Patent Publication Number: US-11021860-B1

Title: Toilet tank support

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to a toilet tank support, and more particularly to a toilet tank support that prevents damage to a toilet tank. 
     Toilets typically consist of three parts which are a toilet tank that holds water for flushing purposes, a toilet bowl having a seat, and a flushing mechanism. In two piece type toilets the toilet tank is secured to the toilet bowl by use of a pair of bolts. The toilet is usually positioned adjacent to a wall. However, sometimes the toilet is not positioned close enough to a wall and there is a gap between the wall and the toilet tank. When an individual is sitting on the seat of the toilet bowl the back of the individual is against the toilet tank. If the individual presses too hard against the toilet tank the bolts may not be strong enough to prevent the toilet tank from becoming loose from the bolts or from the toilet tank being damaged. If the toilet tank becomes loose then water damage can occur as water will leak through bolt holes formed in the toilet tank. Further, it is also possible that the bolts will completely fail and the toilet tank will separate from the toilet bowl. If the bolts fail then it is possible that the toilet tank will press against the wall and damage the wall. In order to prevent this, toilet tank supports are used to bridge the gap between the toilet tank and the adjacent wall. However, such known toilet tank supports require that the support be customized in that the support needs to be cut to a certain length to fill the space between the toilet tank and the wall. Further, such known toilet tank supports do not provide a large contact point or area against wall and due to this are subject to shifting, moving, or falling. Also, known toilet tank supports are rather flimsy in construction and are subject to breaking or failing when in use. 
     The present disclosure is designed to obviate and overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings experienced with prior support devices. Moreover, the present disclosure is related to a toilet tank support that can be easily positioned to span the gap between a toilet tank and a wall without having to cut the support. The toilet tank support of the present disclosure is also simple to use due to the support not requiring any measuring or cutting of the support. Also, the toilet tank support of the present disclosure does not require any tools to install or remove the support. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one form of the present disclosure, a toilet tank support is disclosed which comprises a bracket member having an upper hook portion having a front leg portion, an upper horizontal portion, a vertical member, and a lower hook portion having a back leg portion, and a lower horizontal portion connected to the vertical member, and a spacer member having an opening for receiving the back leg portion of the bracket member. 
     In another form of the present disclosure, a toilet tank support comprises a bracket member having an upper hook portion having a front leg portion, an upper horizontal portion, a vertical member, and a lower hook portion having a back leg portion, and a lower horizontal portion connected to the vertical member, and a spacer member having a front toilet tank engaging surface, a lower side, and a rear wall engaging surface and an opening formed in the lower side for receiving the back leg portion of the bracket member. 
     In still another form of the present disclosure, a toilet tank support kit is disclosed which comprises a bracket member having an upper hook portion having a front leg portion, an upper horizontal portion, a vertical member, and a lower hook portion having a back leg portion, and a lower horizontal portion connected to the vertical member, a first spacer member having an opening for receiving the back leg portion of the bracket member, the first spacer member having a width, and a second spacer member having an opening for receiving the back leg portion of the bracket member, the second spacer member having a width with the width of the second spacer member being greater than the width of the first spacer member. 
     In light of the foregoing comments, it will be recognized that the toilet tank support of the present disclosure is of simple construction and design and which can be easily employed with highly reliable results. 
     The present disclosure provides a toilet tank support that can be easily installed on a toilet tank without using any tools. 
     The present disclosure provides a toilet tank support that is easy to use and install on a toilet tank and does not interfere with the use of a toilet. 
     The present disclosure provides a toilet tank support that is lightweight, strong, compact, and durable and prevents a toilet tank from moving once installed on the toilet tank. 
     The present disclosure also provides a toilet tank support that can be constructed using readily available materials. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a toilet tank support that provides a large surface area or contact point against a wall so that the toilet tank support will not shift during use and will prevent a toilet tank from wobbling or moving. 
     The present disclosure also provides a toilet tank support that does not require any measuring to be able to install the toilet tank support on a toilet tank. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a toilet tank support that does not require any specialized skills to be able to install or remove the support from a toilet tank. 
     The present disclosure further provides a toilet tank support that does not have any moving parts and prevents a toilet tank from wobbling or moving when installed on a toilet tank. 
     The present disclosure is further directed to a toilet tank support that is constructed of a material that is resistant to mold and mildew. 
     The present disclosure also provides a toilet tank support that does not require any fasteners to attach the toilet tank support to a wall. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a toilet tank support kit which has a bracket member and a number of spacer members packaged together so that various width spaces or gaps between a toilet tank and a wall may be accommodated. 
     The present disclosure provides a toilet tank support kit which has a bracket and a number of different width spacer members so that no prior measurement of a space or gap between a toilet tank and a wall is required. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a toilet tank kit which is of simple construction and design and which can be easily employed with highly reliable and desirable results. 
     The present disclosure also provides a toilet tank kit which easy to install on a toilet tank without the use of any tools. 
     The present disclosure also provides a toilet tank support kit that does not require any fasteners to attach the toilet tank support kit to a wall. 
     These and other advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a toilet tank support constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a bracket member that forms part of the toilet tank support constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a spacer member that forms part of the toilet tank support constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the spacer member constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the toilet tank support being hooked onto a toilet tank and the spacer member being positioned between the toilet tank and a wall to span or fill a gap between the toilet tank and the wall; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a pair of toilet tank supports constructed according to the present disclosure being installed onto a toilet tank; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a toilet tank support kit constructed according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like items, number  10  identifies a preferred embodiment of a toilet tank support constructed according to the present disclosure. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the toilet tank support  10  is shown to comprise a bracket member  12  and a spacer member  14 . The spacer member  14  is a generally rectangular element having a height  16  and a length  18 . As will be explained further herein, the spacer element  14  also has a width that is used to span the gap or space that exists between a toilet tank (not shown) and a wall (also not shown). The spacer member  14  is adapted to receive the bracket member  12  and the bracket member  12  is adapted to be placed or hooked onto a toilet tank. The bracket member  12  and the spacer member  14  may be constructed of a material that is resistant to mold and mildew or may be coated with a coating that is resistant to mold and mildew. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the bracket member  12 . The bracket member  12  comprises an upper hook portion  20  having a front leg portion  22 , an upper horizontal portion  24 , and a vertical section or member  26 . The front leg portion  22 , the upper horizontal portion  24 , and the vertical member  26  form an upper hook portion channel  28 . The bracket member  12  also has a lower hook portion  30 . The lower hook portion  30  has a back leg portion  32  and a lower horizontal portion  34  connected to the vertical member  26 . The back leg portion  32 , the lower horizontal portion  34 , and the vertical member  26  form a lower hook portion channel  36 . The front leg portion  22  has a length  38  and the back leg portion  32  has a length  40 . The length  40  of the back leg portion  32  is generally greater than the length  38  of the front leg portion  22 . However, it is possible that the lengths  38  and  40  may be the same. Further, the vertical member  26  has a length  42  and the length  42  is typically greater than the lengths  38  and  40 . By way of example only, the length  38  may be one-half inch, the length  40  may be one and one-half inches, and the length  42  may be two inches. However, other dimensions for the lengths  38 ,  40 , and  42  are possible depending upon the application. The upper horizontal portion  24  has a length  44 . The lower horizontal portion  34  has a length  46 . Generally, the length  44  is greater than the length  46 . Again, by way of example only, the length  44  may be one-half inch and the length  46  may be one-eighth inch. The bracket member  12  may be constructed of any suitable plastic. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the spacer member  14  is shown. The spacer member  14  has a front toilet tank engaging surface  50 , a left side  52 , an upper side  54 , a right side  56 , a lower side  58 , and a rear wall engaging surface  60 . The spacer member  14  also has a width  62 . The width  62  of the spacer member  14  is used to span or fill a gap between a toilet tank and a wall, which will be explained in detail further herein. For purposes of example only, the width  62  of the spacer member  14  may be one-half inch, one inch, one and one-half inches, and two inches. Although the spacer member  14  is depicted as being generally rectangular in shape and construction, it is contemplated that the spacer member  14  may be any shape that can span a gap with such other shapes being, by way of example only, square, triangular, circular, and oval. The spacer member  14  may be constructed of any suitable plastic. Also, the spacer member  14  may be solid or the spacer member  14  may be a hollow construction with reinforcing ribs inside the spacer member  14  to provide strength to the spacer member  14 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the spacer member  14 . The spacer member  14  has the front toilet tank engaging surface  50 , the left side  52 , the right side  56 , the lower side  58 , and the rear wall engaging surface  60 . The lower side  58  has a slot, an aperture, or an opening  64  formed therein. The opening  64  is sized and shaped to receive the back leg portion  32  ( FIG. 2 ) of the bracket member  12 . The opening  64  is generally centrally located along the lower side  58 . However, the opening  64  may be positioned anywhere along the lower side  58 . It is also possible that more than one opening  64  may be formed in the lower side  58 . A set back space  66  is provided between the opening  64  and the front toilet tank engaging surface  50  with the set back space  66  being able to be placed within the lower hook portion channel  36  ( FIG. 2 ). In essence, the opening  64  is used to receive the back leg portion  32  to connect or hook the spacer member  14  to the bracket member  12 . This connection holds the spacer member  14  in place. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , a partial cross-sectional view of the toilet tank support  10  is shown with the bracket member  12  of the support  10  being hooked onto a rear wall  70  of a toilet tank  72  and the spacer member  14  being positioned between the rear wall  70  and a wall  74  to span or fill a gap  76  between the toilet tank  70  and the wall  74 . The toilet tank  72  may have a lid or cover (not shown) that has been removed for purposes of clarity. The bracket member  12  is shown having the front leg portion  22 , the upper horizontal portion  24 , and the vertical section or member  26 . The front leg portion  22 , the upper horizontal portion  24 , and the vertical member  26  form the upper hook portion channel  28 . The upper hook portion channel  28  of the upper hook portion  20  is used to receive the rear wall  70  of the toilet tank  72 . In this manner, the bracket member  12  is hooked onto the rear wall  70  of the toilet tank  72  and held in place. The bracket member  12  also has the lower hook portion  30 . The lower hook portion  30  has the back leg portion  32  and the lower horizontal portion  34  connected to the vertical member  26 . The back leg portion  32 , the lower horizontal portion, and the vertical member  26  form the lower hook portion channel  36 . The lower hook portion channel  36  is used to receive the spacer member  14  through the opening  64 . In this manner, the spacer member  14  is hooked onto or secured to the bracket member  12  and held in place. The rear wall engaging surface  60  of the spacer member  14  has a large amount of surface area for engaging the wall  74 . This prevents the toilet tank support  10  from being improperly installed and from moving or shifting during use. Further, there is no need to use any fasteners to hold or secure the spacer member  14  to the wall  74 . 
     In operation, the toilet tank support  10  is assembled by inserting the bracket member  12  into the spacer member  14 . This is accomplished by inserting the back leg portion  32  into the opening  64  provided in the lower side  58  of the spacer member  14 . The lower hook portion channel  36  is used to capture and hold the spacer member  14 . Once assembled, the toilet tank support  10  is hooked onto the rear wall  70  of the toilet tank  72  by use of the upper hook portion channel  28  of the bracket member  12 . The spacer member  14  then fills up the space or the gap  76  between the rear wall  70  of the toilet tank  70  and the wall  74 . If an individual rests against the toilet tank  72 , any movement of the toilet tank  72  will be prevented by use of the toilet tank support  10 . Since the toilet tank  72  is prevented from moving by use of the support  10 , there will be no damage to the toilet tank  72  or to the wall  74 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a pair of toilet tank supports  100  and  102  being placed on an upper rear edge  104  of a toilet tank  106 . The toilet tank  106  has a rear wall  108  having the upper rear edge  104 . Again, for sake of clarity a toilet tank lid (not shown) has been removed. The toilet tank support  100  comprises a bracket member  110  and a spacer member  112 . The toilet tank support  102  comprises a bracket member  114  and a spacer member  116 . The toilet tank supports  100  and  102  are the same as the toilet tank support  10 . As can be appreciated, a single toilet tank support  10 ,  100 , or  102  may be positioned on the upper edge  104  of the rear wall  108  of the toilet tank  106  or more than two of the toilet tank supports  10 ,  100 , or  102  may be employed. It is also possible that the spacer members  14 ,  112 , or  116  may be the same length as the upper rear edge  104 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a toilet tank support kit  150  of the present disclosure is shown. The toilet tank support kit  150  comprises a bracket member  152 , a first spacer member  154 , and a second spacer member  156 . The bracket member  152  comprises an upper hook portion  158  having a front leg portion  160 , an upper horizontal portion  162 , and a vertical section or member  164 . The front leg portion  160 , the upper horizontal portion  162 , and the vertical member  164  form an upper hook portion channel  166 . The bracket member  152  also has a lower hook portion  168 . The lower hook portion  168  has a back leg portion  170  and a lower horizontal portion  172  connected to the vertical member  164 . The back leg portion  170 , the lower horizontal portion  172 , and the vertical member  164  form a lower hook portion channel  174 . The bracket member  152  may be constructed of any suitable plastic. 
     The first spacer member  154  comprises a front toilet tank engaging surface  176 , a left side  178 , an upper side  180 , a rear wall engaging surface  182 , and a bottom side  184 . Although not shown in this particular view, the first spacer member  154  has a right side. Also, not shown in this view, the bottom side  184  has an opening formed therein for receiving the back leg portion  170  of the bracket member  152 . The first spacer member  154  also has a width  186 . The width  186  of the first spacer member  154  is used to span or fill a gap between a toilet tank and a wall, as has been explained in detail herein. For purposes of example only, the width  186  of the first spacer member  154  may be one inch. The first spacer member  154  may be constructed of any suitable plastic. 
     The second spacer member  156  comprises a front toilet tank engaging surface  188 , a left side  190 , an upper side  192 , a rear wall engaging surface  194 , and a bottom side  196 . The second spacer member  156  also has a right side, however, this is not shown in this view. Further, the bottom side  196  has an opening formed therein for receiving the back leg portion  170  of the bracket member  152 . The second spacer member  156  has a width  198 . The width  198  of the second spacer member  156  is used to span or fill a gap between a toilet tank and a wall, as has been explained in detail herein. For purposes of example only, the width  198  of the second spacer member  156  may be two inches. In essence, the width  198  of the second spacer member  156  is greater than the width  186  of the first spacer member  154 . The second spacer member  156  may be constructed of any suitable plastic. 
     As can be appreciated, the bracket member  152 , the first spacer member  154 , and the second spacer member  156  form the toilet tank support kit  150 . The bracket member  152 , the first spacer member  154 , and the second spacer member  156  may be packaged together within a single package. In this manner, the kit  150  is used to span various different gaps, such as the gap  76  ( FIG. 5 ) without having to measure or know what the width of the gap  76  is. In particular, an individual can purchase the kit  150  without knowing the size of the gap  76  and use the spacer  154  or  156  which is large enough to fill the gap  76 . It is also possible and contemplated that the toilet tank support kit  150  may contain more than two different sized width spacers  152  and  154 . For example, the toilet tank support kit  150  may include a third spacer member having a third width which is greater than the widths  186  and  198 . By way of example only, the third width may be three inches. Also, the toilet tank support kit  150  may include a fourth spacer member having a fourth width which is greater than the third width and the widths  186  and  198 . Again, by way of example only, the fourth width may be four inches. In this manner, the kit  150  may be used to accommodate a gap of up to four inches. It is also possible that the kit  150  may include spacer members having other sized widths. For example, the spacer members may be half sizes such as one-half inch, one and one-half inches, two and one-half inches, three and one-half inches, and even four and one-half inches. Other sized widths are possible, such as quarter sized widths. In this manner, various sized gaps may be accommodated for by using the toilet tank kit  150  of the present disclosure without having a need to know the size of the gap prior to purchasing the toilet tank kit  150 . 
     From all that has been said, it will be clear that there has thus been shown and described herein a toilet tank support which fulfills the various objects and advantages sought therefor. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the subject toilet tank support are possible and contemplated. All changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure are deemed to be covered by the disclosure, which is limited only by the claims which follow.