Patent Publication Number: US-6698103-B2

Title: Flush valve mounting assembly

Description:
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mounting plate assembly for use in aligning electrical and plumbing components of a toilet flush valve installation. Typically, a flush valve installation which utilizes electrical sensor activation requires an electrical box, appropriately located relative to the toilet fixture drain line, and a flush valve water inlet pipe. Since at least three different trades are involved in a new construction installation, an electrician, a plumber and a drywall installer, it frequently happens that the electrical and plumbing components are not properly related relative to the openings in the drywall panel, with the end result that a portion of the installation may have to be re-worked or the components are not properly aligned for final installation of the toilet fixture. The present invention provides a simple and reliable device for insuring the appropriate relationship of the electrical and plumbing components and that these components are correctly positioned relative to the drain line for the toilet fixture. 
     The mounting plate assembly, which includes a plate, a pair of spaced rails and a water pipe locater, along with appropriate openings in the plate, insures that the electrical and plumbing components are all properly related to each other and to the toilet fixture drain line. This eliminates the problems normally associated with multiple trade installation of the electrical and plumbing components in new construction. 
     In new construction, normally the drain line will first be run, the walls will then be studded out, the plumber will return to run the water inlet, the electrician will locate the electrical connections relative to the water inlet and drain and finally, the drywall installer will place the sheet rock in position on the studs. After this the plumber will return to complete the flush valve and toilet fixture installation. Without a rigid, fixed locating device, error can be introduced at any point in any one of the trade installations. The present invention provides just such a means to avoid inappropriate installation of any components and to insure all components will be aligned and that the drywall installer will have an exact location for the openings in the drywall to fit over the plumbing and electrical components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mounting plate assembly for use in appropriate alignment of the electrical and plumbing components of a toilet flush valve installation. 
     A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a mounting plate assembly for the use described which insures correct location of the electrical box and the water inlet pipe relative to the drain line of the toilet fixture. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide such an assembly which may be useful for right-hand or left-hand installation and for wall studs with variant spacing therebetween. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide an assembly of the type described which insures location of the mounting plate directly over the toilet fixture drain line and plumb-bob vertical disposition of the mounting plate. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and reliable mounting plate assembly for the use described. 
     Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the mounting plate assembly fastened to a pair of spaced wall studs; and 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the mounting plate assembly of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention allows installation of a toilet fixture flush valve in a plumb and level manner, provides a sturdy mounting point for the incoming water supply, maintains the correct relative position between the water inlet, the electrical box location for the sensor and electrical connections, and identifies the toilet fixture drain as the center point for the installation. It provides for positioning anywhere between wall studs on 16″ or 24″ center-to-center spans through the use of two mounting rails having slots for variable positioning of the rails on the studs. The general purpose of the mounting plate assembly is to insure that the electronic package, the water inlet, and fixture water outlet are properly located relative to each other. This overcomes the problems associated with multiple trade installation at multiple points in time. 
     In a typical new construction installation, the drain line will first be run, the walls will then be studded out, the plumber will return to run the water inlet, the electrician will locate the electrical connections relative to the water inlet and drain, the drywall installer will then install the sheet rock to finish the wall, and finally, the plumber will return to complete the flush valve installation. Without a rigid, fixed locating means, substantial error can be introduced at any point that a different tradesman comes on the job. If the installation is not plumb and level, the electrical connections are more difficult to install and thus can be susceptible to vandalism. 
     In FIG. 1, a pair of wall studs are indicated at  10  and  12 . Rails  14  and  16  are attached to the wall studs by fasteners  18  which pass through elongated slots  20  in the rails. The slots  20  are so located on the rails, as shown in FIG. 2, as to accommodate wall studs which may be either 16″ or 24″ on center. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the rails  14 , 16  are identical and will be positioned in a symmetrical relationship with each other when mounted to the wall studs. 
     A mounting plate is indicated at  22  and will have an opening  24  for location of an electrical box  26 . The plate  22  further has two oval-shaped openings  28 , each of which is used for the installation of a water pipe  30 . Only one such opening will be used in a specific location, but by having two openings, and located as shown on the plate  22 , the plate may be used for either a right-hand or left-hand installation of the water pipe. Each opening is surrounded by a breakaway spacer  28   a  which allows the openings to accommodate either ¾″ or 1″ copper pipe, with the spacer being removed for the larger size pipe. 
     A pipe locater is indicated at  32  and will have a sleeve  34  which will extend over the pipe  30 , with the pipe passing through an opening  36  in the locater. The locater  32  has a triangular-shaped arm  38  with an elongated slot  40  which will accept a fastener  42  which will then pass through an opening  44  in the mounting plate  22 . The elongated slot  40  and the oval openings provide for variable location of the water pipe. The locater will first be slipped over the water pipe  30  and will then be fastened to the plate  22  by use of a fastener  42 , the elongated slot  40  and the opening  44  in the mounting plate. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting plate has laterally offset mounting tabs  46 ,  48  and  50  at the upper and lower sides of the plate. Each of these tabs has openings  52  for use in receiving fasteners  54 . The fasteners will pass through elongated slots  56  in the mounting rails  14  and  16 . This permits variable positioning of the plate between the studs  10  and  12  and on the rails  14  and  16 . It is important that the plate  22  be properly positioned relative to the drain line and the location of the tabs  46 ,  48  and  50  and their associated mounting holes and the elongated slots  56  in the rails permit variable positioning of the plate to the rails between the studs. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the tabs will be located behind the rails with the fasteners  54  extending from the front of the plate, through the rails, and then into the holes or openings in the tabs. The openings in the tabs may be appropriately threaded if desired, or self-tapping fasteners may be used. 
     Plate  22  has two horizontal slots  55 , offset from the centerline of the plate, which slots are used to mount the plate directly to a wall stud in the event the plate straddles the studs. In this instance, no rails would be required. 
     It is important that the mounting plate be both vertically aligned with the drain line and be plumb. To this end, upper and lower edges of the mounting plate have arrow-shaped openings  60 , with each such opening having a head portion  62  and a shank portion  64 . The lower arrow-shaped opening, when the plate is installed, will be located directly over the drain line. A plumb-bob will be placed in the upper opening and when the plumb-bob line passes from the upper opening, in alignment with score lines  66  and the lower opening, it is insured that the plate is plumb and is located directly over the drain line. 
     In the past, installations of the type shown herein used paper templates that relied heavily on installers&#39; measurements and the discipline of the multiple trades to put each component in an appropriate location. Often this did not happen. The present assembly provides an absolutely reliable means of not only insuring that the mounting of the components is correct relative to the drain line, but that these components are in vertical alignment with the drain line and with each other. It substantially simplifies the installation of an electrical sensor-operated flush valve for use with a toilet fixture, whether it be a urinal or water closet. 
     In addition to the advantages described above, the mounting system provides increased flexibility for job site scheduling of the various trades. For instance, the mounting plate may be put up before the drain and then the drain located relative to the plate. Also, the mounting system could be installed by an electrician instead of the plumber. It is normally desirable that the plumber install the plate, as he has information as to location of the related plumbing fixtures, but if the plumber properly locates the water line, other trades could install the mounting system. 
     Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there may be many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto.