(19)
(11) EP 1 967 666 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
10.09.2008 Bulletin 2008/37

(21) Application number: 08101771.7

(22) Date of filing: 19.02.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E03D 13/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA MK RS

(30) Priority: 19.02.2007 NL 2000495
08.03.2007 NL 2000531

(71) Applicant: Tetec B.V.
2741 PE Waddinxveen (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • van Berkel, Theodorus
    2715 SW, Zoetermeer (NL)

(74) Representative: Verhees, Godefridus Josephus Maria 
Brabants Octrooibureau, De Pinckart 54
5674 CC Nuenen
5674 CC Nuenen (NL)

   


(54) Urinal


(57) A urinal 1 is provided with a space 2 for the collection of urine. This space is bordered by a wall 3 and the bottom is formed by a grating 4 with a urine removal gutter underneath it. The urinal 1 is also provided with a doorway 5 and has two doors 6 and 7, which when open form modesty boards and are at right angles to the doors when closed.
The urinal has a hydraulic system to open/close the doors, with two hydraulic cylinders with moveable pistons therein, which are connected to the doors 6 and 7. The extreme position of the pistons in the cylinders forms a stop, which limits the angle to which the door opens.




Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:


Field of the invention



[0001] The invention relates to a urinal provided with a space for the collection of urine, and a doorway to this space, which urinal comprises at least one door for opening/closing the doorway, which door can be moved between a closed position in which the door shields the doorway and an open position in which the door allows access through the doorway, which urinal also comprises operating devices to open/close the door, and flushing devices to flush the space. The space for the collection of urine is for example a space bordered by a wall behind the door, where the bottom of the space is provided with a grating with a urine removal gutter underneath it.

Prior art



[0002] Such a urinal is known from US-A-4 488 321. This known reservoir can be built into a wall and has one door, which can be opened 180 degrees. The disadvantage of the known urinal is that it offers the user no privacy.

Summary of the invention



[0003] An objective of the invention is to provide a urinal of the type described in the preamble, in which the urinal partly shields the user from the surroundings and thus provides the user with privacy. For this purpose the urinal according to the invention is
characterised in that the door in the open position is at an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees to the door in the closed position and forms a modesty board. In this position the user is shielded from the surroundings and the door provides the user with privacy. Preferably the door when open is at an angle of between 75 and 105 degrees to the door when closed. The door provides more privacy in this position. Optimum privacy is obtained if the door in the open position is virtually at right angles to the door in the closed position.

[0004] An embodiment of the urinal according to the invention is characterised in that the urinal comprises at least one stop that limits the angle to which the door opens. This prevents the door from opening too far and no longer providing sufficient privacy.

[0005] A further embodiment of the urinal according to the invention is characterised in that the operating devices comprise a hydraulic system to open/close the door, which system comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder with a piston movable therein, in which the stop is formed by an extreme position of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder.

[0006] If one side of the urinal is placed against an already present shield, for example a wall, one door will suffice. If, however, the urinal is built into a wall without there being a shield present, the urinal must preferably comprise two doors, one on each side of the opening.

[0007] A still further embodiment of the urinal according to the invention is characterised in that the urinal comprises a grating on which the user stands during use, which grating is placed outside the space for the opening.

Brief description of the drawings



[0008] The invention will be elucidated more fully below on the basis of drawings, in which an embodiment of the urinal according to the invention is shown. In these drawings:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the urinal according to the invention in perspective;

Figure 2 shows the urinal from above with the doors closed;

Figure 3 shows the urinal from above with the doors open;

Figure 4 is a diagram of the hydraulic system of the urinal showing the direction of flow when the doors are opened; and

Figure 5 is a diagram of the hydraulic system of the urinal showing the direction of flow when the doors are closed.


Detailed description of the drawings



[0009] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the urinal according to the invention in perspective. The urinal 1 is provided with a space 2 for the collection of urine. This space is bordered by a wall 13 and the bottom is formed by a grating 4 with a urine removal gutter underneath it. The urinal 1 is also provided with a doorway 5 and has two doors 6 and 7, which form modesty boards when opened and which are at right angles to the doors when closed. There are two sprayers 8 at the top of the urinal, which are part of flushing devices to flush the urinal.

[0010] The operating devices for opening/closing the doors have a hydraulic system that works with water as the hydraulic medium. The system has two hydraulic cylinders 15 and 17, see figures 2 and 3, with moveable pistons therein, which are connected to the doors 6 and 7. The extreme position of the pistons in the cylinders forms a stop, which limits the angle to which the door can be opened. Figure 2 shows the urinal from above with the doors closed and figure 3 shows the urinal with the doors open.

[0011] The urinal 1 also has a grating 9, which is placed outside the space for the opening 3 and on which the user stands when using the urinal.

[0012] Figure 4 is a diagram of the hydraulic system 11 of the urinal. The hydraulic system is provided with connecting devices 13 for connection to a water supply. The system has two hydraulic cylinders 15, 17, one for each door 6, 7, whose pistons 19, 21 are connected to the doors. Each cylinder is provided with two connection openings 23 for the supply/removal of the hydraulic medium.

[0013] The hydraulic system 11 has also two valves 25, 27, which are placed between the connecting devices 13 on one hand and the connection openings 23 on the other, and two further valves 29, 31, which are placed between the sprayers 8 on one hand and the connection openings 23 on the other.

[0014] When the doors 6, 7 are opened, the valve 25 and further valve 31 are closed and the valve 27 and further valve 29 are open. The water then goes via valve 27 to the cylinders 15 and 17, which open the doors 6 and 7. The water returning from the cylinders goes via further valve 29 to the sprayers 8.

[0015] When the doors 6 and 7 are closed, see figure 5, the valve 27 and further valve 29 are closed and the valve 25 and further valve 31 are open. The water then goes via valve 25 to the cylinders 15 and 17, which close the doors. The water returning from the cylinders goes via further valve 31 to the sprayers 8.

[0016] The hydraulic system 11 also has a dosage pump 33 driven by water pressure, which is connected to the sprayers 8. There is a reservoir with cleaning medium connected to the dosage pump (not shown). The system also has a dosage valve 35, which is placed between the connecting devices 13 and the dosage pump 33. Opening this dosage valve 35 drives the dosage pump 33, and cleaning medium will also flow to the sprayers 8.

[0017] The system has a reducing valve 37 in order to ensure that the water pressure in the system is not too high. The system also has a pressure sensor 39, which emits a signal if the water pressure rises above a pre-set value. This is a signal that the doors are experiencing extra resistance and may not be closed/opened further. This can for example be the case if something or somebody is jammed between the doors.

[0018] The urinal 1 also has a presence sensor 41, see figure 1. The doors can be closed if no further person is detected. The valves and sensors are connected to an electronic control system (not shown) to which a control unit (not shown) is also connected and with which the doors can be opened and the urinal can therefore be made ready for use. This control unit can for example be a pay automat or a unit that is suitable for a pay system working via a mobile telephone.

[0019] Although in the above the invention is explained on the basis of the drawings, it should be noted that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiment shown in the drawings within the context defined by the claims.


Claims

1. Urinal provided with a space for the collection of urine, and a doorway to this space, which urinal comprises at least one door to open/close the doorway, which door can be moved between a closed position in which the door shields the opening and an open position in which the door frees the opening, which urinal also comprises operating devices to open/close the door, and flushing devices to flush the space, characterised in that the door in the open position is at an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees to the door in the closed position and forms a modesty board.
 
2. Urinal according to claim 1, characterised in that the door when open is at an angle of between 75 and 105 degrees to the door when closed.
 
3. Urinal according to claim 2, characterised in that the door when open is virtually at right angles to the door when closed.
 
4. Urinal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the urinal comprises at least one stop, which limits the angle to which the door opens.
 
5. Urinal according to claim 4, characterised in that the operating devices comprise a hydraulic system to open/close the door, which system comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder with a movable piston therein, in which the stop is formed by an extreme position of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder.
 
6. Urinal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the urinal comprises a grating on which the user stands during use, which grating is placed outside the space for the opening.
 




Drawing

















Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description