Toilet equipment

Abstract

We provide toilet equipment that makes it easy to create a floating sensation. [Solution] The toilet equipment 10 comprises a toilet unit 1, a support part 7 that supports the toilet unit 1 such that at least the front part of the bottom surface 21 of the toilet unit 1 is lifted off the floor F1 of the toilet room, and a lining 6 that is positioned between the toilet room wall W1 located rearward from the toilet unit 1 and the toilet unit 1, and houses the support part 7. The lining 6 is located below the rear end of the upper surface of the toilet unit 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to toilet equipment.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a toilet apparatus including a toilet bowl positioned spaced upward from the floor of a toilet room has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A cabinet is provided between the toilet bowl and the wall of the toilet room behind the toilet bowl, and the toilet bowl is attached to the front surface of the cabinet. The toilet bowl has a openable and closable toilet lid.

[0003] This toilet apparatus further includes an illumination unit provided in the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the space between the toilet bowl and the floor. In this toilet apparatus, the formation of a shadow under the toilet bowl due to the light irradiation from the illumination unit is suppressed, thereby enhancing the floating sensation of the toilet bowl.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the toilet apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a tank for supplying flushing water to the toilet bowl is provided at a position higher than the toilet bowl inside the cabinet, and the cabinet protrudes largely upward beyond the toilet bowl. For this reason, in this toilet apparatus, when a user enters the toilet room, the toilet bowl with the toilet lid closed does not appear to float at a position separated from the rear wall (that is, the front wall of the cabinet), and there is room for improvement in terms of producing the floating sensation of the toilet bowl.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure aims to provide toilet equipment that facilitates the production of a floating sensation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A toilet fixture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure for solving the above problems comprises a toilet device and a support portion that supports the toilet device such that at least the front portion of the bottom surface of the toilet device is lifted off the floor of the toilet room. The toilet fixture further comprises a lining disposed between the toilet device and the wall of the toilet room located rearward from the toilet device, and housing the support portion. The lining is located below the rear end of the upper surface of the toilet device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] One embodiment of the toilet equipment relating to this disclosure makes it easy to create a sense of floating. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing a toilet fixture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic rear view showing the toilet fixture described above, with the lining of the toilet fixture omitted from the illustration. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing a modified version of the toilet fixture described above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following description of a toilet fixture according to one embodiment of this disclosure will be based on the drawings. The toilet fixture according to one embodiment disclosed below is illustrative and not intended to limit the toilet fixtures disclosed herein.

[0011] Furthermore, in the description of the toilet equipment of one embodiment disclosed below, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and descriptions that overlap with substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid making the description of the toilet equipment of one embodiment unnecessarily verbose, thereby facilitating understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0012] (One embodiment) Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing a toilet fixture 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The toilet fixture 10 comprises a toilet device 1, a support part 7, and a lining 6. The toilet device 1 is installed in a toilet room and used as a seated toilet. In this disclosure, as shown in Figure 1, the vertical and front-back directions are defined based on the state in which the toilet device 1 is installed. The left-right direction is perpendicular to the vertical and front-back directions, respectively.

[0013] The front-to-back and left-to-right directions are defined based on the user seated on the toilet seat 4 of the toilet unit 1. The side on which the lining 6 is located relative to the toilet unit 1 is the rear side, and the opposite side is the front side.

[0014] The toilet unit 1 consists of a toilet bowl body 2, a toilet seat 4 and toilet lid 3 installed on top of the toilet bowl body 2, and a cover part 5 which contains an auxiliary device 51 inside. The toilet bowl body 2 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is formed from multiple resin molded parts. The toilet bowl body 2 does not necessarily have to be made of synthetic resin and may be made of other materials such as ceramics.

[0015] The toilet bowl body 2 has a bowl portion 8 that opens upward, a rim portion (not shown) that extends outward from the upper edge of the bowl portion 8, and a skirt portion 11 that extends downward from the outer edge of the rim portion and surrounds the bowl portion 8. A drainage path 9 is connected to the lower part of the bowl portion 8.

[0016] When the user uses the toilet unit 1 and performs a flushing operation, the water stored in the bowl 8 is drained through the drainage path 9, and water is also dispensed into the bowl 8 from a water inlet (not shown) on the toilet body 2, causing the bowl 8 to fill with water. The toilet unit 1 is a tankless type that does not have a flush tank.

[0017] An auxiliary device 51 is built into the inside of the cover portion 5. The auxiliary device 51 includes at least a part of a water supply device, a local washing device, a toilet lid drive device, a toilet seat drive device, and a control unit. The water supply device is a device that supplies water to the bowl portion 8 and washes the inner surface of the bowl portion 8. The local washing device is a device that discharges washing water towards the user's local area. The toilet lid drive device is a device that rotates the toilet lid 3 relative to the cover portion 5 and opens and closes the toilet lid 3. The toilet seat drive device is a device that rotates the toilet seat 4 relative to the cover portion 5 and opens and closes the toilet seat 4. The toilet seat drive device switches the position of the toilet seat 4 between a use state in which the toilet seat 4 rests in a reclined position on the upper surface of the rim portion of the toilet bowl body 2 (i.e., closed state) and a non-use state in which the toilet seat 4 stands upright on the upper surface of the toilet bowl body 2 (i.e., open state). The toilet lid drive device switches the position of the toilet lid 3 between a closed state (shown in Figure 1) where the toilet lid 3 is in a reclined position and covers the closed toilet seat 4, and an open state where the toilet lid 3 is in an upright position.

[0018] The control unit includes, for example, a processing unit such as a CPU and a storage unit such as memory. The control unit is configured to control the water supply device, the local washing device, the toilet lid drive device, or the toilet seat drive device according to a program stored in the storage unit.

[0019] In the toilet unit 1, when the toilet lid 3 is closed, the upper surface 30 of the toilet lid 3 and the upper surface 52 of the cover part 5 constitute the upper surface of the toilet unit 1. The upper surface 30 of the closed toilet lid 3 is a curved surface that is positioned higher towards the rear. The upper surface 52 of the cover part 5 is located at the same height as the rear end of the upper surface 30 of the closed toilet lid 3, or higher. The upper surface 52 of the cover part 5 constitutes the rear end of the upper surface of the toilet unit 1 and constitutes the upper end of the toilet unit 1 when the toilet lid 3 is closed. Note that the upper end of the toilet unit 1 is not limited to the upper surface 52 of the cover part 5, but may also be formed by a part of the upper surface 30 of the closed toilet lid 3.

[0020] The toilet apparatus 1 is supported by the support part 7 in a state where at least the front part of the bottom surface 21 of the toilet body 2 is spaced upward from the floor F1 of the toilet room. In the present embodiment, the toilet apparatus 1 is supported by the back surface 22 of the toilet apparatus 1 being fixed to the support part 7.

[0021] The support part 7 includes a support part main body 70 fixed to the floor F1 of the toilet room, and a fastener 71 that fixes the support part main body 70 to the toilet apparatus 1 from the rear side. In the present embodiment, the support part 7 includes two support part main bodies 70 as shown in Figure 2.

[0022] The support part main body 70 is a metallic frame. As shown in Figure 1, the support part main body 70 includes a holding part 72 that extends in the vertical direction and participates in holding the toilet apparatus 1, and a fixing part 73 that extends rearward from the lower end of the holding part 72 and is fixed to the floor F1. The support part main body 70 is L-shaped in side view. The support part main body 70 may be made of a material other than metal.

[0023] The support part 7 is housed inside the lining 6. The connection between the holding part 72 and the toilet apparatus 1 is performed by the fastener 71 composed of two holding bolts 710. The two holding bolts 710 are inserted through two openings 62 provided in the front wall of the lining 6 and connected to the toilet apparatus 1.

[0024] The support part 7 further includes two fixing bolts 74 for fixing the fixing part 73 to the floor F1. The fixing part 73 is fixed to the floor F1 by the two fixing bolts 74 being directly connected to the floor F1. Since the number of the fixing bolts 74 and the number of the holding bolts 710 are each plural, the support strength of the toilet apparatus 1 is increased.

[0025] Figure 2 is a schematic rear view showing a toilet fixture 10 of one embodiment. In Figure 2, the lining 6 is not shown. One support body 70 is attached to each of the left and right ends of the back surface 22 of the toilet body 2. This allows the toilet body 2 to be supported in a balanced manner by the two support bodies 70, and also increases the support strength of the toilet device 1. Each of the two support bodies 70 is attached to the back surface 22 of the toilet body 2 at a position away from the upper end.

[0026] Furthermore, the downstream end 90 of the drainage path 9, which connects to the bowl section 8, is located on the rear surface 22. In this embodiment, the drainage path 9 includes a movable water seal trap (not shown).

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the lining 6 is positioned between the toilet room wall W1, which is located behind the toilet unit 1, and the toilet unit 1. In this embodiment, the lining 6 is in contact with both the back surface 22 of the toilet unit 1 and the toilet room wall W1. The lining 6 is a cabinet. The lining 6 is provided to cover the support unit 7. Inside the lining 6, not only the support unit 7 but also a drain pipe (not shown) connected to the downstream end 90 of the drainage path 9 of the toilet unit 2 is provided. The drain pipe is positioned between the two support unit bodies 70.

[0028] When a flushing command is issued to the toilet unit 1, the water in the bowl 8 is discharged through the drainage path 9 and the drainpipe into the sewer pipe. The drainpipe may extend from the lining 6 to the wall W1, or from the lining 6 to the floor F1 below it. In other words, the water in the bowl 8 may be discharged to the outside through the wall W1, or to the outside through the floor F1.

[0029] The lining 6 is located below the rear end of the upper surface of the toilet unit 1 (i.e., the upper surface 52 of the cover portion 5). In this embodiment, the lining 6 is in the shape of a rectangular box. The upper end of the lining 6, the lining upper surface 61, is located below the upper surface 52 of the cover portion 5. The two support body parts 70 are located lower than the upper surface 52 of the cover portion 5 and the lining upper surface 61. The height difference between the lining upper surface 61 and the upper surface 52 of the cover portion 5 is preferably 5 cm or more. The height of the lining upper surface 61 should be high enough to cover the support portion 7, and may be as low as possible within that range.

[0030] In this embodiment, the length of the lining 6 in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the toilet unit 1 in the left-right direction. The lining 6 is provided, for example, along the entire left-right length of the wall W1 of the toilet room.

[0031] The length of the lining 6 in the front-to-back direction is the same as the distance between the toilet unit 1 and the wall W1 of the toilet room. In this embodiment, the length of the lining 6 in the front-to-back direction is 180 to 250 mm.

[0032] In the toilet equipment 10 of this embodiment described above, the lining 6 is positioned below the upper rear end of the toilet unit 1. Therefore, when a user enters the toilet room and views the toilet unit 1 from the front, the lining 6 is not easily visible between the toilet unit 1 and the toilet room wall W1, making it appear as if the toilet unit 1 is floating away from the toilet room wall W1. This makes it easier to create the impression that the toilet unit 1 is floating in the toilet equipment 10 of this embodiment. Because it is possible to create this impression of the toilet unit 1 floating, the toilet equipment 10 of this embodiment can improve the design of the toilet unit 1 and the toilet room as a whole.

[0033] Furthermore, in the toilet equipment 10 of this embodiment, since the toilet device 1 is a tankless type that does not have a water tank, there is no need to house a water tank within the lining 6, making it easier to keep the height of the lining 6 down.

[0034] Furthermore, in the toilet equipment 10 of this embodiment, the entire bottom surface 21 of the toilet device 1 is supported by the support part 7 while being separated from the floor F1 of the toilet room, so the toilet device 1 appears to be floating above the floor F1.

[0035] (modified version) A modified version of the toilet equipment 10 of the above embodiment will now be described. The modified versions shown below can be combined as appropriate.

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing a modified example of the toilet device 1 of the embodiment described above. In this modified example, the length of the lining 6 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the toilet device 1 in the left-right direction. The lining 6 is located behind the central part of the toilet device 1 in the left-right direction.

[0037] The length of the toilet device 1 in the left-right direction refers to the maximum width of the toilet device 1 in the left-right direction in a plan view. In this modified example, the toilet lid 3 has the maximum width in the left-right direction, but it is not limited to this; for example, the skirt portion 11 of the toilet body 2 may have the maximum width in the left-right direction. In this modified example, it is preferable that the difference in length between the toilet body 2 and the lining 6 in the left-right direction is 5 cm or more.

[0038] In the modified toilet equipment 10, the lining 6 is shorter in the left-right direction than the toilet unit 1. As a result, when a user enters the toilet room and looks at the toilet unit 1 from the front, the lining 6 does not protrude from the toilet unit 1 in the left-right direction and is hidden and difficult to see. Therefore, in the modified toilet equipment 10, the toilet unit 1 appears to be floating away from the toilet room wall W1, making it easier to create the impression that the toilet unit 1 is floating.

[0039] The toilet unit 1 only needs to be supported by the support part 7 such that at least the front part of its bottom surface 21 is located above the floor F1 of the toilet room, and the entire bottom surface 21 of the toilet unit 1 does not need to be located above the floor F1.

[0040] For example, the toilet unit 1 may have a cylindrical extension at the rear of its bottom surface 21 that extends down to the floor F1, and the downstream end 90 of the drainage path 9 may be located in the extension and connected to a drain pipe provided in the floor F1 below the extension. In this case, since there is no need for space to house the drain pipe within the lining 6, the lining 6 can be made smaller. Also, in this case, when a user looks at the toilet unit 1 from the front, the extension is not easily visible, so the toilet unit 1 appears to be floating above the floor F1, making it easier to create the impression that the toilet unit 1 is floating.

[0041] The support portion 7 is configured to support the toilet unit 1 such that at least the front portion of the bottom surface 21 of the toilet unit 1 is lifted off the floor F1 of the toilet room, and is not limited to the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0042] The support portion 7 is not limited to having a support portion body 70 and a fixing device 71. For example, the support portion body 70 may have a protruding portion that extends toward the toilet device 1, and this protruding portion may be inserted through an opening 62 provided in the front wall of the lining 6 and connected to the toilet device 1. Also, the support portion body 70 may be fixed to the wall W1 instead of the floor F1.

[0043] The upper rear end of the toilet unit 1 is not limited to the upper surface 52 of the cover portion 5, but may also be the rear end of the upper surface 30 of the toilet lid 3 when it is closed. Furthermore, the upper rear end of the toilet unit 1 may be composed of a separate component from the toilet lid 3 and the cover portion 5.

[0044] The toilet unit 1 does not have to be a tankless type without a flush tank; it may also have a flush tank (for example, a low tank). In this case, it is preferable that the flush tank is not installed inside the lining 6, but rather installed on top of the lining 6.

[0045] The toilet unit 1 does not need to have a toilet lid 3. Furthermore, the toilet unit 1 does not need to have a rotatable toilet seat 4; in other words, the upper surface of the rim may form the toilet seat.

[0046] The lining 6 may be positioned between the toilet room wall W1 and the toilet unit 1, or it may be located away from the toilet room wall W1. In this case, the drain pipe is routed through the floor F1 below the lining 6.

[0047] (summary) As described above in the embodiment and its modified form, the toilet equipment (10) of the first embodiment has the following configuration.

[0048] The toilet fixture (10) of the first embodiment comprises a toilet unit (1) and a support (7) that supports the toilet unit (1) such that at least the front part of the bottom surface (21) of the toilet unit (1) is lifted off the floor (F1) of the toilet room. The toilet fixture (10) of the first embodiment further comprises a lining (6) that is positioned between the toilet unit (1) and the toilet room wall (W1) located rearward from the toilet unit (1), and houses the support (7). The lining (6) is positioned below the rear upper end of the toilet unit (1).

[0049] In the first embodiment of the toilet equipment (10) having the above configuration, the lining (6) is located below the upper rear end of the toilet unit (1), so when a user looks at the toilet unit (1) from the front, the lining (6) is not easily visible between the toilet unit (1) and the toilet room wall (W1). Therefore, in the first embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), the toilet unit (1) appears to be floating away from both the toilet room floor (F1) and the wall (W1), making it easy to create the impression that the toilet unit (1) is floating.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in the modified example of the embodiment described above, the toilet equipment (10) of the second embodiment additionally includes the following configuration in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0051] In the second embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), the length of the lining (6) in the left-right direction is less than or equal to the length of the toilet device (1) in the left-right direction.

[0052] In the second embodiment of the toilet equipment (10) having the above configuration, when the user looks at the toilet unit (1) from the front, the lining (6) protrudes from the toilet unit (1) in the left and right directions and is difficult to see, making the lining (6) even less visible. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), the toilet unit (1) appears to be floating relative to the toilet room wall (W1), making it easier to create the impression that the toilet unit (1) is floating.

[0053] Furthermore, as described above in one embodiment and its modified form, the toilet equipment (10) of the third embodiment additionally includes the following configuration in addition to the configuration of the first or second embodiment.

[0054] In the third embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), the support part (7) has a support part body (70) fixed to the floor (F1) and a fastener (71) that fixes the support part body (70) to the toilet equipment (1) from the rear. Both the support part body (70) and the fastener (71) are housed within the lining (6).

[0055] In the third embodiment of the toilet equipment (10) having the above configuration, the toilet equipment (1) can be supported at a position above the floor (F1) by fixing the support body (70), which is fixed to the floor (F1), to the toilet equipment (1) from the rear with a fastener (71). In the third embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), since the support body (70) and the fastener (71) are housed within the lining (6) and are not exposed, it is easy to use robust materials as the support body (70) and the fastener (71), and it is easy to ensure the support strength of the toilet equipment (1).

[0056] Furthermore, as described above in one embodiment and its modified form, the toilet equipment (10) of the fourth embodiment additionally includes the following configuration in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to third embodiments.

[0057] In the fourth embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), the support part (7) supports the toilet device (1) such that the entire bottom surface (21) of the toilet device (1) is lifted off the floor (F1).

[0058] In the fourth embodiment of the toilet equipment (10) having the above configuration, when the user looks at the toilet device (1) from the front, the toilet device (1) appears to be floating above the floor (F1), making it easy to create the impression that the toilet device (1) is floating.

[0059] Furthermore, as described above in one embodiment and its modified form, the toilet equipment (10) of the fifth embodiment additionally includes the following configuration in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to fourth embodiments.

[0060] In the fifth embodiment of the toilet equipment (10), the lining (6) is located at least 5 cm below the upper rear end of the toilet device (1).

[0061] In the fifth embodiment of the toilet equipment (10) having the above configuration, when the user looks at the toilet unit (1) from the front, the lining (6) is not easily visible between the toilet unit (1) and the toilet room wall (W1), making it easier to create the impression that the toilet unit (1) is floating.

[0062] Although the present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and appropriate design modifications are possible within the scope intended by the present disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1 Toilet equipment 21 Bottom 6 Lining 7 Support part 70 Support body 71 Fixtures 10 Toilet equipment F1 floor W1 Wall

Claims

1. Toilet equipment and A support portion that supports the toilet device such that at least the front part of the bottom surface of the toilet device is lifted off the floor of the toilet room, A lining is provided to house the support portion, which is positioned between the toilet room wall, located a distance behind the toilet unit, and the toilet unit. Equipped with, The lining is located below the upper rear end of the toilet device. Toilet equipment.

2. The length of the lining in the left-right direction is less than or equal to the length of the toilet device in the left-right direction. Toilet equipment according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned support portion is The support body fixed to the floor, The support body has a fixing device that secures it to the toilet device from the rear, The support body and the fixing device are each housed within the lining. Toilet equipment according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The support portion supports the toilet device such that the entire bottom surface of the toilet device is lifted off the floor. Toilet equipment according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The lining is located at least 5 cm below the upper rear end of the toilet device. Toilet equipment according to claim 1 or 2.

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