US2605478A

US2605478A - Toilet cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2605478A
Application number: US73860A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederic H Lassiter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-01-31
Filing date: 1949-01-31
Publication date: 1952-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-05

Description

Aug. 5, 1952 F. H. LAS-SITER TOILET CLEANING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l v Filed Jan. 51, 1949 INVENTOR.

Aug. 5, 1952 F. H. LASSITER TOILET CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1949- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. 595052/ 164 lass/7'52 ,QTTOQNEVS Patented Aug. 5, 1952 l i v 2,605,478 I g Fromm CLEANING APPARATUS v I FredericI assitenLosAngeles, (l'alifl V v Application January 31, 1949, Serial Nat-3,860

This invention relates to a closure and cleaning apparatus foriai toilet andxis particularly directed; to: improvements for cleaning a conventional toilet bowlla'nd, toiletseat bothginside': and out and j for' simultaneously cleaning the floor area about. the. toilet bowl. V

The. problem of keeping public: and semi-public restrooms. clean has become acute in many areas because'ofhigh labor:cos'tsi.an.d because of inefficient .help. It has. been recognized thatga desirable solution to this problem would involve mechanical means for suitably cleaning. the bowl and seat in order to do away-With a disagreeable manual. task. The; proposals which have been advanced have. not enjoyed'commercial success, however, since most. of them have: serious shortcomings. either from a mechanical, standpoint or from the unsatisfactory .results achieved. Some of the proposals: relate to cleaning of the toilet-seat only. Others. relatexto complicated mechanisms for swinging: or. movingthe toilet bowl bodily into. and. out ofanzenc'losure.

It is the principal object oiimy invention; to provide a closure andcleaning: device for a'conventional form of toilet bowl and seat/which device" avoids the' difiiculties. present in prior art structures. i

Another important object: isto provide: such a cleaner device. which also. cleans thefloor area around the toilet bowl; V Y

Another obj'ecti'isto provide at closure,"v and cleaner device which can: be readily applied to existing installations. A more detailed object is; to provide a retractable hoo'd'which maybe positioned over aconventional toilet bowl and: seat and which is provided with means for: cleaning the bowl, seat and floor area around the bowl;

A further object is to provide means for returning the cleaning fiuid. used for cleaning the exterior of the toiletcbowl andthe floor area into the interior of the toilet bowl from whencei-t may be flushed away in the usual manner.

Other and more detailed objects andiadvantages will appe r hereinafter. 1

In the drawings? f Figure 1 is a. front elevation'partly broken away showinga conventional toilet bowl and seatand illustrating a preferred; embodiment of vmy in.-

vention.. i

Figure 2 is a sectionalelevation taken substantially on the lines 22 as shown in Fig'urell.

Figure 3' is a. sectional elevationltaken substantially on the lines 3-3 as shown in Figure 2..

Figure 4: is a side elevation. partly in section showingamodified form. a

Figure 5 is a,sectionaldetailshowing construc-' tion of a Venturipump.

Figured is a sectional detail partly'broken away taken substantially on. the lines &'!5: as shown inFigure 4.. 1. t Referring to the drawings, the toilet device generally designated It! comprises a conventional 7' g 14 Claims.

toilet bowl ll having'a base l2 ;and atubular outlet !3; A conventional toilet seat Mrests on the bowl and is secured thereon by means of, the usual pivot attachment [5. A water supply pipe it; supplies water for flushing-the; toilet when desired. Thefl ush tankand associatedequipment are omitted from the drawings for clarity of illustration. I t

In accordance with my invention, the toiletbowl H does not rest directly on the floor H but is mounted: upon a base plate structure It; having an opening I9 through which the tubular projection ['3 extends. This baseplate structure l8 may be provided witha central recess 2t having drain. openings 21 in communication therewith. These openings--21 are provided in the upper surface or floor 2-2w'of; the base plate structure Id. This upper surface is; not. horizontal but is inclined sli'g'htly'so that water drains toward the drainopeningsil I A hood generally designated 23 cooperateswith the base plate structure 18 and; vertical wall 2% to provide a closure 25 for the bowl H and seat M; This 1100(1) 23 includes a pair of stationary side walls 26, a cover 21 and a swinging front plate=28 pivoted to the cover at 28. The cover 21' is pivoted. at 30 to the brackets 31 fixed 7 relative tothe stationary; uprights 32. A handle jst' may be provided' on the front wall of thecover if desired forraisingthe cover from the operative position shown in full'lines in; Figure 2 to the inoperative position as shown bythe dottedlines in Figure 2.- However,v Lpreier towprovide power means for raising the ;cover, and. as shownin the drawings this means includes a power cylinder assembly 3-4; Asshown-in Figure 3 this assembly 34' is pivotally secured atone end to the stationary brackets 35 and has v a projectingpiston rod 36 at the other end pivotal-1y attached at 31; to the clevis 38 carried on thecover 21. When hydraulic fluid is admittedinto the hydraulic connection 33a and exhausted through the connection 39-, the pistonrod- 36, is caused: to move upwardly and pivotthe covera-to the dotted lineiposition. shown inFig-ure 2. A spring. latch 21d maybecarried on. one of the uprights 32 for resiliently maintaining the cover 21' in raised'positi'on: The cover operatedby the push-button- 40 maybe employed.

"Pheelectric circuit for operating the electric control valve may be arranged so that when the pushebutton Ml isactuated the cover 21- is raised and when-the samebutton, is again actuated the cover vis lowered. ;:;W11en-the cover zl ismaisedthe swinging plate 2 8; remains {substantially jver- Means are provided for cleaning the bowl seat l4, and that portion of the floor 22 within.

the enclosure 25. As shown in the drawings this" means includes a pair of central circularnozzle's' 4| and 42 connected by conduit43land carried.

on a common header pipe 44.

Encircling the inner nozzles 4| and 42 is .a pair. of outer ring shaped

nozzles

45 and 46 connected by piping 41 and supported on the header 44. The header 44 is provided with a right angle extension 48 pivotally received'within'a stutfing box 49 and the hea'der'44 is supported bymeans of a support clip-50 attached to the cover 21. From this descriptionit'will be understood that when the cover 21- is raised the supportclip 50 causes the nozzles 4|, 42, 45 and 46 to be raised about the axis of the right angle extension pipe 48 so that the nozzle assembly generally designated 5| assumes the dotted line position-shown in Figure 2 when retracted. v

The inner nozzles 4| and 42 are provided with a plurality of openings 52 which are adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the inner portions of the bowl II and inner parts of the seat I4. The

outer ring nozzles

45 and 46 are also provided with openings 53 adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the outer portions of the'seat |4'and also against the outer surface of the upper part of the bowl I I. Additional jet openings 54 may be provided in the lower ring nozzle 46 which direct jets against the floor 22 within the enclosure 25.

The cleaning fluid employed may comprise steam'or hot or cold water with or without a suitabledetergent. The cleaning fluid is supplied from a suitablechamber 55. This chamber may enclose an electrically heated flash boiler, and if a detergent is to be used the upper portion of the chamber 55 may be occupied by the detergent receptacle. Cold water is admitted into the inlet fitting 56 at the lower end of the chamber 55, and hot o'r cold water with detergent or hot water or steam without detergentis delivered through the outlet pipe 51 to the stuffing box I9. The flow of water through the inlet fitting 551s controlled by a suitable valve (not shown) which in turn may be operated by means of the electrical push-button 4|. It is contemplated that a suitable interlock will be provided so that it is not possible to operate the cleaning apparatus unless the hood 2'! is in operative position.

Means are provided for disposing of the cleaning fluid which collects on the floor 22 within the enclosure 25. As shown in the drawings the floor 22 is inclined so that the cleaning fluid flows toward the base l2 of the bowl H and gravitates through the ports 2| into the recess 20. A suction pipe 58 establishes communication between the recess and the screened inlet 59 to the motor driven pump 60. The fluid pumped passes outwardly through the discharge line 6| through the check valve 62 and into the pipe Hi from whence it may be discharged in the usual way through the outlet passage 63 and sewer pipe 64. The motor driven pump 6|] is controlled by the push-button 4| so that the pump operates while the cleaning fluid is being sprayed on the bowl, seat and floor. A time delay devicemay be employed if desired so that the motor driven pump 6|] continues to operate for a short time interval after the push-button 4| is actuated to stop the cleaning cycle.

4. In the modified formqqf my inyention shown in Figures Land 5, the; motor driven pump 60 is replaced by a Venturitype ump 10 which is connected through supply conduit H with the inlet pipe l6 and connected through discharge "fline 12 and check valve 13 to the supply pipe |6 .downstream from the restriction 14.

A check valve "15 'is' also placed in the inlet line 16 which communicates with the recess 20 in the base structure |8. In this form of my invention the cleaning fluid 'is removed from the recess 2!! whenever water flows into the toilet bowl.

The size of the recess 20" is governed by the amount of cleaning fluid which must bedispo'sed of from the recess 20'on' each cleaning cycle. A relatively'small volumefor theLrecess 20' is sufflcient when the motordrivn pump 6|] is employed, but a larger volum'eil'must be provided when the Venturi pump '10 'is' used because the Venturi pump .10 operates only when thetoilet is flushed and therefore .a larger volume of cleaning fluid accumulates between cleaning cycles.

It is contemplated that my invention may be employed in connection with new plumbing installations or it may be installed in connection with existing equipment. The base structure it can be of split form if necessary, but I prefer to employ an integral unit without the split and to raise the toilet bowl sufliciently to install it between the floor of the room and the toilet bowl. It may be necessary or desirable to employ drying means to follow the cleaning cycle. Compressed air may be piped into the enclosure if. desired and arranged to dry the seat after the supply of cleaning fluid to the spray nozzles has been shut oif. The control for such' drying air would be interlocked with the cleaningcycle so that the air would be turned on after the cleaning fluid is shut off and before the cover 21 is raised.

Having fully described imyiinvention', it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set, forth,"but; my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims. 1

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seatiand bowl in situ, comprising in combination:' means .forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat,"sa'id means including stationary walls'and'a movable cover; means whereby the cover may be retracted to an inoperative position remote 'from the bowl and seat; and a retractablespray nozzle assembly within the enclosure and having portionsthereof adapted to direct jets of'cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat. 1 r

2. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat and bowl in situ, comprising in combination'zrneans forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, 'saidmeans including stationary wallsand a..mov'able cover; a spray nozzle assembly?havingportions'thereof adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat; and means whereby the cover and said assembly maybe retracted to' an'ino'perative position. remote from-the bowl and seat."

3. Apparatusfor cleaning atoilet's'eat and bowl in situ, comprising in combination? means'forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat", said'means including stationary wallsand a'r'novable cover; means whereby the coverfmay beretracted to an inoperative position remote fromthe'bowl and seat; a spray nozzle assembly having a portion thereof adapted to direct j ets of cleanin ifiuid against the bowl and seat; and means'whe'reby" the nozzle assembly may. be'mov'ed to an inoperativeposition. i

connecting the nozzle assembly for pivotal movement with the cover.

5. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary walls and a movable cover; a spray nozzle assembly having a portion thereof adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat and against the floor area within the enclosure; and means whereby the cover and said assembly may be retracted to an inoperative position remote from the bowl and seat.

6. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and .floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary walls and a movable cover, said means also including a base structure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for drainage, a spray nozzle assembly adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat, the base structure being provided with a recess to receive the cleaning fluid draining from the inclined floor; and means for pumping cleaning fluid from said recess into the interior of the toilet bowl.

'7. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary walls and a movable cover,'said means also including a base structure extending under the bowl and havin an inclined floor for drainage, a spray nozzle assembly adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat and against the floor area within the enclosure,-

means whereby the cover and said assembly may be retracted to an inoperative position, the base structure being provided with a recess to receive the cleaning fluid draining from the inclined floor; and means for pumping cleaning fluid from said recess into the interior of the toilet bowl.

8. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable cover provided with a hinged front wall, said means also includin a base structure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for drainage, a spray nozzle assembly adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat, means for retracting the cover and spray nozzle assembly to an inoperative position remote from said bowl and seat.

9. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable cover provided with a hinged front wall, said means also including a base structure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for drainage, a spray nozzle assembly adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat; pump means for delivering cleaning fluid draining from the inclined floor to within the toilet bowl; and means for retracting the cover and spray nozzle assembly to an inoperative position remote from said bowl and seat.

10. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable cover provided with a hinged front wall, said means also including a base structure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for drainage, and spray means within the enclosure for directing cleaning fluid against the seat, bowl and inclined floor.

11. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable cover provided with a hinged front wall, said means also including a base structure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for drainage; spray means within the enclosure for directing cleaning fluid against the seat, bowl and inclined floor; and common means for retracting the cover and spray means to an inoperative position remote from said seat.

v 12. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around the bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat, said means including stationary walls and a movable cover, saidmeans also including a base structure'extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for drainage, the base structure being provided with a recess to receive the cleaning fluid draining from the inclined floor; and a Venturi pump actuated by flow of water to the toilet bowl for'pumping cleaning fluid from said recess into the interior of the toilet bowl.

13. Apparatus for cleaning the floor area around a toilet bowl, comprising in combination: a base structure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor for draining; fluid spray means for cleaning the bowl and floor; and means including a pump for delivering fluid draining from the inclined floor into the interior of the toilet bowl.

14. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat and bowl in situ comprising in combination: walls forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat; means for moving certain of the walls to expose the bowl and seat for use; a, spray nozzle assembly operable within the enclosure and having a portion thereof adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat; and means whereby the nozzle assembly may be moved to an inoperative position,

FREDERIC H. LASSITER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wertz Apr. 29, 1930