FASTENING ARRANGEMENT FOR A WC FLAP ELEMENT

Abstract

A fastening system for a WC flap element, which can be flapped away from a support surface of a toilet bowl, comprising at least one mounting bolt extending along a center axis with a receiving portion, a stop portion for direct or indirect support on the support surface of the toilet bowl and a threaded portion, a hinge support, for mounting the WC flap element, with at least one mounting opening into which the receiving portion of the mounting bolt projects, and a non-rotatably mounted mating thread, into which the threaded portion of the mounting bolt engages. In the installed position, the center axis of the mounting bolt extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the horizontal. The receiving portion comprises a drive structure and the mounting opening is open toward the top, so that the drive structure is accessible and actuatable from the top.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A fastening system for a WC flap element which can be flapped away from a support surface, lying in the horizontal, of a toilet bowl, comprising at least one mounting bolt extending along a center axis with a receiving portion, a stop portion for direct or indirect support on the support surface of the toilet bowl and a threaded portion, a hinge support, for mounting the WC flap element, with at least one mounting opening into which the receiving portion of the mounting bolt projects, and a non-rotatably mounted mating thread, into which the threaded portion of the mounting bolt engages, wherein, in the installed position, the center axis of the mounting bolt extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the horizontal, wherein the receiving portion comprises a drive structure, and wherein the mounting opening is open toward the top, so that the drive structure is accessible and actuatable from the top.

19. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the drive structure is arranged at the end face on the free end of the receiving portion.

20. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the drive structure extends from the end face of the receiving portion into the receiving portion.

21. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the receiving portion has a constant external diameter, wherein the external diameter is not enlarged in the region of the drive structure, and/or wherein the diameter of the mounting opening is substantially identical to the external diameter of the receiving portion.

22. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the drive structure lies completely inside the mounting opening in the installed position.

23. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the stop portion has an annular surface toward the support surface, and wherein between the annular surface and the support surface lies an elastic disk element, which has a top side, which is of a complementary form with respect to the annular surface and is in contact with the annular surface, and has a bottom side, which rests on the support surface.

24. The fastening system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the annular surface is rounded in a concave manner and wherein the top side is rounded in a convex manner, or wherein the annular surface is rounded in a convex manner, and wherein the top side is rounded in a concave manner; and/or wherein the bottom side runs substantially in a plane.

25. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein toward the hinge support, the stop portion has an annular surface on which the hinge support stands.

26. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mating thread is part of a sliding block, which is mounted in a guide groove with play in at least one direction.

27. The fastening system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the guide groove is a part of a frame element, which is mounted in a rear receiving space in the toilet bowl.

28. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein for securing the hinge support, the receiving portion has at least one spring ring, and wherein the at least one spring ring is preferably the sole securing element.

29. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the hinge support extends along a hinge axis, and wherein, as seen transversely to the hinge axis, in cross section its outer form is constant substantially over the entire length.

30. The fastening system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the mounting opening runs at a right angle to the hinge axis and, as seen in cross section, lies substantially centrally in relation to the hinge support.

31. The fastening system as claimed in claim 18, wherein at each end face, the hinge support has a receiving opening in which a hinge element is mounted, wherein the mounting opening preferably penetrates the receiving opening and the hinge element extends around the cross section of the mounting opening, or wherein a hinge part protrudes from the hinge support at the end face in the direction of the hinge axis.

32. An arrangement comprising a fastening system and a WC flap element, said fastening system comprises at least one, in particular two, mounting bolts extending along a center axis with a receiving portion, a stop portion for direct or indirect support on the support surface of the toilet bowl and a threaded portion, a hinge support, for mounting the WC flap element, with at least one mounting opening into which the receiving portion of the mounting bolt projects, and a non-rotatably mounted mating thread, into which the threaded portion of the mounting bolt engages, wherein, in the installed position, the center axis of the mounting bolt extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the horizontal, wherein the receiving portion comprises a drive structure, wherein the mounting opening is open toward the top, so that the drive structure is accessible and actuatable from the top, and wherein said WC flap element is pivotably mounted on the hinge support and in particular designed as a seat ring and/or a lid, and a toilet bowl, on which the fastening system is mounted by way of the at least one mounting bolt.

33. The arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the hinge support is covered by a cover element.

34. A method for assembling a fastening system, comprising at least one, in particular two, mounting bolts extending along a center axis with a receiving portion, a stop portion for direct or indirect support on the support surface of the toilet bowl and a threaded portion, a hinge support, for mounting the WC flap element, with at least one mounting opening into which the receiving portion of the mounting bolt projects, and a non-rotatably mounted mating thread, into which the threaded portion of the mounting bolt engages, wherein, in the installed position, the center axis of the mounting bolt extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the horizontal, wherein the receiving portion comprises a drive structure and wherein the mounting opening is open toward the top, so that the drive structure is accessible and actuatable from the top, wherein in a first step, the mounting bolt is brought into engagement with the mating thread by way of its threaded portion such that the mounting bolt can be displaced in its position relative to the toilet bowl, wherein in a second step, the hinge support is brought into connection with the mounting bolts; and wherein in a third step, the WC flap element is aligned with respect to the toilet bowl; and wherein in a fourth step, after alignment has taken place, the mounting bolt is tightened by way of the drive structure, and wherein, in a fifth, optional step, a cover element covering the hinge support is assembled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which merely serve for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic exploded illustration of a fastening system according to the invention with a toilet bowl according to a preferred embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration through the center axis of a mounting bolt of the fastening system according to FIG. 1; and

[0044] FIG. 3 shows another sectional illustration through the center axis of a mounting bolt of the fastening system according to FIGS. 1 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] The figures show a fastening system 1 for a WC flap element 2 on a toilet bowl 4. The WC flap element 2 can be flapped away from a support surface 3 which lies in the horizontal H and is part of a toilet bowl 4. The WC flap element 2 is typically a WC lid and/or a WC seat ring.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration, in which the WC flap element 2 is shown spaced apart from the support surface 3.

[0047] The fastening system 1 comprises at least one mounting bolt 5 extending along a center axis M. Here, two mounting bolts 5 are arranged. FIG. 1 shows the basic arrangement of the two mounting bolts 5. The two mounting bolts 5 are spaced apart from one another. A part of the mounting bolt 5 extends upwardly from the support surface 3 of the toilet bowl 4 along the center axis M. In this case, the center axis M is oriented substantially at a right angle to the horizontal H. Another part of the mounting bolt extends into the toilet bowl 4 via a fastening opening 28 of the toilet bowl 4.

[0048] The fastening system 1 also comprises a hinge support 9 for pivotably mounting the WC flap element 2 on the toilet bowl 4. The hinge support 9 can be brought into connection with the at least one mounting bolt 5 and is mounted on the toilet bowl 4 by way of the at least one mounting bolt 5.

[0049] As is shown in the figures, the mounting bolt 5 comprises a receiving portion 6, an adjoining stop portion 7 and a threaded portion 8. In the embodiment shown, the threaded portion 8 is formed on the stop portion 7 via a bridging portion 27. The receiving portion 6 serves for mounting the hinge support 9. The stop portion 7 can be connected directly or indirectly to the support surface 3 of the toilet bowl 4.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration through the center axis M of the mounting bolt 5. It can be clearly seen here that the fastening system 1 furthermore has a mating thread 11 mounted non-rotatably with respect to the mounting bolt 5 and into which the mounting bolt 5 engages. The threaded portion 8, which extends underneath the stop portion 7 in the direction of the center axis, can be brought into engagement with the mating thread 11. In the embodiment shown, the threaded portion 8 is an external thread and the mating thread 11 is an internal thread.

[0051] In the embodiment shown, the receiving portion 6 and the stop portion 7 extend in the upward direction away from the support surface 3, while the threaded portion 8 or the bridging portion 27 shown here extend in the downward direction toward the mating thread 11 through a fastening opening 28 in the toilet bowl 4. The bridging portion 27 has at least one length which is slightly greater than the depth of the fastening opening 28, wherein in addition the diameter of the bridging portion 27 is preferably smaller than the external diameter of the threaded portion 8. The external diameter of the bridging portion 27 is smaller than the diameter of the fastening opening 28, resulting in play between the mounting bolt 5 and the fastening opening 28. If the threaded portion 8 directly adjoins the stop portion 7, that is to say when no bridging portion 27 is present, the external diameter of the threaded portion 8 is smaller than the diameter of the fastening opening 28. In this way, play is likewise accomplished.

[0052] In the embodiment shown, the receiving portion 6 extends into a mounting opening 10 on the hinge support 9. In this way, the hinge support 9 is mounted on the mounting bolt 5. The hinge support 9 comprises two mounting openings 10 arranged spaced apart from one another. The two mounting openings 10 are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the two mounting bolts 5. In the embodiment shown, toward the hinge support 9, the stop portion 7 has an annular surface 18 on which the hinge support 9 stands.

[0053] The receiving portion 6 furthermore comprises a drive structure 12, by way of which the mounting bolt 5 can be made to rotate about its center axis M. The installer can use a tool to engage into the drive structure 12 and consequently set the mounting bolt 5 in rotation. In this way, the threaded portion 8 of the mounting bolt 5 is screwed into the mating thread 11. As shown in the figures, the mounting opening 10 is open toward the top, so that the drive structure 12 is accessible and actuatable from the top. The accessibility from the top can be seen particularly well in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0054] During the assembly, the mounting bolt 5 can be brought into engagement with the mating thread 11 by way of the threaded portion 8 and gently tightened, so that the mating thread 11 and the mounting bolt 5 can move relative to the support surface 3 within the play. In this case, the movement is in particular transverse to the fastening opening 28, the fastening opening 28 having a diameter which is greater than the maximum diameter of the mounting bolt 5, so that a corresponding play can be provided. After gently tightening the mounting bolt 5, the installer can place the hinge support 9 on the receiving portion 6 and then align the entire WC flap element 2 with respect to the toilet bowl 4. After alignment has taken place, the installer can then tighten the mounting bolt 5 with respect to the mating thread 11 by way of the drive structure 12, so that no further displacement is achieved. During the tightening, the stop portion 7 is pulled against the support surface 3. For the actuation of the drive structure 12, a suitable tool can be inserted into the mounting opening 10, said tool then engaging into the drive structure 12 so that the mounting bolt 5 is made to rotate with respect to the stationary mating thread.

[0055] The drive structure 12 extends from the end face 30 of the receiving portion 6 into the receiving portion 6. The drive structure 12 is arranged at the end face on the free end 13 of the receiving portion 6. The drive structure 12 is integrally formed on the mounting bolt 5 and in this case extends from its end face into the receiving portion 6. A change in the diameter of the mounting bolt 5 in the region of the drive structure 12 is not necessary.

[0056] The receiving portion 6 has a constant external diameter D6, wherein, as stated, the external diameter D6 is not enlarged in the region of the drive structure. The external diameter D6 of the receiving portion 6 is substantially identical to the diameter D10 of the mounting opening 10. In the embodiment shown, the drive structure 12 is designed as a hexagonal socket. The drive structure may, however, also be of a different form, such as for example a Torx socket.

[0057] In the installed position, the drive structure 12 lies completely inside the mounting opening 10. That is to say, the end face 30 also lies completely inside the mounting opening 10. In this way, the advantage is obtained that the end of the receiving portion 6 lies inside the mounting opening 10 and no protruding parts, which would project out of the mounting opening 10 in the upward direction, are present.

[0058] From FIG. 2 it can be seen clearly that, toward the support surface 3, the stop portion 7 has an annular surface 14. An elastic disk element 15 is arranged between the annular surface 14 and the support surface 3. The elastic disk element 15 has a top side 16, which is of a complementary form to the annular surface 14. The disk element 15 is preferably composed of plastic.

[0059] In the embodiment shown, the annular surface 14 of the stop portion 7 is formed as a concavely rounded surface, whereas the top side 16 of the disk element 15 is formed as a convex surface. In this way, angular tolerances which may result from the formation of the support surface 3 can be compensated.

[0060] The bottom side 17 of the disk element 15 rests on the support surface 3. In this case, the disk element 15 is preferably dimensioned such that the stop portion 7 does not rest directly on the support surface 3. This is an indirect support between the stop portion 7 and the support surface 3. A direct support would also be conceivable, it then being possible to dispense with the disk element 15.

[0061] Toward the hinge support 9, the stop portion 7 has a further annular surface on which the hinge support 9 stands. Here, the hinge support 9 stands on the annular surface 14 by way of the peripheral regions of the mounting opening 10.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 3, the mating thread 11 is a constituent part of a sliding block 19. The sliding block 19 is mounted in a guide groove 20 with play in at least one direction R1, R2. In the embodiment shown, the sliding block 19 can be moved freely in two different directions R1, R2, which are at a right angle to one another. The movability is preferably such that the mating thread 11 underneath the fastening opening 28 of the toilet bowl 4 can assume any position within the fastening opening 28.

[0063] Here, the guide groove 20 is part of a frame element 21, which is mounted in a rear receiving space 22 in the toilet bowl. The frame element 21 may also serve, for example, to fasten the toilet bowl 4 to the wall. The frame element 21 is fixedly mounted in said receiving space 2.

[0064] For securing the hinge support 9, the receiving portion 6 has at least one spring ring 23. Here, the spring ring 23 is mounted in a spring ring groove 29. The spring ring 23 is particularly preferably the sole securing element between the receiving portion 6 and the hinge support 9, so that the hinge support 9 can be easily separated from the receiving portion 6, for example for cleaning work.

[0065] It can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 that the hinge support 9 extends in a beam-like manner along a hinge axis S. As seen transversely to the hinge axis S, the cross section is constant in its outer form substantially over the entire length of the hinge support 9. The mounting opening 10 is at a right angle to the hinge axis S and, as seen in the cross section of the hinge support, is arranged substantially centrally with respect to the hinge support 9.

[0066] At each end face, the hinge support 9 has a receiving opening 24 in which a hinge element 25 is mounted. Here, the hinge element 25 connects the WC flap element 2 to the hinge support 9. The mounting opening 10 penetrates the receiving opening 24, the hinge element 25 extending around the cross section of the mounting opening 10.

[0067] In another embodiment, at the end face, a hinge part can protrude from the hinge support 9 in the direction of the hinge axis S. In this case, the hinge part is fixedly formed on the hinge support 9.

[0068] The figures also show that the hinge support 9 is covered by a cover element 26.

[0069] A method for assembling a fastening system according to the above description is characterized by the following steps: [0070] in a first step, the mounting bolt 5 is brought into engagement with the mating thread 11 by way of its threaded portion 8 such that the mounting bolt 5 can be displaced in its position relative to the toilet bowl 4, [0071] in a second step, the hinge support 9 is brought into connection with the mounting bolts 5; and [0072] in a third step, the WC flap element 2 is aligned with respect to the toilet bowl 4; and [0073] in a fourth step, after alignment has taken place, the mounting bolt 5 is tightened by way of the drive structure 12.

[0074] In a fifth, optional step, a cover element 26 covering the hinge support 9 is assembled.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0075] 1 Fastening system [0076] 2 WC flap element [0077] 3 Support surface [0078] 4 Toilet bowl [0079] 5 Mounting bolt [0080] 6 Receiving portion [0081] 7 Stop portion [0082] 8 Threaded portion [0083] 9 Hinge support [0084] 10 Mounting opening [0085] 11 Mating thread [0086] 12 Drive structure [0087] 13 Free end [0088] 14 Annular surface [0089] 15 Disk element [0090] 16 Top side [0091] 17 Bottom side [0092] 18 Annular surface [0093] 19 Sliding block [0094] 20 Guide groove [0095] 21 Frame element [0096] 22 Receiving space [0097] 23 Spring ring [0098] 24 Receiving opening [0099] 25 Hinge element [0100] 26 Cover element [0101] 27 Bridging portion [0102] 28 Fastening opening [0103] 29 Spring ring groove [0104] 30 End face [0105] H Horizontal [0106] M Center axis [0107] D6 Diameter of receiving portion [0108] D10 Diameter of mounting opening [0109] R1, R2 Direction [0110] S Hinge axis