Toilet coupling

A method for securing a tank of a toilet to a bowl of the toilet through an attachment assembly, the method comprising:

• inserting a threaded valve body through an outlet in a bottom of the tank;
• positioning a rigid mounting bracket adjacent to the bottom of the tank with an opening in the mounting bracket receiving the threaded valve body, the mounting bracket having three mounting locations spaced apart around the opening in a triangular arrangement, and each mounting location comprising a fastener extending through an aperture in the mounting bracket;
• threading a valve nut onto the threaded valve body to secure the mounting bracket around the threaded valve body and between the tank and the valve nut;
• providing a flexible gasket on the valve nut, such that a pocket of the gasket receives the valve nut and an inner surface of the gasket below the pocket contacts an end of the threaded valve body;
• placing the tank on the bowl with the gasket positioned in an inlet of the bowl and each fastener engaging an associated hole in the bowl;
• and
• securing the tank to the bowl by tightening a nut onto each fastener, wherein each fastener is located external to the tank and does not pass through the bottom of the tank;
• wherein a surface defining the pocket of the gasket contacts the valve nut, the inner surface of the gasket contacts the end of the threaded valve body after securing the tank to the bowl, a portion of the gasket contacts the mounting bracket after securing the tank to the bowl, the portion of the gasket is a part of a top surface, the pocket extends from the top surface to an annular portion having the inner surface, and a portion of the mounting bracket contacts the bowl after tightening each nut.