EP3262243B1

EP3262243B1 - Hygienic additive providing system and a sanitary ware product having said system

Info

Publication number: EP3262243B1
Application number: EP16717205.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vedat SARIGÖL; Nihat BALTACI; Recep Hocaoglu
Original assignee: Eczacibasi Yapi Gerecleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Eczacibasi Yapi Gerecleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2015-02-23
Filing date: 2016-02-11
Publication date: 2019-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-11
Also published as: EP3262243A1; WO2016137415A1; RU2017132887A

Description

Subject of the Invention

The invention relates to a system which is used in sanitary ware products, provides passage of hygienic additive into the sanitary ware product bowl and thus creates a hygienic environment inside the bowl, and a sanitary ware product having said system.

Present State of the Art

Serious hygiene problems occur especially due to the common usage of the toilets in areas such as workplaces, restaurants, cafes, hospitals, shopping malls and houses where we spent most of our life.
In the present state of the art, hygiene providing additives are used in water closets and urinals in both liquid and tablet form. In the event that the additive is used in tablet form, problems such as excessive or poor dissolving of the tablet occur. Regarding the use of additives in liquid form, it is aimed to provide hygiene through the flushing water by means of the liquids inside the tanks which are mounted on the wall surface most of the time. However, this causes problems when there is no mounting place or when the existing mounting place is too narrow.
Dosing device for dosing additives into flush water are also known from prior documents DE-A1-2.532.963 and WO-A1-01/96676 .
With the hygienic additive providing system developed within the scope of the invention and the urinal having said system, the cleaning and hygiene of the urinal bowl is provided by means of the hygienic additive which will flow during flushing.

Object of the Invention

The object of the invention is to develop a system which will provide washing of the sanitary ware product bowl with the additive by mixing the hygienic additive easily with the flushing water, and which does not require a separate tank for storing hygienic additive. A further object of the invention is to provide the system with means to detect the level of hygienic additive in its inside.

Part References

1: Top cover
1a: Top cover threaded surface
2: Gauge Rod
2a: Gauge rod threaded surface
3: Tightening piece
3a: Tightening piece top threaded surface
3b: Tightening piece bottom threaded surface
3c: Part comprising tightening piece sealing element housing
3d: Sealing element housing
4.1; 4.2; 4.3; 4.4; 4.5; 4.6, 4.7: Sealing elements
4.1.a: Sealing element mounting section
5: Reservoir
5a: Reservoir top inner threaded surface
5b: Reservoir bottom inner threaded surface
5x: Reservoir top neck section
5y: Reservoir bottom neck section
6: Outer body
6a: Outer body outer threaded surface
7: Ball
8: Inner body
8a: Inner body top vanes
8b: Inner body bottom vanes
8c: Top hole
8d: Bottom hole
9: Connection body
9a: Connection body inner threaded surface
9b: Connection body outer threaded surface
10: Tightening connection part
10a: Tightening connection part inner threaded surface
11: Water dispenser
11x, 11y: Water dispenser side branches
11z: Water dispenser front branch
11a, 11b: Water dispenser side branch outer threaded surface
11c: Water dispenser front branch outer threaded surface
11w: Water dispenser bottom branch
11d: Water dispenser bottom branch outer threaded surface
12: Connection Part
12a: Connection part outer threaded surface
13: Tightening nut
13a: Tightening nut inner threaded surface
14: Urinal
15: Urinal Bowl
16: Mounting hole on the top surface of the urinal
A: Detailed view of the hygienic additive providing system on the urinal

Description of the Figures

Figure 1 : Parts of the urinal and hygienic additive providing system according to the invention
Figure 2 : Cross sectional view of the parts of the urinal and hygienic additive providing system according to the invention
Figure 2 . 1 : Figure showing the location where the sealing elements are mounted
Figure 2.2 : Figure showing the location where the sealing elements are mounted
Figure 3 : The urinal and hygienic additive providing system mounted on the urinal according to the invention
Figure 3 . 1 : Detailed view of the hygienic additive providing system according to the invention as mounted on the urinal
Figure 4 : View of the tightening piece
Figure 4 . 1 : Cross sectional view of the tightening piece
Figure 4 . 2 : Top view of the tightening piece
Figure 5 : View of the reservoir piece
Figure 5 . 1 : Front view of the reservoir
Figure 5 . 2 : Cross sectional view of the reservoir
Figure 6 : Detailed view of the top cover
Figure 7 : Detailed view of the water dispenser
Figure 8 : Cross sectional view of the water dispenser
Figure 9 : Detailed view of the connection body
Figure 10 : Detailed view of the tightening connection part
Figure 11 : Perspective view of the tightening nut
Figure 12 : Detailed view of the connection part
Figure 13 : Detailed view of the sealing element
Figure 14 : Detailed view of the sealing element
Figure 15 : Detailed view of the gauge rod
Figure 16 : Detailed cross sectional view of the outer body, inner body located inside the outer body and the ball located inside the inner body
Figure 16 . 1 : Front view of the outer body, inner body located inside the outer body and the ball located inside the inner body
Figure 17 : Figure showing top and bottom holes of the inner body

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a system which is used in sanitary ware products, provides passage of hygienic additive into the sanitary ware product bowl and creates a hygienic environment inside the product bowl, and a sanitary ware product having said system. The hygienic additive providing system according to the invention comprises at least one reservoir (5) in which the hygienic additive is stored, at least one outer body (6), at least one inner body (8) located inside the outer body, at least one ball (7) which is located inside the inner body and which can move up and down, and at least one connection body (9). Additionally, there are sealing elements (4.4, 4.5) in the system and the system comprises at least one gauge rod (2) for measuring the amount of hygienic additive left inside the reservoir. Hygienic additive providing system further comprising at least one top cover (1) and at least one tightening piece (3).
The use of the hygienic additive providing system developed within the scope of the invention on a urinal will be disclosed by the invention and the urinal having said system is also within the scope of the invention. However, it is also possible to use said hygienic additive providing system with water closet and other sanitary ware products.
The urinal having the hygienic additive providing system developed within the scope of the invention and the parts of the hygienic additive providing system are given in Figure 1 in detail. The section in which the parts are mounted together and their connection with each other are given in Figure 2.
In addition to aforementioned hygienic additive providing system parts seen in Figure 1, the urinal developed within the scope of the invention comprises at least one water dispenser (11). Fixing of water dispenser (11) is provided through at least one tightening connection part (10).
The urinal and the location of the parts of the hygienic additive providing system developed within the scope of the invention will be disclosed below in detail by referring to the figures.
Reservoir (5), which is one of the parts of the hygienic additive providing system, contains the hygienic additive that will flow into a urinal bowl (15) during the flushing of the urinal bowl (15). Hygienic additive is stored in said reservoir (5). As it is seen in Figure 2, the inner surfaces of neck sections (5y, 5x) at the bottom and top sections of the reservoir (5) have a threaded structure. Threaded surface (5a) at the reservoir top inner section and the threaded surface (5b) at the reservoir bottom inner section are seen in Figure 2. Said tightening piece (3) is located inside the reservoir top inner threaded surface (5a). As can be seen in Figure 2 and Figure 4.1, the top and bottom parts of the tightening piece (3) have a threaded outer surface. The tightening piece (3) is positioned inside the reservoir top neck section (5x) by fixing the threads on the bottom threaded surface (3b) inside the reservoir top inner threaded surface (5a). Tightening piece comprises thereon a part (3c) comprising a housing (3d) in which at least one sealing element (4.1) is located. The sealing element (4.1) is fixed to this housing (3d) via the mounting surface (4.1.a). Tightening piece (3) passes through a hole (16) located on the top section of the urinal and is located on the reservoir (5) surface positioned in alignment with the hole (16) in the inner section of the urinal, in other words, on the reservoir top inner threaded surface (5a), and thus the reservoir (5) is fixed on the urinal. As can be seen in Figure 2, the gauge rod (2) passing through the tightening piece (3) is positioned in a way to reach inside the reservoir (5). Top cover (1) is positioned on the top section of the gauge rod (2). Top cover (1) comprises at least one threaded surface (1a). Gauge rod (2) is fixed on the threaded surface (1a) inside the top cover by means of the threaded surface (2a) thereon. Gauge rod (2) is used for detecting the amount of hygienic additive left inside the reservoir. Top cover (1) is fixed on the top threaded surface (3a) located on the tightening piece (3). At least one sealing element (4.2) can be positioned on the reservoir top neck section (5x) through its outer surface in order to provide sealing.
The hygienic additive providing system according to the invention comprises threaded surfaces on the outer section and inner section of the connection body (9). Connection body is fixed on the reservoir bottom inner threaded surface (5b) via the threaded surface (9b) it has in the outer section. The outer body (6), which is one of the parts of the hygienic additive providing system, also has a threaded surface (6a) on its outer surface. Outer body outer threaded surface (6a) is fixed on the connection body inner threaded surface (9a). Inner body (8) is positioned inside the outer body (6). At least one sealing element (4.3) is positioned between the outer body (6) and the reservoir (5). The inner body (8) comprises bottom vanes (8b) on the inner bottom section, and top vanes (8a) on the top section. The inner body (8) comprises liquid passage holes on both the top and the bottom sections thereof. Top hole (8c) provides passage of hygienic additive from the reservoir (5) to the inner body (8), and bottom hole (8d) provides passage of the same from the inner body (8) to the urinal bowl (15). A ball (7) which moves up and down is positioned inside the inner body (8). Inner body top vanes (8a) and bottom vanes (8b) are flexible and provide sealing with the pressure applied by the ball (7). Such that; when the ball (7) leans on the top vanes (8a) in its up position, applies pressure on the vanes and the vanes provide sealing by bending. In this position, the ball (7) closes the top hole (8c) to liquid passage and prevents hygienic additive passage from the reservoir (5) to the inner body (8). In the same manner, when the ball (7) is in down position, it applies pressure on bottom vanes (8b) and the vanes (8b) provide sealing by bending. In this position, the ball (7) closes the bottom hole (8d) to liquid passage and prevents hygienic additive passage from the inner body (8) to the urinal bowl (15). The ball (7) is positioned inside the inner body (8) in a way to close the bottom hole (8d) when there is no clean water passage into the urinal bowl (15), and in up position in a way to close the top hole (8c) inside the inner body (8) when there is clean water passage into the urinal bowl (15).
Tightening connection part (10) is mounted on the reservoir connection body (9) via the bottom section. The inner surface of the tightening connection part (10) is threaded and tightening connection part inner threaded surface (10a) is fixed on the connection body outer threaded surface (9b). Water dispenser (11) is positioned on the tightening connection part by close fitting. Water dispenser (11) has five branches. Water dispenser side branches (11x, 11y), water dispenser front branch (11z) and water dispenser bottom branch (11w) are shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8. The rear branch of the water dispenser is not shown in the figures. In the preferred use, one of the side branches will be used as water inlet and the front branch will be used as water outlet. Clean water, entering from one of the side branches (11x, 11y) exits through the front branch (11z) and flows inside the urinal bowl (15). In accordance with the use, the water dispenser branches can be adjusted in a way that one of them is the water inlet and the other is the water outlet. Together with a sealing element (4.6), at least one connection part (12) is placed on the front branch (11z), which is the outlet branch on the water dispenser (11), and at least one tightening nut (13) is positioned thereon as seen in Figure 2. At least one sealing element (4.7) is positioned between the connection body (9) and the water dispenser (11).
In the hygienic additive providing system and the urinal (14) on which said system is positioned, passage of additive into the urinal bowl (15) is initiated by clean water flow into the urinal. Clean water flow into the urinal bowl (15) is initiated by activation of the solenoid valve by sensing systems such as photocell sensor, or by pressing a button activating the clean water flow manually. The ball (7) moves upwards in the inner body (8) as the air pressure inside the inner section of the water dispenser increases when the clean water received from one of the water dispenser side branches (11x,11y) passes into the front branch (11z), which is the outlet branch, during clean water flow into the urinal bowl (15); and the bottom hole (8d) on the inner body is opened and through this hole, the hygienic additive is mixed with the clean water flowing into the urinal bowl (15) and flows into the urinal bowl. When the ball (7) is in up position, it provides sealing and closes the top hole (8c) on the inner body by means of the top vanes (8a). As soon as the clean water flow stops, the ball (7) moves downwards and opens the hole (8c) on the top section of the inner body and from the reservoir (5) hygienic additive fills into the inner body (8) through this hole. The ball (7) completes its downward movement and settles on the base of the inner body (8) and providing sealing by means of the bottom vanes (8b) in this section, it closes the bottom hole (8d) for liquid passage and prevents passage of the hygienic additive located in the inner body (8) into the urinal bowl (15). When the system is not active, as the ball (7) is positioned in a way to close the bottom hole (8d) inside the inner body, the hygienic additive filled in the inner body (8) from the reservoir (5) is kept inside the inner body until the next flushing process and there will not be any flow into the urinal bowl (15). In the preferred embodiment, the sealing elements are preferably gasket or washer.
Thanks to the hygienic additive providing system developed within the scope of the invention and the urinal having said system, flow of a specific dosage of additive into the urinal bowl with the flushing water is provided and the problems seen in the present state of the art and especially in the use of tablets are eliminated.

Claims

A system which provides passage of hygienic additive into a sanitary ware product bowl (15), comprising;
• at least one reservoir (5) in which the hygienic additive is stored;

• at least one connection body (9) positioned on the reservoir (5);

• at least one outer body (6) to be positioned in the connection body (9);

• at least one inner body (8) positioned inside the outer body (6);

• at least one ball (7) which is positioned inside the inner body (8) and which moves up and down,
the system being characterized by further comprising at least one gauge rod (2) comprising at least one threaded surface (2a), the gauge rod (2) being used for measuring the amount of hygienic additive left inside the reservoir and being positioned in a way to reach inside the reservoir (5).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 1, characterized in comprising sealing elements (4.4, 4.5) positioned between the outer body (6) and the inner body (8).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 1, characterized in comprising top vanes (8a) and bottom vanes (8b) positioned on top and bottom section of the inner body (8).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inner body (8) comprises at least one top hole (8c) which is positioned on the top section thereof and which provides passage of the hygienic additive from the reservoir (5) to the inner body (8); and at least one bottom hole (8d) which is positioned on the bottom section thereof and which provides passage of the hygienic additive from the inner body (8) to the sanitary ware product bowl (15).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir comprises top inner threaded surface (5a) and bottom inner threaded surface (5b) at the top and bottom neck sections (5x, 5y) thereof.
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the connection body (9) comprises at least one inner threaded surface (9a) and at least one outer threaded surface (9b), the outer threaded surface (9b) of the connection body being screwed on the reservoir bottom inner threaded surface (5b).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 6, characterized in that the outer body (6) comprises at least one outer threaded surface (6a), the outer threaded surface (6a) of the outer body (6) being screwed on the connection body inner threaded surface (9a).
The hygienic additive providing system according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in comprising at least one sealing element (4.3) positioned between the outer body (6) and the reservoir (5).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 1, characterized in comprising at least one tightening piece (3) providing connection of the reservoir (5) to a urinal (14), and at least one top cover (1) comprising at least one threaded surface (1a) and fixed on the tightening piece (3).
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 9, characterized in that the tightening piece (3) comprises
• at least one top threaded surface (3a) and

• at least one bottom threaded surface (3b) and

• a part (3c) which comprises at least one sealing element housing (3d) on which at least one sealing element (4.1) is positioned,
the top cover (1) being fixed on the tightening piece top threaded surface (3a) via the threaded surface (1a) thereof.
The hygienic additive providing system according to Claim 10, characterized in that the tightening piece (3) is fixed on a reservoir top inner threaded surface (5a) via the bottom threaded surface (3b) thereof.
A urinal (14) characterized in comprising the hygienic additive providing system according to any one of the previous claims, the urinal comprising at least one water dispenser (11) and at least one tightening connection part (10) providing fixing of the water dispenser (11).
The urinal according to Claim 12, characterized in that the water dispenser (11) has five branches, the water dispenser (11) comprising at least one side branch (11x, 11y) through which the clean water enters, and at least one front branch (11z) through which the passage of water into the urinal bowl (15) is provided.
The urinal according to Claim 12, characterized in that the tightening connection part (10) comprises at least one threaded inner surface (10a) through which the tightening connection part (10) is fixed on an outer threaded surface (9b) of the connection body (9).
The urinal according to Claim 12, characterized in comprising at least one sealing element (4.7) positioned between the water dispenser (11) and the connection body (9).