Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment provides one or more improvements which makes it possible for a single person to easily install a garbage disposal under a sink. Embodiments include a base with wheels, a hydraulic jack attached to the base, an extensible column extended by the hydraulic jack, and a platform attached to the extensible column. The garbage disposer is placed on the platform and the installation tool is moved under the sink, the jack is used to raise and support the platform and the garbage disposal in position for attachment to the sink.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Embodiments relate to tools enabling a single person to install a garbage disposer. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,946,525 discloses a quick connect sink mounting for garbage grinders in which the grinder is attached to the bottom of the sink using a mounting ring with key-holes which interact with jack screws to secure the grinder. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,460 discloses an apparatus which uses thumbscrew secured telescopic tubes and a screw arrangement to hold and raise a garbage disposer for installation on the bottom of a sink. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,573 discloses a jack mounted on a wheeled platform for hoisting a vehicular clutch. 
   U.S. Pat. Applic. Pub. No. US2002/0171189 discloses a cabinet installation device involving an hydraulic pump mounted on a base and bearing a support plate. 
   The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY 
   The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
   Embodiments enable a single person to install a garbage disposer, a process which conventionally requires two persons. The use of a jack to raise the garbage disposer removes the requirement for substantial manual strength to raise the disposer into position for attachment to the sink. This requirement is particularly arduous because garbage disposers often must be installed in finished cabinets build around the sink. Conventional procedures require one person to raise and hold the garbage disposer in position at the bottom of the sink. The other person is required to orient the disposer with respect to the waste line in and to manipulate the disposer attaching ring which connects the garbage disposer to the sink. Embodiments substitute the installation tool for the efforts of the first person in raising the garbage disposer and holding it in position for attachment to the sink. 
   In addition, embodiments include an accommodating connector between the jack and platform. The accommodating connector allows a certain degree of deviation of the platform from a perpendicular relationship with the extensible column of the jack. This deflation facilitates the installation of a garbage disposal in the nearly universal case where the kitchen floor or the disposal cabinet floor is not parallel with the bottom of the sink. 
   Embodiments include a garbage disposer installation tool comprising a base having a top side and a bottom side and friction reduction means attached to the bottom side. Jack means are attached to the top side of the base, the jack means having an extensible column. A support plate is attached at the upper end of the extensible column. The support platform is attached to the extensible column through an accommodating connector. 
   Embodiments also include the process of installing a garbage disposer on a sink by a single operator which comprises the following steps. The garbage disposer is placed on the platform of a garbage disposer installation tool. The tool is inserted below the sink. The garbage disposer installation tool or the garbage disposer is rotated so the disposer discharge outlet is oriented with respect to the kitchen waste pipe. The tool platform is raised using a jack. This brings the garbage disposer opening into proximity with the sink drain and holds it in position. The garbage disposer then is attached to the sink drain. Finally, the garbage disposer discharge outlet is attached to the kitchen waste pipe. 
   Embodiments also include the process when the sink has a mounting ring with tracks and ridges attached to a flange at the bottom of the sink drain. The garbage disposer has an attaching ring with mounting tabs attached at the top of the garbage disposal. The attachment process comprises the following steps. The mounting tabs of the attaching ring are placed in position to slide over the tracks and ridges on the mounting ring. The attaching ring is rotated with respect to the mounting ring until the mounting tabs of the attaching ring pass over the ridges of the mounting ring, thereby removable attaching the garbage disposer and the sink. 
   In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment tool with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the second embodiment tool with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the third embodiment tool with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. 
       FIG. 4A  is a cross section view of the first embodiment accommodating connection between the jack extensible column and platform. 
       FIG. 4B  is a cross section view of the second embodiment accommodating connection between the jack extensible column and platform. 
       FIG. 4C  is a cross section view of the third embodiment accommodating connection between the jack extensible column and platform. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment tool  100  with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. An approximately square base  110  is at the bottom of the tool. Friction reducing means in the form of anti-friction strips  112  are attached at the bottom of the base. The base is attached to the bottom of the hydraulic jack  120 . 
   Jack means in the form of a hydraulic jack  120 , also called a bottle jack, is comprised of a large hydraulic cylinder  122 , which contains an extensible column  124 . An optional screw column attachment  126  is at the top of the extensible column  124 . Also visible in  FIG. 1  is a small hydraulic cylinder  123 , a piston  121  which interacts with the small hydraulic cylinder, and a socket  127  which receives a handle  125 . Reciprocal movement of the handle causes the pumping of hydraulic fluid from the small hydraulic cylinder  123  into the large hydraulic cylinder  122  with the extension of the extensible column  124 . A release valve  125  is used to release the hydraulic fluid from the large hydraulic cylinder with the retraction of the extensible column. 
   An approximately square platform  130  is attached at the upper end of the extensible column  124 , or to the top of the screw column attachment  126  if this element is present. If the screw column attachment  126  is not included, the platform  130  is attached to the top of the extensible column  124 . The garbage disposer  140  is depicted in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 . Also shown are the garbage disposer discharge outlet  142  and the garbage disposer inlet  144 . 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the second embodiment tool  200  with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the second embodiment uses a jack stand rather than a hydraulic jack to raise the garbage disposer. 
     FIG. 2  shows an approximately square base  210 . Friction reducing means in the form of at least 3 hemispheric domes  212  are on the bottom of the base. The base is attached to the bottom of the ratchet jack stand  220 . 
   Jack means in the form of a ratchet jack stand  220  is comprised of a jack stand body  222  which contains a ratchet mechanism activated by a ratchet handle  226 . The ratchet mechanism is used to extend an extensible column  224 . When the ratchet handle  226  is moved into the extreme up position the ratchet mechanism is released, allowing the extendible column to retract into the jack stand body  222 . 
   An approximately square platform  230  is attached to the end of the extensible column  224 . The garbage disposer  240  is depicted in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 . Also shown are the garbage disposer discharge outlet  242  and the garbage disposer inlet  244 . 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the third embodiment tool  300  with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the third embodiment uses a lever jack rather than a hydraulic jack to raise the garbage disposer. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the third embodiment tool  300  with a garbage disposer shown in dashed line. An approximately rectangular base  310  is at the bottom of the tool. Friction reducing means in the form of at least 3 wheels  312  are attached at the bottom of the base. The base is attached to the bottom of the lever jack  320 . 
   Jack means in the form of a lever jack  320 , is comprised of a cylinder  322 , which contains an extensible column  324  visible through a slot  325  in the cylinder  322 . A lever  328  is pivotally mounted to a fulcrum  332  by a bolt  333 . The lever  328  extends through the slot  325  and is pivotally mounted to extensible column  324  by bolt  326 . A locking bar  334  is vertically mounted on the base  310 . Reciprocal movement of the  328  causes the raising or lowering of the extensible column  324  A locking bar  334  has teeth  336  which interact with the lever  328  to hold the lever in a desired position 
   An approximately square platform  330  is attached at the upper end of the extensible column  324 . The garbage disposer  340  is depicted in dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . Also shown are the garbage disposer discharge outlet  342  and the garbage disposer inlet  344 . 
   Each embodiment tool includes an embodiment of an accommodating connector between the extensible column and the platform. Accommodating connectors allow the top of the platform to deviate reversible from approximately 0° to 30° from a perpendicular relationship with the extensible column. Such deviation is necessary in virtually all garbage disposal installations because the kitchen or cabinet floor is not parallel with the bottom of the sink. In the absence of an accommodating connector the garbage disposal would be elevated by the tool to the sink at an angle which would make connecting the disposal to the sink difficult. 
     FIG. 4A  is a cross section view of the first embodiment accommodating connection between the jack extensible column and platform. Visible in  FIG. 4A  is the extensible column  424  with a ball  426  attached to the top of the column. The ball is enclosed by a collar  428  which is attached to the bottom on the platform  430 . This accommodating connection allows the lateral inclination of the platform to accommodate the lack of parallelism between the kitchen or cabinet floor and sink bottom found in virtually all cases. Of course, the accommodating connection also is effective when there is parallelism between the kitchen or cabinet floor and bottom of the sink. The accommodating connection also allows the rotation of the platform with respect to the base often necessary to align the garbage disposal in making connection with the outlet. 
     FIG. 4B  is a cross section view of the second embodiment accommodating connection between the jack extensible column and platform. Visible in  FIG. 4B  is the extensible column  524  with a head  528  attached to the top of the column. The head is enclosed by a cylindrical cup  528  which is inserted into a cavity in the platform  530 . The second embodiment accommodating connection has the same functions as the first embodiment accommodating connection. In addition, in the second embodiment, the platform  530  is easily removed from the extensible column  524  allowing the use of the jack for other purposes. 
     FIG. 4C  is a cross section view of the third embodiment accommodating connection between the jack extensible column and platform. Visible in  FIG. 4C  is the jack extensible column  624  with a spike  628  attached to the top of the column. The spike  626  is inserted into a conical hole  628  through the platform  630 . The second embodiment accommodating connection has the same functions as the first embodiment accommodating connection. In addition, in the second embodiment, the platform  630  is easily removed from the extensible column  624  allowing the use of the jack for other purposes. 
   Any embodiment accommodating connection may be used with any embodiment tool. 
   The shape of the bases and platforms are not crucial to the embodiments. Other shapes, such as approximately round or oval are contemplated. 
   While three friction reduction means are disclosed in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  other equivalent friction reduction means which facilitate the movement of the base over the floor or cabinet floor below a sink are contemplated. Other friction reduction means include rollers, and embossed corrugations on the bottom of the bases. 
   The first, second and third embodiments disclose the use of hydraulic jacks and ratchet jack stands and lever jacks. Other equivalent jack mechanisms which allow the controlled, convenient, and low-effort raising and lowering of a garbage disposer are contemplated. Other jack means include ratchet jacks, screw jacks, ratchet/screw journal jacks. Other means for activating a jack, such as electrical, hydraulic, or air pressure mechanisms are contemplated. 
   A typical residential sink has the outlet approximately 29 inches above the floor. In addition, there typically is a cabinet built around the sink, often with a cabinet floor which may be some 6 inches above the kitchen floor. A typical garbage disposer has a roughly cylindrical shape with a height of about 11 inches and a diameter of about 6 inches. Institutional food service installations typically are larger. 
   A typical garbage disposer weighs from about 15 to about 30 pounds. It is very difficult for a single person to both hold the disposer in place against the sink drain and manipulate the attachment mechanism. 
   In use, the extensible column of embodiments of the tool is retracted to the lowest position and the garbage disposer is placed on the platform. If the tool is equipped with a screw column attachment, the platform is rotated to raise the platform somewhat so the inlet of the garbage disposal will be a few inches below the sink when the too is in position under the sink. The tool with the garbage disposer is then placed in the cabinet beneath the sink or on the floor beneath the sink if there is no cabinet. The friction reduction means on the bottom of the base facilitates the movement of the tool into position with the garbage disposer inlet directly below the sink drain. The tool is then rotated as necessary to orient the garbage disposer discharge outlet with regard to the kitchen waste pipe. The tool is raised using the pump means until the garbage disposer inlet is adjacent to the sink drain. The garbage disposer is attached to the sink drain and the garbage disposer outlet is connected to the kitchen waste line. The extensible column of the tool is retracted until the retaining means is below the bottom of the garbage disposer and the tool is removed from under the sink. 
   There are a number of devices for attachment of a garbage disposer to a sink. Embodiments are capable of use with any attachment mechanism. One popular attachment mechanism involves a mounting ring on the sink which interacts with an attaching ring on the garbage disposer. The mounting ring is secured in place to the flange at the bottom of the sink drain by a ring. The mounting ring has three or more tab-like tracks which have ridges arrayed about the circumference of the mounting ring. The attaching ring at the inlet of the garbage disposer has three or more mounting tabs about its circumference. In attaching the garbage disposer to the sink, the mounting ring tracks are placed near the attaching ring mounting tabs and the attaching ring is rotated, causing the mounting tabs to move over the mounting ring tracks and over the ridges. This reversibly locks the garbage disposer to the sink flange. 
   The elements of the garbage disposer tool are constructed of strong, durable materials, such as steel, iron, aluminum, plastic. A suitable material for antifriction strips is amorphous fluoropolymer resin, for example, the resin sold as TEFLON AF, a trademark for amorphous fluoropolymer resin owned by E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del. 
   While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.