EP1472418B1

EP1472418B1 - Automatic toilet device

Info

Publication number: EP1472418B1
Application number: EP03702817A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianfrancesco Costa
Original assignee: Linea Citta' Srl
Current assignee: Linea Citta' Srl
Priority date: 2002-01-30
Filing date: 2003-01-30
Publication date: 2009-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-30
Also published as: ITBO20020046A0; DE60327842D1; ATE433018T1; ES2328343T3; ITBO20020046A1; EP1472418A1; WO2003064777A1

Abstract

An automatic toilet device includes moving means (2) fit for moving a toilet bowl (4) between an use condition (U), in which an user can utilize the bowl (4), and a cleaning condition (P), in which the bowl (4) is inside a space (3) and is cleaned by at least washing means thereof. The moving means (2) include a pivot means (5) vertically positioned close to a side vertex of space (3) and connected to bowl (4) to allow the rotation thereof. The moving means (2) further incldue first driving means (8) for moving the bowl (4) between use (U) and cleaining (P) conditions. The space (3) is provide with at least a first side opening (6) adjacent to bowl (4) and with a related door (7), moved by second driving means (9) between closing (C) and opening (A) conditions, in which the space (3) is repectively closed and accessible to the bowl (4). The device (1) has control means (10) for activating at least the driving means first (8) and second (9) and the washing meansfor the automatic operation of the device (1).

Description

TECIINICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field concerning automatic toilet devices installed in bathrooms.
Particularly, the present invention refers to an automatic toilet device for fixed or mobile automatic toilet, stand-alone or integrated in structures.

BACKGROUND ART

The known automatic toilet are essentially constituted by a structure, generally prefabricated in prestressed cement, or they consist of a room, inside which there is at least a toilet bowl that, once used by the user, is washed, sanitized and dried through an automatic procedure performed internally to said structure and only when the user is outside.
Such structures normally provide a couple of adjacent spaces: an utilization space, in which the user uses the toilet bowl and a technical space containing most of the means used for cleaning operations of the toilet bowl.
Said structures generally have moving means fit to bring in contact the cleaning means to the bowl in correspondence of one of two spaces.
The main drawback of the known toilet devices, consists in that the technical space is very bulky having a base surface equal to at least four times the bowl plan surface, because said space must accommodate bulky moving devices and, eventually, the bowl.
Further drawback consists in that the prefabricated or masonry structure is an integral part of the known toilet devices, which have several parts and components fixed to said structure, forcing to carrying out all the production phases inside the structure, with time extension and cost increase of production, transport and maintenance.
Document DE-A-41 32 265 discloses an automatic toilet device including the features of the preamble of claim 1 and thus including a toilet bowl, a space and a washing means.The toilet bowl can be manually moved between a use condition, in which an user can utilize the bowl, and a cleaning condition, in which the bowl is inside the space and is cleaned by the washing means thereof.
The device is provided with a pivot means fixed to a support means positioned close to a front side of the space and connected to the bowl allowing the rotation thereof.
The space is provided with a first side opening adjacent to bowl and with a related door. The door is movable by hand between closing and opening conditions, in which the space is respectively closed and accessible to the bowl.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to propose an automatic toilet device for automatic toilet having reduced dimensions and suitable for toilet carried out in fixed or mobile premises, rooms and structures of every dimension.
Further object is to propose a device, which can be carried out and transported without the toilet structure, simplifying production and technical assistance and reducing manufacturing cost and time.
Other object is also to propose a device, which can be installed in preexisting rooms, having either small or huge dimensions.
Further object is to propose a device, which allows washing the toilet bowl without watering or polluting adjacent parts or rooms.
Other object is also to propose a device having easy and economical manufacture, and simple installation and maintenance.
The above-mentioned objects are achieved according to contents of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the present invention are underlined in the following with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of the automatic toilet device of the present invention in a use condition and in which some parts have been removed for better underlining others;
figures 2 and 3 show views of figure 1 device respectively in an intermediate condition and in a closing condition;
figure 4 shows a front and partial view of figure 3 device in which some parts have been removed for better underlining others;
figure 5 shows a side view of figure 4 device;
figure 6 shows a view of a variant of figure 5 device;
figure 7 shows a front and partial view of a further variant of the figure 5 device.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to figures from 1 to 5, numeral 1 indicates the automatic toilet device object of the present invention.
The device 1 is provided with support means 16, made of box sections and an interconnection frame 23 fit for the mutual fixing and the interconnection of elements and means of said device.
The frame 23 supports side walls suitable for protecting the user's area from liquids and washing spurts, and it has at the front a first side opening 6 for the passage of a toilet bowl 4, moved by moving means 2, between a use condition U, in which an user can utilize the bowl 4, and a cleaning condition P, in which the bowl 4 is inside the space 3.
The moving means 2 include a pivot mean 5, vertically fixed to support means 16 close to a front side vertex of space 3 and connected to bowl 4 for allowing the rotation thereof. The moving means 2 include first driving means 8 for moving the bowl 4 between the use condition U and the cleaning condition P.
The side opening 6 is adjacent to bowl 4 and has a related door 7 rotating on hinge means 11 vertically fixed to frame 23 close to a side vertex of space 3 adjacent to the vertex of pivot mean 5.
The door 7 is rotated by second driving means 9, consisting of a pneumatic or hydraulic or electric linear actuator, between closing C and opening A conditions, in which the space 3 is respectively closed and accessible for the bowl 2.
The device 1 has control means 10, for instance of electronic type, for starting up the driving means first 8 and second 9 and washing means of the space 3, known and not shown, for the automatic operation of device 1.
The door 7 has a side extension 12 that, in the closing C and use U conditions, is interposed between bowl 4 and space 3 and it has perimetric gaskets in order avoid liquid leakages from the latter in the cleaning condition P.
Alternatively, it is provided that the second driving means 9 are vertically positioned in such a way that, in the passage from the closing condition C to the opening condition A and vice versa, they lifts and lowers nearly vertically the door 7 along side guides.
The pivot mean 5 is fixed on the upper side, is misaligned with respect to the bowl 4 and supports the latter by revolving support means 13.
The revolving support means 13 include first 14 and second 15 plates, mutually orthogonal and fit for closing, in collaboration with the door 7, the first opening 6 respectively in the cleaning P and washing V conditions.
The support means 16 are provided with at least an adjustable stand mean 18 to fit the device 1 to the structure in which the device is assembled, during installation.
The first driving means 8 consist of a linear actuator of double-acting pneumatic type or hydraulic or electric type fixed to the pivot mean 5 through flange means 17 integral thereto.
The device includes lock means 28 consisting of an actuator fixed to the support means 16 and provided with a latch mean 29 fit for engaging, in the use condition U, respective seat means 30, consisting of a hole of the revolving support means 13, in order to avoid rotation of the bowl 4 during the use thereof. The lock means 28 are operated by the control means 10.
A further hole of the seat means 30 is provided to allow the lock means 28 to stop also the bowl 4 in the cleaning condition P.
The drainage of bowl 4 is fixed to a drain manifold 22 an end of which is coaxial to the pivot mean 5 and rotatably engaged in a corresponding fitting for a backwater tank or the water drain.
The flow inlet of bowl 4 is fed by an expulsion manifold 31 an end of which is coaxial to the pivot mean 5 and rotatably engaged in a corresponding fitting refitting for a source of water or cleansing solution. In alternative, it is provided that the expulsion manifold 31 consists of a flexible pipe connecting the bowl 4 inlet to said source.
The device further has an extension of the space 3, separated from the latter by separator and fit, for instance, to accommodate in a spurt-safe place the control means 10, actuators, pumps, valves and washing means or parts thereof. It is provided that the extension of space 3 is higher and/or side to the latter.
The hinge means 11 of door 7 rotatably connect the latter to a bulkhead 24 of space 3. The bulkhead 24 is locked to a back wall 25 and to a bottom 26 delimitating the space 3.
Door 7, bulkhead 24, back wall 25 and bottom 26 are mutually connected in a single block removable from the device 1 by removing locking screws, easily accessible from the outside of space 3 in order to advantageously facilitate the periodic cleaning and the maintenance of the inner portion of the device 1.
The bottom 26 has manifold means 27 of the washing liquids consisting of inclined surfaces convergent toward a drainage, in flow communication with the backwater tank or with the water drain.
The operation of this device 1 provides that the control means 10 activate the second driving means 9, to drive the door 7 in the closing condition C, in correspondence of the use U and cleaning P conditions of the bowl 4, in order to isolate the user's area from space 3 in both conditions.
During the passage of bowl 4 from use condition U to cleaning condition P, and vice versa, the control means 10 activate first driving means 8 to drive the bowl 4 in an intermediate condition I of maximum distance of the latter from the door 7, to allow the passage of side extension 12 thereof from the closing condition C to the opening condition A and vice versa.
Thus, in the passage from the use condition U to the cleaning condition P the bowl is rotated at first in the opposite direction of space 3 and then, toward the latter up to the complete introduction.
The variant of figure 6 provides that the first driving means 8 consist of a ratio-motor 19 whose output is connected to the pivot mean 5.
In the variant of figure 7, the first driving means 8 consist of a linear actuator which is inside the support means 16 and has a rack 20, engaged in a pinion gear 21 of the pivot mean 5.
The invention also provides that the first driving means 8 consist of an electric rotating motor connected to pivot 5 by means of chains and/or belts.
It is important to observe that the arrangement of pivot 5, first opening 6 and door 7 allows advantageously to limit the plan surface of space 3 at a value slightly higher than the surface value of bowl 4 plan.
The main advantage of the present invention is to provide an automatic toilet device for automatic toilet having reduce dimensions and suitable for toilet carried out in fixed or mobile premises, rooms and structures of every dimension.
Further advantage is to provide a device which can be carried out and transported without the toilet structure, so simplifying production and technical assistance and reducing manufacturing cost and time thereof.
Further advantage is to provide a device allowing to completely isolate the cleaning space, particularly during the cleaning procedures, avoiding the contamination of use room with reactive and aggressive washing substances.
Other advantage is also to provide a device having easy and economical manufacture, and having simple installation and maintenance.

Claims

Automatic toilet device including at least a moving means (2), a toilet bowl (4), a space (3) and at least a washing means, the at least a moving means (2) fit for moving the toilet bowl (4) between a use condition (U), in which an user can utilize the bowl (4), and a cleaning condition (P), in which the bowl (4) is inside the space (3) and is cleaned by the at least a washing means thereof, wherein:
- the moving means (2) includes a pivot means (5) and connected to the bowl (4) allowing the rotation thereof,

- the moving means (2) includes first driving means (8) for moving the bowl (4) between use (U) and cleaning (P) conditions,

- the space (3) is provided with at least a first side opening (6) adjacent to the bowl (4) and with a related door (7), and including second driving means (9), the door (7) being movable by said second driving means (9) between closing (C) and opening (A) conditions, in which the space (3) is respectively closed and accessible to the bowl (4);

- said device (1) further including control means (10) for activating at least the driving means first (8) and second (9) and the washing means for the automatic operation of the device (1), characterised in that

- the pivot mean (5) is vertical and fixed to a support means (16) positioned close to a front side vertex of the space (3),

- said device (1) further including revolving support means (13), the pivot mean (5) is connected to the bowl (4) through the revolving support means (13);

- the revolving support means (13) include a first plate (14) and a second plate (15), the bach of the bowl (4) being supported by the second plate (15),

- the first plate (14) and a second plate (15) are orthogonal one to the other and the second plate (15) being fit to close, in collaboration with the door (7), the first opening (6), in the cleaning (P) and washing (V) condition.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the door (7) rotates on hinge means (11) nearly vertical and positioned close to a side vertex of space (3) adjacent to that of pivot mean (5).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the door (7) has a side extension (12) interposed between the bowl (4) and the space (3) in the closing (C) and use (U) conditions.
Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the control means (10) activate the second driving means (9) for driving the door (7) to the closing condition (C), in correspondence of use (U) and cleaning (P) conditions of bowl (4).
Device according to claim 3 characterized in that, in the passage of bowl (4) from use condition (U) to cleaning condition (P), and vice versa, the control means (10) activate the first driving means (8) to drive the bowl (4) in an intermediate condition (I) of maximum distance of the latter from the door (7) in order to allow the passage thereof from closing condition (C) to opening condition (A) and vice versa.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that in the passage from the closing condition (C) to the opening condition (A), the second driving means (9) translate almost vertically the door (7).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the pivot mean (5) is associated to the support means (16) at the upper side of the bowl (4) for supporting the latter.
Device according to claim 7 characterized in that the support means (16) are provided with at least an adjustable stand mean (18).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of the driving means (8, 9) consists of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric type actuator.
Device according to claim 9 characterized in that first driving means (8) are fixed to the pivot means (5) through flange means (17).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of the driving means (8, 9) consists of a ratio-motor (19).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that first driving means (8) consist of a linear actuator having a rack (20) engaged in a pinion gear (21) of the pivot mean (5).
Device according to claim 9 or claim 14 and claim 9 characterized in that at least the first driving means (8) are inside to the support means (16) of tubular type.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that includes a drain manifold (22), an end of which is fixed to the bowl (4) drainage and the remaining end is coaxial to the pivot means (5) and rotatably engaged in a corresponding fitting.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that includes a revolving or flexible expulsion manifold (31) and in flow communication with the flow inlet of bowl (4).
Device according to any of preceding claims characterized in that the space 3 has an interconnection frame (23).
Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the hinge means (11) are fixed to a bulkhead (24) of the space (3) locked to a back wall (25) and/or a bottom (26).
Device according to claim 17 characterized in that door (7), bulkhead (24), back wall (25) and bottom (26) are mutually connected and are removably locked to the device (1).
Device according to claim 17 characterized in that the bottom (26) has manifold means (27) of the washing liquids.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that includes lock means (28) for removably locking the bowl (4) in the use condition (U).
Device according to claims 7 and 20 characterized in that lock means (28) consist of an actuator fixed to support means (16) and provided with a latch mean (29) fit for engaging, at least in the use condition (U), respective seat means (30) of the revolving support means (13).