Seals for closet collars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11274429-B2
Application number	US-201916571707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2019
Priority date	Aug 23, 2013
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a toilet horn receptacle having an upper end and a lower end. A sealing rim is positioned at an upper end of the toilet horn receptacle, and at least a portion of the sealing rim extends inwardly from the upper end of the toilet horn receptacle towards a center axis of the sealing rim. A funnel extends from the lower end of the toilet horn receptacle, and a channel wall circumscribes the toilet horn receptacle. The channel wall and at least the toilet horn receptacle form a continuous annular receptacle. A foam sealing component is disposed in the continuous annular receptacle such that an inner wall of the foam sealing component circumscribes the toilet horn receptacle and such that the channel wall circumscribes at least a portion of an outer wall of the foam sealing component.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. A sealing apparatus, comprising:
a flexible funnel wall;
a flexible annular channel wall circumscribing the funnel wall;
an upper channel wall extending between a first end of the funnel wall and the annular channel wall, where the annular channel wall, the upper channel wall, and at least a portion of the funnel wall forms a continuous annular receptacle, where the upper channel wall is substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the sealing apparatus;
a foam sealing component disposed in the continuous annular receptacle such that an inner wall of the foam sealing component circumscribes the funnel wall and such that the annular channel wall circumscribes at least a portion of an outer wall of the foam sealing component;
a flexible toilet horn receptacle wall extending outward from a side of the upper channel wall opposite the foam sealing component, the flexible toilet horn receptacle wall extending from a second end at the upper channel wall to a first end; and
a sealing rim positioned at the first end of the toilet horn receptacle wall opposite the upper channel wall, wherein at least a portion of the sealing rim extends inwardly from the first end of the toilet horn receptacle wall towards and substantially perpendicular to the center axis of the sealing apparatus, the at least a portion of the sealing rim configured to contact with a horn on an underside of a toilet.

2. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the funnel wall comprises a rounded transition to the upper channel wall.

3. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper channel wall is substantially planar.

4. The sealing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a portion of the upper channel wall extends outward from the first end of the funnel wall to the second end of the toilet horn receptacle wall extending from the side of the upper channel wall.

5. The sealing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the upper channel wall extends beyond the second end of the toilet horn receptacle wall to a first end of the annular channel wall.

6. The sealing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the annular channel wall is adjacent to the second end of the toilet horn receptacle wall.

7. The sealing apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising first and second ears extending outward from the annular channel wall.

8. The sealing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second ears extend radially outward from a second end of the annular channel wall.

9. The sealing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first end of the funnel wall has a first diameter and the second end of the toilet horn receptacle wall has a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

10. The sealing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the sealing rim defines an opening having a third diameter that is less than the second diameter of the toilet horn receptacle wall.

11. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing rim flexes towards the upper channel wall when contacted by the horn of the toilet.

12. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the continuous annular receptacle is open at a lower end opposite the upper channel wall.

13. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the toilet horn receptacle wall tapers inward towards the center axis of the sealing apparatus from the first end to a second end.

14. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an additional sealing component configured to be positioned between the foam sealing component and a closet collar, the additional sealing component circumscribing at least a portion of the funnel wall.

15. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing apparatus is defined by a one-piece structure comprising the funnel wall, the annular channel wall, the upper channel wall, the toilet horn receptacle wall, and the sealing rim.

16. The sealing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one-piece structure is constructed of at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, neoprene, foam rubber, or silicone.

17. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the foam sealing component adheres to at least one surface of the continuous annular receptacle.

18. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the foam sealing component is a foam ring.

19. The sealing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the upper channel wall is configured to contact with the horn thereby compressing the foam sealing component against a closet collar flange.

Assignees

• Danco Inc

Inventors

• Schuster Michael J

Classifications

• E03D11/16 Primary

  Means for connecting the bowl to the floor, e.g. to a floor outlet · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• F16L5/10

  by using sealing rings or sleeves only · CPC title

• E03D11/17

  Means for connecting the bowl to the flushing pipe · CPC title