[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet comprising a toilet body provided with
a toilet bowl and a conduit to connect the outlet of a discharge cistern to the toilet
bowl. It also relates to a toilet and discharge cistern assembly.
Background of the invention
[0002] Conventional toilets include a rim, or perimeter channel, provided with orifices,
which receive the water from the discharge cistern and distributes them uniformly
in the perimeter of the pan of the toilet bowl.
[0003] These conventional toilets have the drawback that the user cannot usually access
the inside of the rim, or perimeter channel, to remove the dirt, so that they are
unhygienic. To resolve this problem, toilets called "rimless" have been designed,
which do not have a rim or perimeter channel.
[0004] Instead of the rim or perimeter channel, the "rimless" toilets include an open perimeter
flange which is easily accessible for cleaning. However, in order to ensure the correct
water propulsion and distribution, these toilets require the use of a connection conduit
to the cistern which includes, at one of its ends, a plurality of suitable openings
to drive the water towards the perimeter flange of the bowl. This connection conduit
typically has a separate portion for joining to the discharge valve of the cistern
which must be assembled inside the bowl at the place where the toilet is assembled,
which complicates the installer's work. Furthermore, this separate portion of conduit
is configured in a manner which requires the use of intermediate connections with
the discharge valve, and the use of special discharge cisterns, different to those
used with conventional toilets.
Description of the invention
[0005] The objective of the present invention is that of providing a toilet, preferably
a toilet of ceramic material, for example, a toilet provided with a "rimless" bowl,
which resolves the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has the advantages described below.
[0006] In accordance with this objective, according to a first aspect, the present invention
provides a toilet comprising a toilet body provided with a toilet bowl, and a conduit
for the connection of a water outlet of a discharge cistern to the toilet bowl, and
which is characterized in that the connection conduit includes an attachment end to
a discharge valve of the cistern modified to be able to be fixed to the toilet body
in a stable assembly position with the bowl, the body of said toilet including means
to fix the modified end of the connection conduit in the stable assembly position
with the bowl.
[0007] In the present invention, the conduit which connects the water outlet of the cistern
to the toilet bowl includes a modified attachment end to the discharge valve of the
cistern which is configured to be able to be fixed to the toilet body in a stable
position, by means of means provided for said purpose in the toilet body. Thanks to
this, a toilet is obtained which can be factory assembled, thus simplifying the work
of the installer in the place of assembly, since the installer only has to couple
the cistern as occurs in conventional toilets.
[0008] According to an embodiment, said modified attachment end of the connection conduit
includes a mouth which defines a recess for a gasket joining the end of the discharge
valve of the cistern and, preferably, the toilet body and the connection conduit are
configured so that, in the stable assembly position with the bowl, the mouth of the
conduit is disposed substantially flush with a wall of the toilet body.
[0009] Thanks to this, unlike the toilets of the state of the art, the toilet claimed allows
the use of standard cisterns that directly couple to the toilet without the need to
be modified. Furthermore, the flow of water from the cistern to the toilet bowl is
optimized, since the mouth of the connection conduit is adapted to be directly attached
to one end of the discharge valve inside the cistern. In this way, the attachment
of the discharge valve to the inlet mouth of the connection conduit can be carried
out without intermediate connections.
[0010] According to an embodiment, the means to fix the modified end of the connection conduit
to the toilet body comprise at least one orifice provided in a wall of the toilet
body, and at least one fixing element to insert in said orifice. This fixing element
can be, for example, a screw which is inserted in the toilet orifice to fix the modified
end of the connection conduit to the toilet body by means of a nut which is threaded
in the threaded end of this screw.
[0011] Advantageously, the screw or fixing element of the modified end of the connection
conduit comprises an internal threaded bushing susceptible of receiving another fixing
element of the discharge cistern. In this way, the discharge cistern can be directly
fixed on the mouth of the connection conduit guaranteeing an optimum and compact assembly.
[0012] Advantageously, the mouth of the modified end of the connection conduit comprises
an external fixing tab on the toilet body, which is provided with at least one orifice
for the passage of one of said fixing elements.
[0013] Preferably, the toilet body has been modified to include a cavity which defines a
hollow space dimensioned to house the modified end of the connection conduit. In this
way, the connection conduit is integrated inside the toilet body, simplifying the
toilet manufacturing (less material and less design complexity) and facilitating assembly
of the components, and the transport and handling to the place of assembly.
[0014] According to an embodiment, the toilet claimed comprises a "rimless" toilet bowl
provided with an open perimeter flange to distribute and direct the water. According
to this embodiment, preferably, the connection conduit includes at least two portions
of conduit, a first portion of conduit which includes the modified end for attaching
to the discharge valve and a second portion of conduit provided with a free end with
a plurality of openings intended to propel and uniformly distribute the water throughout
the perimeter flange of the pan of the toilet bowl.
[0015] Both portions of conduit may define a single piece or part, or constitute two independent
pieces or parts which must be coupled together. In any case, the connection conduit,
formed by one or more parts, always includes a modified end to be fixed to the toilet
body in a stable position by means of means provided for said purpose in the toilet
body. Thanks to this, as previously commented, the toilet may come from the factory
ready to be connected to the discharge cistern, thus simplifying the assembly that
the installer must perform.
[0016] According to the same embodiment of the invention applied to toilets with "rimless"
bowl, the toilet body has been modified to include a cavity which defines a first
hollow space dimensioned to house the first portion of connection conduit, and a second
hollow space dimensioned to house the second portion of conduit inside the toilet
body. In this way, the two portions of the connection conduit are integrated inside
the toilet body.
[0017] Advantageously, a seal guarantees the water-tightness between the first and the second
hollow space to avoid the accidental outlet of water outside of the toilet body. This
seal may form part of the connection conduit or form an independent element which
must be coupled together during assembly.
[0018] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a toilet and discharge
cistern assembly, comprising a toilet as claimed, and a discharge cistern which can
be coupled to a wall of the toilet body. The discharge cistern of this assembly has
the advantage that it can always be of standard type, irrespective of whether the
toilet bowl is "rimless" or a conventional bowl.
[0019] Preferably, the base of the discharge cistern is provided with at least one orifice
for the passage of a screw for fixing the cistern on the wall of the toilet body.
As commented above, according to an embodiment, the screw for fixing the cistern can
be a screw configured to be threaded in a bushing with internal threading of a fixing
element of the modified end of the connection conduit. In this way, it guarantees
a simple and safe assembly of the cistern on the toilet body.
[0020] Advantageously, in a final assembly position of the assembly, a threaded end of the
discharge valve inside the cistern is housed inside the mouth of the modified end
of the connection conduit of the toilet, with said modified end being fixed to the
toilet body.
[0021] In the present invention, "rimless" toilet bowl is understood as a bowl provided
with an open perimeter flange to distribute water, or a bowl lacking a rim or perimeter
channel for the distribution of water.
Brief description of the figures
[0022] For a better understanding of all that has been stated, drawings are attached wherein,
schematically and only by way of non-limiting example, a practical embodiment has
been represented.
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a toilet and discharge cistern assembly
of the present invention which is applied to a toilet with a "rimless" bowl".
Figure 2 shows a section of the assembly of figure 1 in a final assembly position.
Figure 3 shows a detail of the section of figure 2.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the toilet of figure 1 without the discharge
cistern, with the modified end of the connection conduit fixed to the toilet body.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the connection conduit with the modified end
for attaching to the discharge valve of the cistern. In this embodiment the conduit
is formed by two independent parts or pieces that must be coupled together.
Description of a preferred embodiment
[0023] The preferred embodiment of the toilet claimed is described below, making reference
to figures 1 to 5.
[0024] The embodiment of the toilet 1 which is described includes a toilet body 2, a "rimless"
toilet bowl 3 which is provided with an open perimeter flange 4 to distribute water,
and a conduit 5 for the connection of the outlet of a water discharge cistern 6 to
the bowl 3 of the toilet 1. The cistern 6 houses therein a discharge valve 7 which
is fixed by means of a nut 22 to the base of the same cistern 6.
[0025] The connection conduit 5 includes an attachment end 5a to the outlet of the discharge
valve 7 of the cistern 6. In the present invention, the end 5a has been modified to
be able to be fixed to the toilet 1 body 2 in a stable assembly position with the
bowl 3. Hence, in the embodiment described, at the end 5a of the connection conduit
5 an external tab 10 has been provided with orifices 11 for the passage of fixing
screws 9 which also traverse orifices 8 provided in the toilet 1 body 2.
[0026] In the embodiment described, the screws 9 which fix the external tab 10 each include
a bushing 12 with an internal thread susceptible of receiving other fixing screws
13 of the base 14 of the discharge cistern 6. In this way, the discharge cistern 6
can be directly fixed on the mouth of the connection conduit 5 guaranteeing optimum
assembly.
[0027] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the toilet 1 with the exterior tab 10 of the
modified end 5a of the connection conduit 5 fixed to the toilet 1 body 2 by means
of the fixing screws 9 which traverse the orifices 8 provided in the toilet 1 body
2. As shown in figure 4, nuts 21 lock the position of the screws 9 to fix the modified
end 5a of the conduit 5 in a stable assembly position with the bowl 3. In this stable
position, the toilet 1 can be moved from the factory to the place of assembly where
the installer only has to couple the discharge cistern 6.
[0028] According to an embodiment, the modified end 5a of the connection conduit 5 includes
a mouth which defines a recess 15 for a gasket16 joining a threaded end 17 of the
discharge valve 7 inside the cistern 6. As can be seen in figure 4, the toilet 1 body
2 and the modified end 5a of the connection conduit 5 are configured so that, in the
stable assembly position with the bowl 3, the mouth of the connection conduit 5 is
disposed substantially flush with a surface of the toilet 1 body 2 designed to contact
with the discharge cistern 6.
[0029] In this way, unlike toilets of the state of the art, the toilet 1 claimed allows
the use of standard cisterns 6 which do not need to be modified to allow the attachment
of the connection conduit 5 with the discharge valve 7 of the cistern 6. Figures 1
and 2 show, respectively, an exploded view and a section of a toilet and discharge
cistern assembly of the present invention with a discharge cistern 6 of standard type.
[0030] In the embodiment described, the toilet 1 claimed comprises a toilet bowl 3 of "rimless"
type provided with an open perimeter flange 4 to distribute and direct the water.
According to this embodiment, as can be seen in the figures, the connection conduit
5 includes a first portion "A" of conduit comprising the modified end 5a for attaching
to the discharge valve 7, and a second portion "B" of connection conduit 5 provided
with a free end with a plurality of openings 18 intended to propel and uniformly distribute
the water throughout the perimeter flange 4 of the pan of the toilet bowl 3. As observed
in figures 1 to 3 and, in detail in figure 5, in the embodiment described, both portions
"A" and "B" of the conduit 5 constituted two independent parts or pieces susceptible
of being coupled together when the toilet 1 is assembled in the factory.
[0031] Figure 3 shows a detail of the cavity which has been provided in the toilet 1 body
2 to house the two parts which form the connection conduit 5. This cavity defines
a first hollow space 19a dimensioned to receive the first portion "A" of conduit 5,
and a second space 19b dimensioned to house the second portion "B" of conduit inside
the toilet 1 body 2. The water-tightness between both hollow spaces 19a, 19b is guaranteed
by means of a rubber seal 20 which is inserted in the cavity to avoid the accidental
outlet of water. As can be seen in figure 3, in this way the connection conduit 5
is integrated and protected inside the toilet 1 body 2, and the attachment end 5a
to the valve 7 of the cistern 6 is fixed to the toilet 1 body 2 in a stable position
which facilitates transport to the place of assembly.
[0032] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention,
it is evident for a person skilled in the art that the set described is susceptible
to numerous variations and modifications and that all the details mentioned can be
replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of
protection defined by the attached claims. For example, although a toilet 1 has been
described with a "rimless" type bowl, the present invention could be applied to a
toilet 1 which had a bowl 3 other than the "rimless" kind but which also require the
presence of a conduit 5 to connect the water outlet of the discharge cistern 6 with
the bowl 3. Likewise, although fixing means of the modified end 5a for attaching to
the discharge valve 7 have been described consisting of screws 9 susceptible of traversing
orifices 8 provided in the toilet 1 body 2, it would also be possible to provide in
the toilet 1 body 2 another known type of means of fixing said modified end 5 which
also allowed guaranteeing in origin a stable assembly position with the toilet 1 bowl
3.
1. Toilet (1) comprising a toilet body (2) provided with a toilet bowl (3), and a conduit
(5) for the connection of a water outlet of a discharge cistern (6) to the toilet
bowl (3), characterized in that said connection conduit (5) includes an attachment end (5a) to a discharge valve
(7) of the cistern (6) modified to be able to be fixed to the toilet body (2) in a
stable assembly position with the bowl (3), said toilet including means (8, 9, 21)
to fix the modified end (5a) of the connection conduit (5) in said stable assembly
position with the bowl (3).
2. Toilet (1) according to claim 1, wherein said modified end (5a) of the connection
conduit (5) includes a mouth which defines a recess (15) for a gasket (16) joining
the end (17) of the discharge valve (7) of the cistern (6).
3. Toilet (1) according to claim 2, wherein the mouth of the modified end (5a) of the
connection conduit (5) comprises an external fixing tab (10) on the toilet body (2).
4. Toilet (1) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein a portion of the toilet body (2) and
the modified end (5a) of the connection conduit (5) are configured in a manner which,
in the stable assembly position with the bowl (3), the mouth of the connection conduit
(5) is disposed substantially flush with a surface of the toilet body (2).
5. Toilet (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said means to fix the
modified end (5a) of the connection conduit (5) comprise at least one orifice (8)
provided in a wall of the toilet body, and at least one fixing element (9) to insert
in said orifice (8).
6. Toilet (1) according to claim 5, wherein said fixing element (9) comprises an internal
threaded bushing (12) susceptible of receiving another fixing element (13) of the
discharge cistern (6).
7. Toilet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the toilet body (2) has been modified to
include a cavity which defines a hollow space (19a) dimensioned to house the modified
end (5a) of the connection conduit (5).
8. Toilet (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a "rimless" toilet
bowl (3) provided with an open perimeter flange (4) to distribute water.
9. Toilet (1) according to claim 8, wherein said connection conduit (5) includes at least
two portions of conduit, a first portion ("A") of conduit which includes said modified
end (5a) for attaching to the discharge valve (7), and a second portion ("B") of conduit
provided with a free end with a plurality of openings (18) intended to propel and
uniformly distribute the water throughout the perimeter flange (4) of the pan of the
toilet bowl (3).
10. Toilet (1) according to claim 9, wherein the toilet body (2) includes a cavity which
defines a first hollow space (19a) dimensioned to house the first portion ("A") of
connection conduit (5), and a second hollow space (19b) dimensioned to house the second
portion ("B") of conduit inside the toilet body (2).
11. Toilet (1) according to claim 10, which includes a seal (20) to guarantee the water-tightness
between the first ("A") and the second ("B") hollow space of the toilet body (2).
12. Toilet (1) and discharge cistern (6) assembly, comprising a toilet (1) according to
any of claims 1 to 11, and a discharge cistern (6) attachable to a wall of the toilet
body (2).
13. Assembly according to claim 12, wherein the base (14) of said discharge cistern (6)
is provided with at least one orifice for the passage of a fixing element (13) of
the cistern (6) on the wall of the toilet body (2).
14. Assembly according to any of claims 12 to 13, wherein, in a final assembly position
of the assembly, a threaded end (17) of the discharge valve (7) of the cistern (6)
is housed inside the mouth of the modified end (5a) of the connection conduit (5)
of the toilet.