WO1995016082A1

WO1995016082A1 - A toilet furniture

Info

Publication number: WO1995016082A1
Application number: PCT/DK1994/000460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rune Fink Isaksen
Original assignee: Rune Fink Isaksen
Priority date: 1993-12-07
Filing date: 1994-12-07
Publication date: 1995-06-15
Also published as: AU1107195A; JPH09506147A; DK136393D0; EP0733138A1; PL314715A1

Abstract

A toilet furniture is made with a fixed table plate (120) above the space behind the closet bowl (100), and in this space is provided a horizontally, forwardly displaceable housing portion having at its top a wash basin (114), while at its lower end it forms a lid over the closet bowl (100). A bowl seat plate (108) is correspondingly horizontally displaceable between a position beneath the pushed-in housing portion and a projected seat position, from which it can be pushed back, e.g. with a knee, for exposing the closet bowl. The toilet furniture is well suited for use under narrow space conditions, and it satisfies high hygienic demands, i.a. because the flushing function may be controlled by the very movements of the housing/basin unit. Moreover, it can be arranged such that the outlet water from the basin is fed to the flushing tank for renewed use therein.

Description

A toilet furniture

The present invention relates to a toilet furni¬ ture, which, for effective space saving, is provided with an integrated wash basin that is changeable between an operative position, in which it is protruding over the closet bowl, and a passive position therebehind. According to a known proposal the wash basin may be mounted so as to be tiltable upwardly and rearwardly above the closet bowl, at the wall therebehind, such that the basin will not need any separate wall area, and even such that the basin water may be fed to the flush¬ ing tank of the closet.

Even though such an installation is advantageous under narrow space conditions, it nevertheless has the character of a technical emergency solution which will exclude a more harmonic furniture installation, i.a. in that in its tilted up position the basin will partially cover a mirror on the rear wall.

With the invention it has been realized that it will be an important improvement to arrange the wash basin in a horizontally displaceable manner out from and back to beneath a stationary table plate portion, with a usual bottom outlet connected through a movable pipe or hose, whether to the flushing tank or to the sewer sys¬ tem. Hereby a narrow space can be utilized much better, partly because the basin will not at any time prevent a full sight of a mirror behind the basin, partly because the basin will be hidden under the fixed table plate when it assumes its inoperative position, and partly because the table plate will then be usable as such over its entire width, for carrying both relevant utensiles and decorative articles, supplemented by suitable light¬ ening.

In general, there is a pronounced demand for reno¬ vation of small and sinister toilet rooms in the old dwelling houses, as well as for establishing space saving systems in new houses, and in both cases the invention will be very advantageous.

In principle, it is possible already hereby to achieve a desirable furniture character of the installa¬ tion, even with the use of a fully conventional closet with a pivot lid and seat, but with the invention it has also been recognized that the displaceable basin part may be used for a radical change of this picture towards a real toilet furniture, as the basin may be connected with a front plate depending almost entirely down to the top side of the closet bowl, such that the latter will be concealed when the basin assumes its projecting, operative position, whereby the need of a special lid over the bowl will disappear, while the same front plate in its rear position may act as a back support for per¬ sons sitting on the closet bowl.

Normally, there will still be a need for a special, optionally pivotable seat frame part at the top edge of the closet bowl, but according to the invention it has been found advantageous to arrange such a seat as a horizontally disposed seat plate which, like the basin, is out- and inwardly displaceable, viz. between an ad¬ vanced position, in which it covers the edge of the closet bowl with an edge area about an opening corre¬ sponding to the upper opening of the bowl, and a pushed-in position in which it uncovers the top edge and opening of the bowl. Thus, the latter will be freely accessible when also the basin with its associated front plate is pushed rearwardly, and it is even achieved that the front plate should not be pushed further back than just to the rear edge of the bowl, when no space is reguired for a raised pivot led.

Thus, a real "toilet furniture" will be providable, in which the closet bowl and the wash basin and even the seat are included as integrated parts for making the entire unit take up very little space and appear visu¬ ally harmonious.

It is a special feature of the invention that the movable part of the furniture may be operatively coupled to the flushing system of the closet, preferably such that the flushing is actuated as a function of the pulling forward of the basin part. This will be done naturally in continuation of the use of the closet, while otherwise the actuation of the flushing will in¬ volve an incentive to use the wash basin.

For further integration, as mentioned initially, it is possible to make the grey water from the basin run to the flushing tank. Often, the use of the basin will be terminated prior to the tank being refilled, whereby the water from the basin may be used as a part of the flush¬ ing water by the following flushing. It is fully possible to use the basin even when the tank is full, as water will then just run through the usual overrun down into the closet bowl.

According to the invention, however, a further option will be to cause a stop of the supply of flushing water to the tank in connection with the flushing opera¬ tion, this supply not being reestablished until a new flushing is to be anticipated, e.g. by the basin part being pushed rearwardly preparatory to renewed use of the closet. Hereby the water from the basin may be col¬ lected even during the entire intermediate period, e.g. in case of intermediate hand washing or smalls.

As described in more detail below it will be a further possibility, according to the invention, that the tank eguipment, which, by the way, may be mounted entirely concealed behind the basin part, thus without any need to be particulary well looking, may comprise two tanks in order to enable a successive flushing first with grey water and finally with fresh water, such that at each renewed use of the closet there will be clean water in the bowl.

With the use of the grey water delivered from the bottom outlet of the basin it may be problematic to achieve the reguired height of the flushing water, but it will require relatively little energy to arrange for a pumping of the outlet water to a higher level.

In the following the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:-

Figs. 1-3 are perspective views of an embodiment of a toilet furniture according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view thereof.

Figs. 5-7 are perspective views of a modified em¬ bodiment, and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view thereof.

The furniture installation shown in Figs. 1-3 com¬ prises a fixed closet bowl 100, about which there is mounted a toilet furniture 102, preferably having a projecting cabinet part 104 at one or both sides of the bowl, or at least having gable parts 106 facing the bowl at some distance from the sides thereof. Between these gables is mounted a horizontally displaceable lavatory seat 108 having a central, rear slot 110, the seat being held by side guiding means 112. Above the seat, in a drawer-like manner, a wash basin 114 is mounted slidably carried by upper guides 116 in the gables 106, such that this basin may be drawn forwardly to a position of use overhead the closet bowl, see Fig. 3. If the seat assumes its rear position, such a pulling forward of the basin will cause also the seat to be pulled forwardly, as the latter has a pair of upstanding pins 118 near its front edge. Then, the wash basin may be pushed rearward¬ ly without bringing the seat along (Fig. 1) .

For use in connection with the basin there is pro¬ vided, on a rear table plate portion 120, a water tap 122, and as illustrated care is taken that the basin cannot be pushed rearwardly further than it may still receive water, e.g. droplets, from this tap. The basin has a bottom down that can be received in the seat slot 110, and which, through a hose or a pivotable pipe con¬ nection, is connected with a fixed downlet or, respec¬ tively, with the above mentioned inlet for used water into the flushing system of the closet.

Because the seat is somewhat broader than the clo¬ set bowl, at least at one side thereof, it will be possible to push the seat and, optionally, the basin rearwardly only by pressing a knee against the front edge of the seat.

After use of the closet, whether with the seat projected (Fig. 1) or retracted (Fig. 2) , the user may, in an easy and natural manner, pull forwardly the basin and thus optionally the seat into the operative position shown in Fig. 3. This motion may be used in a direct manner for actuating the flushing system, which will thereafter, when applicable, be ready to receive outlet water from the basin. After having used the basin, the user can just leave the room, whereafter, for the next user, it is left as a "hand washing room", which, when needed, is easily converted into a closet room. It is possible to arrange for collection of the used water in the flushing tank as already known - or in accordance with an aspect of the invention. The water may be cur¬ rently collected from consecutive uses of the basin, until the closet bowl is used and flushed.

In Fig. 4 it is indicated that at the rear of the basin 114 there may be mounted a cam body 124, which, by engaging an actuation knob on the flushing tank, may actuate the flushing in response to the basin being pulled forwardly (or even pushed rearwardly) , but it will be understood that the changing movement of the basin and/or the seat may be used to activate any suit¬ able control of the flushing system, whether operating mechanically, electrically or otherwise. It is also indicated that the water tap or mixing valve 122 may be replaced by a corresponding unit 122a mounted in rigid connection with the draw-out basin 114, whereby the entire table plate 120 can be used for receiving rele¬ vant toilet articles.

Of course, many modifications will be possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, for the movability of the wash basin it is not a condition that side gables 106 be provided, as it is possible to use wall mounted telescopic guides or other suitable arrangements, even including floor mounted, upright pivot arms. It is not either decisive that the seat is displaceable; this is advantageous, but the system may operate even with the use of a raisable pivot seat.

Fig. 8 schematically shows an example of the dis¬ cussed, special flushing system. It comprises a grey water tank 2, into which a fixed outlet tube from the basin 114 may depend, as such a tube may just be moved out- and inwardly in the tank as the basin is moved. Moreover, a fresh water tank 4 is provided, cooperating with a float controlled inlet valve 6. The two tanks have a flushing valve system, operating for both tanks and comprising an actuating rod 8 and an upper actuator 10, which is here shown as a triangular plate which, when hit by a fixed cam portion 12 on the basin part, may be turned to reel up a lifting wire on the rod 8.

The valve 6 is controlled partly by a float 14 in the fresh water tank 4, this float having an upstanding arm 16, the top of which is hinged to a pressure plate 18 operable to press upwardly against a stop button 20 on the valve 6. The pressure plate 18, however, is mounted in a floating manner, as its opposite end is hinged to a rod 22 depending to a float 24 in the tank portion 2.

Thus, relative to the button 20 on the valve 6, the pressure plate 18 will assume a more or less close posi- tion all according to the water content of the tank 2, and then the float 14 in the tank 4 will have to be raised correspondingly less or more, respectively, in order to produce an actuation pressure on the button 20. The system may be adapted such that an actuation of the stop button 20 will occur when the sum of the liquid volumes in the two tank portions 2 and 4 corresponds to the desired total volume of the flushing water.

When the flushing system is actuated it will be the grey water tank 2 that is initially emptied, while the final flushing will take place from the fresh water tank 4, such that the water left in the closet bowl will be clean. Besides, it is a possibility that the tank por¬ tions be arranged in such a manner that the grey water tank, during the flushing operation, is flushed for rinsing by the water from the fresh water tank 4.

The said portion 12 on the basin part or another portion thereof may operate another actuator button 26 on the valve 6 to the effect that this valve can be opened only in the pushed-in position of the basin, such that grey water from the basin may be filled into the tank until the basin is pushed in; immediately there¬ after the desired completion with clean water can be effected. Thereafter the flushing can be actuated by the basin being pulled forwardly.

The two tanks 2 and 4 may be arranged in such a manner that the water from the fresh water tank 4 is brought to act flushing on the walls of the grey water tank 2, but another possibility is that the latter tank is provided with a flushing installation that can be actuated separately by or for periodical cleaning.

The double tank/flushing principle as here consi¬ dered will be generally applicable, also without the special furniture according to the invention, i.e. also in connection with usual, rigidly mounted wash basins, or, respectively, with other sources of waste water. The temporary blocking of the supply of fresh water to the tank 4 will not necessitate a specialized inlet valve 6, inasfar as it is possible to use, in connection with suitable actuator means, a separate stop valve in the inlet to the valve 6, or, respectively, a system for compulsory raising of the applied actuator element 18. The complementary filling of the fresh water tank may be controlled otherwise, e.g. by making the float 24 in the grey water tank, when rising therein, effect a comple¬ mentary lowering of the entire inlet valve, or by arranging for the tank 4 to be floating in the tank 2, whereby the afterfilling can be effected to a fixed level.

Claims

C L A I M S :

1. A toilet furniture system with an integrated wash basin which is shiftable between an operative posi¬ tion, in which it is protruding over the closet bowl of the system, and a passive position therebehind, charac¬ terized in that the wash basin is mounted in such a horizontally displaceable manner that it is projectable into its operative position from its inoperative positi¬ on underneath a fixed table plate portion located above the space behind the closet bowl, and that at the top side of the closet bowl there is provided a correspond¬ ingly displaceable, horizontal bowl seat plate, which is rearwardly displaceable from a seat position above the bowl to a rear position in which the bowl is exposed.

2. A toilet furniture according to claim 1, in which the wash basin is mechanically coupled with the seat plate such that the basin, when being projected, will bring along the seat plate, unless the latter is already assuming its projected position.

3. A toilet furniture according to claim 1, in which the seat plate is extended to at least one side of the closet bowl, such that it can be moved backwards by a push, e.g. by means of a knee, against the front edge of the side extension thereof.

4. A toilet furniture according to claim 1, in which the basin is mounted in a basin plate having a depending front plate that projects almost down to the seat plate and at this place, preferably, cooperates with an abutment coupling portion on the seat plate.

5. A toilet furniture according to claim 1, in which the water supply valve for the basin is mounted at a relatively low level in connection with the basin, such that also the valve can be introduced under the table plate, the valve being connected with the fixed water mains through suitably movable pipe or hose con- nections .

6. A toilet furniture according to claim 4, in which a storage compartment, e.g. including shelves, is arranged behind an opening or a door in the front plate at least at one side of the closet bowl.

7. A toilet furniture according to claim 4, in which the front plate, serving as a backrest in connec¬ tion with the closet bowl, is forwardly extended at either side such that the toilet furniture, including the table plate and the basin plate, generally appears with increased depth at one or both sides of the closet bowl.

8. A toilet furniture according to claim 7, in which the seat plate has its front edge shaped corre¬ spondingly.

9. A toilet furniture according to claim 1, in which the basin part is operatively coupled with actua¬ tion means for the flushing system of the closet bowl, preferably such that a flushing is effected by each forward movement of the basin part.

10. A toilet furniture according to claim 1, in which the furniture is operatively connected with the flushing system of the closet bowl in that the basin has its outlet connected to the flushing tank, actuator means being provided for blocking the supply of fresh water to the tank in connection with each flushing ope¬ ration and for reestablishing this supply after use of the basin.

11. A toilet furniture according to claim 10, in which the actuator means for reestablishing the said supply are operatively coupled with the basin part, preferably such that the supply is reestablished in response to the basin part being pushed rearwardly.

12. A toilet furniture according to claim 10, in which the flushing tank comprises two tanks, of which one, viz. the grey water tank, is coupled to receive outlet water from the basin, whilst the other, the fresh water tank, receives fresh water, whereas an associated control system is arranged so as to effect, upon com¬ plete or partial filling of the grey water tank, such a complementary filling of the fresh water tank that the total amount of water amounts to the desired flushing volume, the tank outlets being coupled or controlled in a manner such that actuation of the flushing function results in a substantially successive emptying of the tanks, viz. first of the grey water tank and then of the fresh water tank.

13. A toilet furniture according to claim 12, in which the fresh water tank is provided with a float con¬ trolled valve, characterized in that in the connection between the float and the inlet valve there is provided automatic adjustment means controlled by the volume filling of the grey water tank in such a manner that the inlet valve is caused to close when the float rises to a level corresponding to said complementary filling.

14. A toilet furniture according to claim 10, in which the outlet of the basin is connected with a pump operable to pump outlet water, whenever occurring, up to a flushing tank at a higher level.