GB2180859A - W.C. pan having integral functional waterway - Google Patents

Abstract

A W.C. pan comprises a receptacle (10) and a functional waterway (40) having a trap (36) at one end and an outlet (52) at the other end. At least part of the length of the functional waterway (40) is situated laterally of the median vertical longitudinal plane of the appliance; for example, one portion (42) of the said waterway may extend in a generally lateral direction. Sidewalls (28) may extend rearwardly, preferably to an extent such that they conceal the functional waterway. The sanitary appliance may be manufactured by slip casting, the functional waterway being formed using a rear mould piece. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sanitary appliances Field ofthe invention The present invention relates to a sanitary appliance, for example a water closet (W.C.) pan, provided with a receptacle and a functional waterway that includes a trap and an outlet.

Background to the invention It is, in general, a requirementthat a sanitary appliance (also known as a "plumbing fixture") befitted with a trap, this being a device for holding a quantity ofwatertoform a barrieragainstthe passageoffoul airfrom thedrainsvia the soil pipe into the room in which the sanitary appliance is situated. It is now standard practice to make a W.C. pan (also known as a "toilet") with a trap that is integral with the receptacle (or bowl) ofthe appliance,thetrap forming one end of a functional waterway that continues rearwardly of the trap and terminates in an outlet that is adapted to be connected to a soil pipe ofthe building in which the W.C. pan is situated.The outlet may, for example, be directed horizontally to provide what is sometimes referred to as a P-outlet, or be directed vertically downwards to provide what is sometimes referred to as an S-outlet. Dispositions ofthe outlet intermediate the horizontal and the downwardlyvertical are also known.

irrespective ofthe type of outlet, however, the functional waterway has hitherto been formed so that the path it defines lies in a vertical plane, usually coincident with the median vertical longitudinal plane of the W.C. pan (about which plane the bowl is usually symmetrical).There appears to have been a tacit assumption in the artthat such an arrangement is necessary in orderto minimise disruption ofthe flow of the flushing water and the solid wastes carried by it.

Sanitary appliances such asW.C. pans are com- monly manufactured from vitreous china, preferably such a ceramic ware made from a mixture of white burning clays and finely ground minerals and which, when fired but unglazed, has a mean value of water absorption of not more than 0.5% of the dry weight (cf. British Standard (B.S.) 3402). The finished appliance is coated on all exposed surfaces with an impervious non-crazing vitreous glaze. It is generallya re quirementthatan appliance such as a W.C. pan (excluding such fittings as a seat and a seat cover) should be of a one-piece construction, in orderto minimisethe risk of leakage (of. B.S. 5503).

Conventionally, the functional waterway structure of a W.C. pan, or like device for the disposal of soil deposits, has been obtained by means of plaster side moulds together with additional pre-castoradd-on componentstoform both the internal functional waterway and the external surfaces.The generally circular cross-section ofthe internal bore and the complex path ofthefunctionalwaterwaywould often result in the outer surfaces having recessed areas which, if left in thatform,would prove difficult to clean and would be aesthetically displeasing to customers. to overcome these drawbacks, it has hitherto been the practice either two cover or close off the external recessed formations by means of a stuck-on clay element orto attemptto minimisethe recessed formations bythe use of a multiplicity of loose parts in the mould structure. However, these known procedures tend to complicate the moulding process and are not conducive to the mass production of W.C. pans at a high rate thatwould be economically desirable.

The manufacture of ceramic sanitary appliances by slip casting is described,forexample, in US-A3,461,194 (Alexander), US-A-3,812,229 (Anderson) and US-A-4,316,864 (Bramwell).

Summary ofthe invention The present invention now provides a sanitary appliance, e.g. a water closet pan, having a receptacle and a functional waterway, said functional waterway comprising, at one end thereof, a trap and, attheotherendthereof, an outlet,wherein thefunc- tional waterway over at least part of its length is situ ated laterally ofthe median vertical longitudinal plane ofthe appliance.

The present invention permits the production of sanitary appliances having a functional waterway which exhibits no loss in efficiency, compared with conventional designs, in the flushing away of solid wastes and yet which can be integrally cast using a rear mould piece, without the need for loose pre-cast or add-on components in the mould orthe use of stuck-on clay portions after casting.

Accordingly, the invention also provides a process forthe manufacture of a sanitary appliance of this invention by slip casting, wherein the functional water way is formed with the use of a rear mould piece.

Not only can the present invention simplify casting and thereby facilitate the high-speed mass production of W.C. pans orthe like, but also (as is shown hereinafter)itcan permit W.C. pans orthe like to be produced which, after installation, have no recessed areas in the exterior of the functional waterway ex- posed to view.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings Figure lisa rear perspective view from above of a W.C. pan according to this invention, which is adapted to be supplied with flushing water from a closecoupled cistern (ortankor reservoir) and which is provided with an outlet directed vertically downwards.

Figure2 is a plan view of the W.C. pan of Figure 1 and includes a representation ofthe side mould pieces and the rear mould piece employed in the casting thereof.

Figure3 is a section along the line M-M in Figure2 (which line also represents the median vertical longitudinal plane ofthe appliance.).

Figure4is a rear elevation viewoftheW.C. pan pan of Figure 1.

Figure is a front perspective view from above of the rear mould piece of which a representation is given in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a rear perspective view from above of another W.C. pan according to this invention which has a back inletforthe flushing water and which has an outlet that is directed horizontally.

Figure 7 is a rear perspective view from above of a further back-inlet W.C. pan according to this invention by which is provided with an outlet that is directed vertically downards.

In the drawings, like parts are indicated by like numerals.

Description of preferred embodiments Referring now to Figures 1-4, a W.C. pan ofthe pedestal type comprises a receptacle in the form of a conventional bowl 10 supported on a foot or base 12 and provided with an open flushing rim 14 (although a flushing rimoftheboxtypecould,forexample,be used instead). The base 12 is punched or otherwise provided with holes 16 for the reception of screws or the like (notshown) forfixing the W.C. pan tithe floor. Thetop surface 18oftheW.C. pan is also punched or otherwise provided with holes 20 which permit the attachemnt of a toilet seat and a seat cover (not shown).

The top surface i8terminates rearwardly in a plat- form or projection 22 forthe purpose of mounting a close-coupled cistern (not shown), the platform 22 being provided in its upper surface with a water inlet 24that communicates, via a channel 26 in the platform 22, with theflushing rim 14. The flushing arrangement may be of conventional type oroftheim- proved type described in our co-pending United Kingdom Patent Application No.8416832.

The W.C. pan is provided with sidewalls 28 which extend from the top surface 18 to the level ofthe base 12 and which are located to the rearofthe bowl 10.

As shown in Figure 3,the bowl 10 is provided with an integral trap 30, this being a generally U-shaped channel formed bythe bottom 32 andthe back-plate 34ofthe bowl 10. Thetrap -the rear arm 36 of which lies substantially in the median vertical longitudinal plane M-M ofthe appliance - constitutes one end of a generally tubularfunctional waterway, indicated by 40 (Figure 1).

The portion 42 of the functional waterway 40 that is contiguous with the trap 30 extends in a generally lateral direction. In this regard, it should be understood thatthis portion ofthefunctional waterway need not extend in a direction that is precisely per pendiculartothe median vertical longitudinal plane (although it may do so, if desired).Thus,the laterally directed portion 42 ofthefunctional waterway may extend forwardly or rearwardly at an angle two the per pendiculartothe median vertical longitudinal plane, such angle being preferably notmorethan about450 and especially not morethan about 20 . It is also preferred that the laterally directed portion 42 be horizontal or declined to the horizontal at an angle, preferably of not more than about 45" and especially of not more than about 20". Disposing the laterally dir- ected portion 42 at an incline is not recommended, for it could impedethe efficient removal of solid wastes and/or result in the surface W ofthewater in the bowl being raised to too high a level.

The laterally extending portion 42 leads, via a curved portion 44, to a descending portion 46 ofthe functional waterway, which descending portion is connected, via an offset portion 48, to the final (or outlet) portion 50 which is directed vertically down wards and which terminates in an outlet 52. The offset portion 48 serves to position the final portion 50 in a median position in order to facilitate the con- nection ofthe outlet to a closet flange or soil pipe (not shown).

It will be seen that, exceptforthetrap 30 andthe final or outlet portion 50. thefunctional waterway 40 is situated to one side of the median vertical long itudinal plane ofthe appliance. Theside-walls 28 flankthe functional waterway 40 (or, rather, that part thereof that is situated beyond the rear exterior surface 54 of the bowl) and may serve to enclose and conceal it,especiallywhentheW.C. pan is installed againstawall.Theside-walls28need not necessarily go right back to the said wall: it is preferred, however, that they extend rearwardly at least to the same extent as does the functional waterway.

The sanitary appliances of the present invention are preferably ceramic and are preferably integrally cast. They may be manufactured by slip casting in a mould, the various passages in the appliance (such as, for example, the channel 26 in the platform 22,the flushing rim 14 and the functional waterway 40 in the above-described embodiment) being formed by emptying slip from the mould after an appropriate period oftime, in particular afterthe slip has reduced its water content and solidified adjacent the mould surfaces. The mould pieces will usually be of plaster of Paris orotherwater-absorbent material that is suitable.

As shown in Figure 2, the mould may comprise a pair of side-forming pieces 60,60' which are adapted to meet generally in the median plane M-M, said side-forming pieces being removable after casting by separation in respective directions normal to said plane. The mould mayfurthercomprisea bottom piece (not shown) and atop piece (not shown), which latter determinestheformation oftheflushing rim 14 and the top surfaces ofthe bowl 10 and the platform 22. The technique of slip casting is well known to those skilled in the art, who will readily beableto determine appropriate configurations for the top, bottom and side pieces ofthe mould.

The mould also comprises a rear mould piece 62 that is provided, in its upper surface 64, with a recess 66 shaped to form the underside 38 ofthe platform 22 ofthe W.C. pan. The sides 68 ofthe rear mould piece 62 are each provided with a rabbet70 adjacent the frontface 72 of the mould piece, which rabbets 70 are adapted to cooperate with the side mould pieces 60, 60' to form the side-walls 28 oftheW.C. pan. The front face 72 is formed with an upper projection 74, which is adapted to form an upper portion 54a (see Figure 3) of the rear exterior surface of the bowl, and with lower projection 76, which is adapted to form a lower portion 54b (see Figure 3) of that rear exterior surface.

Thefrontface72 ofthe rearmould piece is provided with a recess 78 shaped to form the functional waterway 40 ofthe W.C. pan. No additional pieces, whether loose or stuck on, are required for the formation of the functional waterway. Furthermore, the rear mould piece may be readily separated from the W.C. pan after casting. The fact that a considerable proportion (preferably the greater part) ofthefunc tionaiwaterwayisformed using a rear mould piece (togetherwith, if appropriate, the bottom mould piece, as mentioned hereinafter) also meansthatthe side mould pieces can be utilized to form the sidewalls 28 in a simple and convenient manner by integral casting.

Turning nowto Figures 6 and 7,the W.C. pans illus trated therein are adapted to be supplied with water forflushing from a remote, ratherthan closecoupled, cistern; water from the cistern (not shown) is supplied via a pipe (not shown) to the inlet 24', which inlet communicates with theflushing rim 14 in conventional manner.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, the terminal portion 50 of the functional waterway and its associated outlet 52 are directed horizontallytothe rear. Thus, this embodiment dispenses with the descending portion ofthe functional waterway and the curved portion 44 is joined, directly or via a short, substantially horizontal portion, to the offset portion 48 (which again serves to bring the outlet 52 to a median position).

The outlet 52 in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 is directed vertically downwards. However, the ver ticallydisposedterminal portion 50 is longerthanthe analogous portion ofthefunctional waterway shown in Figures 1-4, thereby obviating the need for a portion analogous to the descending portion 46 ofthe functional waterway shown in Figures 1-4. thus, as in Figure 6, the curved portion 44 shown in Figure7 is connected, either directly or via a short, substantially horizontal portion, to the offset portion 48 (which again serves to centralise the outlet 52).

Part ofthe functional waterway of the embodiment of Figure 7, in particulartheterminal portion 50, is separate from the rear exterior surface 54 of the bowl. To achieve such a configuration it may be nec essarytoemploya bottom mould piece (notshown) that extends upwards sufficiently to create the required space between the said rear exterior surface of the bowl and the outer surface of the separate part of the functional waterway.

The W.C. pans illustrated in Figures 1-4,6 and 7 operate on a single-trap syphonic principle. How ever, the present invention is also applicable to W.C.

pans and like appliances that operate on other principles, for example on a double trap syphonic principle with a pressure-reducing device, Moreover, the invention is not limited to W.C. pans of the pedestal type; it may also be applied towall-hung orcorbel W.C. pans. Indeed,the invention mayalso be applied to sanitary appliances other than W.C. pans, for example to urinals or bidets, especially those formed with an integral trap.

Although the traps in the illustrated embodiments lie in the median vertical longitudinal plane, it is also possibletoform a trap so that at leastthe rear part thereof extends laterally of that plane. Dispositions ofthe outlet intermediate the horizontal and the vertically downwards direction are possible.

Atvarious points herein, the disposition ordirec- tion of the functional waterway or particular portions thereof has been described relative to certain directions or planes. In construing such description,the position of any portion of the functional waterway may be taken to be that ofthe line along the centre of the bore of that portion of functional waterway, which bore will usually have a substantially circular cross-section.

It will of course be understood that the present in- vention has been described above purely by way of example, and modification of detail can be made within the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

Claims (12)

1. A sanitary appliance having a receptacle and a functional waterway, said functional waterway comprising, at one end thereof, a trap and, at the other end thereof, an outlet, characterised in that the func- tional waterway over at least part of its length is situ ated laterally ofthe median vertical longitudinal plane of the appliance.

2. Asanitary appliance according to claim 1, char- acterised in that the functional waterway comprises a portion that terminates in the outlet, which portion is directed horizontally, orvertically downwards, or in a direction intermediate those two directions.

3. Asanitaryappliance according to claim 1 or2, characterised in that the functional waterway com prises a portion that terminates in the outlet, which portion lies substantially in the median vertical longitudinal plane ofthe appliance.

4. Asanitary appliance according to claim 3, char acterised in that substantially the entire length ofthe functional waterway between the trap and the portion that terminate in the outlet, is situated laterally of the median vertical longitudinal plane ofthe appliance.

5. A sanitary appliance according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least one portion ofthefunctional waterway extends in a generally laterally direction.

6. A sanitary appliance according to claim 5, characterised in that the said laterally extending portion of the functional waterway is substantially con- tiguous with the trap.

7. A sanitary appliance according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the trap is integral with the receptacle.

8. A sanitary appliance according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises sidewalls that extend rearwardly at least to the same extent as does the functional waterway.

9. A sanitary appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it is of ceramic material and integrally cast.

10. Asanitary appliance according to anyone of claims 1 to 9, being a water closet pan.

11. A sanitary appliance that is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 -4, Figure 6 or Figure 7 ofthe accompanying drawings.

12. A process for the manufacture of a sanitary appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 11 by slip casting, characterised in that the functional waterway is formed with the use of a rear mould piece.