US3436764A - Folding toilet flush interlock - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1969 A. coLoNNA FOLDING TOILET FLUSH INTERLOCK Sheet Filed March 30. 1967 prl 8, 1969 A. coLoNNA FOLDING TOILET FLUSH INTERLOCK Sheet 2 of4 Filed March 30. 1967 IN VEN TOR. wie a daf/022m B )QUIK/QM@ Ml ATTORNEYS April 1969 A. COLONNA FOLDING TOILET FLUSH INTERLOGK Sheet 5 A of 4 Filed March 30, 1967 eS m N R @W 1 m ma QM d Md W April 8, 1969 A. COLONNA FOLDING TOILET FLUSH INTERLOCK Sheet of 4 Filed March 30. 1967 F l u C @S INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS nited States Patent O1 f 3,436,764 Y Patented Apr. 8, 1969 3,436,764 FOLDING TOILET FLUSH INTERLOCK Angelo Colonna, 2114 Bowler St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19115 Filed Mar. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 627,026 Int. Cl. E03d 7/00, 3/00, 5/00, 11/10 U.S. Cl. 4--10 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention is in the eld of toilets and more particularly foldaway toilets, wherein the bowl is designed to fold out of the way and out of sight into a cabinet. These toilets are of the type shown in the following patents issued to me: U.S. Patent 2,750,599 for Built-In Foldaway Water Closet; U.S. Patent 2,725,575, issued Dec. 6, 1955 for Folding Water Closet; U.S. Patent 2,- 883,142, issued Apr. 2l, 1959, for Self-Closing Anti-knock Flushing Valve. These toilets are expressly adapted to be used in limited size quarters and washrooms, including those on ships, trains, and planes. The toilets are of a ush typeI and installed in connection with the customary cold water supply lines and soil or waste pipe drain lines. Generally, the toilet bowl or hopper is hinged from a cabinet and folded into the cabinet when not in use. The ush water and drain are connected through the hinge.

Description of the prior art In the prior art, the toilet bowl of the foldaway toilet was rotated downwardly from a vertical position into a horizontal operative position, and the weight of the bowl held it in this position. After use, the' ybowl was desirably flushed by manual operation of a flushing handle wherein a quantity of water was passed into the bowl through a rim arrangement, causing the deposits in the bowl to be washed out into the drain or trap. Occossionally, a situation arose wherein the bowl was folded prior to the ilushing operation, or during the llushing operation, and a messy unsanitary situation was created, since the bowl is designed to ybe emptied when it is in the operative horizontal position, through the pivot drain connection. Additionally, the flushing handle was sometimes pulled when the bowl was folded into the storage position, causing further diflculties involving overflow and improper drainage. Instructions were posted on the storage cabinet cautioning users on improper flushing procedure, but misuse continued. Hence, there was a very serious problem as to whether such toilets should be installed, and whether the toilets already installed should be removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the problems set forth in the description of the prior art above; namely, that of irnproper ushing, and untimely flushing, are solved. An interlock system of links and levers prevents the toilet bowl, once rotated from a storage position into an operative position, from being folded into the storage position until the bowl is fully flushed, and the flushing operation is completed. Furthermore, the interlock prevents flushing while the toilet is in a storage position. Additionally, the bowl is pre-flushed by means of the interlock as the bowl is lowered from a storage position into an operative position. Finally, means are provided, in combination with the interlock, to throttle, or cushion, the movement of the bowl as it is rotated from the storage position into the operative position.

The interlock of the invention operates between the flushing handle, the toilet bowl pivot shaft, and the flush Valve. A flushing link is pivotally connected to the pivot shaft of the toilet bowl so that the ilushing link is translated with rotation of the toilet bowl. The flushing link is also in `bearing relation with, and between, the llushing handle and the sliding stem of the ush valve, whereby the link, when rotated, can operate the flush valve. The ushing link is selectively locked against rotation and translation so that when the toilet bowl is down in an operative position the flushing link must be rst rotated, by means of the flushing handle, whereby the' link bears against and forces inwardly the sliding stem of a ilush valve, permitting ilush flow to the toilet bowl. The link is held against translation prior to flushing by a locking pawl engagement with a locking tooth on the flushing link. When the flushing handle is rotated and the llushing link rotated, a release link carrying a roller at its lower end disengages the locking pawl from the locking tooth on the flushing link, but simultaneously the flushing link is rotated into engagement with a locking stud on a support channel. As the flush valve stem slides back into its closed position under the influence of the internal pressure of the water flow, the llushing link is disengaged from the locking stud, but the release link roller keeps the llushing link disengaged from the locking pawl so that at the end of the ush the flushing link is free to translate upwardly.

As the toilet bowl is translated into a storage or Vertical position, the flushing link is translated upwardly and laterally. Extension pins on the link engage notches in the channel support housing whereby rotation of the link is prevented, thus preventing any movement of the valve stem of the liush valve by the flushing link. When the toilet bowl is rotated downwardly into an operative position for use, the llushing link is translated downwardly. An abutment on the link comes into engagement with a pin on the channel support housing, causing the ushing link to rotate slightly for a portion of its downward translation. This rotation bears against the flush valve stem causing a slight initial pre-flush.

During downward movement of the bowl, the throttle check cylinder on the crank arm restrains the movement of the bowl.

It is an object of the present invention to selectively control and coordinate bowl rotation and flushing operations in a foldaway toilet to insure proper flushing prior to storage and to prevent improper flushing in bowl positions other than the operating position. Further purposes appear in the specifications and in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation, and clear demonstration of the principles involved. FIGURE l is a perspective view of a foldaway toilet of the type with which the present invention is concerned, showing the seat or bowl in a downward or operative position.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary right side sectional ele-vation of a bowl and storage cabinet portion of a foldaway toilet showing the bowl in a downward, operative position, in combination with the llush interlock assembly of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation similar to FIGURE 2 showing the mechanism during the flushing operation.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the mechanism when the toilet bowl is folded fully into a storage or upward position.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the mechanism when the toilet bowl is being rotated downwardly, when the bowl is approximately at a midway position between the storage and operative position.

FIGURE 6 is a view 6 6 a cross-sectional view, taken on the ilne 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation showing the interlock assembly of the invention.

FIGURE 10 is a front fragmentary section showing the pivot and bowl and flush water passage and flush valve mechanism and partial interlock arrangement of the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section of a portion of the pivot assembly shown in FIGURE 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The overall structure involved in the present invention includes (l) cabinet; (2) folding bowl; (3) hinge assembly between the folding bowl and cabinet; (4) a hush water passage and a discharge passage; (5) a flush valve; and (6) the interlock assembly of the invention.

Elements (l) through (5) are in great detail in the patents mentioned earlier and reference to those elements will be made herein only generally to describe the operation of the interlock assembly of the invention.

The cabinet includes a panel 21 for access to the interior of the cabinet 20, a toilet paper dispensing opening 22, a top surface 23, optionally a top sink 25, and a series of faucets 26, a cabinet front 27, a cabinet depression 28 having side walls 30 and a back wall 31 to receive the toilet bowl 32 in a closed position.

The bowl is shown generally in FIGURES l, 2, and l0. The bowl 32 is supported within a frame structure 33 of suitable material and shape. In cross section as viewed in FIGURE 10, the bowl 32 is of generally semispherical contour, and in longitudinal section as shown in FIG- URE 2, the bowl is radially curved at the front portion 35 and then tapers slightly upwardly toward a neck 36 or discharge portion. The bowl has an encircling endless flush rim 37 which is provided with a plurality of orices or jet ports 38, as well as slits in the wall of the bowl. At the center of the rear of the rim there is a flat flush Water delivery tube 40 attached to the rim. A suitable seat is hingedly attached over the top of the bowl.

One end of the neck 36 communicates with the bowl proper while the opposite end communicates with the discharge trap 41. The neck 36 is an integra-l part of the bowl 32. The neck of the bowl 32 has integral therewith a pivot shaft 42 which is journalled within a bearing 43 which also serves as the drain receptical within the cabinet 20. The pivot shaft 42 has therein an internal cold water flush water inlet, wherein ilush water can enter the pivot shaft and then pass through to the rim of the bowl. The pivot shaft 42, which rotates, communicates with the stationary cold water flush inlet 47 through seal 45. Bearing 43 is in stationary connection with the soil pipe discharge.

In the downward or operative position of the bowl 32, llush water passes from a source of water supply 44 such as a city main, through a flush valve 45, into a vacuum breaker 46, through inlet pipe 47, and into a shaft 48, and up into the rim of the bowl 32 where it is jetted into the bowl. The discharge from the bowl passes out through the neck 36 of the bowl 32 into the cylindrical bearing 4 or journal 43 which has an opening therein to receive the discharge which passes through to the soil or waste pipe.

The flush valve 45 is of the type referred to in Patent 2,883,142 cited above and as shown in FIGURE 3 in section. It should be understood that for purposes of clarity the valve has been omitted in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6.

The valve includes a housing 49 and a sliding stem 50 which is connected to a valve disc 51 which in turn is biased by a helically wound spring 52. The flush water 53 from a main or other city source passes through the valve 45 when the valve is opened by the depression of the sliding stern 50 into the valve. The valve 4S is of the design wherein a volume of water once admitted under pressure acts as a timing mechanism to slowly resist the bias of the spring 52 so that the valve disc 51 moves slowly into position carrying the stem 50 back to a normal position once the valve 45 has been operated by depressing the stern 50 into the valve.

The interlock assembly 55 of the invention interconnects the pivot shaft 42 of the bowl 32 with the flush valve 45.

The key element in the assembly is the flushing link 56 which connects through pivot 57 to a crank arm 58 keyed at 60 on the pivot shaft 42 on one hand, and which bears against the stem 50 of the ilush valve 45 on the other hand. The crank arm 58` is of a at plate design which is keyed on to the pivot shaft 43 at 60 by means of fiats 61. The arm 5S has a short extension 62 on one hand and a diametrically opposed long extension 63. The flushing link 56 itself is of generally U-shaped cross section having a base portion 65 and flanges 66 and has certain specific contours and abutments. First, there is a locking tooth 67 which is suitably lanced inwardly from the base portion 65 and acts to engage with an abutment as later described, and to prevent upward translation of the flushing link 56. rIhe link 56 also has a pin 68 extending between the anges 67 and fixed therein whose function as later described will be to act to prevent the link 56 from translating when the bowl 32 is in a storage position. A depressed portion 70 in the form of a concave depression serves to provide clearance to allow rotation when the link 56 is in a certain position. A hole 71 in the base 65 of the link 56 serves to engage temporarily at a certain stage of the cycle with a locking member which will be described later. The flushing link 56 has a rectangular curved abutment portion 72 which is designated as an initial pre-flush abutment, the function of which is to provide a rotation to the ilushing link 56 while the bowl 32 is being rotated downwardly causing the flushing link 56 to be translated downwardly.

The flushing link 56 is guided within a channel support housing 75 of a specic configuration. The housing 75 is generally of U-shaped cross section having a base 76 and fianges 77 extending at right angles from the base. The anges 77 are of identical construction and include a wing portion 78 and a tapered portion 80. The base 76 is secured to the cabinet 20 and the flanges 77 extend outwardly toward the back of the cabinet 20. The flushing link 56 extends within the channel support housing 75. Flanges 66 of the link 56 extend toward the anges 77 of the housing 75. Housing 75 has a beam 81 extending across the wings 78 and is secured thereto. A locking stud S2 extends through the beam 81, and has a shaft 83 and a head 84 wherein the head 84 is xedly secured to the beam 81 as by spot welding. The wings 78 have formed therein identical slots 85 which are diagonally disposed to the vertical and have a lower seating portion at 86. A oating pin 87, extends through the slots 85 and is held laterally therein by Cotter pins 88 at the end thereof. The floating pin 87 is free to slide up and down within the slots.

Each of the wings 78 has at the lower side a notch 90 including an apex 91 which receives the locking pin 68 on the flushing link 56 when the flushing link 56 s in an upwardmost translated position, when the bowl 32 is in a storage position or upwardly folded. This 4locking pin notch 90 converges upwardly. The lower portion of the channel support housing '75 has reduced width anges to provide rigidity to the housing without undue bulk or interference with the interlock operation.

A locking pawl 92 is pivotally supported from a pivot 93 which extends between the flanges 77 of the channel support housing 75. The locking pawl 92 is free to rotate thereon within the anges 77 of the housing 75 and is biased away from the base 76 of the housing 75 by a helical compression spring 95 which seats in a recess 96- of the locking pawl 92. The locking pawl 92 has an engagement abutment 97 which selectively engages with the locking tooth 67 of the fluishing link 56 and prevents upward translation of the link 56. The locking pawl 92 likewise has a cam surface 98 and a roller retaining seat 100.

A flush handle 101 is pivoted to the channel support housing 75 on pivot 102 and has a curved portion 103 which extends outwardly from the cabinet and is accessible to the user for manual rotation to initiate the flush action. The handle 101 at the opposite end is pivotally connected at 105 to dual release links 106 which are spaced on the pivot 105 and which have longitudinally extending slots 107 which receive the pivot 105. The handle 101 at pivot 105 also has a roller 108 rotating on the pivot 105 which engages in rolling contact with the base `65 of the flushing link 56 at its upper end, so that any outward and downward rotation of the flush handle 101 with respect to the cabinet 20 causes the roller 108 to bear against the iiushing link, causing the rotation of the link 56 toward the liush valve 45, in turn causing depression of the flush valve sliding stern 50 into the ush valve 45, permitting a flow of flush water 53 through the valve 45.

The dual release links 106 have pivoted between them at their lower end a roller 110 which suitably and selectively contacts the locking pawl 92 and the ush link 56 as will be explained. The Hush handle 101 has a stop 111 which engages the channel support housing base 76 when the handle 101 returns to its normal position.

In order to control the downward movement of the bowl 32 during its movement from a storage to an operative position, a cheek mechanism 112 is connected through the crank arm 58 to the bowl pivot shaft 42. The check mechanism 112 includes a cylinder 113 which is hinged at 115 to a bracket 116 supported on the back of the bowl storage compartment depression 28. The cylinder 113 has secured therein a piston and connecting rod 117, the connecting rod 117 being pivotally connected to the crank arm 58 at 118'. The check mechanism 112 is of any conventional type wherein liquid or air or other uid is trapped and throttled so that movement of the piston and connecting rod 117 into the cylinder 113 is checked or slowed down. By this arrangement, the bowl 32 is slowly allowed to lower into an operative position. On the upward movement of the bowl 32, the piston is withdrawn from the cylinder and the internal arrangement of the check mechanism is such that no resistance to this outward movement of the piston is encountered and hence no additional resistance to the upward movement of the bowl 32 into storage position is imparted thereto.

Considering the operation of the interlock of the invention, the bowl 32 is in operative position as shown in FIGURES l and 2. In this position, the bowl 32 extends horizontally and is securely held in this position through the pivot shaft 42 and bearing 43 and suitable stops on the pivot shaft, against any downward movement. Such support of bowl 32 of course is substantial in order to support individual weights when a user is in sitting position on the bowl 32.

In accordance with the present invention, the bowl 32 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is restrained from an up- Ward rotational movement, or folding into the cabinet for storage, by the interlock assembly described earlier. As seen in FIGURE 2, the flushing link 56 is locked from upward translation with respect to the cabinet 20 by the engagement of the locking pawl 92 pivoted on the channel housing support '75, with the locking tooth 67 on the iiushing link 56, the locking pawl 92 being held in engagement with the flushing link 56 by the bias of helical compression spring 95. It will be noted that the release links roller 110 is at a disengaged position and removed from any interference between the locking pawl 92 and the ilushing link 56. rl`he ushing link 56 is held from rotation by contact with the sliding stem 50 of the flush valve 45 which is under a spring bias from spring 52. In this position, since the flushing link 56 is prevented from upward translation, the pivot shaft 42 of the bowl 32 is likewise prevented from any rotation since crank arm 58 is keyed on the shaft 42 and pivotally connected t0 the lower end of the flushing link 56.

In order to free the ushing link 56 for upward translation and thus allow rotation of the bowl into storage position, it is necessary that the flushing link 56 be rotated. This is accomplished by the rotation of the ilushhandle 101 outward and downward from the cabinet by the user in a normal flushing movement. Rotation of the flush handle 101 brings the roller pivoted on the ush handle 101 into bearing engagement with the flushing link 56 and causes the link 56 to be rotated, but not translated, about the pivot of the link 56 at its lower end, at its pivot with the crank arm 58. As the flush handle 101 is rotated, as seen in FIGURE 3, the stem 50 of the ush valve 45 is depressed within the flush valve 45 and a flow of flush water 53 is permitted through the flush valve 4S. The detailed operation of the valve 45 is set forth in the Colonna ush valve patent referred to earlier. Essentially, the flow of water creates a pressure pool which creates resistance against the spring biased return movement of the valve seat which is connected to the stern 50. This pressure pool is gradually dissipated through openings, thus allowing the seat and stem 50 to return to closed position, during which a generally measured amount of flush water 53 is permitted through the valve 45. The flush water 53 passes through the valve as best seen in FIGURE l0 from the source of supply 44, through vacuum breaker 46 which is of a conventional character, and down through the water supply line into the interior of the shaft at 118 and up into the water delivery turbe 40 into the rim 37 of the bowl 32. The flush discharge passes through the neck 36 of the bowl 32 into the waste pipe at 120. The detail of the waste pipe connection are set forth in the referred-to patents.

When the flushing link 56 is rotated by the flushing handle 101 so that the liush valve stem 50 is depressed within the valve 45 and the valve 45 is open, and Water 1s passing into the bowl 32 for a liush action, the flushing link 56 is held from upward translation by the engagement of the locking hole 71 in the flushing link 56 with the locking stud 82` which is tixed on the beam 81 of the channel support housing 75. Simultaneously, as the flush handle 101 is being rotated downwardly and outwardly to iiush the bowl 32, the dual release links 106 are being pulled upwardly through pivot 102 and the release link roller 110 is being pulled up into contact with the cam surface 98 of the locking pawl 92 on one hand and into the rolling engagement with the locking tooth 67 of flushing link 56 on the other hand. This drives the locking pawl 92 out of engageemnt with the locking tooth 67 as seen in FIGURE 3. The release link roller 110 at the uppermost point in its upward travel engages in the roller retaining seat of the locking pawl 92 and the roller is held in an interfering position with respect to the flushing link 56.

Thus, the ushing link 56, during its rotation to effect the operation of tiush valve 45, has been released from restraint against upward translation due to the engagement of the locking pawl 92 with the locking tooth 67 on the flushing link 56, but simultaneously the ilushing link 56 has come into restraint against upward translation by engagement of the locking hole 71 on the link 56 with the locking stud 82 on the beam 81 of housing 75.

As the stern 50 on the valve 45 is slowly slid back under the bias of spring 52, into a closed position, the flushing link 56 is rotated toward the base 76 of the support housing 75, or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG- URE 3, whereby the locking hole 71 is disengaged from the locking stud 82. However, the roller 110 on the release links 106 continues to seat at 100 in the locking pawl 92 in interfering relationship with the link 56, thus holding the link 56 out of engagement with the locking pawl 92. The slots 107 at the upper end of the release links 106 allow the necessary slippage between the pivot on the flushing handle and the release links so that the release link can remain in an upwardmost position with the release link roller 110 in engagement in interfering relationship between the pawl 92 and link 56.

When the locking hole 71 clears the locking stud 82, which occurs at the time the ush valve 45 is closed and no more flushing occurs, the ushing link S6 is free from any restraint to its upward translation, and the bowl 32 is now free to be rotated from a horizontal or operative position to a vertical or storage position. As the rotation of the bowl 32 upward occurs, the ushing link 56 is translated upward. During this upward movement, the slots 107 on the release links 106 are of such` limited length that continued rotation of the ushing link results in the release links 106 now being forced downwardly, so that roller 110 is forced out of engagement with the roller retaining seat 100 of the pawl 92. Once the roller 110 is out of engagement with the locking pawl 110, the roller 110 falls out of interfering engagement with ushing link 56 and the locking pawl 92 is again biased toward the iushing lever 56. No engagement or interference between the locking pawl 92 and the locking tooth 67 occurs, however, since the tooth 67 is now translated above the cngagement abutment 97 of the locking pawl 92.

When the bowl 32 is fully folded into storage position, the interlock will be as shown in FIGURE 4. The locking pin 68 on the flushing link 56 cornes into engagement with the locking notch 90 at the apex 91 on the channel support housing '7-5 so that no rotation of the finishing link 92 can occur at this point. At this point, the link 92 is in its upwardmost position and the bowl 32 is in the folded position, so there can be no flushing of the toilet while the bowl is in storage position.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I therefore claim 8 all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

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

1. A ush foldaway toilet comprising in combination:

(a) acabinet;

(b) a ilush handle;

(c) a ilush valve actuated by the flush handle and having a ush water inlet and outlet for selectively passing ush water and ilushing the toilet;

(d) atoilet bowl (l) hingedly connected to the cabinet,

(2) having a horizontal operative position and a vertical storage position, and

(3) having a ush water inlet from the flush valve outlet; and

(e) an interlock assembly operatively interposed between the bowl, flush valve, and flush handle 'comprising (l) means for permitting the bowl to be rotated without restraint from a storage position to an operative position, and

(2) means for restraining the bowl in operative position and preventing folding into the storage position until the illush handle is actuated and the bowl is fully ushed in the operative position.

2. A toilet of claim 1 in combination with means in the interlock assembly for preventing flushing of the toilet while the bowl is in storage position.

3. A toilet of claim 1 in combination with means in the interlock assembly for imparting a pre-flush to the bowl when the bowl is rotated from a storage position to an operative position.

4. A toilet of claim 1 in combination with check means for limiting the speed of movement of the bowl from a storage position to an operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,560,386 1l/l925 Langston 4-12 2,076,950 4/ 1937 Koch 4 9 2,552,546 5/1951 Fergusson 4 3 2,678,450 5/1954 Simpson et al 4-10 2,725,575 12/1955 Colonna 4---76` 2,750,599 6/1956 Colonna 4-10 2,826,762 3/1958` Colonna 4-10 2,879,519- 3/1959 Mueller 4-10 2,883,142 4/ 1959 Colonna 251-51 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 4--76

Images