GB2178654A - Improvements to sinks, wash hand basins, bath and toilets - Google Patents

Abstract

The Patent relates to the invention of flexible and movable Sinks, wash hand basins, baths and toilets. By using flexible mountings and couplings to water supply and waste disposal of the units, a unit such as a sink, basin, bath or toilet may be height adjusted to suit different sizes of people, and for ease, of use for patients and old people instead of being fixed at a certain height. It also relates to easy movement of the units to save space and different uses of a room. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements to sinks, wash hand basins, baths, toilets I Michael Thomas Beckett, of 531 Watford Road, St. Albans, Herts, do hereby declare the Invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me. and the method by which it is performed, to be particularly described in the following Statement:- This invention relates to Sinks, Wash-hand Basins, Baths and toilets, which comprise of a variety of shapes that hold water or liquid, and are described hereafter and shown on attendant drawings.

The invention relates to Sinks, Basins, Baths or Toilettes, which can be used in private accommodation, such as a dwelling, semi public accommodation such as hotels, restaraunts, ships, planes, trains, or vehicles, such as Caravans, buses coaches, public accomodation such as public conveniences, or permanent or temporary toilets, baths facilities, or Commercial premises, or commercial accomodation or vehicles.

The sink, or basin can be of any convenient shape to hold liquid, but usually water and be made of any convenient or suitable material to do so, such as metal, plastic, ceramic, porcelain, china, or any combination of materials.

The same applies to baths and Toilets. The aim of a Sink. Basin, or bath is to wash or clean, part or whole of a human or animal body, or part or whole of an object or objects, such as china and crockery. Water is uusually supplied by pipes to the Sinks, Basins or Baths, the pipes may be of any particular shape or size, or material. Usually there is the facility for an opening to remove water in the sink, basin or bath, through what is usually termed a waiste pipe which may be of any suitable size, dimention, shape or material.

In most cases at present a Sink or washhand basin is installed on to or next to a wall or partition, some are self standing, some are a combination of having support from the floor or ground and support from one or more walls or partitions. They are usually fixed in places like kitchens, sculeries, utility rooms, toilets, bathrooms, doctors surgeries, dentists surgeries, hospitals, places of work. At present they are fixed at a certain hight, when installed, and remain at that fixed hight or position, until replaced. To change their hight is a major job. Consequently the hight is a compromise. A child of 3 ft cannot easily use a sink, that is suitable for an adult. They often have to use something to stand on to operate the water taps, and use the sink or basin to wash their body or part of it or an object.

The high suitability for a 5ft person is different to that of someone 6ft. What I am inventing is an adjustable sink, basin, which can equally be applied to baths and toilets or toilet pans. What I am inventing is an adjustable height sink, an adjustable sink position, which equally applies to Basins, Baths and Toilets, or toilet pans.

At present most sinks or basins are set at a fixed hight and cannot easily be moved.

What is shown in Figla. is a sink or basin attached to a set of guide rails which are fixed to a wall or partition. The Guide rails are secure and fixed but the sink can be adjusted to slide down or up the guide rails to suit the user. The sink is locked into postition, by any suitable or convenient clamp, or locking device. Pipes to and from the sink or basin are usually of a solid nature, such as copper, lead, metal, plastic, porcelain and do not allow the sink to be easily moved. But in My invention, there is fitted to the inlet taps, or to the pipes from the inlet taps a flexible pipe, or adjustable pipe or tube of any convenient section.

Conversely, if a waist or disposal pipe is fitted to the sink or basin, this can be made to have an adjustable section as shown in Fig. 1 b and the sink is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1a. It can be readily seen, that a sink can be installed which can be easily changed to suit different hights of user. The method of moving the sink can be of any suitable method and we only describe a few practical applications.

For the occasional change of sink hight, a simple clamping method would be ideal and inexpensive. But for rapid changes of sink hight it would be easily possible to have the sink moved by a hydraulic system, air system, ratchet system, as used in items such as motor vehicle jacks, or elevating system used on hairdressers or dentists chairs. Also an electric or other motor could be used, so a button controlls height and could be similar to system of electric car windows. Consequently, a child, invalid, older person, could easily adjust the sink to suit themselves. In their own house it is easy for them to have a sink fitted at their required hight but in public, or hotel basins this is not possible. But if all Hotel or public wash basins were easily adjustable it would be of great benefit to many people.

The same applies to baths, and toilets or toilet pans. These could be adjusted to suit user.

The surround of a sink or basin could be made so it can also be adjustable, with either flexible material or material that can slide over or alongside the surround that is fitted to floor or to sink, also shown in 1a and ib Figs. The main feature is to use adjustable or flexible pipes, such as used in shower units, for some part of the connection and supply of water or liquid to and from the sink, basin, bath, or Toilet pan.

The above desribes the adjustability with regard to hight and to some of its uses and benefits. But having adjustable or flexible connections, in some part, also allows for the basin, sink, bath or toilet to be moved laterly, or swung on a horizontal or vertical axix. Fig.

2 shows a sink that has swung downwards.

This allows for a larger sink to be used or a sink put into a smaller space and stowed for easier other access. This could allow a door to be opened, or people to pass by. Fig. 2b shows where a sink is moved laterally, so it fits over a bath or toilet, or other item when not in use to give more room. This could be of advantage in caravans" ships, trails, busses, when space is at a premium.

It is also envisaged that a sink or basin could be swung back into a cavity in a wall or partition, either laterally or or vertically, so as to take up less space when unused and to look neater. The sink or basin could be free standing, with centre coloum taking feed and supply water and waiste water, so they are not seen. Still connected by flexible or sliding pipes.

Where a S Trap, or U Trap or similar system is used in the waiste pipe, this could be fixed direct to sink or basin with flexible or sliding tube section coming from that and connecting with normal solid pipe system. Or Flexible system would be direct to basin and then connecting to S. Trap. U. Trap or similar sytem to meet Health regulations or requirements. A U Trap or S Trap could be fitted into wall or Floor so as to be put in a convenient place and not be attacthed ridgidly to basin.

It is envisaged, that eventually. It would be possible to have a bathroom or/and Toilet that had basins, toilet and bath that could sink right down to below floor level. With say an adjustable cover with matching tiles, lino or carpet, on top of the toilet pan, basin and or bath, it would be possible to have an empty looking room, with no basins visible. At a press of a button the toilet would rise up from below floor level to required hight. At a press of a button the toilet would be flushed at a press of a button the toilet would sink from view into floor, with carpet top comming down on top. Press a button and the basin or sink rises up to a required hight, press a button, water comes out at a required temperature. Press a button the sink empties press a button and the sink receeds out of view into floor. The same applies to bath.

This could be most easily operated on the Ground floor. It would be possible to develop a system that came from the loft but would have a few more technical dificulties.

This would not only be something to interest the wealthy. Who when showing people around their house, could say this is our bathroon, and no objects need be seen. And would be something new and fashionable. As now low flush Toilets are universally fitted, instead of those high up systerns with chain.

This would become a norm.

But for many it could be very practical. With space a premium it would be possible to have an extra bathroom toilette down stairs. So when family get up in the morning they can use more than one bathroom. But later on in the day the requirement may be for only one bathroom. The down stairs bathroom with the movable equipment, could be used for other purposes, such as play room or den. With correct sealing on tops to the sink, bath or toilet, it would be hygenic.

The use for this in Holiday accomodation, villas, Hotels, caravans, portable homes, could add more facilities to a given area. As bed fold up into walls to give a dining or lounge area, so it would be possible to have an extra toilet, or larger toilet facility, which could be used for another purpose.

The variations are enourmous. The use of a Flexible and movable system of Toilet and basins, would revolutionise design over a period of a decade, giving greater flexility. Allowing basins to be put into rooms, for convenience, and position moved so they take up less space when not in use.

The imediate advantage, is that without a great deal of extra cost, one can have a flexible bathroom to suit all of a family. That with flexible sinks and basins it could help the invalids and those confinded to a wheel chair.

So items can be easily adjusted to suit their hight. It could save considerable back strain for people washing themselves or items in a sink both at home, or at work.

For hospitals, nursing homes, or in homes, one could have a bath or basin which a person or object could get into at ground level, it could be then raised, so another person could assist in washing them or the object at a hight to suit them. For instance Mothers have to kneel on the floor or stoop to wash a child in a bath. A nurse has to do the same with some patients. With a movable bath their job could be made easier.

At present the general concept it to put in a sink, basin bath or toilet in a fixed position.

To move them is expensive as considerable work has to be done with moving fixed drainage and pipes. What I am inventing is the use of flexible piping to allow fittings to be easily moved. It would be an advantage to have more pipes of a flexible nature when plumbing a house, so a change in requirements could be more easily made.

At present Basins are put in at a fixed height and cannot be moved, Also kitchen sink units are the same. But the units are often on a plytnth, which could allow for the sink to move up and down. So when a house is built it would be fitted with adjustable units.

So if the first lady who uses the kitchen is 5ft she can adjust the sink level to suit her.

When the house is sold, and the next person who normally uses the kitchen is 5ft 9ins, she could raise the sink to suit themselves.

Also with many down stairs cloak rooms the basin for washing hands is very small. If a person has been gardening, or fixing car or similar, they need a decent basin to wash in.

Consequently they use Kitchen Sink. But if someone else is using the sink for another purpose such as cooking, they cannot use it immediately. But with a basin that can swing up or down or sideways, a much larger basin can be put into the like of downstairs cloak rooms, to facilitate a trash with a greater volume of water.

It is also envisaged that by the next decade, more and more computor type controls will be used. So a Button, switch or similar will control water flow and control taps, also temperature of water. So that taps can be made smaller, and even with tose that cannot be seen, so just 4 holes will be seen in a sink and basin. One Hot water supply, one cold water supply, the overflow, and waist or drain hole. Both inlet and outlet controlled by values which operate at a touch of a button.

Patent Application No. 8507743 3 Sheets. The drawings are a reproduction of the original, but are not to size or scale.

Drawing information sheet & Index.

Figure la Side elevation of wash basin/sink in low position.

Figure ib Side elevation of wash basin/sink in high position.

Figure ic Side elevation of wash basin/sink Figure id Side elevation cross section selfsupporting sink/basin Figure le Side elevation bath Figure if Side cross section of sink/wash basin.

Figure 2a Side elevation of hinged sink in useable position.

Figure 2b Side elevation of hinged/folding sink in storage position Figure 2c Side elevation of hinged basin/sinl Figure 2d Plan views of bathroom with wash basin/sink & toilet in useable and storage positions.

Number index for drawings.

1 wash basin/sink/bidet 2 Tap 3 Water supply 4 Flexible supply pipe 5 Flexible waste pipe 6 U bend or S bend fixed to sink 7 Locking clamp 8 Wall mounted guide 9 Floor/base 10 Wall/partition 11 Mirror/tiling/surround fixed to sink 12 Adjustable surround 13 Waste U or S bend fixed to groun d/floor/wall 14 Hydraulic or power system for lifting sink/basin and locking into position 15 Sink/basin/bidey surround 16 Adjustable support 17 Hight control foot lever 18 Hydraulic/power/mechanical hight ad juster.

Patent Application No. 8507743 Drawing information sheet & Index page 2 Number Index for drawings continued.

19 Lifting/lowering system for Bath.

20 Waste pipe fitted to sin 21 Larger waste pipe 22 Grummit or valve seals water & smells 23 Swing bracket/hinge 24 Additional optional sink/basin support 25 Cavity in wall/partition 26 Toilet 27 Horizontal guide rails 28 Toilet under bath 29 Basin over bath 30 Bath

Claims (1)

1. A Sink or Basin, that is designed to hold water or liquid, that is designed to be adjusted in hight.

2. A sink or basin as described in 1, which has an adjustable wall mounting, which enables the sink or basin to be moved to a variety of hights, either manually or by a mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, air, magnetic or power system, which may be operated by simple levers, switches or buttons, or controlled by a computor system.

3. A sink or basin, that is described in 1, that has an adjustable floor mounting, which allows the sink or basin to be moved, by hand, a simple locking system, or any electrical, hydraulic, air, mechanical or power system, so as to adjust the hight.

4. A sink or basin as described in 1, 2, and 3, which has flexible pipes or adustable lenght pipes fitted to it, for both the supply to and from the sink or basin.

5. A sink or basin as described in 1, 2, and 3, that can have fitted to it adjustable or flexible pipe, with the purpose of adjusting its position.

6. A sink or basin as described in 1, that has adjustable fittings to allow it to be moved laterlly, or swung on a vertical or horizontal plain, or tilted.

7. The principle of fitting flexible ar adjustable piping to a sink, basin, toilet pan or bath, so that it can be easily moved.

8. The priciple of fitting flexible or adjustable piping which can supply water or liquid to a basin, sink, container, tank, bath or toilet pan so as to alow the bathroom, kitchen toilet or other similar fitting to allow it to be moved, without disconnecting pipes.

8. The principle of Fitting flexible or adjustable tubing to take away waist water from a sink, basin, bath, tank or Toilet pan, so that the Toilet, bath, sink, or basin can be easily moved without disconnecting or reconnecting pipes.

10. A bath, or container, designed to hold water that is designed to be adjusted in hight, without disconnecting piping for supply to or from the bath or container, which has a floor support or a wall support system, and the hight adjustedby hand, mechanical, hydraulic, electric, ratchet, or power system.

11. A toilet pan, connected or not connected to a water tank, can be adjusted in height or position, without disconnecting supply or/and waist system as described to adjust item 1, or 10.

12. An Adjustable system, that can be fitted to a sink, basin bath, toilet, toilet, tank or pan, that allows them to be moved without disconnecting existing piping.

13. Fittings, that alow a sink, basin, bath, or toilet to be moved, without disconnecting supply or waiste water or liquid.