Toilet with dual nozzle and distribution plate

Abstract

A toilet includes a toilet bowl having sides and a rim, a water supply having a horizontal passage configured to provide water to the sides and the rim of the toilet bowl, a diverter connected to the water supply and configured to direct water to at least one side of the toilet bowl, and a plate including at least one opening that feeds water from the water supply to the diverter.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 733,225 filed on Dec. 12, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The present application relates generally to a rim wash for a toilet bowl.BACKGROUND

[0003] In consideration of environmental and economic concerns, it is advantageous to reduce the amount of fresh water used during a flush cycle of a toilet. Water is used to perform several functions during each flush cycle, for example, water is used to perform seal recovery, odor prevention, waste removal, bowl rinse, and drain line carry. Reducing an amount of water used with each flush may negatively impact one or more functions of the water during the flush cycle. The bowl rinse is an area that can be improved through devices and methods for reducing an amount of fresh water used during a flush cycle, while maintaining performance of the rinse.

[0004] Providing an efficient flush in which all of the contents (e.g., solid waste, liquid waste, etc.) in the toilet bowl are removed from the toilet bowl during a single flush cycle decreases water usage. Current toilets aimed at using one gallon of water per flush provide poor overall flush performance (e.g., leaving contents in the toilet bowl following the first flush), which results in customer dissatisfaction and often additional flushes to completely remove the contents from the toilet bowl, therefore, defeating the gains in efficiency by requiring multiple flushes to achieve proper flushing.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure should become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a toilet in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates an example toilet with the tank and seat assembly remove to illustrate the rinse water supply.

[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section view of the toilet of FIG. 2.

[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates another view of the rinse water supply.

[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates an example channel in a toilet in accordance with any example of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 6A illustrates a side view for a backwall and diverter for the rinse water supply.

[0012] FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view for the backwall and diverter for the rinse water supply.

[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart for manufacturing or assembly of a toilet in accordance with the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following description includes example toilets including a water supply system that delivers water to predetermined portions of a rim of a toilet bowl. The water supply system may also deliver portions of the water may be delivered to the sump (e.g., sump jet) of the toilet bowl. The water supply to the rim is regulated using a plate having openings that are sized and spaced to regulate the distribution of water. Downstream of the plate is a divertor that directs the flow from the openings into the back of the toilet bowl. Other water that does not pass through the plate is directed by a dual nozzle and moves horizontally in both directions from the plate to the sides of the toilet bowl. The directions may correspond to clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the circumference of the rim and / or toilet bowl.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 a toilet 100 including a base 110 (e.g., a pedestal, bowl, etc.) and a tank 120 is shown. The base 110 is configured to be attached to another object such as a drainpipe, floor, or another suitable object. The base 110 includes a bowl 111, a sump (e.g., a receptacle) disposed below the bowl 111, and a trapway fluidly connecting the bowl 111 to a drainpipe or sewage line. The tank 120 may be supported by the base 110, such as an upper surface of a rim 115. The rim 115 may be integrated with a rim table 121 that defines the rim 115 and extends behind the rim 115. The rim table 121 may also provide a rim shelf 125 under or within the rim 115 that carries water around the circumference of the bowl. The rim shelf 125 may have a predetermined height. The height of the rim shelf 125 may decrease in the direction of the flow of water through the rim shelf 125. Additional, different or fewer components may be included.

[0016] The tank 120 may connect to the base 110 by way of the rim table 121. The tank 120 is formed separately from the base 110 and coupled (e.g., attached, secured, fastened, connected, etc.) to the base 110 according to any of the following examples. The toilet 100 may further include a tank lid 122 covering an opening and inner cavity in the tank 120. The toilet 100 may include a seat assembly 130 including a seat 131 and a seat cover 132 rotatably coupled to the base 110. The toilet 100 may further include a hinge assembly 135.

[0017] Between the base 110 and the tank 120, is a vertical water passage. The connection between the base 110 and the tank 120 may include a seal that maintains a water tight connection between the tank 120 and the vertical water passage. A threaded collar may be integrated with or otherwise coupled to a gasket. As the tank 120 is installed into the toilet base 110, the gasket presses against the water passage in the toilet base 110. The weight of the tank 120 presses and compresses the gasket. Thus, a water passage is established from the water tank 120 to the toilet base 110. In addition, one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.) may be passed through an opening (e.g., opening 206 in rim table 121) to hold the tank 120 against the base 110.

[0018] The toilet seat or hinge assembly 135 is configured to cover or otherwise enclose a water supply system within the rim table 121 for distribution of water to the rim and / or sump of the toilet bowl 111. The water supply system may include one or more openings or passages selected to distribute the water between a rear portion of the rim 115 of the toilet bowl 111 and adjacent sides of the rim 115 of the toilet bowl. One or more fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.) may be passed through an opening (e.g., opening 205 in rim table 121) to hold the tank 120 against the base 110.

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates an example toilet 100, operable with the tank 120, but the tank 120 is not illustrated in FIG. 2. While only gravity flush, or toilets having tanks are illustrated, any of the following examples and water supply systems can be applied to flush valve toilets directly connected to a pressurized water supply. In other examples, the toilet 100 may include a wall tank. The toilet seat assembly or hinge assembly 135 is also not illustrated to show the underlying water supply system 200. The water supply system 200 includes a vertical bowl passage 210, a horizontal bowl passage (e.g., passage 220, FIG. 5), a distribution cavity 203, and a distribution plate 204. Additional, different or fewer components may be included.

[0020] The vertical bowl passage 210 extends from a gasket or other junction to the tank 120 into the water supply system 200. The vertical bowl passage 210 may be cylindrical, having a circular or oval cross section. Under the force of gravity, water passes into the vertical bowl passage 210 and into the horizontal bowl passage 220. The water may fill the horizontal bowl passage 220 and vertical bowl passage 210 from the bottom up and the water pushes air out of the passages.

[0021] The horizontal bowl passage 220 connects the vertical bowl passage 210 to the distribution cavity 203. The distribution cavity 203 fills with water as the horizontal bowl passage 220 and vertical bowl passage 210 are filled with water from the bottom up and the water pushes air out of the passages and the distribution cavity 203.

[0022] The distribution plate 204 is adjacent to the distribution cavity 203. The distribution plate 204 faces the distribution cavity on an upstream side and faces the toilet bowl on the downstream side. The distribution plate 204 may form a wall or side of the distribution cavity 203. The distribution plate 204 may be curved. The distribution plate 204 may have a shape parallel to the rear of the toilet bowl 111. The distribution plate 204 may have a radius of curvature the same as the rear of the toilet bowl 111, or within a range (e.g., between −10% and +10%) of that of the toilet bowl 111.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section view (e.g., taken substantially along a vertical plane through the water supply system 200) of the toilet of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the water supply system 200.

[0024] The cross-section illustrates the spatial relationship between the rim 115 and the rim shelf 125. The distribution plate 204 which is position perpendicular to the rim shelf 125 extends above the rim shelf 125 by a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be 0.5 to 4 centimeters above the rim shelf 125.

[0025] The distribution plate 204 may include any one of various combinations, shapes, sizes, and relative placements of opening 202 and tooth 101. While at least one opening 202 is included, in many embodiments a plurality of openings 202 are included. Example quantities of openings 202 are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or a greater number of openings. More openings 202 allow more water to reach the rear of the toilet bowl 111 and fewer openings 202 allow less water to reach the rear of the toilet bowl 111. Conversely, more openings 202 allow less water to reach the sides of the toilet bowl 111 and fewer openings 202 allow more water to reach the sides of the toilet bowl 111.

[0026] The teeth 101 extend between adjacent openings. Therefore, when n openings are included n−1 teeth are included. The openings 202 may be considered spillways that allow the water to spill over the distribution plate 204.

[0027] The shape of the openings 202 may contribute to the efficiency of the water flow. As shown, the openings 202 may be half-moon or semicircular. The arc of the semicircular shape may form the bottom (e.g., in the direction of gravity) of the opening 202. Thus, the friction (e.g., resistance or drag) applied to the flow of water through the opening 202 may be minimized by the semicircular shape. Other shapes are possible. Example shapes include square, rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal. In the trapezoidal example, each wall of the opening 202 is slanted toward the inside of the opening, which may appear as a tooth shape for a jack-o-lantern.

[0028] The width of the openings 202 (e.g., a diameter of the half-moon or semicircular shape) may be substantially equal to the distance between at least one pair of adjacent openings 202. The distance between openings may be measured between adjacent circumferences of the adjacent openings 202. In one example, the openings 202 may be spaced at different intervals. For example, two adjacent openings may be closer together to aid rotation of a swirl in the water in a clockwise direction and two other adjacent openings may be closer together to aid rotation of a swirl of water in a counterclockwise direction.

[0029] FIG. 3 also illustrates that the water supply system 200 includes an upper supply and a lower supply. From the tank 120 or other water supply, the vertical bowl passage 210 and the horizontal bowl passage 220 provides water to both the upper water supply and the lower water supply. Additional, different or fewer components may be included.

[0030] The upper supply provides water to the rim 115 using the distribution cavity 203 and the distribution plate 204, as described above. Some water is provided through the dual nozzle to the rim shelf 125 to the sides of the rim and the toilet bowl. The dual nozzle may be constructed as part of the rim table 121. Alternatively, the dual nozzle and the distribution plate 204 may be integrally formed in a single construction. Some water passes through the distribution plate 204 and is diverted downward toward the rear of the toilet bowl.

[0031] The lower supply provides water to a sump jet associated with the sump 141. The lower supply includes sump channels 140 that are configured to carry water around the side of the toilet bowl to the sump 141. The sump jet may propel water into the sump 141 under water pressure from the water supply or another source. The sump channels 140 include a right side channel that extends from the right side of the horizontal bowl passage 220 and a left side channel that extends from the left side of the horizontal bowl passage 220. Each of the sump channels 140 does not extend into the bowl. Each of the sump channels 140 extends around the bowl 111 outside of the vitreous forming the bowl 111. The sump channels 140 reconverge at the sump 141.

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates an example channel 300 in the toilet bowl 111 in accordance with any example of the present disclosure. The channel 300 is formed in a front side of the toilet bowl 111 to direct water from the rim shelf 125 in a predetermined pattern toward the sump 141. The channel 300 may be defined by one or more ridges 301 formed in the vitreous of the toilet bowl 111. The ridges may be lips, grooves, or another structural feature that defined a change in height of the toilet bowl 111. Example changes in height include values from 1-10 millimeters. Stated another way, the channel 300 between the ridges 301 may be considered a depression within the vitreous surface of the toilet bowl 111 so that water moves generally in the direction of the channel 300 and is focused more directly toward the sump 141.

[0033] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a diverter 234 connected to the water supply system 200 and configured to direct water downward (e.g., in the direction of gravity) to at least one side of the toilet bowl 111. The distribution plate 204, including openings 202 and teeth 101 as shown in FIG. 2, may be placed under a least a portion of the diverter 234. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the diverter 234 is substantially vertical and has a top portion 334 pointing substantially horizontal toward the back of the toilet and a bottom portion 335 pointing substantially vertical toward the bottom of the toilet bowl 111 or a rear wall of the toilet bowl 111. The interior portion of the diverter 234 receives the water that travels through the openings 202 of the distribution plate 204 and directs the water toward the toilet bowl 111.

[0034] FIG. 6A illustrates a side view for a backwall and diverter 234 for the rinse water supply. FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view for the backwall and diverter 234 for the rinse water supply. In this example, a vertical spacer 336 may be included between the top of the distribution plate 204 and the back end of the diverter 234. The diverter 234 may include a groove or lip that receives the top of the spacer 336. The top of the diverter 234 may include a groove or a lip that receives the bottom of the spacer 336. An example horizontal gap between the distribution plate 204 and the diverter 234 may be 0.19 inches or 5 millimeters.

[0035] When a component, device, element, or the like of the present disclosure is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, or the like, the component, device, or element should be considered herein as being “configured to” meet that purpose or to perform that operation or function.

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates an example flow chart for manufacturing of the toilet. Additional, different, or fewer acts may be included. Acts may be repeated or performed in any order.

[0037] At act S101, the toilet bowl base is formed. The process may include a vitreous casting process. The casting process may be a solid casting process or a drain casting process. The toilet bowl base may be cast from other types of materials or combinations of materials, such as ceramic, composite, epoxy, or other types of materials. The toilet bowl base may be integrated with a water passage and a rim plate. The rim plate includes a plurality of spaced openings to feed water from the water passage. The openings may be semicircular. The toilet bowl base including the water passage and rim plate may be cast from a single mold. In the drain casting process, a mold having a basic shape of the structure of the toilet base bowl including the water passage and the rim plate may be filled with a liquid clay slip. The liquid clay slip sets in the mold to cast the walls of the toilet bowl base. The material may then be fired in a kiln.

[0038] At act S103, the diverter to the toilet bowl base. As described herein the diverter is configured to direct water from the spaced openings to a toilet bowl. The diverter may be a curved plate that translates the substantially horizontal motion of the water out from the rim plate to a substantially vertical motion toward the toilet bowl.

[0039] At act S105, the assembly of the toilet is completed by placing a tank in fluid connection with the water supply passage of toilet bowl base.

[0040] As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,”“about,”“substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.

[0041] It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

[0042] The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.

[0043] The term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is understood to convey that an element may be either X, Y, Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated.

[0044] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,”“bottom,”“above,”“below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

[0045] Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above. Such variation may depend, for example, on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations of the described methods could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps.

[0046] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the system as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A toilet comprising:a toilet bowl having sides and a rim;a water supply having a horizontal passage configured to provide water to the sides and the rim of the toilet bowl;a diverter connected to the water supply and configured to direct water to at least one side of the toilet bowl; anda plate including at least one opening that feeds water from the water supply to the diverter.

2. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the water supply includes an upper supply and a lower supply.

3. The toilet of claim 2, wherein the lower supply is coupled to a sump jet.

4. The toilet of claim 2, wherein the upper supply is connected to a distribution cavity adjacent to the plate.

5. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings.

6. The toilet of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings are separated by a plurality of teeth.

7. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening includes at least one rounded edge.

8. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:a channel formed in a front side of the toilet bowl.

9. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:a dual nozzle adjacent to the plate and configured to direct water horizontally to the sides of the rim.

10. The toilet of claim 9, wherein the dual nozzle and the plate are integrally formed.

11. The toilet of claim 9, further comprising:a rim shelf configured to carry the water on the sides of the rim around a circumference of the toilet bowl.

12. A toilet comprising:a toilet bowl having sides and a rim;a tank;a water supply having a horizontal passage configured to provide water from the tank to the sides and the rim of the toilet bowl;a diverter connected to the water supply and configured to direct water to a rear of the toilet bowl; anda plate including a plurality of spaced openings to feed water from the water supply to the diverter.

13. The toilet of claim 12, wherein the water supply includes an upper supply and a lower supply, wherein the lower supply is coupled to a sump jet and the upper supply is connected to a distribution cavity adjacent to the plate.

14. The toilet of claim 12, further comprising:a channel formed in a front side of the toilet bowl.

15. The toilet of claim 12, further comprising:a dual nozzle adjacent to the plate and configured to direct water horizontally to the sides of the rim.

16. The toilet of claim 15, wherein the dual nozzle and the plate are integrally formed.

17. The toilet of claim 15, further comprising:a rim shelf configured to carry the water on the sides of the rim around a circumference of the toilet bowl.

18. A method for assembling a toilet, the method comprising:forming a toilet bowl base integrated with a water passage and a rim plate, wherein the rim plate includes a plurality of spaced openings to feed water from the water passage;attaching a diverter to the toilet bowl base to direct water from the spaced openings to a toilet bowl; andplacing a tank in fluid connection with the water passage of toilet bowl base.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:forming a channel in a front side of the toilet bowl.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of spaced openings are semicircular.

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