US 11,891,786 B2
Wall-mounted water closet carrier assembly
John Matthew Lawrence, Milwaukee, WI (US); and Frank Schaetzke, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Zurn Industries, LLC, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/592,491.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/145,372, filed on Feb. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0243445 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. E03D 11/14 (2006.01)
CPC E03D 11/143 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wall-mounted carrier assembly for supporting a water closet having an outlet, the carrier assembly comprising:
a faceplate including:
an opening extending through the faceplate, wherein the opening includes a first end configured to form a water-tight seal with the outlet of the water closet and a second end opposite the first end;
a first mounting hole; and
a second mounting hole;
a fluid coupler defining a fluid pathway therethrough, wherein the fluid pathway includes an inlet and an outlet opposite the inlet, wherein the inlet is configured to be coupled to the faceplate to form a water-tight seal therewith while the fluid pathway is in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the inlet has at least one degree of adjustability relative to the faceplate, wherein the outlet is configured to be coupled to and form a water-tight seal with a wastewater pipe while the fluid pathway is in fluid communication with an internal volume of the wastewater pipe, and wherein the outlet has at least one degree of adjustability relative to the wastewater pipe;
a first fastening member extending through the first mounting hole and engaging a first wall stud to directly support the faceplate on the first wall stud in a position spaced apart from a floor surface;
a second fastening member extending through the second mounting hole and engaging a second wall stud to directly support the faceplate on the second wall stud in a position spaced apart from the floor surface,
wherein the faceplate is supported solely by the first and second wall studs.
 
12. A method of installing a water closet having an outlet to a wall having one or more uprights and a wastewater pipe having an internal volume using a wall-mounted carrier assembly, wherein the carrier assembly includes a faceplate defining an opening having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a fluid coupler defining a fluid passage having an inlet and an outlet opposite the inlet, the method comprising:
mounting the faceplate to at least one of the uprights such that the faceplate is supported solely by the wall uprights;
mounting the water closet to the faceplate so that the outlet of the water closet forms a water-tight seal with the first end of the opening;
mounting the fluid coupler to the faceplate so that the inlet of the fluid coupler is in fluid communication with the second end of the opening;
adjusting the fluid coupler relative to the faceplate along at least one degree freedom;
forming a water-tight seal between the faceplate and the fluid coupler;
mounting the fluid coupler to the wastewater pipe so that the outlet of the fluid coupler is in fluid communication with the internal volume of the wastewater pipe;
adjusting the fluid coupler relative to the wastewater pipe along at least one degree of freedom; and
forming a water-tight seal between the fluid coupler and the wastewater pipe.
 
18. A wall-mounted carrier assembly for supporting a water closet having an outlet, the carrier assembly comprising:
a faceplate including:
an opening extending through the faceplate, wherein the opening includes a first end configured to form a water-tight seal with the outlet of the water closet and a second end opposite the first end;
a first mounting hole; and
a second mounting hole;
a fluid coupler defining a fluid pathway therethrough, wherein the fluid pathway includes an inlet and an outlet opposite the inlet, wherein the inlet is configured to be coupled to the faceplate to form a water-tight seal therewith, wherein the outlet is configured to be coupled to and form a water-tight seal with a wastewater pipe;
a first fastening member extending through the first mounting hole and engaging a first wall stud to directly support the faceplate on the first wall stud in a position spaced apart from a floor surface;
a second fastening member extending through the second mounting hole and engaging a second wall stud to directly support the faceplate on the second wall stud in a position spaced apart from the floor surface,
wherein the faceplate is supported solely by the first and second wall studs.