A TOILET ASSEMBLY

Abstract

 A toilet assembly (1) comprises a water tank (5), a toilet bowl (3) which communicates with the water tank (5) through a flush channel, a reservoir (10) for containing a cleaning substance and a dosing device (11) for introducing a cleaning substance from the reservoir (10) into the flush channel. The dosing device (11) and the reservoir (10) are fluidly connected to each other. At least a portion of the flush channel is formed by a flush pipe (8) which extends from a water outlet (9) of the water tank (5) to the toilet bowl (3) where it is mounted to a water inlet of the toilet bowl (3). The dosing device (11) is mounted to the flush pipe (8).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet assembly, comprising a water tank, a toilet bowl which communicates with the water tank through a flush channel, a reservoir for containing a cleaning substance and a dosing device for introducing a cleaning substance from the reservoir into the flush channel, wherein the dosing device and the reservoir are fluidly connected to each other.

[0002] Such a toilet assembly is known from US 2017/0130437. The known toilet assembly comprises a reservoir including a cleaning liquid and a dosing device for introducing the cleaning liquid to water that flows from the water tank to the toilet bowl during a flush. Adding a cleaning liquid or a sanitizing liquid such as bleach during a flush may keep the toilet bowl clean and hygienic.

[0003] An object of the invention is to provide an improved toilet assembly.

[0004] This object is accomplished with the toilet assembly according to the invention, which is characterized in that at least a portion of the flush channel is formed by a flush pipe which extends from a water outlet of the water tank to the toilet bowl where it is mounted to a water inlet of the toilet bowl, wherein the dosing device is mounted to the flush pipe.

[0005] An advantage of the toilet assembly according to the invention is that it allows to apply different types of toilet bowls, i.e. also toilet bowls without an opening for receiving the dosing device. Besides, it is not necessary to locate the reservoir including a cleaning substance on top of a toilet bowl, which provides improved hygiene.

[0006] Preferably, the flush pipe is releasably mounted to the water inlet of the toilet bowl, since this facilitates separating the toilet bowl from the flush pipe.

[0007] In an embodiment the reservoir is located at a distance from the dosing device and the dosing device and the reservoir are fluidly connected to each other through a tube. This provides the opportunity to place the reservoir at a higher height level than the dosing device such that the cleaning substance may be introduced into the water flush pipe by gravity, which allows a simple dosing device.

[0008] The dosing device may comprise a controllable valve.

[0009] In a particular embodiment the dosing device is provided with an arm which protrudes into the flush pipe and which is functionally coupled with the valve such that the valve is opened by the arm when water which flows through the flush pipe during a flush applies a force onto the arm. This means that the cleaning substance will only be introduced into the water during a flush.

[0010] In an embodiment the dosing device comprises a housing which is mounted to the flush pipe and the valve comprises a closing element which is movable with respect to the housing between a lower position and an upper position, wherein in the upper position the closing element provides an opening between the housing and the flush pipe and in the lower position it closes the opening between the housing and the flush pipe, wherein the arm is movable with respect to the housing and positioned with respect to the closing element such that during a flush water forces the arm against the closing element such that the arm moves the closing element from the lower position to the upper position. This means that in the upper position cleaning substance can flow from the tube via the opening between the housing and the flush pipe into the flush pipe. The closing element may comprise a pin which has a widened portion that rests on a cooperating seat in the lower position of the closing element. The closing element may be made of a heavy material, for example stainless steel, such that it returns to the lower position by gravity quickly after a flush. This means that a spring may be omitted.

[0011] The arm may be flexible. It may be made of rubber, for example.

[0012] In a practical embodiment one end of the arm is fixed to the housing and an opposite free end contacts the closing element when water flows through the flush pipe such that the arm forms a C-shape within the flush pipe. During a flush the free end of the arm may contact a lower end of the lifting element so as to lift it with respect to the housing.

[0013] Preferably, the dosing device is releasably mounted to the flush pipe, since this allows easy replacement in case of malfunctioning. For example, the dosing device may be screwed into a threaded through-hole in the flush pipe.

[0014] In a practical embodiment the toilet bowl is mounted to a front side of a wall and the water tank is located at a rear side of the wall, wherein the dosing device is mounted to the flush pipe at the rear side of the wall. In this case the toilet bowl is a wall-mounted toilet bowl and the flush pipe and the water tank are hidden behind the wall.

[0015] The flush pipe may have a horizontal portion where the dosing device is mounted.

[0016] The invention is also related to a combination of a flush pipe and a dosing device for a toilet assembly as described hereinbefore, wherein the dosing device is mounted or mountable to the flush pipe. The combination may be sold as part of a kit of parts which can be assembled to the toilet assembly as described hereinbefore.

[0017] The invention is also related to a method of installing a toilet assembly as described hereinbefore, wherein the method comprises the steps of supplying a water tank, a flush pipe and a dosing device, drilling a through-hole into the flush pipe, mounting the dosing device in the through-hole of the flush pipe and mounting the flush pipe to a water outlet of the water tank.

[0018] The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to very schematic drawings showing embodiments of the invention by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a frontal view of a part of an embodiment of a toilet assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the toilet assembly as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view as Fig. 1, wherein a part of the toilet assembly is hidden behind a room wall.

Fig. 4 is a similar view as Fig. 3, showing additional parts of the toilet assembly.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a flush pipe of the toilet assembly as shown in Figs. 1-4.

Fig. 6 is a similar view as Fig. 5, but showing an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 7 is an illustrative view of different parts of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 6.

[0019] Figs. 1 and 2 show a part of an embodiment of a toilet assembly 1 according to the invention. Figs. 3 and 4 show a situation in which a part of the toilet assembly 1 is hidden behind a room wall 2. The toilet assembly 1 has a toilet bowl 3, see Fig. 4, which sits off a floor 4 when mounted against the room wall 2. Such a wall-mounted toilet bowl 3 is known in the prior art.

[0020] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the toilet assembly 1 comprises a water tank 5 which is fixed to a frame 6. The frame 6 may be fixed to the floor 4 and a supporting wall W which is located at a distance from the room wall 2. The room wall 2 may be fixed to the frame 6.

[0021] Figs. 1-3 show a waste pipe 7 which fits in a corresponding waste opening in the toilet bowl 3. The toilet assembly 1 also comprises a flush pipe 8 which extends from a water outlet 9 of the water tank 5 to the toilet bowl 3. A free end of a horizontal portion of the flush pipe 8 fits in a corresponding water inlet of the toilet bowl 3. The flush pipe 8 forms a part of a flush channel through which the water tank 5 communicates with the toilet bowl 3. The flush channel may continue within the toilet bowl 3 when the toilet bowl 3 is coupled to the flush pipe 8.

[0022] The flush pipe 8 and the waste pipe 7 project from the room wall 2. When mounting the toilet bowl 3 to the room wall 2 the flush pipe 8 and the waste pipe 7 are received by the water inlet and the waste opening of the toilet bowl 3, respectively. The flush pipe 8 and the waste pipe 7 are releasably connected to the toilet bowl 3. It is noted that the dimensions and the mutual distance of the water inlet and the waste opening of the toilet bowl 3 are standardized.

[0023] The toilet assembly 1 comprises a reservoir 10 for containing a cleaning substance in the form of a cleaning liquid or a sanitizing liquid. The reservoir 10 is fluidly connected to a dosing device 11 through a tube 12. This provides the opportunity to introduce the cleaning liquid from the reservoir 10 into water that flows through the flush pipe 8 during a flush. The reservoir 10 may be releasably mounted to the tube 12 such that it can be replaced when it is empty. For example, the reservoir 10 may be a replaceable pouch, but numerous alternative types of reservoirs are conceivable. It is also possible that the reservoir 10 is fixed to the room wall 2 and is refillable. In this case the reservoir 10 is located in a cavity in the room wall 2, but this may be different in an alternative embodiment. For example, it is conceivable that the reservoir 10 is located behind an actuator plate 13, see Fig. 4.

[0024] The dosing device 11 is mounted to the horizontal portion of the flush pipe 8 at a rear side of the room wall 2. Fig. 5 shows a combination of the dosing device 11 and the flush pipe 8 in more detail. The dosing device 11 comprises a controllable valve 14, which opens during a flush when water passes through the flush pipe 8. This is achieved by an arm 15 which protrudes into the flush pipe 8 and which is functionally coupled to the valve 14 such that the valve 14 is opened by the arm 15 when water which flows through the flush pipe 8 during a flush applies a force onto the arm 15.

[0025] In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5 the valve 14 comprises a valve disk which is pressed on a valve seat by a spring 16. The spring 16 presses the valve disk against the valve seat when the flow rate through the flush pipe 8 is below a certain threshold. When during a flush the valve disk is lifted from its valve seat the cleaning liquid drips into the water through gravity. Fig. 5 shows the arm 15 and the cooperating valve disk in two different positions. Numerous alternative types of the dosing device 11 are conceivable. For example the arm 15 may displace a valve disk from a valve seat in upward direction through a transmission.

[0026] The dosing device 11 is releasably mounted to the flush pipe 8 such that it can be replaced in case of malfunctioning by taking the toilet bowl 3 from the room wall 2 and from the flush pipe 8 and the waste pipe 7. Fig. 3 illustrates the accessibility of the dosing device 11 when the toilet bowl 3 is taken from the room wall 2.

[0027] Figs. 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the dosing device 11. Parts which correspond to parts of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5 have the same reference numbers. In the embodiment in Figs. 6 and 7 the arm 15 is flexible. One end of the flexible arm 15 has a through-hole which fits around a portion of a housing 17 of the dosing device 11 that protrudes in the flush pipe 8. The arm 15 is clamped between a wall of the flush pipe 8 and a nut 18 which is screwed on the protruding portion of the housing 17, but alternative fixing means are conceivable. The housing 17 is fixed to the flush pipe 8 by the nut 18, as well, whereas a portion of the flexible arm 15 around the housing 17 may form a sealing. In a free condition of the arm 15 it may lie in a flat plane as illustrated in Fig. 7. In a mounted condition in the flush pipe 8, as shown in Fig. 6, the arm 15 is bent within the flush pipe 8 such that its free end lies on a lower wall of the flush pipe 8. In this case the flexible arm 15 has a C-shape. Alternatively, the arm 15 is relatively short and its weight is such that its free end suspends from the housing without contacting the lower wall of the flush pipe 8. In this case the arm may have a C-shape during a flush.

[0028] The dosing device 11 has a closing element in the form of a pin 19 which is movable with respect to the housing 17 between a lower position and an upper position. The arm 15 and the pin 19 are arranged such that when water flows through the flush pipe 8 during a flush the arm 15 is forced against the pin 19 such that the pin 19 will be lifted. As a consequence, a widened portion, in this case a tapered portion, of the pin 19 will be lifted from a cooperating seat in the housing 17 such that cleaning liquid can flow from the tube 12 through the housing 17 into the flush pipe 8. The movements of the flexible arm 15 and the pin 19 are illustrated by dashed lines and an arrow in Fig. 6. The pin 19, may be relatively heavy, for example made of stainless steel, such that it will close quickly after the arm 15 moves back at the end of a flush. This provides the opportunity to omit a spring, hence minimizing the number of parts. It is noted that the dosing system 11 will be free of maintenance.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore, which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the toilet bowl may be a floor mounted toilet bowl.

[0030] Furthermore, the arm or flexible arm may have a different shape and different dimensions.

Claims

1. A toilet assembly (1), comprising a water tank (5), a toilet bowl (3) which communicates with the water tank (5) through a flush channel, a reservoir (10) for containing a cleaning substance and a dosing device (11) for introducing a cleaning substance from the reservoir (10) into the flush channel, wherein the dosing device (11) and the reservoir (10) are fluidly connected to each other, characterized in that at least a portion of the flush channel is formed by a flush pipe (8) which extends from a water outlet (9) of the water tank (5) to the toilet bowl (3) where it is mounted to a water inlet of the toilet bowl (3), wherein the dosing device (11) is mounted to the flush pipe (8).

2. A toilet assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the flush pipe (8) is releasably mounted to the water inlet of the toilet bowl (3).

3. A toilet assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservoir (10) is located at a distance from the dosing device (11) and the dosing device (11) and the reservoir (10) are fluidly connected to each other through a tube (12).

4. A toilet assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dosing device (11) comprises a controllable valve (14, 19).

5. A toilet assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the dosing device (11) is provided with an arm (15) which protrudes into the flush pipe (8) and which is functionally coupled with the valve (14, 19) such that the valve (14, 19) is opened by the arm (15) when water which flows through the flush pipe (8) during a flush applies a force onto the arm (15).

6. A toilet assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the dosing device (11) comprises a housing (17) which is mounted to the flush pipe (8) and the valve comprises a closing element (19) which is movable with respect to the housing (17) between a lower position and an upper position, wherein in the upper position the closing element (19) provides an opening between the housing (17) and the flush pipe (8) and in the lower position it closes the opening between the housing (17) and the flush pipe (8), wherein the arm (15) is movable with respect to the housing (17) and positioned with respect to the closing element (19) such that during a flush water forces the arm (15) against the closing element (19) such that the arm (15) moves the closing element (19) from the lower position to the upper position.

7. A toilet assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the arm (15) is flexible.

8. A toilet assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein one end of the arm (15) is fixed to the housing (17) and an opposite free end contacts the closing element (19) when water flows through the flush pipe (8) such that the arm (15) forms a C-shape within the flush pipe (8).

9. A toilet assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dosing device (11) is releasably mounted to the flush pipe (8).

10. A toilet assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the toilet bowl (3) is mounted to a front side of a wall (2) and the water tank (5) is located at a rear side of the wall (2), wherein the dosing device (11) is mounted to the flush pipe (8) at the rear side of the wall (2).

11. A toilet assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flush pipe (8) has a horizontal portion where the dosing device (11) is mounted.

12. A combination of a flush pipe (8) and a dosing device (11) for a toilet assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dosing device (11) is mounted or mountable to the flush pipe (8).

13. A method of installing a toilet assembly (1) according to any one of the claims 1-11, wherein the method comprises the steps of supplying a water tank (5), a flush pipe (8) and a dosing device (11), drilling a through-hole into the flush pipe (8), mounting the dosing device (11) in the through-hole of the flush pipe (8) and mounting the flush pipe (8) to a water outlet (9) of the water tank (5).

Drawing