US2145435A

US2145435A - Lavatory

Info

Publication number: US2145435A
Application number: US165535A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lendal R Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-09-24
Filing date: 1937-09-24
Publication date: 1939-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1956-01-31

Description

L, R SVHTH EL E939.

LAVATORY Filed Sept. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Shee l Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNiTED STATES eric Claims.

This invention relates generally to a lavatory and in particular relates to a lavatory which is designed for use in connection with modern bath rooms, in which it is desirable to conserve space 5 as well as provide a sightly arrangement of the facilities therein.

The principal object of my arrangement is to provide a lavatory arranged for normal enclosure in a cabinet or closet, but provided with drive mechanism 'to slide the lavatory from the cabinet for use; the cabinet being preferably recessd in a wall, whereby the same and the enclosed lavatory are out of the way and not visible when the lavatory is not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide an effective electric drive mechanism to advance the lavatory from or retract it into the enc-losing cabinet.

An additional object of the invention is the inclusion of automatically actuated control mechanism to open the flush water flow-valve with the advance of the lavatory from the cabinet and to close such valve with retraction of the lavatory. Thus, continuous flushing of the bowl, when the lavatory is in use, is automatically accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. lis a side elevation of the device as enclosed within the cabinet.

Fig, 2 is a side elevation showing the lavatory as advanced from the cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electric circuit employed. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the water flow valve.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the cabinet and as arranged when the cabinet is enclosed in a wall.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises a bowl I, preferably of the silent iiush type, mounted on a suitable base 2 of box-like construction. The base is provided with small wheels 3 which ride on spaced, parallel tracks 4 secured to the floor 5 and extending into a cabinet 55 6, preferably recessed in a wall 1. The cabinet is provided with doors 8 which are secured along their outer side edges to the cabinet by spring hinges 9 which normally maintain the doors in closed position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The bowl is provided with a rigid discharge passage or duct lil which projects from the rear of the base 2 and is connected to a sewer pipe ll by means of a flexible tube l2, preferably a ilexible metallic tube. This flexible tube l2 extends through a slot i3 cut in the floor from a point adjacent the front of the cabinet to the rear thereof.

A water supply pipe Eli projects vertically into the cabinet adjacent one side thereof and is provided at its upper end with a Valve casing l5 in which is disposed a rotary plug Valve iii. A flexible hose il leads from the outlet side of valve casing l5 to a water intake connection i8 on the rear of the bowl. The plug valve i6 is connected, on one side of the casing l5, to a radial arm t9 which is normally maintained in a Vvalve closing position by a tension spring 2li. A strike finger 2l is also secured to the rotary plug valve H5 and is normally in a depending position when the valve is closed under the influence of spring 2l. A cam arm 22 is mounted on the base2 at its rear end and is adapted to engage finger 2l and open valve I6 upon advance of the lavatory from the cabinet and to separate from the finger and permit the valve to close upon retraction of the lavatory into the cabinet.

The drive means to effect movement of the lavatory to and from the cabinet is constructed as follows:

Two pairs of spaced sprockets 23 are journaled beneath the floor and underneath the cabinet, corresponding sprockets having shafts in common and which shafts are supported on spaced parallel frames 24. Each pair of sprockets is connected together by an endless chain 25, the chains 25 being disposed in substantially the plane of the sides of base 2. Arms 26 are connected to the sides of the base adjacent the rear thereof and extend through parallel slots 2l in the floor to fixed connection with the endless chains 25. A reversible motor 2li drives the sprockets and endless chains by means of a drive belt B.

The circuit for the actuation of motor 28 comprises wires 29 leading from the power wires 30 to two terminals of the reversible motor. Other wires 3l tap wires 29 and lead to a pair of the terminals of a four-terminal reversing switch 32 mounted on the front of the cabinet. Another wire 33 leads from a third terminal of the switch to one terminal of a spring blade switch 3d 55 mounted in the rear of the cabinet. A wire 35 extends from the other terminal of switch 34 to the reversible motor 28. Another Wire 36 connects the remaining terminal of switch 32 with another spring blade switch 31 mounted adjacent the front of the cabinet. The switch 31 is in turn connected by wire 38 to the wire 35 leading to the reversible motor 28. A contact or cam arm 39 is iixed on base 2 and is so arranged as to engage an insulated strike head 40 on switches 34 and 31 and to open the same when the lavatory reaches a fully retracted or fully advanced position respectively.

Operation In normal position and when not in use, the lavatory is enclosed within the cabinet and the doors are closed; the two-way switch 32 then being in a closed position relative to wire 33, and the switch 34 in an open position, as shown in Fig. 3.

To advance the lavatory from the cabinet, the reversing switch 32 is closed (relative to wire 36) to actuate the reversible motor in such direction that with movement of chains 25 and attached arms 26, the base 2 and bowl I will be advanced from the cabinet for use; the motor 28 being stopped when arm 39 engages and opens switch 31 and after a predetermined advancing movement has occurred.

When so advanced, the doors are swung apart and remain apart and in engagement with the base until the lavatory is retracted into the cabinet. Too, when the lavatory is advanced, a continuous flushing of the bowl will be eiiected, as valve I6 will be automatically opened as hereinbefore described. The flexibility of tube l2 and hose l1 permits the lavatory to move as described without undue restriction.

The lavatory is returned to the cabinet by merely reversing the position of switch 32, causing a reversal of motor 28. When fully retracted, arm 39 opens switch 34 stopping the motor. Also, with such retraction, cam 22 moves away from valve I6 and permits it to close and thus shut olf the water supply to the bowl.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a cabinet, a lavatory normally disposed within the cabinet, means mounting the lavatory for sliding movement in and out of the cabinet, drive means to so move the lavatory, a water supply pipe adjacent the cabinet, a normally closed valve in said pipe, a flexible conduit connecting the supply pipe with the bowl of the lavatory and means operative upon movement of the lavatory out of the cabinet to open the valve and maintain the same open while the lavatory remains out of the cabinet.

2. A lavatory assembly comprising a cabinet, a toilet unit normally disposed in the cabinet, means mounting the toilet unit for sliding movement in and out of the cabinet, a water supply pipe disposed in the cabinet but out of the path of movement of the toilet unit, a normally closed valve for the pipe, a flexible conduit leading from the valve to the toilet unit, a valve control element on the valve exteriorly thereof, and a member mounted on the unit and arranged to engage and actuate said valve control member upon movement of the unit from the cabinet.

3. An assembly as in claim 2 in which said valve control element comprises a radial lever, a spring connected with said lever and arranged to normally hold the lever in a valve closing position, said member on the unit being disposed to engage said lever and move the same against the action of the spring to a valve opening position when the unit is advanced from the cabinet.

4. A lavatory assembly comprising a cabinet, a base member above the floor of the cabinet, a toilet bowl unit mounted on and rigid with the member, means mounting the member for sliding movement into and out of the cabinet, a fixed sewer pipe below the floor of the cabinet terminating in an upwardly facing end disposed substantially midway of the length of the cabinet, and a iiexible conduit connecting said end of the pipe and the toilet unit at the back; the floor of the cabinet having an opening for the passage and flexing movement of the conduit.

5. A lavatory assembly comprising a cabinet, a base member above the iioor of the cabinet, a toilet bowl unit mounted on and rigid with the member, means mounting the member for sliding movement into and out of the cabinet, a fixed sewer pipe below the floor of the cabinet terminating in an upwardly facing end disposed substantially midway of the length of the cabinet, the base member having depending sides, a discharge pipe rigid with and depending from the bottom of the bowl between the sides of the base member and extending rearwardly to a termination adjacent the rear end of the base member and above the floor of the cabinet and a flexible conduit connecting the ends of the pipes; the floor of the cabinet having an opening for the passage and iiexing movement of the conduit.

LENDAL R. SMITH.