Floating nipple assemblies for wax free installation of new and existing toilets

Abstract

A new floating nipple assembly 200 comprises: a set of floating nipples 210 or threaded adapter sleeves, the floating nipples having inner voids and exteriors of outer male threads 214; a seal body 100 comprising ear assemblies 110 defining ear voids 220, the ear voids having inner female threads 222; closet bolts 230 inserted through a soil pipe flange 300, the closet bolts inserted through the ear voids 220, nipples 210 and a toilet base 410; and integrated cap nuts 500 placed over the toilet base 410 and frictionally attached to the ends of the closet bolts 230. Disclosed embodiments provide for wax free installation of toilets in either new construction or in retrofit projects. The floating nipple assemble system allows a plumber to effortlessly adjust the height of the seal body by merely rotating the floating nipples within the ear voids of the seal body.

Claims

1. A system for wax free installation of a toilet and for height adjustment of a seal body by use of floating nipples, the system comprising: one or more closet bolts the closet bolts comprised of a lower stopper; one or more floating nipples, the floating nipples comprising a longitudinal void and outer threads; the seal body comprising one or more ear assemblies disposed upon an upper section of the seal body, each ear assembly defining an ear void, the perimeter of each ear void comprising inner threads; and one or more integrated nut caps, each nut cap comprising an inner threaded void area, the closet bolts disposed within closet bolt voids, the closet bolt voids defined within a soil pipe flange with the closet bolt lower stoppers disposed upon a bottom side of the soil pipe flange; the closet bolts inserted through the longitudinal voids of the floating nipples, wherein the floating nipples are positioned above the soil pipe flange; wherein the floating nipples are screwed into the ear voids to adjust the vertical distance between the soil pipe flange and the seal body; the closet bolts extending slightly beyond top portions of the floating nipples and the closet bolts disposed within bolt voids defined within a toilet base; the closet bolts having top ends secured within inner threaded void areas defined within the integrated nut caps.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seal frictionally attached to a lower section of the seal body.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the seal body comprises flexible material generating an upward bias upon compression.

4. A kit for wax free installation of a toilet and for height adjustment of a seal body by use of floating nipples, the kit comprising: one or more closet bolts the closet bolts comprised of a lower stopper; one or more floating nipples, the floating nipples comprising a longitudinal void and outer threads; the seal body comprising one or more ear assemblies disposed upon an upper section of the seal body, each ear assembly defining an ear void, the perimeter of each ear void comprising threads; and one or more integrated nut caps, each nut cap comprising an inner threaded void area; the closet bolts configured to be within closet bolt voids, the closet bolt voids defined within a soil pipe flange, with the closet bolt lower stoppers of the closet bolts disposed upon a bottom side of a soil pipe flange; the closet bolts configured to be inserted through the longitudinal voids of the floating nipples, wherein the floating nipples are configured to be screwed into the ear voids to adjust the height between the soil pipe flange and the seal body; the closet bolts configured to extend slightly beyond top portions of the floating nipples and the closet bolts configured to be disposed within bolt voids, the bolt voids defined within a toilet base; the closet bolts comprising top ends comporting to inner threaded void areas defined within the integrated nut caps.

5. A method of installing a toilet without the use of wax, and for adjusting the height of a seal body by use of a plurality floating nipples, the method comprising the steps of: using one or more closet bolts frictionally attached to a soil pipe flange; threading each of the plurality of floating nipples into a corresponding ear void, each ear void defined within an ear assembly of a seal body, and each ear void comprising threads; inserting each closet bolt through each floating nipple; inserting each floating nipple through a bolt void, the bold void defined within a toilet base; and frictionally attaching an integrated cap nut upon each closet bolt; adjusting the height of the seal body by rotating the floating nipples.

6. The method of claim 5 using floating nipples with outer male threads and using ear voids with female threads.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts perspective view of a disassembled embodiment

(2) FIG. 2 depicts perspective view of a disassembled embodiment

(3) FIG. 3 depicts perspective view of a disassembled embodiment

(4) FIG. 4 depicts an elevation view of disclosed components

(5) FIG. 5 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 4

(6) FIG. 6 depicts disclosed components in an assembled condition

(7) FIG. 7 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 6

(8) FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of disclosed components in an assembled condition

(9) FIG. 9 depicts disclosed components in an assembled condition

(10) FIG. 10 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 9

(11) FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view of disclosed components in an assembled condition

(12) FIG. 12 depicts an elevation view of disclosed components in a dissembled condition.

(13) FIG. 13 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 12

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

(14) 100 seal body 101 upper section of seal body 105 inferior section or lower section of seal body 100 110 ear assembly of superior end of seal body 120 seal placed on or near ear assembly 125 inferior seal or gasket of inferior side of seal body 100 200 floating nipple assembly 210 floating nipple 212 inner void within floating nipples 210 214 outer male threads of floating nipples 210 220 ear void 222 inner female threads of ear void 220 230 closet bolt 231 closet bolt positioned within a soil pipe flange 232 closet bolt positioned within soil pipe flange and within floating nipple 210 235 lower stopper section of closet bolt 300 soil pipe flange 302 closet bolt voids 310 soil pipe 400 toilet assembly 410 toilet base 415 bolt voids defined within the toilet base 410 420 horn of toilet assembly 500 integrated cap nuts 510 inner threaded void area of integrated cap nuts

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(15) The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims and their equivalents. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.

(16) Unless otherwise noted in this specification or in the claims, all of the terms used in the specification and the claims will have the meanings normally ascribed to these terms by workers in the art.

(17) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of including, but not limited to. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words herein, above, below, and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

(18) The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not only the systems described herein. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description.

(19) Any and all the above references and U.S. patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various patents and applications described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

(20) These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. In general, the terms used in the following claims, should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly defines such terms.

(21) A new floating nipple assembly 200 comprises a set of floating nipples 210, with the floating nipples having inner voids 212 and outer male threads 214, ear voids 220 with the ear voids having inner female threads 222 and closet bolts 230. Floating nipples 210 used with the threaded ear voids and closet bolts provide a new system of efficiently securing a toilet assembly to a soil pipe or other base structure. The disclosed threading of the components of the floating nipple assembly 200 vitiates the prior art shortfall of making height adjustments by the cutting of closet bolts. In the prior art, closet bolts would need to be cut so as not to overly protrude over a toilet assembly. The disclosed floating nipple assembly 200 and other disclosed components reduce the time and effort in toilet installation and allow for easy height adjustments of a seal body to comport with either new or existing water closet construction.

(22) FIG. 1 depicts a disclosed embodiment comprising a seal body 100, ear assembly 110 of the superior or upper end of seal body 100, a seal 120 placed on or near the ear assembly, inferior seal or gasket 125 placed or found upon the inferior or lower side of the seal body 100.

(23) A closet bolt 231 is positioned within the soil pipe flange 300. A clearer view of a closet bolt 230 is shown unattached to the soil pipe flange 300. The nipples 210 have outer threads complementary to the inner threads 222 of the ear voids 220.

(24) Upon assembly, the closet bolts 231 may be positioned within the soil pipe flange 300, the floating nipples 210 may be rotationally attached or screwed into the ear voids 220, and the closet bolts may be inserted though the interior voids of the floating nipples. The closet bolts and floating nipples pass though the bolt voids 415 defined within the toilet base. The integrated cap nuts 500 have inner threaded void areas 510 that may be rotationally fastened or screwed down upon the protruding closet bolts. As the floating nipples are screwed, the seal body and other components self-adjust to the correct elevations to create a wax free seal or installation of the toilet.

(25) FIG. 2 depicts components of the floating nipple assembly 200, as well as a soil pipe 300 and integrated cap nuts 500. A disclosed floating nipple assembly may be considered to comprise: closet bolts, a seal body 100, ear assemblies, floating nipples 210 and integrated cap nuts 500.

(26) The disclosed soil pipe flange 300 will comport with either 3 inch or 4 inch soil pipes. In FIG. 2, a soil pipe 310 is shown to fit within the inside of the soil pipe flange. The soil pipe flange has closet bolt voids 302. In a disclosed embodiment, the 100 seal body may be flexible and upwardly urge or provide an upward bias to apply pressure upon the toilet base 410 and/or a horn of the toilet assembly.

(27) FIG. 3 depicts disclosed components in a disassembled state.

(28) FIG. 4 depicts an elevation view of a cap nut 500 and other components. A cap nut may be comprised of inner threaded void area 510 so as to accept a closet bolt. FIG. 4 depicts a floating nipple 210 inserted though the top portion 101 of the seal body and in position for further insertion though the toilet assembly.

(29) FIG. 5 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 4 and depicts an inner threaded void area 510 of an integrated cap nut.

(30) FIG. 6 depicts an integrated cap nut frictionally attached to a toilet base 410.

(31) FIG. 7 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 6 and depicts various components of a disclosed floating nipple assembly 200. A sectional view of a toilet horn 420 is shown as secured within the seal body and soil flange pipe.

(32) FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of a disclosed embodiment.

(33) FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 depict a neck section 430 of a typical toilet. The neck section may lead to the lower section of a toilet.

(34) FIGS. 12 and 13 depict closet bolts 230 extending slightly beyond the top portions of the floating nipples. The integrated nut caps 500 are fastened to the closet bolts.

(35) Items

(36) Disclosed embodiments may include, but are not limited to the disclosed items below. The definitions or descriptions within this specification do not limit the scope of the claims.

(37) Item 1. A system for wax free installation of a toilet, the system comprising:

(38) one or more closet bolts 230 the closet bolts comprised of a longitudinal void;

(39) one or more floating nipples 210, the floating nipples comprising a longitudinal void and outer threads 214;

(40) a seal body 100 comprising one or more ear assemblies 110 disposed upon an upper section of the seal body, each ear assembly defining an ear void 220, the perimeter of each ear void comprising threads; and

(41) one or more integrated nut caps 500, each nut cap comprising an inner threaded void area 510.

(42) Item 2. The system of item 1 wherein the floating nipples comprise outer male threads and the perimeter of each ear void comprises female threads.

(43) Item 3. The system of item 1 wherein each closet bolt further comprises a lower stopper section 235.

(44) Item 4. The system of item 1 further comprising an inferior seal 125 frictionally attached to an inferior section 105 of the seal body.

(45) Item 5. The system of item 1 further comprising a seal 120 disposed upon the seal body.

(46) Item 6. The system of item 1 wherein the seal body comprises flexible material generating an upward bias upon compression.

(47) Item 7. The system of item 1 further comprising a soil pipe flange 300, the soil pipe flange defining one or more closet bolt voids 302.

(48) Item 8. A kit for wax free installation of a toilet, the kit comprising:

(49) one or more closet bolts 230 the closet bolts comprised of a longitudinal void;

(50) one or more floating nipples 210, the floating nipples comprising a longitudinal void and outer threads 214;

(51) a seal body 100 comprising one or more ear assemblies 110 disposed upon an upper section of the seal body, each ear assembly defining an ear void 220, the perimeter of each ear void comprising threads; and

(52) one or more integrated nut caps 500, each nut cap comprising an inner threaded void area 510.

(53) Item 9. The kit of item 8 wherein the floating nipples comprise outer male threads and the perimeter of each ear void comprises female threads.

(54) Item 10. The kit of item 8 wherein each closet bolt further comprises a lower stopper section 235.

(55) Item 11. The kit of item 9 further comprising a soil pipe flange.

(56) Item 12. The kit of item 11 wherein the soil pipe flange defines one or more closet bolt voids.

(57) Item 13. A method of installing a toilet without the use of wax, the method comprising the steps of:

(58) using one or more closet bolts frictionally attached to a soil pipe flange;

(59) rotationally attaching one or more floating nipples into an ear void, the ear void defined within an ear assembly of a seal body;

(60) inserting each closet bolt through each floating nipple;

(61) inserting each floating nipple through a bolt void, the bolt void defined within a toilet base; and

(62) frictionally attaching an integrated cap nut upon each closet bolt.

(63) Item 14. The method of item 13 using floating nipples with outer male threads and using ear voids with female threads.

(64) Item 15. The method of item 13 including the step of adjusting the height of the seal body by rotating each floating nipple.