Abstract:
A toilet bowl system comprising an electric spigot, an electric valve, and a control unit for controlling said electric spigot and said electric valve, and for operatively synchronizing said electric spigot with said electric valve.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to flushing systems for toilet bowls and more particularly, the present invention relates to a novel system and method for flushing a toilet bowl with no need for a tank reservoir and a siphon. The novel system utilizes an electric spigot installed in the upper portion of the toilet bowl, controlling the flushing water inlet, and a synchronized electric valve placed at the exit end of the toilet bowl. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
     The most common prior art toilet bowl includes a water tank reservoir positioned above the toilet bowl, whereas when the water is released, gravity is used to flush the toilet bowl. There is no sealed valve at the exit end of the toilet bowl and a siphon structured is used to prevent the return of flush water and waste and to prevent odor. When a control handle is manually operated, water in the tank passes into a toilet bowl that may contain waste, to flush the waste through an upper trap and through a passage leading to a drain pipe. The water-filled upper trap prevents sewer gas from passing into the washroom. 
     Some prior art water tanks include water saver mechanisms to reduce the amount of water passed into the bowl in each flushing, and uses a smaller toilet bowl to enable the contents of the bowl to be flushed out using less water. Water saving tanks often include to mechanical switches, one for the full tank release and on for releasing a portion of the water stored in the tank. Flush tanks often suffer from leaks and dual flush toilet double the probability of leaking from a flush valve to occur. 
     The water tank further includes mechanism, including many moving parts, gaskets, etc., that often break down and thus requires maintenance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a toilet bowl system including an electric spigot, an electric valve place and a control unit. The electric spigot is typically installed in the upper portion of the toilet bowl, and is controlled by the control unit to provide flushing water into the bowl, which synchronizes the electric spigot with the electric valve placed at the lower, exit end of the toilet bowl. The electric spigot provides water, typically pressured, to flush to toilet bowl. The electric valve provides an outlet for the water in the toilet bowl, possibly including waste, to the sewage. 
     To operate the toilet bowl system of the present invention, the user activates the control unit, for example using a switch or wireless relay. The control unit opens the electric spigot for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing water to enter the toilet bowl. The controller also opens the door of the electric valve, thereby providing an outlet for the water in the toilet bowl to flow out to the sewage. The door of the electric valve is opened for a predetermined period of time. After closing the door of the electric valve, the controller may open the electric spigot for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing water to enter and stay in the toilet bowl. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, the door of the electric valve is made of ferro-magnetic material and is opened and closed by an electromagnetic mechanism. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, the magnetic force holding the magnetic door is set to open when a preset force is pushing said magnetic door from inside out. Hence when the quantity of water in the toilet bowl exceeds a pre determined value, the door opens to prevent water overflow of the toilet bowl. 
     Optionally, the toilet bowl system of the present invention further includes a remote control device, which enables the user to set one or more parameters of the control unit, such as the electric spigot and/or electric valve opening time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration and example only and thus not limitative of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front prospective view illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a back prospective view illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door of the electric valve is in an open state; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the electric valve assembly is generally outside the bowl unit; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the electric valve assembly is generally inside the bowl unit; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, showing an example location of the control unit; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view schematic illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door of the electric valve is in a close state; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view schematic illustration of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door of the electric valve is in an open state; 
         FIG. 9  is a side and front view illustrations of the door of an electric valve of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door is in a close state; 
         FIG. 10   a  is a top view illustration of the door of an electric valve of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door is in a partially open state; 
         FIG. 10   b  is a cross section illustration of the door of an electric valve of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door is in a partially open state; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view illustration of an electric valve of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an example illustration of the magnetic field of a coil of an electric valve of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13   a  is a top view illustration of an electric valve assembly of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13   b  is a cross section illustration of an electric valve assembly of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door is in a close state; 
         FIG. 14   a  is a top view illustration of an electric valve assembly of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14   b  is a cross section illustration of an electric valve assembly of a toilet bowl system, according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas the door is in a partially open state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a toilet bowl system including an electric spigot, an electric valve place and a control unit. The electric spigot is typically installed in the upper portion of the toilet bowl, and is controlled by the control unit to provide flushing water into the bowl, which synchronizes the electric spigot with the electric valve placed at the lower, exit end of the toilet bowl. 
     Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of design and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention. Toilet bowl system  100  includes an electric spigot  110 , an electric valve  120  and a controller  130 , that controls and synchronizes the operational activity of electric spigot  110  and electric valve  120 . 
     Reference is also made to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which are, respectively, a front and back prospective view illustrations of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention. The toilet bowl body  150  and seat  160  the same as in ordinary, prior art toilet device and toilet bowl system  100  can be integrated into an ordinary, prior art toilet device. In  FIG. 3 , back housing part  125  of electric valve  120  is seen extending out of the exit pipe of toilet body  150 . Reference is also made to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which show side view illustrations of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas in  FIG. 4  electric valve assembly  120  is generally integrated outside toilet bowl body  150 , and in  FIG. 5  electric valve assembly  120  is generally integrated inside toilet bowl body  150 . Reference is also made to  FIG. 6 , which shows a side view illustration of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention, showing an example location of control unit  130 . 
     It should be noted that a toilet body  150  of the present invention does not need a siphon mechanism to operate but can work as well with a toilet bowl  150  having a siphon mechanism.  FIGS. 7 and 8  show side view schematic illustrations of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas toilet bowl  150  have no siphon mechanism. 
     To operate toilet bowl system  100 , the user activates, for example using a switch or wireless relay, controller  130 , which opens electric spigot  110  for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing water to enter toilet bowl  150 . Electric controller  130  also opens door  122  of electric valve  120 , thereby providing an outlet for the water in toilet bowl  150  to flow out to the sewage. Door  122  of electric valve  120  is opened for a predetermined period of time. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, controller  130  opens electric spigot  110  for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing a predetermined quantity of water to enter toilet bowl  150 . Then controller  130  closes electric spigot  110 . Typically, the water entering the toilet bowl, are pressured water. The accumulated water including any possible waste are then released to the sewage, when controller  130  opens door  122  of electric valve  120  and closing door  122  after a predetermined period of time.  FIG. 7  shows door  122  of electric valve  120  in a close state and  FIG. 8  shows door  122  of electric valve  120  in an open state. Optionally, controller  130  opens electric spigot  110  for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing a predetermined quantity of water to enter and stay at the bottom toilet bowl  150 . Toilet bowl system  100  is now ready for the next operation cycle. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, controller  130  opens electric spigot  110  for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing a predetermined quantity of water to enter toilet bowl  150 . Typically, the water entering the toilet bowl, are pressured water. The accumulated water including any possible waste are then released to the sewage, when controller  130  opens door  122  of electric valve  120  and closing door  122  after a predetermined period of time. Then controller  130  closes electric spigot  110  after allowing a predetermined quantity of water to enter and stay at the bottom toilet bowl  150 . Toilet bowl system  100  is now ready for the next operation cycle. Optionally, controller  130  closes electric spigot  110  when closing electric valve  120 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 9 , which shows a side and front view illustrations of door  122  of an electric valve  120  of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas door  122  is in a close state. Reference is also made to  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , which respectively show a top and a side, cross section A-A view illustrations of door  122  of an electric valve  120  of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas door  122  is in a semi open state. Door  122  opens about axis  126 . 
     The mechanism for opening door  122  can be any electrical mechanism. One embodiment, using an electromagnetic field, will be described by way of example hereinafter, but other embodiments can be implemented within the scope of this invention, such as using an electrically-heated shape memory alloy, a stepper motor, etc. 
     Reference is also made to  FIG. 11 , which shows an exploded, side perspective view illustration of an electric valve assembly  120  of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas door  122  is in an open state. Electric valve  120  includes housing parts, adaptive to toilet bowl  150  and sewage pipe structure, such as back housing part  125  and back housing part  129 . Typically, electric valve assembly  120  also includes parts to assure the sealing of the various parts of electric valve assembly  120 , such as sealing gaskets. In embodiments of the present invention, electric valve assembly  120  also includes coil  124 . When an electrical current flows in one direction, a magnetic field, having a certain polarity, is formed. When the current direction is reversed, the polarity of the magnetic field is inverted.  FIG. 12  shows an example illustration of magnetic field  123  of coil  124  of an electric valve  120  of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention. At least a portion of door  122  is made of ferro-magnetic material, such as a permanent magnet. When an electrical current flows in one direction, a magnetic field  123  is formed, having a polarity to attract magnetic door  122  and thereby creating a force that closes door  122 . When the current direction is reversed, the polarity of magnetic field  123  is inverted to repel magnetic door  122  and thereby creating a force that opens door  122 . 
     Reference is also made to  FIGS. 13   a ,  13   b ,  14   a  and  14   b .  FIG. 13   a  is a top view illustration of an electric valve assembly  120  of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 13   b  is a cross section D-D illustration of electric valve assembly  120  shown in  FIG. 13   a , whereas door  122  is forced to close by the magnetic field induced by coil  124 .  FIG. 14   a  is a top view illustration of an electric valve assembly  120  of a toilet bowl system  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 14   b  is a cross section C-C illustration of electric valve assembly  120  shown in  FIG. 14   a , whereas door  122  is forced to open by the magnetic field induced by coil  124 . 
     In embodiments of the present invention, electric valve assembly  120  further includes a gasket  127 , which is made of a para-magnetic material, such as steel. Gasket  127  keeps door  122  closed in the presence of force exerted by a standing column of water of certain height present in the toilet bowl. When the force exerted by the standing column of water present in the toilet bowl exceeds some threshold value, door  122  will open to release the water into the sewage. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the portion of door  122  that is closer to axis  126  is made of non-magnetic material and the portion of door  122  that is distal from axis  126  is made of ferro-magnetic material. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, controller  130  of toilet bowl system  100  includes enabling a user to set one or more system parameters, such as electric valve and spigot opening times, using wireless communication between main controller  130  and a remote control device. 
     The invention being thus described in terms of embodiments and examples, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.