EP2314192A1

EP2314192A1 - Sanitary bowl with a lid

Info

Publication number: EP2314192A1
Application number: EP10178597A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nilo Gioacchini
Original assignee: Hatria SpA
Current assignee: Hatria SpA
Priority date: 2009-09-28
Filing date: 2010-09-23
Publication date: 2011-04-27
Also published as: ITMI20091660A1; IT1395933B1

Abstract

Sanitary ware (10) comprising a collection bowl (11), a seat (12) and a lid (13), the seat and the lid being connected to one another and to the bowl through at least one hinge element (14), one fixed wing (15) of at least one hinge element forming the connection of the seat/lid assembly to the collection bowl, wherein the fixed wing is fitted on a fixing member (16) provided with a pin (17) projecting from the collection bowl and held in position through a magnetic coupling.

Description

The present invention refers to a sanitary ware.
In particular the present invention refers to a sanitary ware of the WC type provided with a collection bowl, usually made of ceramic material, provided with a lower discharge and of means for supplying water at the upper edge thereof.
Furthermore such sanitary ware comprises a seat and a respective lid associated to one another through two hinge elements, with horizontal axis, provided with fixed wings constrained to the upper edge of the collection bowl.
Currently, coupling to the collection bowl of the abovementioned fixed wings occurs by fastening threaded elements, such as screws or bolts, respectively passing through in holes made both on the wings and on the upper edge of the collection bowl.
This configuration implies several disadvantages among which it extremely complicates the removal of the seat/lid assembly from the respective collection bowl. Removal thereof may be required for possible replacement of the seat or of the lid or so as to allow cleaning them and the portions of the sanitary ware otherwise difficult to reach, such as those arranged in proximity to the attachment points of the fixed wings.
A main object of the present invention is that of providing a sanitary ware capable of overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, inexpensive and particularly functional manner.
Another object of the present invention is that of providing a sanitary ware wherein the seat/lid assembly of the collection bowl is easy to remove.
Another object of the present invention is that of providing a sanitary ware wherein the seat/lid assembly of the collection bowl is removable without having to loosen any mechanical component.
These and other objects according to the present invention are attainable by providing a sanitary ware as outlined in claim 1.
Further characteristics of a sanitary ware according to the present invention are an object of the dependent claims.
Characteristics and advantages of a sanitary ware according to the present invention shall be clearer from the description that follows, provided by way of non-limiting example, referring to the attached drawings wherein:

figure 1 shows a top view of a sanitary ware according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a schematic rear partial elevational view of the sanitary ware of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a schematic side partial elevational view of the sanitary ware of figure 1;
figure 4 shows a partial sectional view of the sanitary ware of figure 1 along the line of section IV-IV;
figure 5 shows a particular sectional enlargement of the sanitary ware of figure 1 along the line of section V-V; and
figures 6 and 7 show a detail of the sanitary ware according to the present invention respectively exploded and assembled.

Referring to the figures, an embodiment of a sanitary ware according to the present invention is shown with 10.
Such sanitary ware 10 comprises a collection bowl 11, a seat 12 and a lid 13, wherein the seat 12 and the lid 13 are connected to one another and to the bowl 11 through at least one hinge element 14.
Such hinge element 14 may be, like other currently known hinges, of the friction type capable of avoiding violent unwanted collisions between the seat 12 and the lid 13.
As observable in figures 1 and 2, the sanitary ware 10 preferably comprises two hinge elements 14 with horizontal axis associated on opposite sides to the upper edge of the collection bowl 11.
Each hinge element 14 is provided with a portion interposed between the seat 12 and the lid 13 and a free head portion projecting from the seat 12/lid 13 assembly.
A fixed wing 15 which forms the connection of the seat/lid assembly to the collection bowl 11 is present coupled to this free end of the hinge element 14. According to the invention, such fixed wings 15 are fitted on respective fixing members 16 connected to the collection bowl 11 and provided with a pin 17 projecting at the upper part from the upper edge of the collection bowl 11 itself.
In particular, the coupling between the fixed wings 15 and the respective fixing members 16, i.e. the fitting of the fixed wings 15 onto the pins 17, is held in position by means of a magnetic return.
According to the invention, the abovementioned magnetic return provided for is not such as to make unreleasing the coupling by hand, but it is of the type capable of preventing unwanted slipping off of the seat/lid assembly during normal manoeuvre, but simultaneously allow manual removal if required.
In the example shown in figure 5, the abovementioned magnetic return between the fixed wings 14 the respective fixing members 16 is provided through a magnet 18, associated to the pin 17 of the fixing member 16, and at least one portion 19 of the fixed wing 15 made of ferromagnetic material.
Such magnet 18 is preferably highly efficient, with high magnetic field, for example of the neodymium type.
As shown in figure 6, the fixing member 16 comprises an expansion bolt coupled to a hole 22 obtained on the collection bowl 11 and provided, in a per se known manner, with a screw 20, an expansion jacket 21 and an expander 21'.
The pin 17 and the magnet 18 are respectively arranged one on top of the other around the upper portion of the screw 20 projecting at the upper part from the edge of the collection bowl 11.
A washer 23 and a gasket 24 which serve as an upper abutment with the hole 22 of the collection bowl 11 are present beneath the magnet 18, and around the screw 20. As described, the fixed wing 15 is coupled onto the pin 17, below which the magnet 16 is present.
Such coupling occurs by inserting the pin 17 into a reception seat 24 obtained in the fixed wing 15.
Preferably, as shown in figure 4, the portion 19 - made of ferromagnetic material - of the fixed wing 15 is cup-shaped and arranged at the opening of the seat 24 in such a manner to surround - both at the upper part and laterally - the magnet 18 arranged below the pin 17 around the screw 20.
Thus, the advantage of the sanitary ware subject of the present invention lies in the fact that the coupling between fixed wings 15 of the hinges 14 and the upper edge of the collection bowl 11 does not occur by fastening the mechanical components, such as screws or bolts, but by simply approaching the wings 15 on the pins 17.
As described, such approaching is held in position through the magnetic return that is generated between the ferromagnetic portion 19 of the wing 15 and the magnet 18 constrained to the upper edge of the collection bowl 11.
Thus, advantageously the sanitary ware of the present invention guarantees firm coupling of the seat/lid assembly to the collection bowl and simultaneously allows easy removal of the seat/lid assembly when required.
In particular, magnetic coupling prevents unwanted vertical detachment of the seat/lid assembly, while the pin 17 serves both as a centring for the wings 15 and as a resistant element against possible lateral forces. Contrary to the prior art, the removal of the seat/lid assembly occurs without loosening and/or deforming any mechanical component but only manually slipping off the wings 15 from the pins 17 overcoming the magnetic return force present between such elements.
Lastly, it is clear that the sanitary ware thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the invention; furthermore all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, all materials used, as well as the dimensions, may vary according to the requirements.

Claims

Sanitary ware comprising a collection bowl (11), a seat (12) and a lid (13), the seat (12) and the lid (13) being connected to one another and to the bowl through at least one hinge element (14), one fixed wing (15) of the at least one hinge element (14) forming the connection of the seat/lid assembly to the collection bowl (11), characterized in that said fixed wing (15) is engaged with a fixing member (16) equipped with a pin (17) projecting from the collection bowl (11) and held in place through magnetic coupling.
Sanitary ware according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing member (16) comprises a magnet (18), said fixed wing (15) comprising at least one portion (19) made from ferromagnetic material.
Sanitary ware according to claim 2, characterized in that said fixing member (16) comprises an expansion bolt provided with a screw (20), an expansion jacket (21) and an expander (21'), said screw being associated with a hole (22) made on the collection bowl (11), said pin (17) and said magnet (18) being arranged respectively one on top of the other around the upper portion of said screw (20) projecting from said collection bowl (11).
Sanitary ware according to claim 3, characterized in that said fixing member (16) comprises a washer (23) and a gasket (24) for abutting above said hole (22) of the collection bowl (11) arranged below said magnet (18) respectively one on top of the other around the upper portion of said screw (20) projecting from said collection bowl (11).
Sanitary ware according to claim 3, characterized in that said fixed wing (15) comprises a seat (24) for receiving said pin (17), said portion (19), made from ferromagnetic material, of said fixed wing (15) being cup-shaped and being arranged at the opening of said seat (24).