GB2264725A

GB2264725A - Toilet cistern incorporating hand-washing facilities

Info

Publication number: GB2264725A
Application number: GB9204284A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Horne Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-02-28
Filing date: 1992-02-28
Publication date: 1993-09-08
Also published as: GB9204284D0

Abstract

A removable toilet cistern lid (A) is shaped to form a bowl with an exit (3) to the cistern below, its water supply provided when the user flushes the toilet pan. When the pan is flushed water enters the ball-valve (1) and is directed upwards through a swan-neck pipe (2) into the bowl and from there downwards through the plug hole to fill the cistern for the primary purpose of flushing or siphoning away the contents of the pan. The stream of water from the swan-neck facilitates hand rinsing as it passes into the lid/bowl. The arrangement saves the cost of separate provision for hand rinsing, saves space, saves water, encourages good practise, and provides a warning of ball-valve malfunction currently frequently missed. <IMAGE>

Description

AUTOMATIC HAND RINSE This invention relates to a lavatory (toilet) cistern and the means of rinsing hands after use of the pan.

The flow of water into a cistern is controlled by a valve which o@ens as the level of the water droos within the cistern and is fully open when the cistern is empty.

The valve when open directs incoming water downwards to the bottpm of the cistern.

The water content of the cistern when full is then relessed to flush or syphon off the contents of the cou@led lavatory pan.

Curre@tly in single units provision of a hand rinse re@uires additional plumbing and equipment. requires a separate and additional supply of water. It also requires additional space. It does not provide visual warning of any deterioration or fault in the ball-valve.

The invention here defined utilises the principle of the opening valve but directs the incoming water upwards for provision of a hand rinse before it falls by gravity back into the cistern.

To achieve this. the water @asses upwards through a pipe @@ soitable diameter, curved and attenuated to provide a stream of water descending int@ a bowl shaped to provide the function of a lid. The bowl/lid is provided with an ope@ @lug-hole exiting into the body of the cistern, and an overflow lik@wise directed.

The provision and utilisation of the water content of the full cistern is not affected in any way.

The invention is delightfully simple. Pressently the function of the typical lavatory cistern is : Water goes IN Water goes DOWN TO FILL Water goes DUT TO FLUSH In the proposed system : Water goes IN Water goes UP TO PROVIDE HAND-RINSE Water goes DOWN TO FILL Water goes OUT TO FLUSH The accomoanying drawings illustrate the sequence.

In Figs, 1 and 2 the lid of the cistern is replaced by an elongated but suitably designed bowl A, resting on the body of the cistern to make a combined unit pleasing to the eye.

The function of the invention is best described by reference to Fig. 1 Water from the supply enters the ball-valve 1, but instead of being directed downwards it is directed upwards through the swan-neck 2 and into the bowl/lid.

While passing from the swan-neck to the bowl the stream of water provides a hand rinse. From the bowl the water falls by gravity through the pipe 3, to fill the cistern as before. The overflow pipe 4. provides the water with an alternative route into the cistern.

FIG 2, shows the total unit in perspective.

FIG 3. shows a typical cistern ballvalve in the "open" position but with the outlet from the valve directed u@wards to achieve the object of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A replacement for any cistern lid providing a bowl to facilitate hand rinsing after use of the toilet pan.

2. A ball-valve modified to direct incoming water upwards from the top of the valve.

3. A valve as in claim 2 connected to a swan-neck outlet flowing into the lid/bowl described in claim 1 above, the arrangement substantially as described herein and illustrated in FIGS 1, 2, and 3 in the accompanying drawings.

4. A lid/bowl as claimed in claim 1 but designed to blend with the cistern body to provide a combination unit @leasing to the eye.

5. A lid/bowl as claimed in claims 1 and 4 above, fitted with an exit hole and overflow vent so that water passing through the bowl is directed downwards to fill the cistern below.

6. A lid/bowl/hand rinse coupled to a lavatory/toilet cistern where the principle governing its use is substantially as described herein, a possible arrangement utilising a swan-neck being illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A lid/bowl as claimed in claims 1, 4, and 5 above but shaped to permit passage of a pipe upwards at its ballvalve end.

7. A lid/bowl substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A replacement for any cistern lid providing a bowl to facilitate hand rinsing after use of the toilet pan.

2. An arrangement of ball-valve and piping which will conduct water from the valve outlet to the lid/bowl.

a possible simple arrangement being as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

3. A lid/bowl as claimed in claim 1 but designed to blend with the cistern body to provide a combination unit pleasing to the eye.

4. A lid/bowl as claimed in claims 1 and 3 above, fitted with an exit hole and overflow vent so that water passing through the bowl is directed downwards to fill the cistern below.

5. A lid/bowl as claimed in claims 1, 3, and 4 above but shaped to accommodate a pipe conducting water from the ball valve into the bowl, entering the bowl at an appropriate height above the exit hole.