LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE TOILET RISER ADAPTER APRON AND COMBINATION TOILET RISER

Abstract

A longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron for mounting over an underlying toilet riser in order to provide a toilet base mounting surface for a toilet base that extends beyond a forward end of the underlying toilet riser. The underlying toilet riser has a riser top panel and an upwardly protruding simulated closet flange. The apron is longer than the riser and slightly wider than the riser so it can fit over the riser in a nesting relationship. The top panel of the apron has a laterally centered and longitudinally elongated opening through the apron top panel. The opening has longitudinal side walls that are spaced apart farther than the lateral width of the riser flange to permit the riser flange to fit within the opening and be slidably and longitudinally adjustable within and along the opening. Apron sidewalls surround the riser and extend downward to the floor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT.

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REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toilet risers for mounting a toilet in a raised position above floor level and more particularly relates to an adapter apron for mounting over a toilet riser in order to provide a longitudinally extended, hygienic planar surface on which the toilet base rests.

The height of a toilet seat above the floor on which the toilet is mounted is typically on the order of 14″ or 15″. Although that height provides the best comfort and ease of use over the broad range of the size and age range of human users, users with a mobility or strength problem often have difficulty with the conventional height. The comfort and the ease of use by such users are improved by positioning the toilet seat at a higher level above the floor. A toilet riser is used to enable a conventional toilet to be mounted so that its toilet seat is sufficiently raised above the floor to facilitate use by the users who have a mobility or strength problem.

The basic toilet riser 10, as known in the prior art and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, forms a mounting platform that is interposed between the floor and the base of the toilet. The toilet riser 10 raises the toilet, usually 2 to 4 inches, above the floor. The riser is constructed with sufficient strength to support at least the sum of the weight of the toilet, the water in the toilet and a human user. The riser 10 has a boss 12 with a circular outer periphery 14 on its top surface 16 that forms a closet flange 18 which simulates a standard closet flange mounted at floor. The base of the toilet is conventionally fastened to the flange 18 by two machine bolts (not shown) that extend vertically upward through holes in the flange 18 that are located on diametrically opposite sides of the flange 18. The riser closet flange 18 is sealed to the toilet base at the bottom outlet of the toilet by the conventional means of a wax ring or other sealing ring. The riser 10 also has a passage leading downward from the flange 18 to an outlet opening at the bottom of the riser 10. That bottom outlet opening simulates the opening in the bottom of the toilet and is sealed to the conventional, floor-mounted, closet flange of a sewer pipe in the same conventional manner.

The toilet riser 10 has for several years fit most round-base toilets that were popular and were being commonly sold. With the round-base toilets the distance from the flange bolts to the front of the round toilet base was typically 14″. But in more recent years elongated-base toilets have become increasingly fashionable. The elongated-base toilets extend forward more than 14″ to as much as 19″ or more. Consequently, if the newer elongated base toilets were mounted to the toilet riser 10, they would hang over the front edge of a 14″ riser 10.

There is therefore a need for an adapter for the riser 10 that would allow the riser 10 to be used with the newer, elongated toilets in a manner that is both attractive and hygienic. Of course as an alternative to an adapter, a longer toilet riser could be manufactured that has the same structural features of existing risers but also has a longitudinally longer length that is long enough to extend a little beyond the base footprint of newer elongated toilets. Although that can be done, the risers themselves are expensive because they must be structurally strong enough to support the weight of the toilet and user and also because they have the upper flange, lower outlet opening and the interposed passage formed between them. In order to provide sufficient strength, the component parts of risers are typically made of thicker material which also increases cost. Not only are the individual risers expensive to manufacture, but also an inventory of risers of different sizes would be required to accommodate the broad range of toilet footprint sizes that are being marketed.

It is an object and feature of the invention to provide a less expensive way to adapt an existing shorter (14″) riser so that it can be used to support the newer elongated toilets with a footprint length range of 14″ up to 19″ or beyond. In order to accomplish that, a riser or the combination of a riser and its adapter must extend longitudinally forward at least to, but not much beyond, the front of the toilet base footprint. As a result, an adapter must be adjustable to fit any toilet base footprint in that range. Such a riser adapter also needs to have a smooth outer surface that is easily kept clean and it should not have any mechanisms that can trap dust and dirt in places that are difficult to clean.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron for mounting over an underlying toilet riser in order to provide a toilet base mounting surface for a toilet base that extends beyond a forward end of the underlying toilet riser. The underlying toilet riser is a prior art structure that has a riser top panel and a simulated closet flange protruding upward from riser top surface. The apron has an apron length in the longitudinal direction that is longer than the riser length and an apron width in the lateral direction that is wider than the riser width. That relationship allows the apron to fit over the riser in a nesting relationship. The top panel of the apron has a laterally centered and longitudinally elongated opening through the apron top panel. The opening has longitudinal side walls that are spaced apart farther than the lateral width of the riser flange to permit the riser flange to fit within the opening and be slidably and longitudinally adjustable within and along the opening. Apron sidewalls extend from the apron top panel and have a height and position to surround the riser and extend downward to the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a prior art toilet riser.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the toilet riser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron that, when used, is operatively assembled with and nested over the toilet riser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the apron of FIG. 3 viewed from the diagonally opposite side.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the underside of the apron of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the assembled toilet riser of FIG. 1 and the apron of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the assembled toilet riser and apron with the apron slid to its farthest back position.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the assembled toilet riser and apron with the apron slid to an intermediate position.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the assembled toilet riser and apron with the apron slid to its farthest forward position.

FIG. 10 is a partial and more detailed top plan view of the assembled toilet riser and apron with the apron slid to an intermediate position.

FIG. 11 is a partial and more detailed top plan view of the assembled toilet riser and apron with the apron slid to its most forward position.

FIG. 12 is view in section taken substantially along the line 12-12 of FIG. 7.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves an underlying toilet riser and a longitudinally adjustable toilet riser apron that mounts over the underlying toilet riser. The purpose of the toilet riser apron is to provide a toilet base mounting surface for supporting a toilet which has a base that extends beyond the forward end of the underlying toilet riser. The toilet riser apron is configured to be longitudinally adjustable so that the distance from the center of the flange of the underlying toilet riser to the front end of the apron can be slidably adjusted to be equal to or slightly greater than the distance from the mounting bolt holes of the toilet to the front end of the toilet. This adjustment capability allows the single toilet riser apron to be used for a variety of different toilet models that span a range of distances from the mounting bolt holes of the toilet to the front end of the toilet's base.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the underlying toilet riser 10 has a riser length in its longitudinal direction that is longer than its riser width in its lateral direction to form a rectangular platform. The underlying toilet riser 10 has a riser top panel 20 with a riser top surface 16 and a flange 18. The flange 18 protrudes a selected flange height above the riser top surface 16. The flange 18 also has a lateral width which, for a circular flange, is its outside diameter. The underlying toilet riser 10 has internal supports (not shown) extending from the underside of the riser top panel 20 and terminating in a plane at the floor level for supporting the toilet riser 10 on a floor. Although the toiler riser supports can have a variety of forms, the preferred supports include the riser sidewalls 22 and leg panels extending down from the underside of the riser top panel 20 to bottom ends that are coplanar with the bottom ends 24 of the sidewalls 22.

The longitudinally adjustable toilet riser apron 26 of the invention is illustrated by itself in FIGS. 3-5 and is shown assembled with the toilet riser 10 in FIGS. 6-9. The apron 26 has an apron top panel 28 that has an apron length in the longitudinal direction that is longer than the length of the riser 10. The preferred embodiment of the apron top panel 28 is 6″ or 7″ longer than the length of the riser 10. The apron 26 with its top panel 28 has a width in the lateral direction that is wider than the width of the riser 10 so that the apron 26 can fit over the riser 10 in a nesting relationship. The apron 26 has sidewalls 30 that extend from the apron top panel 28 and have a height and position so they surround the riser top panel 20 and extend down to the floor when the riser 10 and the apron 26 are assembled in their nesting configuration. Preferably, the riser sidewalls 22 and the apron sidewalls 30 are both blended to their respective top panels 20 and 28 by a quarter round segment and taper at the same angle outward progressing from their top panels to the floor.

Both the riser 10 and the apron 26 are each preferably molded as an integral, unitary body from a plastic synthetic resin material. The preferred wall thickness of the riser 10 is about ¼″ and the preferred wall thickness of the apron 26 is about ⅛″. Although the length of the apron 26 is considerably longer than the length of the riser 10 in order to permit longitudinal adjustment for fitting toilet base lengths of different sizes, it is desirable that the width of the apron 26 in the lateral direction be small enough to provide only a small gap between the outer surface of the riser 10 sidewalls 22 and the inner surface of the apron sidewalls 30. The preferred gap is about ⅛ inch which minimizes the lateral width of the assembled riser. It is also preferred that the lower segment of both the riser sidewalls 22 and the apron sidewalls 30 be formed with a decorative, integral, quarter round frame. However it is also preferred that the rear wall 31 of the apron 26 omit the quarter round frame and instead have a straight wall to allow for maximum clearance between the rear wall 31 and a room wall adjacent the rear of the toilet.

An important feature of the invention is that a laterally centered and longitudinally elongated opening 32 is formed through the apron top panel 28. The opening 32 has longitudinal side walls 34 that are spaced slightly farther apart than the lateral width of the riser flange 18. This spacing provides a clearance gap between the outer edges 14 of the flange 18 and the longitudinal side walls 34 of the opening 32. The clearance gap permits the riser flange 18 to fit within the opening 32 and also permits the apron 26 to be longitudinally slidable for adjustment of the position of the flange 18 within and along the opening 32. Preferably the flange 18 has a conventional circular outer periphery 14 and the opening 32 has longitudinally spaced-apart, opposite end walls 33 that are semicircular. Most preferred is that the longitudinal side walls 34 of the opening 32 are fabricated as parallel linear sidewalls in order to confine the lateral movement of the apron 26 with respect to the underlying riser 10 regardless of the longitudinal position of the flange 18 in the opening 32.

It is also desirable that the weight of the toilet and its user be supported by the structures of the riser 10 without requiring the apron 26 to have any load bearing structures. By applying the gravitational force from the toilet to the riser, the apron 26 can be made with thinner panel walls and will not be stressed sufficiently to cause the apron 26 to be deformed or cracked. For that purpose, the apron sidewalls 30 have a height that positions the underside of the apron top panel 28 on the top surface 16 of the riser top panel 20. With the apron top panel 28 in contact with the riser top panel 20, the weight of an installed toilet is transmitted through the apron top panel 28 directly to the top surface 16 of the riser 10. To accomplish that, the distance from the bottom ends 24 of the riser sidewalls 22 to the top surface 16 of the riser top panel 20 is made equal to the distance from the bottom ends 36 of the apron sidewalls 30 to the underside surface 38 of the apron top panel 28.

Referring to FIG. 12, another desirable feature of the invention is having the apron 26 constructed so that the top surface 40 of the flange 18 is coplanar with the top surface 42 of the apron top panel 28. To accomplish that the apron top panel 28 has a thickness that is equal to the height that the flange 18 protrudes upward from the riser top surface 16.

The toilet riser 10 and its apron 26 are installed by first installing the riser 10 on the standard closet flange that is secured on the floor of the room. That requires closet flange bolts that are longer than the standard closet bolts so they can extend entirely through the riser 10. A wax ring is positioned on the floor closet flange. Then closet bolts are positioned so they extend upward from underneath the floor closet flange. The riser 10 is installed over the closet bolts with the bolts extending up through the riser 10 and through the closet bolt holes 44 in the riser flange 18 so that the bolts 44 protrude above the riser flange 18 for eventual attachment to the toilet base. Downward pressure is then applied to the toilet riser 10 to seat the wax ring and provide a seal between the riser 10 and the floor closet flange. A second wax ring can then be positioned on the riser flange 18. The apron 26 is then positioned over the riser 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

It is necessary at some stage of installation that the apron 26 be longitudinally adjusted by sliding it longitudinally forward or backward until the distance from the bolt holes 44 to the front end 46 of the apron 26 is slightly more than the distance from the corresponding bolt holes in the toilet to the front end of the toilet base. The distance of “slightly more” is essentially a matter of personal preference which is usually a distance to assure that the toilet base does not overhang the front end 46 of the apron 26 and most preferably is a fraction of an inch recessed from the front end 46.

There are at least two alternative procedures for adjusting the longitudinal position of the apron 26. The correct positioning of the apron 26 can be accomplished by using measurements of the toilet and measurements of the position of the front end 46 of the apron 26 and then pre-positioning the apron 26 before installing the toilet. Alternatively, the invention allows the toilet to be first set upon the riser flange 18 and the top of the apron 26. Before the closet flange bolts are tightened, the apron 26 can then be slid along the riser 10 between the riser 10 and the toilet, preferably with the help of an assistant who simultaneously applies a lifting force on the toilet in order to reduce the friction. After the adjustment is satisfactory, the closet bolts can be tightened to secure the toilet, the apron 26 and the riser 10 to the floor closet flange.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate three alternative positions of adjustment for three different toilet base sizes. The outline of the toilet bases is shown in phantom. FIG. 7 shows a shorter toilet base 48 with the apron 26 slid all the way forward so the flange 18 seats against the forward-most circular outer periphery 14 of the flange 18. FIG. 9 shows the longest toilet base 50 with the apron 26 slid all the way back so the flange 18 seats against the rear-most circular outer periphery 14 of the flange 18. Of course a continuum of intermediate positions are possible and one is illustrated in FIG. 8 for the intermediate sized toilet base 52.

COMPONENT REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 toilet riser

12 boss on riser and forming flange

14 circular outer periphery of boss and flange

16 top surface of riser

18 flange on riser

20 riser top panel

22 riser sidewalls

24 bottom ends of riser sidewalls

26 apron

28 apron top panel

30 apron sidewalls

32 opening in apron top panel

31 rear wall of apron

33 semicircular end walls of opening

34 longitudinal sidewalls of opening

36 bottom ends of apron sidewalls

38 underside surface of apron top panel

40 top surface of flange

42 top surface of apron top panel

44 closet flange bolt holes

46 front end of apron

48 shortest toilet base outline

50 longest toilet base outline

52 intermediate toilet base outline

This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron for mounting over an underlying toilet riser in order to provide a toilet base mounting surface for a toilet base that extends beyond a forward end of the underlying toilet riser, the underlying toilet riser having a riser length in a longitudinal direction that is longer than its riser width in a lateral direction, the underlying toilet riser having a riser top panel with a riser top surface and a flange having a lateral width and protruding a selected flange height from the riser top surface, the underlying toilet riser having supports extending from the riser top panel and terminating in a plane for supporting the toilet riser on a floor, the apron comprising:

(a) an apron top panel having an apron length in the longitudinal direction that is longer than the riser length and an apron width in the lateral direction that is wider than the riser width so the apron can fit over the riser, the apron top panel having an apron top surface and a laterally centered and longitudinally elongated opening through the apron top panel, the opening having longitudinal side walls that are spaced apart farther than the lateral width of the riser flange to permit the riser flange to fit within the opening and be slidably and longitudinally adjusted in position within and along the opening; and

(b) apron sidewalls extending from the apron top panel, the apron sidewalls having a height and position to surround the riser top panel and extend to the floor.

2. A longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apron sidewalls have a height that positions an underside of the apron top panel on the riser top panel so the weight of an installed toilet is supported by the riser.

3. A longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron in accordance with claim 2 wherein the apron top panel has a thickness that is equal to the selected flange height that the flange protrudes from the riser top surface so that the flange has a top surface that is coplanar with the apron top surface.

4. A longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron in accordance with claim 3 wherein the flange is circular and the opening has longitudinally spaced apart end walls that are semicircular.

5. A longitudinally adjustable toilet riser adapter apron in accordance with claim 4 wherein the longitudinal side walls of the opening are linear and parallel.

6. A toilet riser comprising the combination of an underlying toilet riser and a longitudinally adjustable toilet riser apron for mounting over the underlying toilet riser in order to provide a toilet base mounting surface for a toilet base that extends beyond a forward end of the underlying toilet riser, the combination more particularly comprising:

(a) an underlying toilet riser having a riser length in a longitudinal direction that is longer than its riser width in a lateral direction, the underlying toilet riser having a riser top panel with a riser top surface and a flange having a lateral width and protruding a selected flange height from the riser top surface, the underlying toilet riser having supports extending from the riser top panel and terminating in a plane for supporting the toilet riser on a floor;

(b) an apron top panel having an apron length in the longitudinal direction that is longer than the riser length and an apron width in the lateral direction that is wider than the riser width so the apron can fit over the riser, the apron top panel having an apron top surface and a laterally centered and longitudinally elongated opening through the apron top panel, the opening having longitudinal side walls that are spaced apart farther than the lateral width of the riser flange to permit the riser flange to fit within the opening and be slidably and longitudinally adjusted in position within and along the opening; and

(b) apron sidewalls extending from the apron top panel, the apron sidewalls having a height and position to surround the riser top panel and extend to the floor.

7. A toilet riser combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein the apron sidewalls have a height that positions an underside of the apron top panel on the riser top panel so the weight of an installed toilet is supported by the riser.

8. A toilet riser combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein the apron top panel has a thickness that is equal to the selected flange height that the flange protrudes from the riser top surface so that the flange has a top surface that is coplanar with the apron top surface.

9. A toilet riser combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein the flange is circular and the opening has longitudinally spaced apart end walls that are semicircular.

10. A toilet riser combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein the longitudinal side walls of the opening are linear and parallel.