ZA200600632B - Cistern flush pipe valve connector - Google Patents

Description

CISTERN FLUSH PIPE VALVE CONNECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cistern flush pipe connector for use between such a pipe and a cistern flushing valve.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cistern flushing valves of the float and seal variety generally have a cage which houses part of the valve mechanism. Extending from the underside of the cage is an outlet which extends through an aperture in the bottom of a cistern. The outlet is invariably an externally threaded hollow spigot.

In what is referred to as a close coupled arrangement, the cistern is secured directly to a toilet pan. The outlet of the valve feeds an inlet opening to the upper side of the pan from where water is directed to the bowl for flushing. A peripheral seal is provided between the bottom of the cistern and the pan about the valve outlet.

The traditional alternative to the close coupled arrangement is a cistern and pan configuration where the cistern outlet is connected to the toilet pan by means of a tubular flush pipe referred to either as a high level or low level arrangement depending upon the length of the flush pipe.

Where a valve is designed for use with a close coupled arrangement, the outlet spigot is only long enough to receive a nut on the outside of the cistern which secures the outlet spigot through the aperture. Where a valve is designed for use with a fluush pipe the outlet spigot of the flush valve is extended to facilitate engageme=nt of both that nut as well as an additional seal support nut that engages a sealing w-asher between the flush pipe and the extended spigot. Cages that have extended spigots for use with flush pipes are not suitable for use in close coupled arrangem ents as the extended spigot impedes fitment to the close coupled pan. The converse is that insufficient threading is left exposed below the nut on the spigot of the cage :suitable for a close coupled arrangement to allow its use on a conventional coupling t-o a flush pipe.

Suppliers of toilet cistern flushing valves therefore have to arrange manufacture and carry stoacks of two types of flush valve cages, one for use with close coupled arrangements and the other for use with flush pipes.

Introductieon of the close coupled toilet arrangement has promoted the use of flush valves de=signed with top-push flush buttons mounted through the lid of the cistern instead oef the conventional rotating side handle mounted on the front face of the cistern. CConcomitant with this change has been a move to install dual flush valves.

One such valve is covered by patent number 2003/1342. Construction of the cage for this valve is complex. Extending the length of the spigot to allow for fitment of this valve in Ioow level cisterns would be both difficult and costly.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION it is the cobject of this invention to provide a flushing pipe valve connector that will enable usse of a valve of the type suitable for use in the close coupled arrangement referred to with a low level cistern, flush pipe and toilet pan arrangement at considerably lower costs and ease of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a cistern flushing pipe valve connector comprising a cuff internally threaded at one end for connection to a cistern flushing valve outlet with a retaining ring for a flush pipe seal releasably secured on the other end.

The invention further provides for the cuff to be adapted to be tightened against the cistern on the outlet; and for the retaining ring and cuff to be correspondingly screw threaded for engagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the connector; and

Figure 2 shows a schematic side cross section of the connector in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a cistern flushing pipe valve connector (1) is shown having a cuff (2), retaining ring (3) and seal (4) for a flushing pipe (5).

The cuff (2) is internally threaded at one end (6) for connection to the outlet (7) of a flushing valve located in a toilet cistern (8). The other end (9) of the cuff (2) is externally threaded to receive the retaining ring (3), which has corresponding internal threads.

An annular flange (10) on the ring (3) extends inwardly to form an opening through which the pipe (5) is a close fit.

Bn use, the valve outlet (7) is located with an annular cistern seal (11) through the aperture (12) in the bottom of the cistern (8). The cuff (2) is screwed into engagement with the outlet (7) and tightened against the bottom of the cistern (8) compressing the sseal (11) as required. “The operatively upper end (13) of the flushing pipe (5), which is also its inlet, is then »connected to the valve outlet (7) using the connector (1). This is done by first locating —the retaining ring (3) and then the seal (4) over the end (13) on the pipe (5). The end (13) is then placed into the outlet (7).

The seal (4) has an inclined outer surface (14) with an outwardly extending flange (15) at its thick edge. The inclined surface (14) corresponds to an outward taper in the free end (9) of the cuff (2).

With the pipe (5) in place, the seal (4) is moved with its flange (15) up against the cuff (2). The retaining ring (3) is then secured to the cuff (2). The screw threaded engagement between these components (3) and (2) enables the seal to be compressed, expanding inwardly against the pipe (5).

In the embodiment shown, the outlet (7) is that of a dual flush valve - only the cage (16) of which is shown. This valve is designed for use with a close coupled toilet assembly. However it can now also be used in conjunction with this invention of the cistern flush pipe valve connector to connect a low level cistern through a flushing pipe (5) to a toilet pan.

Variations to the described embodiment which do not depart from the scope of the current invention will be appreciated by a person suitably skilled in the art.

Claims (4)

1. A cistern flushing pipe valve connector comprising a cuff internally threaded at one end for connection to a cistern flushing valve outlet with a retaining ring for a flush pipe seal releasably securable on the other end.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which the cuff is adapted to be tightened against the cistern on the outlet.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the retaining ring and cuff are correspondingly screw threaded for engagement.

4. A cistern flushing pipe valve connector substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. DATED THIS 23rd DAY OF JANUARY 2006 7 ! p AA Ie Wi ohik) in BOWMAN GI/FILLAN INC. J & KERNICK FOR THE APPLICANT