GB2442727A

GB2442727A - Self cleaning toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2442727A
Application number: GB0617251A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elizabeth Paul; William Thomas Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-01
Filing date: 2006-09-01
Publication date: 2008-04-16
Also published as: GB0617251D0; GB2442727A8

Abstract

A toilet comprises a bowl, seat, cistern and lid which is arranged to seal against the bowl. Cleaning means provide a cleaning fluid under pressure delivered from the toilet lid into the area of the bowl and seat. Also claimed is a toilet assembly characterized by a gutter arrangement external to and surrounding a frontal and side portion of a peripheral area of a toilet bowl and arranged to catch and drain extraneous fluids not collected by said bowl. Also claimed is a method of cleaning a toilet comprising initiating a cleaning cycle by closing a lid of said toilet and causing detergent to be delivered from said lid area into the area of said bowl and seat.

Description

* 2442727

SELF CLEANING TOILET

The present application relates to a self cleaning toilet.

Conventional toilets contain a cistern and toilet bowl with the associated sanitary plumbing ware and suffer from a number of disadvantages. Cleaning the inside of a toilet bowl is an extremely unpleasant job. Also, it is very difficult to clean such a toilet properly and access all the required parts using brushes, disposable cloths etc. Indeed, even the necessity to have a toilet brush in itself causes there to be extra hygiene risks as the brush will quickly reach a state where it is not hygienic.

A further disadvantage concerns the rim area around the toilet bowl which becomes contaminated with urine and faeces, with drips extending around the outside edge of the toilet bowl and running outside of the toilet down to the floor area. This often means that as well as the toilet itself requiring cleaning, the area around the base of the toilet needs to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis -again, a relatively unpleasant task.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a toilet comprising a toilet bowl, seat and cistern and further comprising a toilet lid which is arranged to seal against the toilet bowl, said toilet further incorporating cleaning means arranged to provide a cleaning fluid under pressure delivered from the toilet lid into the area of said bowl and seat.

Preferably, said lid closes around said bowl to form a sealed enclosure.

Preferably, said lid contains nozzles for dispensing said cleaning fluid.

Preferably, said nozzles are arranged to spray said bowl and seat.

Preferably, said seat and bowl combine to make a single element.

Preferably, said bowl and seat combine to form a chamber cleanable by said cleaning means.

Preferably, said chamber also comprises a gutter external to and surrounding an upper frontal and side portion of a peripheral area of said toilet bowl.

Preferably, said lid seals to said gutter.

Preferably, said gutter is cleaned by said cleaning means.

Preferably, said cleaning means comprises a detergent reservoir, a pump fed with detergent from said reservoir, and a plurality of nozzles fed with detergent under pressure by said pump.

Preferably, said pump is housed within a separate compartment.

Preferably, said compartment is waterproof.

Preferably, said detergent reservoir, and pump are housed adjacent to the cistern, or within a compartment located behind and above the bowl..

Preferably, said toilet further includes a standard flushing system.

referably, said gutter includes an outlet which is arranged to feed into a drainage system of said toilet.

Preferably, said gutter feeds into an area adjacent a U-bend of the toilet.

Preferably, said cleaning means further comprises means for heating said detergent. Said heating means may be located to either side of the said pump, but preferably is located so as to heat an output of said pump.

Preferably, said detergent reservoir is fed by detergent dosing means. Said detergent dosing means is preferably accessible to a user to periodically refill.

Said pump may comprise a peristaltic pump.

Preferably, control means are provided for controlling said cleaning means. The control means may support a plurality of cleaning cycles. Said plurality of cleaning cycles may comprise a short cleaning cycle, a medium cleaning cycle and an intensive cleaning cycle. Said cleaning cycles may be initiated according to usage patterns of said toilet. One or more sensors may be provided for sensing a usage pattern of said toilet. Said cleaning cycles may be carried out on a periodical basis, or after each use.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a toilet comprising a toilet bowl, seat and cistern, said toilet further comprising a gutter arrangement external to and surrounding a frontal and side portion of a peripheral area of said bowl and arranged to catch and drain extraneous fluids not collected by said bowl.

Preferably, said gutter includes an outlet which is arranged to teed into a drainage system ot said toilet.

Preferably, said gutter feeds into an area adjacent a U-bend of the toilet.

Preferably, the toilet further comprises a toilet lid which is arranged to seal against said gutter arrangement and bowl to form a sealed compartment when said lid is in a down position.

Preferably, said toilet further comprises cleaning means arranged to provide a cleaning fluid under pressure delivered from the toilet lid into the area of said bowl and seat.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a toilet, the method comprising the steps of: following use of said toilet, initiating a cleaning cycle by closing a lid of said toilet and causing detergent to be delivered from said lid area into the area of said bowl and seat.

Preferably, the method further comprises sensing the presence or absence of a user and, only initiating a cleaning cycle when a user is not present.

Preferably, upon sensing the absence of a user, said toilet lid is auLomatically closed.

Preferably, in a cleaning cycle a pump operates to pump an amount of detergent directly from a detergent reservoir to one or more nozzles located on the underside of said lid.

Preferably, said nozzles are arranged to spray said bowl and seat.

Preferably, said method further comprises heating said detergent prior to delivery at said nozzles.

Preferably, cleaning said toilet may comprise initiating a short cycle of cleaning following each use of said toilet. Use of said toilet may comprise the first available period during which the absence of a user is sensed following use of said toilet.

Use of said toilet may be sensed by detecting whether or not the toilet has been flushed.

Preferably, a longer cycle may be initiated after a predetermined number of usage cycles of said toilet.

Alternatively/additionally, a longer cycle may be initiated during particular time periods.

Preferably, the lid is locked into a down position during a cleaning cycle.

Alternatively, if the lid is lifted during a cleaning cycle, then the cycle is preferably automatically curtailed to avoid mess.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of sensing the level of detergent within the detergent reservoir and automatically replenishing the detergent when it is sensed that the level has dropped to a predetermined level.

Replenishing the level of detergent may comprise automatically dispensing a measured amount of concentrated detergent from dosage means into the reservoir.

Preferably, the concentrated detergent is topped up by the required amount of water to achieve a correct concentration.

All of these cycles, could be either manually or automatically controlled. Automatic controlling may be on the basis of sensors having sensed a particular number of users, or on the basis of sensors detecting the presence of a particular level of contamination. Cycles may alternatively/additionally, be initiated on the basis of time.

The inventions of the first, second and third aspects may be combined, in any logical fashion, such that preferred features of the first aspect may also be preferred features of the second and third aspects.

Similarly, preferred features of the second aspect may also be preferred features of the first and third aspects and preferred features of the third aspect may also be preferred features of the first and second aspects.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a toilet in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the toilet of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view similar to that of Figure 2, illustrating the cleaning mechanism in operation; Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view showing an arrangement of nozzles of the cleaning mechanism of the toilet; and Figure 5 is a perspective cut-away view of a toilet in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 3D

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a toilet 100 comprising a cistern 1, a toilet bowl shown generally at 2, a lid 3, a detergent dosing means 4, a detergent reservoir 5, a pump 6, heater 7 and nozzles 8.

In the toilet 100 of Figures 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that various parts of the toilet are standard in that the cistern 1 is a conventional cistern which may incorporate standard ball cock mechanisms etc., there is a standard U-bend illustrated at 9 in Figure 2, and the bowl 2 is, in general external appearance similar to a conventional toilet bowl. The main differences between the toilet of the embodiments which we will discuss and usual toilets is that the present invention includes additional parts which are arranged to make the toilet self cleaning and much more hygienic than conventional toilets.

The cleaning means for the toilet comprises a dosing means 4, a detergent reservoir 5 fed by the detergent dosing means 4, a pump 6 for receiving detergent from the detergent reservoir, a heater 7 for heating the detergent as it is being pumped by the pump 6, and a nozzle arrangement 8 fed by tubes linking them to the pump 6.

The nozzles S are arranged radially ( to provide equal pressure) as shown in Figure 4 and are disposed in the lid 3, of the toilet.

The dosing means 4 is arranged to receive and hold the detergent in concentrated form and comprises a compartment into which the detergent may periodically be inserted.

The dosing means 4 is arranged to dispense a measured amount of concentrated detergent into the detergent reservoir 5 as, and when, it is needed.

The detergent reservoir is provided with its own control mechanism for ensuring that it is properly topped up with detergent of the correct strength. This is achieved by receiving the measured amount of concentrated detergent from the dosing means 4 and diluting the concentrate with a measured amount of water. Out of preference, the mixture is regulated by sensing when a level of detergent within the reservoir 5 has dropped to a particular point, triggering the release into the reservoir of one measured dose of concentrate and opening a valve to admit a measured amount of water. This may comprise using a control system for opening/closing a solenoid actuated valve for allowing entry of water.

It will be noted that the lid 3 is of a somewhat unusual profile and, in particular, that the front end of the lid (in the down position) has an extended portion 3a which in Figure 3 is shown as the portion of the lid 3 below the dashed line (---) A-A' . This portion 3a is shaped so as to conform to an outside profile of a drip gutter 10 of the toilet. The form and function of the drip gutter will be explained shortly, but in essence the seat cover/lid 3 is arranged such that in the down position all of the internal parts of the toilet bowl area, seat and gutter etc. may be sealed in a watertight fashion so that when detergent is fed under pressure to the nozzles 8, detergent is sprayed all around the toilet area, but may not escape and cause a mess outside of the toilet.

Toilet seat 11 is a moulded seat which may be formed integrally with the main part of the toilet bowl 2. The material from which the toilet is made may be a moulded plastics material. In any case, the toilet seat 11 is designed so as to be comfortable and functional and, in contrast to conventional toilet seats. It does not raise and lower. Therefore, there are fewer moving parts in this area and less potential for dirt traps around hinges etc. The drip gutter 10 forms an extension to an outside rim of the toilet bowl 2 and forms a trough between an outer upstanding part lOa of the drip gutter 10, an inner wall lOb in an area of the bowl disposed around the outside periphery of the seat 11 and a lowermost portion of the trough formed by the drip gutter 10 is shown by the rearward sloping dashed line ( ) in Figures 2 and 3.

The gutter is arranged for two purposes. Firstly, so that any urine, faecal matter etc which might escape from around the seat area 11 of the toilet, or which might get there by virtue of miss-aiming by male users is collected within the trough, which has a downward slope and drains through a gutter outlet lOc into the area of the U-bend 9.

Also, as the exterior of the seat cover/lid 3 is arranged to seal around the outside of the drip gutter 10, and the cleaning nozzles 8 are disposed radially within the inside of the lid 3, detergent under pressure will automatically clean and flush out anything caught inside the drip gutter so as to make it clean and hygienic. It is anticipated that the presence of the drip gutter 10 will cut down drastically on the amount of extra cleaning which might normally have to be done around the pedestal area of a toilet.

It has been mentioned that there is present a heater mechanism 1 for heating the detergent. This heater 7, whilst being a preferred feature, is optional, but may substantially improve the cleaning operation.

We will now describe a cleaning cycle of the toilet.

After the toilet has been used, the seat cover 3 is closed. Such closure may occur automatically by means of a motor driven mechanism manually, or preferably, arranged to operate when sensors (not shown) indicate that the toilet is not in use. Typically, a cleaning cycle is carried out as follows: once the lid 3 has been closed, pump 6 operates to pump an amount of detergent directly from the reservoir 5. In the case where there is a heater present, the detergent is heated upon exiting the pump, and the heated detergent is fed under pressure to the nozzles 8. The nozzles 8 have a fan pattern which is arranged so as to provide an excellent cleaning pattern to all areas around the toilet seat, rim, gutter and gutter drainage area lOc. If the toilet seat cover is lifted during a cleaning cycle, then the cycle may be automatically curtailed to avoid mess. Alternatively, a mechanical lock may operate when a cleaning cycle is in progress so as to prevent lifting of the lid 3. Such a lock may be an automatic interlock of the type applied in washing machines.

When the level of detergent in the reservoir 5 drops it will be replaced automatically by a measured amount of concentrated detergent (in solid, powder or liquid form) dispensed from the dosage means 4 into the reservoir. The concentrated detergent is topped up by the required amount of water to achieve a correct concentration. These operations may be mechanically achieved (by ball-cock mechanisms for instance) or electronically achieved using solenoid actuated valves and a control unit.

It will be noted in Figure 4, that the preferred arrangement of the nozzles 8, is a radial arrangement with each radial leg leading to the nozzle being of similar length. In this way, liquid detergent fed under pressure is dispersed with equal pressure to each nozzle.

Different types of cycle may be programmed to occur, or may be provided as a standard package with the toilet.

For instance, a quick cleaning cycle may be arranged to initiate after each and every use of the toilet. In this way, each user is assured a clean seat area. There may also be a medium cycle arranged to operate after a particular number of quick cycles. Alternatively, such a medium cycle might operate during specific hours when use of the toilet is unlikely. Also, there may be a heavy duty cleaning cycle which can be initiated manually should the need arise.

All of these cycles, could be either manually or automatically controlled. Automatic controlling may be on the basis of sensors having sensed a particular number of users, or on the basis of sensors detecting the presence of a particular level of contamination. Cycles may alternatively/additionally, be initiated on the basis of time. It will be seen from the above, that an excellent toilet arrangement is described in which cleaning operations carried out b users may be eliminated or drastically reduced.

Figure 5 shows in a perspective cut-away view an embodiment of the invention in accordance with the above description. The overall look of the toilet is pleasing and streamlined and it shows how a self- cleaning toilet may be integrated into a modern or existing bathroom setting.

Of course, many variations may be made to the arrangements of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Wherever control systems have been discussed in relation to controlling the level and concentration of detergent, it will be appreciated that such systems may be electronically (microprocessor) controlled or could be mechanically controlled -by ball-cock valves causing actions to occur at various water or detergent fluid levels.

It will also be appreciated that instead of including the dosing means for receiving and dispensing concentrated detergent to the reservoir 5, a simple refill system could be applied with detergent already at the required strength.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A toilet comprising a toilet bowl, seat and cistern and further comprising a toilet lid which is arranged to seal against the toilet bowl, said toilet further incorporating cleaning means arranged to provide a cleaning fluid under pressure delivered from the toilet lid into the area of said bowl and seat.

2. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein said seat and bowl combine to form a chamber cleanable by said cleaning means.

3. A toilet according to claim 2, wherein said chamber comprises a gutter external to and surrounding a frontal and side portion of a peripheral area of said toilet bowl.

4. A toilet according to claim 3, wherein said lid seals to said gutter.

5. A toilet according to any preceding claim, wherein said lid closes around said bowl to form a sealed enclosure.

6. A toilet comprising a toilet bowl, seat, lid and cistern, said toilet further comprising a gutter arrangement external to and surrounding a frontal and side portion of a peripheral area of said bowl and arranged to catch and drain extraneous fluids not collected by said bowl.

7. A toilet according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein said gutter includes an outlet which is arranged to feed into a drainage system of said toilet.

8. A toilet according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein said gutter feeds into an area adjacent a U-bend of the toilet.

9. A toilet according to claim 8, wherein said toilet lid is arranged to seal against said gutter arrangement and bowl to form a sealed compartment when said lid is in a down position.

10. A toilet according to claim 9, wherein said toilet further comprises cleaning means arranged to provide a cleaning fluid under pressure delivered from the toilet lid into the area of said bowl and seat.

11. A toilet according to any preceding claim, wherein said seat and bowl combine to make a single element.

12. A toilet according to any of claims 1 to 5, 10 or 11, wherein said lid contains nozzles for dispensing said cleaning fluid.

13. A toilet according to claim 12, wherein said nozzles are arranged to spray said bowl and seat.

14. A toilet according to any of claims 3 to 5, claim 10 or any of claims 11 to 13 as dependent upon claim 10, or any of claims 11 to 13 as dependent upon any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said gutter is cleaned by said cleaning means.

15. A toilet according to any of claims 1 to 5, or any of claims 7 to 14 as dependent on claim 1, or claim 10, or any of claims 11 to 14 as dependent upon claim 10, wherein said cleaning means comprises a detergent reservoir, a pump fed with detergent from said reservoir, and a plurality of nozzles fed with detergent under pressure by said pump.

16. A toilet according to claim 15, wherein said detergent reservoir is fed by a detergent dosage means.

17. A toilet according to claim 15, wherein following a cleaning cycle, a measured amount of concentrated detergent is fed from said dosage means into the detergent reservoir.

18. A toilet according to claim 17, wherein means are arranged to dilute said concentrated detergent in said reservoir.

19. A toilet according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein said pump is housed within a separate compartment.

20. A toilet according to claim 19, wherein said compartment is waterproof.

21. A toilet according to any of claims 15 to 21, wherein said detergent reservoir and pump are housed adjacent to the cistern.

22. A toilet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said toilet further comprises a standard flushing system.

23. A toilet according to any of the claims 15 to 22, wherein said cleaning means further comprises means for heating said detergent.

24. A toilet according to claim 23, wherein said heating means is located to either side of said pump, but preferably is located so as to heat an output of said pump.

25. A toilet according to any of claims 15 to 24, wherein said pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

26. A toilet according to any of claims 1 to 5, or any of claims 10 to 25 as dependent on claim 6, wherein control means are provided for controlling said cleaning means.

27. A toilet according to claim 26, wherein said control means is arranged to control a plurality of cleaning cycles.

26. A toilet according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of said cleaning cycles comprise a short cleaning cycle, a medium cleaning cycle and an intensive cleaning cycle.

29. A toilet according to claims 27 or 28, wherein said cleaning cycles are initiated according to usage patterns of said toilet.

30. A toilet according to claim 29, wherein one or more sensors are provided for sensing a usage pattern of said toilet.

31. A toilet according to any of claims 27 to 30, wherein said cleaning cycles are carried out on a periodical basis.

32. A method of cleaning a toilet, the method comprising the steps of: following use of said toilet, initiating a cleaning cycle by closing a lid of said toilet and causing detergent to be delivered from said lid area into the area of said bowl and seat.

33. The method of claim 32, the method further comprises sensing the presence or absence of a user and, only initiating a cleaning cycle when a user is not present.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein upon sensing the absence of a user, said toilet lid is automatically closed.

35. The method of any of claims 32 to 34, wherein in a cleaning cycle a pump operates to pump an amount of detergent directly from a detergent reservoir to one or more nozzles located on the underside of said lid.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said nozzles are arranged to spray said bowl and seat.

37. The method of claim 35 or 36, further comprising heating said detergent prior to delivery at said nozzles.

38. The method of any of claims 32 to 37, wherein cleaning said toilet comprises initiating a short cycle of cleaning following each use of said toilet.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein a cleaning cycle is commenced at the first available period during which the absence of a user is sensed following use of said toilet.

40. The method of any of claims 32 to 39, wherein use of said toilet is sensed by detecting whether or not the toilet has been flushed.

41. The method of any of claims 32 to 40, wherein a longer cycle is initiated after a predetermined number of usage cycles of said toilet.

42. The method of any of claims 32 to 41, wherein a longer cycle is initiated during particular time periods.

43. The method of any of claims 32 to 42, wherein the lid is locked into a down position during a cleaning cycle.

44. The method of any of claims 32 to 43, wherein if the lid is lifted during a cleaning cycle, then the cycle is automatically curtailed to avoid mess.

45. The method of any of claims 32, to 44, wherein the method further comprises the step of sensing the level of a detergent within the detergent reservoir and automatically replenishing the detergent when it is sensed that the level has dropped to a predetermined level.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein replenishing the level of detergent comprises automatically dispensing a measured amount of concentrated detergent from dosage means into the reservoir.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the concentrated detergent is topped up by the required amount of water to achieve a correct concentration.

48. The method of any of claims 32 to 47, the cleaning cycle(s) are automatically controlled.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein automatic controlling is on the basis of sensors having sensed a particular number of users, or on the basis of sensors detecting the presence of a particular level of contamination.

50. The method of claim 48 or 49, wherein cleaning cycles are initiated on the basis of elapsed time.