EP1959061B1

EP1959061B1 - Accessory for the bowl of a lavatory, particularly for a water closet

Info

Publication number: EP1959061B1
Application number: EP08151338A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gino Didonè
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-14
Filing date: 2008-02-13
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-13
Also published as: EP1959061A2; ATE530715T1; EP1959061A3; ITUD20070031A1

Abstract

An accessory for the bowl (12) of a lavatory, having an upper edge (14), substantially annular in shape, comprises at least a first hygienic board (28) mating in shape with that of said upper edge (14), able to function as a partial cover for the latter and able to be hinged on the bowl (12) so as to be selectively moved with respect to the upper edge between a lowered position, covering the latter, and a raised position. A delivery means (26) is also provided, able to deliver water and to be disposed in correspondence with the upper edge, in the hinging zone (17) of the first hygienic board (28). The first hygienic board (28) is provided with a rear portion (29) able to function as an at least partial cover for the delivery means (26), when it is in the lowered position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an accessory for the bowl of a lavatory, particularly for a lavatory provided with a bowl or pan, a flush and a discharge pipe, the so-called water closet or WC.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that a lavatory, or so-called water closet or WC, consists of a bowl or pan, a flush and a discharge pipe for the water. A small board is typically provided, of a shape mating with the upper edge of the bowl, which for reasons of hygiene and cleanliness covers the latter, while a lid covers the whole.
The use of the so-called "bidet" is also known, that is, a washbasin of an elongated shape, so that it is possible to sit astride it, provided with a tap to deliver water and used for the personal hygiene of the body. The bidet is typically used by a user for hygiene and cleaning purposes, after he/she has used the WC. Depending on how the bathroom is organized, the bidet may be adjacent to the WC, or distant from it, or even in another room.
In certain situations, especially in lavatories intended for persons in wheelchairs, installing the bidet next to the WC requires a lot of space, in spaces that are often limited, and this makes it inconvenient to use.
Moreover, in the case of one-roomed or two-roomed apartments, or studio apartments, although there may be a need to install a bidet! in the bathroom, it is not done, since it would occupy too much space, given the limited size of these dwellings.
FR-A-2.186.039 and FR-A-2.352.116 disclose a WC having delivery means able to deliver a jet of water towards the bowl of the WC, so that it integrates the functionality of a "bidet". FR-A-2.352.116 discloses an accessory for a bowl according to the preamble of claim 1.
EP-A-1.288.381 and US-A-2006/0162058 also disclose a combination of a WC and a "bidet".
The solutions known in the art have the disadvantage that the delivery means for water are not well protected and are exposed to dirty, contamination and splashes and are difficult to maintain in clean conditions.
In consequence, the hygienic and sanitary conditions that are, of course, required for such applications, are not met for the solutions known in the art.
Purpose of the present invention is to achieve an accessory for the bowl of a lavatory, or water closet, which will also allow to use the bidet in a hygienic and economical manner both from the point of view of the space used, and also from the point of view of the components used.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purpose, an accessory according to the present invention can be used for the bowl of a lavatory, having an upper edge of a substantially annular shape.
The accessory comprises a lid, able to be positioned above said upper edge, in order to cover said bowl, and hinged, in a hinging zone, on said bowl, in order to be selectively moved with respect to said upper edge between a raised position and a lowered position in which it covers said bowl.
The accessory further comprises delivery means, able to deliver water and disposed in correspondence with or upon said upper edge, in a substantial proximity of the hinging zone of the lid. It is clear that in the present invention, by water we also mean, according to needs, a washing liquid based on water and a detergent, soap or suchlike.
According to the present invention, said lid has a housing zone provided in correspondence with or upon said hinging zone, which is able to house said delivery means so that said delivery means are protected and substantially surrounded by the surfaces of the housing zone, when said lid is in said lowered position.
By means of the housing zone of the lid, the delivery means are prevented from dirty, contamination and splashes when the lid is closed and the delivery means are inactive. By the term protected, we mean that the delivery means, and in particular the delivery end thereof, are kept separated and hidden from the surrounding ambient, so that they cannot be reached by external objects and elements.
According to a variant, the accessory further comprises at least a first hygienic board mating in shape with that of said upper edge, able to function as a partial cover for the latter and hinged on said bowl so as to be selectively moved with respect to said upper edge between a lowered position, covering said upper edge, and a raised position.
By means of the present invention an accessory is achieved for the bowl of a lavatory which, thanks to the water delivery means, performs both the traditional functions of the water closet, and also those of the bidet. This allows to use the lavatory also as a bidet, in an economical manner, both due to the limited space used, without occupying additional space with respect to the bulk provided for the water closet itself, and also due to the cost and number of components.
Moreover, the present invention is also very hygienic.
Advantageously, in order to increase the convenience of use and the hygiene of the present invention, it not only comprises a lid that completely closes the bowl and which is able to completely protect said delivery means, it also comprises a second hygienic board, having the same shape as the first hygienic board. The second hygienic board is able to be positioned between the upper edge and the first hygienic board and is also hinged to said bowl. The second hygienic board functions as a further cover for the upper edge and, when the first hygienic board is raised, it functions advantageously as a seat for use of the water closet as a bidet.
According to the present invention, the housing zone is a window portion provided in a rear portion of the lid, in which a hollow enclosure, that houses a delivery end of said delivery means, is disposed. The enclosure is hinged in the window portion in order to be pivotally inclined with respect to the lying plane of the lid, between a first protected position, in which the enclosure is completely retracted into the window portion, flush with the lid, so that at least the delivery end is protected, and a second position, in which the enclosure protrudes from the lying plane of the lid towards said bowl, so that the delivery end is able to direct the relative jet of water towards the inside of said bowl.
Advantageously, said enclosure has a first end in correspondence with said delivery end and a second end, opposite to said delivery end, which tends to downwardly rotate towards said bowl, so that, when the lid is in the lowered position, said enclosure moves automatically in said first position and when the lid is in the raised position, said enclosure moves automatically in said second position.
It is clear that, for hygienic reasons, the water feed of the water delivery means is preferably separate and distinct from that of the flush of the water closet, whereas, advantageously, the discharge thereof is in common, on the bottom of the bowl.
Thanks to the fact that it can be installed on already existing lavatories, the accessory according to the present invention is advantageously applicable not only in lavatories of civil homes, public buildings or other structures of an immobile type, but also in mobile means, such as campers, caravans, boats, cruise ships, airplanes or other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a lateral view of an accessory in a closed condition, associated with the bowl of a lavatory;
fig. 2 is a perspective view of the accessory in fig. 1;
fig. 3 is a lateral view of an accessory in a first open condition;
fig. 4 is a perspective view of the accessory in fig. 3;
fig. 5 is a lateral view of an accessory, in a second open condition;
fig. 6 is a perspective view of the accessory in fig. 5;
fig. 7 is a lateral view of an accessory in a third open position; and
fig. 8 is a perspective view of the accessory in fig. 7;
fig. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the accessory of the present invention, in an open position;
fig. 10 is a side view of fig. 9;
fig. 11 is a side view of the accessory of fig. 9, in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

The embodiments described in relation to figs. 1 - 8 do not form part of the present invention.
With reference to fig. 1, an accessory 10 can be used for the bowl or pan 12 of a lavatory or water closet, having an upper edge 14 that delimits the relative upper aperture of the bowl 12, substantially annular in shape and which defines a relative sitting plane P. For ease of representation, in fig. 2 the upper edge 14 and the bowl 12 are shown schematically by a line of dashes.
The accessory 10 comprises a first hygienic board 28, of annular shape, mating with that of the upper edge 14 (figs. 3 and 4). The board 28 is able to function as a lid for the upper edge 14, both to prevent the latter from getting dirtyy, and also to allow the user to sit (figs. 3 and 4).
The board 28 is able to be hinged to the bowl 12, in a relative hinging zone 17, to be selectively moved with respect to the upper edge 14, between a lowered position (figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), parallel to the plane P, and a raised position (figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8), inclined with respect to the plane P.
In the hinging zone 17, in correspondence with the upper edge 14, a water delivery device 26 is able to be disposed, able to deliver water towards the inside 7 and 8).
The board 28 is formed, in a known manner, by an annular plate element which defines a relative aperture 31 and having a rear portion 29, which is able to function as an at least partial cover for the delivery device 26, when the board 28 is in the lowered position (figs. 3 and 4).
In this case, the rear portion 29 of the board 28 comprises a recess 30, substantially rectangular in shape and of a size able to contain the bulk of the delivery device 26.
On the rear portion 29 a vertical ridge 34 is made, which surrounds the recess 30 and is formed by a long wall 34a interposed between the two short lateral walls 34b and facing them. The ridge 34 is able to function as an at least partial cover for the delivery device 26 and is able, by means of relative hinging portions 36, to be hinged to the bowl 12. In this way, the ridge 34 is a vertical screen against unwanted splashes of liquid and water which, from inside the bowl 12, are directed towards the delivery device 26 (fig. 4).
The accessory 10 also comprises a lid 20, able to be positioned above the first hygienic board 28, to cover the aperture 31 and therefore the bowl 12. In particular, the lid 20 is solid and the shape of its external perimeter is analogous to that of the upper edge 14 and the board 28, advantageously slightly bigger in size (figs. 1 and 2).
The lid 20 is able to be hinged on the bowl 12 in correspondence with the hinging zone 17, so as to be selectively moved with respect to the upper edge 14 between a raised position, inclined with respect to the plane P, and a lowered position, substantially parallel to the plane P and in which it covers and closes the bowl 12 at the upper part (figs. 3 and 4). When the lid 20 is lowered, that is, closed, the board 28 is inserted substantially retracted inside it.
The lid 20 has a protruding portion 22, made in the relative hinging zone 17, which has a substantially box-like shape and which extends from the surface of the lid 20 (figs. 1 and 2).
The protruding portion 22 is able to function as a cover for the delivery device 26, when the lid 20 is in its lowered position and, thanks to its box-like shape, also as a housing for the delivery device 26 (fig. 2).
The protruding portion 22 has a shape substantially mating with that of the recess 30 and of the relative ridge 34, made on the first hygienic board 28 (fig. 2).
In particular, the protruding portion 22 is able to define a relative seating 24 (fig. 2) delimiting a housing zone, substantially closed by side surfaces or walls, in which the delivery device 26 is able to be housed, so as to determine the complete coverage of the latter when the lid 20 is in its lowered position (figs. 1 and 2).
On the contrary, when the lid 20 is raised and the board 28 is lowered (figs. 3 and 4), the delivery device 26 is only partly covered, as described above.
When the board 28 is raised too (figs. 5 and 6), the delivery device 26 is completely accessible for the user.
The accessory 10 also comprises a second hygienic board 38, of annular shape mating with that of the first hygienic board 28, and consequently also with that of the upper edge 14 (figs. 5 and 6), able to be inserted retracted inside the board 28.
The second hygienic board 38 is able to be positioned between the first hygienic board 28 and the upper edge 14, and hinged to the bowl 12, in the relative hinging zone 17, to be selectively moved with respect to the upper edge 14, in particular to be lowered and raised, like the first board 28 and the lid 20 (figs. 7 and 8).
The second board 38 functions as a further cover for the upper edge 14 and, once the first hygienic board 28 has been raised, the user can sit upon it (fig. 6). In this configuration, that is, with the board 28 raised and the board 38 lowered, the delivery device 26 is completely accessible for the user, who can therefore use the bowl 12 as a bidet too. With respect to the board 28, the second hygienic board 38 has an open-ring profile, with relative hinging portions 39 at the ends.
Advantageously, the hygienic boards 28 and 38 and the lid 20, for their hinging, are provided in the hinging zone 17 with relative holes of which, for convenience, in the attached drawings only the holes 18 of the lid 20 and 19 of the board 38 are indicated. The holes are aligned and in cooperation with each other, by means of hinging pins, not shown in the drawings, which in turn are connected to an attachment plate 13, able to be mounted on the upper edge 14, in the hinging zone 17 (fig. 2).
The delivery device 26 comprises a tap 42 having a delivery body 46, connected to a circuit of the domestic water network, preferably to a separate circuit from that of the flush of the water closet, and a delivery nozzle 44, to deliver the water towards the inside of the bowl 12 and the private parts of the user sitting on the board 38.
Advantageously, the nozzle 44 is articulated with respect to the delivery body 46, so as to be able to be rotated selectively between an inactive position, substantially parallel to the upper edge 14 (figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8), and a rotated position, transverse with respect to the upper edge 14, in which it is able to direct the relative jet of water towards the inside of the bowl 12 (figs. 5 and 6).
Advantageously, the fact that the board 38 has an open ring profile means that the nozzle 44 and the relative jet of water do not interfere with the board 38, avoiding any dripping directly onto it and therefore determining a condition of great cleanliness.
In particular, when the board 28 is in the lowered position, the embodiment of the nozzle 44 as an articulated type is advantageous, since in its inactive position it is easily contained inside the recess 30, without having any parts protruding, and contributes to reducing the overall bulk of the accessory 10 (figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8).
Advantageously, the selective rotation of the nozzle 44 also determines the delivery of the relative jet of water.
As an alternative to the articulated nozzle 44, it is possible to make a nozzle selectively removable from the body 46, by means of a flexible tube.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, disclosed in fig. 9, 10 and 11, the lid 20 is provided with a housing zone defined by a window portion 122, in a rear portion thereof, substantially in proximity of the hinging zone 17, in which a hollow enclosure 130, of elongated shape, is disposed. The hollow enclosure 130 comprises a delivery end 144 of water delivery means 126, coaxially disposed, with the same function of the above-mentioned delivery means 26. The delivery means 126 comprise a tap 142, mounted on the lateral edge of the lid 20 in order to control and possibly mix, the jet of water, and a delivery body 146, in fluidic connection with said delivery end 144, for the water inlet. In this way, the delivery means 126 are substantially integrated with the lid 20.
In particular, the enclosure 130 is hinged in a central region of the window portion 122, in order to be pivotally inclined in respect to the lying plane of the lid 20, between a first protected position, in which the enclosure 130 is completely retracted into the lid 20 so that the delivery means 126 are protected and a second position, in which the enclosure 130 protrudes from the lid 20 towards said bowl 12, so that the delivery end 144 is able to direct the relative jet of water towards the inside of said bowl 12.
The enclosure 130 has a first end 131 in correspondence with said delivery end 144 and a second end 132, opposite to said delivery end 144, which tend to downwardly rotate towards said bowl 12, so that, when the lid 20 is in the lowered position, said enclosure 130 goes automatically in said first position and when the lid 20 is in the raised position, said enclosure 130 goes automatically in said second position.
The enclosure 130 is provided with extra-rotation stop means 133 able to impede the further rotation of the enclosure 130 when the lid 20 is in the lowered position, so that the enclosure 130 is flush with the lid 20 in the first position.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the accessory 10 for the bowl of a lavatory as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Accessory for the bowl (12) of a lavatory, having an upper edge (14), substantially annular in shape, comprising:
- a lid (20), able to be positioned above said upper edge (14), in order to cover said bowl (12), and hinged, in a hinging zone (17), on said bowl (12), in order to be selectively moved with respect to said upper edge (14) between a raised position and a lowered position in which it covers said bowl (12),

- delivery means (126) able to deliver water and disposed in correspondence with or upon said upper edge (14), in a substantial proximity of the hinging zone (17) of the lid (20),
wherein said lid (20) has a housing zone (122), which is able to house said delivery means (126) so that said delivery means (126) are protected and substantially surrounded by the surfaces of said housing zone (122), when said lid (20) is in said lowered position, characterized in that said housing zone is defined by a window portion (122) provided in the lid (20), in which a hollow enclosure (130), that houses a delivery end (144) of said delivery means (126), is disposed, said enclosure (130) being hinged in the window portion (122) in order to be pivotally inclined in respect to the lying plane of the lid (20), between a first protected position, in which the enclosure (130) is completely retracted into the window portion (122), flush with the lid (20), so that at least the delivery end (144) is protected and a second position, in which the enclosure (130) protrudes from the lying plane of the lid (20) towards said bowl (12), so that the delivery end (144) is able to direct the relative jet of water towards the inside of said bowl (12).
Accessory as in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least a first hygienic board (128) mating in shape with that of said upper edge (14), able to function as a partial cover for the latter and able to be hinged on said bowl (12) so as to be selectively moved with respect to said upper edge (14) between a lowered position, covering said upper edge (14), and a raised position.
Accessory as in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a second hygienic board (38), mating in shape with that of said first hygienic board (128), able to be positioned between said first hygienic board (128) and said upper edge (14) and able to be hinged on said bowl (12) so as to be selectively moved with respect to said upper edge (14).
Accessory as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said enclosure (130) has a first end (131) in correspondence with said delivery end (144) and a second end (132), opposite to said delivery end (144), which tends to downwardly rotate towards said bowl (12), so that, when the lid (20) is in the lowered position, said enclosure (130) moves automatically in said first position and when the lid (20) is in the raised position, said enclosure (130) moves automatically in said second position.
Accessory as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the enclosure (130) is provided with extra-rotation stop means (133) able to impede the further rotation of the enclosure (130) when the lid (20) is in the lowered position, so that the enclosure (130) is flush with the lid (20) in the first position.
Accessory as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the delivery means (126) comprise a tap (142), associated with the lid (20), and a delivery body (146), in fluidic connection with said delivery end (144).