EP1273726B1

EP1273726B1 - Western style water closet

Info

Publication number: EP1273726B1
Application number: EP01912415A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Koji Miwa; Shoichi Nakamura
Original assignee: Inax Corp
Current assignee: Inax Corp
Priority date: 2000-04-10
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2008-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-15
Also published as: ES2310176T3; CN100441789C; KR20030023619A; CN1422355A; EP1273726A4; HK1055323A1; US20030140406A1; WO2001077452A1; EP1273726A1; ATE401466T1; CN101418590A; US20050166308A1; DE60134843D1; KR100670437B1

Abstract

The present invention provides a sanitary western-style flush toilet in which stains are hardly adhered to a rim, and as a result, a nasty smell and the like are hardly generated. A western-style toilet body comprises a bowl portion and an open rim. The open rim has a rim channel in the inside thereof. At the rear of the western-style toilet body, a washing device which is capable of spouting water is formed. The bowl portion is washed by the water which is spouted from the washing device. An inward surface of an inner side wall portion of the open rim is an identical surface to a bowl face of the bowl portion. <IMAGE>

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a western-style flush toilet.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there has been known a western-style flush toilet which includes a western-style toilet body made of porcelain and a washing device having a water tank such as a low tank which is mounted at the rear of the western-style toilet body and which is capable of spouting water. The western-style toilet body comprises a bowl portion, a rim which is formed at an upper periphery of the bowl portion and which has a rim channel capable of flowing water downward to the bowl portion in the inside thereof and a trap portion which is connected to a lower edge of the bowl portion. The trap portion has a jet opening for spouting water along the trap portion. In the washing device, the water tank is connected to a water supply pipe such as a city water service pipe for supplying water, and the water reserved in the water tank which is capable of being spouted to the rim channel.
A rim in which a rim channel is exposed to a bowl portion, so-called "an open rim" comprises an upper side wall portion which is protruded inwardly from an upper periphery of the bowl portion in an approximately horizontal direction and an inner side wall portion which is extended from an inner edge of the upper side wall portion in an approximately vertical direction. A rim channel for guiding the water which is spouted from a washing device is formed in the inside of the open rim. In the open rim, the water in the rim channel is spouted to the bowl portion by way of an opening which is formed by the inner side wall portion and the bowl portion.
A rim in which a rim channel is not exposed to a bowl portion, so-called "a closed rim" comprises an upper side wall portion which is protruded inwardly from an upper periphery of the bowl portion in an approximately horizontal direction, an inner side wall portion which is extended from an inner edge of the upper side wall portion in an approximately vertical direction and a lower side wall portion for connecting a lower edge of the inner side wall portion to the bowl portion. The same rim channel as that of the open rim is formed in the inside of the closed rim. In the closed rim, plural water spout openings which open toward the bowl portion are mounted in the lower side wall portion, and the water in the rim channel is spouted to the bowl portion by way of these water spout openings.
As a result, in the conventional western-style flush toilet, the bowl portion is washed by the water which is spouted from the washing device.
From GB 983,855 A a water-closet pan is known. In a water-closet pan as disclosed in this piece of art, a closed rim is provided. Resulting thereof, there exists a possibility that filth is not fully discharged from a bowl as well as stains caused by a splash of urine generated at the time of using the toilet or a splash generated at the time of going to defecate easily remain on each in-between space of adjoining ducts on a bowl face of said bowl.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

{First and Second Inventions}

However, in the above-mentioned conventional western-style flush toilet, an inward surface of the rim is protruded inwardly with respect to the bowl face of the bowl portion so that stains are likely to be adhered to the rim. As a result, a nasty smell is easily generated, and the rim is apt to be insanitary.
Namely, in the open rim of the conventional western-style flush toilet, stains caused by a splash of urine generated at the time of using the toilet or a splash generated at the time of going to defecate are likely to be adhered to the rim channel such as a rear side of the upper side wall portion or a rear side of the inner side wall portion. Besides, in the closed rim of the conventional western-style flush toilet, the above-mentioned stains are apt to be adhered to the inside of the rim channel through a front side of the lower side wall portion or the water spout openings. Such stains adhered to the rim exist at the position which a cleaning person hardly sees. So, it is difficult for the cleaning person to confirm whether or not the stains are adhered or removed, and this makes the cleaning incomplete. As a result, the stains easily remain at the position, and a nasty smell such as ammonia is generated. Accordingly, the person who uses the conventional western-style flush toilet feels uncomfortable, and the western-style flush toilet becomes insanitary.
The first and second inventions have been made in view of the above circumstances and it is the first and second tasks to be solved to provide a sanitary western-style flush toilet in which stains are difficult to be adhered to a rim, and a nasty smell is hardly generated.
With respect to the western-style flush toilet of the first invention, in a western-style flush toilet including a western-style toilet body comprising a bowl portion and a rim which is formed at an upper periphery of the bowl portion and which has a rim channel in the inside thereof, and
a washing device which is capable of spouting water to the rim channel, wherein the water which is spouted from the washing device is provided for washing the bowl portion by way of the rim channel,
wherein at the transition of said bowl portion and said rim an inward surface of said rim is flush with a bowl face of said bowl portion,
the western-style flush toilet being characterized in that
said rim is an open rim comprising an upper side wall portion which is protruded inwardly from the upper periphery of said bowl portion in an approximately horizontal direction, and an inner side wall portion which is extended from an inner edge of said upper side wall portion in an approximately vertical direction,
a stepped portion is formed in such a manner that it is protruded in approximately parallel to the said upper side wall portion in the inside of said open rim, and
said rim channel guides water which is spouted from the washing device along the stepped portion.
In the western-style flush toilet of the first invention, the inward surface of the rim is an identical surface to the bowl face of the bowl portion at least at the front side, so stains are hardly adhered to the rim. For example, if the rim is an open rim, stains are hardly adhered to the rim channel such as a rear side of an upper side wall portion or a rear side of an inner side wall portion. Besides, if the rim is a closed rim, stains are hardly adhered to the inside of the rim channel through a front side of a lower side wall portion or water spout openings.
Furthermore, in the western-style flush toilet of the first invention, since the inward surface of the rim is an identical surface to the bowl face of the bowl portion, stains exist at the position which a cleaning person easily sees, and in addition, the stains are easily wiped out at one time. Accordingly, it is possible for the cleaning person to carry out the cleaning satisfactorily.
In the western-style flush toilet of the first invention, if the inward surface of the rim is an identical surface to the bowl face of the bowl portion at least at the front side, the minimum operation and effect of the first invention can be obtained. The reason of this is that stains caused by a splash of urine generated at the time of using the toilet or a splash generated at the time of going to defecate are likely to be positioned at the front side. In this respect, it is desirable that the inward surface of the rim is an identical surface to the bowl face of the bowl portion at the whole of the upper periphery of the bowl portion. With such a constitution, it is possible to prevent the stains which is caused by a splash of urine generated at the time of using the toilet or a splash generated at the time of going to defecate from being adhered to the rim at any position of the upper periphery of the bowl portion, and the operation and effect of the first invention can be surely achieved.
With respect to the western-style flush toilet of the second invention, in a western-style flush toilet including a western-style toilet body comprising a bowl portion and a rim which is formed at an upper periphery of the bowl portion and which has a rim channel in the inside thereof, and
a washing device which is capable of spouting water to the rim channel, wherein the water which is spouted from the washing device is provided for washing the bowl portion by way of the rim channel,
the western-style flush toilet being characterized in that at the transition of said bowl portion and said rim, an inward surface of the rim is positioned outwardly with respect to a bowl face of the bowl portion at least at the front side,
said rim is an open rim comprising an upper side wall portion which is protruded inwardly from the upper periphery of said bowl portion in an approximately horizontal direction, and an inner side wall portion which is extended from an inner edge of said upper side wall portion in an approximately vertical direction,
a stepped portion is formed in such a manner that it is protruded in approximately parallel to the said upper side wall portion in the inside of said open rim, and
said rim channel guides water which is spouted from the washing device along the stepped portion.
In the western-style flush toilet of the second invention, the inward surface of the rim is positioned outwardly with respect to the bowl face of the bowl portion at least at the front side, so stains are hardly adhered to the rim as well.
Furthermore, in the western-style flush toilet of the second invention, since the inward surface of the rim is positioned outwardly with respect to the bowl face of the bowl portion, stains exist at the position which a cleaning person easily sees, and it is possible for the cleaning person to carry out the cleaning satisfactorily. However, the ease of wiping out the stains is somewhat inferior as compared with the western-style flush toilet of the first invention.
In the western-style flush toilet of the second invention, if the inward surface of the rim is positioned outwardly with respect to the bowl face of the bowl portion at least at the front side, the minimum operation and effect of the second invention can be obtained. In addition, it is desirable that the inward surface of the rim is positioned outwardly with respect to the bowl face of the bowl portion at the whole of the upper periphery of the bowl portion.
In the western-style flush toilet of the first and second inventions, it is desirable that the western-style flush toilet has a stepped portion which forms the rim channel at a boundary between the bowl portion and the rim. With such a constitution, the water which is spouted from the washing device doesn't flow downward to the bowl portion immediately, and the water gradually flows downward to the bowl portion to be discharged while whirling satisfactorily in the rim channel. As a result, it is possible to improve the washing effect of the whole of the bowl portion.
Further, in the western-style flush toilet of the first and second inventions, said rim channel may guide said water not to flow downward immediately, but to flow downward gradually to said bowl face of said owl portion while whirling satisfactorily in said rim channel.
Moreover, in the western-style flush toilet of the first and second inventions, the rim channel may open at the whole periphery between the inward surface of the rim and the bowl face of the bowl portion. It is so-called an open rim. With such a constitution, it is possible to obtain an advantage in the manufacturing cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a western-style flush toilet of an embodiment 1 in the first and second inventions.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view in an enlarge form of an essential portion of a western-style flush toilet of an embodiment 2 in the first and second inventions.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

{First and Second Inventions}

Embodiments 1 and 2 which embody the first and second inventions are explained hereinafter in conjunction with drawings.

(Embodiment 1)

As shown in Figure 1, a western-style flush toilet of the embodiment 1 includes a western-style toilet body 1 made of porcelain and a distributor 2 which is a part of a washing device mounted at the rear of the western-style toilet body 1. A water tank which constitute a part of the washing device, a toilet seat and a toilet lid are not shown in the drawing.
The western-style toilet body 1 has a bowl portion 3 which receives filth, a trap portion 4 which is connected to a lower edge of the bowl portion 3 and a base seat portion 5 which conceals the bowl portion 3 and the trap portion 4. At the rear of the western-style toilet body 1, an installation portion 6 on which the water tank is installed is formed, and the distributor 2 made of resin is provided in the installation portion 6.
Besides, an open rim 8 is formed at the whole of an upper periphery of the bowl portion 3. The open rim 8 comprises an upper side wall portion 8a which is protruded inwardly from the upper periphery of the bowl portion 3 in an approximately horizontal direction and an inner side wall portion 8b which is extended from an inner edge of the upper side wall portion 8a in an approximately vertical direction. In the inside of the open rim 8, a stepped portion 8c is formed in such a manner that it is protruded in approximately parallel to the upper side wall portion 8a. Furthermore, a rim channel 7 for guiding water which is spouted from the distributor 2 along the stepped portion 8c is formed in the inside of the open rim 8.
As the characterized constitution of the western-style flush toilet, an inward surface of the inner side wall portion 8b in the open rim 8 is an identical surface to a bowl face 3a of the bowl portion 3 at the whole of the upper periphery of the bowl portion 3. Thus, the rim channel 7 opens at the whole periphery between the inner side wall portion 8b and the bowl face 3a by means of an opening 7a.
As above-mentioned, in the western-style flush toilet with such a constitution, water which is supplied from the water tank is spouted from the distributor 2 toward the rim channel 7, and then, the water flows downward to the bowl portion 3 while whirling, and after that, the water is discharged by way of the trap portion 4 while washing the bowl face 3a of the bowl portion 3.
In the western-style flush toilet, since the inward surface of the inner side wall portion 8b is an identical surface to the bowl face 3a, the splashed stains are hardly adhered to the rim channel 7 such as a rear side of the upper side wall portion 8a or a rear side of the inner side wall portion 8b. As a result, a nasty smell such as ammonia is hardly generated, and the person who uses the western-style flush toilet doesn't feel uncomfortable. Besides, the western-style flush toilet is sanitary.
Furthermore, in this western-style flush toilet, stains adhered to the bowl portion 3 around the open rim 8 exist at the position which a cleaning person easily sees, and it is easy for the cleaning person to confirm whether or not the stains are adhered or removed. In addition, since the inward surface of the inner side wall portion 8b is an identical surface to the bowl face 3a, the stains are easily wiped out at one time. Accordingly, it is possible for the cleaning person to carry out the cleaning satisfactorily.
Moreover, the western-style flush toilet has the stepped portion 8c which forms the rim channel 7 at a boundary between the bowl portion 3 and the open rim 8. With such a constitution, water doesn't flow downward immediately, and the water gradually flows downward to the bowl face 3a of the bowl portion 3 while whirling satisfactorily in the rim channel 7. As a result, it is possible to improve the washing effect of the whole of the bowl portion 3 as compared with the western-style flush toilet which doesn't have the stepped portion 8c.
Therefore, in the western-style flush toilet, stains are hardly adhered to the open rim 8. As a result, a nasty smell and the like are hardly generated, and the person who uses the western-style flush toilet feels comfortable. Besides, the western-style flush toilet is sanitary. In addition, in the western-style flush toilet, it is possible to obtain an advantage in the manufacturing cost.

(Embodiment 2)

As shown in Figure 2, in a western-style flush toilet of the embodiment 2, a western-style toilet body 1 has an open rim 18 in which an inner side wall portion 18b is formed at the further outside as compared with the western-style flush toilet of the embodiment 1. Accordingly, the inward surface of the inner side wall portion 18b is positioned outwardly with respect to a bowl face 3a of a bowl portion 3. Other constitutions are the same as those of the embodiment 1.
As above-mentioned, in the western-style flush toilet with such a constitution, an inward surface of the inner side wall portion 18b is positioned outwardly with respect to the bowl face 3a of the bowl portion 3, so the ease of wiping out the stains is somewhat inferior as compared with the western-style flush toilet of the first embodiment. However, other operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Industrial Applicability

Accordingly, in the western-style flush toilet of the first and second inventions, stains are hardly adhered to a rim, and as a result, a nasty smell and the like are hardly generated. Furthermore, the person who uses the western-style flush toilet feels comfortable, and the western-style flush toilet is sanitary.

Claims

A western-style flush toilet including a western-style toilet body (1) comprising a bowl portion (3) and a rim (8) which is formed at an upper periphery of said bowl portion (3) and which has a rim channel (7) in the inside thereof, and
a washing device (2) which is capable of spouting water to said rim channel (7),
wherein said water, which is spouted from said washing device (2), is provided for washing said bowl portion (3) by way of said rim channel (7), and
wherein at the transition of said bowl portion (3) and said rim (8) an inward surface of said rim (8) is flush with a bowl face (3a) of said bowl portion (3),
characterized in that
said rim (8) is an open rim comprising an upper side wall portion (8a) which is protruded inwardly from the upper periphery of said bowl portion (3) in an approximately horizontal direction, and an inner side wall portion (8b) which is extended from an inner edge of said upper side wall portion (8a) in an approximately vertical direction,
a stepped portion (8c) is formed in such a manner that it is protruded in approximately parallel to the said upper side wall portion (8a) in the inside of said open rim (8), and
said rim channel (7) guides water which is spouted from the washing device (2) along the stepped portion (8c).
A western-style flush toilet including a western-style toilet body (1) comprising a bowl portion (3) and a rim (18) which is formed at an upper periphery of said bowl portion (3) and which has a rim channel (7) in the inside thereof, and
a washing device (2) which is capable of spouting water to said rim channel (7), wherein said water which is spouted from said washing device (2) is provided for washing said bowl portion (3) by way of said rim channel (7),
characterized in that
at the transition of said bowl portion (3) and said rim (18), an inward surface of said rim (18) is positioned outwardly with respect to a bowl face (3a) of said bowl portion (3),
said rim (18) is an open rim comprising an upper side wall portion (8a) which is protruded inwardly from the upper periphery of said bowl portion (3) in an approximately horizontal direction, and an inner side wall portion (18b) which is extended from an inner edge of said upper side wall portion (8a) in an approximately vertical direction,
a stepped portion (8c) is formed in such a manner that it is protruded in approximately parallel to the said upper side wall portion (8a) in the inside of said open rim (18), and
said rim channel (7) guides water which is spouted from the washing device (2) along the stepped portion (8c).
A western-style flush toilet according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein said rim channel (7) guides said water not to flow downward immediately, but to flow downward gradually to said bowl face (3a) of said bowl portion (3) while whirling satisfactorily in said rim channel (7).