Toilet shell

Abstract

A toilet shell includes a cowling configured to be coupled to a pedestal, the cowling configured to cover a rim of a bowl included in the pedestal, a main housing configured to be coupled to the pedestal below the cowling, a first side shell configured to be coupled to the pedestal, a second side shell configured to be coupled to the pedestal, and a hinge cover configured to be couple to the pedestal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toilet shell comprising:
 a cowling configured to be coupled to a pedestal and configured to cover a rim of a bowl disposed in the pedestal;   a main shell configured to be coupled to the pedestal below the cowling;   a first side panel configured to be coupled to the pedestal;   a second side panel configured to be coupled to the pedestal; and   a hinge cover configured to be coupled to the pedestal.   
     
     
         2 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein the cowling includes an indexing rib and the pedestal includes a socket configured to receive a fastener extending through the indexing rib and into the socket. 
     
     
         3 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein the cowling includes a channel disposed along a bottom surface of the cowling, and
 wherein the main shell includes a top flange configured to be disposed in the channel and a bottom flange configured to engage a bottom of the pedestal.   
     
     
         4 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein the cowling includes a vertical rib, and
 wherein the main shell includes an inner rib, the inner rib configured to contact the vertical rib when the main shell is coupled to the pedestal.   
     
     
         5 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein a first side and a second side of the main shell include a vertical slot, and
 wherein the first side panel and the second side panel include an outer seam, and   wherein the outer seam on the first side panel and the outer seam on the second side panel are configured to be disposed in the vertical slot on the first side of the main shell and the vertical slot in the second side of the main shell, respectively, when the first side panel and the second side panel are coupled to the pedestal.   
     
     
         6 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel include a hook feature configured to engage the main shell. 
     
     
         7 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel include a groove configured to receive a locking tab of the hinge cover when the hinge cover is coupled to the pedestal. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel each include an opening configured to receive an indexing rib protruding from the pedestal. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet shell of  claim 1 , wherein an adhesive or sealant is provided between a bottom surface of the cowling and the rim. 
     
     
         10 . A toilet comprising:
 a pedestal including a bowl;   a cowling coupled to the pedestal and covering a rim of the bowl;   a main shell coupled to the pedestal and disposed below the cowling;   a first side shell coupled to the pedestal; and   a second side shell coupled to the pedestal.   
     
     
         11 . The toilet of  claim 10 , wherein the cowling includes an indexing rib, and
 wherein the pedestal includes a socket configured to receive a fastener extending through the indexing rib and into the socket.   
     
     
         12 . The toilet of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an adhesive or sealant provided between a bottom surface of the cowling and the rim.   
     
     
         13 . The toilet of  claim 10 , wherein the first side shell and the second side shell are coupled to the cowling and the main shell. 
     
     
         14 . The toilet of  claim 10 , wherein the cowling includes a channel disposed along a bottom surface of the cowling, and
 wherein the main shell includes a top flange configured to be disposed in the channel and a bottom flange configured to engage a bottom of the pedestal.   
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a toilet shell, the method comprising:
 inserting a cowling into a bowl of a pedestal;   inserting a fastener into an indexing rib protruding from the cowling and into a socket in the pedestal;   sliding a main shell below the cowling;   aligning a side panel with the cowling and the main shell;   pressing the side panel into the cowling and the main shell;   aligning a hinge cover with the side panel; and   pressing the hinge cover over the side panel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 aligning a top flange of the main shell with a channel disposed along a bottom surface of the cowling; and   aligning a bottom flange of the main shell with a bottom of the pedestal,   wherein the sliding the main shell below the cowling includes sliding the top flange into the channel and sliding the bottom flange below the pedestal.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the main shell is slid below the cowling until an inner rib of the main shell contacts a vertical rib of the cowling. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the aligning the side panel with the cowling and the main shell includes aligning an opening in the side panel with the indexing rib.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the side panel is pressed into the cowling and the main shell until a plurality of hook features protruding from the side panel engage the main shell.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing an adhesive or sealant between a bottom surface of the cowling and a rim of the pedestal.