IP Library Granted Patent US 11,591,786
Granted Patent B2
US 11,591,786 · App. 17/271,865 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Toilet assembly

Inventors: Christopher Helmstetter (Langhorne, PA); David Grover (Stockton, NJ); Yasuhiro Kondo (Aichi, JP); Douglas Leavitt (Bethlehem, PA); Ronald D. Barndt (Bethlehem, PA)
Assignee: AS America, Inc.
E03D11/18E03D11/16E03D2201/30
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,591,786
App. No.
17/271,865
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A skirted toilet assembly, comprising a toilet bowl having a sump outlet; and a wall extending around the bowl from a first rear edge to a second rear edge; wherein the wall, the first rear edge, and the second rear edge define a space within the wall, the sump outlet is configured to couple to a trapway, the trapway is configured to fluidly couple the sump outlet with a sewer outlet, and the trapway is configured to be disposed within the space. A trapway may be a thermoplastic and the sump outlet a ceramic.

Claims (28)

1. A toilet assembly, comprising

a toilet bowl having a sump outlet;

a wall extending around the bowl from a first rear edge to a second rear edge; and

a trapway,

wherein

the wall, the first rear edge, and the second rear edge define a space within the wall, the sump outlet comprises a portion which extends substantially horizontally outward from the toilet bowl,

the sump outlet substantially horizontal portion is coupled to the trapway via a flexible sleeve,

the trapway is configured to fluidly couple the sump outlet with a sewer outlet,

the trapway is disposed within the space, and

the trapway comprises a plastic and the toilet bowl and sump outlet comprise a ceramic.

2. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a bridge extending from the first rear edge to the second rear edge and configured to support the trapway.

3. The toilet assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the trapway is coupled to the bridge.

4. The toilet assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the bridge comprises a recess configured to receive a heel of the trapway.

5. The toilet assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the trapway comprises a flange, and wherein the assembly comprises one or more fixing parts configured to mate with and couple to the flange.

6. The toilet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more fixing parts are coupled to the bridge.

7. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to allow for movement of the trapway.

9. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a flexible joint comprising an elastic rib encircling the flexible joint and positioned between the sump outlet and the trapway.

10. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a surface feature configured to receive and mate with a corresponding surface feature of the trapway.

11. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is overmolded on the trapway.

12. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is curved.

13. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve forms a primary seal with an outer surface of the sump outlet substantially horizontal portion, and forms a secondary seal with an outer surface of the toilet bowl.

14. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the trapway is concealed within the space.

15. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a radial concave portion configured to receive and mate with a radial convex portion of the trapway.

16. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a drain connection configured to couple the trapway to a sewer outlet.

17. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a drain connection configured to couple the trapway to a sewer outlet, and wherein the drain connection is configured to couple to the wall.

18. The toilet assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a jet channel pipe extending from a jet channel inlet to a jet channel outlet.

19. The toilet assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the jet channel pipe comprises a rubber and/or a thermoplastic.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2023
From: HELMSTETTER, CHRISTOPHER; GROVER, DAVID; LEAVITT, DOUGLAS FORNELL; BARNDT, RONALD D.; KONDO, YASUHIRO
To: AS AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 063981/0024 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2021
From: HELMSTETTER, CHRISTOPHER; GROVER, DAVID; LEAVITT, DOUGLAS FORNELL; BARNDT, RONALD D.; KONDO, YASUHIRO
To: AS AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 056041/0098 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,674,310 US 12,680,284