GB2515721A

GB2515721A - Weight Apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2515721A
Application number: GB201303533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Budha Singh Dhinjan; Jaswinder Singh Dhinjan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-02-28
Filing date: 2013-02-28
Publication date: 2015-01-07
Also published as: WO2014132061A1; GB201303533D0

Abstract

A toilet cistern weight 118a is described. The weight apparatus comprises a collar (118 figure 3) and a retaining element; the collar extends at least partly about a recess 126 arranged to receive a control element. The retaining element acts to secure the toilet cistern weight about the control element (116 figure 3). The weight may be lead and may comprise a U-shaped body 118a and a retaining element 122. The U-shaped body has arms 124 which extend about a recess 126 arranged to receive a control element. The retaining element preferably engages with at least one arm of the U-shaped body so as to act to secure the toilet cistern weight about the control element. The retaining element may comprise a screw thread (200 figure 7a). The control element and the weight are suitable for use in a push button flush (110 figure 1) toilet cistern.

Description

Weight arxaratus The invention relates to weight portion for a valve in a toilet cistern.

buds or WG5 have valve flushing devices, Types of flushing devices include flush handles with a siQflon in Lhe todet cistern and push*-nirtor flush systems with a crop-valve or a flapvalve in the cistern. in the siphon type thes iphon is used to refill the cistern when it. has been emptied with a flush. The siphon indudes a sealing diaphragm operating to lift the water in the siphon chamber and to start the flush, emptying the water from the cistern into the toilet pan. The diaphragm can wear and fail over time resuhing in a tarure to flush. In this situation it is not possible to flush hut there is no leak of water from the cistern through the diaphragm to the pan.

Push button flush devices operate to raise a valve seal located at the bottom of the cistern. Common valve seal mechanisms include drop valves and flap valves. There is no lifting of water required, so very little force is required to break the valve scsi at the bottom ol' the cistern and start the flush. No flush handle is required anc:i a push button can be used. A push button opera ton is often the design of choice as it is space saving, attractive, compact in structure and provides a flush operation with very little effort.

The value seal may wear and break over time causing failure of the seal between the cistern and the toilet pan. Replacing the seal may need to be carried out a number of times during the lifetime of the toilet cistern.

The present invention seeks to improve the existing push button toilet flush system. s.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a toilet cistern weight comprising: a collar and a retaining element; the collar extending at least partly about a recess arranged to receive a control element; wherein the retaining element acts to secure the toilet cistern weight about the control element.

The weight is provided to urge the seal, located around or proximate to the control element, into engagement with the portion of the cistern to be sealed.

Valve flushing devices with the seal at the bottom of the cistern are prone to leaks as the level of water is always above the seal. If the seal is compromised then water will flow into the pan under the force of gravity and water will leak in a continuous manner into the pan until the seal is replaced. By providing an additional weight on the flush control element the sealing function of the valve seal is improved.

In an embodiment the weight is in the range from 10 grams to 150 grams. In a preferred embodiment the weight is in the range from 30 grams to 45 grams. The range of weights is a selection appropriate for a range of toilet flush systems. The weight should be sufficient to ensure a seal is maintained between the cistern and the toilet pan when needed, but not one that would impede the users' ability operate the push button flush system. The valve should still be released and cause the toilet pan to flush by action and activation of the push button.

In an embodiment the collar comprises arms extending about a said recess arranged to receive a control element. This provides flexibility in the shape and structure of the toilet cistern weight. In an embodiment, the collar comprises a U-shaped body having arms extending about a said recess arranged to receive a control element, wherein the retaining element engages with at least one arm of the U-shaped body so as to act to secure the toilet cistern weight about the control element. Each arm in an embodiment comprises a connection portion suitable for engagement with the retaining element.

The connection portion of an embodiment comprises an anchor element in the arm and in an embodiment the anchor element comprises a hole in the material of the arm. This means that the U-shaped body and arms can be connected with a retaining element and held in place on to the control element. Each arm of an embodiment comprises an anchor point for the attachment of a number of options of connection means. The connection portion provides flexibility in the design of the toilet cistern weight.

In an embodiment the retaining element comprises a retaining wire having two ends, a first end of the retaining wire engaged and anchored at a connection portion of the first arm and a second end of the retaining wire engaged and anchored at a connection portion of the second arm. The wire is easy to manufacture or obtain from existing suppliers and it can be affixed to the each arm of the U-shaped body acting to secure the weight in position at the control member.

The retaining element in an embodiment can be an additional U-shaped body having arms extending about a recess arranged to receive a control element. In the embodiment the arms of the additional U-shaped body engage with an anchor element of the first U-shaped body. In this embodiment a retaining wire is not needed as the arms of each U-shaped body provide anchoring elements and regions for connection together with the other U-shaped body. The U-shaped pieces can be connected without any additional connection elements, this leads to ease of manufacture and fitting.

In an embodiment the retaining element comprises a screw thread portion. No additional fixing means are required and the toilet cistern weight can be fixed to a control element by a screw connection. The screw connection may be made above or below the control element or may be fixed to an upper portion or to a lower portion of the control element.

In an embodiment the toilet cistern weight and the control element with which it operates comprise a push button toilet flush operation. The size and shape of the U-shaped body may vary according to the shape and width of the control element to which it conforms and fits around. The recess in the U-shaped body is sized so as to receive a control element or piece.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a push button WC valve control element and a toilet cistern weight, having a toilet cistern weight as described above. According to another further aspect of the present invention there is provided a push button WC valve flush device comprising a push button WC valve control element, a valve seal and a toilet cistern weight; the toilet cistern weight as previously described.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows conventional flushing devices; Figure 2 shows a conventional push button flush device of Figure 1 in more detail; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a toilet cistern weight according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4a is a perspective view of the toilet cistern weight of Figure 3; Figure 4b is a plan view of the toilet cistern weight of Figure 3; Figure 5a is a plan view of a toilet cistern weight according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5b is a sectional view of a portion of the toilet cistern weight of Figure 5a; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a toilet cistern weight according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 7a is a perspective view of a toilet cistern weight according to an alternative further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7b is a perspective view of the toilet cistern weight of Figure 7a in use with a push button device control rod of Figure 2.

Figure 1 and 2 show conventional flush devices for toilet cisterns. Figure 1 shows a flush handle siphon A with active flush portion above the water line in a cistern. A drop valve B and a flap valve C are also shown with the water level in a cistern above the seal point 10. Figure 2 illustrates a drop valve with push button flush, the push button is connected to a control element or rod (not shown) via a control cable 112. The control element acts to operate the seal 100. A button cap 114 is located over the push button 110. The button cap 114 includes features of an ergonomic design to compliment the user's finger or thumb. In use, a user activates the flush with force exerted on the push button 110 via the button cap 114. Pressure or force is transmitted from the push button 110 to the control element or rod or pin via control cable 112. The control element acts to move the seal 100 and to urge the seal 100 out of engagement with the base or cistern connection. In this way water passes from the cistern to the toilet pan.

The cistern contents empties into the toilet pan while the seal 100 is open. On release the control element allows the seal 100 to reconnect with the base of the cistern and reform a sealed portion isolating the cistern from the toilet pan.

Figure 3 is a representative view of a seal 100 for a portion 0 being the connection of the cistern to the toilet pan. Seal 100 is operated by control rod 116. In addition a toilet cistern weight 118 is provided on the control rod 116. In a first embodiment the toilet cistern weight 118 comprises a collar 118 accommodated around the control rod 116.

The arms of the collar weight 118 comprise the portions either side of a split or cut 119 in the collar 118. The material of the collar weight 118 in this embodiment is lead or other suitable material of a type having a low hardness value with the result so that it is soft and malleable. The arms may be separated and moved a distance apart from each other in order to be wrapped around the control rod 116. The arms of the collar weight 118 may then be joined and brought together so as to retain the collar weight 118 at the control rod 116. The arms act so as to urge the collar 118 to grip the control rod 116 and to be retained. The arms act as a retaining element in addition to any portion of the control rod 116 that may assist in the gripping for example, a structural detent or supporting shoulder portion or a roughened surface for increasing the grip of the collar 118 at the control rod 116.

The toilet cistern weight 118a of a further embodiment is illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b. Figure 4a is a perspective view and Figure 4b shows a plan view of the weight 11 8a.

The weight 11 8a comprises a U-shaped body 120 and a retaining element 122. The U-shaped body 120 has arms 124 extending about a recess 126. The recess 126 is arranged so as to receive the control rod 116. The retaining element 122 is brought into engagement with the arms 124 of the weight 118a in a direction of movement as shown in Figure 4a. The retaining element 122 engages with one or more of the arms 124 in a manner so as to secure the toilet cistern weight 11 8a about the control element 116.

The retaining element 122 comprises a retaining wire fixed in anchor holes 128 provided in the arms 124. The weight used here to ensure sealing with the connection from the cistern to the toilet pan is around 40g, 41g has been found, during testing to be particularly effective.

In an alternative embodiment a second U-shaped body 121 acts as a retaining element.

Figure 5a shows U-shaped body 120 and U-shaped body 121 connected together around control element 116.

The arm 124 of U-shaped body 120 is provided with a coupling formation in the form of a hook 130. The hook 130 is curved in a first sense, out of the page as shown in the drawings. The arm 124 of U-shaped body 121 is provided with a complimentary coupling formation in the form of a hook curved 132 in an opposite sense, along the page and with a rotation of 90 degrees. The hook 130 is adapted to receive hook 132 and to thus join the U-shaped bodies 120, 121 together and to secure them in a rigid manner. The hooks 130, 132 are of complimentary formations so that they may engage with one another by hooking together, in order to mechanically couple the ends of the arms 124 of each U-shaped body 120, 121. The hooks 130, 131 or other coupling portions may be present on both arms 124 of each U-shaped body 120.

Other examples of coupling formations include a male mechanical coupling formation in the form of a tongue at one end of the U-shaped body 120 and a complimentary female mechanical coupling formation, in the form of a slot, provided at another end of the U-shaped body 121. The slot is adapted to receive at least pad of the length of the tongue, to form a mechanical coupling between the ends of the adjacent U-shaped bodies.

In this way the weight is arranged and may be balanced around the control rod and on top of the seal component. In an alternative the weight may be located around the seal.

Figure 6 illustrates a weighted portion 140 as a body that can be threaded onto a screw thread 142. In this embodiment the seal retains the weighted portion 140. The weighted portion 140 can be a collar located at the top of the cistern tube 150 or control rod as shown in Figure 6, or can be mounted as a collar and screw threaded portion 200 located around and at the seal (lower position in the cistern) as shown in Figure 7. Here the screw thread 142 acts so as to retain the weighted portion 140 at or within the control rod or cistern portion. The weight here used to ensure sealing with the connection from the cistern to the toilet pan is around 30g, 32g has been found, during testing to be particularly effective.

The present invention extends to a push button WC valve control element and a toilet cistern weight as hereinbefore described. A push button WC valve flush device comprising a push button valve control element, a valve seal and a toilet cistern weight as hereinbefore described is also envisaged.

In use, an operative called to repair and deal with the failure of the seal between the cistern and the toilet pan would clip or screw a toilet cistern weight 118, 118a, 140 onto the toilet cistern part or control rod 116 in order to provide additional weight and downward force at the seal. The additional weight provided by the toilet cistern weight would urge the seal into engagement and sealing with the valve seal at the join of the cistern to the toilet pan.

Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The U-shaped body may have the portion connecting the arms in the shape of a curve, rounded or square shape. The U-shaped body may be plastic or may comprise any suitable material and may be of varying length and thickness. The weight may be any suitable weight range. Alternative forms of construction of the weight and retaining feature may be considered.

Claims

Claims 1. A toilet cistern weight comprising: a collar and a retaining element; the collar extending at least partly about a recess arranged to receive a control element; wherein the retaining element acts to secure the toilet cistern weight about the control element.
2. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight is in the range from grams to 150 grams.
3. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weight is in the range from grams to 45 grams.
4. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, the collar comprising arms extending about a said recess arranged to receive a control element.
5. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any preceding claim, the collar comprising a U-shaped body having arms extending about a said recess arranged to receive a control element, wherein the retaining element engages with at least one arm of the U-shaped body so as to act to secure the toilet cistern weight about the control element.
6. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each arm comprises a connection portion suitable for engagement with the retaining element.
7. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connection portion comprises an anchor element in the arm.
8. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in claim 7, wherein the anchor element comprises a hole in the material of the arm.
9. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any of claim 4 to claim 8, wherein the retaining element comprises a retaining wire having a first and a second end, a first end of the retaining wire engaged and anchored at a connection portion of the first arm and a second end of the retaining wire engaged and anchored at a connection portion of the second arm.
10. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any of claims ito 8, wherein the retaining element comprises an additional U-shaped body having arms extending about a recess arranged to receive a control element.
11. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in claim 8, wherein the arms of the additional U-shaped body engage with an anchor element of the first U-shaped body.
12. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any of claims ito 8, wherein the retaining element comprises a screw thread portion.
13. A toilet cistern weight comprising: a mounting portion and a retaining element; the mounting portion accommodated at least partly within a recess arranged to receive a control element; wherein the retaining element acts to secure the toilet cistern weight at the control element.
14. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises a screw thread portion.
15. A push button WC valve control element and a toilet cistern weight, wherein the toilet cistern weight comprises a weight as claimed in any preceding claim.
16. A push button WC valve flush device comprising a push button WC valve control element, a valve seal and a toilet cistern weight; the toilet cistern weight as claimed in any preceding claim.
17. A toilet cistern weight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the toilet cistern weight and the control element with which it operates comprise a push button WC valve flush device.
18. A toilet cistern weight as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.