AU2019204457A1

AU2019204457A1 - Bearing plate for toilet cisterns

Info

Publication number: AU2019204457A1
Application number: AU2019204457A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pascal BRÄNDLI; Martin FURRER
Original assignee: Geberit International AG
Current assignee: Geberit International AG
Priority date: 2018-06-26
Filing date: 2019-06-25
Publication date: 2020-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-25
Also published as: EP3587681B1; AU2019204457B2; EP3587681A1

Abstract

Bearing plate (1) for insertion into an inspection opening, said bearing plate having a first region (10), 5 a second region (11) and a film hinge (12), wherein the first region (10) and the second region (11) are connected to the film hinge (12), and wherein the two regions (10, 11) are pivotable relative to one another about the film hinge (12). In addition thereto, a 10 bearing plate unit, a set and a sanitary installation comprising such a bearing plate (1) and a method for inserting such a bearing plate (1). 11 49 12 10 60 40, 49 29 40- 79 40,49 49 81 39 80 FIG. 1 40,49 49 11 49 12 10 60 40 -7 ---- 29 7 79 39 39 79 13 40,49 79 79 80

Description

BEARING PLATE FOR TOILET CISTERNS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a bearing plate for insertion into or in front of an inspection opening of a toilet cistern according to the preamble of Claim 1.

PRIOR ART

In WCs the problem of unpleasant odour production arises. A common solution is the use of perfumereleasing and/or disinfecting additives, such as for example so-called toilet rim blocks with slowly dissolving active ingredient concentrates which are introduced into the toilet cistern and have to be regularly replaced. The toilet cistern may have functional devices, for example in the form of flaps or slides, which assist the introduction of additives into the toilet cistern.

A further solution are functional devices in the form of odour extraction devices, as are disclosed, for example, in EP 2 336 435 Bl, DE 101 14 428 Al and WO 2005/045145. In this case, air is suctioned and diverted from the WC pan by a suction unit arranged in the toilet cistern. Such functional devices may have filter elements which have to be regularly replaced.

Nowadays, toilet cisterns are preferably installed below the surface and have an actuating plate with actuating elements on the surface, by which the user is

1002608265 able to actuate the flushing of the WC thereby. Behind the actuating plate is located an opening which is also called the inspection opening, it being possible to reach into the toilet cistern through said opening in order, for example, to introduce and/or replace replaceable elements, such as for example toilet rim blocks or filters, and to undertake repairs.

Advantageously, in the normal use state the inspection opening is blocked by a bearing plate. So that when introducing and/or when replacing replaceable elements of a functional device the layman does not have to remove this bearing plate, functional devices for introducing and/or receiving replaceable elements may be arranged on the bearing plate, for example a flap and/or slide for toilet rim blocks or an opening and/or a receiver for filters.

The installation and the removal of a bearing plate may be made more difficult by functional devices arranged thereon, whereby it may be time-consuming for an installer to access the interior of the toilet cistern in the case of repair.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to specify an improved bearing plate for toilet cisterns, in particular for concealed toilet cisterns. A particularly preferred object is to specify a bearing plate which, in particular in combination with functional devices, permits a simplified installation of the bearing plate and/or simplified reaching into the toilet cistern.

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The subject-matter according to Claim 1 achieves this object. Accordingly, the bearing plate according to the invention for insertion into or in front of an inspection opening of a toilet cistern has a first region, a second region and a film hinge, wherein the first region and the second region are connected in each case to the film hinge and the two regions are pivotable relative to one another about the film hinge.

The advantage of the arrangement of the film hinge is that a one-piece bearing plate is provided, wherein the two regions are pivotable relative to one another. As a result, in the installed state, selective access may be provided to the regions located behind the bearing plate .

The bearing plate may also be denoted as a protective plate since it at least partially or preferably entirely blocks access to the toilet cistern.

This advantage is illustrated by the installation situations described hereinafter: in a first installation variant the bearing plate is preferably configured to be installed such that in an installed situation the bearing plate substantially blocks an inspection opening of a toilet cistern and the one region may be pivoted about the other region, so that a part of the inspection opening which was previously blocked by the one region is opened. Through the part of the inspection opening thus opened, for example, an installer may reach into the toilet cistern in order to undertake maintenance or repair work. The bearing plate

1002608265 thus constitutes a type of door which blocks the inspection opening and by pivoting one of the two regions about the film hinge opens up a part of the inspection opening.

In a second installation variant, the bearing plate is preferably configured to be installed such that in an installed situation only one of the two regions may be pivoted relative to the other; or so that in an installed situation each of the two regions may be pivoted relative to the other respective region. The bearing plate may be designed such that the film hinge is arranged vertically in the installed situation, i.e. such that a region which is pivotable in the installed situation is pivotable horizontally relative to the other region.

The film hinge may be configured as a thin-walled connection between the two regions, for example in the form of a fold. The film hinge may be configured to be thinner than each of the two regions. The film hinge may be configured to be elongated, for example at least five times as long as it is wide or deep and, in particular, to be straight.

Preferably, the film hinge is configured in one piece with the two regions. In other words, the film hinge and the two regions provide an integral and one-piece structure. In particular, the film hinge has no separate mechanical parts.

The bearing plate, together with the first and the second region and with the film hinge, is produced from

1002608265 the same material. In other words: the film hinge and the two regions may consist of the same material, in particular the same plastics material, wherein the film hinge is designed to be thinner in terms of its thickness relative to the two regions. Alternatively, the film hinge may be made from a plastics material with a reduced hardness, in particular a reduced Shore hardness, relative to the first or the second region.

Preferably, the first region and the second region are delimited from one another by the film hinge. In other words, when viewed from the front onto the bearing plate, the film hinge extends entirely from a side edge of the bearing plate to an opposing side edge.

Particularly preferably, the bearing plate consists of the first region, the second region and the film hinge. In other variants, at least one further region which is connected to one of the other two regions via a film hinge may be provided.

The bearing plate may be configured to be substantially flat. In particular, on average, the bearing plate may be only a few millimetres, for example less than 2 mm, thick. The film hinge may be configured to be thinner than the bearing plate. The film hinge may be less than 0.3 mm thick. For example, the thickness of the film hinge may make up less than 80%, in particular less than 50%, of the average thickness of the bearing plate .

The bearing plate may be substantially configured as a thin cuboid. In particular, the smallest cuboid

1002608265 enclosing the bearing plate may have three edges defining said cuboid, one thereof being shorter than the other two, for example five times shorter than the shorter of the two long sides, wherein the two longer sides define the flat sides of the cuboid. The bearing plate may be configured to be substantially rectangular. In particular, when viewed from the flat side of the cuboid, the bearing plate may fill the largest part, for example 50% or more, preferably 75% or more, of the flat side of the smallest cuboid surrounding the bearing plate.

Each of the two regions may have a substantial proportion of the bearing plate. In this case, the following distributions are conceivable between the first and second region:

- each of the two regions may make up at least 15%, for example at least 20%, of the volume of the bearing plate .

- each of the two regions may take up at least 15%, for example at least 20%, of the visible surface of the bearing plate when viewed on a flat side. In other words, if viewed on a flat side, the proportion of each of the two regions on the surface of the bearing plate thus visible is at least 15%.

- in some embodiments, each of the two regions makes up at least 15%, for example at least 20%, of a width dimension of the bearing plate located perpendicular to the film hinge. The width dimension in this case is

1002608265 defined as the dimension transversely to the pivot axis of the film hinge.

The bearing plate may have a first material and a second material, wherein one of the materials is more flexible than the other material. The material is preferably a plastics material. For example, the bearing plate may be produced by means of a multicomponent injection-moulding method, in particular by means of a two-component injection-moulding method.

By the expression more flexible is understood that a first material is more flexible than a second material, if an object made from the first material is more flexible than an object of the same geometry made from the second material.

Preferably, the first material is made of thermoplastic material such as polypropylene carbonate (PPC) or mixtures thereof. Preferably the second material is a thermoplastic elastomer TPS or mixtures thereof.

In a first variant, the film hinge comprises the more flexible material or consists thereof, respectively. The first region and the second region may comprise the less flexible material or consist thereof, respectively.

In a second variant, the film hinge and one of the regions have the more flexible material or consist thereof, respectively. The other of the two regions has the less flexible material.

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The bearing plate may have a seal on one edge, m particular on an outer edge. The surrounding edge of the plate is denoted as the outer edge. The seal of the edge, in particular of the outer edge, is preferably configured in one piece with the bearing plate. The seal is preferably made from the same material as the film hinge.

By the arrangement of the seal on the edge, in an installed situation the bearing plate may be sealed in an improved manner relative to its surroundings. In particular, the bearing plate may be designed to be sealed relative to its surroundings in a substantially gas-tight and/or fluid-tight manner. As a result, the inadvertent exit of gas and fluid, such as for example condensed water, from the toilet cistern may be more difficult or prevented. A bearing plate installed in a gas-tight manner may additionally assist the use of such suction devices which create a vacuum in the plenum of the toilet cistern and as a result suction air from the WC pan, for example through the overflow pipe .

The bearing plate may have structures for at least one locking device. Preferably, the structure is a receiver for a bolt which is displaceable in the structure. Other locking devices are also conceivable. The structures in turn may be configured as a locking device or parts thereof. The structures may be arranged on the first region and/or on the second region.

The locking devices arranged on the bearing plate serve to lock or release, respectively, the bearing plate or

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2019204457 25 Jun 2019 one of the two or both regions, respectively, relative to movement. In particular, the bearing plate may be locked relative to the toilet cistern. For example, locking devices which in the locked state prevent a 5 pivoting of the respective region may be arranged on the first and/or on the second region. If, for example, the first region is to be pivoted, in order for example to be able to reach through a part of an inspection opening into the toilet cistern concealed by the first 10 region, the locking devices relating to the first region are unlocked so that the unlocked first region may be pivoted on the film hinge.

Preferably, the bearing plate has at least one through15 hole for passing through a push rod. Particularly preferably, the at least one through-hole is at least partially clad with a flexible material. Particularly preferably, the flexible material is the aforementioned second material.

The bearing plate may have at least one receiving structure for at least one functional device. The receiving structure which is configured on the bearing plate serves for bearing a functional element. For 25 example, the receiving structure serves for the bearing of a fan and/or an air filter.

The receiving structures in turn may be configured as a functional device or parts thereof. In other words, at 30 least one of the receiving structures may in turn preferably serve at the same time as a functional device. For example, as an air duct.

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The functional device may be arranged on the bearing plate such that in an installed situation at least parts of the functional device are accessible from the side of the bearing plate remote from the toilet cistern. In particular, a device for receiving replaceable elements of a functional device may be accessible from the side of the bearing plate remote from the toilet cistern. The functional device, in particular a device encompassed thereby for receiving replaceable elements, may be configured so that the user may introduce, i.e. in particular replace, a replaceable element into the functional device without removing the bearing plate and/or having to open a region thereof.

In some exemplary embodiments, just one of the two regions has receiving structures for functional devices .

According to the embodiment with the receiving structure for the functional device, the two regions may have different objects: for example the first region may be designed to be opened for reaching into the toilet cistern, by being pivoted on the film hinge; and the second region may be designed such that a device for receiving replaceable elements is arranged thereon and the user may replace or introduce replaceable elements thereon, respectively. In this example, the first region has no functional elements or only a few functional elements which interfere therewith, so that the first region may be easily pivoted. In this case, the first region may take up the largest part - when viewed from the perspective of the

1002608265 side remote from the toilet cistern - i.e. at least

50%, preferably at least 75% of the surface of the bearing plate. As a result - after pivoting the first region - it is possible to reach through the larger part of the inspection opening into the toilet cistern.

The invention further relates to a bearing plate unit comprising a bearing plate according to the above description and a functional device. The functional device may be designed for receiving at least one replaceable element and, in particular, have a device for receiving replaceable elements. The bearing plate unit may be configured such that in an installed situation a replaceable element may be introduced, i.e. in particular replaced, into a toilet cistern from the side of the bearing plate remote from the toilet cistern .

In some exemplary embodiments of the bearing plate unit, a functional device is arranged on only one of the two regions of the bearing plate. In particular, a device for receiving replaceable elements may be arranged on only one of the two regions of the bearing plate. Of course, two or more corresponding devices may also be arranged on the region concerned.

The functional device may be arranged on the bearing plate such that the functional device protrudes over the bearing plate on a portion of the edge of one of the two regions. By means of the film hinge, the installation of such a bearing plate unit may be carried out in a particularly simple manner: the region not comprising the portion is angled back and the

1002608265 region comprising the portion is inserted with the functional device into the inspection opening. Subsequently, the region which has not yet been inserted is pivoted on the film hinge into the remaining part of the inspection opening. In some exemplary embodiments, the functional device is arranged only on the region comprising the portion. The portion may be arranged parallel to the film hinge, in particular the side and the film hinge may both be designed to be arranged vertically in an installed situation. In some exemplary embodiments, the functional device protrudes over two portions of the edge, for example over two sides, of one of the two regions .

In a specific installed situation, the bearing plate may be concealed by an actuating plate. The actuating plate may comprise actuating elements, the flushing being activated by the actuation thereof. Preferably, the actuating plate has two actuating elements, generally in each case for different flushing quantities. The actuating plate, however, could also have just one individual actuating element or more than two actuating elements. In an installed situation, the bearing plate is generally arranged in an inspection opening between the actuating plate and the toilet cistern, for example in an opening on the toilet cistern or in an opening of a wall between the actuating plate and the toilet cistern. The bearing plate may comprise at least one through-hole, i.e. for example two or more through-holes, for push rods. In the installed situation, a push rod which is operatively connected to actuating elements may be

1002608265 guided through the through-hole, said push rod reaching into the toilet cistern and being able to trigger a flushing process. Preferably the bearing plate has two through-holes, in the installed situation in each case one respective push rod being guided therethrough. The through-hole may be configured entirely or at least partially with a sealing, resilient and/or flexible material, preferably such that in the installed situation the push rod may close the through-hole in a gas-tight and/or fluid-tight manner.

The invention further relates to a sanitary installation with a toilet cistern comprising one of the above-described bearing plates or bearing plate units, respectively, in particular wherein the protective plate is arranged in or on an inspection opening of the sanitary installation, respectively, for example an inspection opening of the toilet cistern.

The bearing plate or bearing plate unit, respectively, may substantially fully close the inspection opening of the toilet cistern, for example such that from outside it is no longer possible to reach through the inspection opening. In particular, the inspection opening may be substantially sealed in a gas-tight and/or fluid-tight manner from the bearing plate or bearing plate unit, respectively. To this end, the edge of the bearing plate preferably consists of a sealing material.

The bearing plate may be installed in the sanitary installation such that in the installed situation only one of the two regions is pivotably arranged, in

1002608265 particular wherein at least one functional device is arranged on the other of the two regions. In some exemplary embodiments, functional devices are arranged only on the non-pivotable region.

The sanitary installation may also have an actuating plate, wherein the bearing plate is arranged between the actuating plate and the toilet cistern. The actuating plate is located externally and the user may actuate the actuating elements arranged thereon in order to actuate the flushing. The sanitary installation may have one push rod for each actuating element, said push rod engaging through a through-hole in the bearing plate into the interior of the toilet cistern and being part of an operative connection between the respective actuating plate and a flushing mechanism.

The invention further relates to a set comprising the bearing plate or the bearing plate unit, respectively, and a frame in which the bearing plate or bearing plate unit, respectively, may be inserted. The set may be part of a sanitary device. The frame may be configured to be arranged, for example inserted, in or on an inspection opening, respectively. The frame may be configured such that the bearing plate or the bearing plate unit, respectively, may be fastened thereto. The bearing plate may have structures for a frame, the bearing plate, for example, being able to be engaged thereby in the frame. The structures may, in particular, be configured in order to fasten the bearing plate or the bearing plate unit, respectively, thereby to a frame. The structures configured on the

1002608265 bearing plate may be, for example, bolts, clip elements, latching elements, hooks, barbed hooks, push bars, hinges, threads, openings, tabs, eyes, blind holes, projections, guides, etc. which may be engaged in the frame or into which the frame may be engaged. By interaction with the frame, the bearing plate or one or both of the regions, respectively, in particular, may be locked, which is why the frame or the structures, respectively, for the frame may also be configured as locking devices. The frame may have a seal, the bearing plate being able to be inserted thereby into the frame in a gas-tight and/or fluid-tight manner. The seal may be configured in one piece with the frame.

The invention further relates to a method for inserting a bearing plate with a first region, a second region and a film hinge, about which the regions are pivotable relative to one another, into an opening comprising the following steps:

• pivoting, in particular angling-back, one of the two regions relative to the other of the two regions along the film hinge;

• inserting the other of the two regions into the opening;

o optionally displacing the other of the two regions in the opening;

• pivoting, in particular pivoting-in, one of the two regions into the opening along the film hinge.

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Further embodiments are specified m the dependent claims .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings which merely serve for the description and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a bearing plate in front of an inspection opening;

Fig. 2 shows the bearing plate provisionally inserted into the inspection opening with a non-pivoted region;

Fig. 3 shows the bearing plate inserted into the inspection opening in the correct part of the inspection opening with a non-pivoted region; and

Fig. 4 shows the bearing plate fully inserted into the inspection opening.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a bearing plate 1 according to the invention in front of an inspection opening 60 of a sanitary installation. The inspection opening 60 may be an opening of a toilet cistern or an opening, of the sanitary installation leading to such an inspection opening, respectively.

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The bearing plate 1 has a first region 10, a second region 11 and a film hinge 12 which are arranged such that the first region 10 and the second region 11 are connected in each case to the film hinge 12 and are pivotable relative to one another about the film hinge 12 .

The bearing plate 1 shown is substantially configured as a flat rectangular plate. Depending on the shape of the inspection opening 60, however, other shapes, for example an oval, are conceivable. The film hinge 12 is configured parallel to the two short sides of the bearing plate 1 and is designed to be arranged vertically in the inspection opening 60. The film hinge 12 separates the first region 10, which is arranged to the right in the figure, from the second region 11, which is arranged to the left in the figure, of the bearing plate 1.

The bearing plate 1 shown is configured in one piece. Such a bearing plate 1 may be produced by a twocomponent injection-moulding method, wherein the bearing plate 1 is preferably produced from a more flexible and a less flexible material. The more flexible material is preferably used for the film hinge 12 so that the film hinge 12 may bend more easily and thus the two regions 10, 11 may be pivoted more easily relative to one another. Moreover, the more flexible material may be used for the edge components of the flat side of the bearing plate 1, in particular for the outer edge 13 of the bearing plate 1, so that the peripheral components may be adapted more easily to

1002608265 other components of the sanitary installation m order to seal the inspection opening 60, for example in a gas-tight and/or fluid-tight manner. The two regions 10, 11 preferably substantially consist of the less flexible material in order to provide the required stability to the bearing plate 1.

The bearing plate 1 has a plurality of structures 29, 39, 49, for example in the form of openings which may fulfil various purposes.

The bearing plate 1 may have structures 29 which are in the form of openings placed on the lateral edges and which are designed to receive locking devices (not shown), such as for example twist locks, the fastening frame being able to be secured thereby against movement. In the example shown, both regions 10, 11 have such structures 29 that both regions 10, 11 may be locked or released individually, respectively.

The bearing plate 1 may have structures 39 in the form of through-holes which are designed to receive push rods (not shown) of an actuating mechanism. The through-holes 39 may have a sealing material and together with the push rods outwardly seal the toilet cistern. In the example shown, two through-holes 39 are configured in a lower part of the first region 10.

The bearing plate 1 may have receiving structures 49 in the form of openings and retaining structures arranged thereon, which are designed to receive functional devices or the replaceable elements thereof. The receiving structures 49 may in turn be part of the

1002608265 functional device 40. Such a receiving structure 49 is, for example, the opening 40, 49 arranged in the lefthand second region 11, for example a filter for an odour extraction device being able to be introduced therein or therethrough, respectively, and said filter being retained in position by the retaining structures.

A functional device 40 which is arranged behind the inspection opening 60 and which is configured as an odour extraction device may be seen in Figure 1. This functional device is arranged such that a receiving structure 49 or functional device 40, respectively, which is arranged on the second region 11 and configured as a device for receiving replaceable elements, is arranged after inserting the bearing plate 1 such that a replaceable element which is configured as a filter may be inserted into the device for receiving replaceable elements, such that this filter may filter gas discharged by the odour extraction device. The bearing plate further comprises a receiving structure 49 which is configured as a deflection channel and acts as part of a functional device 40 and which is configured and arranged such that in the installed situation gas discharged by the odour extraction devices and filtered by the filter may be discharged to the side. This receiving structure 49 or functional device 40, respectively, is configured as a fan outlet.

The bearing plate 1, which is shown, also has receiving structures 49 which are configured as through-holes, cables 80 of the odour extraction device being guided therethrough, and said cables being able to serve for

1002608265 the power supply and/or control of the odour extraction device. The through-holes may be configured such that they may be sealed in a gas-tight and/or fluid-tight manner with the cables 80; for example an adaptable and sealing material may be arranged on the through-holes, said material being able to be nestled up against the cables 80 which are guided through and as a result seal said cables.

The two regions 10, 11 in each case may take up a substantial proportion of the bearing plate 1. In the example shown, the second region 11 comprises a receiving structure 49 for a functional device 40 whilst the first region 10 substantially has no receiving structures for functional devices and is designed to open up the access to the toilet cistern by pivoting. In the example shown, the proportion of the first region is about 75% and that of the second region is about 25% of that visible when viewing the flat side of the bearing plate 1. The first region 10 which is configured for access to the toilet cistern, therefore, is significantly larger, in particular about three times larger, than the second region 11 and thus may permit relatively simple access to the toilet cistern.

A measurement of the size is the width dimension of the relevant parts located transversely to the longitudinal dimension of the film hinge: in the example shown, the width dimension of the first region 10 is approximately 75% and the width dimension of the second region 11 is about 25% of the width dimension of the bearing plate

1.

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As indicated by the arrow m Figure 1, for the installation of the bearing plate 1 the first region 10 located to the right in the figure is advantageously angled-back about the film hinge 12, i.e. pivoted at an angle relative to the second region 11. By means of the angling-back, the part of the bearing plate 1 arranged in one plane is significantly smaller than the inspection opening 60 and as a result may be inserted therein in a simplified manner.

In Figure 2, the bearing plate 1 is inserted with the second region 11 centrally into the inspection opening 60, whilst the first region 10 continues to remain angled-back.

The sanitary installation may have a frame 70 which may be inserted into the inspection opening 60 and into which structures 79 arranged on the bearing plate 1 may be engaged for fastening the frame. The frame 70 may be designed to surround a portion of the inspection opening 60 entirely or may be arranged only on a part of a portion of the inspection opening 60. The frame 70 may function as a type of rail, the bearing plate 1 being able to be pushed thereon by means of structures 7 9 engaging in the frame 70. The structures 7 9 or the frame 70, respectively, may serve for more secure or more accurate positioning, respectively, of the bearing plate 1 or of at least one of the two regions 10, 11, respectively.

As indicated by the arrow, in the next step of the installation the bearing plate 1 at its second region

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11, hitherto inserted centrally, is displaced to the left.

In Figure 4, the second region 11 is pushed into its final position on the left-hand side of the inspection opening 60, whilst the first region 10 is still angledback. Through the angling-back of the first region 10, the right-hand side of the inspection opening 60 is still open so that it is still possible to reach relatively easily into the toilet cistern through this part of the inspection opening 60.

In Figure 4, the first region 10 is pivoted about the film hinge 12 into the right-hand side of the inspection opening 60 so that the two regions 10, 11 are again located in the same plane. The bearing plate 1 fills the inspection opening 60 substantially entirely. Only the openings formed by structures 29, 39, 49 remain, but later may be filled up by locking devices, push rods, functional devices, etc. These devices may be accurately adapted to the structures 29, 39, 49 so that the devices may seal the respective openings. The structures and/or the devices may have a flexible or sealing material, respectively, so that the openings may be sealed in a gas-tight and/or fluidtight manner. For the sealing, the outer edge 13 of the bearing plate 1, i.e. the peripheral edge component of the bearing plate 1 relative to the flat sides, may also be produced from a more flexible or sealing material, respectively.

The inspection opening 60 is now blocked by the bearing plate 1. From the outside, a user may access the device

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2019204457 25 Jun 2019 for receiving replaceable elements which is configured in the second region 11 and insert, respectively replace, replaceable elements.

The larger first region 10 may be pivoted on the film hinge 12 so that the part of the inspection opening 60 normally closed thereby is opened up and thus it is possible to access the interior of the toilet cistern. The first region 10 thus functions as a type of door to 10 the inspection opening 60 whilst the second region 11 is designed for introducing replaceable elements.

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2019204457 25 Jun 2019

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

Bearing plate

First region

11 Second region

Film hinge

Edge of bearing plate

Structures for locking device

Through-holes

40 Functional devices

Receiving structures for functional devices

Inspection opening

Frame

Structures for frame

Claims

1. Bearing plate (1) for insertion into or in front of an inspection opening (60) of a toilet cistern, characterized in that the bearing plate (1) has a first region (10), a second region (11) and a film hinge (12), wherein the first region (10) and the second region (11) are connected to the film hinge (12), and wherein the two regions (10, 11) are pivotable relative to one another about the film hinge (12).

2. Bearing plate (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the film hinge (12) is configured in one piece with the first region (10) and the second region (11).

3. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first region (10) and the second region (11) are delimited from one another by the film hinge (12).

4. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the two regions (10, 11) makes up at least 15% of the volume of the bearing plate (1); and/or in that each of the two regions (10, 11) takes up at least 15% of the visible surface of the bearing plate (1) viewed on a flat side; and/or in that each of the two regions makes up at least 15% of a width dimension of the bearing plate located transversely to the longitudinal dimension of the film hinge.

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5. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first region (10), the second region (11) and the film hinge (12) are produced from the same material.

6. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing plate (1) comprises a first material and a second material and one of the two materials is more flexible than the other material, wherein preferably the film hinge (12) comprises the more flexible material and the first region (10) and the second region (11) have the less flexible material; or wherein preferably the film hinge (12) and one of said regions (10, 11) has the more flexible material and the other of the said regions (11, 10) has the less flexible material.

7. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer edge (13) of the bearing plate (1) has a seal, in particular that the seal is configured in one piece with the bearing plate (1).

8. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing plate (1) has structures (29) for at least one locking device, wherein the structures (29) are arranged on the first region (10) and/or on the second region (11).

9. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing plate (1) has at least one through-hole (39) for

1002608265 passing through a push rod, wherein the at least one through-hole (39) is preferably clad with a flexible material.

10. Bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first region (10) and/or the second region (11) have at least one receiving structure (49) for bearing at least one functional device (40), wherein preferably just one of the two regions (10, 11) or both regions (10, 11) has or have the at least one receiving structure (49) for at least one functional device (40).

11. Bearing plate (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the receiving structures (49) is configured as a functional device (40) or as part of a functional device (40), respectively, in particular as a deflection channel and/or ventilation outlet.

12. Bearing plate unit comprising a bearing plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one functional device (40), wherein the at least one functional device (40) preferably has devices for receiving additives, devices for receiving filters, fans, a fan housing, air guides, ventilation outlets, deflection channels, through-passages for air suction, flaps and/or slides.

13. Bearing plate unit according to Claim 12, characterized in that the at least one functional device (40) is designed to receive at least one replaceable element, in particular wherein the bearing

1002608265 plate unit is configured such that, m an installed situation in a toilet cistern, the replaceable element

may be introduced into the functional device (40) from the si de of the bearing plate (1) remote from the toilet cistern .

14. Bearing plate unit according to one of Claims 12 or 13, characterized in that functional devices (40) are arranged on only one of the two regions (10, 11); and/or in that the at least one functional device (12) protrudes over the bearing plate on a portion of the edge of one of the two regions (10, 11), in particular wherein the portion is arranged parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the film hinge (12).

15. Set comprising a bearing plate (1) and/or a bearing plate unit according to one of the preceding claims and a frame (70), wherein the frame (70) is configured to be inserted into an inspection opening (60) and wherein the bearing plate (1) is designed to be fastened to the frame (70).

16. Sanitary installation having a toilet cistern comprising one of the bearing plates (1), bearing plate units or sets, respectively, according to one of the preceding claims, in particular wherein the protective plate (1) is arranged in or on an inspection opening (60) of the sanitary installation, respectively.

17. Sanitary installation according to Claim 16, characterized in that the bearing plate (1) is installed such that only one of the two regions (10, 11) may be pivoted counter to the other of the two

1002608265 regions (10, 11), in particular wherein at least one functional device (40) is arranged on the other of the two regions (10, 11) .

18. Method for inserting one of the bearing plates or bearing plate units, respectively, according to one of Claims 1 to 15 into an opening (60), comprising the following steps • pivoting one of the two regions (10, 11) relative to

the other of the two regions (10, 11) along the film hinge (12); inserting the other of the two regions (10, 11) into the opening (60); o optionally displacing the othe r of the two regions (10 , 11) in the opening (60) ; pivoting one of the two regions (10, 11) into the

opening (60) along the film hinge (12).