EP2876221A1

EP2876221A1 - Flushing tank with a interchangeable cover

Info

Publication number: EP2876221A1
Application number: EP14398015.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Noé Lopes Dias de Figueiredo; António Manuel Moura DE Oliveira
Original assignee: Oliveira and Irmao SA
Current assignee: Oli Sistemas Sanitarios SA
Priority date: 2013-11-22
Filing date: 2014-11-24
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Also published as: ITMI20131953A1

Abstract

A flush tank (1), which extends along a longitudinal axis (A), vertical in use, has a water cistern (2); a casing (3) at least partly covering the cistern (2); and a fastening device (4) for fixing the casing (3) removably to the cistern (2); the fastening device (4) having at least one separate connecting member (40) fixed removably to both the cistern (2) and the casing (3) by means of a first and second coupling (41, 42).

Description

The present invention relates to a flush tank with an interchangeable cover.
EP2166162-A1 describes a flush tank comprising an inner cistern, and an outer casing covering the cistern. The casing comprises a supporting frame, and a decorative cover forming the front side of the casing. The decorative cover is in the form of a plate, and is connected to the supporting frame removably or irremovably. The frame is attached to the cistern by grip fasteners fixed irremovably to a peripheral inner flange on the supporting frame, and which have flexible arms engaging respective pins projecting from the cistern.
The flush tank in EP2166162-A1 , and others like it, however, leave room for improvement, especially in terms of easy manufacture and assembly, and versatility.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flush tank which, compared with known solutions, is versatile and as easy, if not easier, to make and assemble.
More specifically, it is an object of the invention to enable flush tanks of different look to be produced, while at the same time minimizing the number of different component parts for manufacture.
According to the present invention, there is provided a flush tank as defined substantially in attached Claim 1, and with the additional characteristics defined in the dependent Claims.
The flush tank according to the invention is extremely quick and easy to make and, above all, to assemble, and is extremely versatile, by enabling a wide range of different variations.
More specifically, the invention allows the casing to be assembled and fixed to the cistern quickly, easily, and reliably, with no tools required.
The invention also allows flush tanks of different look to be produced, while minimizing the manufacture, storage, and management of different component parts.
The manufacturing stage is limited to producing one type of cistern with the relative internal component parts (drain valve, feed, valve, etc.), and a number of casings of different shapes, sizes, and/or external designs.
Compared with known solutions, versatility is enhanced using connecting members in the form of separate parts fixed removably or irremovably to the cistern, to connect the casing to the cistern. That is, different casings can be assembled easily to the same cistern using removable, interchangeable, intermediate connecting members, which serve to both fix and adapt the casing to the cistern with no structural alterations to the casing and/or cistern required.
A number of non-limiting embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows a partly exploded, front-top view in perspective of a first embodiment of the flush tank according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a partly exploded, front-bottom view in perspective of the Figure 1 flush tank;
Figure 3 shows an exploded view in perspective of a detail of the Figure 1 flush tank;
Figures 4A and 4B show the Figure 3 detail at respective assembly stages;
Figure 5 shows a view in perspective of a further detail of the Figure 1 flush tank at one assembly stage;
Figures 6 and 7 show partly exploded, front-top views in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of further embodiments of the flush tank according to the invention.

Number 1 in Figures 1 and 2 indicates a sanitary fixture flush tank.
Flush tank 1 extends along a longitudinal axis A which, in the normal work position of flush tank 1, is vertical.
Flush tank 1 comprises a cistern 2; a casing 3 which at least partly covers cistern 2 (and defines an interchangeable cover of flush tank 1); and a fastening device 4 for fixing casing 3 removably to cistern 2.
Cistern 2 has a tank body 5 which extends along axis A and is generically prismatic in shape (optionally with curved sides and/or rounded edges). More specifically, cistern 2 has a bottom wall 6 crosswise to axis A and from which project a front wall 7, a rear wall 8, and two opposite lateral walls 9. Cistern 2 has an open top end 10 (axially opposite bottom wall 6) bounded by a peripheral edge 11.
Bottom wall 6 has a drain hole 12 bounded by a collar 13 and connected to a drain pipe 14.
Cistern 2 houses a flush valve 16 and a feed valve 17 (both known and not shown or described in detail for the sake of simplicity); flush valve 16 is controlled by an actuating mechanism 18 (also substantially known) to drain the water from cistern 2 along drain pipe 14; and feed valve 17 is connected to the water mains by an inlet pipe 19 to fill cistern 2 after each flush.
Inlet pipe 19 is fitted inside a lateral opening 20 in a lateral wall 9 of cistern 2. Advantageously, both opposite lateral walls 9 of cistern 2 have an opening 20, so feed valve 17 can be located on the right or left side of flush tank 1, depending on the location of the water mains fitting. It is understood, however, that opening/s 20 may be formed elsewhere, e.g. in rear wall 8.
Cistern 2 has a known fastening system, not shown, for fixing cistern 2, directly or by means of a supporting frame, to a wall of the room in which flush tank 1 is installed.
Casing 3 may be of different shapes.
Purely by way of example, in Figures 1 and 2, casing 3 is substantially prismatic with a substantially rectangular cross section and, optionally, curved sides and/or rounded or bevelled edges.
More specifically, casing 3 comprises a one-piece shell 21 (e.g. of polymer material) shaped and sized to cover the front of cistern 2, and in particular bottom wall 6, front wall 7, lateral walls 9, and the open top end 10 of cistern 2.
Casing 3 extends along axis A and is substantially hood-shaped to at least partly cover cistern 2.
More specifically, casing 3 comprises : a top wall 23 and bottom wall 24, axially opposite with respect to axis A and crosswise to axis A; two opposite lateral walls 25 substantially parallel to axis A and located between top wall 23 and bottom wall 24; a front wall 26 connecting top wall 23, bottom wall 24 and lateral walls 25; and a large rear opening 27 opposite front wall 26 and bounded by a peripheral edge 28 defined by respective end edges 29 of top wall 23, bottom wall 24, and lateral walls 25.
Bottom wall 24 has an opening 30 for the passage of drain pipe 14. Preferably, opening 30 is defined by an arc-shaped cut-out extending from peripheral edge 28, more specifically from end edge 29 of bottom wall 24, and so has an open contour.
Casing 3 has one or (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) two pushbuttons 32 housed inside an opening 33 in casing 3. Pushbuttons 32 (and relative opening 33) may be located elsewhere on casing 3, and more specifically either centrally or to one side on one of the walls (top wall 23, front wall 26, lateral walls 25) of casing 3, or along an edge joining two adjacent walls of casing 3. In the non-limiting example shown, opening 33 is formed along a front-top edge 34 joining top wall 23 and front wall 26.
Pushbuttons 32 are hinged to respective supports (not shown) on an inner face of casing 3 facing cistern 2, and are loaded by respective springs (not shown). Pushbuttons 32 are connected to respective control members of actuating mechanism 18 of flush valve 16 to drain all or only some of the water from cistern 2 (obviously, if flush valve 16 is a single-drain type, which always drains the same amount of water, casing 3 will be only be fitted with one pushbutton 32 connected to one control member).
With reference also to Figures 3, 4A and 4B, fastening device 4 comprises at least one separate connecting member 40, which is fixed to both cistern 2 and casing 3 by a first and second coupling 41, 42, to attach casing 3 to cistern 2.
More specifically, connecting member 40 is distinct and separate (i.e. made separately) from cistern 2 and casing 3. Connecting member 40 is fixed removably or irremovably to cistern 2, and is connected releasably to casing 3.
As shown in Figure 1, fastening device 4 preferably comprises two connecting members 40 located at respective opposite ends, more specifically, at respective corners 43, of cistern 2, e.g. between rear wall 8 and lateral walls 9 of cistern 2.
Each connecting member 40 comprises :

a first fastening portion 44 which engages a corresponding mating portion 45 of cistern 2 to form coupling 41, which is shaped so that connecting member 40 is supported axially, parallel to axis A, and restrained laterally, in two directions perpendicular to each other and to axis A, by mating portion 45 of cistern 2; and
a second fastening portion 46 which engages a corresponding mating portion 47 of casing 3 to form coupling 42, which is shaped so that casing 3 is supported axially, parallel to axis A, by connecting member 40, and is restrained laterally, in two directions perpendicular to each other and to axis A, by connecting member 40.

In the non-limiting example shown, each mating portion 45 of cistern 2 comprises a seat 50 formed in cistern 2, more specifically at a corner 43 of cistern 2, and shaped to receive fastening portion 44 4 of a connecting member 40.
Each connecting member 40 has a substantially, L-shaped body, and comprises a bottom fastening portion 44 for connection to cistern 2 and, more specifically, for insertion inside a seat 50; and a top fastening portion 46 for connection to casing 3, and which, more specifically, engages a mating portion 47 of casing 3.
Seat 50 has a top supporting surface 51 on which connecting member 40 rests axially; and lateral shoulders 52 for retaining connecting member 40 laterally (crosswise to axis A).
Fastening portion 44 of connecting member 40 comprises, for example, an underside slit 53 shaped to receive a portion 54 of edge 11 of cistern 2 at corner 43 (and therefore the same shape as the profile of edge 11 at corner 43); and/or contact portions 55 shaped to rest against respective shoulders 52 when connecting member 40 is housed inside seat 50.
Each connecting member 40 (more specifically, respective fastening portion 44) is inserted inside respective seat 50 in a direction parallel to axis A.
With particular reference to Figures 4A and 4B, fastening portions 46 of connecting members 40 and respective mating portions 47 of casing 3 are conjugate in shape.
More specifically, each fastening portion 46 and respective mating portion 47 comprise respective teeth 56, 57 projecting axially towards each other and substantially parallel to axis A and rear wall 8 of cistern 2.
Teeth 56, 57 have respective faces 58, 59 substantially parallel to rear wall 8 of cistern 2, and which rest one on the other; and respective lateral shoulders 60, 61 substantially perpendicular to faces 58, 59 and which rest one against the other.
Each tooth 56, which projects axially upwards from a connecting member 40, has a top supporting surface 62 which rests against an inner surface portion 63 of casing 3, adjacent to a tooth 57 which projects axially downwards from an inner face of casing 3.
The two connecting members 40 are positioned with their respective shoulders 60 facing each other; and mating portions 47 are positioned with their respective shoulders 61 opposite each other and facing respective shoulders 60 of connecting members 40.
With reference also to Figure 5, fastening device 4 also comprises a lock ring 65 for locking a bottom portion 66 of casing 3 from underneath, more specifically by acting on bottom wall 24 of casing 3.
More specifically, lock ring 65 is threaded, and screws onto a threaded sleeve 67 projecting downwards from cistern 2 and located inside opening 30.
Sleeve 67 is appropriately formed on collar 13 bounding drain hole 12, and lock ring 65 surrounds drain pipe 14 and optionally also serves to lock drain pipe 14.
As shown n Figure 1, lock ring 65 comprises a radially inner collar 68 with an internal thread to screw onto sleeve 67; and a radially outer collar 69. And collars 68 and 69 are joined at the bottom by a flange 70 with which they define an annular seat 71.
Annular seat 71 receives a collar-like projection 72 on bottom wall 24 of casing 3. Collar-like projection 72 projects downwards from bottom wall 24 of casing 3, and defines at least a peripheral edge portion of opening 30.
In the Figure 1 embodiment, casing 3 is fitted to the front of cistern 2 : first, connecting members 40 are fitted to cistern 2 by inserting fastening portions 44 inside respective seats 50; and cistern 2 is then covered with casing 3, which is moved towards cistern 2 from the front, so that teeth 56 on casing 3 engage teeth 57 on connecting members 40.
Flush tank 1 described advantageously forms part of a system for assembling flush tanks, all with the same cistern 2, and a number of interchangeable casings 3 of different shapes, sizes and/or look.
The various casings 3 are attachable to cistern 2 by respective connecting members 40. The connecting members 40 for different casings 3 may either all be the same, i.e. identical connecting members 40 are produced for assembling different casings 3, or may be selected from a range of different connecting members specific to different casings. Whichever the case, connecting members 40 all have the same basic structure described above, and differ solely as regards the shape and/or size of respective fastening portions 46. In other words, for each type of casing 3, connecting members 40 are produced with the same first fastening portion 44 (for connection to cistern 2), and with a second fastening portion 46 (for connection to casing 3) specifically shaped to engage casing 3.
In the Figure 6 variation, in which any details similar or identical to those described above are indicated using the same reference numbers, casing 3 comprises a shell 21 composed of two (or more) parts : a main part 73 shaped and sized to cover the front of cistern 2, namely front wall 7, lateral walls 9 and, optionally, bottom wall 6; and a top part 74 for covering the top, namely open top end 10, of cistern 2.
Top part 74 has mating portions 47 for engaging connecting members 40; and parts 73 and 74 of casing 3 are connected, for example, by respective fasteners 75, 76 which cooperate mutually to form mechanical or click-on connections.
In the Figure 7 variation, in which any details similar or identical to those described above are indicated using the same reference numbers, casing 3 comprises a one-piece shell 21 (e.g. of polymer material) shaped and sized to cover the front of cistern 2. In this case, however, casing 3 is fitted downwards onto cistern 2, again using connecting members 40 fitted beforehand to cistern 2.
Shell 21 is designed to cover front wall 7, lateral walls 9, and open top end 10 of cistern 2. In other words, casing 3 has no bottom wall 24, so it can be fitted downwards onto the cistern, substantially along axis A.
In this case, as opposed to lock ring 65, casing 3 may be locked differently and in a different position.
Clearly, changes may be made to the flush tank as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

A flush tank (1), extending along a longitudinal axis (A), vertical in use, and comprising a water cistern (2); a casing (3) at least partly covering the cistern (2); and a fastening device (4) for fixing the casing (3) removably to the cistern (2), and comprising at least one connecting member (40) fixed removably or irremovably to both the cistern (2) and the casing (3) by means of a first and second coupling (41, 42); the flush tank (1) being characterized in that the connecting member (40) comprises :
- a first fastening portion (44) which engages a corresponding mating portion (45) of the cistern (2) to form the first coupling (41); the first coupling (41) being shaped so that the connecting member (40) is supported axially, parallel to the axis (A), and restrained laterally, in two directions perpendicular to each other and to the axis (A), by the mating portion (45) of the cistern (2); and

- a second fastening portion (46) which engages a corresponding mating portion (47) of the casing (3) to form the second coupling (42) ; the second coupling (42) being shaped so that the casing (3) is supported axially, parallel to the axis (A), by the connecting member (40), and is restrained laterally, in two directions perpendicular to each other and to the axis (A), by the connecting member (40).
A flush tank as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fastening device (4) comprises a lock ring (65) surrounding a drain pipe (14) of the flush tank (1), and which locks a bottom portion (66) of the casing (3) from underneath.
A flush tank as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the lock ring (65) is a threaded lock ring, surrounding the drain pipe (14) of the flush tank (1) and screwed onto a threaded sleeve (67) projecting from the bottom of the cistern (2).
A flush tank as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the lock ring (65) comprises a radially inner collar (68) with an internal thread to screw onto the sleeve (67); and a radially outer collar (69); the collars (68, 69) being connected at the bottom by a flange (70) and defining, together with said flange (70), an annular seat (71) for receiving a collar-like projection (72) projecting from a bottom wall (24) of the casing (3).
A flush tank as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the connecting member (40) is inserted inside a seat (50) on the cistern (2), and is supported axially, parallel to the axis (A), and retained laterally by the seat (50); and the connecting member (40) supports the casing (3) axially.
A flush tank as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the first fastening portion (44) is a bottom fastening portion inserted inside a seat (50) in the cistern (2) to connect the connecting member (40) to the cistern (2); and the second fastening portion (46) is a top fastening portion which engages a corresponding mating portion (47) of the casing (3) to connect the connecting member (40) to the casing (3).
A flush tank as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the second fastening portion (46) of the connecting member (40) and the respective mating portion (47) of the casing (3) are conjugate in shape.
A flush tank as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the second fastening portion (46) of the connecting member (40) and the respective mating portion (47) of the casing (3) comprise a first and second tooth (56, 57) respectively; said teeth (56, 57) having respective faces (58, 59) resting against each other, and respective lateral shoulders (60, 61) substantially perpendicular to the faces (58, 59) and resting against each other.
A flush tank as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first tooth (56) projects axially upwards from the connecting member (40), and has a top supporting surface (62) which rests against an inner surface portion (63) of the casing (3), adjacent to the second tooth (57) which projects axially downwards from an inner face of the casing 83).
A flush tank as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, comprising two connecting members (40) located at respective opposite ends of the cistern (2) and, more specifically, at respective corners (43) of the cistern (2).
A system for assembling a flush tank (1) as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, the system comprising a cistern (2), and a number of interchangeable casings (3) of different shapes, sizes and/or look; the casings (3) being attachable to the cistern (2) by means of respective connecting members (40) selected from a range of different connecting members specific to different casings.