DK2896760T3

DK2896760T3 - Wash-WC with movable function arm

Info

Publication number: DK2896760T3
Application number: DK14151910.8T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Silvan Wenk
Original assignee: Geberit Int Ag
Priority date: 2014-01-21
Filing date: 2014-01-21
Publication date: 2017-02-27
Also published as: EP2896760A1; EP2896760B1

Description

This invention relates to a shower closet, namely a known water closet with a shower function for the lower abdomen for cleaning the user after using the WC.

Shower WCs are known for a while and are increasingly used. Usually, a shower WC comprises besides a movable shower arm a blow-dryer arm to dry the user after the shower process with hot air. Typically, both arms can be moved into the WC bowl and out of the WC bowl into a position pulled in with respect to the WC bowl and being hidden. For this purpose, an electromotor is applied or a hydraulic cylinder powered by supply water pressure, the latter is more usual in shower WCs without a movable blow-dryer arm. The prior art is largely concerned with the type, position, cleaning and construction of the shower arm and the blow-dryer arm and of course with further technical elements for hot water generation, hot air generation etc.

Hereinafter, the term functional arm shall be used as a generic term for shower arms, blow-dryer arms and other possible arms of a shower-WC, that can, for being used, be moved into the WC bowl and out of if thereafter.

Regarding the prior art, reference is made to US 4,987,617 which is the basis for the preamble of claim 1. There, two shower arms lying side by side are provided, which can be moved in a cylinder respectively, an electromotor being respectively provided at that and of the cylinder, which faces away from the WC bowl, the electromotor being mounted laterally displaced and moving the respective shower arm with respect to the respective cylinder via a gear drive and a spindle rod. The cylinders are alternatively moved by a partially geared pinion of a further electromotor mounted in between them and slightly below them. The drive pinion of the electromotor engages in racks arranged on the outside of the cylinders.

The problem the invention is to solve is to provide a shower WC having a functional arm with an improved mechanism for moveability.

The problem is solved by a shower closet having a closet body comprising a closet bowl, a functional arm movable into the closet bowl, a rotational motor for driving the movement of the functional arm between two movement positions, and a coupling element for transferring a driving force taken from the rotational motor to the functional arm, wherein the coupling element is coupled in the functional arm, the functional arm is movable with regard to its movability relative to the coupling element and the coupling element is integrated at least partially in the functional arm in a movement position driven back from the closet bowl, wherein the rotational motor is offset with regard to an axis of its driving shaft relative to a middle longitudinal axis of the functional arm and to a middle longitudinal axis of the coupling element, and wherein the functional arm is mounted in the shower closet in an inclined manner such that its front end with regard to a direction of the movement of the functional arm into the closet bowl is arranged somewhat lower than its rear end in this respect, characterized in that the rotational motor is arranged below the rear end of the functional arm in the movement position thereof driven back from the closet bowl.

Further, the invention is directed to a shower closet top-mount and the use thereof, wherein a shower WC can be constructed from a WC without shower function.

Therein the invention refers to a rotational motor for driving the movement of the functional arm, namely a motor creating a torque at a drive shaft for the actuation, especially an electric motor. Shower arm actuators powered by a hydraulic cylinder driven by supply water pressure are explicitly excluded, which have their own requirements and challenges, due to their constructional configuration and which are therefore less in use for modern shower WCs, especially those with a blow-dryer function. The rotational motor is used to drive the functional arm in at least one movement direction between two movement positions, namely a position driven maximally out and a position driven maximally back from the closet bowl. The other movement direction can for example be driven by a spring or the like. In most cases, the rotational motor covers both movement directions.

The functional arm has a specific purpose in its movement position inside of the closet bowl, especially in relation to the transport of a fluid, for example of shower water in case of the shower arm or of hot air in the case of the blow-dryer arm.

The coupling element in this invention is firstly defined by being driven by the rotational motor, secondly by being coupled to the functional arm, and thirdly by being movable with regard to the coupling element in its movability, which means that the relative position between the coupling element and the functional arm changes in the two movement directions. Preferably, the coupling element stays stationary in relation to the rest of the shower WC, referring to both movement directions. Thus, the movement of the functional arm is not only relative to the shower WC but to the coupling element as well.

The coupling element is coupled to the functional arm for transferring the driving force. According to the invention, this happens “inside”, that is not on the “outside” at the lateral surface area of the usually cylindrical or close to cylindrical functional arm. Rather the coupling element shall engage to the functional arm inside an outer lateral surface of the functional arm. Furthermore, the coupling and the construct as a whole are designed in such a way, that the coupling element is integrated in the functional arm while the arm is in the movement position driven back from the closet bowl, which means that a considerable portion (for instance at least a half) of the coupling element’s longitudinal extension along the movement direction is inside the functional arm and covered by it.

The covering is not necessarily given in all directions lying in a plane vertical to the movement direction, the covering shall be given to a major part.

In other words, the coupling element engages centrally inside the functional arm with respect to the position driven back from the closet bowl and is thus largely integrated in the functional arm in this position.

This helps obtaining quite compact and easy solutions, because the transfer of force is happening at a relatively central contact point without essential tilting moments - which would be different in for example coupling elements that lie outside the functional arm such as parallel shafts or spindles. At the same time, the coupling element can, if needed, be stored safe from dirt and economically regarding the required space. In contrast thereto coupling elements which are arranged beside the functional arm like the above mentioned shafts or spindles take up additional space and need eventually additional protection from dirt.

Above, it has been mentioned that the functional arm can be particularly a shower arm or a blow-dryer arm. In a combined case the shower arm and the blow-dryer arm can be realized in a combined and integrated form, thus as one arm, but also as separate arms, each would conform to the invention

Preferably, the coupling element is rotatable around a rotational axis and rotation-ally driven by the motor, with the rotational axis of the coupling element being parallel to the movement directions of the functional arm. Further, the coupling element is preferably longitudinally extended in the direction of the movement of the functional arm and stiff, which is advantageous considering the driving function of the motor in two movement directions and which saves the effort for a winding drum or a similar solution for a flexible coupling element. A preferred solution is a spindle shaft, i. e. a shaft longitudinal in its movement direction with a screw thread.

According to the invention, the rotational motor is placed offset with regard to the middle longitudinal axis of the functional arm and, if applicable, also to the longitudinal axis of the spindle shaft, namely displaced with the axis. Therein the motor is arranged below the functional arm in its position driven back from the closet bowl, while the functional arm in its mounted position is arranged in the shower WC in an oblique manner such that its end facing the bowl is arranged lower than its end facing away from the bowl, in other words the front end regarding the movement into the bowl lying deeper than the rear end. This is particularly advantageous in regard to the total construction height, because the above mentioned inclined position of the functional arm is predetermined by the desired movement distance into the closet bowl and, thus, there is space available below the end of the functional arm facing away from the bowl, which causes little or no further constructional volume in height for this arrangement.

In the described embodiment a transmission gear can be attached to the end of the coupling element facing away from the closet bowl, for example to a pinion at an end of the spindle, and then extended down to use the space available due to the inclined position of the functional arm. In regard to the total constructional length it seems advantageous to mount the motor closer to the closet bowl than the transmission gear, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment.

In a preferred embodiment, a chamber for the coupling element is provided in the functional arm, in particular for a spindle shaft, the coupling element being, in the movement position driven back, arranged within the chamber to at least 50 % and preferably 60 %, 70 % or even 80 % of the coupling elements’ length. Also in this case, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment for an illustration. In case that the coupling element is one-piece with for instance a pinion for driving, as in case of the exemplary embodiment, this definition preferably applies for its total length including the additional one-piece element, for instance the pinion.

In this context, arranging a functional fluid line above the chamber can be advantageous, for instance a shower water or blow-dryer air line.

Below, the invention is described in further detail by means of an exemplary embodiment, wherein the individual features can be relevant for the invention also in different combinations.

In detail it shows:

Figure 1 a perspective view of a shower device according to the invention;

Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional view of the shower device;

Figure 3 a side view when mounted in a shower WC;

Figure 4 a view of a drive of the shower device;

Figure 5 longitudinal sectional view of a spindle shaft and a part of the shower arm of the shower device;

Figure 6 a perspective view to figure 5;

Figure 7 a view of a shower WC with a shower device.

The shower device shown in figures 1 and 2 comprises a shower arm 1, a rotational electromotor 2 and a drive 3. The shower arm 1 has a shower head 4 being distal (with respect to the motor 2 and the drive 3) and having a shower nozzle shown only partly in figure 2 for a cleaning of the lower abdomen of a user of the shower WC in which the shower device is mounted. A water line 6 in the shower arm 1, which is also visible in figure 2, leads to the shower nozzle 5, the water line comprising a proximal connector 7 for a not shown flexible tube line for pre-heated shower water.

The shower arm 1 is held in figures 1 and 2 on a support rail 8, the shower arm being longitudinally displaceable with respect thereto, namely in the horizontal direction referring to figure 2. For this purpose, the shower arm 1 comprises a sleeve 9 with an inner thread as a shower arm part at its proximal end, which is one-piece with the connector 7 in this case, the sleeve being better visible in figures 5 (in the longitudinal section comparable to figure 2) and 6 (in a perspective view obliquely from behind, namely looking onto the end of the shower device with the drive 3). Into this sleeve, a longitudinally extending spindle 10 engages which is also visible in figures 5 and 6 and also in figure 2, the spindle being, in the state shown in figure 2, received with its total thread in a corresponding chamber 11 of the shower arm. Thus, the spindle 10 is coupled to the shower arm 1 within the latter, namely via the internal thread.

In detail, in this case, the spindle 10 is in the pulled in movement position shown arranged within the chamber 11 over around 90 % of the spindle’s total length including the pinion 12 and even over around 94 % in case that the pinion 12 is neglected. Thus, it is protected advantageously and arranged in a space saving manner.

Further, figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 show that the spindle has a pinion 12 at its proximal end and is plugged into a clamp 14 of the support rail 8 and held rotatably by a groove 13 lying directly beside.

According to the internal view on the drive 3 in figure 4, the pinion 12 is connected to a drive pinion 16 of the motor 2 via an intermediate gear wheel 15, wherein the intermediate gear wheel 15 and the drive pinion 16 are arranged in a housing visible in figuresl, 2 and 4, which lies directly adjacent and proximal to the motor 2 in the longitudinal direction of the shower arm 1 and is arranged below the pinion in the figures. In the sectional view of figure 2, the intermediate gear wheel 15 lies outside of the sectional plane and is not visible thus. The motor as well lies below the pinion 12 in the figures, in detail below the proximal end of the spindle 10, its drive shaft being displaced parallely downwards with respect to a not shown center longitudinal axis of the shower arm 1 and the spindle 10. In figure 3, the exact mounting position is shown in a side view, which illustrates that the shower arm shall, by its movement into the bowl driven by the motor 2, the drive 3 and the spindle 10 in connection with the sleeve 9, not only be moved into the WC bowl, but shall be also brought into a slightly deeper position in the WC bowl. This can be derived by means of figure 7 in which the shower head 4 is shown and has a comparably high position with respect to the WC bowl.

In view of the oblique mounting position according to figure 3, the positioning of the motor 2 and the drive 3 below the shower arm 1 or the pinion 2 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the shower arm 1 is advantageous, because a certain space is available below the proximal end of the shower arm or the pinion 12 anyhow, at least in case that mounting position in the rear part of the shower WC is also determined by margins or walls extending horizontally.

As shown in figures 1 to 3, a washing device 17 for the shower head 4 and the shower arm 1 for washing (during inward and outward movement) having a connector 18 for the respective warm water connection line is provided at the distal end of the shower arm 1. Figure 1 illustrates that the washing device 17 can be pushed unto the support rail 8 in the length direction of the shower arm 1 and is caught by clamps.

Figure 7 shows the whole shower WC 19 according to the invention, wherein the shower device of figures 1 to 6 is mounted in a shower closet top-mount in the rear region of the closet body 21. Thus, the shower closet top-mount 20 is slightly higher with respect to the closet body 21 for providing sufficient space. This elevated shower closet top-mount merges right foreground (in figure 7) into a classic WC seat on a rim of the bowl. In a rear part, above the rim of the bowl, a through-hole 22 for the shower arm 21 is visible, which is only shown figurative in figure 7. Beside, a blow-dryer arm 23 is displayed, which can be provided with a comparable drive according to the invention as the shower arm 1 shown in figures 1 to 6, in particular can comprise a chamber for an integrated spindle with an analogous motor drive. Both arms are shown in the pulled out state, wherein particularly the shower arm 1 drives out comparably far such that the shower head 4 reaches a position advantageous for reaching the anatomically predefined body parts. In this context, the shower arm 1 is driven out obliquely downwards and is also arranged obliquely in the pulled in position shown in figures 1 to 6 (due to the linear movement in this case). The mounting position resulting therefrom has been mentioned in the context of figure 3. In sum, it allows a comparably flat construction by arranging the drive components advantageously so that the shower closet top-mount 20 of the closet body 21 does not have to be too large in height.

Claims

Washing WC with a toilet body (21) comprising a WC basin, a functional arm (1.23) movable into the WC basin, a rotary motor (2) for driving the functional arm (1, 23). movement between two positions of motion and a clutch member (10) for transmitting a driving force derived from the rotary motor (2) to the operating arm (1, 23), the clutch member (10) being engaged in the operating arm (1, 23), the operating arm ( 1, 23) with respect to its movement can be moved relative to the clutch element (10), and the clutch element (10) at a reversed position of movement from the WC basin is at least partially integrated into the operating arm (1,23), where the rotary motor (2) with respect to an axis of its output shaft, the axis is displaced relative to a longitudinal center axis of the operating arm (1, 23) and a longitudinal center axis of the coupling element (10), and wherein the operating arm (1) is mounted tilted in the wash WC in such a manner , that the front end (4) relative to a movement insertion of the operating arm (1) into the toilet bowl lies somewhat deeper than the corresponding rear end, characterized in that the rotary motor (2) is arranged below the rear end of the operating arm (1) in the movement position withdrawn from the toilet bowl. .

The wash WC according to claim 1, wherein the function arm (1, 23) is a wash arm (1) with an abdominal wash function.

Washing WC according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the function arm (1, 23) is a blower arm (23).

Washing WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling element (10) is rotatably and rotatably rotated about an axis of rotation and the axis of rotation of the coupling element (10) is parallel to the direction of movement of the operating arm (1,23).

Washing toilet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling element (10) is elongated in a direction of movement of the operating arm (1,23).

Washing WC according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the coupling element (10) is a spindle rod (10).

Washing WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary motor (2) with respect to the axis of the output shaft is displaced in parallel with a longitudinal center axis of the function arm (1, 23) and the longitudinal center axis of the coupling element (10).

Washing WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a gear (3) downwards joins the rear end of the functional arm (1,23) in the movement position retracted from the toilet bowl and the rotary motor (2) ) is mounted under the operating arm (1, 23) on the WC basin of the gear (3), where the gear (3) is coupled, in case of claim 6, with a gear drive (12) at the rear end of the spindle rod (10).

Washing WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling element (10) is arranged at least 50% of its length in a direction of movement of the functional arm (1,23) in a chamber (11) of the functional arm (1, 23), when the function arm (1, 23) is in the position of movement withdrawn from the toilet bowl.

The wash WC according to claim 9, wherein the operating arm (1,23) above the chamber (11) comprises a functional fluid line (6), especially in case of claim 2 a wash water line and in case of claim 3 a blower line.

11. Wash-WC top part (20) of a toilet body (21) having a lower abdomen washing device integrated into the wash-WC top part with a function arm (1, 23) movable out of the wash-WC top part ( 20) and thus into a WC basin of the toilet body (21) at the mounted position of the wash WC top portion (20) of the toilet body (21), a rotary motor (2) for driving the movement of the functional arm (1, 23) between two movement positions and a clutch element (10) for transferring a driving force derived from the rotary motor (2) to the function arm (1, 23), where the clutch element (10) is engaged in the function arm (1, 23), the function arm (1) 23) with respect to its movement can be moved relative to the coupling element (10) and the coupling element (10) at a movement position withdrawn from the toilet bowl, at the mounted position of the wash WC top part (20) on the toilet body. (21) is at least partially integrated into the operating arm (1.23), wherein the rotary motor (2) with respect to the output shaft a axes are offset relative to a longitudinal center axis of the operating arm (1.23) and a longitudinal center axis of the coupling element (10), and the operating arm (1) at the mounted position of the wash WC top portion (20) of the closet body (21) is mounted tilted in the wash-WC top part in such a way that the front end (4) relative to the direction of movement out of the wash-WC top part (20) lies somewhat deeper than the corresponding rear end, characterized in that the rotary motor (2) is positioned below the rear end of the functional arm (1) in the movement position retracted from the WC basin.

Use of a wash-WC top part (20) according to claim 11 for providing a wash-WC according to one of claims 1 to 10.