GB2459446A

GB2459446A - Combined washbasin and toilet cistern assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2459446A
Application number: GB0807241A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Charles Davey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-21
Filing date: 2008-04-21
Publication date: 2009-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-21
Also published as: GB0807241D0; GB2459446B

Abstract

A sanitary system comprises (i) a basin 2 having a waste outlet valve 16; (ii) a cistern 3; and (iii) a flush actuator 11 coupled to a flush mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid from said cistern, wherein said flush actuator is also coupled e.g. by means 17, to said waste valve so that when or after the actuator initiates the flush mechanism then the waste valve opens to enable liquid collected within the basin to drain into the cistern.

Description

ASANITARY UNIT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sanitary units and in particular to units that reuses the waste water from an incorporated wash basin, to supplement the water required to operate the unit's flushing mechanism.

Review of Art Known to the Applicant The closest art known to the applicant are various sanitary units for use within water *.." closets, bathrooms and en-suites. These units are intended to be used with a remote wash e basin, which is located away from the sanitary unit. These types of sanitary units do not incorporate any means for providing a second-use' for the waste water generated from the basin. The waste water generated from the remote basin is fed directly into a drain, therefore reducing water efficiency. These types of sanitary units also occupy a large footprint, when taking into account the space required for installing a remote wash basin.

The large footprint is undesirable when installing a sanitary unit within a confined area, where space is limited. The installation of a remote basin will also incur additional plumbing / pipe work to incorporate hot and cold water feeds to the basin's taps, and additional plumbing / pipe work to incorporate a waste pipe from the wash basin's waste output to a drain.

Summary of the Invention

In a first independent aspect, the invention provides a sanitary system comprising a basin; a cistern; said basin having a waste valve; a flush actuator coupled to a flush mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid from said cistern; wherein said flush actuator is coupled to said waste valve so that when or after said actuator initiates said flush mechanism; said waste valve opens to enable liquid collected within said basin to drain into said cistern.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it reuses the waste liquid from the basin as a supplementary top-up' fill to the liquid contained within the cistern. This second use of the basin's waste liquid increases the overall liquid efficiency of the system, when compared to a conventional sanitary system that feeds the waste liquid directly into a drain. The volume of waste liquid, which is drained into the cistern from the basin, reduces the demand from the water supply by the same equal amount.

Another advantage of this configuration is that the supplementary top-up' fill is activated during the flush cycle of the sanitary unit only. Therefore the supplementary top-up' fill is incapable of overfilling the cistern, while the cistern is being drained.

Another advantage of this configuration is that if the sanitary user desires a liquid efficient *:*::* use of the sanitary system, it ensures the user washes their hands after use. I...

In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad independent aspect, said basin is shaped and configured to fit in the upper rim of the cistern. *.*

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables the basin to be located upon the cistern without the use of external attachment members or external fixing *:*. points.

Another advantage of this configuration is that it enables the basin to be located upon the cistern, to give an appearance that they form one cohesive unit.

n a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad independent aspect, said basin incorporates an overflow pipe which drains excess water into said cistern.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it reuses the excess liquid from the basin's overflow pipe as a suppLementary top-up' fill to the liquid contained within the cistern. This second use of the basin's overflow liquid prevents the overflow liquid from being fed directly into a drain.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad independent aspect, further comprising a plurality of basins each incorporating a waste valve; said waste valves being coupled to a single flush actuator.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the waste Liquid contained within an array of basins, is fed into the sanitary system's cistern during a flush cycle. Thereby, increasing the volume of waste Liquid being fed into the cistern and increasing the liquid efficiency of the system.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad independent aspect, said basin forms the lid of said cistern.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it reduces the floor area required *:*::* to accommodate the sanitary system, while enclosing the Liquid within the cistern. I...

Another advantage of this configuration is that no external plumbing or pipe work is required for feeding the basin's waste liquid into the cistern.

* In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad independent :* .** aspect, said waste valve is coupled to said flush mechanism so that when or as said flush *. mechanism returns to its starting position after said Liquid has flowed from said cistern; * 30 said waste valve cLoses.

This configuration is particuLarLy advantageous because Liquid is prevented from being fed into the cistern, from the basin, after the flushing cycle has been completed. Therefore ensuring the cistern full of liquid is not over filled.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a front view of a flushing toilet incorporating a wash basin.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of a wash basin in use, white on top of the fLushing toilet.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of a wash basin in use during a flushing cycle.

Figure 4 shows an upper plan view of the wash basin incorporated on top of the flushing toilet.

Figure 5 shows a front view of a flushing toilet incorporating a wash basin, connected to an array of additional wash basins.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a conventional toilet system 1, which incorporates a wash basin 2 mounted upon a rectangular cistern 3, via an interfacing portion 4. The cistern 3 is mounted upon a toilet bowl 5, whilst being biased to the rear of the toilet system. The toilet bowl S incorporates an annular rim portion 6 which extending around its upper most portion. A conventional toilet seat 7 is centrally located upon annular rim portion6. The conventionaL

S

toilet seat 7 incorporates evenly spaced supporting blocks 8, which are typically constructed of rubber or plastic. The supporting blocks 8 are Located on the toilet seat's Lower surface and engage the annular rim portion 6. The toilet seat 7 incorporates a hinge portion 9, which is located at the rear of the toilet seat 7. The hinge portion 9 moveabLy r attaches a toilet lid 10, to the toilet seat 7. The toilet lid 10 is shown to be in a raised position and Leaning back against the cistern 3. The cistern 3 is shown to incorporate a conventional flushing Lever 11 within its upper, right corner portion. The wash basin 2 is shown to incorporate conventional hot 12 and a cold taps 13.

When the sanitary unit user 1 washes their hands, the used water is contained within the washbasin 2. When the user of the toilet 1 operates the flushing lever 11, a waste valve device (not shown), located at the bottom of the wash, is opened to allow the used water to drain from the wash basin 2 and into the cistern 3. The waste valve device is activated during the toilet's flush cycle only. Once the toilet has completed its flush cycle, the waste valve device is then closed to prevent any water from draining into the cistern 3. This second-use' of the waste water obtained from the wash basin provides a supplementary top-up fill of the cistern. This top-up is in addition to conventional water filling means (not shown), located within the cistern. Therefore increasing water efficiency, by reducing the overall amount of water required for hand washing and flushing the unit.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the wash basin may be adapted so that it can be retrospectiveLy installed upon a conventional sanitary unit, which does not incorporate an integrated wash basin.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the basin 2 located upon the cistern 3. As shown in Figure 1, the wash basin 2 is shown to incorporate conventional hot 12 and a cold 13 taps. The basin 2 is shown to be partially fiLled with water 14. The filling of the wash basin 2 is indicated arrow 15. Centrally located within the bottom of the wash basin is a waste valve 16. The waste valve device 16 is connected to a flushing Lever 11, which is mounted on the front upper surface of the cistern 3, via a linking member 1 7. The cistern is shown to contain a full charge of water 18, which is required to flush the unit.

The taps 12 and 13 are shown to be filling the wash basin with hot 21 and cold water 20 for use. The centrally located waste valve device 16 is shown to be shut, therefore not enabling any water to pass through the trap device 16 from the wash basin 2 into the cistern 3. S..

* Figure 3 shows all the features of figure 2 during a flush cycle. The hot 12 and cold 13 taps : .. are shown to be stopping the flow of water into the wash basin 2. The flushing lever 11 is *:*. shown in activated position, as indicated by arced arrow 22. The waste valve device 16 is shown in an open position whereby it incorporates an elevated portion 23, in the direction of arrow 24, which enables water to flow through the valve device 16.

The activation of flushing lever 11 opens the waste valve device 16 via linking member 17.

Waste water is shown to be flowing through the waste valve device 16 into the cistern 3, in the direction of arrow 26. The basin 2 partially filled with water 14, as shown in figure 2, is shown to have dropped in the direction of arrow 25. The full charge of water, as shown in figure 2, has dropped to new low level 27 in the direction of arrow 26, as it is dispensed during a flush cycle. Once the flush has been completed, the flushing lever 11 is reset back into a non-flush position, which deactivates the waste valve device 16 by retracting its elevated portion 23. This closes the waste valve device 16, which seals the basin 2 to stop any water flow between the basin 2 and cistern 3 and therefore preventing any supplementary filling of the cistern 3.

The filling of the cistern 3, by the waste water from the basin 2, is intended to be top-up fill only. Therefore, supplementing a conventional means of filling the cistern 3, which may be typically in the form of a ball-cock valve.

Once the flush has been completed, the flush handle is reset back into a non-flush position is which then de-activates the waste trap unit which then retracts the popped up portion 23, thereby sealing the wash basin to stop any water flow between the basin and the cistern, therefore stopping any cascading water as a supplementary fill.

The sequence of user events for the use of the sanitary unit is; * Wash hands; * Flush toilet; * ** * Waste valve device opens; :::::: * Waste water flows from basin to cistern; * Cistern is filled by conventional and supplementary means; *..: 25 * Handle re-sets in a non-flush position; ** * Waste valve device closes; * The sanitary unit is ready for next use.

Figure 4 shows an upper plan view of the wash basin 2 located upon the cistern (not shown). The toilet is shown to be located within a small cubicle 31 to emphasise the space saving features incorporated within the sanitary unit 1. The footprint required for a conventional flushing toilet and a remote basin will not enable their use within the cubicle 31. Therefore, the use of a basin 2, combined with a sanitary unit 1, is beneficial where space is critical. Hot water feed 28 is shown to be connected to hot tap 13. Cold water feed 29 is shown to be connected to cold tap 12. A separate feed 32 is taken from the cold water feed 29 and connected to a conventional water filling system within the cistern.

Therefore, only one cold water feed is required to supply the tap and the toilet cistern, therefore removing the plumbing / pipe work required to install a remote basin and any associated waste pipe to a drain. The waste output 30 from the sanitary unit 1 is shown to be protruding from the back of the cubicle 31.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the basin incorporates an overflow outlet which flows directly into the sanitary unit's cistern. Therefore, when the sanitary unit's cistern is overfilled, the excess water is drained through another overflow mechanism within the cistern. The overflow mechanism may be an overflow pipe leading outside the cubicle, or alternatively an overflow mechanism which allows excess water to flow down the back of the toilet, into the toilet bowl, and out of the waste pipe 30.

Figure 5 shows a sanitary unit connected to an array of wash basins 2, 33 and 34 via a common pipe manifold 35, which collects alt the waste water from the basins for second use in toping up the sanitary unit's cistern 3. * ** * S * * S* **** * S *S.. S... *.. * * .* * . . * . S. S

S S S S **

Claims

Claims 1. A sanitary system comprising a basin; a cistern; said basin having a waste valve; a flush actuator coupled to a flush mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid from said cistern; wherein said flush actuator is coupled to said waste valve so that when or after said actuator initiates said flush mechanism; said waste valve opens to enable liquid collected within said basin to drain into said cistern.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said basin is shaped and configured to fit in the upper rim of the cistern.
3. Al system according to either of the preceding claims, wherein said basin incorporates an overflow pipe which drains excess water into said cistern.
4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of basins each incorporating a waste valve; said waste valves being coupled to a single flush actuator.
5. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said basin forms the lid of said cistern.*.,.
6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said waste valve is * *** coupled to said flush mechanism so that when or as said flush mechanism returns to its starting position after said liquid has flowed from said cistern; said waste valve closes.

S
7. Sanitary units substantially as herein before described with reference to and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows a, 9 Claims 1. A sanitary system comprising a basin; a cistern; said basin having a waste valve; a flush actuator coupled to a flush mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid from said cistern; wherein said flush actuator is coupled to said waste valve so that when or after said actuator initiates said flush mechanism; said waste valve opens to enable liquid collected within said basin to drain into said cistern.2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said basin is shaped and configured to fit in the upper rim of the cistern.3. Af system according to either of the preceding claims, wherein said basin incorporates an overflow pipe which drains excess water into said cistern.4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of basins each incorporating a waste valve; said waste valves being coupled to a single flush actuator. * . * * * *
S.5. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said basin forms the lid * *. of said cistern. * . * * . ** S6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said waste valve is coupled to said flush mechanism so that when or as said flush mechanism returns to its starting position after said liquid has flowed from said cistern; said waste valve closes.7. A sanitary system as claimed in any of the preceding claims and substantially as herein before described with reference to and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.