GB2338966A

GB2338966A - Toilet flush system

Info

Publication number: GB2338966A
Application number: GB9821022A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Mawson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-30
Filing date: 1998-09-29
Publication date: 2000-01-12
Also published as: GB9813977D0; GB9821022D0

Description

2338966 TOILET SEAT FLUSH SYS The present invention relates to a toilet

seat flush system and, in particular, to apparatus for flushing a toilet.

Conventional toilets generally require manual depression of a lever, push button or the like to actuate the flushing mechanism installed inside the toilet cistern.

The present invention has been made in order to provide a toilet flush system which is more convenient and easier to use than conventional systems.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a toilet flush system comprising a flushing device for location in or on a toilet cistern, said flushing device being adapted to cause a flush when actuated and actuating means adapted to be connected to said flushing device and to a toilet seat lid such that, in use, lowering of the toilet seat lid causes activation of the flushing device.

Typically the toilet seat lid is hinged to the rear of the toilet bowl. Preferably, said actuating means comprises a cable. Preferably one end of the cable is adapted to be secured to an edge of the toilet seat lid adjacent the hinge. Preferably said one end of the cable is secured to part of the lid which lies on the cistern side of the lid hinge or pivot axis.

Preferably the cable is provided in a tubular housing which preferably extends downwardly ftom the toilet seat lid, substantially horizontally across to a region below the cistern, upwardly into an upper region of the cistern and substantially horizontally across part of the upper region of the cistern. Preferably the ends of the cable project from the ends of the housing. Seal means may be provided at the region where the housing passes through the cistern. The tubular housing may be flexible or rigid or partly flexible and 5 partly rigid.

Preferably the other end of the cable is secured to an actuating member which may be mounted for pivotal movement on a support stand. Prcferably the support stand comprises a foot portion which may be adapted to be mounted on a lower region of the flushing device and an upright portion, the actuating member being pivotally connected to an upper region of the upright portion. The upright portion may have a bracket mounted thereon for Supporting the cable housing.

Preferably the actuating member comprises a substantially T-shaped member.

Preferably the leg of the T-shaped member comprises a fork adapted to locate around a part of the flushing device. Preferably one end of the cross bar of the T-shaped member is pivotally connected to the support stand and the other end of the cross-bar is preferably connected to the cable. 20 Thus, in use, lowering the seat lid causes the cable to be pulled in the direction of the lid which in turn causes the T-shaped member to pivot relative to the support stand such that the fork pivots upwardly. Such movement actuates the flushing device by causing part thereof to move upwards. 25 Preferably the flushing device comprises a syphonic device having one or more features as hereinbelow described.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a syphonic device for use in a toilet flush system comprising an outlet pipe having an aperture therein, a container surrounding said outlet pipe, means for raising water into said container and means for opening said aperture.

Preferably said means for raising water comprises an enclosure surrounding said container. Preferably the enclosure is in two sections. Preferably a first section is fixed relative to the outlet pipe and a second section is moveable relative to the first section. Preferably said first and second sections are substantially cylindrical. Preferably said first section comprises a base and an open top. Preferably said second section comprises a closed top and an open base. Preferably said second section is adapted to slide upwardly relative to said first section. Preferably a flexible membrane is provided between respective lower ends of said first and second sections. Preferably the expansion of the effective volume of said enclosure raises said water.

Preferably the base of said first section comprises one or more apertures.

Preferably said container is substantially cylindrical with a closed base and an open top. Preferably the container and the first section are mounted on said outlet pipe such that the top of the container is higher than the top of the first section. Preferably the aperture comprises a slot in the side of the outlet pipe Preferably the aperture is adjacent the base of the container. Preferably the second section comprises an upper cylindrical portion of smaller diameter than a lower cylindrical portion. Preferably the diameter of the lower cylindrical portion is such that said portion slides over said first section. Preferably the diameter of said upper cylindrical portion is such that said portion slides over said container. Preferably said means for opening said aperture comprises a movable pipe. Preferably said movable pipe depends from the top of the upper cylindrical portion. Preferably the diameter of said movable pipe is such that said movable pipe slides within said outlet pipe.

Preferably the second section is movable relative to the first section between a reset position in which said movable pipe closes said aperture and an actuated position in which said aperture is open. Preferably said enclosure comprises an anti-syphon pipe for allowing air to enter said enclosure when said pipe is above the water level in the cistern. Preferably means is provided for adjusting the level in the cistern of the anti-syphon pipe. The latter allows the amount of water used in a given flush to be altered.

The invention further includes a toilet having a toilet flush system of the invention or a syphonic device of the invention installed therein.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a front view of a toilet showing one embodiment of a system and device of the invention installed in the cistern;.

Figure 2 is a side view of a toilet showing part of an actuating mechanism of a system of the invention; Figure 3 is an expanded view of the region A of figure 2 showing part of the 25 actuating mechanism; Figure 4 is an expanded view of the part of the actuating mechanism installed in the cistern as shown in figure 1; Figure 5 is an expanded view of one syphonic device adjustment means for use with a system or device of the invention; Figure 6 is a partially cut away view of one form of syphonic device of the invention in the actuated position; Figure 7 is a partially cut away view of the syphonic device of figure 6 in the reset position; Figure 8 is a partially cut away view of the movable part of the syphonic device of figure 6; and Figure 9 is a partially cut away view of the fixed part of the syphonic device of figure 6.

Referring to figures I and 2, a toilet has a toilet seat lid 2 and a cistern 4. An actuating mechanism comprises a cable 6 attached to the hinged region of the lid 2 on the side of the lid adjacent the cistern. In particular, the cable 6 is attached at a point X which lies between the cistern 4 and the plane Y of the seat lid 2 pivot axis. Thus, when the lid 2 is moved from an open position to a closed position as shown in figure 2, the part of the lid on the cistern side of the pivot axis swings upwardly thereby pulling the connected end of cable 6 upward with it.

The cable 6 runs through a tubular housing or piping 8 and connects with an actuating member 18 pivotally mounted on a support stand 20 installed in the cistern 4. The piping 8 may take any suitable form but typically comprises a first vertical section 10 extending downwardly from the lid, a first horizontal section 12 extending from the first vertical section to a position beneath the cistern 4, a second vertical section 14 extending upwardly into the cistern and a second horizontal section 16 located inside the cistern and extending from the upper end of the second vertical section 14. Suitable seal means 15 is provided at the region where the piping 8 passes through the cistern. The housing may be flexible or rigid. Preferably the part of the housing located in the cistern is rigid. Preferably the part of the housing outside the cistern is flexible so that the cable can be routed as appropriate to suit a particular toilet.

The support stand 20 includes a Z-shaped bracket 22 which supports the free end of the piping 16. The cable 6 passes through an aperture in the Z- shaped bracket and is secured to the actuating member 18. The support stand comprises a foot portion 24 and an upright portion 26 extending from one side of the foot portion. An aperture 28 formed in the other side of the foot portion receives part of the syphonic device 30. The bracket 22 is secured to the upper region of the upright portion 26 and extends on the opposite side to the foot portion. The actuating member 18 is located in a slot 27 formed on the upper end of the upright portion and comprises a T-shaped section having a leg 32 and a cross-bar 34. One end of the cross-bar is pivotally connected to the base of the slot 27 and the cable 6 is secured to the other end of the cross-bar. The free end of leg 32 is forked to locate around part of the syphonic device 30.

As the cable 6 is pulled by the closing action of the toilet seat lid, the actuating member 18 pivots relative to the support stand 20 so that the forked leg 32 pivots in an anti-clockwise direction as shown by arrow B in figure 4.

This causes a consequent movement of the part of the syphonic device attached to the fork.

Referring to figure 6, a syphonic device 30 comprises a series of concentric tubular sections. A pipe 36 leads from inside the cistern to the flush outlet of the toilet. A slot 38 is provided in the portion of the pipe 36 located in the cistern. An enclosure is provided around the pipe 36 and comprises the external housing of the syphonic device. The enclosure is in two cylindrical sections. A fixed section 40 comprises an upwardly open cylinder mounted on the pipe 36, the latter passing through an aperture in the base of the cylinder 40. One or more apertures (not shown), for example a ring of apertures around the pipe 36, are provided in the base of the cylinder 40 so that water in the cistern can pass through the base of section 40. A movable section 42 comprises a downwardly open cylinder having a lower cylindrical portion 44 of slightly larger diameter than the fixed section 40 so that the portion 44 can slide over the section 40. The movable section 42 also includes an upper cylindrical portion 46 of a diameter less than that of the lower cylindrical portion so that shoulder 45 is formed between the upper and lower cylindrical portions. The upper end of cylindrical portion 46 is closed by a top wall 47 and the lower end opens into the cylindrical portion 44. A flexible membrane or the like 48 is secured between a lower region of the movable section 42 and a lower region of the fixed section 40. Thus, in use, the movable section 42 can slide in the vertical direction relative to the fixed section 40 and the flexible membrane 48 allows the effective volume of the enclosure to be increased or decreased as the movable section 42 is moved upwards or downwards respectively.

A pipe 50 depends from the top wall 47 and extends partially into the pipe 36. The pipe 50 is movable with the movable section 42 and thus is vertically slidable within the pipe 36. The diameter of pipe 50 is slightly less than that of pipe 36. The length of pipe 50 and the position of the slot 38 on pipe 36 5 are such that, when the cylindrical portion 44 fully overlies the fixed section 40, the pipe 50 extends past the slot 38 thereby closing the slot. A cylindrical container 52 is located on and concentric with the pipe 36 so that the container lies between the pipe 36 and the outer enclosure 40,42. The container 52 typically has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the upper cylindrical portion 46. Thus the diameter of the container 52 is greater than that of pipe 36 and less than that of fixed section 40. The container is mounted on the pipe 36 by means of the pipe passing through an aperture at the base of the container. The top of the container 52 is open.

The pivot pins 54 are provided on the external wall of cylindrical section 46. The fork on the leg 32 of the actuating mechanism is adapted to locate around the cylinder below the pivot pins 54 so that the cylinder 46 is freely supported on the fork by means of the pivot pins 54. Thus, as the leg 32 pivots in the anticlockwise direction as previously described the cylinder 46 moves vertically upwards.

The syphonic device as shown in figures I and 7 is in the reset position with the cylinder 44 overlying the fixed section 40 and the pipe 50 extending past the slot in the pipe 36. The leg 32 of the actuating mechanism is substantially horizontal.

When the toilet seat lid is lowered, the fork 32 pivots in the anticlockwise direction, thus causing the movable section 42 to slide upwards.

For clarity, figure 8 shows the movable parts of the syphonic device, and figure 9 shows the fixed parts of the syphonic device. The lengths or the relative mounting positions of container 52 and section 40 are such that the top of container 52 is higher than the top of section 40 or section 44 when in the reset position. The container 52 is mounted such that the slot 38 is adjacent the bottom of the container.

When the syphonic device is submersed in water in the cistern, no air can enter the enclosure so that lifting the movable section 42 causes a vacuum effect which raises the water up with section 42. As section 42 is raised, the water enters section 40 through the apertures in the base thereof and is lifted up and over into vessel 52. As this action also raises pipe 50, when the end of pipe 50 clears the slot 38 in the outlet pipe 36, water will discharge out of pipe 36 through slot 38 causing a syphonic action. This will continue until air enters the enclosure through anti-syphon pipe 56 that is until the water level in the cistern falls to the inlet level of pipe 56. Figure 6 shows the syphonic device in the actuated position.

When the seat lid is lifted, the movable section 42 falls back to the reset position as shown in figure 7. When in the reset position, the enclosure is refilled with water when the cistern is refilled and the fit of the pipe 50 in pipe 36 is such that any air in the enclosure can escape out of the enclosure through the slot 38. A one way valve (not shown) may be fitted into the enclosure or section 42 to speed up this process.

However, since it is easier for the water to rise with the section 42 than for air to be pulled back through the slot 38, water soon fills over slot 38 as the syphonic device is re-actuated so that a vacuum effect is achieved in the - 10 enclosure. Thus the water can be lifted to whatever height is required to flush.

The level of the anti-syphon pipe 56 determines the cistern water level at which the syphonic action is terminated and ihus how much water is used with each flush. Thus, pipe 56 acts as a water saving device by allowing the amount of water used in a flush to be adjusted. The pipe may be raised or lowered mechanically in the cistern as shown in figures I and 5. Thus, where the pipe outlet 56 is at a high level, less water is used in a single flush giving for example a shorter flush for liquids. Where the pipe outlet is at a low level, more water is used in a flush giving for example a longer flush for solids. Typically the flush for liquids would use say half the quantity of water used for solids. Any suitable mechanical means for raising or lowering the free end of pipe 56 within the cistern may be used. Typically the adjustment mechanism will have a manual control knob or the like outside the cistern.

Figure 5 shows a suitable adjustment mechanism comprising a control knob 58 mounted externally on the cistern and internally connected to one end of a rotating lever 60. The free end of the pipe 56 is connected adjacent the other end of the rotating lever. Thus, manually turning the knob 58 in a clockwise direction causes the lever 60 to rotate clockwise thereby raising the free end of pipe 56. The pipe 56 may be mounted on the lever 60 by suitable bearing means or the like to prevent twisting.

It has been found that the syphonic device of the invention is particularly suitable for use with the toilet flush system of the invention since it allows a smooth flush action in response to gentle lowering of the toilet seat lid.

Furthermore, the ability to adjust the amount of water in a flush is particularly - I I - advantageous.. Thus, a syphonic device of the invention with this water saving feature has clear environmental advantages.

It will be appreciated that the flushing device may comprise any suitable means. Although the flushing device may comprise a syphonic device, for example as herein described, the flushing device may alternatively comprise a valve mechanism such as a spring-loaded plug means in the base of the cistern, the valve mechanism being activated to cause a flush when the toilet seat lid is lowered.

The toilet flush system of the invention is particularly suitable for use by disabled persons and the like.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated 12 otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s).

The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A toilet flush system comprising a flushing device for location in or on a toilet cistern, said flushing device being adapted to cause a flush when actuated and actuating means adapted to be connected to said flushing device and to a toilet seat lid such that, in use, lowering of the toilet seat lid causes activation of the flushing device.

2. A toilet flush system according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a cable.

3. A toilet flush system according to claim 2, wherein one end of the cable is adapted to be secured to an edge of the toilet seat lid adjacent the hinge.

4. A toilet flush system according to claim 3, wherein the other end of the cable is secured to an actuating member.

5. A toilet flush system according to claim 4, wherein the support stand comprises a foot portion adapted to be mounted on a lower region of the flushing device and an upright portion, the actuating member being pivotally connected to an upper region of the upright portion.

6. A toilet flush system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the actuating member comprises a substantially T-shaped member.

7. A toilet flush system according to claim 6, wherein the leg of the Tshaped member comprises a fork adapted to locate around a part of the flushing device.

8. A toilet flush system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein one end of the cross bar of the T-shaped member is pivotally connected to the support stand and the other end of the cross-bar is connected to the cable.

9. A toilet flush system according to any preceding claim, wherein the

10 flushing device comprises a syphonic device. 10. A syphonic device for use in a toilet flush system comprising an outlet pipe having an aperture therein, a container surrounding said outlet pipe, means for raising water into said container and means for opening said 15 aperture.

11. A syphonic device according to claim 10, wherein said means for raising water comprises an enclosure surrounding said container. 20

12. A syphonic device according to claim 11, wherein a first section of said enclosure is fixed relative to the outlet pipe and a second section of said enclosure is moveable relative to the first section.

13. A syphonic device according to claim 12, wherein said first section 25 comprises a base and an open top.

14. A syphonic device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said second section comprises a closed top and an open base.

15. A syphonic device according to claim 12 or any succeeding claim, wherein said second section is adapted to slide upwardly relative to said first section.

16. A syphonic device according to claim 12 or any succeeding claim, wherein a flexible membrane is provided between respective lower ends of said first and second sections.

17. A syphonic device according to claim 12 or any succeeding claim, 10 wherein the second section comprises an upper cylindrical portion of smaller diameter than a lower cylindrical portion.

18. A syphonic device according to claim 17, wherein the diameter of the lower cylindrical portion is such that said portion slides over said first section. 15

19. A syphonic device according to claim 18, wherein the diameter of said upper cylindrical portion is such that said portion slides over said container.

20. A syphonic device according to any preceding claim, wherein said 20 means for opening said aperture comprises a movable pipe.

21. A syphonic device according to claim 20 when dependent on claim 17, wherein said movable pipe depends from the top of the upper cylindrical portion. 25

22. A syphonic device according to claim 21, wherein the second section is movable relative to the first section between a reset position in which said movable pipe closes said aperture and an actuated position in which said aperture is open.

23. A syphonic device according to claim 11 or any succeeding claim, wherein said enclosure comprises an anti-syphon pipe for allowing air to enter said enclosure when said pipe is above the water level in the cistern.

24. A toilet having a toilet flush system or a syphonic device installed therein according to any preceding claim.

25. A toilet flush system or a syphonic device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.