US20220298765A1

US20220298765A1 - Fountain-type wash basin

Info

Publication number: US20220298765A1
Application number: US17/839,420
Authority: US
Inventors: Hie Chan KANG
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-16
Filing date: 2022-06-13
Publication date: 2022-09-22
Also published as: KR20210077070A; WO2021125692A1; WO2021125692A8; KR102320626B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fountain type of wash basin capable of improving product efficiency by simplifying the appearance of the wash basin, saving water, and enabling washing and drying by installing a water discharge outlet in the interior of a wash basin body such that the direction of discharged water is upward. The fountain type of wash basin comprises: the wash basin body having a water reservoir; and the water discharge outlet which is installed on the side surface of the lower portion of the wash basin body so as to allow tap water to be discharged in the upward direction opposite to gravity, thereby increasing the stay time of tap water in the air.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Application No. PCT/KR2020/018008 filed on Dec. 10, 2020, which in turn claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0167909 filed Dec. 16, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fountain type of wash basin, and more specifically, to a fountain type of wash basin that is capable of allowing a water discharge outlet to be disposed in the interior of a wash basin body so that tap water is discharged from the water discharge outlet in an upward direction, thereby simplifying the outer appearance thereof, saving the amount of tap water consumed, and performing drying as well as washing to thus improve product efficiencies.

BACKGROUND ART

A wash basin is a device for washing a user's hands, face, etc.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a general wash basin, and the general wash basin 10 includes a body 20 for storing tap water, a water discharge outlet 30 disposed on top of the body 20 to turn on/off tap water discharge, and a drain outlet 40 disposed on bottom of the body 20 to drain the tap water.
The wash basin 10 is configured to allow the water discharge outlet 20 to protrude upwardly from the body 20 and to flow the tap water from top to bottom in the direction of gravity, so that a user washes his or her hands or face with the tap water flowing from top to bottom or with the water stored in the interior of the body 20.
The conventional wash basin 10 is improved based on a method of washing the user's hands, face, etc. with the tap water flowing naturally, and through the water discharge outlet 20 in which hot water and cold water are mixed with each other, the tap water flows from top to bottom in the direction of gravity.
However, the conventional wash basin 10 has the water discharge outlet 20 protruding upwardly therefrom, thereby causing spatial limitations, and further, a washing area is small to increase an amount of water used, thereby causing unnecessary use of water.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art, and firstly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fountain type of wash basin that is capable of allowing a water discharge outlet to be disposed on the inner surface of a wash basin body thereof, thereby simplifying the outer appearance thereof and providing various designs.
Secondly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a fountain type of wash basin that is capable of discharging tap water upwardly to enhance a water use rate, thereby providing water saving.
Thirdly, it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fountain type of wash basin that is capable of directly applying washing and drying functions to a wash basin body thereof to enhance conveniences and sanitary level in use.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a fountain type of wash basin including: a wash basin body having a water reservoir; and a water discharge outlet disposed on the side surface of the lower portion of the wash basin body so as to allow tap water to be discharged in the upward direction opposite to gravity so that the staying time of the tap water in the air is increased.
The water discharge outlet may be adjustable in angle in the range of 10° to 80° in the upward direction.
The water discharge outlet may be located within 0.3 to 0.9 of the height of the water reservoir from the lowest portion in the height of the water reservoir in the direction of gravity.
The fountain type of wash basin may further include a blowing hole formed on the upper portion of one side of the wash basin body to blow air so that after washing, a user's washed body is dried.
The fountain type of wash basin may further include a washing liquid discharge outlet disposed on the side of the wash basin body to discharge a washing liquid.
The angle of the wash basin body on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet may be inclinedly formed close to the vertical so that the interior of the water reservoir becomes asymmetrically formed in shape.
The fountain type of wash basin may further include a water collection hole formed on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet of the wash basin body to collect the tap water flowing from the water discharge outlet that does not come into contact with the user's body.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, as described above, the fountain type of wash basin is configured to allow the water discharge outlet to be located on the side of the lower portion of the wash basin body, thereby simplifying the outer appearance thereof, and to allow the tap water discharged from the water discharge outlet to be discharged in the upward and lateral direction, thereby increasing the staying time of the tap water in the air to enhance water use efficiency and water saving efficiency.
Further, the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention is configured to change the discharge direction of the tap water to thus provide a self-washing function, and to perform drying as well as washing to maximize the efficiencies of a product and to keep the wash basin sanitarily.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a general wash basin.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an example of the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR INVENTION

The present invention may be modified in various ways and may have several exemplary embodiments. Specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this does not limit the invention within specific embodiments and it should be understood that the invention covers all the modifications, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and technical scope of the invention.
In the description, the thicknesses of the lines or the sizes of the components shown in the drawing may be magnified for the clarity and convenience of the description. Further, the terms as will be discussed later are defined in accordance with the functions of the present invention, but may be varied under the intention or regulation of a user or operator. Therefore, they should be defined on the basis of the whole scope of the present invention.
In the description, a term ‘and/or’ includes a combination of a plurality of relevant and described items or any one of a plurality of related and described items. The term ‘coupled’ or ‘connected’, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. To the contrarily, the term ‘directly coupled’ or ‘directly connected’, as used herein, is defined as connected without having any component disposed therebetween. An expression referencing a singular value additionally refers to a corresponding expression of the plural number, unless explicitly limited otherwise by the context. In this application, terms, such as “comprise”, “include”, or ‘have“, are intended to designate those characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, or parts which are described in the specification, or any combination of them that exist, and it should be understood that they do not preclude the possibility of the existence or possible addition of one or more additional characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, or parts, or combinations thereof.
In the description, when it is said that one member such as a layer (film), an area, a patter, or a structure is located “on” or “under” another member such as a substrate, a layer (film), an area, a pad, or pattern, it means that one member may come into contact with another member as well as yet another member may exist between the two members. References in position for the respective layers will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an example of the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a fountain type of wash basin 100 according to the present invention includes a wash basin body 110, a water discharge outlet 200, an air blowing hole 120, an air absorption hole 130, and a washing liquid discharge outlet 300.
The wash basin body 110 has a water reservoir 111 in which water is stored and a drain opening and closing cover 112 disposed on bottom of the water reservoir 111 to drain the water from the water reservoir 111.
Further, the wash basin body 110 has an overflow outlet 113 formed on the upper surface of the inside thereof to prevent the water from overflowing to the outside from the water reservoir 111.
The water discharge outlet 200 is disposed on the side of the lower portion of the wash basin body 110 to discharge water to the inside of the water reservoir 111.
Further, the water discharge outlet 200 is detachably mounted onto the wash basin body 110.
Moreover, the water discharge outlet 200 is located inclined upwardly to permit the tap water to be discharged in the upward direction opposite to gravity.
That is, the water discharge outlet 200 is located in the upward direction from the bottom of the inside of the wash basin body 110 in the opposite direction to gravity, thereby increasing the staying time in the air of the tap water discharged therefrom.
An angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is adjustably formed upwardly in the range of 10 to 80°.
Further, if the water discharge outlet 200 is located on the lower portion of the side surface of the wash basin body 110 and the water discharging direction is an upward direction, the tap water is discharged to a parabola line along which the tap water moves from bottom to top and then moves to bottom, and in specific, the tap water in the gravity (vertical) direction has a speed of 0 at the highest position thereof.
Existing wash basins are configured to allow a user to wash his or her hands at 3 to 12 cm below the water discharge outlet, and accordingly, the staying time of the tap water in the air is about 0.1 seconds. According to the present invention, contrarily, if the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is 60°, as shown in FIG. 2, the staying time of the tap water in the air is increased to about 0.25 seconds. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the staying time of the tap water in the air is increased by about 2.5 times, thereby extending the time capable of using the tap water.
Further, the staying time of the tap water in the air is a function of the upward angle of the water discharge outlet 200. That is, the greater the angle of the water discharge outlet 200 becomes, the longer the staying time of the tap water in the air becomes.
If the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is 80°, the staying time of the tap water in the air is more increased by about 2.7 times than that of the existing wash basins.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, therefore, there is a need to adjust the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200, and according to the present invention, the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is set to the range of 10° to 80°.
If the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is about 60°, the staying time of the tap water in the air is increased so that a washing area (hand washing area) becomes extended to save the amount of tap water used.
Contrarily, if the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is greater than 80°, the tap water undesirably collides against the water reservoir 111 and thus scatters, and accordingly, the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is desirably set within 80°.
Further, the angle θ of the water discharge outlet 200 is adjustable to 10° to 80°, so that the entire surface of the water reservoir 111 can be easily washed,
A ratio (Hn/H) of the distance Hn of the water discharge outlet 200 from the lowest portion in the height H of the wash basin body 110 is set within 0.3 to 0.9.
That is, if the water discharge outlet 200 is positioned higher than 0.3 to 0.9, a water saving efficiency and a water using area become increased, but the tap water dropped may scatter widely to thus cause inconveniences in use.
Further, a hot and cold water valve 210 is connected to the water discharge outlet 200 through a pipe P to supply hot and cold water to the water discharge outlet 200.
The hot and cold water valve 210 is disposed on top or side of the wash basin body 110, and otherwise, it may be disposed on the outside of the wash basin body 110. If the hot and cold water valve 210 is a solenoid valve, a sensor (not shown) may be disposed on top, side, or outside of the wash basin body 110.
The technical configuration of the hot and cold water valve 210 is already well known, and accordingly, a detailed explanation of the hot and cold water valve 210 will be avoided.
The blowing hole 120 is formed on the upper portion of one side of the wash basin body 110 to blow air to the inside of the water reservoir 111, so that the user's washed body part is dried.
Further, the blowing hole 120 serves as the overflow hole 113 to prevent the tap water from overflowing to the outside of the water reservoir 111.
In addition, a blowing fan 121 is disposed on the underside of the blowing hole 120 to blow the air to the blowing hole 120.
As the blowing fan 121 operates, that is, the air blows to the inside of the water reservoir 111 through the blowing hole 120, and after the user's body part is washed with the tap water discharged from the water discharge outlet 200, accordingly, his or her washed body part is conveniently dried with the blowing air.
The air absorbing hole 130 is formed on the upper portion of the other side of the wash basin body 110, that is, on the opposite side to the blowing hole 120, to absorb the air blowing from the blowing hole 120.
Further, an absorbing fan 131 is provided to the air absorbing hole 130 to absorb the blowing air.
The operating principles and states of the blowing fan 121 and the absorbing fan 131 are already known well, and accordingly, detailed explanations of the blowing fan 121 and the absorbing fan 131 will be avoided.
The washing liquid discharge outlet 300 is located on the side of the wash basin body 111 to discharge a washing liquid upon washing.
The washing liquid discharge outlet 300 may be located on any position of the wash basin body 111, but desirably, it is disposed on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet 200.
The end of the washing liquid discharge outlet 300 passes through the water reservoir 111 to discharge the washing liquid to the interior of the water reservoir 111, and further, the washing liquid discharge outlet 300 is detachable from the wash basin body 110.
Further, a washing liquid container 310 is connected to the washing liquid discharge outlet 300 to supply the washing liquid to the washing liquid discharge outlet 300.
As shown in FIG. 5, the wash basin body 110 is configured to allow the angle of the inner wall surface of the water reservoir 111 on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet 200 to be inclinedly formed so that the inner wall surface of the water reservoir 111 becomes close to the vertical. Accordingly, the interior of the water reservoir 111 becomes asymmetrically formed.
As the interior of the water reservoir 111 becomes asymmetrically formed, that is, the tap water is sprayed upwardly and thus comes into contact with the water reservoir 111, thereby being prevented from scattering to the outside.
As shown in FIG. 6, a water collection hole 140 is provided on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet 200 of the wash basin body 110 to collect the tap water flowing from the water discharge outlet 200 that does not come into contact with the user's body.
Further, a hose h along which the tap water collectedly flows is connected to the water collection hole 140, and a clean water tank 400 is connected to the hose h to collect the clean water not used therein so that the collected water is reused.
That is, the tap water flowing from the water discharge outlet 200 that does not come into contact with the user's body does not flow as waste water through the drain opening and closing cover 112, but falls to the water collection hole 140 and is then collected to the clean water tank 400 through the hose h, so that the clean water not used can be reused for various purposes, thereby reducing the amount of water unnecessarily consumed.
Further, the hose h is connected to a water reservoir of a toilet bowl, which is not shown, so that the water collected through the water collection hole 140 is used for the toilet bowl.
Under the above-mentioned configuration, now, an operation state of the fountain type of wash basin according to the present invention will be explained.
The water discharge outlet 200 for discharging the tap water is located on the side surface of the lower portion of the wash basin body 110, and in this case, the water discharge outlet 200 is not exposed to top of the wash basin body 110, thereby simplifying the outer appearance of the fountain type of wash basin 100.
Further, the water discharge outlet 200 is located upwardly in the range of an angle of 10 to 80°, and accordingly, the tap water is discharged to the shape of a parabola, thereby increasing the washing area and extending the staying time of the tap water in the air.
Like this, as the staying time in the air of the tap water discharged from the water discharge outlet 200 becomes long, it is convenient to perform the washing, and as the time capable of using the tap water is increased, further, the washing time is reduced, so that the washing is finished with a small amount of water, thereby enhancing the water saving efficiency.
Further, the washing liquid discharge outlet 300 is located on one side of the lower portion of the wash basin body 110 to discharge the washing liquid therefrom, so that upon washing, the washing liquid is used, together with the tap water, thereby maximizing the conveniences of the user.
In addition, the blowing hole 120 is formed on the wash basin body 110 so that as the blowing fan 121 operates, air is supplied to the inside of the water reservoir 111 through the blowing hole 120 to dry the washed body parts of the user, thereby performing washing and drying together.
Accordingly, the water discharge outlet 200 from which the tap water is discharged is formed upwardly on the lower side of the wash basin body 110, and the washing liquid discharge outlet 300 for discharging the washing liquid and the blowing hole 120 for blowing air are provided, so that the washing area is increased to improve the water saving efficiency and the drying is possible after the washing to maximize the user's conveniences.
Further, the tap water flowing from the water discharge outlet 200 that does not come into contact with the user's body is collected to the clean water tank 400 through the water collection hole 140, so that the clean water not used can be reused to minimize the amount of tap water unnecessarily consumed.
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

EXPLANATIONS OF REFERENCE NUMERALS


100: Fountain type of wash basin	110: Wash basin body
111: Water reservoir	112: Drain opening and closing
	cover
113: Overflow hole	120: Blowing hole
121: Blowing fan	130: Air absorbing hole
131: Absorbing fan	140: Water collection hole
200: Water discharge outlet	210: Hot and cold water valve
300: Washing liquid discharge outlet	310: Washing liquid container
400: Clean water tank	P: Pipe
h: Hose

Claims

1. A fountain type of wash basin comprising:

a wash basin body having a water reservoir; and

a water discharge outlet disposed on the side surface of the lower portion of the wash basin body so as to allow tap water to be discharged in the upward direction opposite to gravity so that the staying time of the tap water in the air is increased.

2. The fountain type of wash basin according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge outlet is adjustable in angle in the range of 10° to 80° in the upward direction.

3. The fountain type of wash basin according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge outlet is located within 0.3 to 0.9 of the height of the water reservoir from the lowest portion in the height of the water reservoir in the direction of gravity.

4. The fountain type of wash basin according to claim 1, further comprising a blowing hole formed on the upper portion of one side of the wash basin body to blow air so that after washing, a user's washed body is dried.

5. The fountain type of wash basin according to claim 1, further comprising a washing liquid discharge outlet disposed on the side of the wash basin body to discharge a washing liquid.

6. The fountain type of wash basin according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the wash basin body on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet is inclinedly formed close to the vertical so that the interior of the water reservoir becomes asymmetrically formed in shape.

7. The fountain type of wash basin according to claim 1, further comprising a water collection hole formed on the opposite side to the water discharge outlet of the wash basin body to collect the tap water flowing from the water discharge outlet that does not come into contact with the user's body.