Fixture carrier
View Patent ↗A fixture carrier including two uprights spaced apart and secured using cross bars that permit the center-to-center distance between the uprights to be adjusted. In conjunction with this horizontal adjustment, vertically adjustable support members mounted upon each upright provides a factory-assembled fixture carrier that may be easily adjusted in the field to accommodate horizontal distances between the uprights and vertical positions of the support members. Supporting arms for carrying the fixture are secured to each support member.
1. A fixture carrier for supporting plumbing fixtures, wherein the carrier comprises:
a) a frame having
i) a left upright and a right upright spaced horizontally a distance therefrom, wherein each upright has a top region and a bottom region;
ii) a top cross bar connecting the top regions of each upright thereby defining top connections and a bottom cross bar connecting the bottom regions of each upright thereby defining bottom connections, wherein at least one top connection and at least one bottom connection are adjustable to permit adjustment of the horizontal distance between uprights; and
b) a left support member mounted to the left upright and a right support member mounted to the right upright, wherein each support member is vertically adjustable along an upright and wherein each support member is adapted to support a plumbing fixture.
2. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connections each comprise a slot on one of either a cross bar or an upright and a fastener extending therethrough, slidable therein and engageable to the other of the cross bar or upright such that the fastener may secure the cross bar at a location along the slot.
3. The carrier in accordance with claim 2 , wherein each slot has associated with it calibrated markings, such that the fastener may secure the cross bar at a predetermined location along the slot.
4. The carrier in accordance with claim 2 , wherein each slot further includes peripheral notches defining predetermined locations for the fasteners to engage the slots.
5. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connections comprise a plurality of spaced apart holes on a cross bar and a fastener extending through a selected one and engageable to the upright such that the fastener may secure the cross bar at a location along the cross bar.
6. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connections comprise a plurality of spaced apart holes on an upright and a fastener extending through a selected hole, engaging one end of a cross bar and secured to the upright at a location along the upright.
7. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each support member is adapted to receive a supporting arm associated with a plumbing fixture.
8. The carrier in accordance with claim 7 , wherein each support member has a hole extending therethrough to accept a supporting arm and the hole is centered about the upright.
9. The carrier in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the support member holes are threaded to accept threaded supporting arms.
10. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each support member is laterally fixed upon an upright and not laterally adjustable.
11. The carrier in accordance with claim 10 , wherein each support member is a face plate secured to an upright by a U-bolt.
12. The carrier in accordance with claim 10 , wherein each support member is a header surrounding an upright and secured thereto by fasteners engaging the header and urged against the upright.
13. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each upright has a rectangular cross-section with a hollow center, each cross bar is flat and mounted to the same side of each upright to define a volume behind each cross bar and between each upright through which conduit or piping may pass.
14. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each upright has a solid cross-section.
15. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the uprights and the cross bars of the frame form a parallelogram with pivotable connections such that the frame may be rotated for the bottom portions of each upright to accommodate a sloped floor.
16. The carrier in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the pivotal connections are secured by removable fasteners.
17. The carrier in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each upright has a flange attached to the bottom portion for providing a base for mounting the uprights to a floor.
18. The carrier in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the flange is welded to the bottom portion on each upright.
19. A fixture carrier for supporting plumbing fixtures, wherein the carrier is comprised of:
a) a frame having
i) a left upright and a right upright spaced horizontally a distance therefrom, wherein each upright has a top region and a bottom region;
ii) a top cross bar connecting the top regions of each upright thereby defining top connections and a bottom cross bar connecting the bottom regions of each upright thereby defining bottom connections, wherein at least one top connection and at least one bottom connection are adjustable to permit adjustment of the horizontal distance between uprights and wherein the adjustable connections comprise a slot on a cross bar and a fastener extending therethrough, slidable therein and engageable to the upright such that the fastener may secure the cross bar at a location along the slot; and
b) a left support member mounted to the left upright and a right support member mounted to the right upright, wherein each support member is vertically adjustable along an upright and wherein each support member is adapted to support a plumbing fixture, wherein each support member has a hole extending therethrough to accept a supporting arm associated with a plumbing fixture and wherein the hole is centered about the upright.
20. The carrier in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the adjustable connections each comprise a slot on one of either a cross bar or an upright and a fastener extending therethrough, slidable therein and engageable to the other of the cross bar or upright such that the fastener may secure the cross bar at a location along the slot and wherein each slot has associated with it calibrated markings, such that the fastener may secure the cross bar at a premeasured location along the slot.
21. A method of assembling a fixture carrier for supporting plumbing fixtures, wherein the carrier has a frame made up of a left upright and a right upright, wherein each upright has a top region and a bottom region, wherein the carrier further has a top cross bar and a bottom cross bar and wherein the top cross bar is adjustably connected at one end to the top region of one upright and connected at the other end to the top region of the other upright and wherein the bottom cross bar is adjustably connected at one end to the bottom region of one upright and connected at the other end to the bottom region of the other upright, the method comprising the steps of:
a) positioning one upright a predetermined distance from the other upright;
b) securing each adjustable connection to fix the uprights at the predetermined distance;
c) securing a support member at a predetermined distance along each upright; and
d) mounting upon each support member a supporting arm extending from the support member adapted to support the plumbing fixture.