GB1582429A - Water closets - Google Patents

Description

(54) WATER CLOSETS (71) We, CHLORIDE GROUP LIMITED, a Company registered under the Laws of England, of 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W OAU, do hereby declare the inven tion, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement : The invention relates to water closets of the type having a cistern concealed behind a front panel, such as described in the present Applicants' Patent Specification No.

1,512,674 in which the front panel is secured to a supporting framework, and is par ticularly concerned with arrangements for initiating flushing of such water closet cisterns.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts comprising (a) a water closet cistern, in cluding a flushing mechanism; (b) a panel, suitabje -for mounting in front of, and con cealing, the cistern and having a slot therein; (c) an actuator arranged. to pass through, and slide linearly along, the'slot, the sliding motion being substantially parallel to the panel; and (d) a coupling arranged to con nect the actuator and the cistern flushing mechanism in such a way that sliding of the actuator can cause the cistern to flush.

Preferably the actuator is adapted to be slidably secured to the panel.

According to a further aspect of the pre sent invention a water closet cistern con cealed behind a front panel includes a flush ing mechanism operably connected to an: actuator which passes through a slot in, and is slidably secured to, the front panel so that flushing of the cistern is initiated by a substantially linear movement of the actuator substantially parallel to the front panel.

The actuator, which may comprise a flush ing knob connected to a bolt, preferably extends through a substantially vertical slot formed in the panel.

The slot may be formed in a recessed portion of the panel so that the actuator does not project substantially beyond the plane of the panel.

The actuator preferably includes an melon gate slider member extending parallel to the slot to which the flushing mechanism is connected. The actuator may be connected to the flushing mechanism of the cistern by means of a flexible link such as a chain.

The actuator may also include a plastics sealing member between the slider member and the panel dimensioned and arranged to move with the slider member and to substantially cover the slot.

It will be appreciated that the provision of the flexible link between the cistern flushing mechanism and the actuating means facilitates removal of the front panel since it is not necessary for the actuator to be disconnected from the cistern; instead the flexible link is merely disconnected once the panel has been partially removed.

Further features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one specific embodiment of the invention which is given by way of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic scrap elevation, partly in section; of a flushing handle mounted in a front panel and shows a cistern and the associated flushing mechanism which is not drawn to scale; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic scrap plan view in section of the flushing handle in the front panel.

In the embodiment to be described the water closet forms part of what may be termed a packaged bathroom incorporating.

a number of units which may be largely prefabricated in the factory and which fit together interchangeably, the various panels matching one another so as to provide a substantially continuous. vertical surface or front panel, and a horizontal top panel which may form a working surface at a uniform height, for example 845 mm, which is a convenient height for a washbasin or vanitory basin.

The water closet comprises a conventional pan and seat (not shown) with a low Icvcl flushing cistern 2 concealed behind a vertical front panel 4 and a horizontal top panel (not shown), as described in the present Applicants' Patent Specification No.

1,512,674. The front panel 4, which is of wood covered with a plastics facing shroud 6, is formed with a vertically extending elongate oval aperture 8. A recessed plastics cover plate 10 of oval shape overlies the edges of the aperture and is so dimensioned that the recessed portion extends into the aperture 8. The surface of the recessed portion of the cover plate 10 is formed with a vertically extending strip 12 standing slightly proud of the surface of the plate, and a vertically extending slot 14 is formed in the centre of the strip 12.

A coach bolt 16 extends through the slot and a flusing knob 18 is secured to it on the outside of the panel within the recess. On the inside of the cover 10 the coach bolt 16 passes through a hole in a vertically extending elongate slider member 20, and is secured to it by a nut 22. The slider member is spaced from the material of the recessed portion of the cover by a striplike plastics sealing member 24 which also has a hole formed in it and is located by the coach bolt. The sealing member 24 is therefore fixed in position with respect to the slider member 20, but may slide in position with respect to the front panel.

The flushing knob is spaced from the cover plate by a spacing sleeve 26 which surrounds the coach bolt and projects beyond the surface of the cover plate.

In addition a washer 28 is provided between the flushing knob 18 and the spacing sleeve 26, and a second spacing sleeve 3(3 is provided between the slider member 20 and the securing nut 22. The nut is done up tightly, and whilst the first spacing sleeve 26 prevents the washer 28 or the sealing member 24 being forced into contact with the cover plate, all the remaining elements through which the bolt passes are held firmly in contact with one another.

An arm 32 projects from the lower end of the slider member, and this arm is connected to a flushing lever 34 on the cistern 2 by means of a chain linkage 36.

In its normal position the flushing knob 18 is at the top of the recess as shown in Figure 1, and the plastics sealing member 24 on the inside of the panel projects upwardly some way above the recess.

To flush the cistern the flushing knob 18 is slid linearly downwards. This movement is transmitted via the slider member 20, arm 32 and chain linkage 36 to the flushing lever 34. After flushing, the flushing lever 34 returns to its normal position thus returning the slider member 20 and flushing knob 8 to their normal positions, The plastics sealing member 24 moves with the sliding member, and its length is such that it obscures the slot 14 in all positions of the flushing knob in the front panel.

Should it be required to remove the front panel for any reason, for instance to service or repair the cistern, after removing the screws or other fastening means by which the panel is secured to the supporting framework the chain linkage 36 permits the front panel 4 to be moved sufficiently to enable the chain to be disconnected from the arm 32 or flushing handle 34, following which the panel may be completely removed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A kit of parts comprising (a) a water closet cistern, including a flushing mechanism; (b) a panel suitable for mounting in front of, and concealing, the cistern and having a slot therein; (c) an actuator ar ranged to pass through, and slide linearly along, the slot, the sliding motion being substantially parallel to the panel; and (d) a coupling arranged to connect the actuator and the cistern flushing mechanism in such a way that sliding of the actuator can cause the cistern to flush.

2. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 1 in which the actuation is adapted to be slidably secured to the panel.

3. A water closet cistern concealed behind a front panel and including a flushing mechanism operably connected to an actu- ator which passes through a slot in, and is slidably secured to, the front panel so that flushing of the cistern is initiated by a substantially linear movement of the actuator substantially parallel to the front panel.

4. A cistern as claimed in Claim 3 in which the actuator comprises a flushing knob connected to a bolt.

5. A cistern as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the actuator extends through a substantially vertical slot formed in the panel.

6. A cistern as claimed in Claim 5 in which the slot is formed in a recessed portion of the panel so that the actuator does not project substantially beyond the plane of the panel.

7. A cistern as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the actuator includes an elongate slider member extending parallel to the slot to which the flushing mechanism is connected.

8. A cistern as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7 in which the actuator is connected to the flushing mechanism by means of a flexible link such as a chain.

9. A cistern as claimed in any one of Claims S to 8 in which the actuator includes a plastics sealing member between the slider member and the panel dimensioned

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The water closet comprises a conventional pan and seat (not shown) with a low Icvcl flushing cistern 2 concealed behind a vertical front panel 4 and a horizontal top panel (not shown), as described in the present Applicants' Patent Specification No. 1,512,674. The front panel 4, which is of wood covered with a plastics facing shroud 6, is formed with a vertically extending elongate oval aperture 8. A recessed plastics cover plate 10 of oval shape overlies the edges of the aperture and is so dimensioned that the recessed portion extends into the aperture 8. The surface of the recessed portion of the cover plate 10 is formed with a vertically extending strip 12 standing slightly proud of the surface of the plate, and a vertically extending slot 14 is formed in the centre of the strip 12. A coach bolt 16 extends through the slot and a flusing knob 18 is secured to it on the outside of the panel within the recess. On the inside of the cover 10 the coach bolt 16 passes through a hole in a vertically extending elongate slider member 20, and is secured to it by a nut 22. The slider member is spaced from the material of the recessed portion of the cover by a striplike plastics sealing member 24 which also has a hole formed in it and is located by the coach bolt. The sealing member 24 is therefore fixed in position with respect to the slider member 20, but may slide in position with respect to the front panel. The flushing knob is spaced from the cover plate by a spacing sleeve 26 which surrounds the coach bolt and projects beyond the surface of the cover plate. In addition a washer 28 is provided between the flushing knob 18 and the spacing sleeve 26, and a second spacing sleeve 3(3 is provided between the slider member 20 and the securing nut 22. The nut is done up tightly, and whilst the first spacing sleeve 26 prevents the washer 28 or the sealing member 24 being forced into contact with the cover plate, all the remaining elements through which the bolt passes are held firmly in contact with one another. An arm 32 projects from the lower end of the slider member, and this arm is connected to a flushing lever 34 on the cistern 2 by means of a chain linkage 36. In its normal position the flushing knob 18 is at the top of the recess as shown in Figure 1, and the plastics sealing member 24 on the inside of the panel projects upwardly some way above the recess. To flush the cistern the flushing knob 18 is slid linearly downwards. This movement is transmitted via the slider member 20, arm 32 and chain linkage 36 to the flushing lever 34. After flushing, the flushing lever 34 returns to its normal position thus returning the slider member 20 and flushing knob 8 to their normal positions, The plastics sealing member 24 moves with the sliding member, and its length is such that it obscures the slot 14 in all positions of the flushing knob in the front panel. Should it be required to remove the front panel for any reason, for instance to service or repair the cistern, after removing the screws or other fastening means by which the panel is secured to the supporting framework the chain linkage 36 permits the front panel 4 to be moved sufficiently to enable the chain to be disconnected from the arm 32 or flushing handle 34, following which the panel may be completely removed. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A kit of parts comprising (a) a water closet cistern, including a flushing mechanism; (b) a panel suitable for mounting in front of, and concealing, the cistern and having a slot therein; (c) an actuator ar ranged to pass through, and slide linearly along, the slot, the sliding motion being substantially parallel to the panel; and (d) a coupling arranged to connect the actuator and the cistern flushing mechanism in such a way that sliding of the actuator can cause the cistern to flush.

2. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 1 in which the actuation is adapted to be slidably secured to the panel.

3. A water closet cistern concealed behind a front panel and including a flushing mechanism operably connected to an actu- ator which passes through a slot in, and is slidably secured to, the front panel so that flushing of the cistern is initiated by a substantially linear movement of the actuator substantially parallel to the front panel.

4. A cistern as claimed in Claim 3 in which the actuator comprises a flushing knob connected to a bolt.

5. A cistern as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the actuator extends through a substantially vertical slot formed in the panel.

6. A cistern as claimed in Claim 5 in which the slot is formed in a recessed portion of the panel so that the actuator does not project substantially beyond the plane of the panel.

7. A cistern as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the actuator includes an elongate slider member extending parallel to the slot to which the flushing mechanism is connected.

8. A cistern as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7 in which the actuator is connected to the flushing mechanism by means of a flexible link such as a chain.

9. A cistern as claimed in any one of Claims S to 8 in which the actuator includes a plastics sealing member between the slider member and the panel dimensioned

and arranged to move with the slider member and to substantially cover the slot.

10. A water closet cistern substantially as specifically described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A water closet including a cistern as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.