WO2014029746A1

WO2014029746A1 - Shower wc with dismountable shower arm

Info

Publication number: WO2014029746A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/067257
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurus Zwicker
Original assignee: Geberit International Ag
Priority date: 2012-08-20
Filing date: 2013-08-19
Publication date: 2014-02-27
Also published as: PT2700760E; CN104508214A; EP2700760B1; SI2700760T1; DK2700760T3; CN104508214B; EP2700760A1; PL2700760T3; ES2528345T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a WC (2) with a bidet (6, 8) having a shower arm (6) of which at least the whole part projecting into the WC bowl in the use position can be dismounted, wherein the coupling of the arm (6) comprises a plurality of radial conduit passages (18), the passages being offset to each other angularly as well as with respect to the longitudinal direction of the arm (6).

Description

SHOWER WC WITH DISMOUNTABLE SHOWER ARM

The present invention relates to a washlet, namely a water closet (WC) having a bidet-like shower function.

Washlets are known for a while and are increasingly used also in Europe. Basically, a washlet comprises a movable shower arm which can be moved into the WC bowl out of a position pulled in with respect to the WC bowl and being hidden. For this purpose often a linear drive comprising an electromotor is applied.

When being pulled out, the shower arm projects into the WC bowl to such an extent that its shower water jet hits the user comfortably. When being pulled in, the shower arm is fully or at least partly protected against a dirtying resulting from the use of the WC and/or the flushing process in the WC bowl.

In this context, it is known to dismount a front part of the shower arm for cleaning it. For instance, a front part of a shower arm known from the prior art can be pulled off in the length direction of the shower arm to prevent a calcification of the shower nozzle comprised in this front part.

In view of this prior art, the problem the invention is to solve is to provide a washlet having a shower arm which can be dismounted, the washlet having improved use properties.

Thereto, the intention relates to a washlet having a closet body which comprises a WC bowl and a shower arm projecting into the WC bowl or being moveable into the WC bowl, which shower arm can be dismounted at least partly and is dis- mountable by an action performed in the bowl, characterized in that at least that part of the shower arm can be dismounted, which projects into the bowl when being in the operating position, as well as to a cleaning method therefore according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims and are, like the invention in its most general sense, described below. Therein, the individual features shall be disclosed in view of all claims categories.

The inventor found out that there is a risk of dirtying regarding the whole length of the shower arm, by which it projects into the WC bowl, not only for a front part thereof. Apart from that, particularly in case of a WC, a user can have a particular need for hygiene and cleanliness, and the limited accessibility of a shower arm part which cannot be dismounted is perceived as disadvantageous, because that part should also be cleaned periodically. This can even apply in case of drying marks resulting from the flushing water. Apart from that, the typical surfaces of a shower arm (for instance chromed surfaces, stainless steel surfaces or synthetic material surfaces) can become shabby in the course of time, even if they are perfectly clean or cleaned often and lavishly. For instance, metal surfaces can become shabby due to drying marks or an oxidation in the humid environment or due to a chemical action of for instance substances comprised in the urine. Synthetic material surfaces can turn yellow or become brittle.

The inventor sees an be advantage in having direct access to the whole part of the shower arm being visible in the WC bowl insofar as it can be dismounted and then, in the state of being dismounted, be cleaned or replaced. Thus, at least the whole part projecting into the bowl in case of the shower function being active shall be dismountable, wherein this shall not necessarily imply that the shower arm is movable; this shall also apply in case of a shower arm being not movable and projecting into the WC bowl. According to the invention, after a replacement or cleaning, only new or cleaned outer surfaces of the shower arm are visible. Of course, the dismountability can also refer to the shower arm as a whole or to a shower arm part being larger than the section projecting into the WC bowl.

The term ..operating position" relates to that position of the shower arm, in which it projects into the WC bowl farthest while providing a shower function, so that those parts of the shower arm, being visible in this operating position, are the regions possibly effected by a dirtying. As far as the shower arm can be pulled out farther for other reasons, for instance for service purposes, this has no influence on the risk of dirtying and is not referred to by "operating position".

Therein, the actuation action in the bowl for the dismounting can, like in the prior art, for instance be a simple pull off movement of that part of the shower arm, which can be dismounted. Anyhow, the dismounting action shall relate to a process in the bowl including the bowl rim or flushing rim, which is preferably performed directly at the shower arm or in its immediate surrounding (in a mounting surrounding). For the sake of clarity, likewise, dismounting processes shall be excluded, which are performed after dismounting a shower unit from the WC or after dismounting a covering in the rear part of the WC or after removing the WC (and are performed from the rear side, then).

Thus, the dismounting action can be easily performed in the course of common cleaning measures by a simple process in the WC bowl itself. For this purpose, also a tool can be applied, for instance a corresponding special spanner; however, a dismounting action without tools (tool-free) is preferred, namely a dismounting action a user can perform by using only his hands. Particularly preferred, the dismounting can be performed by only moving the shower arm or the part thereof, which shall be dismounted, for instance by pulling it off. Therein, a bayonet mount is particularly preferred, namely a dismounting by a rotational movement and a subsequent linear pull off movement, wherein, on the other hand, the mounting can be performed by linearly plugging the respective part onto and subsequently tightening it by a rotational movement.

In general, in case of a bayonet mount, such a rotational movement is indeed performed circularly. However, in the present case, a rotational movement with a slight gradient is preferred, namely for instance a helical instead of a circular movement. Therein, the gradient is not necessarily correlated constantly (linearly) with the angle of the rotational movement; there can also be a deviation from the helical shape, thus. In this embodiment, however, a slight gradient with respect to the length direction of the shower arm is important. Therewith, a tightening movement for sealing surfaces can be achieved advantageously. Basically, a single water conduit is sufficient for the shower arm. In preferred embodiments, however, a plurality of conduit passages can occur. For instance, different nozzles or nozzle parts can be supplied by water conduits, and water conduits can be provided for self-cleaning and flushing functions; also an air conduit can be provided for an integrated dryer.

In this context, radial conduit passages according to the invention are preferred. This relates to openings for the passage of a respective fluid (for instance water or air), through which openings the respective fluid flows basically obliquely to the length direction of the shower arm. For illustration, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment.

Therein, the plurality of radial conduit passages can be arranged with an offset with respect to the length direction; then, the distance between two conduit passages has a component oriented in length direction. In this way, seal rings can be provided between the conduit passages, by which the conduit passages can be separated and sealed, preferably in combination with seal rings respectively provided subsequent to the respective conduit passage located respectively outermost with respect to the length direction. Preferably, the seal rings are pressed on by a mounting movement during the mounting of the shower arm part, for instance by the aforementioned rotational movement with a gradient in case of a bayonet mount.

Further, the radial conduit passages can be provided with an angular offset to each other with respect to the circumference of the shower arm (which is not necessarily circular). In particular, this can facilitate the separation of the individual conduits within the part of the shower arm, which can be dismounted, and/or within a shower arm part which can be connected thereto or within the respective base in case of a shower arm which can be dismounted on the whole.

In a further embodiment, a further section of the shower arm can be further dismounted in addition to that part projecting maximally into the WC bowl, which section projects to some extent into the duct through which the shower arm extends into the WC bowl. Likewise, after dismounting the shower arm part, an inner wall of this duct is accessible for cleaning. Therein, in the length direction of the shower arm, preferably 5 mm of the duct shall be accessible, further preferred 10, 20 or even 30 mm. In case of a duct composed of a bowl related duct part through the actual wall of the bowl (WC body wall) and a duct of a part structurally belonging not to this wall but to the shower means (which part can for instance be made of synthetic material or metal), this shall apply for both of them together, wherein, preferably, the total length of the bowl wall duct section and at least the first 5 mm, particularly preferred 10 mm or even 15 mm, of the remaining duct section are accessible. Therein (in particular in case of a channel extending obliquely to the wall of the bowl), this length specification relates to the lower inner wall region of the duct, because it is well visible.

Above, it has been mentioned that shower arms are known the front parts of which can be dismounted for removing drying marks or cleaning the shower nozzle. This is not excluded by the present invention, and a front part comprising the shower nozzle can, in addition to the dismountability of the shower arm part, be dismountable. For instance, a frequent cleaning and in particular a frequent replacement of the nozzle can be of interest. It can also be of interest that different shower nozzles can be exchanged by each other. Finally, the front part being dismountable including the shower nozzle can be provided particularly resistant against a decalcifying agent.

Further, the invention relates to cleaning methods relating to a respective washlet. The washlet according to the invention allows a cleaning of the part of the shower arm outside of the WC bowl and possibly even outside of the respective washing room or even a replacement by another clean shower arm part. This allows a simplification and an improvement of the overall cleaning process of the WC, and certain standards can be defined and met by a separate cleaning of the shower arm part or by its replacement.

In particular, a cleaning of the shower arm part being dismountable can be separated from a cleaning of the remaining WC and can also be performed from another cleaning person with a different cleaning agent (chemically and/or automatically) and also at another location. For instance, a cleaning person being in charge of the cleaning of the washing room could dismount the shower arm part only and replace it by a shower arm part which has been cleaned before or which is new, or the cleaning person could clean the shower arm part dismounted at another location or let it clean to remount it thereupon. The cleaning of the shower arm does not suspend the cleaning of the washlet.

Further, for instance in a hotel, where a particular hygiene requirement applies due to the changing occupancy of the rooms, a new shower arm part or a shower arm part cleaned according to a hygiene standard can be provided each time the room is assigned to a new guest, for instance by giving the shower arm part to the guest or by providing it at the washlet for a do-it-yourself installation or by mounting it by the hotel staff and informing the guest about.

Finally, in a hotel, in case of public washlets or in other situations with changing users, a mounted new or freshly cleaned shower arm part can be marked by a protective cover around the shower arm part so that the user can rely on a respective hygiene standard.

In the following, the invention is explained in further detail by means of an exemplary embodiment, wherein the individual features can relate to all claims categories and can also be relevant for the invention in a different combination.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a washlet according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a shower arm with a respective travel mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the shower arm according to Fig. 2, wherein the shower nozzle is taken off.

Fig. 4 shows the shower arm according to Fig. 3, wherein the nozzle part is taken off and a counterpart of the travel mechanism of Fig.

2 is shown in a side view.

Fig. 5 shows a section A-A according to a sectional line indicated in

Fig. 4, extending through the shower arm and the counterpart. Figs. 6A and 6B show a further section B-B in the representation A, which is indicated as a sectional line through the shower arm and the counterpart in the representation B.

Figs. 7A and 7B show a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 6A in an overview, wherein the shower arm part being dismountable is missing in

Fig. 7B.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows a washlet 1 having a WC body 2. In a rear part of the washlet 1 , the WC body is elevated and forms a housing 4 for a shower means, a small part of which projects into the WC bowl, namely in particular a dryer arm 5 and a shower arm 6 led through a duct 3, wherein both arms can be moved out of the WC bowl. For this purpose, a passage opening is provided in the WC bowl made of ceramic material, in which passage opening the duct 3 is held. The housing 4 comprises a control panel 7 at its side for the shower means.

Fig. 2 shows the shower arm 6 shown in Fig. 1 symbolically in a perspective view in detail. Further, a travelling mechanism 8 of the shower means is illustrated, which is, at its front end, terminated by the duct 3 shown also in Fig. 1 . Behind the duct 3, a guide way 9 extends parallelly to the length direction of the shower arm 6, on which guide way 9 a shower arm piece 1 1 is movable slight-like at two rails 10. This shower arm piece 1 1 is driven by a shaft 12 provided gear rack-like threaded (for manufacturing purposes) and an electric drive 13 so that the shower arm part 1 1 can be moved along the travelling mechanism 8 forth and back. Further, it provides a counterpart for the mounting of the part 6 of the shower arm, which can be dismounted and which has been referred to as "shower arm" up to now, for which mounting the shower arm part 6 comprises a coupling region 13. The latter will be explained in further detail below.

Fig. 2 clearly illustrates that the shower arm can be dismounted, apart from the piece 11 remaining in the travelling mechanism 8. This piece 1 1 can, in its outermost travelling position, be brought close to the duct 3, but not into the latter. Likewise, when the shower arm part 6 is dismounted, the whole inner surface area of the duct is accessible and can for instance be cleaned by wiping. This relates to an axial length of about 5 cm from the lower bowl-oriented front edge of the passage through the ceramic material wall up to the opposite end of the inner wall of the duct 3.

At the opposite end of the shower arm part 6 being dismountable, a front part 14 with a shower nozzle 15 is provided. The shower nozzle 15 is composed of a larger centrical nozzle opening and three smaller nozzle openings arranged around the latter. As explained below, the centrical nozzle opening and the smaller nozzle openings can be subjected to a water flow independently of each other which leads to a variation of the shower jet in terms of volume through-put and jet direction. Of course, they can also be operated together. Further, the front part 4 can comprise openings for sucking in air for a mixture of the air to the shower jet, a so-called lady nozzle with a jet direction pointing more to the front and other features known as such, which are not shown and explained in further detail here. Below, by means of Fig. 3, it is further explained that the front part 14 can be dismounted from the shower arm part 6 being dismountable, namely by a simple plug connection.

Further, Fig. 4 illustrates that the shower arm part being dismountable fits with its connecting region 13 to the shower arm piece 1 which is shown in Fig. 2 in its mounting situation movable along the rails 10 of the travelling mechanism 8. This is also explained in further detail below, namely in particular by means of Fig. 5. A bayonet mount is provided here.

Finally, as can be seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the duct 3 comprises a washing means for the shower arm part, which is not explained in detail. For this washing means, water connections are provided, namely an upper water connection 16 (Fig. 2) and two lower water connections 17 (Fig. 5). The washing means is provided for cleaning the shower arm, particularly when pulling it in out of the bowl.

Further, Fig. 2 shows four water conduit connections 17 of the movable shower arm part 11 , pointing towards the front and rightwards. In Fig. 4, they can also be seen in the side view. Thereto, the different supply lines for the different shower and flushing functions of the front part 14 of the shower arm are connected by flexible tubes.

As can be seen in Fig. 5 (and Fig. 6A), the conduit connections 17 lead into an internal space of the shower arm part 11 in a manner offset with respect to the axial direction (which corresponds to the length direction of the shower arm); the internal space comprises cylindrical and conical sections adjacent with respect to the axial direction, the fillet of which is decreasing in a direction away from the WC bowl. As can be seen further in Figs. 2-5 (and 6A), the connecting region 13 complementary thereto comprises also regions stepped in the axial direction, having different outer radii, wherein respectively at the front (in a direction away from the WC bowl) of such a section a groove is provided. The respective grooves are provided for corresponding seal-O-rings. The seal-O-ring is then pressed onto the inner wall of the connecting region 13 when pushing the latter in. For the foremost and smallest O-ring, this relates to a conical section of the internal space, having the smallest fillet, and for the following two O-rings, this respectively relates to the subsequent conical sections. A last O-ring is provided following the last conical section. Due to conicity, an axial movement or force is, while tightening, transferred into an increasing radial contact pressure which is maintained in the final contact position of the O-rings at the cylindrical inner wall sections.

Further, in particular Figs. 4, 5 (and 6A) show that in those regions of the connecting region 13 between the grooves for the O-rings (radial) openings 18 respectively facing outward are provided for conduit passages, which are in a fluidic connection with channels in the shower arm part 6 being dismountable. By an offset of these passages, not only with respect to the axial direction, but also with respect to the angles around the axis, the different channels can respectively be connected separately from each other with the respective corresponding opening 18. In Fig. 4 for instance, the opening located farthest left is pointing out of the drawing plane, the opening at the right thereof is pointing obliquely to the top and rearwards and the opening located farthest at the right is pointing obliquely to the bottom and frontwards, wherein the angle between these positions is respectively about 120°. The conical inner walls of the shower arm part 11 , lying opposite, have a corresponding distance so that the fluid can flow into these openings 18 at the connections 17 and therein is sealed to the side by the O-rings.

In this example, four water conduits are provided, wherein the fourth conduit is led axially into the connecting region 13 at the front face. One of the water conduits is led to the centrical main nozzle opening of the nozzle 15, and a further one is led to the three smaller openings outside the latter. A further conduit supplies a lady nozzle which is not shown, and the fourth water conduit supplies a cleaning water channel for an internal flushing process in the nozzle region.

As explained by means of Fig. 1 , the dryer 5 is provided separately, but it could be also integrated into the shower arm.

Figs. 2-4 (and 6A as well as 8) further show two bayonet pins 19 arranged diametrically opposed. In Fig. 2 and particularly in Figs. 5, 6A, 6B and 8, corresponding bayonet pin guides 20 are visible, into which the bayonet pins 19 are, when the dismountable shower arm part 6 is pushed in, pushed in axially over a short distance; then, the bayonet pins 19 are brought into an end position along the helical path being well visible in Figs. 5 and 6B. During the helical tightening movement which ends in a snap-in position, the aforementioned O-rings are pressed on sealingly.

In contrast to the aforementioned coupling between the shower arm parts 6 and 11 , the coupling between the front part 14 of the shower arm and the remaining dismountable shower arm part 6, which coupling can be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, is conventional and composed of axial guide pins 21 arranged side by side, having a conventional sealing as well as a snap-in elevation 22. In this case, the conduits are connected by a simple axial plug movement with which the mechanical connection between the two shower arm parts is set up.

Fig. 6A shows a longitudinal section comparable to Fig. 5, wherein, however, the sectional plane is rotated by 90° around the length direction of the shower arm; the sectional plane is shown in Fig. 6B in a top view on the shower arm and indicated as B-B line. Further, in Figs. 6A and 6B, the dismountable shower arm part 6 is, in contrast to Figs. 2-5, mounted into the shower arm piece 11.

In the same sectional plane, Figs. 7A and 7B show an overview including the wall of the ceramic material bowl of the WC body 2. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 8, the bayonet pins 19 and the corresponding guides 20 are visible well, wherein Figs. 6A and 6B show the interlocking in the mounted state. Further, Fig. 8 illustrates snap-in elevations 21 (see Figs. 2-4 for comparison) and corresponding snap-in recesses 22 at the inner wall of the shower arm part 1. When tightening the bayonet mechanism 19, 20 by a rotational movement into the end position, the elevations 21 snap into these recesses 22 and lock this end position additionally.

Further, a comparison of Figs. 7A and 7B shows that, when dismounting the dismountable shower arm part 6, an internal wall of the corresponding channel-like duct becomes accessible for cleaning. In this case, this applies for a distance of about 50 mm indicated in Fig. 7B on the bottom side of the duct 3; therein, about 30 mm thereof are located on the corresponding passage through the actual ceramic material wall or on its internal face and further 20 mm thereof are located at the first synthetic material part of the shower means, namely on the inner face of the duct 3 referenced in Fig. 2. Subsequent thereto, the movable shower arm part 11 is provided, see Fig. 2 again.

Claims

A washlet (1 ) having

a closet body (2)

which comprises a WC bowl

and a shower arm (6, 11 , 14) projecting into the WC bowl or being moveable into the WC bowl,

which shower arm (6, 11 , 14) can be dismounted at least partly (6, 14) and is dismountable by an action performed in the bowl,

characterized in that at least that part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) can be dismounted, which projects into the bowl when being in the operating position.

The washlet (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) can be dismounted tool-free.

The washlet (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) can be dismounted by solely moving said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 , 14).

The washlet (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 4) is mounted by a bayonet mount (19, 20).

The washlet (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein said bayonet mount (19, 20) requires, for tightening, a rotational movement with a gradient.

The washlet (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) is mounted via a coupling (13) which comprises a plurality of radial conduit passages (18).

The washlet (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein said conduit passages (18) are provided with an offset with respect to the length direction of said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) and, therein, are separated and sealed by seal rings which can be pressed on by a mounting movement during the mounting of said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 4).

8. The washlet (1 ) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said conduit passages (18) are provided with an angular offset to each other in terms of an arrangement over the circumference of said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14), arranged circumferentially with respect to the length direction of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14).

9. The washlet (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14), which can be dismounted, is, in the state of projecting maximally into the WC bowl, projecting into a duct (3) through a wall of said WC bowl to such an extent that, when said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14) is dismounted, said duct (3) is accessible for a cleaning over a length of at least 5 mm in the direction of the shower arm length direction.

10. The washlet (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a front part (14) of said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14) can be dismounted from said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14), said front part (14) having a shower nozzle (15).

1 1 . A method for cleaning a washlet (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) is dismounted and replaced by a clean part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14), in particular by a part (6, 14) having been cleaned in the state of being dismounted.

12. The method according to claim 1 1 , wherein said washlet (1 ) is cleaned by a cleaning person, wherein said part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14), which is dismounted, is replaced by a part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14) having been cleaned elsewhere and being reused.

13. The method according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein, in a hotel, a cleaned or new part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 11 , 14) is provided exactly then to a new guest in the room when said guest moves into said room.

14. The method according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, wherein, after a cleaning of said washlet (1 ), a cleaned and reused or new part (6, 14) of said shower arm (6, 1 1 , 14) is provided to the user in a manner covered by a protective cover.

15. A use of a part (6, 14) of a shower arm (6, 11 , 14) or of a washlet (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for a method according to one of claims 1 1 to 14.