Abstract:
A gasket for sealing between a water closet and the floor or other supporting structure. In cross section it includes a flat seat for the base of the closet, an outer flange for sealing against the outer edge of the base and an inner sealing rib formed for hinge-like deflection by and toward the base as the latter is seated. The gasket is adapted to conform to various perimetrical shapes of bases, and may include an integral gasket and sealing section for annularly and sealingly engaging the drain joint of the water closet and the surface of the floor or other supporting structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to means for mounting water closets on supporting surfaces such as walls, floors and other fixtures. The term “water closets” is intended to mean any contrivance for carrying off toilet discharges through a waste pipe below by the agency of water, and includes sanitary fixtures such as toilet bowls, bidets, urinals, wash basins and the like.  
           [0002]    Bathroom toilets, for example, are generally installed by fitting the side or rear openings of the toilet bowl and anchoring it to the floor with bolts, attaching the toilet bowl with nuts and washers after previously inserting the trap discharge end into the floor drain. In general, supporting the toilet body on the floor requires certain precautions because of the fragile nature of the material of the toilet, and the nuts must be tightened carefully in order to avoid cracking or breaking the base of the bowl. Due to irregularities in the floor level or defects in the installation of ceramic tile or flooring, this type of installation causes formation of cracks or gaps between the supporting edge of the toilet and the toilet itself, which allows flushing water or waste matter, sewage, etc. to enter the inside of the toilet base and, in turn, allows odors to escape from the coupling between the trap and the drain line if this connection has not been properly sealed off.  
           [0003]    This problem has generally been obviated by placing a gasket made of rubber, mastic or some other isolating material in the supporting area of the bottom edge of the toilet body, and for this reason the fixture must have been previously supported. Although this procedure provides a temporary solution of the problem, it is not very effective because the mastic tends to deteriorate or because the rubber gasket is not properly seated.  
           [0004]    In general, the installation of toilets is not a complicated procedure because only a couple of screws or bolts are required to attach this type of fixture to the floor, and the joining of its waste outlet to the drain line is a simple plug-in procedure.  
           [0005]    Most of these fixtures are installed with the bottom edge of the bowl resting on the floor, which tends to cause certain drawbacks because, in some cases, the floor has irregularities in the placement of the flooring or ceramic tiles, thus creating, along the supporting edge of the fixture, gaps or passageways for the flush water or for the escape of gases from the sewer line.  
           [0006]    This drawback is usually remedied by placing an isolating material between the aforesaid edge and the floor, which makes it possible to isolate the interior of the bowl or base from the environment and which, at the same time, can be easily removed in order to take out the fixture whenever some problem occurs. To this end, it is also customary to apply, between the edge of the fixture and the floor, rubber rings that absorb the aforementioned irregularities between the floor and the edge of the fixture, but it is difficult to adapt them to the various models of fixtures currently on the market.  
           [0007]    Despite the use of these elements, it has not proved possible to solve the problem of entry of water or filth into toilet bowls, which over time undergo deterioration due to the incomplete sealing of the fixture support, nor the problem that causes the escape of gases from the waste line.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In the following description toilet bowls are referred to for purposes of description, but it should be understood that the invention applies equally to other types of water closets as well.  
           [0009]    In order to successfully maintain the proper installation of a toilet on the floor without using any kind of adherence by adding isolating materials, and in order to ensure rapid installation without any risk of cracking the toilet bowl, aside from floor irregularities, a feature of this invention comprises a toilet sealing gasket whose annular shape can be adapted to the shape of the various toilet models available on the market.  
           [0010]    In one embodiment the sealing gasket of this invention consists of an integral annular member and has an essentially flat core serving as a supporting seat for the bottom edge of the toilet body. This makes it possible to correct for any irregularities that might be present on said edge and any differences in the bathroom floor level.  
           [0011]    Surrounding the perimeter of this annular seat of the gasket is a small flange or projection that covers the perimeter of the outside edge of the toilet base, thereby preventing waste or water used for washing the floor from penetrating the inside of the toilet. The inside of said seat is also surrounded by a rib for sealing the inner surface of said base, thereby preventing the escape of gases and any waste water discharged for unforeseen reasons. The rib is slightly higher than the small outer flange of the gasket and has an inverted L-cross section with a vertical leg having a triangular cross-section which, in conjunction with its other leg connected to the inner edge of the seat, forms a means of hinging for purposes of providing slight flexibility with respect to the support of the toilet base.  
           [0012]    This rib, located at symmetrically opposed points, is interrupted by respective cylindrical or oblong bushings that allow the passage of the toilet anchor bolts, with said bushings being located laterally from and toward the inside of the annular seat in order to allow for the free support of the toilet body.  
           [0013]    In one embodiment the seat core has one trapezoidal projection and three or more sawtooth projections opposite a half-shaft rib.  
           [0014]    In one embodiment the gasket consists of an integral member formed of molded plastic, preferably polyvinyl, rubber or a similar elastically formable material, with said member having an oblong annular section whose overall shape matches that of the lower supporting edge of a given fixture model and which delimits between its inner and outer edges a flat annular seat for supporting the fixture properly positioned along said edges, by means of a flange and a rib supported against the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, adjacent to the supporting edge of said toilet. The plastic member also includes a section of gasket and seal for connecting the toilet discharge line with the sewer line located on the floor, with said section, in one embodiment, being basically made up of an annular wall or area with concentric corrugations that has a circular inner lip for sealing off the point where the discharge line is connected to the sewer line, which on the exterior is connected to and superimposed on the annular toilet supporting seat and which, below the lip, has a vent-type boot for connecting said connection point with a lower support in order to prevent the escape of water or sewer gases.  
           [0015]    In other embodiments, instead of the boot making up the section of gasket and seal for discharge line and sewer pipe, the gasket consists of a series of concentric ribs of varying heights that rest on the floor in order to prevent the escape of water or sewer gases and, instead of a lip, a tubular extension of an upper base connected to the annular seat.  
           [0016]    In all embodiments this portion of gasket has a union with the annular portion of the gasket that allows for adapting to dimensional differences that might be present during the installation of the toilets or other sanitary fixtures.  
           [0017]    Thus the invention provides a gasket for sealing the supporting edge of toilet bowls or bases against the floor, specifically a gasket for supporting the body of a toilet against the floor for isolating the inside of the toilet from the surrounding environment.  
           [0018]    The subject of the invention is an oblong gasket or washer made of non-rigid material such as slightly elastic plastic, rubber or the like in order to ensure a tight fit with the irregularities of the aforesaid supporting edges of toilet bowls, as well as any other sanitary fixture, bidet, urinal, wash basin, etc., being attached to both the floor and the wall, as well as between fixtures, thereby producing a water-tight union that seals off the entire perimeter, preventing leakage of sewage and internal and external liquids. The material, which may have an anti-bacterial additive, provides a continuous and annular edge-supporting seat that allows for attaching said body without risk of deterioration of the material of the bodies, which is usually fragile.  
           [0019]    This invention further relates to a gasket for supporting and sealing the bottom edge of the body of a toilet, which accommodates floor-anchoring bolts used for providing the proper support of the aforesaid body with respect to any irregularities in the floor, and provides an interstice seal created by supporting the body on the aforesaid seal by means of a small outer annular flange and another inner annular rib surrounding the supporting seat of the aforesaid bottom edge of the body.  
           [0020]    The invention further relates to a gasket consisting of an annular member specifically designed to serve as a support for the bottom edge of toilet bowls and whose cross section has a flat seat so that it can be inserted between the aforesaid edge and the floor, and whose perimeter is in the form of a low projection that rests closely against the outer surface of the toilet body in order to prevent the entry or escape or deposit of water or sewage around the entire perimeter, with the inner edge of said seat being adjacent to the supporting edge of the body and intended to prevent the passage of gases from the line or pipe for evacuating matter carried by the discharge of water.  
           [0021]    The invention further provides a gasket whose inner flange or rib for sealing the inner surface of the body is configured vertically above the supporting seat of the bottom edge of the body and has an L-shaped cross section with a triangularly shaped vertical leg for providing an inclined and broken outer flat surface at the level of the top edge of the seat, thus forming a protruding annular edge that together makes up an annular entrance in the joint of said vertical leg with a lower leg that is inclined toward the inside of the annular seat, being a means of hinging the vertical leg for its support against the inner surface of the toilet with respect to the support of the toilet against the gasket seat.  
           [0022]    This invention further provides a gasket that can have various circumferential shapes so that it can be adapted to different models of toilets that consequently have different edge shapes on the lower support edges against the floor.  
           [0023]    This invention further provides a gasket for the supporting edge of a toilet, as well as any other sanitary fixture, bidet, urinal, wash basin, etc., being attached to either or both the floor and the wall, as well as between fixtures, thereby producing a water-tight gasket that seals off the entire perimeter, preventing leakage of sewage and internal and external liquids, with the material having an anti-bacterial additive, and providing a continuous and annular seat whose shape conforms with the supporting edges of various fixture designs, thereby making it possible to match up with manufacturing irregularities in said fixtures, as well as uneven floor levels, and means integral with said seat for sealing off the joint or coupling between the drain of the fixture and the waste line.  
           [0024]    This invention further provides a gasket that is easily adapted to different toilet bowl models or designs, in that it consists of an integral piece of molded plastic, preferably polyvinyl, rubber or the like having slightly elastic characteristics in order to achieve a tight seal with respect to any irregularities present in the fixture, the floor or the piping.  
           [0025]    This invention further provides an improved gasket of the type consisting of an oblong annular section made up of a ring with a flat area serving as a supporting seat for the bottom edge of the fixture surrounded by an outer flange providing contact with the outer surface of the fixture surrounding its supporting edge, and a vertical rib that surrounds the inside of said seat for its contact with the inner surface of the fixture, thereby forming a tight seal preventing the passage of water or sewage, with this annular section integrally connected to a gasket section and plug-in seal to the outlet of the toilet with the drain line, intended to provide a connection between both lines and to encompass the gasket by means of a circumferential wall that can be shaped to fit and seal against the floor.  
           [0026]    This invention further provides a gasket that comprises a packing and sealing section located between the trap and the drain line, integrally connected to an annular seat equipped with a surrounding inner rib whose shape can be modified so that said gasket can be applied to various current designs of bathroom fixtures.  
           [0027]    This invention further provides a gasket that, given its inherent features, offers other possibilities for simultaneously sealing the lower supporting edge of the toilet and the connection of the trap with the drain line, and that provides various embodiments adaptable to different models of bathroom fixtures currently on the market. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the sealing gasket in a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is an elevation in section along line I-I of FIG. 1.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is an elevation detail of the aforesaid gasket, showing the shape characteristics of the inner flange of the gasket.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the gasket in a second embodiment.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 5 through 8 show different shape variants of the sealing gasket corresponding to various models of toilets used on the market.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the gasket according to this invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is an elevation in section along line II-II of FIG. 9, showing the location of the gasket with respect to the supporting edge of the toilet and to the connection of the toilet drain to the sewer line.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11 is an elevation in section of the gasket along line III-III of FIG. 9.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 12 and 13 are, respectively, an elevation in section and a top plan view of another embodiment of the gasket of this invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 14 and 15 are, respectively, an elevation in section and a top plan view of another embodiment of the gasket of this invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 16 and 17 are respectively, an elevation in section and a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 18 and 19 are respectively, an elevation in section and a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 20 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0041]    Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS.  1  to  3 , which correspond to a first embodiment of the sealing gasket according to this invention, identified in general by the reference numeral  1 , the gasket consists of an annular member made of molded plastic, preferably polyvinyl, or some other elastically formable material such as rubber or the like. In cross section this annular member consists of a seat  2 , which is flat and has a uniform thickness for supporting the bottom edge (b) of the base (p) of a toilet, shown in broken lines, with said seat  2  being surrounded on the outside by a small flange  3  that extends beyond seat  1  in order to make contact with the outer surface of the edge (b) of the toilet base (p).  
         [0042]    The perimeter of seat  2  is also enclosed internally by a rib  4 , which is shown in detail and on a larger scale in FIG. 3. The cross section of this rib  4  has an overall L-shape, i.e., it is made up of two legs  4 ′- 4 ″ which form an angled edge facing seat  2  and connected to the bottom edge thereof. One of the legs  4 ′ extends vertically and is slightly inclined above seat  2 , and has a triangular cross section for providing with respect to said seat  2  an annular surface  5  in order to make contact with the bottom edge (b) of the base (p), with the other leg  4 ″ being oriented toward the inside of seat  2  and connected to leg  4 ′ by means of a section of lower opposed sides  6 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the gasket wherein seat  2 ′ has a projection  4 ′″ and perimeter ribs  7 ″ opposite rib  7 ′.  
         [0044]    Member  1  contains integral bushings  7  at symmetrically opposed points to allow the passage of the bolts for anchoring the toilet to the floor.  
         [0045]    The location of the base (p) on seat  2  exerts pressure of its inner surface against the area of grooves  6 , thereby causing a slight bending of leg  4 ′ toward said inner surface of the base (p) in order to act as a means of inner sealing thereof, which is additional to the sealing of its outer edge by means of edge  3  of member  1 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 5 through 8 show the gasket described above whose shape is adapted to the various cross sections of the bases of the various models of toilets currently on the market, but this does not imply any change in its basic features.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIGS. 9 through 11 show another embodiment of this invention, which is an improved gasket for simultaneously sealing the supporting edge of toilet bowls or bases against the floor and the connection of the drain outlet of such toilets with the sewer line, and which is identified by the general reference numeral  1   a . This comprises an integral member made of molded plastic, preferably polyvinyl, rubber or the like with slightly elastic properties.  
         [0048]    As already described, gasket  1   a  consists of an oblong annular section  2   a , with an outer flange  3   a  that surrounds the outer perimeter of said section  1   a , and a rib  4   a  that also surrounds the entire perimeter of (p) or part thereof, and that is connected in a slightly articulated manner. Outer flange  3   a  and rib  4   a , which extends vertically above flange  3   a , constitute means for sealing the surfaces adjacent to supporting edge (b) of a toilet (i), as can be seen in FIG. 10, and form the edges of flat annular seat  5   a  in said section  2   a  of gasket  1   a , thereby preventing the passage of liquids or sewage.  
         [0049]    In this embodiment the shape of oblong annular section  2   a  matches that of a specific model of toilet with symmetrical bushings  6   a  with respect to its longitudinal axis for the fastening bolts of the toilet (i).  
         [0050]    In accordance with this embodiment and as an integral part thereof, this annular section  2   a  consists of a packing and sealing section  7   a  for the connection of the drain of toilet (i) to the sewer line (c) located in the bathroom floor. This packing and sealing section  7   a  is made up of an elastically bendable sleeve that has a cylindrical wall  8   a  extending vertically from one end of said annular section  2   a  and connected, inside the length of a semicircular segment thereof, to the base of the rib as a hinging means to allow for its elastic deformation. The top of this cylindrical wall  8   a  has a base wall  9   a  with concentric corrugations and an inner lip  10  for covering the end of the sewer line (c), adapting to and surrounding the drain of the toilet (i).  
         [0051]    Adjacent to the inner lip  10   a  and located concentrically thereto, and suspended from the bottom of base wall  9   a , is a boot  11 ′ a , which terminates with a vent-type socket for support against the floor.  
         [0052]    Cylindrical wall  8   a  of the packing and sealing section  7   a  has a free semicircular segment between opposing legs of annular section  1   a , and is connected to the end of a longitudinal member  12   a , which connects this semicircular segment to an inner point of the outer curved portion of annular section  2   a , opposite the connection point of the aforesaid section  7   a . This member  12   a  is connected to a transverse member  13   a , which connects to opposite lateral parts of the annular section, thereby forming a cross member that is partially superimposed on or raised above section  2   a , and which has at the ends of members  12   a - 13   a  hinging means that allow annular section  1  to be extended so that it fits into the particular shape of the supporting edge (b) of the toilet (i).  
         [0053]    This embodiment is completed by means of flat ribs  14   a , which extend between members  12   a - 13   a  from rib  4   a  to bushings  6   a , thereby permitting said flat ribs  14   a  to retain their shape with respect to gasket  1   a.    
         [0054]    Installation of gasket  1   a  is thus simple: installing packing and sealing section  7   a  concentrically on sewer line (c) and supporting socket  11 ′ a  of boot  11  against the floor, then aligning bushings  6   a  with the floor bolts and positioning annular seat  5   a  with the bottom edge (b) of the toilet (i), with the toilet resting on the floor, after having previously fitted gasket  1   a  to the shape of the toilet (i) by manipulating its sides by virtue of the flexibility offered by the flexible joints at the ends of members  12   a - 13   a  and of cylindrical wall  8   a  of section  7   a.    
         [0055]    [0055]FIGS. 12 and 13 show another embodiment of this invention, wherein the gasket  1   b  consists of an annular section  2   b  shaped for a different design model of toilet from the application of gasket  1   a  shown in FIGS.  9  to  11 . In this embodiment, the features of annular section  2   b  are the same as described above, but the packing and sealing section  7   b  or elastic bushing is offset with respect to the center of curvature of the smaller radius end of annular section  2   b . Packing and sealing section  7   b  is integrally connected to annular section  2   b  by means of rib  15   b  in the shape of a crescent with opposite sections of annular section  2   b  being connected by curved member  16   b , which connects bushings  6   b  of gasket  1   b  in order to prevent deformation of gasket  1   b . In this embodiment packing and sealing section  7   b  has a boot  11   b , whose top base has a tubular extension  17   b , which is concentric with the boot and has its outlet oriented toward the inside of boot  11   b  and is also equipped with vent-type socket  11 ′ b  for seal support on the floor. Tubular extension  17   b  fits between the toilet drain and the sewer line, thus sealing the connection.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIGS. 14 and 15 show another embodiment of this invention, wherein the same gasket  1   c  consists of an annular section  2   c  with a shape appropriate for a given model of toilet and packing and sealing section  7   c  for making a connection between the toilet drain and the sewer line. The aforesaid packing and sealing section  7   c  or elastic sleeve is integrally connected to the inside edge of annular section  2   c  to provide for free hinging action, and it is made up of boot  11   c , with features similar to the one previously described in other embodiments but whose top end has a tubular extension  17   c , which extends concentrically to boot  11   c  toward the inside of the boot in order to form a sealing sleeve on said connection. Tubular extension  17   c  on the end of boot  11   c  ends with rib  18   c  with an annular groove  19   c , which has reinforcing ribs  19 ′ c  and which is flanged below by a grooved wall  20   c  on the portion of boot  11   c  opposite the side where the boot is attached to annular section  2   c.    
         [0057]    [0057]FIGS. 16 and 17 show another embodiment of this invention, wherein annular section  2   d  of gasket  1   d  comprises a packing and sealing section  7   d , connected semi-circumferentially to said section  2   d , which in turn has a shape matching that of another model of toilet. In this embodiment packing and sealing section  7   d  has an upper end comprising an annular groove  21   d , whose inner wall extends concentrically and toward annular section  2   d , thereby forming a water-tight tube  22   d  for installation in the sewer line where it connects with the toilet drain. Instead of a boot, the bottom of the groove has a series of concentric fins or ribs  23   d , radially spaced and of decreasing heights toward the geometric axis of annular groove  21   d , which provides a support on the floor to seal off any kind of losses in the connection between the toilet drain and the sewer line.  
         [0058]    FIGS.  18 - 19  show another embodiment of this invention, wherein annular section  2   e  of gasket  1   e  is shaped for a specific model of toilet, which is different from those of previously described embodiments and which is equipped with a packing and sealing section  7   e  similar to that described in the embodiment of FIGS.  16 - 17 .  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of this invention, wherein the annular section  2   f  of gasket  1   f  has a specific shape for a modem toilet model design and which incorporates the same packing and sealing section  7   f  used in the embodiments of FIGS.  9 - 11  or  16 - 17 . Installation of the gasket in all the embodiments is similar to that described for the embodiment of FIGS.  9 - 11 , and all the embodiments may incorporate any of the packing and sealing sections described herein without alterations of their functions as herein described.