Toilet Assemblies Having a Moveable Trapway and Methods of Installing Same

Abstract

Toilets, kits and methods for installing toilets using a moveable trapway are described in the disclosure. The moveable trapway comprises a conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage. The conduit body has an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from a bowl outlet, such as the end of a partial trapway of the toilet, and an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe. The passage extends from the inlet opening in the upper inlet portion to the outlet opening in the outlet portion. The trapway also includes a connector configured to attach the inlet portion of the conduit body so as to be in fluid communication to the bowl outlet, for example to a partial trapway of the toilet. The conduit body of the moveable trapway is configured to be rotatably positioned during installation of the toilet such that the outlet portion is capable of being displaced along or away from a longitudinal midline of the toilet.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A moveable trapway for use with a toilet, comprising:
 a conduit body comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage, the conduit body having an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from a bowl outlet of a toilet, and an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe, wherein the passage extends from the inlet opening of the upper inlet portion to the outlet opening of the outlet portion; and   a connector configured to join the inlet portion of the conduit body to the bowl outlet of the toilet, wherein the conduit body of the moveable trapway is configured to be rotatably positioned during installation of a toilet such that the outlet portion of the moveable trapway is capable of being displaced along or away from a longitudinal midline of a toilet being installed.   
     
     
         2 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable trapway is for use with a toilet having a bowl outlet located on an end of a partial trapway and the inlet portion of the conduit body is configured to receive fluid from a bowl outlet on an end of a partial trapway. 
     
     
         3 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the outlet portion of the conduit body is configured to fit inside of the central opening of a closet flange in facing engagement. 
     
     
         4 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit body is a unitary structure. 
     
     
         5 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit body is formed from two halves that extend lengthwise along the conduit body. 
     
     
         6 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet portion of the conduit body further comprises a flange cover, wherein the flange cover comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, at least one central opening extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one peripheral opening extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface. 
     
     
         7 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 6 , wherein the upper surface of the flange cover comprises an indicator for correlating a trapway displacement angle with a distance the outlet of the conduit body may be moved laterally from the longitudinal midline along an installation surface. 
     
     
         8 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 6 , wherein the conduit body and the flange cover are formed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         9 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 6 , wherein the flange cover is configured to be secured over the flange by at least one fastener extending through the at least one peripheral opening. 
     
     
         10 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit body comprises a material selected from a group containing a molded polymeric material, an elastomeric material, a composite material, a metal, a metal alloy, and/or a ceramic material. 
     
     
         11 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable trapway is for use with a toilet having a bowl outlet at an end of a partial trapway, and the interior surface of the upper inlet portion of the conduit body is configured to fit around an exterior surface of a partial trapway of a toilet in facing engagement. 
     
     
         12 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the outlet portion of the conduit body is configured to fit inside of an inlet opening of a sewage drain pipe of the toilet in facing engagement. 
     
     
         13 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit body is configured so that a center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body is capable of being positioned over a sewage drain pipe at a first distance of about 50 mm to about 400 mm, wherein the first distance is measured in a transverse plane of an installation surface from a point located perpendicularly below a center point of the inlet opening of the inlet portion of the conduit body and on the longitudinal midline of a toilet being installed on an installation surface to the center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body. 
     
     
         14 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 13 , wherein the first distance from the center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body to the point perpendicularly below the center point of the inlet opening is about 100 mm to about 300 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit body is configured so that a center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body is capable of being positioned over the sewage drain pipe at a second distance of about 5 mm to about 160 mm, the second distance being measured in a transverse plane of an installation surface along a line extending perpendicularly from a point located on the longitudinal midline to the center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body. 
     
     
         16 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 15 , wherein the second distance from the center point of the outlet opening of outlet portion of the conduit body to the longitudinal midline measured perpendicularly along the transverse plane of an installation surface is about 25 mm to about 115 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit body is configured so that a center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body is capable of being positioned at an angle of about ±1 degree to about ±90 degrees, the angle being measured in a transverse plane of an installation surface between the longitudinal midline and a line extending from the center point of the outlet opening to a point located on the longitudinal midline, in a transverse plane on an installation surface and perpendicularly below a center point of the inlet opening of the inlet portion of the conduit body. 
     
     
         18 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 17 , wherein the angle is about ±5 degrees to about ±55 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable trapway is for use with a toilet having a bowl outlet at an end of a partial trapway and the connector is configured to be secured to an outlet of a partial trapway. 
     
     
         20 . The moveable trapway according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is selected from an elastomeric ring, an interlocking ring, a wax ring, and an elastomeric band that is connectable by hose clamps. 
     
     
         21 . A toilet, comprising:
 a toilet bowl having an inner surface defining an inner space for receiving fluids and solid waste, an exterior surface, a sump and a bowl outlet for releasing fluid and/or waste;   a moveable trapway, comprising
 a conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage, the conduit body comprising an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from the bowl outlet of the toilet, and an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe, wherein the passage extends from the inlet opening of the upper inlet portion to the outlet opening of the outlet portion; and 
   a connector configured to attach the inlet portion of the conduit body to the toilet bowl so that the inlet portion is in fluid communication with the bowl outlet, wherein the conduit body of the moveable trapway is configured to be rotatably positioned during installation of the toilet such that the outlet portion of the conduit body is capable of being displaced along or away from a longitudinal midline of the toilet.   
     
     
         22 . The toilet according to  claim 21 , wherein the toilet further comprises a flange cover, wherein the flange cover comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, at least one central opening extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one peripheral opening extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface. 
     
     
         23 . The toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein the upper surface of the flange cover comprises an indicator for correlating a trapway displacement angle with a distance the outlet of the conduit body may be moved laterally from the longitudinal midline along an installation surface. 
     
     
         24 . The toilet according to  claim 21 , wherein the toilet further comprises a skirt extending around the exterior surface of the toilet bowl, wherein the skirt comprises an opening at a rear of the toilet and the skirt has at least one side opening configured to allow for moveable placement of the outlet portion of the conduit body that extends outwardly from the skirt. 
     
     
         25 . The toilet according to  claim 24 , wherein the toilet further comprises a flange housing configured to cover at least a portion of the flange cover extending out of the at least one side opening. 
     
     
         26 . The toilet according to  claim 25 , wherein the flange housing comprises a stain-resistant material selected from a group containing a molded polymeric material, an elastomeric of maintaining a pre-molded, partially circular shape. 
     
     
         27 . The toilet according to  claim 21 , wherein the toilet further comprises a skirt extending around the exterior surface of the toilet bowl and around the rear portion of the toilet, wherein a portion of the skirt in the rear portion of the toilet is configured to cover at least the conduit body of the moveable trapway and/or a portion of the toilet skirt extends outwardly on a side portion of the skirt on at least one side of the toilet to cover the outlet portion and/or a flange cover of the moveable trapway when the moveable trapway is displaced from the longitudinal midline of the toilet. 
     
     
         28 . A method of installing a toilet, comprising:
 a) providing a toilet comprising:
 a bowl having an inner surface defining an inner space for receiving fluids and solid waste, an exterior surface, a sump and a bowl outlet for releasing fluid and/or waste from the bowl, 
 a moveable trapway, comprising a conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage, the conduit body comprising an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from the bowl outlet, and an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe, wherein the passage extends from the inlet opening in the upper inlet portion of the conduit body to the outlet opening in the outlet portion of the conduit body; and a connector configured to attach the inlet portion of the conduit body in fluid communication with the bowl outlet, wherein the conduit body of the moveable trapway is configured to be rotatably positioned during installation of the toilet such that the outlet portion is capable of being displaced along or away from a longitudinal midline of the toilet; 
   b) positioning the conduit body of the moveable trapway such that the inlet opening is in fluid communication with the bowl outlet and the outlet opening is aligned to be in fluid communication with a sewage drain pipe when the toilet is installed on an installation surface; and   c) positioning the connector such that it joins the upper inlet portion of the conduit body to the toilet in fluid communication with the bowl outlet.   
     
     
         29 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 28 , wherein the toilet further comprises a flange cover located on the outlet portion of the conduit body, and the method further comprises positioning the flange cover over a flange installed on an installation surface over the sewage drain pipe; and securing the flange cover to an installation surface by at least one fastener extending through at least one peripheral opening in the flange cover. 
     
     
         30 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 29 , wherein the upper surface of the flange cover comprises an indicator for correlating a trapway displacement angle with a distance the outlet of the conduit body may be moved laterally from the longitudinal midline along an installation surface and the method further comprises using the indicator for positioning the moveable trapway. 
     
     
         31 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 28 , wherein the toilet comprises a flange housing and a skirt positioned around at least the bowl and sides of the toilet, wherein the skirt has at least one opening in a side thereof, and the method further comprises positioning the flange housing adjacent to one of the at least one side opening in the skirt so as to cover any outwardly extending portion of a flange and/or a flange cover extending outwardly through the at least one side opening. 
     
     
         32 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 31 , further comprising compressing the flange housing inside of the at least one side opening in the skirt. 
     
     
         33 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 28 , further comprising forming an angle of about ±1 degree to about ±90 degrees when a center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body is over the sewage drain pipe, wherein the angle formed is measured in a transverse plane along the installation surface between the longitudinal midline of the toilet and a line extending from the center point of the outlet opening of the outlet portion of the conduit body to a point along the longitudinal midline of the toilet that is perpendicularly below a center point of the inlet opening of the inlet portion of the conduit body. 
     
     
         34 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 33 , wherein the angle formed is about ±5 degree to about ±55 degrees. 
     
     
         35 . The method of installing a toilet according to  claim 28 , wherein the toilet comprises a skirt extending around the exterior surface of the toilet bowl, wherein the skirt comprises an opening at a rear portion of the toilet, at least one mount opening, and at least one side opening in the skirt, and the method further comprises securing the skirt using the at least one mount opening and at least one fastener. 
     
     
         36 . A kit for installing a moveable trapway, comprising
 a) a moveable trapway, comprising:
 a conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage and having an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from a bowl outlet of a toilet, an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe, wherein the passage extends from the upper inlet portion opening to the outlet portion opening, and 
 a connector configured to join the inlet portion of the conduit body to the bowl outlet of the toilet, wherein the conduit body of the moveable trapway is configured to be rotatably positioned during installation of the toilet such that the outlet portion is capable of being displaced along or away from a longitudinal midline of the toilet; and 
   b) instructions for installing a moveable trapway.   
     
     
         37 . A kit for installing a toilet, comprising
 a) a toilet, comprising
 a toilet bowl having an inner surface defining an inner space for receiving fluids and solid waste, an exterior surface, a sump and a bowl outlet for releasing fluid and/or waste, 
 a moveable trapway, comprising
 a conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage having an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from the bowl outlet, and an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe, wherein the passage extends from the inlet opening in the upper inlet portion to the outlet opening in the outlet portion, and a connector configured to attach the inlet portion of the conduit body so as to be in fluid communication with the bowl outlet, wherein the conduit body of the moveable trapway is configured to be rotatably positioned during installation of the toilet such that the outlet portion is capable of being displaced along or away from a longitudinal midline of the toilet; and 
 
   b) instructions for installing the toilet.