EP2626478B1 - Shower WC with cleaning device for shower arm - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shower toilet having a cleaning device for the shower arm of the shower device of the shower toilet.

Toilets (water closets) with a shower facility to clean the user are known and spread for a long time. Usually, the shower device has a movable shower arm, which can be moved into a bowl of the toilet for cleaning from a completely or partially hidden position and can be moved back after cleaning. By the movement of the shower arm on the one hand to achieve a favorable position for a directed shower water leakage to the abdomen of the user and on the other hand be protected in the retracted position from dirt and damage when it is not in use. The movement can be linear, but it does not have to be linear. For example, in a flexible or rigid but curved shower arm, it may also be along a circular arc or other curved path.

Furthermore, extensive state of the art exists for cleaning devices in the shower device, which rinse the shower arm regularly, for example after each use, with rinsing water from the water connection of the shower device. In this case, the rinse water is brought in some form on the outer surface of the shower arm, takes impurities and runs with them through the siphon and waste water connection of the toilet bowl.

The prior art is exemplified in the EP 1 988 225 A1 showing the preamble of claim 1. According to paragraph [0023] therein, the used rinse water is discharged directly into the toilet bowl.

The generic term also shows the EP 2 463 448 A1 , which is post-published, but according to the figures of the pre-published WO 2011/016389 A1 equivalent.

Finally, we also refer to the JP 2006 249862 A showing a toilet-shower device with a shower arm which can be moved back and forth in a bowl.

The present invention is based on the technical problem of specifying a shower toilet with improved cleaning device of the shower device.

This problem is solved according to the invention by a shower toilet with a toilet bowl, a shower device and a shower arm of the shower device with a shower nozzle for a shower water outlet in the direction and to clean a user of the shower toilet, which shower arm into and out of the bowl the cleaning is zurückbewegbar, and a cleaning device of the shower device for rinsing the shower arm with water, characterized by a separate Spülwasserablauf to outside the bowl discharging the rinse water used to rinse the shower arm.

Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

In the shower toilet according to the invention so a separate flushing water drain is provided which dissipates the used for cleaning rinse water outside the toilet bowl. The used and rinsed by rinsed by the shower impurities contaminated rinse water does not run into the bowl itself and in particular not from a front opening of the shower device out at the rear of the bowl inner wall down to the siphon, but outside of the bowl. This contamination of the bowl inner wall and lime deposits can be effectively avoided there. It also avoids the ultimately unappetizing impression created by the user-visible drainage of used rinse water out the front of the shower set (or otherwise into the bowl) and along the bowl wall. In particular, there is no need for an additional rinse in the bowl after shower arm cleaning in the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning device is stationary and moves the shower arm in the already mentioned movement into the bowl and back through the cleaning device. So she can move back Condition of the shower arm can be arranged on or in the immediate vicinity of the bowl-side shower arm end and thus cover in the movement of a maximum part of the shower arm length, without even being so long. Preferably, then the flushing water drain is provided under the cleaning device.

In particular, the cleaning device may be a penetrated by the shower arm housing, which accordingly has two opposite openings for the shower arm and in its lower part a drain neck of Spülwasserablaufs.

A cleaning device designed for a limited part of the overall length of the shower arm and provided with a corresponding housing may preferably have a flow-guiding device for influencing the flow around the shower arm by the flushing water, in particular in favor of a helical flow around. By "helical" is not necessarily meant in the mathematical sense of a helical shape, ie a helical shape, but more generally a combination of a shower arm wholly or partially surrounding and simultaneously axially advancing flow. For the axial component, a direction towards the bowl is preferred. In many embodiments of a shower arm, this means at the same time an axial component down the slope, because the shower arm is in many cases sloping down to the bowl and is also moved.

On the one hand, a flow around is preferred, which actually completely surrounds the shower arm at least once, preferably several times, and thereby has a uniform direction of rotation. On the other hand, a flow consisting of two partial flows is preferred, each partial flow running on one side with its own and opposite to the other partial flows of rotation and preferably each partial flow makes up about half a turn around. Here, therefore, a total orbiting of the shower arm is divided into two opposing halves (or other fractions). Incidentally, this variant can also be configured without an axial component, that is not helical.

In the last-mentioned variant, it is further preferred that the rinsing water flows through an opening after the flow around the shower arm and then flows below the flow-guiding device to the rinsing water outlet. Since the rinse water is thereby returned slightly away from the bowl and drain pipe and a first part of the drain pipe require some height under the actual housing of the cleaning device, the installation options can be improved by this height is housed slightly away from the bowl. For illustration reference is made to the first embodiment.

A concrete preferred embodiment of a flow-guiding device can have at least one projecting rib on a housing inner wall, in the case of one multiple helical rounding so for example a kind of internal thread, the threads determine the Spülwasserströmung. The ribs do not necessarily have to be brought up to the shower arm, but can reach almost to these.

Furthermore, a siphon is preferably provided in a drain line to the rinse water drain. Thus, further downstream, for example, outside of the actual shower toilets, no odor traps are provided and detects the odor trap with its effect, the corresponding line piece from the shower toilet to connect to a common sewer line for the bowl and the cleaning device (which preferred but not mandatory). Preferably, this siphon is provided as close as possible to the actual flushing water outlet. It may consist in a particularly simple and practical embodiment of a corresponding bend of a flexible tube in the manner of a lying "S", which bend can be held, for example, by a cuff.

A further preferred embodiment of the cleaning device provides that the bowl-side end face of the shower arm is in the retracted state of the shower arm within the housing. Thus, the cleaning of this front page can be improved. Alternatively or additionally, a separate, d. H. additional Spülwasserdüse be provided, which sprays the face with rinse water. "In addition" means here that this Spülwasserdüse in addition to an already provided flushing water inlet into the cleaning device, for example in the region of the flow guide is present.

The cleaning device can also be improved by wetting the shower arm with water while it is being moved into the bowl to prevent it from sticking to dirt or to reduce it for ease of later cleaning. For this purpose, in particular the just mentioned additional end Spülwasserdüse be used.

A further embodiment provides to wash the shower arm exclusively in the return movement, in particular with the already mentioned helical flow around. Thus, during the extension of the shower arm, no rinsing water is consumed and the return movement is used to detect as much of the rinse arm length as possible with the cleaning device, in any case the area affected by soiling. For this purpose, in particular the helical flow can be used, has already been discussed.

Figuren 1, 2, 3

zeigen als erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einen Teil einer erfindungsgemäßen Duscheinrichtung, und zwar im Längsschnitt, in perspektivischer Ansicht bzw. in Draufsicht.

Figur 4

zeigt den linken Bereich der Figur 1, jedoch mit ausgefahrener Duscharmposition und mit WC-Schüsselwand.

Figuren 5, 6, 7, 8

zeigen eine Trommel einer Reinigungseinrichtung aus dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel in den Figuren 1 bis 3 in perspektivischer Ansicht und im Längsschnitt mit seitlicher und nach oben gerichteter Perspektive sowie mit nach unten gerichteter Perspektive.

Figuren 9, 10

zeigen einen Einspritzring der Bewegungseinrichtung des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels aus den Figuren 1 bis 3 in perspektivischer Ansicht bzw. im Längsschnitt.

Figur 11

zeigt einen Ablauftrichter der Reinigungseinrichtung des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels aus den Figuren 1 bis 3 in perspektivischer Ansicht.

Figur 12

zeigt eine Reinigungseinrichtung für eine Duscheinrichtung nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Figuren 13, 14, 15

zeigen eine Trommel der Reinigungseinrichtung aus Figur 12 in perspektivischer Ansicht, im Längsschnitt mit nach unten gerichteter Perspektive bzw. im Querschnitt.

Figur 16

zeigt das Frontteil der Reinigungseinrichtung aus Figur 12.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to two embodiments, wherein the individual features may be essential to the invention in other combinations.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3

show as a first embodiment of a part of a shower device according to the invention, in longitudinal section, in perspective view and in plan view.

FIG. 4

shows the left area of the FIG. 1 , but with extended shower arm position and with toilet bowl wall.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8

show a drum of a cleaning device of the first embodiment in the FIGS. 1 to 3 in perspective view and in longitudinal section with lateral and upward perspective and with downward perspective.

FIGS. 9, 10

show an injection ring of the moving means of the first embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 3 in a perspective view or in longitudinal section.

FIG. 11

shows a drain hopper of the cleaning device of the first embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 3 in perspective view.

FIG. 12

shows a cleaning device for a shower device according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 13, 14, 15

show a drum of the cleaning device FIG. 12 in a perspective view, in longitudinal section with downward perspective or in cross section.

FIG. 16

shows the front part of the cleaning device FIG. 12 ,

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a shower device according to the invention in the lateral direction and the FIGS. 2 and 3 show a perspective view and plan view, respectively, not cut. The following FIGS. 4 to 11 show more details.

In FIG. 1 is on the left a removable and pivotable about an upper horizontal axis closure flap 1 located in the installed state of the shower device is approximately flush with the bowl inner wall of the shower toilet. You can do that in FIG. 4 recognize the left area of the FIG. 1 shows, but with a still further explained shower arm 2 is moved to the left and the flap 1 has pushed upwards. The flap 1 is characterized by an in FIGS. 1 and 3 recognizable coil spring pushed back into the closed position as soon as the shower arm 2 is retracted. There you can see a below the flap 1 subsequent downward bowl inner wall section 3. The horizontal line above the flap 1 in FIG. 4 already describes the upper edge of the ceramic bowl, which is followed by a housing structure to the right of the flap 1, which is not drawn.

About the flap 1 is not shown in more detail flushing edge, so the bowl inner wall protrudes slightly further to the left.

The shower arm 2 can be seen in FIG. 2 also. He shows up two outlet openings for a shower water jet. Here is the front shower nozzle, how FIG. 1 in the section shows, somewhat obliquely aligned and the other shower nozzle relative to the shower arm approximately vertically. The oblique shower nozzle is analogously known as "Ladydüse" or "Vaginaldüse", the other as "anal nozzle". The shower arm 2 has a smooth cleaning-friendly surface, for example made of plastic in the front area and made of chromed brass in the adjoining sleeve, the in FIG. 2 is separated from the shower head itself by a circumferential line.

In comparison of the FIGS. 1 and 3 on the one hand and 2 on the other hand it can be seen that the shower arm is movable back and forth, along a guide rail 4 and with the aid of an electric motor not shown here. The shower arm takes a connection device at its opposite to the shower head End with two attached water pipes 5 for the two shower nozzles already mentioned with. As FIG. 1 shows in section, the shower arm contains two parallel supply lines from the supply hoses 5 to the two shower nozzles.

It can also be seen on the bowl-side end of the shower arm 2 in its zurückgefahrenem state (according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 ) a generally designated 6 cleaning device for the shower arm, which is explained in more detail below. First, here two supply hoses 7 are provided for rinse water, which are like the supply hoses 5 brought by a not shown supply unit of the shower device, which may include a control device, a water heater and the like. A drum 8, to which the hoses 7 are connected by means of two upwardly pointing stubs, is in FIG. 5 as an individual part shown in perspective and in the FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 in section (each along the shower arm), in longitudinal section with a vertical sectional plane in FIG. 6 , in longitudinal section with horizontal sectional plane and view upward in FIG. 7 and in longitudinal section with horizontal sectional plane and view down in FIG. 8 ,

In this drum 8, an injection ring 9 is provided, the FIG. 9 in perspective and FIG. 10 in a longitudinal section along the shower arm direction shows. The injection ring 9 is a through in the FIGS. 9 and 10 each lower left recognizable nose rotatably held in an in FIG. 6 and in FIG. 8 recognizable recess fits, cf. also FIG. 1 , This is on the turntable side in FIG. 1 By the way, the new injection-molded part with karo-hatching is a rod seal for sealing against the inside of the device. Furthermore, the in FIG. 1 left end of the drum 8 in a discharge funnel 10, the FIG. 11 in perspective shows and by the way off FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 results.

One recognizes first that the in FIG. 1 left Spülwasserschlauch 7 via the corresponding nozzle (see also FIGS. 5 to 7 ) Brings flushing water tangentially to the recognizable in Figure 1 end face of the shower arm 2. So this is a separate Spülwasserdüse for the face. The corresponding nozzle opening is in the FIGS. 6 and 7 provided with the reference numeral 11. Furthermore, it can be seen that the second nozzle of the drum 8 forms a flushing water inlet 12, which in a circumferential groove 13 of the injection ring 9 opens. Along this in the profile bowl side rectangular and on the opposite side quarter-circle shaped groove, the rinse water can be distributed over half a circumference and is then locked by two webs, one of which in FIG. 9 is recognizable. In the upper area, ie adjacent to the flushing water inlet 12, there is a relatively large passage 14 for flushing water towards the bowl, and on both sides thereof about 90 ° offset once again each time a small passage 15. Through this passes the flushing water can be seen (cf. FIG. 1 ) in an interior region of the drum 8, which is slightly reduced in diameter compared to the injection ring 9 receiving area. There are two in the FIGS. 5 to 7 clearly visible flow guide ribs 16.

The FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the shape of these Strömungsleitrippen 16, namely, represent two almost half a rounding of the shower arm making up excerpts from a helix, cf. especially FIG. 6 , They start together at their furthest away from the bowl and in relation to the vertical at the top ( FIG. 7 ) and divide by a projection towards the side of the dish ( FIG. 7 ) the rinse water leaving the passage 14. This flows along the two ribs helically around the guided inside the Strömungslitrippen shower arm down and exits between approximately parallel to the shower arm extending end portions of the Strömungsleitrippen 16 forward. The Strömungsleitrippen 16 are relatively close to the shower arm, see. FIG. 1 , Furthermore, the injection ring 9 fills the in FIG. 6 left interior area (with the two largest inner radii) of the drum 8 apart from the grooves, so that the Strömungsleitrippen 16 restrict the Spülwassströmung and can lead. The foremost region of the shower arm 2 is thereby detected by the nozzle opening 11 provided for its end face.

The drum 8 thus acts (together with the injection ring 9) as a kind of washing drum for the shower arm 2, through which the shower arm is moved during the washing process. Concretely, it is wetted during retraction using only the nozzle opening 11 and washed when returning using both openings 11 and 12. The nozzle opening 11 ensures in the retracted Condition for reliable cleaning of the face area of the shower arm 2.

The after leaving the rinse water from both inlet openings 11 and 12 ultimately leaves the front open end of the drum 8 (in FIG. 6 pointing to the right) and thus runs into the in FIG. 11 illustrated funnel 10, see. FIG. 1 , For this purpose, the end face of the drum 8 is located at the in FIG. 11 recognizable about a two-thirds ring-making investment area, see. FIG. 1 , The used rinse water is collected by the discharge funnel 10 and, due to its slightly sloping to the bottom side sloping bottom supplied to a drain pipe 17 to which a in FIG. 1 recognizable flexible drain hose 18 connects. This is bent to a lying "S" and by an in FIG. 2 visible cuff held in this form, so that a siphon and odor trap is formed. The drain hose 18 is connected to a not shown point of the shower toilet to the waste water from the bowl laxative drain pipe.

The discharge funnel 10 forms with the washing drum 8, a housing of the cleaning device and thus collects the used for the Duscharmreinigung rinse water and performs it outside of the toilet bowl through the drain hose 18. Incidentally, it does not depend on a really complete discharge of this rinse water. If individual splashes fall out of the drain funnel 10 through the bowl-side passage opening for the shower arm 2 or the shower arm 2 drops slightly when moving out, such small amounts of water can run through the recognizable bottom slope of the outside of the flap 1 adjoining bowl floor to the bowl and into the bowl drops. Experience has shown that no residues are associated with such residual amounts and results from this no limescale problem. For hygienic reasons, it is desirable in any case that no rinse water stops.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the parts 8, 9, 10 of the first embodiment corresponding part of a second embodiment. Two rinsing water hoses 7 as in the first embodiment do not approach here radially from above but tangentially from the side to a drum 23 and are connected to two corresponding nozzle with it. The drum 23 points to the right rear (related to FIG. 12 ) a rod seal construction as in the first embodiment, cf. FIG. 2 , The shower arm 2 with its shower water supply hoses 5 and the rail 4 is not drawn but analogously available. Incidentally, the drum 23 can be used in a very similar manner in a box-like construction around a closing flap 1, as shown in FIGS FIGS. 1 and 2 for the first embodiment is shown.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of only the drum without the hoses 7 and without a in FIG. 16 also shown in perspective front part 19. FIG. 14 shows an axial longitudinal section through the drum 23 looking downward and FIG. 15 a cross section, through the in FIG. 13 rear of the two hose connection pieces. It can be seen overall that the shower water supplied through the rear connecting piece approximately tangentially enters the interior of the drum 23 and helically guided along Strömungsleitrippen 22 around the shower arm until it with the last transition between two such ribs 22 in an opening in the lower area the drum enters (see FIG. 14 ). Through this opening and an in FIG. 16 recognizable opening in the front part 19, the rinse water runs off in a similar form via a drain hose 18, as shown in the first embodiment, wherein in the Figures 12 and 16 the nozzle for this hose is not shown. Again, front part 19 and drum form a housing of the cleaning device.

One recognizes further in FIG. 13 a front connecting piece 21, which is similar to tangential as the nozzle 20 in FIG. 15 Rinsing water injected, but here bowl-side of the Strömungsleitrippen 22, so to clean the end face of the shower arm. 2

In this second embodiment, therefore, the shower arm is two to three times circled by the rinse water. This rinse water and the flushing water injected via the nozzle 21 for the end face of the shower arm 2 have a smaller radial flow component than in the first embodiment, so that a "stem construction" as with the outlet funnel 10 FIG. 11 is not provided to the same extent, cf. FIG. 16 ,

Incidentally, the explanations to the first embodiment apply mutatis mutandis here.

Claims (14)

1. A washlet having
   a WC bowl (3),
   a shower means and
   a shower arm (2) of said shower means, having a shower nozzle for a supply of shower water towards a user of said washlet for cleaning said user, which shower arm (2) is movable into said bowl (3) for that purpose and is movable out of said bowl after said cleaning,
   and a cleaning apparatus (6) of said shower means for rinsing said shower arm (2) with water,
   characterized by a separate drain (10, 17, 18, 19) for the rinsing water for draining said rinsing water used for rinsing said shower arm (2), namely draining it outside of said bowl (3).
2. The washlet according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning apparatus (6) is provided stationary and is provided in such a way that said shower arm (2) is moved through said cleaning apparatus (6) when being moved into said bowl (3) and out of said bowl.
3. The washlet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cleaning apparatus (6) is a housing (8, 9, 10, 19, 23) enclosing said shower arm (2), said housing having passage openings towards opposite sides for said shower arm and comprising, at a lower wall region of said housing (8, 9, 10, 19, 23), a drain connection piece (17) of said drain (10, 17, 18, 19) for said rinsing water.
4. The washlet according to claim 3, wherein said housing (8, 9, 10, 19, 23) comprises an apparatus (16, 22) for guiding a flow for generating a helical flow of said rinsing water around said shower arm (2).
5. The washlet according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus (22) for guiding said flow is adapted for letting said rinsing water surround said shower arm (2) completely at least once along said apparatus (22) for guiding said flow, namely with a uniform sense of rotation.
6. The washlet according to claim 2, 3 or 4 having an apparatus (16) for guiding a flow, which is adapted for letting said rinsing water flow around said shower arm (2) from an entry (12) for said rinsing water to opposite sides with opposite senses of rotation.
7. The washlet according to claim 6, wherein said apparatus (16) for guiding said flow guides said rinsing water to an opening through which said rinsing water flows and passes below said apparatus for guiding said flow and flows in a direction away from said WC bowl (3) towards said drain (10, 17, 18) for said rinsing water.
8. The washlet according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said apparatus (16, 22) for guiding said flow is provided at the inside as a rib projecting at a wall of a housing (8, 9, 10, 19, 23) of said cleaning apparatus (6).
9. The washlet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a siphon is provided downstream of said drain (10, 17, 18, 19) of said rinsing water, preferably a flexible tube (18) bent for having the shape of a siphon.
10. The washlet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a front face of said shower arm (2), which faces the bowl, is located within a housing (8, 9, 10, 19, 23) of said cleaning apparatus (6) when said shower arm (2) is in the state of being moved out of the bowl.
11. The washlet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning apparatus (6) comprises an additional rinsing water nozzle (11, 21) which is arranged at that side of a further rinsing water entry (12, 20) of said cleaning apparatus (6), which side is oriented towards the bowl, said additional rinsing water nozzle being, when said shower arm (2) is in the state of being moved out of said bowl, directed towards a front face of said shower arm (2), which front face is oriented towards said bowl.
12. The washlet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning apparatus (6) is adapted for wetting said shower arm (2) when said shower arm is moved into said bowl (3), preferably by said additional rinsing water nozzle (11, 21) according to claim 11.
13. The washlet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning apparatus (6) is adapted for cleaning said shower arm (2) only when said shower arm is moved out of said bowl, preferably by a helical flow according to claim 4.
14. A shower means for a washlet comprising a WC bowl, having a shower arm (2) comprising a shower nozzle for a supply of shower water towards a user of said washlet for cleaning said user when said shower means are mounted, which shower arm (2) is, when said shower means are mounted, movable into said bowl (3) for that purpose and is movable out of said bowl after said cleaning,
    and a cleaning apparatus (6) of said shower means for rinsing said shower arm (2) with water,
    characterized by a separate drain (10, 17, 18, 19) for the rinsing water for draining said rinsing water used for rinsing said shower arm (2), namely draining it outside of said bowl (3).

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