The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 18, 2018
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2015
As Ip Holdco, Llc, Piscataway, NJ (US);
Robert M. Jensen, East Brunswick, NJ (US);
David Grover, Hamilton, NJ (US);
James P. Walsh, Bridgewater, NJ (US);
AS IP HOLDCO, LLC, Piscataway, NJ (US);
Abstract
Kits and methods for installing a toilet bowl or toilet assembly without tools, and an installed toilet assembly, 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 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 an outer surface and 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 stem extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flange; and a bolt locking knob having an interior surface defining an opening extending therethrough, wherein the interior surface is configured so that when the end of the bolt stem is placed within the opening 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 when a toilet bowl base is positioned in place over the flange and the bolts have a size that is coordinated with the size of the locking knobs to eliminate the use of tools on installation of the bowl. Handle fasteners for manual tightening may also be included for installation of a tank on the bowl also without the use of tools. Mounting blocks are also described which enable installation while minimizing potential for injury due to suspending a toilet bowl or assembly while aligning the bowl so as to sit on a flange bolt(s).