EP0251913B1 - Toilet bowl adjustable in height - Google Patents

Abstract

A height adjustable toilet bowl is provided including a water actuated cylinder (10) for moving it between a low position and a high position, a cleaning water circuit (1) adapted to be connected to a water supply pipe (2), a hose (11) interposed between the cleaning water circuit (1) and the water supply pipe (2) and an outlet pipe (3) connected to a discharge duct (4) through an extensible pipe (12), wherein the water actuated cylinder (10) is a flexible cylinder connectable selectively to the water supply pipe (2) and to the cleaning water circuit (1) through a three position valve (13), a pipe (16) being interposed between the flexible cylinder and the three position valve.

Description

The present invention relates to a toilet bowl comprising a water jack for moving it between a low position and a high position, a cleaning water circuit capable of being connected to a water supply line, a flexible pipe interposed between the cleaning water circuit and the water supply pipe, and an outlet pipe connected to a discharge pipe via an expandable pipe.

US-A-3,605,134 discloses a toilet bowl of this type, the water jack having two chambers selectively connected to the water supply line. However, this bowl has the disadvantage of consuming large amounts of water. Its actuator indeed requires a load of water to raise it and another to lower it. The water evacuated from the chambers of its cylinder is also discharged directly into the evacuation pipe and is thus wasted. In addition, the use of the actuator described involves risks of breakdown or leakage due to seizure of the movable members and sealing of the actuator.

The present invention proposes to remedy this drawback and, to do this, it relates to a toilet bowl of the aforementioned type which is characterized in that the water jack is a flexible jack connected, in service, either to the water supply line or to the cleaning water circuit via a three-position valve, a conduit being interposed between the flexible cylinder and the three-position valve.

The toilet bowl according to the present invention allows significant savings in water since its cylinder, which has only one chamber, requires a load of water only to bring it into its high position. In addition, the water leaving its cylinder is sent into its cleaning water circuit and therefore participates in maintaining its cleanliness before being discharged into the discharge pipe. Furthermore, the flexible cylinder used has no friction member and therefore a possible risk of seizure.

According to a particular embodiment, the bowl according to the invention comprises a fixed base provided with stops to support it when it is in its low position and vertical guide means to guide it during its movements between its low and high positions, the flexible cylinder being interposed between the bowl and the fixed base.

Thanks to this set of provisions, the bowl is kept perfectly stable regardless of the position in which it is located, which is essential for the safety of its user.

To avoid that an excessive amount of water can be admitted into the water cylinder, the latter can advantageously include a stroke limiter between its upper and lower walls, this stroke limiter can for example be constituted by a tensioning cable when the bowl reaches its high position.

The risks of the flexible cylinder being accidentally damaged under water pressure are thus eliminated.

According to a second embodiment, the bowl according to the invention comprises, between a base resting on the ground and a plate fixed under its underside, at least two arms articulated one on the other around an axis equidistant from their ends, the ends of these two arms which are situated on the same side with respect to this axis being articulated respectively on the base and on the plate while their ends which are situated on the other side with respect to said axis are movable in slides fixed respectively on the base and on the plate.

When the bowl has two pairs of arms parallel to each other, the jack may be interposed between a support plate connecting two parallel arms and one of the elements of the group comprising the base and the plate.

It is also desirable for the two arms of the same pair to have tabs shaped to come into contact and form end-of-travel stops when the bowl reaches its high position. Thanks to these tabs, the risks of an excessive amount of water entering the jack are indeed eliminated, which protects the latter against accidental deterioration.

When the bowl has a flap mounted to pivot between a lowered position and a raised position, automatic control means can be provided to pivot the flap from its lowered position to its raised position when the water cylinder moves the bowl from its position low has its high position, and in the opposite direction when the water jack moves the bowl from its high position to its low position.

The seat thus comes automatically into its raised position when the bowl is brought into its upper position. Any manual contact with the seat is thus avoided. It is therefore protected against splashing urine when a user uses the bowl as a urinal.

Preferably, the control means comprise a tab extending the flap, behind the articulation axis thereof, a first cable, one end of which is integral with the tab and the other end of which is connected to a first fixed spring adjacent to the front part of the bowl, a second cable, one end of which is integral with the tab and the other end of which is connected to a second fixed spring adjacent to the rear part of the bowl , the first spring being more resistant than the second, and a stop against which the lug bears when the flap is in its raised part, these control means being arranged so that the first cable stretches as soon as the bowl s' moves away from its low position, so that the second cable stretches before the bowl reaches its high position, and so that the first spring stretches after the second, when the tab bears against the stop.

To be complete, it will be specified here that the toilet bowl according to the invention may also include a water tank, which can be either integral with the bowl, or independent, but all cases upstream of the cleaning water circuit. In some installations, the tank may be replaced by piping of sufficient size to ensure a flow allowing efficient cleaning. Furthermore, the drain pipe from the bowl could be equipped with a grinder.

• . la figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'une cuvette de W.-C. conforme à l'invention, cette cuvette étant représentée dans sa position basse ;
• . la figure 2 est une vue analogue a celle de la figure 1, mais montrant la cuvette dans sa position haute ;
• . la figure 3 est une vue de détail montrant la vanne dans une position différente de celles qui sont représentées sur les figures 1 et 2 ;
• . la figure 4 est une vue en coupe schématique d'une variante conforme à l'invention, la cuvette étant représentée dans sa position basse ; et
• . la figure 5 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 4, mais montrant la cuvette dans sa position haute.

Two embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• . Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a toilet bowl according to the invention, this bowl being shown in its lower position;
• . Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but showing the bowl in its upper position;
• . Figure 3 is a detail view showing the valve in a position different from those shown in Figures 1 and 2;
• . Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a variant according to the invention, the bowl being shown in its lower position; and
• . Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, but showing the bowl in its upper position.

The toilet bowl that can be seen in Figures 1 and 2 comprises, in a manner known per se, a cleaning water circuit 1 adapted to be connected to a water supply pipe 2, and an outlet pipe 3 connected to a discharge pipe 4.

In the example shown, the cleaning water circuit 1 is connected to the pipe 2 via a pipe 5 and a conventional flush 6 having a filling system 7, a handle of actuation 8 and an overflow 9. The flush could however be replaced by any other tank or system without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The toilet bowl also includes a water jack 10 making it possible to move it between a low position visible in FIG. 1 and a high position visible in FIG. 2, a flexible conduit 11 interposed between the lines 2 and 5, and an extendable duct 12 interposed between the outlet pipe 3 and the discharge pipe 4.

The flexible cylinder is capable of being selectively connected to the supply line 2 and to the cleaning water circuit 1 by means of a three-position valve 13 capable of being controlled manually, using a pedal or remote.

The valve 13 is located at the junction of the pipe 5 with a pipe 14 leading to the overflow 9 of the flush and with a pipe 15 leading to the flexible cylinder, this pipe being provided with a flexible pipe 16 .

The valve 13 isolates the pipes 2 and 5 from the pipes 14 and 15 when it is in its position I visible in FIG. 1. The toilet bowl remains in this case stationary since only the filling system 7 of the flush is connected to line 2 of water supply.

On the other hand, the valve 13 connects the pipe 15 to the pipes 2 and 5 and isolates the pipe 14 when it is in its position II visible in FIG. 2. In this case, water is admitted into the flexible jack which lifts the bowl by filling with water.

The bowl has a stroke of the order of 20 to 30 cm. However, it could be immobilized in any position between its extreme positions. It would indeed suffice to return the valve 13 to its position I at a predetermined time before it reaches its high position. We could similarly adjust its rate of climb by properly adjusting valve 13.

The valve 13 connects the lines 14 and 15 while isolating them from the lines 2 and 5 when it is in its position III visible in FIG. 3. In this case, the water contained in the flexible cylinder is discharged into the overflow full 9 of the flush under the sole weight of the bowl and thus flows directly into the cleaning water circuit 1. It therefore participates in cleaning the tank.

It would of course suffice to replace the valve 13 in its position I to immobilize the bowl in an intermediate position. One could also adjust the speed of descent of the bowl by properly adjusting the valve 13.

It will be noted here that the upper and lower walls of the flexible cylinder are connected by a stroke limiter 17 here constituted by a cable stretching only when the bowl reaches its high position. The maximum amount of water admitted into the cylinder can thus be limited, which avoids the risk of accidental deterioration of the latter.

The toilet bowl visible in Figures 1 and 2 is further equipped with a fixed base 18 carrying stops 19 against which it rests when it is in its low position visible in Figure 1 and two vertical rods 20 (only one of which is visible) ensuring its guidance during its movements between its low and high positions, these rods being adjacent to its rear part.

As can clearly be seen in these figures, the flexible cylinder is integral with the base 18 and a plate fixed to the underside of the bowl, respectively by its lower and upper walls.

The bowl also includes a sleeve 21 threaded on each of the rods 20 which are provided with an upper stop 23 in order to ensure a second safety in the event that the element 17 is faulty. It is further provided in a manner known per se with a flap 24 hinged around an axis 25 and a cover 26 itself hinged on the flap around an axis 27, the flap and the cover being located on the same side with respect to their respective axis of articulation.

Conventionally, the flap 24 can occupy a lowered position visible in Figure 1 in which it extends substantially horizontally around the periphery of the bowl, or a raised position visible in Figure 2 in which it is adjacent to the flush of water, its raised position forming an angle slightly greater than 90 ° with its lowered position.

Means, not shown, are advantageously provided for connecting the cover 26 to the flap 24 and allowing these two elements to move together.

The control means are also provided for automatically moving the flap 24 and the cover 26 from their lowered position to their raised position when the flexible cylinder moves the bowl from its low position to its high position, and from their raised position to their lowered position when the bowl returns to its low position.

In the embodiment shown, these control means comprise a tab 28 extending the flap 24 beyond the axis 25, a first cable 29, one of the ends of which is integral with the tab 28 and the other of which end and connected to a first spring 30 fixed to the front part of the base 18, a second cable 31, one of the ends of which is secured to the lug 28 and the other end of which is connected to a second spring 32 fixed to the part rear of the base 18, and a stop 33 positioned so that the tab 28 comes to bear against it when the flap is in its raised position.

The cables 28 and 31 cooperate with guides 34 and 35 judiciously positioned so that the springs 30 and 32 extend vertically whatever the height position of the bowl. Their length is chosen so that the cable 29 stretches as soon as the bowl moves away from its low position and that the cable 31 stretches before the bowl reaches its high position.

As regards the spring 30, it is more resistant than the spring 32, which allows it to be tensioned after the spring 32, when the tab 28 is in abutment against the stop 33.

When water is sent into the flexible cylinder, the bowl rises and immediately tends the cable 29. The tab 28 then pivots in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 1 by raising the flap.

While the bowl continues to rise, the cable 31 stretches and stretches the spring 32, after which the tab 28 comes against the stop 33 while the spring 30 stretches until the flexible cylinder is completely full of water.

The flap 24 is then in its raised position, position in which it is slightly inclined towards the flush 6, as shown in FIG. 2.

If now the pipe 15 is connected to the flushing overflow, the water contained in the flexible cylinder is forced back into the cleaning water circuit 1 under the weight of the bowl. It therefore begins to drop.

When the flexible cylinder begins to empty, the spring 30 first fully relaxes, which allows the cable 29 to slightly relax, after which the spring 32 in turn relaxes by forcing the flap 24 to tilt slightly forward, i.e. rotate in the opposite direction to arrow F.

The cable 31 then relaxes while the cable 29, which tightens under the action of the weight of the flap, allows the latter to return to its low position.

It will be noted here that the flap 24 can be moved manually from its lowered position to its raised position, and vice versa, despite the existence of its control means.

It will also be noted that means, not shown, could be provided to render the control means for the flap inactive. This could therefore remain in its lowered position when the bowl is in the high position.

The bowl represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from that which has just been described by the method of mounting its flexible jack 10 ′, by the structure of the members ensuring its guidance when it moves between its low and high positions, and by its anchoring to the ground without any wall support.

More specifically, it comprises a base 36 resting on the ground, a plate 37 fixed under its underside, and two pairs of arms 38, 39 parallel to each other and only one of which is visible.

The arms 38, 39 of the same pair are articulated one on the other about an axis 40 equidistant from their ends.

In the example shown, the front ends of the arms 38, 39 are articulated respectively at 41 on the base 36 and at 42 on the plate 37, while their rear ends are movable along slides 43, 44 fixed respectively on the plate 37 and on the base 36.

It goes without saying that it would not go beyond the scope of the present invention if the position of the hinge pins 41 and 42 were reversed with that of the slides 43 and 44.

Furthermore, the flexible jack 10 ′ is interposed between the plate 37 and a support plate 45 connecting the parts of the arms 39 which are in front of the hinge pins 40. The pipe 15 ′ which connects it to the valve 13 opens into its upper wall and is integral with the bowl so that the flexible conduit 16 could be eliminated.

The flexible cylinder could of course be installed in a position different from that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This is how it could be interposed between the plate 37 and a support plate connecting the parts of the arms 38 which are in rear of the hinge pins 40, between the base 36 and a support plate connecting the parts of the arms 38 which are in front of the hinge pins 40 or between the base 36 and a support plate connecting the parts of the arms 39 which are behind the hinge pins 40.

It will also be noted that the arms 38 and 39 have lugs 46, 47 capable of coming into contact and of forming end-of-travel stops when the bowl reaches its high position visible in FIG. 5. Thus, thanks to these lugs, the risks of excessive amounts of water entering and damaging the flexible cylinder are completely eliminated.

The operations to be carried out in order to move the bowl shown in height in FIGS. 4 and 5 are the same as those to be carried out in order to move the bowl visible in FIGS. 1 and 2 and therefore do not have to be described here. It will simply be specified that it suffices to connect the pipe 15 ′ to the water supply pipe 2 to move the bowl from its low position shown in FIG. 4 to its high position shown in FIG. 5, and to line 14 to allow the bowl to return to its low position under the action of its own weight.

The two bowls described above can be used in individual houses, apartments, hotels, clinics, hospitals, retirement homes, and any public place where greater cleanliness of premises and appliances is sought, where assistance to disabled or elderly people is a constant concern.

They can be provided in new installations or when renovating washrooms. Special fittings can be provided to facilitate the replacement of an existing installation when it complies with the most common standards and models, whether the bowl has a horizontal or vertical outlet. This has the advantage of carrying out traditional bowl replacements at a lower cost, quickly, without major work and without specialized labor.

The bowls themselves can be made of porcelain, plastic or any other rigid material and may include a grinder installed on the discharge pipe.

Claims (9)

1. A toilet bowl including a water actuated hydraulic cylinder (10;10′) for moving it between a low position and a high position, a cleaning water circuit (1) adapted to be connected to a water supply pipe (2), hose (11) interposed between the cleaning water circuit (1) and the water supply pipe (2), and an outlet pipe (3) connected to a discharge duct (4) through an extensible pipe (12), characterized in that the water actuated hydraulic cylinder (10;10′) is a flexible cylinder, which in use is connected either to the water supply pipe (2) or to the cleaning water circuit (1) through a three position valve (13), a pipe (16) being interposed between the flexible cylinder and the three position valve.

2. The toilet bowl according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a fixed base (18) having stops (19), for supporting it when it is in its low position and vertical guide means (20) for guiding it during its movements between its low and high positions, the flexible cylinder (10) being interposed between the bowl and the fixed base.

3. The toilet bowl according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible cylinder (10) includes a travel limiter (17) interposed between its upper and lower walls, this travel limiter being formed by a cable stretching when the bowl reaches its top position.

4. Toilet bowl according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes, between a base (36) resting on the ground and plate (37) fixed under its lower face, at least two arms (38, 39) hinged to each other about an axis (40) equidistant from their ends, the ends of these two arms which are situated on the same side with respect to this axis being hinged (at 41, 42) respectively to the base and to the plate whereas their ends which are situated on the other side with respect to said axis are movable in slides (43, 44) fixed respectively to the base and to the plate.

5. Toilet bowl according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes two pairs of arms (38, 39) parallel to each other.

6. Toilet bowl according to claim 5, characterized in that the water actuated cylinder (10') is interposed between a support plate (45) connecting two parallel arms together and one of the elements of the group including the base (36) and the plate (37).

7. Toilet bowl according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the two arms (38, 39) of the same pair include lugs (46, 47) shaped so as to come into contact and form end of travel stops when the bowl reaches its top position.

8. Toilet bowl according to any of claims 1 to 7, including a seat (24) mounted for pivoting between a lowered position and a raised position, characterized in that control means are provided for causing the seat (24) to pivot from its lowered position to its raised position when the flexible cylinder (10) moves the bowl from its low position to its high position, and in the reverse direction when the flexible cylinder moves the bowl from its high position to its low position.

9. Toilet bowl according to claim 8, characterized in that the control means include a lug (28) extending the seat (24), rearwardly of the hinge axis (25) thereof, a first cable (29) one of the ends of which is fixed to the lug (28) and the other end of which is connected to a first fixed spring (30) adjacent the front part of the bowl, a second cable (31) one of the ends of which is fixed to the lug (28) and the other end of which is connected to a second fixed spring (32) adjacent the rear part of the bowl, the first spring (30) being more resistant than the second one (32), and a stop (33) against which the lug (28) comes to bear when the seat (24) is in its raised position, these control means being adapted so that the first cable (29) stretches as soon as the bowl moves away from its low position, so that the second cable (31) stretches before the bowl reaches its top position, and so that the first spring (30) stretches after the second one (32), when the lug (28) comes into abutment against the stop (33).

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