Toilet Closet Collar Seal Assembly for Leak-Free Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Improper installation of closet collars often results in leaky seals when connecting a toilet to a drain pipe, making it difficult to achieve a secure and leak-free installation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a closet collar adaptation assembly that includes a closet collar adapter, flexible seal rings, a sealing washer, and anchor bolts, which form a sealed junction with the closet collar and toilet horn to prevent sewage leaks, with optional antimicrobial materials and wax seals for enhanced sealing and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional closet collar is installed, then the toilet can be connected to the drain pipe, but improper installation causes leaky seals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealing assembly comprising a flexible seal ring and sealing washer that mediates between the closet collar and toilet horn. This intermediary component ensures reliable sealing without requiring precise installation skills, as the flexible materials self-adjust to accommodate installation variations and prevent leaks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by using flexible seal rings made of elastomeric materials that can change their physical state through compression and deformation. The seal ring transitions from a relaxed state to a compressed state during installation, adapting to the specific geometry of the closet collar and toilet horn connection to ensure a leak-free seal.
2Reliability
If proper sealing is achieved through multiple components, then leak prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sealing functions into a single integrated sealing assembly that includes the flexible seal ring, sealing washer, and anchor bolts. This combined assembly simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining reliable leak prevention, as the components work together as a unified system rather than separate elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing assembly is designed with multi-functionality, where the flexible seal ring simultaneously provides sealing, alignment, and stress distribution functions. The anchor bolts serve both to secure the toilet and to compress the seal ring into place. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while ensuring reliable leak prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents sewage leaks by creating a reliable seal between the toilet and the drain pipe, ensuring a secure and leak-free installation, even in varying installation configurations, and provides stability and antimicrobial properties for long-term performance.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible seal ring configured to form a seal between the closet collar and the adapter plate
Implementation Method 2
a flexible seal ring configured to form a seal
Implementation Method 3
with optional antimicrobial materials and wax seals for enhanced sealing and durability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating the installation of a toilet over a closet collar for a drain pipe. According to various embodiments, a toilet seal assembly is positioned between the toilet and the closet collar, providing a seal between the toilet and the flange of the closet collar. The toilet seal assembly may include a flexible rubber seal and a compressible foam seal ring. The flexible rubber seal may include an annular wall, an upper ring that extends radially inward from the annular wall, and a lower ring that extends radially outward from the annular wall. The compressible foam seal ring may be disposed on the lower ring of the flexible rubber seal.