the waste pipe
is to pass.
[0025] Next, the assembled mounting apparatus which is first adjusted in size to match the
toilet bowl is placed in position and secured by screws 8 and 20.
[0026] The toilet bowl 14 is then placed over the pre-fixed mounting apparatus and connected
via a flexible coupling to a pipe leading through the external wall of the building
to connect externally to a vertical waste pipe. When these connections have been made
the toilet bowl 14 is finally fixed and secured by inserting screws 30 through holes
5 into the holes 10 of the mounting apparatus. The screws form their own threads by
displacing the plastics material of the brackets 2.
[0027] It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be used to secure other types of sanitary
fittings such as a bidet or a pedestal wash basin. Any variation in the width or other
dimensions of individual sanitary fittings is accommodated by the sliding engagement
of the brackets 2 on the bar 4, and the overall length adjustment of the latter. The
provision of the array of bores 10 in the fixing brackets ensure that there will always
be alignment of at least one bore with each fixing hole 5 of the fitting. Still further
slight adjustment may be accommodated if necessary by releasing one or both of the
screws 8 in one or both of the brackets and moving same before re-tightening in a
different position.
[0028] Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 a different arrangement of the bores 10 may be provided
such that they extend towards the side walls of the bosses 28 in order to align with
the fixing holes 5 of a different kind of pedestal where these holes are provided
adjacent the bottom end of an upright wall formation.
[0029] When it is required to install a pedestal having more than two fixing holes 5, a
further such mounting apparatus may be provided to align with the additional fixing
holes.
1. Adjustable mounting apparatus for a sanitary fitting, comprising two fixing brackets
one or each of which is adjustably mounted with respect to the other on a retaining
member, each bracket having at least one first formation for receiving at least one
first fastener to enable the bracket to be secured to a supporting surface, and at
least one second formation for receiving at least one second fastener to enable a
sanitary fitting to be secured to the bracket, the apparatus being adapted to be located
beneath and concealed by a part of the fitting to be mounted on the supporting surface.
2. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the retaining member
is a separate bar of adjustable length slidably mounted with respect to the brackets.
3. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the brackets are formed
from plastics.
4. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the or each
first formation comprises an aperture through which a first fastener may be passed
to connect with the supporting surface.
5. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the or each
second formation comprises a plurality of holes in a selected one of which a second
fastener can be received and retained therein.
6. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to Claim 5, in which each hole has a plain
bore to receive a screw threadedly engaged therein.
7. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the or each
second formation is provided on an upstanding boss such that the second formation
has a part located above the level of the supporting surface.
8. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to Claim 2, in which the bar includes a plurality
of snap-off formations for adjustment of its length.
9. Adjustable mounting apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 8, in which the bar is
slidably located in recesses within the brackets.
10. A sanitary installation comprising a sanitary fitting in combination with adjustable
mounting apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the adjustable mounting
apparatus is secured to a supporting surface, and the sanitary fitting is secured
to the adjustable mounting apparatus.
11. A sanitary installation according to Claim 10, in which a sealing means is provided
to form a liquid-tight seal between the sanitary fitting and the supporting surface.
12. A sanitary installation according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which the sanitary fitting
is a toilet bowl or a bidet, or a hand wash basin.
13. A method of installing a sanitary fitting comprising the steps of securing to a supporting
surface adjustable mounting apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9; securing
the sanitary fitting to the adjustable mounting apparatus; and connecting the sanitary
fitting to water supply and waste services.