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(11) | EP 0 413 063 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A toilet bowl |
| (57) A toilet bowl (2) having an upper rim (4) and foot rest means (16,18) for supporting
a person's feet above floor level, the upper rim (4) being such that it slopes rearwardly
from a front portion (6) of the rim (4) at a downward angle of from 60-89° to the
vertical, and the upper rim (4) being such that it includes a support portion for
providing a lower lumber support for persons sitting on the toilet bowl, and the toilet
bowl (2) being such that the upper rim (4) and the foot rest means (16,18) combine
in use of the toilet bowl (2) to enable persons to sit on the toilet bowl (2) and
be supported in a full squat position. |
[0002] Water closets have been designed to enable persons to defecate in good sanitary conditions. The water closets have however not necessarily been designed for the purpose of promoting an easy and full evacuation of faeces from the bowel. More specifically, the basic design of conventionally used toilet bowls in water closets has not differed greatly from the time when they were originated many years ago. Conventionally used toilet bowls have a rim which extends horizontally so that persons using the toilet bowl tend to sit at right angles to the rim, in the same manner that they sit on the seat of a chair.
[0003] The present invention is based on the observation that the most natural and healthy position for defecation is a squat position. For example, in third world countries where sanitation often does not exist, persons defecate simply by squatting down and the occurrence of some bowel diseases and problems is less than in the Western World where standards of sanitation are much higher. Whilst diet and other conditions will naturally affect the occurrence of bowel diseases and related problems that may involve the colon and general rectal area, it is believed that the inability of currently used toilet bowls to promote an easy and full evacuation of the faeces from the bowel is a contributory factor to the above mentioned problem.
[0004] Attempts have been made to provide a toilet bowl which causes persons to defecate in a squat position. One such toilet bowl is disclosed in U.K. patent specification No. 2039565A which discloses a toilet bowl having an upper rim which slopes rearwardly from a front portion of the rim. Such known toilet bowls have never been adopted for general use and they are not conventionally used. This is believed to be because these known toilet bowls do not have the correct combination of features required to promote an easy and full evacuation of the faeces from the bowel.
[0005] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a toilet bowl which does promote an easy and full evacuation of the faeces from the bowel.
[0006] Accordingly, this invention provides a toilet bowl having an upper rim and foot rest means for supporting a person's feet above floor level, the upper rim being such that it slopes rearwardly from a front portion of the rim at a downward angle of from 60-89° to the vertical, the rim being such that it includes a support portion for providing a lower lumber support for persons sitting on the toilet bowl, and the toilet bowl being such that the upper rim and the foot rest means combine in use of the toilet bowl to enable persons to sit on the toilet bowl and be supported in a full squat position.
[0007] The seating of the persons on the toilet bowl in the full squat position enables the persons to effect an easier and fuller evacuation of faeces from the bowel than would be the case if the persons were sitting on a conventional toilet bowl substantially at right angles to the upper rim of the toilet bowl. The full squat position is believed to be the most natural and healthy position for the easiest and fullest evacuation of faeces from the bowel. Because the vast majority of persons living in the Western World and used to conventional toilet bowls will lack the flexibility and required strength to adopt the full squat position for any length of time unaided, the foot rest means is provided to help the persons achieve the full squat position in a comfortable manner. The assumption of the full squat position may help to prevent haemorrhoids due to less strain on rectal muscles. The more complete evacuation of faeces from the bowel may decrease the time that the fecal matter remains in the body. This may thus be helpful in preventing the occurrence of degenerative diseases of the colon and other rectal areas, and general bowel problems.
[0008] Preferably, the rim is such that it slopes inwardly to accommodate the shape of a person's buttocks.
[0010] The front portion of the rim may be positioned from 200-450mm above floor level. Preferably, the front portion of the rim is 270mm above floor level. This is lower than the height of the front portion of the upper rim of a conventionally used toilet bowl which is approximately 400mm above floor level. The lowering of the front portion of the rim may help to enable persons who are not naturally flexible of body to assume the full squat position in comfort for the length of time that is required to defecate.
[0011] Preferably, the foot rest means is an integral part of the toilet bowl. Thus, for example, the foot rest means may be produced to form part of the toilet bowl as the toilet bowl is manufactured.
[0012] The foot rest means may be at least one platform. Thus, for example, a single platform could extend around the front part of the toilet bowl at a desired height, or a pair of spaced apart smaller platforms, one for each foot, could be utilised.
[0014] With a detachable foot rest means, the foot rest means may be a stirrup which is supported on the toilet bowl. Alternatively, the detachable foot rest means could be a plinth which is supported on the floor.
[0015] The present invention also extends to the toilet bowl when provided with a seat. The seat may be of any desired construction so that it may be of a known construction.
[0017] Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first toilet bowl;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the toilet bowl shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the toilet bowl shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the toilet bowl shown in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a second toilet bowl;
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the toilet bowl shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a plan view of the toilet bowl shown in Figure 5; and
Figure 8 shows an accessory for use in a third type of toilet bowl, the accessory shown in Figure 8 being shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 for ease of illustration and understanding.
[0018] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a toilet bowl 2 having an upper rim 4. The rim 4 slopes rearwardly from a front portion 6 at a downward angle of from 60-89° to the vertical. More specifically, the precise downward angle shown in Figure 1 is 70° to the vertical. It will be seen that the rim 4 slopes downwardly to a lowermost point 8, whereupon the rim 4 curves upwardly above a flush pipe 10. The flush pipe 10 is for connecting to a waste pipe (not shown). The front portion 6 of the rim 4 extends as can best be seen most clearly from Figure 3 into a pair of recesses 12,14 for locating a person's thighs.
[0019] The rim 4 is also such that it slopes inwardly as shown to accommodate the shape of a person's buttocks.
[0020] The toilet bowl 2 is further provided with foot rest means in the form of a pair of foot rests 16,18. These foot rests 16, 18 are formed as an integral part of the toilet bowl 2.
[0021] The toilet bowl 2 has a support portion 20 for providing a lower lumber support for persons sitting on the toilet bowl 2.
[0022] The toilet bowl 2 may be manufactured similarly as known existing toilet bowls so that, for example, it may be made of vitreous china. The toilet bowl 2 may be close coupled with a cistern or it may be provided remote from a cistern. The toilet bowl 2 may be flushed and cleaned as known toilet bowls so that the toilet bowl 2 may be flushed with a gravity action or a syphonic action.
[0023] A person sitting on the toilet bowl 2 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is able to sit and be supported in a full squat position. The front of the toilet bowl 2 is, as shown in Figure 2, 270mm above the level of the floor 16 and this distance is lower than the distance of a conventionally used toilet bowl which would be approximately 400mm. The lowering of the height of the front of the toilet bowl to the level of the floor 16 assists in causing persons using the toilet bowl 2 to adopt the full squat position. Generally, the height of the front of the toilet bowl 2 to the level of the floor 16 can be lowered to approximately 200mm without causing the toilet bowl 2 to require different plumbing fixtures from those currently in use.
[0024] Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a toilet bowl 2 in which similar parts as in Figures 1 to 4 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The toilet bowl 2 shown in Figures 5 to 7 is such that the foot rest means is in the form of a plinth 22 which is oval shaped as can best be seen from Figure 7. When a person is sitting on the toilet bowl 2, the person's feet will rest on the upper surface 24 of the plinth 22 so that the knees will be raised higher than would be the case if the feet were resting on the floor 16. Thus, the use of the plinth 22 constrains the person sitting on the toilet bowl 2 to adopt a full squat position. By virtue of the fact that the rim 4 slopes rearwardly at an angle to the vertical of 70° and also by virtue of the use of the plinth 22 and the inwardly sloping rim to accommodate the slope of the person's buttocks, the person sitting on the toilet bowl 2 is comfortably supported in the full squat position. The upper surface 24 of the plinth 22 can be provided with a non-slip finish to help to avoid any tendency for a person's feet to slip on the upper surface 24.
[0025] A seal 26 may be employed at the join of the toilet bowl 2 to the plinth 22. The seal 26 may be made of a rubber or a plastics material.
[0026] Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown foot rest means in the form of a stirrup 28. The use of the stirrup 28 is an alternative to using the plinth 22. The stirrup 28 has a hook portion 30 for hooking over the front portion 6 of the rim 4. The stirrup 28 has a foot rest portion 32 on which the person's feet then rest. The stirrup 28 may advantageously be used where space in a toilet or a bathroom may not permit the use of the plinth 22. Also, the stirrup 28 may be removed as desired for example to facilitate cleaning of the toilet bowl 2.
[0027] The stirrup 28 will usually only require to hook over the front portion 6 of the rim 4. The underside 34 of the hook portion 30 may be provided with padding material (not shown) such for example as a strip of rubber to avoid undue abrasion with the rim 4. In the case of the plinth 22, the plinth 22 may be secured to the toilet bowl by straps 36,38 in order to avoid any tendency of the plinth 22 to move forwards and away from the toilet bowl 2 as persons sit down and get up from the toilet bowl 2.
[0028] The toilet bowls 2 form articles which are pleasant to look at, in addition to being medically advantageous in promoting easier and fuller evacuation of faeces from the bowel.
[0029] It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, in the drawings, various size measurements have been given. These size measurements are however only preferred measurements and other measurement sizes may be employed as may be desired. Also, the plinth 22 is preferably made of high impact polystyrene plastics material but other materials may be employed. Similarly, the stirrup 28 may be made from a plastics material, vitreous china or any other desired and appropriate material.
1. A toilet bowl having an upper rim and foot rest means for supporting a person's
feet above floor level, the upper rim being such that it slopes rearwardly from a
front portion of the rim at a downward angle of from 60-89° to the vertical, the rim
being such that it includes a support portion for providing a lower lumber support
for persons sitting on the toilet bowl, and the toilet bowl being such that the upper
rim and the foot rest means combine in use of the toilet bowl to enable persons to
sit on the toilet bowl and be supported in a full squat position.
2. A toilet bowl according to claim 1 in which the rim is such that it slopes inwardly
to accommodate the shape of a person's buttocks.
3. A toilet bowl according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the downward angle is 70°
to the vertical.
4. A toilet bowl according to any one of the preceding claims in which the front portion
of the rim is positioned from 200-450mm above floor level.
5. A toilet bowl according to claim 4 in which the front portion of the rim is 270mm
above floor level.
6. A toilet bowl according to any one of the preceding claims in which the foot rest
means is an integral part of the toilet bowl.
7. A toilet bowl according to claim 6 in which the foot rest means is a pair of spaced
apart platforms, one for each foot, moulded into the toilet bowl.
8. A toilet bowl according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the foot rest means
is detachable from the toilet bowl.
9. A toilet bowl according to claim 8 in which the foot rest means is a stirrup which
is supported on the toilet bowl.
10. A toilet bowl according to claim 8 in which the foot rest means is a plinth which
is supported on the floor.