Apparatus for installing a waster disposer sink mount

An apparatus and method enhances installation of a waste disposer mounting assembly at a drain-received sink flange. The apparatus comprises a carriage guide, a carriage assembly, and a spring-actuable notch stop. The carriage guide comprises a hooked end, a handled end, and a notched face extending intermediate the hooked and handled ends. The carriage assembly is translatably and cooperably associated with the carriage guide and comprises a centralized rail guide aperture and a plurality of fastener-engaging arm assemblies. The guide aperture is sized and shaped to receive the guide rail and the notch stop engages the notched face for selectively prevent translation of the carriage assembly relative to the carriage guide. The arm assemblies of the carriage assembly carry a mounting assembly via fastener-port engagement to a mount position where a snap ring fastener may be manually installed to prevent downward displacement of the mounting assembly from the mount position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a hand tool for installing a waste disposer sink mount. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clamp or installation apparatus for carrying a waste disposer upper sink mount assembly to a mount position and for locking the upper sink mount assembly in the mount position for enabling manual installation of a mount-retaining snap ring upon a drain-received sink flange.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art sparsely descriptive with regard to tools specifically designed for aiding in the installation of a waste disposer sink mounting assembly upon a drain-received sink flange. Certain prior art generally related to the function of the present invention as well as certain prior art related to sink flange installation methodology and the like are briefly described hereinafter.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,481,061 ('061 patent), which issued to Hunter, discloses a Machine for Removing Tires from Rims. In this regard, the '061 patent teaches a machine comprising a table structure including a top and legs depending therefrom, said legs being provided at their lower ends with notches, a spider arranged within the lower portion of the table structure and including arms having their outer ends received within said notches, said arms being provided at their outer ends with upwardly projecting heads adapted to engage the outer walls of said legs, an upstanding shaft secured to the spider and extending above the table structure, a removing spider slidable upon the shaft and having arms to engage the rim to force the same from the tire while the tire is supported upon said table top, and an operating element screw threaded upon the upper portion of the shaft and engaging the removing spider.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,407 ('407 patent), which issued to Araujo, discloses a Screw Threaded Freeze Plug Pull-out Tool with Work Engaging Means. The '407 patent teaches a plug pull-out tool for removing a plug from an engine block, with said plug having a hole drilled therein for receiving an end of said tool, said tool comprising means to engage side walls of said hole, a V-shaped support to straddle the plug to be removed, said V-shaped support having a threaded opening extending through the apex thereof, and bisecting the V, a screw in threaded engagement with said opening, a handle secured to the end of the screw extending outward from the apex of the V-shaped support, a reduced cylindrical portion extending axially from the end of said screw within the V-shape support, said means to engage the side walls of said hole, comprising a flat U-shaped member positionable on said reduced cylindrical portion in an inclined manner, a button head of substantially the same diameter as said screw secured to the outer end of said reduced cylindrical portion, adapted to retain said U-shaped member on said reduced portion, whereby the reduced cylindrical portion with the U-shaped member in an inclined position can be inserted in the hole of said plug, upon rotation of said screw said U-shaped member assumes a position at right angle to said cylindrical portion, and upon continuing rotating said screw will force the U-shaped member to bear against the walls of the hole and thereby remove the plug from the engine block.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,054 ('054 patent), which issued to Zeilenga discloses certain methodology for Installing a Sink Drain Flange Assembly, which assembly is capable of supporting a garbage disposal. The '054 patent teaches a removable clamping device for firmly holding a drain flange within the drain hole of a sink, so that one can assemble around the depending body of the flange which body is disposed below the sink one or more rings and a split spring type ring or Cee-shaped keeper so that the rings are maintained around the body of the flange and in turn a garbage disposal may be mounted to the rings.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,853 ('853 patent), which issued to Herook, discloses a Garbage Disposal Flange Assembly Tool. The '853 patent teaches a tool for the installation of a sink flange and garbage disposal mounting flange assembly in the drain opening of a sink, such tool including a generally U-shaped member with the tops of each side thereof extending outward, a shaft member affixed to a central portion of the U-shaped member extending between the sides thereof, such shaft receiving the mounting flange assembly and having a threaded portion passed through the drain opening in the sink in which is positioned the sink flange and on which shaft is positioned a retention member, such shaft passing through an aperture centrally defined in such retention member with a handle member having a threaded engagement aperture to be screwed down on the shaft to retain the sink flange and garbage disposal mounting flange structure in place during installation thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,779 ('279 patent), which issued to Collins, Jr. et al., discloses a Jack Mechanism having Safety Protection for Workers. The '279 patent describes a high/low screw jack stand mechanism is presented having inner and outer telescoping tubes for coarse elevational adjustment and having an adjustment screw and nut assembly for fine elevational adjustment. For coarse adjustment a thrust washer, surrounding the inner work elevation tube, permits free upward movement of the elevating tube relative to the outer support tube and is automatically positioned in angular binding relation with the elevating tube by a thrust washer positioner which has supporting engagement with one side of the thrust washer to restrain downward movement of the elevating tube. A thrust washer restraint member extends upwardly from and in spaced relation with the thrust washer positioner to restrain the thrust washer from moving upwardly along with the elevation tube. To ensure against possible injury to workers when the thrust washer is manually moved to its release position, an inner stop is provided within the support tube to limit downward movement of the elevating tube to a position at which the adjustment nut and elevation tube support flange is sufficiently spaced from the thrust washer and its restraint that injury cannot occur.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,743 ('743 patent), which issued to Heaton, discloses a Garbage Macerator Installation Mount. The '743 patent teaches a support assembly useful in aligning and mounting a garbage disposal to the drain fitting of a sink includes a base provided with a vertical tube segment supporting a nut assembly threadably engaged to a rod partly received in the segment with the upper rod end supporting an adapter conformed to the disposal. An offset bar fixed to the rod exterior engages a lateral recess on the segment to fix the rod in rotation as the nut assembly is turned. The assembly may include rods of differing lengths and adapters of various forms.

United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0065881, authored by Walton et al., teaches a device that can be used for installing or removing a garbage disposal unit while allowing the user to keep his hands free. GDL is comprised of a jack, jack handle, base, and platform. A user utilizes this device by securing a garbage disposal unit on the platform and jacking the garbage disposal unit into or out of position under the mounting assembly. The user can then use two free hands to maneuver the garbage disposal unit.

From an inspection of the foregoing disclosures as well as from a consideration of the art in general, it will be seen that the prior art does not teach or otherwise disclose a clamp assembly comprising a cooperative carriage and a carriage guide for clamping a waste disposal mounting assembly adjacent a drain-received sink flange. The prior art thus perceives a need for such an apparatus that provides distinct advantages over prior or current hand tools designed to aid installation technicians when installing waste disposal units as set forth in more detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the prior art perceives a need for an installation tool or apparatus designed to aid installation of waste disposal units. More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention is designed for installing a waste disposal sink mounting assembly, the installation tool for enhancing installation the waste disposal sink mounting assembly upon a drain-received sink flange. The clamp or installation tool of the present invention essentially comprises a carriage guide, a carriage assembly, and means for selectively preventing translation of the carriage assembly relative to the carriage guide. The carriage guide comprises a hooked end, a handled end, and a notched face extending intermediate the hooked and handled ends. The carriage assembly is translatably and cooperably associated with the carriage guide and comprises a centralized rail guide aperture and a plurality of fastener-engaging arm assemblies. The means for selectively preventing translation of the carriage assembly relative to the carriage guide may be preferably defined by a spring-actuable notch stop assembly integrally associated with the carriage assembly.

The guide aperture is sized and shaped to receive the guide rail. The spring-actuable notch stop is engageable with the notched face of the guide rail for enabling a user to selectively prevent carriage translation relative to the guide rail. The arm assemblies of the carriage assembly each comprise a fastener-receiving port. The upper mounting assembly (for mounting a waste disposal unit) is receivable about the guide rail and the fasteners thereof are receivable in the fastener-receiving ports. The hooked end of the guide rail is hookable upon the hook ring of a ring-cap assembly (receivable in the sink flange) and the carriage assembly is translatable toward the sink flange along the guide rail.

The upper mounting assembly is thereby positionable intermediate a sink-engaging flange and the ring-receiving recess of a sink flange. The spring-actuable notch stop assembly function (1) to lock the carriage assembly upon the guide rail with the upper mounting assembly fixedly positioned intermediate the sink-engaging flange and the ring-receiving recess and (2) to temporarily fix or anchor the sink flange. The clamp or installation apparatus or tool of the present invention thus functions to enhance an installer's ability to manually install a mount-retaining snap ring fastener element upon the sink flange. The snap ring fastener element, thus installed, essentially functions to prevent downward displacement of the mounting assembly relative to the sink flange, and the mounting assembly, thus positioned, enables proper waste disposal unit mounting.

Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention generally concerns a clamp or installation tool30as generally illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 1-3,6,11,12,13,14, and15. It is contemplated that the clamp or installation tool30of the present invention may well function to aid an installation technician (with a first set of hands) when performing waste disposal unit installation. In this regard, it is noted that sink flanges or flanged drain collars are typically loosely received in the drain apertures of sink basins. A sink flange or flanged drain collar11as contemplated by the present invention is illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5-8, and10; a sink or sink basin10is illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2-7,9, and10; and a drain aperture15formed in the sink basin10is generally depicted and referenced inFIGS. 2-5,7,9, and10for the reader's quick inspection.

When installation of a waste disposal unit is desired, it is preferred that the sink flange or flanged drain collar11be fixed. It is desirable to preliminarily fix a sink flange11so that final waste disposal unit mounting may be made easier or more efficient. Given the state of the art, it is oftentimes necessary to either add weighty matter in superior adjacency to the sink flange11from within the sink basin10or solicit the help from a second installation technician (with a second set of hands) to manually retain the sink flange11from below the sink flange11. In other words, the sink flange11must be anchored via some downward force so that incident forces thereupon do not otherwise cause movement of the sink flange such as when an installer wishes to install a snap ring fastener13upon the sink flange11or to otherwise enable manual actuation of certain mount-retaining means.

Given limited space concerns typically associated with sink-supporting cabinetry, it should be clear that having a second installer present is not only inefficient but awkward. Further, the weighty masses that may be safely placed atop the sink flange11to anchor the same are typically poor anchors and incident forces upon the sink flange11are often sufficient to cause movement of the sink flange11despite the anchor attempt via the weighty mass. The clamp or installation tool30of the present invention thus functions, in part, to aid the installer by temporarily fixing or anchoring a flanged drain collar or sink flange11as received in the drain aperture15. The temporarily fixed drain collar11enhances manual (i.e. with one's hands) installation of a mount-retaining snap ring fastener13, which snap ring fastener13often requires two-handed manipulation for most efficient and effective installation. A snap ring fastener13is illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5, and6.

It should perhaps be noted that a waste disposal upper mounting assembly14is retainable about the sink flange11following installation of the snap ring fastener13for pre-positioning the upper mounting assembly14. In this regard the reader is directed toFIGS. 2,3, and6. From a comparative inspection of the noted figures, it may be seen that the pre-positioned upper mounting assembly14further enables waste disposal unit mounting by providing a structural mount to which the waste disposal unit may be anchored. During the installation of the upper mounting assembly14, the sink flange11is temporarily anchored. The cooperative interplay of a number of elements would thus tend to teach a certain installation system. In this regard, it is contemplated that the clamp or installation tool30of the present invention, when viewed in combination with other conventional or typical plumbing-type components found at or near a waste disposal installation site, may thus be thought of as waste disposal sink mount installation system.

Conventional or typical plumbing components of the type here contemplated may well include a sink or sink basin10as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2-7,9, and10; a sink flange or flanged drain collar11as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5-8, and10; a ring-cap assembly12(also cooperative with clamp30for anchoring sink flange11) as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,6-8,10,11,12, and13; a snap ring fastener13as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5, and6; a waste disposal upper mounting assembly14as generally illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3, and6; and a waste disposal unit (not specifically illustrated). It should be understood from a consideration of the noted figures that the sink basin10is system-supporting. That is, the sink or sink basin10is anchored to surrounding structure (such as kitchen counter cabinetry16as referenced inFIG. 7) and functions to provide a foundational anchor to which other elements may be fixed or anchored.

As earlier stated, sink or sink basin10preferably comprises a drain aperture15as generally depicted and referenced inFIGS. 2-5,7,9, and10. A flanged interfacing device otherwise known as a sink flange or flanged drain collar11is receiveable in the drain aperture15and comprises an outwardly extending sink-engaging flange17as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5-8, and10; an inwardly extending cap-engaging flange18as further referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5-8, and10; and a ring-receiving recess19intermediate the sink and cap-engaging flanges17and18as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,5,7,8, and10. It may be seen from an inspection of the noted figures that the sink-engaging flange17essentially functions to support the drain collar11at the drain aperture15or bottom of the sink basin10.

The ring-cap assembly12is receivable in the flanged drain collar11and comprises a drain-sealing cap20as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,7,8, and10; a hook ring21as further illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,6-8,10,11, and12; and typically a cap gasket22for sealing the junction intermediate the cap20and the cap-engaging flange18as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,7,8, and10. The cap-engaging flange18essentially functions to support the ring-cap assembly12in the flanged drain collar11. It should be readily understood from an inspection ofFIG. 10that an anchoring downward force (i.e. a force sufficient in magnitude) as at 100 may well function to anchor the ring-cap assembly12and thus drain collar11at the drain aperture15of the sink basin10.

The spring-actuable snap ring fastener13is actuably receivable in the ring-receiving recess19as comparatively depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3versus6and as generally depicted inFIG. 5. From an inspection ofFIG. 5, it will be seen that snap ring fastener13is shown (in the lower position) in a relaxed state at23and (in the upper position) in an actuated state at24. When received in the ring-receiving recess19, snap ring fastener13is sized and shaped to partially return to the relaxed state23via spring-type restorative forces or similar means to retain the snap ring fastener13in the ring-receiving recess19.

The waste disposal upper mounting assembly14comprises a number of components, including a mount gasket25, a back-up ring26, a mounting ring27; and a plurality (typically three (3)) of mounting assembly fasteners28all as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 2,3, and6. It should be readily understood from an inspection of the noted figures that the fasteners28are threadably attachable to the mounting ring27and downwardly extendable therefrom in parallel relation to one another. In this regard, the mounting ring27typically has three (3) circumferentially and equally spaced fastener-receiving flanges comprising fastener-receiving apertures through which fasteners28are threadably received. Mounting ring27further comprises a thread-like flange29for threadably receiving the mouth of a waste disposal unit (not specifically illustrated), which flange29is illustrated and referenced inFIG. 2.

The clamp or installation tool30of the present invention preferably comprises a guide rail31and a carriage assembly32both of which are illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 1-3,6,11,12,13,14, and15. The guide-rail31or carriage guide preferably comprises a first hooked end33as referenced inFIGS. 1-3,6,11,12, and13-15; a second handled end34as referenced inFIGS. 1-3,6,14, and15; a notched face35extending intermediate the first and second ends33and34as generally depicted and referenced inFIGS. 11-13; and, as may be readily understood, a longitudinal rail or guide axis101as referenced in FIGS.1and11-13. The carriage assembly32preferably comprises a centralized rail guide aperture36as referenced inFIGS. 1 and 14; a plurality of (trilateral) fastener-engaging arm assemblies; and certain carriage-to-(carriage) guide locking means for selectively preventing translation of the carriage assembly32relative to the carriage guide or guide rail31.

It is contemplated that the means for selectively preventing translation of the carriage assembly32relative to the carriage guide31may be preferably defined by a push-button, spring-actuable notch stop assembly37as illustrated and referenced in FIGS.1-3,6,11,12,13,14, and15. The fastener-engaging arm assemblies may be preferably defined by trilaterally radiating shaft-retaining arms38and parallel support shafts39cooperably associated with the arms38as illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 1-3,6,11,12,13,14, and15. It is contemplated that support shafts39may be fixedly or removably attached to shaft-retaining arms38. For example, the arm-engaging end of support shafts39may be bolt threaded (as depicted inFIGS. 14 and 15at102), c-clipped, beveled, tapered, slip-fit, etcetera. Opposite the arm-engaging end of support shafts are fastener-receiving ports40.

Fastener-receiving ports40function to receive mounting assembly fasteners28and align the carriage or carriage assembly32with the sink mount or upper mounting assembly14as generally depicted inFIGS. 2,3, and6. Ports40are further illustrated and referenced inFIGS. 1,14, and15. It may be seen from an inspection of the noted figures that ports40comprise internal stop structure44for restricting fasteners28from further shaft penetration. In this regard, it is contemplated that support shafts39may comprise an internal metallic bolt-like member41with an exposed arm-engaging end (as at42inFIGS. 14 and 15), which member41is sheathed by a polymer-based sleeve43, which sleeve40terminates such that port40may be formed as generally depicted and referenced inFIGS. 2,3,6, and15. The inner diameter of sleeve43and the outer diameter of member41should approximate the outer head diameter of fastener28so as to effect a snug engagement when fasteners28are received in the fastener-receiving ports40.

The guide aperture36is sized and shaped to slidably receive the guide rail31. The spring-actuable notch stop or notch stop assembly37is engageable with the notched face35for enabling a user to selectively prevent carriage translation relative to the guide rail31as perhaps may be most clearly understood from a comparative inspection ofFIGS. 11-13(b). In this regard, it will be recalled that the notch stop assembly37is preferably push-button actuable via certain spring means as generally depicted inFIGS. 6,11-13(b). It may be readily understood from an inspection of the noted figures that a user's thumb50or other digit may function to depress a lever arm46(also outfitted with a rail-receiving aperture) for removing engagement of the lever arm46from engagement with the notched face35(as depicted inFIGS. 11-13(b)), the lever arm46being actuable about a spring-loaded fulcrum as at47inFIGS. 11,12,13(a), and13(b). From an inspection ofFIG. 6, it may be seen that a thumb50may well function to impart a lever arm-moving force as at105, which operates to release the notch stop structure from engagement with the notched face35thereby releasing the guide rail31for enabling the user to translate (as at106) the guide rail31relative to the fastener-to-port retained carriage assembly32unhook the hooked end33from the ring-cap assembly12.

The guide rail may be further outfitted with a protruding button (as depicted inFIG. 14(b) at48) or pin (as depicted inFIG. 14(a) at49) adjacent the hooked end33to prevent the carriage assembly32from sliding off the guide rail31at the hooked end33. The handled end34may also be outfitted with a protruding button48or pin49to prevent the carriage assembly32from sliding off the guide rail31at the handled end34, although the handle51(preferably formed of a polymer-based material) is essentially a sheath62receivable about the guide rail31at the handled end34and has certain thickness, which thickness may also function to prevent carriage removal from the guide rail31at the handled end34. It is contemplated that button48may be spring-actuable for enabling a user to depress the same and remove the carriage assembly32from the guide rail31if desired. Alternatively, the pin49or button48may be omitted for enabling the user to reverse the guide rail32or otherwise reorient the guide rail31about the rail axis101as comparatively depicted inFIGS. 12versus13(a). In this last regard, it is contemplated that the reversible or reorientable carriage guide31may well function to enable a first notched face orientation (as inFIGS. 11,13, and13(a)) and a second notched face orientation (as inFIGS. 12 and 13(b)) for selectively hooking the ring-cap (and sink flange) assembly12.

In this regard, it is contemplated that operating space is often limited in inferior adjacency to ring-cap assemblies12(or ring-cap-sink-flange assemblies) and thus a reorientable guide rail31or hooked end33may thus be desirous. In any event, it is further contemplated that the spring-actuable notch stop assembly37is cooperable with both the first and second notched face orientations for selectively preventing translation of the carriage32relative to the carriage guide31. From a comparative inspection ofFIG. 11versusFIG. 12(andFIG. 13(b) versusFIG. 13(a)), it may be seen that in the first notched face orientation, the lever arm46functions to engage the notched face35for preventing carriage translation, and in the second notched face orientation, certain stock material52(also comprising a rail-receiving aperture and further resting adjacent lever arm46) may well function to engage the notched face35for preventing carriage translation.

To operate the clamp or installation tool or apparatus30of the present invention, it will be recalled that the fastener-engaging arm assemblies extend outwardly from the guide aperture36for coupling engagement with the mount assembly fasteners28, and that the arm assemblies comprise a plurality of parallel (or unidirectional) fastener-receiving ports40. The upper mounting assembly14is thus receivable about the guide rail31and the fasteners28are receivable in the fastener-receiving ports40as generally depicted inFIG. 2. From a further consideration ofFIG. 2and other figures, it may be seen that the back-up ring26is sandwiched intermediate the mounting ring27and the gasket25. The hooked end33of the guide rail31is (selectively) hookable upon the hook ring21(which ring21functions as a hookable portion of a structural mount) for imparting a ring-cap-sink-flange assembly anchoring force as at103, and the carriage assembly32is (manually) translatable toward the flanged drain collar or sink flange11along the guide rail31as generally depicted inFIG. 33at104. In other words, the hooked end33essentially functions to direct the carriage assembly32and the “carriage-carried” upper mounting assembly14to the mount position via the carriage guide31.

The upper mounting assembly14is thereby positionable intermediate the sink-engaging flange17and the ring-receiving recess19of the flanged drain collar or sink flange11with the gasket being sandwiched intermediate the back-up ring26and (the inferior surface of) the sink basin10. Notably, the arms38of the carriage32may be regarded as defining certain means for carrying the snap ring fastener13to a ring position. In this regard, the reader is directed toFIGS. 2 and 3which depict the snap ring fastener13exploded from the trilateral arm structure in superior adjacency thereto for ease of inspection. The snap ring fastener13may otherwise normally rest atop the arms38, such that when the carriage assembly32is translated, the snap ring fastener13may ride thereupon. The noted ring position would thus be in inferior adjacency to the mount position (i.e. the position of the upper mounting assembly14before the snap ring fastener13is installed in ring-receiving recess19). It is contemplated that the so-called ring position may well function to situate the snap ring fastener13in inferior adjacency to the upper mounting assembly14for enhancing snap ring fastener installation insofar as the snap ring fastener13, in a sense, may be thus “served” to the installer by its placement in the ring position.

The means for selectively preventing translation of the carriage assembly32relative to the guide rail or carriage guide31, as may be preferably defined by the spring-actuable notch stop assembly37may thus function (1) to lock the carriage assembly32upon the guide rail or carriage guide31with the upper mounting assembly14fixedly positioned intermediate the sink-engaging flange17and the ring-receiving recess19and (2) to temporarily fix the flanged drain collar11. The clamp or installation apparatus30of the present invention thus essentially functions to enhance an installer's ability to manually install the snap ring fastener13upon the flanged drain collar11. The snap ring fastener13, thus installed, further prevents downward displacement of the upper mounting assembly14relative to the flanged drain collar11. The upper mounting assembly14, thus positioned, enables proper waste disposal unit mounting.

While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the invention. For example, the invention may be said to essentially teach or disclose a clamp or installation apparatus for clamping a waste disposal mounting assembly (such as upper mounting assembly14) adjacent a drain-received sink flange (such as flanged drain collar or sink flange11). The clamped mounting assembly enhances installation of a mount-retaining snap ring fastener (such as fastener13) upon the sink flange. The clamp of the present invention is thought to essentially comprise a carriage (such as carriage assembly32), a carriage guide (such as guide rail), and certain carriage-locking means (such as the spring-actuable notch stop assembly37).

The carriage-locking means essentially function to selectively lock the carriage upon the carriage guide, which carriage is removably attachable to a waste disposal mounting assembly for carrying the mounting assembly to a mount position via the carriage guide. The mounting assembly is selectively locked at the mount position via the carriage and carriage-locking (or carriage-to-guide locking) means. The selectively locked mounting assembly enables enhanced snap ring fastener installation, the snap ring fastener installation for retaining the mounting assembly at the mount position when the carriage is removed from the mounting assembly.

Further, it is contemplated that the foregoing descriptions may well function to support certain installation processes inherently taught by the structure of the installation tool or apparatus30of the present invention. In this regard, it is contemplated that a method for installing a waste disposal mounting assembly may comprise the steps of: supporting a flanged drain collar11at a drain aperture15as generally depicted inFIGS. 5 and 7; supporting a ring-cap assembly12at the flanged drain collar11as generally depicted inFIGS. 2,7,8,10; removably attaching a waste disposal mounting assembly (such as upper mounting assembly14) to a carriage (such as carriage assembly32) as generally depicted inFIG. 2; translatably associating the carriage32and mounting assembly14with a carriage guide31as generally depicted inFIGS. 2,3, and6; removably attaching the carriage guide31to the ring-cap assembly12as comparatively depicted inFIG. 2versusFIG. 3; guiding the carriage32and mounting assembly14to a mount position via the carriage guide31as generally depicted inFIG. 3; locking the carriage32and mounting assembly14at the mount position via carriage-locking means (such as spring-actuable notch stop assembly37) as generally depicted inFIG. 3; and installing a snap ring fastener13upon the flanged drain collar11(as generally depicted inFIG. 6) thereby installing the mounting assembly14. After installing the snap ring fastener13upon the flanged drain collar11, certain additional steps may be undertaken to detach the clamp or installation tool for finally mounting the mounting assembly14, including unlocking the carriage32via the carriage-locking means; detaching the carriage32from the mounting assembly14(by translating the carriage32away from the mounted mounting assembly14); guiding the carriage32to a tool removal position (not specifically illustrated) via the carriage guide31; and detaching the carriage guide31from the ring-cap assembly12.

It is contemplated that sealer(s)60may be applied to the flanged drain collar11before supporting the flanged drain collar11at the drain aperture15in order to effect a moisture-impermeable seal therebetween as generally depicted and referenced inFIGS. 2,5,7, and10. Notably, the snap ring fastener13may be supported upon the carriage32before guiding the carriage32and mounting assembly14to the mount position as may be the case if the snap ring fastener13were relaxably looped about the carriage guide31before attaching the mounting assembly14to the carriage32or actuably looped about the carriage guide31after attaching the mounting assembly14to the carriage32. In this last regard, it is noted that the snap ring fastener comprises a spring-actuable stock that may be elastically deformed. If the carriage32has already been attached to the mounting assembly14(thereby preventing one from simply looping the ring-like structure over the guide31), it is contemplated that the snap ring fastener13may be actuated so as to increase the gap61between ends (as generally depicted inFIG. 5), which gap61may then receive the guide31.

The step of removably attaching the mounting assembly14to the carriage32may be preferably defined by inserting mounting ring fasteners28of the mounting assembly14into fastener-receiving ports40of the carriage32, which mounting ring fasteners28may further function to support a mounting ring27of the mounting assembly14; supporting a back-up ring26upon the mounting ring27; and supporting a gasket25upon the back-up ring26. The step of removably attaching the carriage guide31to the ring-cap assembly12may be preferably defined by hooking a hooked end33of the carriage guide31upon a ring21of the ring-cap assembly12.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to a number of preferred embodiments, and certain methodology, it is not intended that the novel apparatus and method(s) be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.