GB2454703A

GB2454703A - Toilet and sink arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2454703A
Application number: GB0722452A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin EDWARDS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-15
Filing date: 2007-11-15
Publication date: 2009-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-15
Also published as: GB0722452D0; GB2454703B

Abstract

The invention relates to a toilet and sink arrangement 10 comprising a floor mounted toilet bowl 12 with a cistern 16 containing water for flushing the toilet. A sink bowl 20 and a tap 22 are disposed on the cistern 16, and waste water from the sink bowl 20 flows into the cistern 16 below. When the toilet cistern fills, following flushing, clean water is supplied both to the tap 22 and the cistern 16 until the cistern is sufficiently full of water. A later embodiment relates to a kit for converting a toilet into said toilet and sink arrangement.

Description

Toilet and sink arrangement The present invention relates to a toilet and sink arrangement and particularly to a toilet and sink arrangement for reducing water usage.

Conventionally, a flushing toilet includes a cistern or storage tank adapted to contain stored water for flushing the toilet on demand. After each flush, water, usually from a mains water supply re-fills the cistern. A float valve is usually employed to shut-off the water supply to the cistern, when the desired level of water in the cistern is attained. The flushed water enters a drainage system for disposal and treatment.

After a person has used a toilet, it is usual for the person to wash their hands in clean water, typically at a sink provided near the toilet. The water used at the sink typically also enters a drain for disposal.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toilet and sink arrangement which reduces the amount of clean water required for flushing a toilet and hand washing. S.

According to the present invention there is provided a toilet and sink arrangement comprising a toilet bowl, a cistern adapted to store water for flushing the toilet bowl, a :: sink bowl, and a drain from the sink bowl adapted to empty into the cistern.

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* The invention is advantageous, because water from the sink bowl passes into the *.

* .. : cistern, where it stored for flushing the toilet. This reduces the amount of clean water * : required to be supplied to the cistern.

Preferably the sink bowl is mounted on the cistern. Alternatively, the sink bowl may be integral with the cistern or cistern lid.

The sink bowl may be disposed on one side of the cistern, or may be disposed centrally of the cistern.

Preferably a tap is provided for supplying water to the sink bowl for hand washing.

Preferably the tap is supplied with water from a water supply, which is also adapted to supply the cistern with water.

Preferably a tee connector is provided in the water supply pipe for supplying a proportion of water from the water supply to the tap and a proportion to the cistern.

Preferably around half of the water is supplied to the tap and half to the cistern. In a typical installation, for example, in which the cistern holds 6 litres, 3 litres is supplied to the tap and 3 litres directly to the cistern.

Preferably the combined volume of water supplied to the tap and the cistern amounts to the amount of water required to flush the toilet.

Preferably, on flushing the toilet, water flows through the tap and also into the cistern.

This is advantageous, because water flows through the tap automatically on flushing the toilet. This promotes hand washing, and also dispenses for the need to touch the :.::1 tap to turn it on. A sensor, usually required for automatic water flow, is not required.

* : * Preferably a float valve is provided for shutting off the water supply to the tap and cistern, when the level of water in the cistern reaches a desired level for flushing the toilet. * *1S * S S ** *

* : This is advantageous because there is no need for a person washing their hands to touch the tap to turn it off.

A soap dispenser may be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for a toilet comprising a cistern lid, a sink bowl, and a drain from the sink bowl adapted to empty into a cistern disposed underneath the cistern lid.

The kit may also include a valve, a tee connector, piping and a tap, as desired.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a toilet with integrated wash hand basin; and Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a cistern and sink arrangement including a water supply pipe, but not showing a flushing mechanism.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a toilet and sink arrangement is indicated generally at 10.

The toilet and sink arrangement 10 includes a floor mounted toilet bowl 12 with toilet seat 14, a cistern 16 adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet, a flush handle 18, a sink bowl 20 and a tap 22. The cistern 16 has a cover or lid 24, and the sink bowl is set into the top side of the lid 24, substantially at a central position thereof. In other embodiments, the sink bowl 20 is positioned at one of the ends of the cistern lid 24, for ease of access. The sink bowl 20 can be integral with the cistern lid 24 or can be a separate sanitary fitting, which is connected to the cistern lid 24. A drain 26 in * * the base of the sink bowl 20 leads directly through an aperture in the cistern lid 24 and * directs water from the sink bowl 20 into the cistern 16 below. *

**.I ** * S Referring also to Figure 2, a water supply pipe 28, for example a mains water supply S..

: pipe, is shown bringing a water supply to the cistern 16. In conventional 5.5.. . * . arrangements, the water supply only supplies the cistern, but in this case, a tee connector 30 is connected to the supply pipe 28, and water is also supplied to the tap 22. A shut-off valve 32, is built into the tee connector 30, and is controlled by a float valve 32 in conventional manner. In the example shown, a ball float 34 is mounted on a stem 36. The ball float 34 rises and falls with the water level in the cistern 16.

In use, when the toilet is flushed using the handle 18, (see Figure 1), water flows from the cistern 16 into the toilet bowl 12 in conventional manner, by means of a conventional flushing arrangement (not shown). The ball float 34 drops to a position at the bottom of the cistern 16, indicated in dotted outline. This opens the valve 32 and water flows freely to the tap 22 and also into the cistern 16. The water flow is substantially equally divided, so that half the water flows to the tap and the other half to the cistern. In a typical arrangement, approximately 2. 5 to 3 litres passes through both the tap 22 and cistern inlet. Water 38 exiting the tap 22 flows into the sink bowl for hand washing, and passes imrnediately through the drain 26 into the cistern 16.

When the desired water level for flushing is reached, referenced 38, the valve shuts off the water supply to both the tap 22 and the cistern 16.

It should be appreciated that in other embodiments different valve and pipe connections can be used to the same effect, ie that water filling the cistern is split to also provide water to the tap, which then passes through the sink drain back into the cistern. The arrangement has the advantage that the same amount of clean water required for flushing the toilet bowl 12 is provided, but the water also fulfils the clean water requirement for hand washing. Thus a quantity of clean water is saved.

The water supply to the toilet may be warm or cold, but is typically a cold supply. A heating element may be provided between the tap 22 and the valve 32, if desired, to heat the water for hand washing. The temperature of the hand washing water may be *.:: thermostatically controlled. A soap dispenser may also be provided, which may also be fitted to, or integral with, the cistern lid 24.

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The invention can be supplied in kit form for fitting to an existing toilet arrangement.

The kit may include a replacement cistern lid 24, a sink bowl 26, a tap 22 and a valve *.*.

32. Pipes may also be provided, as required. *..

The invention is particularly advantageous for use in public building, because it relieves the need for separate sinks. Furthermore, the invention saves space, and is ideally suited to small cloakrooms, where space for a separate sink is limited or unavailable.

Claims

1. A toilet and sink arrangement comprising a toilet bowl, a cistern adapted to store water for flushing the toilet, a sink bowl, and a drain from the sink bowl adapted to empty into the cistern.

2. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim I, in which the sink bowl is mounted on the cistern.

3. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the sink bowl is integral with the cistern.

4. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sink bowl is disposed at one end of the cistern.

5. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the sink bowl is disposed centrally of the cistern.

6. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a *:" tap is provided for supplying water to the sink bowl for hand washing. * .

7. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim 6, in which the tap is * S..

* 5* : supplied with water from a water supply adapted to supply the cistern with water.

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8. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim 7, in which a tee connector is provided in the water supply for supplying a proportion of water from the water supply to the tap and a proportion to the cistern.

9. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim 8, in which substantially half of the water is supplied to the tap and half to the cistern.

10. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim 8 or 9, in which the combined volume of water supplied to the tap and the cistern amounts to the amount of water required to fill the cistern for flushing the toilet.

II. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in claim 10, in which on flushing the toilet, water flows automatically through the tap and also into the cistern.

12. A toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, in which a float valve is provided for shutting off the water supply to the tap and cistern, when the level of water in the cistern corresponds to the amount of water required to fill the cistern for flushing the toilet.

13. A kit for converting a toilet into a toilet and sink arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a cistern lid, a sink bowl, and a drain from the sink bowl adapted to empty into a cistern disposed beneath the cistern lid.

14. A toilet and sink arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. S. * * * *.e * S.. * S *. * 1*5*5 * .

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