GB2567689A - A lavatory pan injector flush device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device comprising a reservoir housing 12 which houses a cleaning fluid, a one way valve 7 from the reservoir to the flush tank 19 of a lavatory; and an elongated piston 2 which when pushed causes liquid from the reservoir to pass through the one way valve to the tank; the piston is provided in a channel within the reservoir and the channel is perforated to allow liquid from the reservoir to enter the channel. The housing may be displaced when a button 4 is pressed. Springs 11 may regulate the movement of the piston. The liquid may be a disinfectant or a fragrant.

Description

A LAVATORY PAN INJECTOR FLUSH DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lavatory pan flush device, in particular a device for providing a cleaning pan flush; more particularly but not exclusively a device for providing measured and automated cleaning flushes.

Background

Increasing awareness of hygiene matters is pervasive in many areas of domestic and commercial life.

Lavatories can be a problematic place to maintain cleanliness particularly in relation to multiple users.

Even where systems are in place in such situations, for example utilising toilet cleaning agents or systems, it can be problematic to maintain the systems where multiple users are involved. Either excessive amounts of fluid are used, or multiple occasions may occur where no cleaning occurs.

Prior Art

WO 2014 200 391 (GIVARGIZOV) discloses manual dispensers of hygiene products applicable to restrooms (washrooms and toilettes in bathrooms of residential and non-residential spaces). The technical result which the claimed invention aims to achieve is providing for an accessible and higher-efficiency utilization of specialized disinfecting reagents by means of the completeness and quality of the mixing thereof, the duration of effectiveness of the disinfecting qualities of the formed medium, the providing of a pleasant scent in a restroom and, in certain cases, the forming of a special layer on surfaces of a washroom. Said technical result is achieved in that a device for feeding doses of reagent into a toilet tank contains a reservoir for a reagent, a means for feeding the reagent into the tank, said means including a reagent dosage dispenser provided with a means for activating said dispenser by applying force and for returning the dispenser to an initial position, and at least one valve; the means for activating the dispenser is provided on the inner side of the tank in direct proximity to a water-flushing button; it is possible to divide the reagent feed dosage into at least two portions per cycle of filling the tank with water and flushing same. Moreover, the device can be provided with a regulator of the volume of each of the portions of the dose of reagent during a simultaneous pressing, or with a regulator of the volume of the overall volume of the dose of reagent during a simultaneous pressing.

US 2007 0 169 254 (YASSAF et al) discloses a method and device in toilet flushing apparatus comprising: a) a container to hold cleansing fluids with a valve for controlled release of the said fluids into the water cistern of a toilet; b) a container to hold an aerosol sprayer; and c) various connecting rods and connections connecting the said container of the cleansing fluids and the said aerosol sprayer to the handle used to flush the water in the said cistern into a toilet bowl, whereby upon pressing the said handle the said rods and connections cause the opening of the said valve releasing cleansing fluids into the water of the said cistern and cause the release of air freshener spray into the air surrounding the said toilet and whereby toilet bowls will be cleaner and the air of toilet rooms will be fresher.

FR 2 250 001 (SIOUFY) discloses a return sprung plug valve controlling disinfectant discharge is opened by flush water pressure on a flap lever: the valve housing in a discharge chamber which is fed by small bore flexible hose from a remote reservoir. A spring U clip locates the discharge chamber inside the returned basin rim in the locality of flush water entry and the valve comprises a vertical rod carrying a conical plug, coil spring, retaining washer and nuts; the plug being sprung into cone shaped cavity in the discharge cell base and affixing to the flap lever which has pref, a ribbed surface to promote froth.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a lavatory pan flush device comprising: a flush tank; a button moved from a first closed position to a second open position which second open position is arranged to enable a flush of water from the flush tank to the pan; and a reservoir of liquid; wherein the reservoir is contemporaneously opened by movement of the button to the second position, so as to inject liquid into the flush tank.

In some embodiments the reservoir comprises a refillable reservoir. For example in some embodiments the reservoir may be partly or wholly displaceable from the apparatus. In some such embodiments the reservoir may comprise a displaceable cap, lid or cover.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a displaceable button, which may allow access to the reservoir for refilling and may accordingly provide the cover for the reservoir.

In some such embodiments the reservoir may comprise a wholly displaceable part, arranged to be taken out and refilled or arranged to be single-use and disposable.

In some embodiments the device comprises an integrated flush actuation button and reservoir which may be incorporated in a single device. Said device may therefore be installed in an apparatus comprising a toilet pan and cistern. Said device may alternatively be installed into an existing cistern and associated pan.

The device may comprise a piston, arranged to draw fluid from the reservoir. In some embodiments the piston may be arranged to draw fluid from the cistern in addition.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a spring, which spring may act to return the piston or button to its original position, and/or draw from the reservoir.

In this way the device provides inter alia a solution to the problem of how to inject just the required amount of agent to keep a toilet clean, descaled and perfumed even in its concealed parts, while requiring minimal maintenance by the user. The device is simple and safe to operate, so as to advantageously facilitate successful usage by users of varying degrees of mechanical aptitude.

The device of the present invention therefore solves a number of problems:

1. How to add a measured dosage of the fluid to each cistern flush as an automatic part of flushing the toilet.

2. How to facilitate this without requiring the user to remove the flush lid and risk injury to themselves or the toilet.

3. How to minimise the risk of spillage of the fluid while refilling the internal reservoir.

4. How to enable toilet manufacturers to deliver this new functionality without having to modify their existing toilet designs, thereby avoiding the retooling overheads associated with such an upgrade.

In using the device the user thereby does not require the cooperation of their cohabitants to get them to inject the correct amount of agent into the cistern each time they use the toilet. Advantageous features include safety, particularly in reference to spillage and the risk of dropping the heavy china cistern lid; and accurate delivery wherein a correctly measured dosage of the fluid is added to each component of the toilet with each cistern flush. Unlike existing methods that require overdosing at the time of refreshing, (e.g. a block in the cistern is at first too strong, then becomes weaker with each flush or rim cages and other devices which add an agent directly in the bowl and do not target the internal water pathways or all parts of the bowl.

Particularly advantageously the device uses a combined flush button I filler cap, and thereby removes need to remove the lid in order to refill the reservoir.

The device furthermore allows flush manufacturers to adapt their existing apparatus or mechanisms rather than produce an entirely new product that requires modification of the toilet or cistern.

By combining / disguising the refilling port with the flush button, the device of the present invention also avoids an aesthetically displeasing separate filling port being added to the cistern lid or body. The filling port integral to the flush button may be raised proud of the cistern lid, allowing the end user to pour hazardous fluid into the reservoir safely, while resting the neck of the bottle against the filling port.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of an embodiment of the device in use.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of an embodiment of the injector assembly shown in the centre of figure 1.

Figures 3 shows views of a dispersal cage for the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures generally there is shown an embodiment of a pan flush device having a depressible flush actuation button and a reservoir of liquid for addition to the flush, wherein the liquid agent in the reservoir is injected into the cistern water by depression of the flush.

With particular reference to the figures the device comprises a device to inject a measured dose of cleaning I descaling I perfuming fluid into a toilet cistern automatically with every flush.

With reference to Figure 1 in order to operate the flush:

The user manually depresses the button 1. The button 1 comprises a top disc 4 over an elongate push rod 2 extending downwards through the reservoir housing 12.

This member comprises an injector piston 2 which is forced downward into and within a channel 10 in the reservoir housing 12. The channel comprises a surrounding wall 17 with a top lip, which supports a compression spring 11, against which a rim of the piston member is pushed.

The channel wall 17 has an intermediate perforation 9 in one side, which provides a fluidic fill port from the reservoir 18 into the measuring chamber 10.

A measured dose of fluid is forced through a non-return valve 7 and into a mesh mixing cage 41, as shown in Figure 3, where it subsequently leaks out into the surrounding flush cistern water. Said mixing cage 41 advantageously retards the fluidic path into the flush water of the cistern 19, thereby ensuring that it mixes in more effectively; when the cistern 19 is refilling, rather than during the active flush.

The piston or injector 2 continues downward until it strikes the end of the channel 10, forming a reservoir shoulder 15 where downward force is transmitted to the reservoir housing 12 forcing it in turn to move downward.

The housing 12 is held in place between guide stanchions 5 which are fixed to the cistern, for example cistern base. The stanchions 5 comprise compression springs 6.

The reservoir housing 12 is thereby forced downward against the return springs 6, driving a flush I siphon lever, (not shown), via a connector 8. In the pictured embodiment this connector is shown located at the bottom of the reservoir housing 12, but may be envisaged to be located anywhere convenient on the reservoir housing 12.

On return:

The user releases the flush button 1;

The reservoir return springs 6 force the reservoir housing 12 to rise back to its start position;

The button return spring 11 also forces the flush button 1 to rise back to its start position;

The piston 2 rises above the fill port 9, allowing the next dose into the measuring chamber 10 from the reservoir 18;

The return springs 6 for the reservoir housing 12 are stronger than the combined force of the button return spring 11 and where present, as in the pictured embodiment, the spring 20 in the non-return valve 7.

All spring loaded components rise until striking a stop on the guide stanchions and the injector rod respectively, not shown for clarity.

Refilling the reservoir:

A simple mechanism allows displacement of the disc, not shown but comprising such as a screwthread, grubscrew into the member 2 and through the disc 4 or tolerance, interference or friction fit of the disc 4 in or on the member 2. This mechanism allows the user to lift or unscrew the button disc 4 and lock it in place, thereby exposing the neck of the reservoir housing 13.

In some embodiments this mechanism may be a simple lug on the injector piston that runs in a stepped slot allowing the user to pull and twist the flush button / cap upward until it locks into place and also lock it down again for normal operation.

The neck of the housing forms a fill port for the reservoir 18 when the disc is displaced and the neck fill port 13 is shown proud of the cistern lid 14. This allows the user to pour hazardous chemical fluid from its bottle without spilling it.

In order to refill the reservoir the user will:

Raise and lock into place the flush button disc 4 or in alternate embodiments flip-up / unscrew flush button / disc;

Fill the reservoir until seen to be full;

Lower the flush button / disc back into place or alternatively flip-down / screw flush button I disc.

In relation to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 it may be envisaged that the mixing cage for the retardation off the mixing of the agent with the flush water shown in Figure 3 may be located below the one-way valve 7.

The lever take off point 8 of the standard operation cistern flush device (not shown) enables the flush button of a standard or known cistern flushing device to be replaced such that the device of the present invention may enable use in the normal manner of flushing a conventional close-coupled toilet.

As shown in Figure 3 there is shown a cylindrical cage 41 but the device may be shaped to suit the individual flush apparatus being upgraded. The pictured embodiment of the cage 41 features a solid body section 41 that helps to shield the injected fluid from turbulence during the cistern flush, and also a mesh section 40 that allows the fluid to mix slowly with the water after the cistern has refilled, thereby ensuring a consistent mix for each flush.

In this way users can automatically dose their toilets with the correct amount of cleaning fluid as an integral part of the toilet’s normal usage, rather than relying on others or remembering to do so. In addition or the alternative advantageously the present invention resolves the problem of over I under dosing characterised by current solutions where concentration of cleansing I descaling I perfuming agent varies over time.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there are shown embodiments of parts of the device with the following parts:

Flush button 1

Injector piston 2

Neck 13 for filling port of reservoir

Guide stanchions 5 for reservoir

Reservoir housing 12

Reservoir housing stanchions return springs 6

One-way valve 7 (shown as a spring 20 loaded ball but could be any existing one way valve available, such as a reed or sphincter valve)

Flush lever take-off connector 8 for cistern flush mechanism, alternatively, this could be located anywhere on main reservoir body. Fig 2 shows an alternative siphon drive lever 21.

Measure chamber filling inlet 9, allows fluid to flow from reservoir 18 when system at rest

Measure chamber 10, determining size of dose of fluid

Return spring 11 for push button flush I injector rod

Cistern lid 14

Drive shoulder 15, catches injector rod after injection of fluid and transmits force into reservoir housing 12, thereby driving flush lever take off point 8

Button 4 transmits force against the reservoir shoulder 15 via the push rod 2. Directions of travel 16

Solid impermeable cylinder wall 41 shields injected fluid from turbulence of flush. Mesh porous cylinder wall 40 allows fluid to leak into water over time.

Open top of cylinder 38 is married to injector mechanism.

Solid base of cylinder 39.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely 5 combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A lavatory pan flush device comprising: a flush tank; a button moved from a first closed position to a second open position which second open position is arranged to enable a flush of water from the flush tank to the pan; and a reservoir of liquid; wherein the reservoir is contemporaneously opened by movement of the button to the second position, so as to release liquid into the flush tank.

2. A device for a lavatory comprising a flush tank and a button operated flush mechanism, wherein the device comprises: a reservoir housing providing a reservoir for liquid; a one-way valve leading from the reservoir to the tank; and an elongate piston member arranged to displace the valve.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the piston member is provided in a channel within the reservoir housing.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the channel comprises a perforation into the reservoir.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the housing displaces under pressure from the button.

6. A device according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the button displaces inside the housing.

7. A device according to claim 5 or 6 wherein displacement is controlled by one or more springs.

8. A lavatory comprising a device according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A flush mechanism for a lavatory comprising a device according to any of preceding claims 2 to 6.