GB2204611A - Apparatus for washing a toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A water closet has a seat 6 mounted on a support 5. A pipe 25 feeds flushing water from a cistern 2 through a conduit 15 surrounding the seat and through apertures 29 onto the seat 6 to wash it. The conduit is part of a guide 8 which guides the water into the bowl 1. A hot air blower may be provided to dry the seat. <IMAGE>

Description

WATER CLOSET The present invention relates to a water closet. To overcome a users concern over the cleanliness of a water closet, particularly the seat, it is common to provide paper covers for the seat but these only go part way to assuaging the concern of a user, particularly in regard to the possible transmission, real or imaginary, of disease.

It is also known to provide water closet compartments in which the complete compartment is washed after use. Such compartments are provided as public conveniences. These compartments are necessarily expensive.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a water closet comprising a bowl, a seat mounted above the bowl, means for flowing water over the seat to wash it and means for directing the water into the bowl.

Preferably the water is provided by diverting part of the water normally used to flush the bowl, the seat being washed as the bowl is flushed.

The means for flowing water over the seat may comprise a conduit in a lid above the seat, water being fed along the conduct and flowing out through apertures or nozzles on to the seat.

In a particularly preferred form a conduit surrounds the seat and is provided with apertures directed towards the seat.

Preferably the means for directing the water comprises an annular guide positioned beneath the seat. Preferably the guide comprises the aforementioned conduit which is adapted to extend up around the outer periphery of the seat and an annular ring extending radially inwardly below the seat.

Preferably means is provided for raising and lowering the guide, the quide being raised when the seat is being washed and lowered when the seat is in use.

In another aspect the present invention provides a seat unit for a water closet, comprising a support for attachment to a bowl of the water closet, a seat mounted on the support, a lid pivotably mounted on the support for covering the seat and a water guide beneath the seat for guiding water flowing over the seat into a said bowl.

Apparatus for washing a toilet seat supported on a bowl, comprising a conduit in the form of a collar for substantially encircling the seat said conduit having a plurality of outlet apertures arranged to direct water over the surface of the seat, an inlet for water from a water supply, and means for guiding water flowed over the seat into the bowl.

Other preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut away side view of a water closet embodying the invention in a first position; and Figure 2 is a partially cut away side view of the water closet of Figure 1 in a second position.

Referring to Figure 1 a water closet comprises a bowl 1. Flushing water is fed to the bowl 1 from a cistern 2 via a pipe 3. The manner of operation of the bowl flushing system is well known in the art.

At the rear 4 of the bowl 1 a support part 5 is mounted, for example by bolts. Cantilevered out from the part 5 is a seat 6. The seat 6 is generally annular as is well known and lays above a rim 7 of the bowl. The seat 6 is pivotably mounted on the part 5, pivoting on a shaft 23, by means of two parallel arms 30 which are journalled about the shaft 23 and are attached underneath the seat 6 at the rear.

Below the seat 6, an annular guide 8 is mounted.

Guide 8 is carried on an arm 9, which encircles the guide 8. Ends of the arm 9 are supported on respective spring loaded posts 10. The arm extends under a ring portion 16 of the guide 8. Post 10 slides vertically in a guide 11 and is urged upwardly by a spring 12 which is compressed between the guide 9 and a flange 13 on the post 10. A bolt 14 is threadedly connected on the bottom of the post 10 to limit its upward movement through the guide 11.

Guide 8 comprises a collar 15 which, in the position of Figure 1, extends up around the edge of the seat 16, a ring part 16 extends radially inwardly from the bottom of the collar, beneath the seat 6, and a generally frusto-conical part 17, extends down from the inner periphery of the ring 16 into the bowl 1.

The collar 15 is double skinned, having inner and outer walls 15a, 15b. Inner wall 15a has two rows of apertures 29, one just above and one just below the level of the seat 6 in Figure 1. A pipe 25 connects the flush pipe 3 with the conduit 15 to feed water from the cistern 2 into the conduit.

A lid 18 extends over the top of the seat. The lid is double skinned, have a rim 19 which generally encloses the seat at its sides and front and inner and outer skins 20a, 20b Inner skin 20a has apertures 21 arranged above the seat 6. A flexible pipe 27 feeds hot air from a hot air blower 28 into the lid 18, the air being blown out through the apertures 21.

The lid 18 has two rearwardly extending arms 22 which are pivotably mounted on each side of the support part 5 to pivot on shaft 23. The arms 22 each extend rearwardly of the part 5 and have cam surfaces 24 at their rear end. As the lid is lifted, the cam surfaces 24 bear on the top of the posts 10, thus lowering the supports 9 (Figure 2) and hence lowering the guide 8 to bring the collar 15 below the level of the seat (Figure 2).

After the toilet has been used the lid is lowered, cams 24 releasing the posts 10, causing the springs 12 to raise the supports 9 and hence the water guide 8.

The cistern 2 (or other water source) is activated in the usual way and the connection (not shown) between the pipes 3, 25 causes some water from the cistern 2 to flow thourgh the pipe 25 and hence into the conduit formed by collar 15. The water sprays out through apertures 29 over the seat 6. The water washes the seat 6 and is collected by the guide 8 which guides it into the bowl 1.

Hot air may be blown over the seat 27 after washing to dry it. Hot air blower 28 being activated to feed the hot air into the lid 18 and through apertures 21 onto the seat 6. The blower may also be used to warm the seat before use.

The blower may be arranged to deliver warm or cool air and may be left on whilst the toilet is being used to provide a degree of air conditioning.

A handle may be provided on the seat at a side to allow the seat to be lifted by a user without touching the seat. Once the seat is lifted the guide 8 may be lifted out of the encircling arm 9 to allow the guide and bowl to be thoroughly cleaned.

Various modifications may be made. The water for washing the seat may be ducted around the inside periphery of the lid 18 and sprayed onto the seat through nozzles or outlet holes.

It is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scopes of the accompanying claims.

Claims (24)

1. A water closet comprising a bowl, a seat mounted above the bowl, means for flowing water over the seat to wash it, and means for guiding the water into the bowl.

2. A water closet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for flowing water over the seat comprises a conduit encircling the seat, the conduit being apertured to direct water over the seat.

3. A water closet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conduit is fluidly connected to a water supply used for flushing the bowl.

4. A water closet as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the guiding means comprises an annular guide beneath the seat.

5. A water closet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the guide has an upwardly directed collar which extends upwardly about the outer periphery of the seat.

6. A water closet as claimed in claim 5, when dependent on claim 2 or 3, wherein the conduit is formed in the collar.

7. A water closet as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein means is provided for raising and lowering the guide, the rim laying beneath an upper surface of the seat when the guide is in its lower position.

8. A water closet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide is raised and lowered automatically as the lid is lowered and raised respectively.

9. A water closet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guide is biassed towards its raised position, and a cam is provided on the lid, the cam acting on a cam follower associated with guide to lower it as the seat is raised.

10. A water closet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising means for directing a flow of air over the seat.

11. A water closet as claimed in claim 10, wherein a conduit for air is provided in the lid, the conduit having apertures for directing air over the seat.

12. A water closet as claimed in claim 11, comprising a hot air blower and a pipe connecting the blower to the seat.

13. A water closet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a handle is provided on the seat.

14. A seat unit for a water closet, comprising a support for attachment to a bowl of the water closet, a seat mounted on the support, a lid pivotably mounted on the support for covering the seat, and a water guide beneath the seat for guiding water over the seat into a said bowl.

15. A seat unit as claimed in claim 14, including means for raising and lowering the guide relative to the seat.

16. A seat unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the guide is raised and lowered automatically as the seat is lowered and raised respectively.

17. A seat unit as claimed in claim 14, 15, or 16, wherein the guide comprises a collar encircling the seat, the collar forming a conduit and having apertures in an inner wall thereof facing the seat, whereby water may be passed through the conduit and flowed over the seat.

18. A seat unit as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an annular rim extending radially inwardly from a lower end of the collar.

19. Apparatus for washing a toilet seat supported on a bowl, comprising a conduit in the form of a collar for substantially encircling the seat said conduit having a plurality of outlet apertures arranged to direct water over the surface of the seat, an inlet for water from a water supply, and means for guiding water flowed over the seat into the bowl.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said collar extends generally vertically, perpendicular to the plane of the seat and the guiding means comprises a substantially annular flange extending radially inwardly beneath the seat from a lower edge of the collar.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein a substantially frusto-conical guide extends downwardly from an inner periphery of the substantially annular flange.

22. A water closet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A seat unit for a water closet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. Apparatus for washing a toilet seat supported on a bowl, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.