Abstract:
The installation kit is used to install a garbage disposer. The kit is used to apply a compressive force to the sink flange during installation of a plumbing element, such as a strainer assembly, and also to support the motor/chopping assembly. The kit facilitates fast and safe installation of the garbage disposer by a single installer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to methods and devices for installing a garbage disposer. 
   Mounting a conventional garbage disposer to a sink can be a challenging task. The installer often lies on his back with his head under the sink and works in a relatively tight space. 
   One step in the installation procedure is positioning a sink flange in the sink and connecting the sink flange to a strainer assembly positioned beneath the sink. A problem which occurs when installing the sink flange and strainer assembly is that downward pressure must be applied to the sink flange during installation. If the installer does not have an assistant, the installer may have to reach into the sink with one hand to hold the sink flange in place while manipulating the strainer assembly beneath the sink with the other hand. This presents obvious problems and difficulties when installing the sink flange and strainer assembly. 
   Another problem which occurs when installing a garbage disposer occurs during installation of the disposer motor assembly. Installation of the motor assembly generally requires attaching a mounting ring of the garbage disposer to a mounting ring attached to the sink. The installer may hold the motor assembly with one hand while trying to secure the mounting rings together with the other hand. This part of the installation is somewhat dangerous since the installer may lift the motor assembly over his head with one hand while attempting to secure the mounting rings together with the other hand. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides methods and devices for installing a garbage disposer which overcomes problems with conventional methods and devices for installing a garbage disposer. 
   The installation kit has a first part which contacts the sink flange and a second part which is positioned beneath the sink. The first and second parts are coupled together with a connecting rod extending through the sink drain. The first and second parts are moved relative to one another so that the first part applies a compressive force to the sink flange. 
   The second part may also be used to support a plumbing element which is attached to the sink flange. The plumbing element may be any conventional or suitable garbage disposer or plumbing element such as a strainer assembly. The second part may have an interlocking structure with the plumbing connection so that the orientation of the second part and the plumbing element may be maintained. The second part may, for example, have holes which receive threaded elements on the strainer assembly. The threaded elements may be used to spread apart upper and lower parts of the strainer assembly so that a snap-fit ring is moved into engagement with a groove on the sink flange. 
   The installation kit may also be used as a stand to support the motor assembly before the motor assembly is attached to the sink. 
   These and other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, drawings and claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of an installation kit with a sink flange and plumbing elements such as a cardboard ring, a strainer assembly and a snap ring in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a sink with the installation kit with a first part positioned above the sink and a second part positioned below the sink. 
       FIG. 3  shows the first part of the installation kit engaging the sink flange and the second part supporting a plumbing element. 
       FIG. 4  shows the first and second parts moved toward one another to apply a holding force to the sink flange. 
       FIG. 5  shows the threaded elements of the plumbing element mounted on the sink flange. 
       FIG. 6  shows the plumbing element secured to the sink flange. 
       FIG. 7  shows the installation kit configured as a stand to support the disposer motor assembly. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , an installation kit  2  for a garbage disposer  4  is shown. The present invention may be used to install any type of garbage disposer  4  and use with one type of garbage disposer  4  is described. Of course, the present invention may be used to install any other type of garbage disposer as can be appreciated from the following description. 
   Installation of the garbage disposer  4  may take different forms but generally requires a sink flange  6 , which encircles and lines the drain opening, and a plumbing element  8  positioned beneath the sink and mounted to the sink flange  6 . The plumbing element  8  may be any suitable part of the garbage disposer  4  or any suitable plumbing element such as a strainer assembly  11 . The garbage disposer  4  also includes a motor assembly  9  which is attached to the plumbing element  8  or another suitable part of the sink or sink flange  6 . The sink flange  6  may be provided with the garbage disposer  4 , sold separately or provided with the sink. 
   The plumbing element  8  is attached to the sink with any suitable connector. For example, the plumbing element  8  may include a snap ring  14  which has a snap-fit engagement with a groove  20  on the sink flange  6 . The plumbing element  8 , which may be the strainer assembly  11 , has an upper part  13  and a lower part  15 . The upper part  13  and lower part  15  are spread apart using threaded elements  16  as is known in the art. When the upper and lower parts  13 ,  15  are spread apart, the upper part compresses a soft cardboard  17  disk against the underside of the sink and the lower part forces the snap ring  14  into engagement with the groove  20  on the sink flange  6 . The motor assembly  9  may be coupled to the plumbing element  8  or any other part of the sink in any suitable manner. For example, the motor assembly  9  may have a mounting ring  18  that is coupled to the lower part  15  of the plumbing element  8  by a simple rotational engagement as is known in the art. 
   The installation kit  2  includes a first part  22 , a second part  24 , a connecting rod  26  extending between the first and second parts  22 ,  24 , and a third part  28  which forms a threaded connection with the interconnecting rod  26 . The first part  22  has a contact surface  30  which contacts the sink flange  6  to apply a compressive force to the sink flange  6  as described below. The contact surface  30  may have a conical or beveled shape to firmly engage the sink flange  6 . 
   The second part  24  has a hole  32  through which the connecting rod  26  extends. The third part  28  has a threaded recess  34  which receives the connecting rod  26  so that rotation of the third part  28  moves the first and second parts  22 ,  24  toward and away from one another as required. The second part  24  may also have a plurality of holes  36  which receive the threaded elements  16  of the plumbing element  8 . The second part  24  also has a plurality of stand-off arms  38 . The stand-off arms  38  contact the underside of the sink as shown in  FIG. 4  so that a compressive force is applied to the sink flange  6  when the first and second parts  22 ,  24  are moved toward one another as described below. 
   Use of the installation kit  2  is now described. The first part  22  is positioned in contact with the sink flange  6  with the connecting rod  26  extending down the sink drain. The plumbing element  8 , such as the strainer assembly  11 , is positioned on the second part  24  with the threaded elements  16  positioned in the holes  36  in the second element  24 . The second part  24  is then coupled to the first part  22  using the threaded connection between the first and third parts  22 ,  28 . The third part  28  is then rotated to move the first and second parts  22 ,  24  together until the stand-off arms  38  contact a surface beneath the sink and the desired compressive force is applied to the sink flange  6 . 
   While the compressive force is applied to the sink flange  6 , the plumbing element  8  is then attached to the sink flange  6 . A screwdriver is introduced into the holes  36  so that the screwdriver may be used to manipulate the threaded elements  16  as shown in  FIG. 5  to attach the plumbing element  8  to the sink flange  6 . Manipulation of the threaded elements  16  causes the upper and lower parts  13 ,  15  to spread apart from one another so that the snap ring  14  engages the groove  9  in the sink flange and the cardboard disk  17  is compressed against the underside of the sink. 
   The installation kit  2  may also be used to support the motor assembly  9  when attaching it to the plumbing element  8  or any other part of the sink or disposer  4 . The third part  28  is decoupled from the connecting rod  26  and the second part  24  is turned over so that the stand-off arms  38  form legs for a stand  44  to hold the motor assembly  9 . The connecting rod  26  is then engaged with the threaded recess  34  in the third part  28 . 
   The motor assembly  9  is positioned on top of the first part  22  and may be raised and lowered as necessary by rotating the third part  28 . The motor assembly  9  may be raised and lowered without rotating the motor assembly  9  so that the orientation of the motor assembly  9  may be fixed. Raising and lowering the motor assembly  9  without rotation also helps prevent the electrical cords and connectors from becoming tangled and also permits the user to select the desired orientation of the motor assembly  9  without changing the height of the stand. The first part  22  also has a cut-out portion  42  through which electrical connections and the like may extend. 
   The present invention may be sold as a stand-alone kit or may be sold with a garbage disposer. Furthermore, garbage disposer may take many forms and, in particular, the plumbing element  8  and manner in which the plumbing element  8  is attached to the sink, such as the sink flange, and also the manner in which the motor assembly is attached to the plumbing element  8  or any other part of the sink or disposer  4 .