U.S. patent application number 10/205805 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-29 for push-on bolt stabilizer.
Invention is credited to Siegal, David M..
Application Number | 20040016046 10/205805 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30770160 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040016046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Siegal, David M. |
January 29, 2004 |
Push-on bolt stabilizer
Abstract
The invention provides for a retainer for stabilizing a threaded
member. The retainer may include a base portion having an opening
and an outer perimeter lying in a first plane, the opening having a
plurality of elongated sections each extending toward the outer
perimeter so as to define in the base portion one or more arms.
Each of the arms may have a head section having at least one
groove, the head sections being located in a second plane which is
parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane. The elongated
sections may be symmetrically arranged about an axis. The grooves
may be arranged to define at least a portion of a helix. The outer
perimeter of the retainer may be circular.
Inventors: |
Siegal, David M.; (Franklin
Lakes, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Matthew W. Siegal
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
180 Maiden Lane
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
30770160 |
Appl. No.: |
10/205805 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/252.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 39/22 20130101;
F16B 39/106 20130101; E03D 11/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/252.1 |
International
Class: |
E03D 011/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toilet system having a horizontal base with a perimeter
portion to engage a floor, the improvement comprising, a recess
opening in the perimeter portion, an upstanding threaded bolt in
the recess opening with a member on a lower end thereof to hold the
threaded bolt against upper movement through the recess, a retainer
ring on the bolt above the perimeter portion to support the
threaded bolt against movement in the recess, the retainer ring
comprising a flexible member with an aperture therein, threads
formed in the flexible member within the aperture to receive a
threaded bolt, and protrusions formed on a surface of the flexible
member for facilitating the manual rotation thereof when mounted on
a threaded bolt.
2. The toilet system of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is
constructed to be pushed over the bolt to the recess then turned to
tighten the bolt in position in the recess.
3. A retainer for stabilizing a bolt for holding a toilet,
comprising: a base portion having an outer perimeter lying in a
first plane and defining an opening, and a plurality of elongated
fingers extending from the base portion, each finger having a head
section having at least one thread groove, said head sections being
disposed in a second plane and defining a bolt bore aperture which
is parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane, said fingers
deformable in a direction from the first plane to the second
place.
4. The retainer according to claim 3, wherein said fingers are
symmetrically arranged about an axis.
5. The retainer according to claim 3, wherein said grooves are
arranged to define at least a portion of a helix.
6. The retainer according to claim 3, wherein said outer perimeter
is substantially circular.
7. The retainer according to claim 3, wherein said retainer
comprises a polymeric material.
8. The retainer of claim 7, and a bolt having a diameter
substantially that of the bolt bore aperture, wherein the fingers
are constructed to permit the retainer to be pushed in a first
direction from the second plane towards the first plane over the
bolt, but not in the opposite direction, and that the retainer can
be tightened in the first direction by turning the retainer.
9. A retainer for stabilizing a threaded toilet retaining bolt
passed therethrough, the retainer comprising: a base portion having
a base bottom and a base top; a plurality of flexible fingers,
separated by slots, extending from said base; each of said
plurality of flexible arms having a gripping section, each of said
gripping sections having a thread dimensioned and disposed to
threadingly engage the threaded bolt; said base top being disposed
a first distance along a center axis of said retainer from said
base bottom, said gripping section of each of said plurality of
fingers being disposed a second distance along said center axis
from said base bottom, and said second distance being greater than
said first distance; wherein said flexible fingers flex when said
retainer is being pushed onto the threaded bolt in only one
direction.
10. A retainer according to claim 13, further comprising a
plurality of nibs disposed about a perimeter of said base.
11. A retainer according to claim 13, wherein said flexible fingers
are symmetrically arranged about said center axis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed generally to toilet
bolts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One of the most common ways to hold a toilet seat to the
floor is with a bolt. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,479, the contents of
which are incorporated by reference.
[0003] When using a nut and bolt fastener it is almost always the
practice to provide the objects being joined with a bore through
which the bolt body extends. Bolt insertion into the bore is
facilitated by making the bore somewhat larger than the bolt's
diameter.
[0004] As the diameter of the bore increases relative to the
diameter of the bolt, and the thickness of the bore decreases
relative to the length of the bolt body, the bolt becomes more
prone to shifting its position in the bore before the nut is
tightened. Such movement of the bolt may thwart or at least
complicate attachment and tightening of the nut and proper
positioning of the bolt and object being attached. Moreover, in
certain types of installations, such as those described below
involving toilets, the bolt may even drop out of the bore. Thus,
there exists a general need for a device which helps to stabilize
and position a bolt for a toilet.
[0005] Toilets typically have universally accepted components for
mounting on a floor surface. The toilet has a horizontal base to
rest on and engage the floor surface. A recess opening appears on
the underside thereof with a perimeter. A floor ring already
mounted in the floor, is fitted within the recess. The floor ring
is in communication with the downwardly extending sewer pipe.
[0006] A pair of oppositely disposed slots are typically formed in
the flange and comprise a wide bolt head receiving portion
terminating in an elongated narrow bolt head retaining portion
slots. These openings extend vertically through the flange. The
narrow portion of the slot frequently has lower edges terminating
in a groove extending along the edges. The groove has a width
greater than the narrow portion of the slot.
[0007] Conventionally, a bolt which has upper and lower ends with
the lower end having a planar head is mounted within the narrow
portion of the slot with the planar head on the lower end thereof
positioned in the aforementioned groove. The planar head on the
bolt has a width wider than the narrow portion of the slot, and a
longitudinal length greater than the width of the narrow portion.
The longitudinal length of the head has a center axis which is
typically positioned by turning the bolt so that the center axis
extends across the width of the narrow portion of the slot.
[0008] A potential problem with the conventional configuration is
that it is difficult to stabilize the bolt in the flange slot as
the toilet is lowered. Since it is very difficult for the installer
to see the bolts and to hold the toilet in place as the toilet is
lowered over the upwardly pointing bolts, the bolts can be
accidentally knocked out of position when the toilet is lowered
over the bolts. Such bolts can be lost below the floor surface.
[0009] One existing scheme for restraining toilet bolts during
pedestal installations uses a loose floating washer. While
advantageous for holding the bolt in the flange, the configuration
does not keep the bolt fixed, to make slipping the bore over the
bolt easier. Another conventional system uses a thin flat plastic
washer with a circular central opening, and four small notches
symmetrically arranged about the disk's center. These notches
define four flexible tabs which can retain the washer over the bolt
threads. This configuration has also not been found to securely
hold the bolt in place as a porcelain toilet is being lowered
thereon. If the bottom of the toilet hits the top of the bolt as it
is being lowered, it could force the bolt through the washer and
into the floorboard.
[0010] The construction does not reliably hold the bolt securely
enough in the slot to prevent it from being knocked out of position
when the toilet is lowered.
[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved article and method for securing toilets to flanged
rings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a
mounting bolt system for use in mounting toilets to flanges is
provided. The system includes a bolt with upper and lower ends with
an elongated threaded shank therebetween. An elongated planar head
is on the lower end of the bolt, and a longitudinal length larger
than the diameter of the shank. The head has a center axis
extending along its length. A threaded push-on ring retainer is
included to make a tight connection between the bolt head and the
floor flange to hold the bolt securely enough that it will hold its
position as the toilet is lowered. The ring is of a suitable
diameter for convenient hand turning and is constructed of a
flexible resilient material with the center or hub section
sufficiently thick in depth to allow for a threaded opening to be
in the center. The outer edge of the push-on retaining ring is
provided with raised points or knobs to facilitate turning. The
push-on retaining ring is constructed so that it can be easily
pushed over the bolt threads and snugged tight with a minimal
amount of turning. The internal threads in the center or hub of the
ring allow it to be tightened in order to hold the fastening device
in the proper position.
[0013] The retainer ring can include a base portion for contacting
the upper surface of the flange, having an opening and an outer
perimeter lying in a first plane, the opening having a plurality of
independently movable elongated sections, each extending inwardly
from the outer perimeter towards the center so as to define in the
base portion one or more fingers. Each of the fingers may have a
gripping section having at least one ridge for engaging the bolt
threads, the gripping sections being located in a second plane
which is parallel to and spaced above the first plane.
[0014] The retainer may be pushed onto a bolt to its final position
for retaining a bolt, or near its final position. The retainer may
then be rotated and screwed with minimal turning onto the bolt to
further secure the bolt, the retainer should be sufficiently sturdy
such that it can hold the bolt securely enough during toilet
installation.
[0015] Because the fingers flex away from the slot as the retainer
is slid into place, wear on the threads and grooves of the bolt and
the retainer may be minimized during sliding of the retainer.
Accordingly, once the retainer is positioned close to its final
position, it may be rotated, with the grooves on the groove or
grooves on the head section of the arms providing a threaded
connection with the threaded bolt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the drawing figures, which are merely illustrative, and
wherein like reference characters denote similar elements
throughout the several views:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a conventional
bolt for use with of this invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is plan view of a conventional floor ring;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 3A is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line
3A-3A of FIG. 3;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line 4-4
of FIG. 2 with the bolt removed;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a
retaining ring;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the retaining ring of
FIG. 5;
[0024] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the retaining ring of FIG.
5;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the retaining ring of FIG.
5;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the retaining ring of FIG.
5;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a sectional elevational view of the retainer of
FIG. 8 taken along section line 10-10; and
[0028] FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view of the retainer of
FIG. 8 taken along section line 11-11.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring generally to FIG. 3, a conventional floor surface
10 is shown supporting a conventional toilet 12 having a base 14, a
perimeter portion 16, and a centrally located recess 18 in the
bottom central portion thereof.
[0030] A conventional floor ring 20 is installed in floor 10. Floor
ring 20 has a center opening 22 which terminates in a downwardly
extending sewer pipe 24. A conventional wax ring 26 is mounted on
top of floor ring 20 and serves to seal toilet 12 to floor ring 20
when the installation is completed. Floor ring 20 is nested within
recess 18 of base 14 of toilet 12.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 3A, and 4, a pair of elongated slots
28 are formed in ring 20. Slots 28 are comprised of a wide portion
30 which terminates in elongated narrow portion 32. As shown in
FIG. 4, a groove 34 is formed underneath narrow portion 32 under a
lower edge 36 of narrow portion 32.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, a bolt 38 has an upper end 40 and a
lower end 42. A planar head 44 is located on the lower end 42 and
has a center axis 46. The width of head 44 is designated by W 48,
and the length thereof is designated by the letter L 50. A threaded
shank 52 extends from lower end 42 to upper end 40.
[0033] To install toilet 12, floor ring 20 is set in place in floor
surface 10 with a bolt 48 extending upwardly from each of the slots
28. A nut 56 on each bolt is typically not installed on the upper
ends of the bolts 38 at that point in time. Typically, heads 44 of
bolts 38 are inserted into slots 28 through the wide portion 30
thereof, and can be moved into the narrow portions 32. Wax ring 26
is then located in its conventional position, and toilet 12 is
thereupon lowered onto floor ring 20 so that bolts 38 can extend
through bores 58 in the base of toilet 12. It is apparent how it is
difficult to keep bolts 38 in place, so that a bore 38A in toilet
12 rides over bolts 38. However, a retainer 100' is useful to hold
bolts 38 upright as the toilet is lowered.
[0034] A preferred example of a push down bolt retainer in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown
generally as retainer 100 in FIGS. 5-11.
[0035] Retainer 100 comprises a base 130 and two or more fingers
140 extending inwards from base 130. Base 130 includes a bottom
surface 131 which will contact the top of the flange where the
retaining bolt extends through a base in the toilet. Thus, the
diameter of base 130 should be larger than the typical flange slot,
which is generally 0.375 inches wide. The outer periphery of base
130 should be thick and wide enough to be easy to turn by hand.
Thus, raised nibs 132 are advantageously included. Base 130 should
also be sturdy enough to provide effective strength. Generally, a
thickness of 0.040 to 0.125 inches, preferably 0.075 to 0.085
inches and a width of 0.50 to 1.250 inches, preferably 1.175 to
1.185 inches is suitable.
[0036] Fingers 140 have a base portion 141 where they extend from
base 130 and a tip portion 142, where they grip the threads of the
retaining bolt, e.g., threads 42 of bolt 38. It is desired that
retainer 100 can be pushed onto the retaining bolt and then snugged
tight with minimal turning. Accordingly, fingers 140 advantageously
incline up from bottom surface 131 in the direction from base 141
to tip 142. Thus, base 141 can act as a living hinge as fingers 140
are deflected upwards as retainer 100 is pushed down over a bolt.
In another embodiment of the invention, fingers 140 are not
inclined and rely on their flexibility and resiliency to permit
retainer 100 to be pushed over a bolt. Consequently, retainer 100
is advantageously made of plastic, rubber or other plastic-like and
rubber-like materials.
[0037] In order to permit deformation at tip 142, to permit
retainer 100 to be pushed over a bolt, fingers 140 are
advantageously wedge shaped and separated by slots 143.
[0038] It is also advantageous that tip portion 142 includes a bolt
thread gripping section 150. An inwardly facing surface 151 of
gripping section 150 can be threaded with one, two or more ridges
152 to grip the bolt threads. The plurality of inwardly facing
surfaces 151 can define a hole for receiving the bolt shaft. Thus,
after retainer 100 is pushed over the bolt, turning retainer 100
will force gripping section 150 downwards, imparting a downward
force to bottom surface 131. Because gripping section 150 is on a
plane raised above base 130, tightening retainer 100 will force
fingers 140 even closer toward the middle, increasing the force
with which they grip the bolt. This will act to hold the bolt in
place more securely, rather than deflecting it out of position. The
inclined structure of fingers 140 serves to reduce wear on the
inner threads.
[0039] Furthermore, because base 141 may act as a living hinge as
fingers 140 are deflected upwards, and because fingers 140 may each
be deflected independently of the other fingers 140, retainer 100
may be used for stabilizing a variety of bolt sizes, such as, for
example, size 1/4-20 bolts ({fraction (1/4 )} inch diameter, 20
threads per inch), and size {fraction (5/16)}-18 bolts ({fraction
(5/16 )} inch diameter, 18 threads per inch).
[0040] Once retainer 100 is positioned proximate its final location
on the bolt, retainer 100 may be rotated or twisted into place with
ridges 150 on retainer 100 threadably mating with the threads on
the bolt (not shown).
[0041] Moreover, the user does not have to rotate retainer 100 and
thread it all the way down the length of the bolt, but may save
time by pressing and sliding it into its final position, or a
position close to its final position, before finally rotating
retainer 100 into its final position by use of ridges 142.
[0042] Moreover, because gripping sections 150 are disposed in a
second plane which is parallel to and spaced apart from the first
plane (i.e., the base top 133 is disposed a first distance D1 along
a center axis of retainer 100 from the base bottom 131 and the top
of each of the plurality of fingers 140 is disposed a second
distance D2 along the center axis from the base bottom 131, and the
second distance D2 is greater than the first distance D1), the
sliding of retainer 100 into its final or approximately its final
position is facilitated. The preferred relationship of D1 and D2 is
between 10:20 and 14:17, preferably 13:18.
[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the fingers 140 may be
symmetrically arranged about an axis. Fingers 140, however, need
not be symmetrically arranged, and may be arranged in other
alignments as a matter of design choice by one skilled in the
art.
[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, ridges 152 may define thread a
least one thread ridge arranged to define at least a portion of a
helix, such that ridges 152 may suitably mate with the helical
threads and grooves of a bolt (not shown).
[0045] Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, outer perimeter 135
of retainer 100 may be substantially circular. Outer perimeter 135
of retainer 100 may, however, be formed in alternate shapes such
as, by way of non-limiting example, a substantially square shape, a
substantially triangular shape, or other shapes as a matter of
application specific design choice by one skilled in the art.
[0046] Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed
out novel features of the present invention as applied to preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions
and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the
disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention,
therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
[0047] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the
invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the
invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
there between. In particular, this invention should not be
construed as being limited to the dimensions, proportions or
arrangements disclosed herein.
* * * * *