GB2110260A - Dual purpose cisterns - Google Patents

Abstract

A W.C. cistern (10) has one main wall (14) adapted for mounting the cistern on a wall surface. Both main walls (14, 18) of the cistern are provided with apertures or knock-out portions for providing apertures (30, 40) through which a lever handle (16) can be coupled to the flushing syphon by means of a spindle (26) from either side of the cistern depending on whether the cistern is to be exposed to view or concealed from view. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dual purpose cisterns This invention relates to W.C. cisterns.

It has been common practice for many years to manufacture two types of cistern, namely those which, in use, will be concealed from view (as seen from within the cubicle in which the lavatory pan is accommodated) and those which will be exposed to view. The latter have to be manufactured to high standards for aesthetic reasons using high grade plastics materials whereas the former do not need to be manufactured to high standards and low grade materials, such as recycled plastics materials, can be used. This necessarily means that different tools must be made for injection moulding the two types of cisterns and plumbers' merchants and such like have to carry stocks of both types of cisterns.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved cistern which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks.

According to the present invention we provide a cistern in which one of the main walls of the cistern is adapted for use in mounting the cistern on a vertical surface and each main wall of the cistern is provided with at least one aperture and/or virtual aperture (as herein defined) for use in locating an actuating spindle for operative connection to the actuating linkage of a flushing syphon housed within the cistern.

As used herein, the expression "virtual aperture" refers to an area of the wall which is of reduced thickness and/or is bounded by a line or lines of weakness such that the area can be punched out or cut out more readily compared with the surrounding area of wall. In practice, such areas will not be readily discernable when viewed externally of the cistern and will not therefore detract from the appearance of the cistern.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, the same cistern can be employed on either side of the same mounting wall for exposed use or for concealed use.

In both cases, the cistern is mounted with said one main wall facing the mounting surface but, in the former case, a said aperture in the opposite main wall is used for reception and location of the actuating spindle and in the latter case the spindle is received by a said aperture in said one main wall.

Although the cistern will be manufactured to high standards using high grade materials irrespective of whether it is to be concealed or exposed, this drawback is more than offset by avoiding the need for two sets of injection moulding tools especially if, as is usually the case, the demand for concealed cisterns is relatively limited.

Preferably each main wall is provided with two such apertures for locating the actuating spindle for left hand or right hand operation of the flushing syphon and each aperture (or virtual aperture) is conveniently aligned with the respective one of the apertures (or virtual apertures) in the opposite main wall.

Where the cistern is mounted on the opposite side of a dividing wall to the pan (and is hence concealed) the actuating spindle will be sufficiently long to extend from a lever handle located on the pan side of the dividing wall, through the entire thickness of the dividing wall and into the interior of the cistern via a said aperture in said one wall. Where the cistern is mounted on the pan side of the mounting wall (and is hence exposed) a shorter actuating spindle can be used which projects from the interior of the cistern through said aperture in said opposite main wall and terminates in a lever handle.

Similarly the flush pipe for connecting the outlet of the cistern to the inlet of the pan will be of different length according to whether the cistern is concealed or exposed.

To promote further understanding of the invention, preference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a lavatory pan and cistern disposed in the same room or cubicle; Figure 2 shows the pan and cistern disposed on opposite sides of the dividing wall; and Figure 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the operating handle.

As shown in Figure 1, the cistern 10 is mounted on the same side of the mounting wall as the lavatory pan 12, the cistern being secured to the wall by suitable fasteners passing through the holes in its rear main wall 14 (see Figure 2 for details). The lever handle 16 is mounted adjacent the front main wall 18 and its operating spindle passes through an aperture (as shown in Figure 1) in the wall 18 for operative connection to the linkage for translating rotation of the spindle into vertical displacement of the piston of the flushing syphon located within the cistern. A flush pipe 20 with a relatively short bend connects the outlet of the cistern to the inlet of the rear of the pan 12.

In Figures 2 and 3, the cistern 10 and the pan 12 are located on opposite sides of the dividing wall 22 so that the cistern is concealed from view within the room or cubicle accommodating the pan. In this case, the cistern is again mounted with its rear wall 14 against the mounting surface and its front wall 18 is presented away from the dividing wall 22. To allow operation'of the cistern from within the room or cubicle accommodating the pan, the lever handle 16 is located on the pan side of the wall 22 and its spindle 26 extends through the bore 28 in the wall 22, through a circular aperture 30 in a rearwall 14 of the cistern and into operative engagement with the operating linkage associated with the syphon.

The spindle 26 extends through an externally screw-threaded sleeve 32 which serves to mount a flanged collar 34, a nut 36, a locking nut 37 and a bush 38 for reception in the aperture 30. In practice, the spindle 26 will be supplied in a length sufficient to cover a wide range of wall thicknesses so that it can be cut to size according to requirements.

It will be noted from Figure 3 that the front wall 18 has a circular reduced thickness area 40 directly opposite the aperture 30 in the rear wall 14 so that when the cistern is to be mounted in exposed fashion as in Figure 1,the area 40 can be readily punched or cut out or otherwise removed to provide an aperture for reception of the spindle through the front wall 18. In practice, there will be a corresponding pair of apertures 18, 30 at the other side of the cistern to allow for right hand or left hand operation of the flushing syphon.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the same cistern can be employed for exposed or concealed use thereby obviating the need for two sets of production tools and the need for stockists to carry two different types of cistern.

CLAIMS (filed on 25 Nov 82) 1. A cistern in which one of the main walls of the cistern is adapted for use in mounting the cistern on a vertical surface and each main wall of the cistern is provided with at least one aperture and/or virtual aperture (as herein defined) for use in locating an actuating spindle for operative connection to the actuating linkage of a flushing syphon housed within the cistern.

2. A cistern as claimed in Claim 1 in which each main wall is provided with two such apertures for locating the actuating spindle for left hand or right hand operation of the flushing syphon.

3. A cistern as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which each aperture (or virtual aperture) is aligned with the respective one of the apertures (or virtual apertures) in the opposite main wall.

4. A cistern substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. front wall 18. In practice, there will be a corresponding pair of apertures 18, 30 at the other side of the cistern to allow for right hand or left hand operation of the flushing syphon. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the same cistern can be employed for exposed or concealed use thereby obviating the need for two sets of production tools and the need for stockists to carry two different types of cistern. CLAIMS (filed on 25 Nov 82)

1. A cistern in which one of the main walls of the cistern is adapted for use in mounting the cistern on a vertical surface and each main wall of the cistern is provided with at least one aperture and/or virtual aperture (as herein defined) for use in locating an actuating spindle for operative connection to the actuating linkage of a flushing syphon housed within the cistern.

2. A cistern as claimed in Claim 1 in which each main wall is provided with two such apertures for locating the actuating spindle for left hand or right hand operation of the flushing syphon.

3. A cistern as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which each aperture (or virtual aperture) is aligned with the respective one of the apertures (or virtual apertures) in the opposite main wall.

4. A cistern substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.