AU2006316303A1

AU2006316303A1 - Auxiliary water tank device for toilet stool

Info

Publication number: AU2006316303A1
Application number: AU2006316303A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dong-Sun Cho; Hyen-Ho Jeong; Kyu-Joon Jung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-26
Filing date: 2006-10-13
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: WO2007074967A1

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[Invention Title] AUXILIARY WATER TANK DEVICE FOR TOILET STOOL [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool, and more particularly, to an auxiliary water tank device which includes a water supply unit to receive and store a small amount of wash water to be used in a toilet bowl, and a water discharge unit to supply the stored wash water to the toilet bowl.

[Background Art] An example of known prior art is Korean Patent Registration No. 20-0277574, which was filed and registered by the applicant of the present invention and entitled "super water-saving toilet stool." The super water-saving toilet stool, disclosed in the above patent, basically inc ludes: an excrement discharge pipe connected to a discharge path defined in a toilet bowl; an excrement discharge pipe opener vertically movable in the excrement discharge pipe; and a water tank having a water discharge port connected to a water raceway of the toilet bowl to be opened or closed by an opening/closing plug, and a water supply port to be opened or closed by opening/closing means that operates based on vertical movements of a float. The conventional super water-saving toilet stool features a rotary weight receptacle, which is hingedly connected to opposite sides of the water tank to perform seesaw motions when a rotary weight received therein rotates, one end of the rotary weight receptacle being exposed to the outside of the water tank while being coupled with an excrement wash lever, and the other end of the rotary weight receptacle forming a water tank wash lever coupled with a connection lever, which cooperates the opening/closing plug with the excrement discharge pipe opener in accordance with the operation of the excrement wash lever.

The disclosed conventional toilet stool is configured such that the water supply port, float, and water discharge port are appropriately arranged in the toilet stool, and wash water, stored in the water tank, is supplied to the toilet bowl when the water tank wash lever located at a side of the water tank is operated to induce the seesaw motions of the rotary weight receptacle. However, with this configuration, a relatively great number of parts must be provided in the toilet stool, causing a difficult installation as well as an increase in installation costs thereof.

Furthermore, a small amount of wash water may be stored in a large capacity toilet stool, resulting in deterioration in practicality.

[Disclosurel [Technical Problem] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool, which includes a housing disposed in a water tank on a bottom surface thereof, the housing being designed to have a capacity suitable for a super water-saving of wash water, a water supply unit to receive and store a small amount of wash water to be used in a toilet bowl, a water discharge unit to supply the stored wash water into the toilet bowl, and a control unit to control the general operation of the auxiliary water tank device.

[Technical Solution] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished, by the provision of an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool having an excrement discharge pipe opener located in an upper vertical portion of an excrement discharge pipe that is connected to a discharge path of a toilet bowl, the auxiliary water tank device comprising: a housing mounted in a water tank on a bottom surface of the water tank, and having a water supply port and a water discharge port; a water supply unit to supply wash water into the housing through the water supply port and to close the water supply port if the housing is filled with the wash water by a predetermined level; a water discharge unit to discharge the wash water filled in the housing through the water discharge port and to close the water discharge port if a predetermined amount of wash water is discharged; and a control unit to control opening/closing operations of the water discharge unit and the excrement discharge pipe opener.

Preferably, the interior of the housing is divided into first and second parts, and the water supply unit is located in the first part of the housing, and the water supply unit comprises: a water supply pipe inserted into the water supply port and having a mounting recess defined in an upper end thereof; a water supply nozzle and a regulator plug successively mounted in the mounting recess in this order; a water supply pipe cap coupled to the water supply nozzle and the regulator cap so as to close the water supply pipe, the water supply pipe cap having a through-hole; a vertical shaft extending upward from the water supply pipe cap; a water supply pipe opening/closing member having a first end hingedly coupled to both the water supply pipe cap and the vertical shaft by use of a rotary pin, the throughhole of the water supply pipe cap being located below a side portion of the water supply pipe opening/closing member that comes into contact with the water supply pipe cap; a screw rod vertically supported at a second end of the water supply pipe opening/closing member by use of a fixing pin and a supporting holder; and a floating barrier configured to vertically move by both the vertical shaft and the screw rod.

Preferably, the water discharge unit is located in the second part of the housing, and the water discharge unit comprises: a support configured to be closely inserted onto a first supporting member formed at a bottom surface of the housing; and a connection member hingedly coupled to the support to induce seesaw motions of a water discharge port opening/closing plug and a float regulation member.

Preferably, the control unit comprises: a supporter bracket mounted to an upper end of the housing and having first and second supporters and receptacles; a pushing lever mounted in the supporter bracket; first and second link members coupled to the first and second supporters, respectively; a connecting bar for the excrement discharge pipe opener inserted into a case and adapted to be vertically moved by the first link member; a weight and a third link member integrally formed with the case; and a connecting chain connected to both the second and third link members, the connecting chain being connected to a connecting loop of a water discharge port opening/closing plug.

Preferably, the pushing lever comprises four legs, two front and rear first pushers, and a second pusher located between the two first pushers, which protrude downward from a lower surface of the pushing lever.

Preferably, the connecting bar for the excrement discharge pipe opener comprises a stopper formed at a side surface of the connecting bar.

[Advantageous Effects] With an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool having the abovedescribed configuration, it is possible to efficiently control supply and discharge operations of the wash water for approximately 2.3 liters in a super water saving manner.

[Description of Drawings] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a housing of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water supply unit of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention; FIGS. 4A to 4C are views illustrating a water discharge unit of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 4A being a side view, and FIGS. 4B and 4C being perspective views; FIGS. 5 and 6 are an exploded perspective view and front view, respectively, illustrating a control unit of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention; FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating an operating example of the water supply unit in accordance with the present invention; and FIGS. 8 to 10 are views illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention.

[Mode for Invention] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a housing of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water supply unit of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating a water discharge unit of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 4A being a side view and FIGS. 4B and 4C being perspective views. FIGS. 5 and 6 are an exploded perspective view and front view, respectively, illustrating a control unit of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention. FIGS.

7A and 7B are views illustrating an operating example of the water supply unit in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 8 to 10 are views illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention.

Now, constituent elements of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary water tank device includes a housing 10, a water supply unit 20, a water discharge unit 30, and a control unit Referring to FIG. 2, the housing 10, which is mounted in a water tank of the toilet stool on a bottom surface of the water tank, is illustrated in perspective view. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 includes a raised portion 16 which divides the interior of the housing 10 into two parts. A water supply port 11 is located in one of the divided parts for insertion of a water supply pipe 21. The other divided part is provided with a water discharge port 12 configured to come into contact with a water discharge port opening/closing plug 32, two fixtures 13 for securing the housing 10 to the water tank, and a first supporting member 14 having guide grooves 15 for insertion of protrusions 311 of a support 31 that supports the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32. Also, a second supporting member 17 is vertically penetrated through an upper surface of the raised portion 16 to extend upward from the raised portion 16. The second supporting member 17 is used to support a connecting bar 46 that is connected to a locker 462. The housing 10 is fixedly mounted in the water tank on the bottom surface of the water tank by use of bolts 18 and nuts 19 fastened to the fixtures 13.

As shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the water supply unit 20 in exploded perspective view, and also, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the water supply unit 20 which is configured to be fitted onto the water supply port 11 of the housing 10, includes the water supply pipe 21 having a mounting recess 211 defined in an upper end thereof, and a water supply nozzle 22 and a regulator plug 23, which are successively mounted in the mounting recess 211 in this order. The water supply unit 20 further includes a water supply pipe cap 24 having protrusions 241 protruding outward from a lower circumference thereof.

The water supply pipe 21 has grooves 212 dented in an tipper circumference of the mounting recess 211, such that the protrusions 241 are engaged with the grooves 212 as the water supply pipe cap 24 is rotated so as to be inserted into the mounting recess 211 at an accurate position. The water supply pipe cap 24 further has a through-hole 242 for the passage of wash water.

Specifically, the through-hole 242 is perforated in the water supply pipe cap 24 such that the through-hole 242 is located below a side portion of a water supply pipe opening/closing member 26 that comes into contact with the water supply pipe cap 24. Water rises up from a lower end of the through-hole 242.

A vertical shaft 25 extends upward from an upper surface of the water supply pipe cap 24 and serves to guide vertical movements of a floating barrier 29.

The water supply pipe opening/closing member 26 is hingedly coupled, at a first end thereof, to the water supply pipe cap 24 by use of a rotary pin 27, which is penetrated through both a lower end of the vertical shaft 25 and the opening/closing member 26. A second end of the water supply pipe opening/closing member 26 is adapted to support a screw rod 28 by use of a fixing pin 27a and a supporting holder 27b (See FIGS. 1 and 7A). The floating barrier 29 is inserted onto an upper end of the vertical shaft such that the floating barrier 29 is vertically movable. The floating barrier 29 is provided, at a rear end thereof, with a clamp 291 for coupling of the screw rod 28. The floating barrier 29 has screw grooves therein such that the floating barrier 29 can be moved vertically as the screw rod 28 is rotated.

As shown in side view of FIG. 4A, the water discharge unit 30, which is configured to be fitted onto the water discharge port 12 of the housing includes the hollow support 31 having protrusions 311 uniformly formed at an inner peripheral surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusions 311 are configured to be guided along and closely inserted into the guide grooves of the first supporting member 14, respectively. The water discharge unit further includes connection members 33, which are extended from the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32 and coupled to the support 31 by use of hinge shafts 38 protruding outward from opposite sides of the support 31, and a float regulation member 37 having connection members 37a located at upper ends of the hinge shafts 38, respectively, to induce seesaw motions between the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32 and the float regulation member 37. The water discharge port opening/closing plug 32 has a connecting loop 34 formed at an upper surface thereof for connection of a connecting chain 49 of the control unit 40, and a downwardly extending portion 35 formed at a lower surface thereof by interposing a rubber packing 36, to open or close the water discharge port 12. FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32, which is lowered to close the water discharge port 12, whereas FIG. 4C is a perspective view illustrating the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32, which is lifted to open the water discharge port 12.

As shown in exploded perspective view of FIGS. 5 and 6 and side views of FIGS. 9 and 10, the control unit 40 includes a button 41 inserted through a water tank cover 722 and adapted to be operated by the elastic force of a spring 411, and a pushing lever 43 located below the button 41 to be mounted in the center of a supporter bracket 42. The pushing lever 43 has four legs 431, two first front and rear pushers 432, and a second pusher 433 located between the first pushers 432. To allow the pushing lever 43 to be mounted therein, the supporter bracket 42 has holes 42a for allowing the legs 431 of the pushing lever 43 to be inserted into the holes 42a in a vertically movable manner, and a pair of receptacles 423 for the insertion of the first pushers 432 of the pushing lever 43. The first pushers 432 act to press an end of a second link member 45, and the second pusher 433 act to press a first link member 44. If the first link member 44 is pressed by the second pusher 433, the first link member 44 acts to secondarily press an upper end of the second link member 45. First front and rear supporters 421 are formed at a left side of the receptacles 423 such that the two first supporters 421 are connected by a supporting rod 421a. Similarly, second front and rear supporters 422 are formed at a right side of the receptacles 423 such that the two second supporters 422 are connected by a supporting rod 422a. The first and second supporters 421 and 422 have different lengths from each other. The first and second link members 44 and 45 having insertion bores 44a and 45a are hingedily coupled to the supporting rods 421a and 422a. A portion of the first link minember 44 is located below the rectangular second pusher 433, and a portion of the second link member 45 is located below the first pushers 432. The control unit 40 further includes a case 47, and the connecting bar 46 having an upper end inserted into one end of the first link member 44 so as to be vertically moved by the first link member 44 and a lower end connected to an excrement discharge pipe opener 710. A lower portion of the connecting bar 46 is inserted through the case 47, and an upper portion of the connecting bar 46 is penetrated through and supported by the supporter bracket 42. Also, a weight 481 and a third link member 48 are integrally formed at a side of the case 47 such that the weight 481 and the third link member 48 are moved vertically regardless of the connecting bar 46. The connecting chain 49 is connected to both the second and third link members 45 and 48 such that the connecting chain 49 is also connected to the connecting loop 34 of the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32. The connecting bar 46 to be connected to the excrement discharge pipe opener 710 has a stopper 461 provided on a side surface thereof at an appropriate height, and a locker 462 located below the stopper 461 and adapted to be operated by the elastic force of a spring 463.

Explaining an operating method of the control unit 40 with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, if a user pushes the button 41, portions of the first pushers 432 inserted into the receptacles 423 push an upper surface of the second link member 45 to which the second supporters 422 are hingedly coupled by use of the insertion bore 45a of the second link member 45, such that the second link member 45 is located horizontally. Simultaneously, a portion of the rectangular second pusher 433, which is located between the first pushers 423 and has a shorter length than that of the first pushers 423, pushes an Lipper surface of the first link member 44, to which the first supporters 421 are hingedly coupled by use of the insertion bore 44a of the first link member 44, the upper surface M of the first link member 44 being located higher than the upper surface 2) of the second link member Thereby, the first and second link members 44 and 45 are rotated simultaneously. The first pushers 432 cannot push the upper surface of the second link member 45 even if the first pushers 432 are further pushed.

However, by operation of the second pusher 433, a distal end B of the upper surface of the first link member 44 pushes an upper end 0 of the second link member 45 that is located horizontally, thus causing the upper surface of the second link member 45 to be oriented vertically and allowing the connecting chain 49, connected to an end of the second link member 45 to be pulled up to the maximum extent. Also, as one end of the first link member 44 is lifted by the second pusher 433, a portion of the connecting bar 46, in which the other end of the first link member 44 is inserted, is moved upward, thus allowing a portion the third link member 48, which is also coupled to the connecting chain 49, to be lifted simultaneously with the pulling operation of the above portion 0. As a result, the connecting chain 49 is pulled up by both the second and third link members 45 and 48 connected to the connecting chain 49, so as to accurate control opening and closing of the water discharge unit 30 that is coupled to a lower end of the connecting chain 49. Here, the legs 431 serve as guides for the above upward and downward movements at the edges of the control unit Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the operating example of the water supply unit 20 is shown in sectional views. First, as shown in FIG. 7A, to refill wash water in the housing 10 after wash water, previously stored in the housing 10, is discharged through the water discharge port 12, first, the floating barrier 29 is lowered such that the screw rod 28, supported at the second end of the water supply pipe opening/closing member 26, pushes the opening/closing member 26. If the water supply pipe opening/closing member 26 is pushed, the screw rod 28 rotates about the rotary pin 27 provided at the first end of the opening/closing member 26, thereby allowing the front end of the opening/closing member 26 to open the through-hole 242 of the water supply pipe cap 24. Thereby, the wash water is able to be supplied into the housing 10. After a desired amount of wash water is supplied, as shown in FIG. 7B, the floating barrier 29 is lifted, and simultaneously, the screw rod 28, supported at the second end of the water supply pipe opening/closing member 26, is lifted by water pressure, and rotates about the rotary pin 27 provided at the first end of the opening/closing member 26. As a result, the front end of the opening/closing member 26 closes the throughhole 242 of the water supply pipe cap 24, thus interrupting the supply of wash water. The screw rod 28 has the function of regulating the height of the floating barrier 29 and consequently, regulating the supply amount of wash water.

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary water tank device in accordance with the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 8 illustrates a state wherein the water discharge unit is lifted by the upwardly pulled connecting chain 49 to open the water discharge port 12, and FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the interior of a water tank 702 in relation with different operations of the control unit respectively, and in relation with a toilet stool in which the excrement discharge pipe opener 710 is located in an upper vertical portion of an excrement discharge pipe 709 that is connected to a discharge path 716.

Hereinafter, a method for operating the auxiliary water tank device for a super water saving toilet stool according to the present invention, having the above-described configuration, will be explained.

First, if the wash water, stored in the housing 10, is discharged through the water discharge port 12, the floating barrier 29 and the screw rod 28 of the water supply unit 20 are slowly lowered, such that the water supply pipe opening/closing member 26 opens the through-hole 242 of the water supply pipe cap 24, to enable the supply of wash water. After a predetermined amount (for example, approximately 2.3 liters) of wash water is supplied, the floating barrier 29 and the screw rod 28 are slowly lifted, such that the water supply pipe opening/closing member 26 closes the throughhole 242 of the water supply pipe cap 24, to interrupt the supply of wash water. In this case, the regulator plug 23, which is mounted in the water supply pipe 21 on the top of the water supply nozzle 22, moves up to open the water supply nozzle 22 when the wash water is supplied into the water supply pipe 21, and again returns to its original position to close the water supply nozzle 22 if the supply of wash water is interrupted.

If the user pushes the button 41, the pushing lever 43 is pushed as shown in FIG. 7, causing the connecting chain 49 to be pulled up by the second and third link members 45 and 48 via the above-described operating method of the control unit 40. As the connecting chain 49 is pulled up, the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32 is lifted to open the water discharge port 12 formed at the bottom of the housing 10. Then, after the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32 is lifted to a predetermined level, the stopper 461 of the connecting bar 46 for the excrement discharge pipe opener 710 is caught by an upper end of the third link member 48 as shown in FIG. 8. Thereby, the weight 481 having a predetermined weight serves to extend a time required to close the water discharge port opening/closing plug 32, such that the wash water stored in the housing 10 is slowly discharged. After the wash water is completely discharged through the water discharge port 12, the control unit 40 is returned to its original state, such that new wash water is repeatedly supplied through the water supply port 11, to be stored in the housing [Industrial Applicability] As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool, which includes a housing mounted in a water tank on a bottom surface thereof, the housing being designed to have a capacity suitable for a super water-saving of wash water, a water supply unit to receive and store a small amount of wash water to be used in a toilet bowl, a water discharge unit to supply the stored wash water into the toilet bowl, and a control unit to control the general operation of the auxiliary water tank device. The auxiliary water tank device has the effect of efficiently controlling supply and discharge operations of the wash water for approximately 2.3 liters in a super water saving manner.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have 13 been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

An auxiliary water tank device for a toilet stool having an excrement discharge pipe opener located in an upper vertical portion of an excrement discharge pipe that is connected to a discharge path of a toilet bowl, the auxiliary water tank device comprising: a housing mounted in a water tank on a bottom surface of the water tank, and having a water supply port and a water discharge port; a water supply unit to supply wash water into the housing through the water supply port and to close the water supply port if the housing is filled with the wash water by a predetermined level; a water discharge unit to discharge the wash water filled in the housing through the water discharge port and to close the water discharge port if a predetermined amount of wash water is discharged; and a control unit to control opening/closing operations of the water discharge unit and the excrement discharge pipe opener.
[Claim 2] The auxiliary water tank device according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the housing is divided into first and second parts, and the water supply unit is located in the first part of the housing, and wherein the water supply unit comprises: a water supply pipe inserted into the water supply port and having a mounting recess defined in an upper end thereof; a water supply nozzle and a regulator plug successively mounted in the mounting recess in this order; a water supply pipe cap coupled to the water supply nozzle and the regulator cap so as to close the water supply pipe, the water supply pipe cap having a through-hole; a vertical shaft extending upward from the water supply pipe cap; a water supply pipe opening/closing member having a first end hingedly coupled to both the water supply pipe cap and the vertical shaft by use of a rotary pin, the through-hole of the water supply pipe cap being located below a side portion of the water supply pipe opening/closing member that comes into contact with the water supply pipe cap; a screw rod vertically supported at a second end of the water supply pipe opening/closing member by use of a fixing pin and a supporting holder; and a floating barrier configured to vertically move by both the vertical shaft and the screw rod.
[Claim 3] The auxiliary water tank device according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the housing is divided into first and second parts, and the water discharge unit is located in the second part of the housing, and wherein the water discharge unit comprises: a support configured to be closely inserted onto a first supporting member formed at a bottom surface of the housing; and a connection member hingedly coupled to the support to induce seesaw motions of a water discharge port opening/closing plug and a float regulation member .
[Claim 4]

The auxiliary water tank device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises: a supporter bracket mounted to an upper end of the housing and having first and second supporters and receptacles; a pushing lever mounted in the supporter bracket; first and second link members coupled to the first and second supporters, respectively; a connecting bar for the excrement discharge pipe opener inserted into a case and adapted to be vertically moved by the first link member; a weight and a third link member integrally formed with the case; and a connecting chain connected to both the second and third link members, the connecting chain being connected to a connecting loop of a water discharge port opening/closing plug.
[Claim 5]

The auxiliary water tank device according to claim 1, wherein the pushing lever comprises four legs, two front and rear first pushers, and a second pusher located between the two first pushers, which protrude downward from a lower surface of the pushing lever.
[Claim 6]

The auxiliary water tank device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting bar for the excrement discharge pipe opener comprises a stopper formed at a side surface of the connecting bar.