GB2158477A - Toilets and methods of making toilets - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet comprises a bowl (10) and has a siphon or outlet passage (not shown) formed integrally within the toilet so that, when water is poured into the bowl from a bucket or other container, the siphon forms a water seal and the toilet is flushed by a siphon effect. One outlet (16) of the siphon or outlet passage is located in the base of the toilet. A method of making the above toilet is also described and claimed. This method comprises mixing raw materials with water to form a slip, pouring the slip into a mould which will absorb water from the slip and removing the moulded article from the mould and vitrifying it by firing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toilets and methods of making toilets This invention relates to toilets and methods of making toilets.

It is of course known to flush a toilet or lavatory by means of a cistern that is connected to a bowl of the toilet so as dispense water into the bowl. The flushed faecal matter and/or urine generally emerges from the toilet bowl via a large diameter passageway opening at the rear of the bowl. The plumbing arrangements needed for this type of toilet can be expensive to provide.

Another known type of toilet is in the form of a container in which faecal matter, toilet paper and urine is accumulated. When the container is full, it is carried away and emptied. Although no plumbing arrangements are required, this type of toilet suffers from the disadvantages of unpleasant odours and lack of hygiene (even if a disinfectant fluid is poured into the container after emptying) and the difficulty and unpleasantness involved in emptying it.

According to the present invention there is provided a toilet comprising a bowl and having a siphon formed integrally within the toilet so that, when water is poured into the bowl, the siphon forms a water seal and the toilet is flushed by a siphon effect.

The water seal reduces or eliminates odours. The siphon effect enables water flushing, with the attendant advantages of odour reduction and enhanced hygiene. Water flushing can be achieved simply by pouring water, e.g. from a bucket or other container, into the bowl.

Preferabiy, the toilet bowl is provided with no means for connection to a cistern whereby it can be flushed only by pouring water into the bowl, for example from a container. In this way, a complete toilet installation can be provided cheaply in that no cistern or the like is required.

The siphon preferably has an outlet located in the base of the toilet. This has the advantage that plumbing work is minimised and that the toilet takes up a minimal amount of space.

A toilet according to the invention is preferably formed from vitreous sanitary ware. The invention also provides a method of making such a toilet, which method comprises mixing raw materials with water to form a slip, pouring the slip into a mould which will absorb water from the slip, and removing the moulded article from the mould and vitrifying it by firing.

The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toilet embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a front elevation of the toilet shown in Fig. 1.

The drawing shows a toilet or sanitary apparatus that comprises a bowl 10 having an Sshaped siphon or outlet passageway (not shown) formed integrally therein.

The upper rim 1 2 of the bowl 10 is designed to permit a person to sit comfortably on the toilet. The rim 1 2 is oval, measuring approximately 400 mm (dimension a not shown in Fig. 1) long by 342 mm (dimension b in Fig. 2) wide.

The base of the toilet or sanitary appliance may be oval or rectangular in shape, measuring aproximately 336 mm (dimension C in Fig. 1) long by 184 mm (dimension din Fig.

2) wide. The base of the toilet is provided with two holes enabling it to be fixed to a floor by bolts or the like. One such hole is shown at 14 in Fig. 1.

The S-shaped outlet passage or siphon formed integrally with the toilet or lavatory has a minimum diameter approximately equal to 50 mm. The siphon has an inlet located in the bottom of the bowl 10 and an outlet 1 6 (Fig. 1) that is located in the base or under surface of the toilet and spaced by approximately 76 mm (dimension e in Fig. 1) from the rear end of the base of the toilet.

The height of the toilet (dimension fin Fig. 1) is approximately equal to 311 cm.

When water is poured in to the bowl 10, the siphon or outlet passage creates a water seal, preventing or reducing the escape of toilet odours.

The toilet can be flushed, i.e. substances such as faecal matter, urine and toilet paper can be emptied from the toilet, by pouring water in to the bowl 10, producing a siphon effect that eliminates the contents of the bowl.

The quantity of water required is approximately 3.8 litres (1 US gallon). The siphon effect drains the contents of the bowl 10 through the siphon or outlet passage and discharges the waste water through the outlet 1 6 in the base of the toilet or sanitary apparatus. On completion of this operation, approximately 0.95 litres (0.25 US gallons) of water remains in the bowl 10, forming a water seal of approximately 25 mm.

The water can be poured into the toilet from a bucket, tanker or other container, whereby a flushing cistern and means on the bowl for connection to the cistern are not required.

The toilet or sanitary apparatus described above is preferably made of porcelain, also known as vitreous sanitary ware, a material which will not absorb water. Porcelain is made up from raw materials comprising a clay or clays, kaolin, silica and feldspar. The toilet is fabricated by mixing the raw materials with water to make a slip. The slip is poured into a mould of a water-absorbing substance, such as plaster or gypsum. When the mould has absorbed the water from the slip, the mould is dismantled, leaving a solid but rough article corresponding to the shape of the toilet. The article is fired at a temperature above 1 093 C (2000"F) in order to vitrify it. If enamel is applied to the rough article, the firing operation serves to provide a brilliant or shiny surface.

Claims (14)

1. A toilet comprising a bowl and having a siphon formed integrally within the toilet so that, when water is poured into the bowl, the siphon forms a water seal and the toilet is flushed by a siphon effect.

2. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the toilet bowl is provided with no means for connection to a cistern whereby it can be flushed only by pouring water into the bowl, for example from a container.

3. A toilet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the siphon has an outlet located in the base of the toilet.

4. A toilet according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the siphon has an inlet located in the bottom of the bowl.

5. A toilet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the siphon has a minimum diameter approximately equal to 50 mm.

6. A toilet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the siphon is Sshaped.

7. A toilet according to any one of the preceding claims, which is formed from vitreious sanitary ware.

8. A toilet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A method of making a toilet according to claim 7, which comprises mixing raw materials with water to form a slip, pouring the slip into a mould which will absorb water from the slip, and removing the moulded article from the mould and vitrifying it by firing.

1 0. A method according to claim 9, wherein enamel is applied to the moulded article before it is vitrified.

11. A method according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the raw materials comprise clay, kaolin, silica and feldspar.

1 2. A method according to claim 9, claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the mould is of gypsum or plaster.

1 3. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the firing temperature is greater than 1093"C.

14. A method according to claim 9, substantially as herein described.