Abstract:
A device and a method for fixing a sink, a commode, a bidet, or a urinal bowl to the floor surface or wall surface of a bathroom. The base of the bowl can be mounted on the supporting surface in question and can be fixed thereto by way of bolts, especially screw bolts, penetrating boreholes located in the base. An assembly plate is fixed to the supporting surface. The assembly plate is located inside the base once the plumbing fixture has been positioned, and is embodied especially with at least one guide for sliding parts in which the fixing bolts for the fixture can be anchored.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copending international application PCT/AT2006/000116, filed Mar. 20, 2006, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Austrian patent applications A 484/2005, filed Mar. 21, 2005, and A 923/2005, filed Mar. 30, 2005; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention:  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a device and a method for fixing a sink bowl, a commode or toilet bowl, a bidet bowl, a urinal bowl or the like to a wall surface or to the floor surface of a bathroom, a toilet and the like. The base of the bowl is thereby capable of being positioned on the respective supporting surface and of being fixed to the supporting surface by way of bolts, especially studs, which penetrate bore holes located in the base.  
         [0004]     In conjunction with the fixing of sink bowls, commodes, bidet bowls, urinal bowls and the like to a wall surface or to the floor surface of a bathroom, a toilet and the like, difficulties can be encountered to the extent that water pipes, gas pipes, electrical cables, heating pipes, etc., can be present inside these surfaces, which can be damaged by the formation of bore holes for the fixing of the bowls. In addition, wall surfaces and floor surfaces may exhibit a low load capacity because of their small thickness or because of their poor quality, and they can be uneven, as a result of which the fixing of sanitary fixtures is likewise hindered.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for mounting a plumbing fixture which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which facilitates the mounting of sink bowls, commodes or toilet bowls, bidet bowls, urinal bowls and the like to wall surfaces or to floor surfaces to a considerable degree.  
         [0006]     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for fixing a plumbing fixture to a supporting surface, the plumbing fixture having a base to be positioned on and fixed to the supporting surface, the device comprising: 
        an assembly plate configured to be fixed to the supporting surface and for attachment thereto of the base of the plumbing fixture;     fixing bolts configured to penetrate through bore holes in the base of the plumbing fixture and fixing the base to the assembly plate;     wherein the assembly plate is disposed between the plumbing fixture and the supporting surface when the plumbing fixture is mounted in position.        
 
         [0010]     The term “plumbing fixture” as used herein pertains to sanitary fixtures and the like, including, but not limited to, sinks, commodes, toilet bowls, bidets, urinal bowls, and similar objects.  
         [0011]     In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved in that there is provided an assembly plate capable of being fixed to the supporting surface, to which the bowl can be fixed, and which is located between the supporting surface and the base of bowl once the bowl has been placed in position.  
         [0012]     The outer border of the assembly plate is preferably approximately identical to the inner edge of the base of the bowl, the latter being positioned at least in part on the outer border of the assembly plate. Furthermore, the assembly plate can be configured with bore holes or the like which serve for its fixing to the supporting surface by means of bolts, especially by means of studs. In addition, the assembly plate can be configured with bore holes which are allocated to the bore holes provided in the base of the bowl and which serve to receive fixing bolts, especially studs, for the purpose of fixing the bowl.  
         [0013]     According to a further illustrative embodiment, the assembly plate is configured with at least one undercut groove, in which bolts penetrating the base of the bowl are capable of being locked. The bolts penetrating the base of the bowl can be configured as hammer head bolts in this case.  
         [0014]     According to one very important embodiment, the assembly plate is configured with at least one guide, along which sliding parts are capable of sliding displacement, in which sliding parts the fixing bolts penetrating the base of the bowl are capable of being anchored, especially of being screwed. This guide can be constituted by angled strips provided on the upper side of the assembly plate, along which the sliding parts are capable of sliding displacement.  
         [0015]     Furthermore, screws can be allocated to the sliding parts, by means of which screws the sliding parts can be fixed in their position on the assembly plate. In addition, the sliding parts can be configured with sections of tube into which the fixing bolts penetrating the bore holes in the base of the bowl can be screwed. These sections of tube are preferably capable of being caused to pivot in relation to the sliding parts in the plane of the direction of displacement. Furthermore, the assembly plate is preferably configured with lateral recesses.  
         [0016]     Furthermore, the assembly plate can be configured as a metal plate, projecting from the side of which facing the bowl are at least two bolts onto which the bowl can be slid by means of bore holes provided in its base. Furthermore, the assembly plate can be configured with a strip or the like, to which a strip or the like is allocated in the base of the bowl, both strips being capable of being clamped to one another.  
         [0017]     With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a plumbing fixture, such as a sink bowl, toilet bowl, bidet bowl, urinal bowl or the like, which is suitable for use with an assembly plate as outlined above and which can additionally be provided, in the area of its base, extending as far as and coming into contact with a supporting surface, with a border preferably running all the way round and with a recess formed thereby.  
         [0018]     According to a method for fixing a sink bowl, a toilet bowl, a bidet bowl, a urinal bowl and the like to a wall surface or to the floor surface of a bathroom, a toilet and the like by means of an assembly plate according to the invention, this is fixed to the supporting surface by gluing and/or by screwing, and the bowl is then placed on this assembly plate, whereupon the bowl is fixed by means of bolts to the assembly plate.  
         [0019]     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0020]     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in device and method for fixing a sanitary object to a supporting surface using an assembly plate, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
         [0021]     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a toilet bowl, as an axonometric representation;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  shows the toilet bowl according to  FIG. 1  with an assembly plate according to the invention, as a vertical section;  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  shows the toilet bowl according to  FIG. 1 , as a view from below;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 2 and 2 A show two first embodiments of an assembly plate according to the invention, in each case as an axonometric representation;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 3 A show a toilet bowl with a second embodiment of an assembly plate according to the invention, as a view from below and as a vertical section;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a third embodiment of an assembly plate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation and on an enlarged scale in relation to  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 5 A show a first embodiment of a sink bowl with an assembly plate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation and as a vertical section;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 6 and 6 A show a second embodiment of a sink bowl with an assembly plate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation and as a vertical section;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 7 and 7 A show a third embodiment of a sink bowl with an assembly plate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation and as a vertical section;  
         [0031]      FIGS. 8 and 8 A show two fourth embodiments of an assembly plate according to the invention, in each case as an axonometric representation; and  
         [0032]      FIGS. 9 and 9 A show the toilet bowl according to  FIGS. 1 and 1 B with allocated assembly plates according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail, and first to  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  1 B thereof, a conventional commode or toilet bowl  1  is configured with an upper bowl rim  11  and with a lower base  13 . A toilet seat can be fixed to the bowl rim  11  by means of bolts capable of being inserted in bore holes  12 . The base  13  is configured with bore holes  14 , which serve to receive bolts, especially studs, for fixing the toilet bowl  1  to the floor surface  10  of a toilet, a bathroom and the like.  
         [0034]     An assembly plate  2 , which is fixed to the floor surface  10  by gluing or by screwing, is used to facilitate the fixing of the toilet bowl  1 .  
         [0035]     As can be appreciated from  FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of an assembly plate  2  is configured as a flat plate, wherein its size and its lateral border are configured in such a way that the base  13  of the toilet bowl  1  can be positioned over the assembly plate  2  that is fixed to the floor surface  10 , so that the assembly plate  2  is present inside the base  13 . The end face  20  of the assembly plate  2  is preferably adapted to the inner edge of the base  13  in such a way that the toilet bowl  1  can be positioned on the assembly plate  2  with positive engagement.  
         [0036]     The assembly plate  2  can be configured with bore holes  21 , slots and the like, which serve to permit its fixing to the floor surface by means of bolts. Furthermore, the assembly plate  2  can be configured with bore holes  24  allocated to the bore holes  14  in the base  13 , into which screws serving for the purpose of fixing the toilet bowl  1  can be introduced. What is more, these bore holes  24  can be configured with a female thread for the fixing screws.  
         [0037]     The assembly plate  2  according to  FIG. 2A  differs from the assembly plate according to  FIG. 2  in that it is configured with a recess  22  for the outlet pipe of the toilet bowl  1 .  
         [0038]     For the purpose of fixing the toilet bowl  1  to a floor surface  10 , the assembly plate  2  is fixed to the floor surface  10  by means of bolts. The fixing bolts in this case are provided in positions in which there is no fear of damage being caused to pipes or lines that are already present in the floor surface. As an alternative or in addition, the assembly plate  2  can be fixed to the floor surface by gluing. Provided that the assembly plate  2  is adapted to the internal space of the base  13  of the toilet bowl  1  within the material tolerances, the toilet bowl  1  will already be fixed in position as soon as it is positioned on the assembly plate  2  that is attached to the floor surface  10 . The fixing bolts passing through the bore holes  14  provided in the base  13  and capable of being anchored in the bore holes  24  of the assembly plate  2  are then additionally inserted.  
         [0039]     An assembly plate of this kind can also be used for fixing sink bowls and toilet bowls to wall surfaces and for fixing bidet bowls and urinal bowls to floor surfaces or to wall surfaces. In this case, too, the assembly plate, which is preferably adapted with positive engagement to the bases of the sink bowls, toilet bowls, bidet bowls and urinal bowls, is fixed to floor surfaces or to wall surfaces by screwing or by gluing, the base of the bowl in question is placed on the assembly plate that is fixed to the supporting surface in question, and the bowl is then fixed to the assembly plate by means of bolts passing through the base and anchored in the assembly plate.  
         [0040]     According to one preferred embodiment, an assembly plate of this kind constitutes a component that is adapted to the sink bowl, toilet bowl, bidet bowl or urinal bowl or the like in question and is marketed in conjunction with it.  
         [0041]     As can be appreciated from  FIGS. 3 and 3   a , a second embodiment of an assembly plate  2  can also be configured considerably smaller than the base  13  of the toilet bowl  1  or some other sanitary bowl. This is appropriate since bowls of this kind can exhibit a plurality of different configurations. Provided, therefore, that the assembly plate  2  is only provided in a section of the base  13  of the toilet bowl  1 , in particular in its central area, an assembly plate  2  with a single size can be used for toilet bowls  1  of different configurations. This assembly plate  2  is fixed to a floor surface  10  by gluing and/or by screwing. The toilet bowl  1  is then placed in position above the assembly plate  2  and is fixed thereto.  
         [0042]     The third embodiment of an assembly plate  2   a  according to the invention depicted in  FIG. 4  is of plane configuration on the side by which it is fixed to a supporting surface, whereas it is configured on the other side with undercut grooves  25 , in which sliding parts  26 , that are preferably configured with female threads, are guided in such a way as to be capable of sliding displacement. Screws  27  for fixing the toilet bowl  1  are capable of being screwed into the sliding parts  26 .  
         [0043]     An assembly plate  2   a  of this kind, which exhibits a size such as to enable it to be arranged inside the base  13  of the toilet bowl  1 , is fixed to a wall surface or to a floor surface  10  by gluing and/or by screwing. A number of sliding parts  26  corresponding to the number of fixing screws  27  is then introduced into the undercut grooves  25 , and a toilet bowl  1  is positioned thereon. Subsequently, at least two screws  27  are introduced into the bore holes  14  provided in the base  13  of the toilet bowl  1  and are screwed into the sliding parts  26 , as a result of which the toilet bowl  1  is fixed to the assembly plate  2   a  and thus to the supporting surface.  
         [0044]     As can be appreciated from  FIGS. 5 and 5   a , the same kind of fixing can also be utilized for a sink bowl  3 . A third embodiment of an assembly plate  2   b  is provided in this case, which is glued to a wall  10   a  or is fixed to the wall  10   a  by means of bolts which penetrate through recesses  21   b . In addition, the assembly plate  2   b  is also configured with undercut grooves  25 , into which the heads of studs  27 , which penetrate through bore holes  32  provided in the sink bowl  3 , are capable of being introduced. In the same way, this assembly plate  2   b  can also be used for other sanitary bowls.  
         [0045]     A bowl of this kind, especially a sink bowl, toilet bowl, bidet bowl or the like, is preferably provided in its base adjacent to the wall surface with a border  33  in particular running all the way round, by which a recess  30  is formed, into which the assembly plate  2   b  projects. In a sanitary bowl of this configuration, a plate made of an elastic material can be inserted into this recess  30  in addition to the assembly plate  2   b  or, where appropriate, in its place. The use of a plate of this kind prevents the sanitary bowl that is manufactured from a ceramic material, and therefore from a very hard material, from coming into contact directly with the supporting surface, which as a rule is covered with tiles.  
         [0046]     Depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 6   a  is a variant embodiment of the assembly plate  2   b  of a kind in which the assembly plate  2   b  is configured on its upper border with an upwardly projecting strip  28 , which is gripped from behind by an equal and opposing strip  33  provided in the upper part of the base of the sink bowl  3 , as a result of which the sink bowl  3  is fixed to the assembly plate  2   b  both by means of the screws  27  and by means of the strips  28  and  33 . This assembly plate  2   b  can also be configured with recesses  21   b  for fixing to a wall surface  10   a.    
         [0047]     Depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 7   a  is a fourth embodiment of an assembly plate  2   c , which is constituted by a plate manufactured from a metal, especially from stainless steel, from which bolts  29  project. The sink bowl  3  is pushed onto these bolts  29  in such a way that they penetrate the bore holes  32  provided in the base of the sink bowl  3 , the sink bowl  3  being fixed by means of nuts screwed onto the bolts  29 . Since this assembly plate  2   c  exhibits a very small wall thickness, it can be provided between the wall  10   a  and the lateral surface of the sink bowl  3  allocated thereto. This assembly plate  2   b  can also be configured with slots  21   c  or the like for fixing to a wall surface  10   a.    
         [0048]     The fifth embodiment of an assembly plate  2   d  according to the invention depicted in  FIG. 8  is constituted by an approximately rectangular plate, for example, which is provided with bore holes  21  for fixing bolts and which is provided on its upper side with at least one guide constituted by rails  41  which are angled toward one another, in which guide sliding parts  42  are capable of sliding displacement. The sliding parts  42  are provided at their free ends with sections of tube  43 , which exhibit an internal thread. In addition, the sliding parts  42  are configured with threaded bore holes  44 , to which studs  45  are allocated. The sections of tube  43  can be capable of pivoting in relation to the sliding parts  42  about an axis oriented transversely to the direction of displacement of the sliding parts  42 , as indicated by a double arrow A. An adaptation of the position of the sections of tube  43  to the direction of the stud inserted into these for the purpose of fixing the sanitary bowl can take place in this way, as a result of which easier assembly is also achieved.  
         [0049]     An assembly plate  2   d  of this kind is fixed to a floor surface or to a wall surface by means of a number of bolts penetrating the bore holes  21 . In addition, or as an alternative thereto, this assembly plate  2   d  can be fixed to the supporting surface by gluing. The sliding parts  42  are then pushed into the guides formed by the strips  41  until the sections of tube  43  are situated apart from one another by a distance exhibited by two mutually opposing bore holes  14  in the base of a toilet bowl  1 . The sliding parts  42  are fixed in this position by means of the studs  45  that are inserted into the bore holes  44 .  
         [0050]     Fixing bolts which penetrate the bore holes  14  of the toilet bowl  1  are then screwed into the sections of tube  43 .  
         [0051]     The assembly of a sanitary bowl, such as a toilet bowl, a sink bowl and the like, is made considerably easier in this way.  
         [0052]     The assembly plate  2   d  according to  FIG. 8   a  differs from the assembly plate  2   d  according to  FIG. 8  in that it is configured along its lateral edges with recesses running in an approximately circular form. The arrangement of the assembly plate  26  close to the outlet pipe of a toilet bowl is made possible in this way.  
         [0053]     The assembly plate  2   d  can thus exhibit any desired embodiments. Desired embodiments of the assembly plate  2   d  are required because sanitary bowls, especially toilet bowls, are manufactured and marketed in a plurality of designs. By virtue of the fact that the sliding parts  42  are capable of any desired adjustment in relation to the assembly plate  2   d , since the sections of tube  43  are capable of being caused to pivot in relation to the sliding parts  42 , and additionally due to the presence of the lateral recesses, this assembly plate  2   d  is suitable for fixing a plurality of sanitary bowls of different design.  
         [0054]     Reference is made in this respect to the representations in  FIGS. 9 and 9   a , which relate to  FIGS. 1 and 1 B, wherein the assembly plates  2   d  are additionally represented.  
         [0055]     Reference is also made to the fact that the guide rail  41  can be of T-shaped configuration in its cross section, and the sliding parts  42  can be of U-shaped configuration, wherein they engage behind the guide rail  41 . The function depends on the configuration of the assembly plate  2   d  with guides, along which sliding parts are capable of sliding displacement and of being secured in position, wherein the fixing bolts for the sanitary bowls are capable of being anchored in the sliding parts.  
         [0056]     The use of an assembly plate of this kind permits difficulties, which would otherwise be encountered in conjunction with the fixing of sanitary plumbing fixtures such as toilet bowls and the like because of the low strength or the poor quality of the supporting surface and/or because of the presence of existing lines in the supporting surface, to be avoided in a simple manner. Furthermore, the fixing of plumbing fixtures to supporting surfaces is considerably facilitated by this assembly plate.