EP4273336A1

EP4273336A1 - Toilet comprising an integrated flushing water flow conduit

Info

Publication number: EP4273336A1
Application number: EP23168984.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dimitri MEI
Original assignee: Ceramica Cielo SpA
Current assignee: Ceramica Cielo SpA
Priority date: 2022-05-02
Filing date: 2023-04-20
Publication date: 2023-11-08
Also published as: IT202200008744A1

Abstract

A toilet (1) comprising:
- a body (2) having a basin (3), the basin having an upper opening (4), a side wall (5), and a bottom portion (6) ;
- a discharge conduit (7) connected to the bottom portion (6) of the basin (3);
- a siphon (8) operatively interposed between the basin (3) and the discharge conduit (7);
- a feeding opening (9) adapted and configured to receive washing water as input, having a first opening axis (A1);
- a washing water flow conduit (10, 20) integrated into the body (2) and placed immediately downstream of the feeding opening (9), wherein the washing water flow conduit (10, 20) has a straight initial portion (10) which extends along the first opening axis (A1) and is delimited by a side wall (11) having a closed cross-section.

The washing water flow conduit (10, 20) has a curved end portion (20) has an outlet opening (21) configured to introduce a jet of washing water directly into the basin (3), wherein the outlet opening (21) is oriented transversely with respect to the first opening axis (A1).

The toilet (1) comprises a washing water jet containment and directing structure (23, 24, 25) integrated into the body (2) of the toilet (1) and arranged immediately downstream of the outlet opening (21).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of sanitary appliances, and in particular to a toilet comprising an integrated washing water flow conduit.

BACKGROUND ART

Toilets with a washing system having a closed dripping rim are known. In such toilets, the washing system is to deliver side sprinkler jets on the walls of the basin. In particular, such side jets are delivered by a toilet rim completely surrounding the upper opening of the basin and being internally hollow to form a channel. The dripping rim comprises a plurality of holes oriented towards the bottom of the basin. The dripping rim also performs the function of containing the washing water. The presence of the dripping rim, however, does not allow glazing inside the channel and the channel itself cannot be cleaned, which makes the toilet hygienically inappropriate. Moreover, the toilets equipped with this type of dripping rim exhibit production problems, because the holes in the dripping rim can often be completely or partially occluded by the glaze.
Toilets with washdown washing rims are also known, in which the water is expelled all at once from a rear part of the basin. The water breaks and is diverted by an appropriate ceramic component and the flow is conveyed centrally and is channeled laterally by a concave washing rim that controls the flow thereof. In particular, the concave washing rim extends substantially along the entire periphery of the basin.
Recently, rimless toilets are becoming more and more popular. In such toilets, the washing system does not deliver side sprinkler jets because there is no rim at all in such toilets. Due to the absence of the rim, these toilets have improved hygiene performance and are easier to clean, for example with a cloth or brush.
The aforesaid toilets of the prior art still have some drawbacks. A first drawback is that a non-negligible amount of washing water can unintentionally escape from the toilet in the form of droplets or in atomized form when the washing is actuated to flush the basin. This effect is particularly annoying and has a negative impact in terms of hygiene. A second drawback is that a relatively large amount of water is required to flush the basin, which is clearly a problem because of the negative effects on domestic consumption and the environment. A third drawback is the noise which can be perceived during the flow of the washing water.
Rimless toilets are easier to clean than toilets with dripping rim; however, in such toilets, the washing water can hardly reach the higher inner part of the basin because the washing system is designed so that the washing water does not escape out of the basin. Standard UNI EN 997 currently defines an 85 mm high band inside the basin from the upper edge of the rim, where it is allowed that the toilet is not washed by the water jet. Hence, although these types of toilets are relatively easier to clean, for example with a cloth or a brush, they also have hygiene performance to be improved.
Patent application EP 3725961 A2 describes a rimless toilet with an improved washing system comprising an integrated washing water flow conduit. The washing system has a first and a second washing water outlet conduit, which are fluidly connected to the integrated washing water flow conduit. The first outlet conduit introduces a jet of washing water directly into the siphon. The second outlet conduit produces a jet tangential to the side wall of the basin. Although the aforesaid toilet has a particularly efficient and advantageous washing system, industrial-scale production of the aforesaid toilet is relatively complex and expensive. In essence, this is because the first conduit, which directly introduces the washing water into the siphon, must be made separately (when the manufactured item is in the raw state) and sticked on manually. Maintaining the control of the inner section of such a conduit is a highly difficult task.
It is the object of the present disclosure to provide a toilet having an integrated washing flow conduit which allows solving, either entirely or at least partially, the drawbacks described above with reference to the toilets of the prior art.
Such an object is achieved by a toilet as generally defined in claim 1. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the aforesaid toilet are defined in the appended dependent claims.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of particular embodiments thereof, given by way of not limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings briefly described in the following paragraph.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a toilet with an integrated washing water flow conduit;
Figure 2 shows an elevation side plan view of the toilet in figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a front elevation plan view of the toilet in figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a vertical cross-section view of the toilet in figure 1 taken along the vertical section plane p1 in figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a horizontal section plan view of the toilet in figure 1 taken along the horizontal plane p3 in figure 2;
Figure 6 shows a simplified, enlarged partial view of the view in figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section plan view of the toilet in figure 1 taken along the vertical plane p2 in figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Similar or equivalent elements in the accompanying figures are indicated by the same reference signs.
The figures show an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a toilet 1.
The toilet 1 comprises a body 2 having a basin 3. The basin 3 has an upper opening 4, a side wall 5, and a bottom portion 6. The side wall 5 of the basin 3 connects the upper opening 4 and the bottom portion 6 to each other. In the example, without introducing any limitation, the upper opening 4 of the basin 3 is approximately quadrangular in shape with rounded corners. Alternatively, such a shape could be oval or elliptical.
The toilet 1 comprises a siphon 8 and the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3 flows into siphon 8 or defines the siphon 8 at least partially.
Preferably, without introducing any limitation, the body 2 of the toilet 1 is a single-piece structure preferably made of ceramic.
In the particular non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the toilet 1 is configured to be installed on a support surface 40, e.g., a horizontal support surface, such as a floor surface. In such an embodiment, in other words, the toilet 1 is configured for an unsuspended installation. According to an alternative embodiment, the toilet 1 is configured to be installed suspended on a vertical wall 41 at a certain distance from the ground. In any case, the toilet 1 is preferably configured to be installed on a support surface or suspended, close to a vertical wall 41.
Preferably, the body 2 of the toilet 1 has a rear face 2a which is in contact with the vertical wall 41 in a condition in which the toilet 1 is installed on the support surface 40 or is suspended on the vertical wall 41. Preferably, such a rear face 2a has an outer peripheral edge which, lies in a vertical plane and is flush with the vertical wall 41 in a condition in which the toilet 1 is installed.
The toilet 1 comprises a discharge conduit 7 connected to the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3. The siphon 8 is operatively interposed between the basin 3 and the discharge conduit 7, and in particular between the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3 and discharge conduit 7. The discharge conduit 7 is designed and configured to be operatively connected by means of piping to a sewer network. Conveniently, the siphon 8 is a U-shaped conduit, which connects the bottom portion 6 to the discharge conduit 7.
The toilet 1 further comprises a feeding opening 9 adapted and configured to receive washing water from the toilet 1 as input. The feeding opening 9 has a first opening axis A1. In a condition in which the toilet 1 is installed, resting on a surface 40 or suspended on a vertical wall 41, the first opening axis A1 is a generally horizontal axis.
The feeding opening 9 is configured to be operatively connected to a flushing assembly (not shown in the figures), and through said flushing assembly preferably to a feeding water network. The feeding opening 9 can thus receive washing water as input, i.e., water usable to wash the basin 3, e.g., to remove organic contents by pushing them towards the discharge conduit 7. As known per se, the flushing assembly comprises a washing water collection tank and a water pipe, for example, which operatively connects the feeding opening 9 to the collection tank. The toilet 1 preferably comprises a connecting collar 19 arranged adjacent to and upstream of the feeding opening 9, in which a tube representing the end of the aforesaid water pipe can be tightly engaged. In a condition in which the toilet 1 is installed, the flushing assembly is preferably at least partially or completely recessed in the vertical part 41.
The toilet 1 further comprises a washing water flow conduit 10, 20 integrated into the body 2 and placed immediately downstream of the feeding opening 9. For brevity, in the present description and the claims, the washing water flow conduit 10, 20 may also be designated by the term " flow conduit 10, 20". According to an advantageous embodiment, the flow conduit 10, 20 is a part integrated into the body 2 and obtained directly during the molding process of the body 2.
The washing water flow conduit 10, 20 has a straight initial portion 10 which extends along the first opening axis A1 and is delimited by a side wall 11 having a closed cross-section. For example, the straight initial portion 10 of the flow conduit 10, 20 is a cylindrical conduit, and the aforesaid closed cross-section is a circumference. In the example in figures 5 and 6, the straight initial portion 10 extends along the first opening axis A1 between the feeding opening 9 and the dashed line L1. According to an advantageous embodiment, the straight initial portion 10 of the flow conduit 10, 20 has a constant internal cross-section, and such a constant internal cross-section is preferably equal to the cross-section of the feeding opening 9. Note that the opening axis A1 is the main longitudinal extension axis of the straight initial portion 10 of the flow conduit 10, 20.
The washing water flow conduit 10, 20 has a curved end portion 20, e.g., an elbow end portion 20, having an outlet opening 21 configured to introduce a jet of washing water directly into the basin 3. For the purposes of this description, directly introducing a jet of washing water into basin 3 means that the outlet opening 21 introduces the jet of washing water into the basin 3 without conveying said jet into further transversely closed conduits arranged downstream of the outlet opening 21. Transversely closed conduits mean conduits having completely closed cross sections along the longitudinal extension of the conduits. The curved end portion 20 intercepts the opening axis A1.
The outlet opening 21 is opposed to the inlet opening 9, and the washing water flow conduit 10, 20 extends between the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 21. Note that in the present description, the words "initial" and "end", when referring to the respective portions of the flow conduit 10, 20, are given with reference to the flow direction of the washing water in flow conduit 10, 20.
In the example in figures 5 and 6, the curved end portion 20 of the flow conduit 10, 20 is the portion between the dashed line L1 and the dashed line L2.
The outlet opening 21 is oriented transversely to the first opening axis A1. In other words, the outlet opening 21 has a second opening axis A2 (figure 6) which is inclined, in a horizontal plane, with respect to the first opening axis A1. For example, the second opening axis A2 is inclined, in a horizontal plane, with respect to the first opening axis A1 by an angle between 30° and 60°, such as of 40°, or 45°, or 55°.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the outlet opening 21 is the only opening configured to introduce a jet of washing water into the basin 3, obviously following the actuation of the flushing assembly.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the outlet opening 21 is sized and arranged so as to be contained in the transverse size of the flow conduit 10, 20, in particular, in the transverse size of the straight initial portion 10. Transverse size means the size in the direction perpendicular to the opening axis A1. In figure 6, the transverse size of the straight initial portion 10 is the size between the two dashed lines T1, T2 and is thus the internal size of the straight initial portion 10. In a construction variant, the aforesaid size could be the external size of the straight initial portion 10.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the end portion 20 of the flow conduit 10, 20 has a curved bottom wall 22 which intercepts the first opening axis A1. In other words, said curved bottom wall 22 is an end wall which is placed in front of the feeding opening 9 along the opening axis A1. This curved bottom wall 22 diverts the washing water flow towards the outlet opening 21 so as to directed it laterally, preferably in one direction only, with respect to the first opening axis A1.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, as shown in figure 6, the outlet opening 21 extends between one end 41 of the straight initial portion 10, which is distal from the feeding opening 9, and one end 42 of the curved end portion 20, which is distal from the feeding opening 9.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the toilet 1 comprises a washing water jet containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 integrated into the body 2 of the toilet 1 and arranged immediately downstream of the outlet opening 21. More advantageously, the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is closed at the top and laterally, and is open, preferably fully open, towards the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3. Hence, the bottom of the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is completely open towards the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3. For example, the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 has a C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section. Having a containment structure 23, 24 25 with a fully open bottom towards the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3, compared to the known solutions having containment and directing structures in the form of a transversely closed conduit, results in exceptional advantages in terms of hygiene and ease of cleaning.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the containment structure 23, 24, 25 extends laterally towards only one direction with respect to the flow conduit 10, 20 or with respect to the first opening axis A1. According to an advantageous embodiment, the containment structure 23, 24, 25 has a limited longitudinal extension, such as less than 20% or 15%, or more preferably less than 10%, of the length of the periphery of basin 3 at the upper opening 4. For example, the longitudinal extension of the containment structure 23, 24, 25 is equal to or substantially equal to the longitudinal extension of the flow conduit 10, 20.
According to a particularly effective embodiment, the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is configured to direct the washing water jet produced as output by the outlet opening 21 in a clockwise direction. In an alternative embodiment, the aforesaid direction could be counterclockwise.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is integrated into the body 2 of the toilet 1, e.g., it is part of the single-piece structure of the toilet 1. For example, if the body 2 of the toilet 1 is obtained by molding ceramic material, the containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is formed directly during the molding process of body 2.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is adapted to direct the jet of washing water exiting from the outlet opening 21 so that such a jet is tangential to the side wall 5 of the basin 3 by diverting the jet laterally with respect to the opening axis A1. In the toilet 1, the aforesaid tangential jet creates a vortex of water adapted to clean the inner side surface 5 of the basin 3. In particular, such a vortex is preferably clockwise.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the outlet opening 21 has a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the flow conduit 10, 20. This dimensional reduction has the advantage of accelerating the speed of the tangential washing water jet escaping from the outlet opening 21.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the outlet opening 21 is arranged at a relatively higher height than a minimum positioning height of the curved end conduit 20. Therefore, the advantage to prevent the formation of unwanted washing water streams after the actuation of the washing water flushing system is obtained. Advantageously, before the outlet opening 21, such as immediately upstream of the latter, it is possible that at least one stretch of the end portion 20 of the flow conduit 10, 20 is inclined at a counter slope, i.e., upwards from a horizontal plane.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the washing water jet containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is closed laterally by a first side wall 23, which is a portion of the side wall 5 of the basin 3. Moreover, the washing water jet containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is closed laterally by a second side wall 24 spaced apart from the side wall 5 of the basin 3 and protruding into the basin 3.
According to an embodiment, the second side wall 24 has a free end portion 26 protruding into the basin 3 towards the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 of the washing water jet containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 are curved walls and branch off from the outlet opening 21. The second side wall 24 has an initial stretch seamlessly connected to the curved bottom wall 22 to follow the curvilinear pattern thereof.
According to an aspect of the invention, in toilet 1 the first side wall 23 has an initial stretch forming an elbow with the straight initial portion of the flow conduit 10, 20.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the washing water containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is completely arranged in a close position with respect to the flow conduit 10, 20. For example, with respect to a frontal viewing point o_p of the toilet 1, the containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25 is placed in a completely rearward position with respect to the bottom portion 6 of the basin 3.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the upper opening 4 of the basin 3 is surrounded at least partially by a containment rim 30 protruding inwards with respect to the side wall 5 of the basin 3. Such a containment rim 30 preferably protrudes only horizontally and therefore is a shelf. The containment rim 30 is a full rim (i.e. without an internal cavity), i.e. it can be defined as an open rim. In other words, such a containment rim 30 does not perform the function of delivering washing water but only that of containing the washing water to prevent unwanted splashes of washing water from escaping from the basin 3.
Preferably, the containment rim 30 surrounds the entire upper opening 4 or a main part of said upper opening 4, such as the entire upper opening 4 with the exception of a part thereof placed adjacent to the flow conduit 10, 20 or to the containment and directing structure 23, 24, 25.
For example, the containment rim 30 protrudes towards the interior of the basin 3 with respect to the side wall 5 by an amount in the range [1cm - 3cm], including the endpoints, such as by an amount of 1.5 cm.
From the above, it is apparent that a toilet 1 of the type described above allows fully achieving the preset objects in terms of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art. Indeed, from the point of view of the industrial production, the costs are relatively low because the flow conduit 10, 20 is the only conduit configured to flow the washing water into the basin 3 having a closed cross-section. Moreover, various tests have confirmed that the toilet 1 allows clearing the siphon 8 at each flushing from organic waste and washing the basin 3 in a surprisingly effective manner. The basin 3 is both very easy and simple to clean, for example with a cloth or brush. Moreover, the aforesaid toilet 1 is not affected by the problem of projecting unwanted splashes of washing water outside the basin or, if this is the case, it happens to an undetectable or very limited extent and in any case to a much lower extent than the limits dictated by the regulations.
Finally, note that although embodiments have been described, in which the side wall 5 of the basin 3 is symmetrical, for example with respect to the longitudinal plane p2, in a further construction variant (not shown in the figures) such a side wall 5 could be asymmetrical.
Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the construction details may be broadly varied with respect to the above description merely disclosed by way of a non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A toilet (1) comprising:
- a body (2) having a basin (3), the basin (3) having an upper opening (4), a side wall (5), and a bottom portion (6);

- a discharge conduit (7) connected to the bottom portion (6) of the basin (3);

- a siphon (8) operatively interposed between the basin (3) and the discharge conduit (7);

- a feeding opening (9) adapted and configured to receive washing water as input, having a first opening axis (A1);

- a washing water flow conduit (10, 20) integrated into the body (2) and placed immediately downstream of the feeding opening (9), wherein the washing water flow conduit (10, 20) has a straight initial portion (10), which extends along the first opening axis (A1) and is delimited by a side wall (11) having a closed cross-section;
wherein:
- the washing water flow conduit (10, 20) has a curved end portion (20) having an outlet opening (21) configured to introduce a jet of washing water directly into the basin (3), wherein the outlet opening (21) is oriented transversely to the first opening axis (A1);

- the toilet (1) comprises a washing water jet containment and directing structure (23, 24, 25) integrated into the body (2) of the toilet (1) and arranged immediately downstream of the outlet opening (21) .
A toilet (1) according to claim 1, wherein said curved end portion (20) is an elbow end portion.
A toilet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet opening (21) has a second opening axis (A2) which is inclined with respect to the first opening axis (A1).
A toilet (1) according to claim 3, wherein on a horizontal plane, the second opening axis (A2) is inclined with respect to the first opening axis (A1) by an angle between 30° and 60°, such as an angle of 40°, or 45°, or 55°.
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved end portion (20) of the flow conduit (10, 20) has a curved bottom wall (22) which intercepts the first opening axis (A1).
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet opening (21) is the only opening configured to introduce a jet of washing water into the basin (3).
A toilet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the washing water jet containment and directing structure (23, 24, 25) is closed at the top and laterally, and is open, preferably fully open, towards the bottom portion (6) of the basin (3), said containment and directing structure (23, 24, 25) preferably having a C- or U-shaped cross-section.
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washing water jet containment and directing structure (23, 24, 25) is closed laterally by a first side wall (23), which is a portion of the side wall (5) of the basin (3), and by a second side wall (24) spaced apart from the side wall (5) of the basin (3) and protruding into the basin (3).
A toilet (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second side wall (24) has a free end portion (26) protruding into the basin (3) towards the bottom portion (6) of the basin (3) .
A toilet (1) according to claim 5 and according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first side wall (23) and the second side wall (24) are curved walls and branch off from the outlet opening (21), and wherein the second side wall (24) has an initial stretch seamlessly connected to said curved bottom wall (22) so as to follow the curvilinear pattern thereof.
A toilet (1) according to claim 10, wherein the first side wall (23) has an initial stretch forming an elbow with the portion with the straight initial portion of the flow conduit (10, 20).
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper opening (4) of the basin (3) is surrounded at least partially by a containment rim (30) protruding inwards with respect to the side wall (5) of the basin (3), preferably only horizontally.
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet opening (21) is sized and arranged so to be contained within the transverse size of the straight initial portion (10) of the flow conduit (10, 20) .
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washing water containment and directing structure (23, 24, 25) is adapted to direct the jet of washing water exiting from the outlet opening (21) so that such a jet is tangential to the side wall (5) of the basin (3) diverting the jet laterally with respect to the first opening axis (A1).
A toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet opening (21) extends between one end (41) of the straight initial portion (10) which is distal from the feeding opening (9), and one end (42) of the curved end portion (20) which is distal from the feeding opening (9).