Toilet fastening assembly and method

A toilet fastening assembly comprising:

• a fastener having a base at a proximal end, a support extending from the base, and a threaded shaft extending from the support to a distal end, the base including two flat surfaces interconnecting two curved surfaces, the support including two flat surfaces interconnecting two tapered surfaces, wherein the two flat surfaces of the support are aligned with the two flat surfaces of the base, wherein the threaded shaft includes two distal tapered surfaces at the distal end, wherein the two distal tapered surfaces axe positioned perpendicular to the two flat surfaces of the base and the two flat surfaces of the support, wherein the two flat surfaces of the base and the two flat surfaces of the support are configured to cooperate with a slot in a floor flange for a toilet, and wherein the two distal tapered surfaces of the fastener are configured to cooperate with a slot in a foundation of a toilet;
• a washer having a central opening dimensioned to receive the threaded shaft of the fastener therethrough;
• and
• a cap having an outer wall extending from a proximal end to a distal gripping end, the proximal end including a proximal opening leading to an inner cavity defined by the outer wall, the cap further including an inner cylindrical wall extending from the distal gripping end to a proximal end disposed within the inner cavity, the inner cylindrical wall including an threaded inner surface configured to receive the threaded shall of the fastener, wherein the proximal end of the inner cylindrical wall is recessed by a recess distance relative to the proximal end of the outer wall.

A method of installing a toilet comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a toilet fastening assembly comprising:
• a fastener having a base at a proximal end, a support extending from the base, and a threaded shaft extending from the support to a distal end, the base including two flat surfaces interconnecting two curved surfaces, the support including two flat surfaces interconnecting two tapered surfaces, wherein the two flat surfaces of the support are aligned with the two flat surfaces of the base, wherein the threaded shaft includes two distal tapered surfaces at the distal end, wherein the two distal tapered surfaces are positioned perpendicular to the two flat surfaces of the base and the two flat surfaces of the support;
• and a cap having an outer wall extending from a proximal end to a distal gripping end, the proximal end including a proximal opening leading to an inner cavity defined by the outer wall, the cap further including an inner cylindrical wall extending from the distal gripping end to a proximal end disposed within the inner cavity, the inner cylindrical wall including an threaded inner surface configured to receive the threaded shaft of the fastener, wherein the proximal end of the inner cylindrical wall is recessed by a recess distance relative to the proximal end of the outer wall;
• b) securing the fastener within a slot of a floor flange for a toilet such that the base of the fastener engages a lower surface of the floor flange, the support of the fastener engages the slot, and the threaded shaft extends beyond an upper surface of the floor flange;
• c) positioning the toilet over the floor flange such that the threaded shaft of the fastener extends through a slot in a foundation of the toilet;
• d) securing the cover to the threaded shaft of the fastener by threadedly engaging the threaded shaft with the threaded inner surface of the inner cylindrical wall and rotating the cap to tighten the cap on the fastener.