Sanitary appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary appliance (1), at least comprising a sanitary basin (2) and a seat (3) as components of the sanitary appliance (1), wherein a nozzle (4) is provided on at least one of the components, the nozzle being fluidically connectable to a reservoir (5) for a cleaning agent (6), and the cleaning agent (6) comprising not only water but at least in part chemical additives; and wherein the nozzle (4) is positioned such that with cleaning agent (6) exiting the nozzle (4) cleaning agent (6) can be applied to at least one of the components.

Description

[0001] Grohe AG

[0002] P24-0051W001

[0003] - 1 - Sanitary facilities

[0004] The present invention relates to a sanitary installation. Such sanitary installations, for example in the form of toilet installations, can serve to receive excrement or liquid and / or solid bodily excretions.

[0005] Sanitary facilities typically include a basin that can be cleaned after use with a flushing fluid, particularly water. For this purpose, the sanitary facility may, for example, be connected to a cistern to hold the flushing fluid, with a drain valve controlling the flow of the flushing fluid from the cistern into the basin.

[0006] The sanitary basin is attached to a building wall or a wall-mounted element at a height that allows a user of the sanitary facility to sit comfortably on the sanitary basin.

[0007] Such sanitary fixtures are usually cleaned manually. The components of the fixture—the basin, seat, and lid—are treated with a cleaning agent. This cleaning agent does not consist solely of water, but also contains at least some chemical additives, particularly suitable for limescale removal and / or germicidal purposes, which are used either in their pure form or mixed with water.

[0008] Minimal dosing is difficult to achieve with manual cleaning. Therefore, too much cleaning agent (more than actually needed) is usually used, resulting in unnecessary environmental pollution. Grohe AG

[0009] P24-0051W001

[0010] - 2 -

[0011] The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and in particular to provide a way to clean the sanitary facilities regularly and in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

[0012] This problem is solved by a sanitary fitting according to the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful way and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features specified in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, which also presents further preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0013] This is achieved using a sanitary fixture that includes at least a sink and a seat as components. At least one of the components (i.e., the sink or seat, or possibly a cover of the sanitary fixture) is equipped with at least one nozzle that can be fluidically connected to a reservoir for a cleaning agent. The cleaning agent does not consist solely of water, but also contains at least some chemical additives. The at least one nozzle is positioned so that the cleaning agent exiting the nozzle can be applied to at least one of the components (in particular, the sink or seat).

[0014] Sanitary facilities are particularly suitable for use in sanitary rooms, which may be used, for example, for personal hygiene. For instance, sanitary facilities can be designed as toilets, (seated) toilets, WCs, urinals, or bidets.

[0015] The sanitary facility includes a sanitary basin. This basin can be, for example, a toilet bowl, a urinal bowl, or a bidet bowl. The sanitary basin serves, for example, to collect excrement. Grohe AG

[0016] P24-0051W001

[0017] - 3 -

[0018] To remove excrement from the sanitary basin, the sanitary basin can be rinsed, in particular with a rinsing liquid, especially water.

[0019] The sanitary basin may have a siphon.

[0020] The sanitary basin has at least one seat for a user of the sanitary facility. The seat may be integrated with the sanitary basin or movable from it. The sanitary basin may also have a (toilet) lid. The sanitary basin may be made at least partially of ceramic, metal, and / or plastic.

[0021] The sanitary basin can be attached to a support (hereinafter also referred to as a pre-wall element) at its rear. The support can be, in particular, a wall, a building wall, or a mounting frame. Such mounting frames are known, for example, as pre-wall elements. These are attached to the building wall and then covered with a partition wall. Wall cladding elements, such as tiles, can then be attached to the partition wall. An access shaft or wall opening can be incorporated into the wall and / or the partition wall. The sanitary basin can be attached to the support, in particular at a distance from the floor / floor area or building floor.

[0022] The proposed sanitary installation includes, in particular, an integrated cleaning system for the sanitary installation or for one of its components. For this purpose, at least one nozzle is provided, which is fluidically connected to a reservoir for a cleaning agent, e.g., via a pipe. The at least one nozzle is positioned so that the cleaning agent exiting the nozzle can be applied to at least one of the components (in particular, the sanitary basin or seat). Grohe AG

[0023] P24-0051WQ01

[0024] -4 -

[0025] The cleaning agent stored in the reservoir does not consist exclusively of water, but at least partially of chemical additives, particularly suitable for limescale removal and / or germicidal action, which are stored in pure form in the reservoir or are already mixed with water.

[0026] The cleaning agent stored in the reservoir is (in the dosage or composition present in the reservoir and also in the composition in which it emerges from the nozzle) particularly not suitable for consumption.

[0027] The reservoir is not connected to a water supply system typically used to flush the sanitary fixtures. However, water from the water supply can be used to dilute the cleaning agent stored in the reservoir. In this case, the water supply is connected downstream of the reservoir via a pipe leading away from it.

[0028] The reservoir has a capacity for the cleaning agent of at most four liters, preferably at most two liters, and most preferably at most 0.5 liters. The reservoir is, in particular, (only) manually fillable and refillable, and is therefore not connected to a central source of cleaning agent (or to a water supply).

[0029] In particular, the cleaning agent can be pumped from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle. Specifically, a water supply can be connected downstream of the reservoir and upstream of the pump, so that the cleaning agent can be supplied to the nozzle along with water.

[0030] In particular, at least (or exclusively) the sanitary basin can be treated by the cleaning agent emerging from the at least one nozzle. Grohe AG

[0031] P24-0051W001

[0032] -5 -

[0033] In particular, at least the seat (possibly together with the sanitary basin; or exclusively) can be treated with the cleaning agent emerging from the at least one nozzle.

[0034] In particular, the at least one nozzle (exclusively or additionally to an arrangement in the sanitary basin) is arranged in the seat or in a cover of the sanitary fixture.

[0035] In particular, the at least one nozzle is formed integrally with the respective component. "Integrated" means, in particular, that the nozzle is permanently (only destructively) connected to the respective component. Specifically, the component, together with the at least one nozzle, can be manufactured, for example, by a primary forming process (e.g., casting, especially injection molding). In particular, at least one line through which the cleaning agent can be conveyed to the at least one nozzle can also be formed integrally with the respective component.

[0036] In particular, the sanitary installation comprises at least one assembly that includes at least the reservoir and a pump through which the cleaning agent can be conveyed from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle. The assembly is, in particular, a pre-assembled unit that may be positioned at a distance from the respective component. The pump may, for example, be connected to a line that is formed on the component together with the nozzle. Alternatively or additionally, the assembly may already include at least one line that can be connected to a line or to the at least one nozzle.

[0037] In particular, the sanitary facility includes at least one sensor for detecting its use or, additionally, a control device so that at least one component can be dispensed with the cleaning agent when the sanitary facility is used. Grohe AG

[0038] P24-0051W001

[0039] - 6 -

[0040] In particular, the sensor is designed to detect movement of one of the components of the sanitary installation (e.g. as a reed sensor or similar).

[0041] In particular, the sensor is a contact sensor or a motion sensor, which can detect, for example, the movement of a lid or the seat. The sensor can also be a weight sensor or an infrared sensor, which can detect a user using the sanitary facility. If the sensor detects use of the sanitary facility, a cleaning agent can be dispensed from at least one nozzle immediately or after a delay.

[0042] For example, cleaning agent may be ejected if a seat or lid is moved, or if a user uses the sanitary facility in any other way (sits on it, flushes, etc.).

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning agent can be dispensed (purely) on a time-based basis (e.g. at certain times of day or night, at certain intervals, etc.).

[0044] Alternatively or additionally, the application of the cleaning agent to at least one component can be triggered manually, e.g. via a push button or similar.

[0045] A further assembly is proposed, comprising at least one component of a sanitary fixture, wherein the component has at least one nozzle. The assembly additionally includes a reservoir for a cleaning agent and a pump, wherein the pump conveys the cleaning agent from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle. The component is a sanitary basin, a seat, or a cover. Grohe AG

[0046] P24-0051W001

[0047] - 7 -

[0048] In particular, the control device includes means that are suitable for carrying out the described control of a pump and / or communication with a sensor, or that perform the control and / or communication.

[0049] The means include, for example, a processor and a memory in which instructions to be executed by the processor are stored, as well as data lines or transmission devices that enable the transmission of instructions, measurements, data or the like between the aforementioned elements.

[0050] The “means” may include, in particular, one or more of the following components: control unit, microcontroller, data storage, data connection, display devices (such as a display), counter or timer, at least one other sensor, a power source, etc.

[0051] Furthermore, a computer program is proposed, comprising commands which, when executed by a computer, cause it to perform the described control of a pump and / or communication with a sensor.

[0052] Furthermore, a computer-readable storage medium is proposed, comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause it to perform the described control of a pump and / or communication with a sensor.

[0053] The statements regarding the sanitary installation are particularly applicable to the control device and / or the computer-implemented method (i.e., the computer program and the computer-readable storage medium) and vice versa. Grohe AG

[0054] P24-0051W001

[0055] - 8 -

[0056] The use of indefinite articles (“a”, “an”, “one”, and “one”), particularly in the patent claims and the description reproducing them, is to be understood as such and not as a numeral. Accordingly, terms or components introduced by these articles are to be understood as occurring at least once and, in particular, may also occur multiple times.

[0057] It should be noted as a precaution that the numerical terms used here ("first", "second", etc.) primarily serve (only) to distinguish between several similar objects, quantities, or processes, and thus do not necessarily dictate any dependency and / or sequence between these objects, quantities, or processes. Should a dependency and / or sequence be required, this is explicitly stated here, or it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art upon studying the specific configuration described. Where a component can occur multiple times ("at least one"), the description of one of these components may apply equally to all or some of the multiple components, but this is not mandatory.

[0058] The invention and its technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the figures, and especially the depicted dimensions, are only schematic. They show:

[0059] Fig. 1: A first embodiment of a sanitary installation, in a perspective view; and

[0060] Fig. 2: a second design variant of a sanitary installation in a perspective view

[0061] View. Grohe AG

[0062] P24-0051W001

[0063] - 9 -

[0064] Figures 1 and 2 each show a sanitary installation 1 in the form of a toilet. The sanitary installations 1 each comprise a sanitary basin 2 with a seat 3, which is attached to a wall-mounted element 12.

[0065] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a sanitary installation 1 in a perspective view. Reference is made to the preceding descriptions.

[0066] The sanitary installation 1 comprises a sanitary basin 2, a seat 3, and a cover 7 as components. A plurality of nozzles 4 are arranged on the sanitary basin 2 and are fluidically connected to a reservoir 5 for a cleaning agent 6. The nozzles 4 are arranged such that the cleaning agent 6 exiting the nozzles 4 can affect at least one of the components (sanitary basin 2 or seat 3).

[0067] The sanitary installation 1 includes an integrated cleaning system for the sanitary installation 1 or for one of its components. For this purpose, numerous nozzles 4 are provided, which are fluidically connected to the reservoir 5 for the cleaning agent 6 via a line 13.

[0068] The cleaning agent 6 stored in reservoir 5 does not consist exclusively of water, but at least partially of chemical additives, in particular suitable for limescale removal and / or germicidal action, which are stored in pure form in reservoir 5 or are already mixed with water.

[0069] Reservoir 5 is not connected to a water supply to which sanitary fixture 1 is normally connected for flushing sanitary basin 2. However, water from the water supply can be used, if necessary, to dilute the cleaning agent 6 stored in reservoir 5. Grohe AG

[0070] P24-0051W001

[0071] - 10 -

[0072] The cleaning agent 6 can be pumped from the reservoir 5 to the nozzles 4 by a pump 9.

[0073] The sanitary fitting 1 comprises an assembly 8, which includes the reservoir 5, a sensor 10, a control device 11, a line 13, and the pump 9. The cleaning agent 6 can be pumped from the reservoir 5 to the nozzles 4 by the pump 9. The assembly 8 is a pre-assembled unit that is positioned at a distance from the sanitary basin 2 and the seat 3 or the cover 7.

[0074] The sanitary facility 1 has a sensor 10 for detecting use of the sanitary facility 1 and additionally a control device 11, so that at least one component can be supplied with the cleaning agent 6 when the sanitary facility 1 is used.

[0075] The sensor 10 is designed to detect movement of one of the components of the sanitary installation 1 (e.g. as a reed sensor or similar).

[0076] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a sanitary fitting 1 in a perspective view. Reference is made to the descriptions of Fig. 1.

[0077] In contrast to the first version, the nozzles 4 are arranged in the seat 3. The nozzles 4 are connected via a line 13 to the assembly 8, which is located at or integrated into the seat 3. Grohe AG

[0078] P24-0051W001

[0079] - 11 - List of reference symbols

[0080] 1 sanitary facility

[0081] 2 sanitary basins

[0082] 3-seater

[0083] 4 nozzles

[0084] 5 Reservoir

[0085] 6 cleaning agents

[0086] 7 lids

[0087] 8 Assembly

[0088] 9 pump

[0089] 10 Sensor

[0090] 11 Control device

[0091] 12 wall-mounted elements

[0092] 13 Management

Claims

Grohe AG P24-0051W001 - 12 - Patent claims 1. Sanitary installation (1), comprising at least a sanitary basin (2) and a seat (3) as components of the sanitary installation (1); wherein a nozzle (4) is arranged on at least one of the components, which can be fluidically connected to a reservoir (5) for a cleaning agent (6), wherein the cleaning agent (6) does not consist exclusively of water, but at least partially comprises chemical additives; wherein the nozzle (4) is arranged such that at least one of the components can be supplied with the cleaning agent (6) by means of the cleaning agent (6) exiting the nozzle (4).

2. Sanitary installation (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least the sanitary basin (2) can be acted upon by the cleaning agent (6) emerging from the at least one nozzle (4).

3. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the seat (3) can be acted upon by the cleaning agent (6) emerging from the at least one nozzle (4).

4. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one nozzle (4) is arranged in the seat (3) or in a cover (7) of the sanitary installation (1).

5. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one nozzle (4) is formed integrally with the respective component.

6. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, at least comprising an assembly (8) comprising at least the reservoir (5) and a pump (9), Grohe AG P24-0051W001 - 13 - through which the cleaning agent (6) can be conveyed from the reservoir (5) to at least one nozzle (4).

7. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a sensor (10) for detecting use of the sanitary installation (1) or additionally a control device (11) such that the at least one component can be supplied with the cleaning agent (6) when the sanitary installation (1) is used.

8. Sanitary installation (1) according to claim 7, wherein the sensor (10) is designed to detect a movement of one of the components of the sanitary installation (1).

9. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the application of the cleaning agent (6) to the at least one component can be triggered manually.

10. Assembly (8), comprising at least one component of a sanitary installation (1), wherein the component is a sanitary basin (2), a seat (3) or a cover (7); wherein the component has at least one nozzle (4); wherein the assembly (8) further comprises a reservoir (5) for a cleaning agent (6) and a pump (9) by which the cleaning agent (6) can be conveyed from the reservoir (5) to the at least one nozzle (4).

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