System and Method for Leveling Toilet Flanges

Abstract

The present invention comprises a shim formed from a circular disc that transitions uniformly in thickness from a first point having a first thickness to a second point having a second thickness on the opposite side of the shim from the first point. The shim further comprises a central opening formed therethrough to allow communication between the toilet drain opening and the opening of the closet flange. The shim additional includes one or more arcuate slots formed therethrough for permitting hold-down bolts to be attached through the shim and into a closet flange positioned below the shim.

1 . An apparatus for leveling a toilet on a closet flange, comprising:
 a disk having a central hole formed therethrough to form an inner diameter dimensioned to correspond to the inner diameter of said closet flange and an outer diameter dimensioned to correspond to the outer diameter of said closet flange, thereby defining an annular region therebetween; and   wherein said disk is defined by an upper surface and a lower surface that extend along non-parallel planes so that said disk tapers uniformly from a first thickness to a second thickness that is different than said first thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one slot formed in said annular region dimensioned to accept at least one hold-down bolt. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one adhesive surface positioned on said annulus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said disk includes at least two slots formed in the annular region and positioned to be in alignment with one or more corresponding hold-down bolts associated with said closet flange and said toilet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one slot formed in said annular region comprises a single slot formed in said annular region. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one adhesive surface positioned on said annulus between any two of said three annular slots. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first thickness is one sixteenth of an inch and said second thickness is three sixteenths of an inch. 
     
     
         8 . A system for leveling a toilet on a closet flange, comprising:
 a set of at least two disks, each of which has a central hole formed therethrough to form an inner diameter dimensioned to correspond to the inner diameter of said closet flange and an outer diameter dimensioned to correspond to the outer diameter of said closet flange, thereby defining an annular region therebetween;   at least one slot formed in and extending around a portion said annular region of each disk; and   wherein each of said disks is defined by an upper surface and a lower surface that extend along non-parallel planes so that each said disk tapers uniformly from a first thickness to a second thickness that is different than said first thickness.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of said slots are dimensioned to accept at least one hold-down bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one adhesive surface positioned on each said annulus of each of said disks. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said first thickness of each of said disks is one sixteenth of an inch and said second thickness of each of said disks is three sixteenths of an inch. 
     
     
         12 . A method of leveling a toilet onto a closet flange having at least one hold-down bolt when said closet flange is out of level, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a disk onto said closet flange and said hold-down bolts, wherein said disk comprises:
 a central hole formed through said disk to form an inner diameter dimensioned to correspond to the inner diameter of said closet flange and an outer diameter dimensioned to correspond to the outer diameter of said closet flange, thereby defining an annular region; 
 at least one slot formed through said annular region dimensioned to accept said hold-down bolts; 
 wherein said disk is defined by an upper surface and a lower surface that extend along non-parallel planes so that said disk tapes uniformly from a first thickness to a second thickness that is different than said first thickness; 
   allowing said central hole to align with the inner diameter of said closet flange and each of said hold-down bolts to extend through a corresponding one of said slots;   rotating said disk upon said closet flange so that said taper at least partially corrects for said closet flange being out of level; and   securing said toilet onto said disk and said closet flange using said hold-down bolts.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of positioning a second disk onto said closet flange and said hold-down bolts if said first flange does not fully correct for said closet flange being out of level prior to securing said toilet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of positioning a second disk includes rotating said second disk upon said first disk so that said taper at least partially corrects for said closet flange being out of level and adhering said second disk to said first disk via an adhesive portion positioned on an annular region of said first disk. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of positioning additional disks on first and second disks until said flange being out of level is fully corrected prior to the step of securing said toilet. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one hole formed through said annular region and dimensioned to accept at least one hold-down bolt. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said slot extends around said portion of said annular region of each disk to define a hole dimensioned to accept at least one hold-down bolt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said slot formed through said annular region of said disk defines a hole dimensioned to accept at least one hold-down bolt.