Abstract:
A toilet mounting assembly for securely and easily mounting a toilet to a structure includes a sealing ring securable to a structure and having either integral threaded rods extending from a main body portion of the sealing ring or threaded rods easily and securely attached to the sealing ring using a tongue and groove. Alternately, the sealing ring may include threaded apertures for receiving specially structured bolts to secure the toilet to the sealing ring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to toilet mounting hardware and more particularly pertains to a new toilet mounting assembly for securely and easily mounting a toilet to a structure. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of toilet mounting hardware is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,890 to Dismore et al. describes a toilet bowl seating assembly having common nuts and bolts for clamping together a closet flange, centering funnel, sealing ring, and toilet seat. Another type of toilet mounting hardware is U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,836 to Izzi, Sr. disclosing an offset flange for connecting a toilet bowl to and an unaligned drainpipe. U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,780 to McEwen discloses a connector flange having various slots and holes to permit use of-standard nuts and bolts to attach to a toilet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,319,268 to Blumenkranz teaches another connector for attachment to between a drainpipe and a toilet using standard nuts and bolts. U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,823 to Isaacs discloses a unitary plastic cap, nut and washer combination particularly for attachment to a standard bolt for securing a toilet. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 273,413 to McMurray shows an ornamental appearance for a moisture diverting drainpipe for a toilet pipe. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for an improved toilet mounting assembly for securely and easily mounting a toilet to a structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a sealing ring securable to a structure and having either integral threaded rods extending from a main body portion of the sealing ring or threaded rods easily and securely attached to the sealing ring using a tongue and groove. Alternately, the sealing ring may include threaded apertures for receiving specially structured bolts to secure the toilet to the sealing ring. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet mounting assembly that is rust resistant to facilitate later disengagement of the toilet. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet mounting assembly that promotes secure connection of the toilet while reducing the possibility of damaging the toilet due to over tightening of standard hardware nuts and bolts. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway side view of a new toilet mounting assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the sealing member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of alternate embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the connection member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new toilet mounting assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the toilet mounting assembly  10  generally comprises a main member  12  that has a sealing portion  14  and a funnel portion  16  extending from the sealing portion  14 . The sealing portion  14  includes a plurality of apertures  18 . Thus, the sealing portion  14  is adapted for coupling to a structure, typically the floor of a bathroom. A plurality of threaded posts  20  extend upwardly from the sealing portion  14 . The posts  20  are positioned for passing through connection apertures  4  of a toilet  2 . A plurality of connection members  22  are engageable the posts  20  for securing the toilet  2  to the structure. 
     In an embodiment, each connection member  22  has a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate flanges  27  extending outwardly from a central portion  66  of the connection member  22  for facilitating hand tightening of the connection members  22 . 
     A plurality of washers  24  are provided. Each washer  24  is secured between an associated one of the connection members  22  and the toilet  2 . 
     In an embodiment, the sealing portion  14  includes a plurality of removable sections  26 . Each of the threaded posts  20  extends from an associated one of the removable sections  26  to facilitate easy replacement of a broken or stripped post without having to completely dismantle or replace the toilet mounting. The sealing portion  14  has a plurality of cutouts  28  for receiving the removable sections  26 . Each cutout  28  extends into the sealing portion from an outer wall  30  of the sealing portion  14 . 
     Each removable section  26  includes a flange  32  extending outwardly from the removable section  26 . Each cutout  28  includes a groove  34  complementarily positioned with respect to the flange  32  of the associated removable section  26  for receiving the flange  32 . Thus, each removable section  26  is prevented from moving upwardly with respect to the sealing portion  14  when the flange  32  is positioned in the groove  34 . 
     In an embodiment, each flange  32  extends from a medial portion  36  of the removable section  26 . Alternately, each flange  32  extends from a bottom edge  38  of the removable section  26 . Although it is typically desired to utilize consistent positioning of the flange for one sealing portion, it is contemplated that the positioning of the flange could be varied for one sealing portion. Various positioning of the flange is particularly if associating the positioning of the flange to a particular type of connection post and differing connection posts are desired for specific locations on the sealing portion. 
     In an embodiment, each cutout  28  is formed by an arcuate wall  40  extending into the sealing portion  14 . Alternately, each cutout  28  is formed by three walls  42  extending into the sealing portion  14 . The walls  42  may be positioned at right angles to each other or the outer walls may be flared outwardly. 
     In an alternate embodiment also permitting easy replacement of damaged posts, a main member  12 ′ includes a sealing portion  14 ′ and a funnel portion  16 ′ extending from the sealing portion  14 ′. The sealing portion  14 ′ includes a plurality of apertures  18 ′. Thus, the sealing portion  14 ′ is designed for coupling to a structure. 
     The sealing portion  14 ′ includes a plurality of threaded connection holes  52 . Each of the holes  52  is positioned to align with connection holes  4  of the toilet  2 . A plurality of connectors  54  are provided. Each connector  54  includes a threaded post portion  56  and a head portion  58 . The threaded post portion  56  is engageable to a selectable one of the threaded connection holes  52 . Thus, the head portion  58  secures the toilet  2  to the structure. Washers  24 ′ are secured between the head portion  58  and the toilet  2 . Each head portion  58  may integrally incorporate a decorative appearance such that no decorative cap is required to cover the connection as is commonly done to conceal the connection of a toilet to the floor. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.