Patent Publication Number: US-11021861-B2

Title: Toilet with collection chamber

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/626,731, filed Feb. 6, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present application relates generally to a toilet bowl assembly. In particular, the present application relates to a toilet bowl assembly that includes a reservoir and an internal rim cavity in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
     Generally speaking, a toilet may include a reservoir that provides water to a bowl of the toilet during a flushing operation (e.g., after a user has depressed a handle of the toilet, etc.). The flushing operation is typically initiated after waste or other solids have been deposited in the bowl. A volume of water is typically present in the bowl when the solids are deposited in the bowl. When this volume of water is below a threshold, a water seal depth of the toilet may not be maintained after the toilet is flushed. The water seal depth represents an amount of water in the bowl necessary to prevent gases from downstream components (e.g., gases from sewage pipes, septic tanks, etc.) from flowing upstream into the toilet bowl and into a room within which the toilet is located. A toilet is undesirable if it is unable to maintain the water seal depth after a flushing operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure is related to a toilet. The toilet includes a bowl portion, a rim portion, and a reservoir. The bowl portion defines a bowl cavity that is in fluid connection with a trapway. The bowl cavity is configured to hold a volume of water to provide a water seal for the trapway. The rim portion extends about an upper portion of the bowl portion. The rim portion defines an internal rim cavity that extends about an upper portion of the rim portion and a plurality of apertures that extend from the internal rim cavity and through a sidewall of the rim portion to direct water from the internal rim cavity to the bowl cavity. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the internal rim cavity and the bowl cavity and is configured to receive a supply of pressurized water from a water source and direct at least a portion of the pressurized water to the internal rim cavity. The reservoir is configured to receive and store a portion of the pressurized water supplied by the water source during a flush cycle. The reservoir is also configured to release the portion of the pressurized water to the internal rim cavity after the flush cycle, such that the portion of the pressurized water flows to the bowl cavity and facilitates maintaining of the water seal provided by the volume of water in the bowl cavity during the flush cycle and after the flush cycle. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure is related to a toilet. The toilet includes a bowl portion, a rim portion, and a reservoir. The bowl portion defines a bowl cavity. The rim portion defines an internal rim cavity and a plurality of apertures. The rim cavity extends about the bowl cavity. The plurality of apertures each extend from the internal rim cavity and through a sidewall of the rim portion such that the internal rim cavity is in fluid communication with the bowl cavity. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the internal rim cavity and the bowl cavity. The reservoir includes a transfer channel and a collection chamber. The transfer channel is in fluid communication with the internal rim cavity and defined by a first wall and a second wall parallel to the first wall. The first wall and the second wall are separated by a first distance. The collection chamber is contiguous with the transfer channel and in fluid communication with the transfer channel. The collection chamber has a width larger than the first distance. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure is related to a toilet. The toilet includes a bowl portion, a rim portion, and a reservoir. The bowl portion includes a bowl cavity. The rim portion extends about an upper portion of the bowl portion. The rim portion includes a hole, an internal rim cavity, and a plurality of apertures. The internal rim cavity extends about the bowl cavity. The internal rim cavity is in fluid communication with the hole. Each of the plurality of apertures provide for fluid communication between the internal rim cavity and the bowl cavity. The reservoir provides for fluid communication between the hole and the internal rim cavity. The reservoir includes a transfer channel and a collection chamber. The transfer channel is defined by a first width. The collection chamber is contiguous with the transfer channel and defined by a second width greater than the first width. The hole is disposed within the collection chamber. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a toilet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of another toilet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of a portion of a rim assembly for a toilet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the rim assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart for a process of using a toilet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A toilet removes waste deposited therein by flushing water from the toilet. After the waste has been removed from the toilet, the toilet is filled with water such that the toilet is ready to remove additional waste from the toilet. The depth of the water in the toilet is related to the ability of the toilet to prohibit the permeation of gases (e.g., noxious gases, methane, etc.) from downstream septic components through the water and out from the toilet. The depth of the water in the toilet can vary depending on how much waste is removed therefrom. For example, when a relatively large amount of waste is removed from the toilet the depth of the water in the toilet thereafter may be less than the depth of the water after a relatively small amount of waste is removed from the toilet. In some instances, where a relatively large amount of waste is removed from the toilet, the depth of the water in the toilet may be insufficient to prohibit the permeation of gases through the water. 
     Various embodiments herein relate to a toilet that is capable of ensuring that the depth of water in the toilet is always sufficient to prohibit the permeation of gases through the water, even when relatively large amounts of waste are removed from the toilet. The present disclosure describes a toilet with an inlet chamber that fills with water during a flush cycle where waste is removed from a basin of the toilet and releases the water into the basin after the flush cycle such that a depth of water in the basin substantially prohibits the permeation of gases through the water. The inlet chamber collects water during the flush cycle due to the incorporation of a collection chamber in the inlet chamber. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a toilet (e.g., commode, etc.), shown as a toilet  100 , is shown. In various embodiments, the toilet  100  is a Flushometer toilet. The toilet  100  is configured to selectively perform a flush cycle. The flush cycle is typically initiated after waste or other solids have been deposited in the toilet  100 . A volume of water is present in the toilet  100  before the flush cycle has been performed. The toilet  100  operates to ensure that this volume is above a threshold below which a water seal depth may not be maintained. In this way, the toilet  100  is capable of being more desirable than conventional toilets which may be unable to maintain a water seal depth in some situations. 
     The flush cycle includes a main flush and a refill. During the main flush, water is drained from the toilet  100  (e.g., to remove waste and solids, etc.) by opening a valve. During the refill, water is provided to the toilet  100  while, or after, the water is drained from the toilet  100 . The valve is open during the refill and facilitates filling of the toilet  100  with water. Once a target amount of water has been provided to the toilet  100 , the valve is closed and the flush cycle is completed. As will be described in more detail herein, a water seal depth of the toilet  100  is maintained after the flush cycle has been completed due to the collection and release of a target amount water from an inlet chamber of the toilet  100 . 
     The toilet  100  is supplied with water by a conduit (e.g., pipe, etc.), shown as a conduit  102 . The conduit  102  protrudes from a wall (e.g., surface, etc.) and connects to an assembly (e.g., mechanism, etc.), shown as a valve assembly  104 . The valve assembly  104  controls the flow of water from the conduit  102  into the toilet  100 , and therefore similarly controls the removal of water from within the toilet  100 . The valve assembly  104  includes a handle (e.g., lever, arm, etc.), shown as a handle  106 . The handle  106  is movable to cause the valve assembly  104  to initiate the flush cycle. 
     The toilet  100  also includes a conduit, shown as a conduit  108 . The conduit  108  is connected to the valve assembly  104 . The conduit  108  is also connected to a hole (e.g., spud hole, aperture, opening, etc.), shown as a hole  110 . The hole  110  is located a portion (e.g., rim portion, etc.), shown as a rim  112 , of the toilet  100 . The rim  112  is coupled (e.g., fastened, adhered, attached, etc.) to a portion (e.g., bowl portion, etc.), shown as a base  114 , of the toilet  100 . The base  114  supports to the toilet  100  on a ground surface and/or a wall surface. The base  114  defines a basin (e.g., bowl cavity, etc.), shown as a basin  116 . The basin  116  also includes a basin outlet (not shown) which is communicable with a trapway, shown as a trapway  118 . The basin  116  is configured to selectively hold a volume of water to provide a seal for the trapway  118 . The trapway  118  is selectively provides the water from the basin  116  to an outlet of the toilet (not shown) connected to downstream septic components (e.g., septic pipes, septic tanks, etc.). 
     When the flush cycle is initiated (e.g., when the handle  106  is articulated, etc.), water is drawn from the basin  116  and simultaneously or subsequently provided to the conduit  108 . The water that is provided to the conduit  108  is passed into the hole  110 , between the rim  112  and the base  114 , into the basin  116 , out of the basin  116 , into the trapway  118 , and out of the toilet  100  into downstream septic components. Once a target amount of water has been drawn from the basin  116  (e.g., to allow for the waste and other solids to be expelled from the toilet  100 , etc.), water is no longer drained from the basin  116  and instead the water refills the basin  116 . 
     Gases from downstream sewage components can be emitted from a toilet if the depth of the water in a basin of the toilet is less than a water seal depth (e.g., trap seal depth, etc.). The water seal depth is a depth of water that must be present in the basin to substantially prohibit gases from being emitted from the toilet. For example, the water seal depth may be two inches. The water seal depth may be standardized by an agency or organization (e.g., the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, etc.). 
     Conventional Flushometer toilets may fill a basin such that the depth of water in the basin after a flush cycle is less than the water seal depth, thereby causing gases to escape the toilet. This may occur after, for example, a large amount of waste has been deposited in the toilet. As will be explained in more detail herein, the toilet  100  includes an inlet chamber that collects water during a flush cycle (e.g., during the refill) and releases water into the basin  116  after the flush cycle has been completed (e.g., after the refill) in order to maintain at least a depth of water in the basin  116  that is equal to the water seal depth. 
     The toilet  100  also includes a seat, shown as a seat  120 . In an exemplary embodiment, the seat  120  is coupled to the rim  112 . The seat  120  is movable between a first position, where the seat  120  contacts the rim  112 , and a second position, where the seat  120  does not contact the rim  112 . 
     In some embodiments, the valve assembly  104  is configured such that the handle  106  may cause the valve assembly  104  to initiate multiple different flush cycles (e.g., a flush cycle for liquid waste, a flush cycle for solid waste, etc.). In addition to, or in place of, the handle  106 , the valve assembly  104  may incorporate a sensor (e.g., motion sensor, light sensor, occupancy sensor, etc.) configured to selectively cause the valve assembly  104  to initiate a flush cycle. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the rim  112  in greater detail using a bottom perspective view of the rim  112  in  FIG. 3  and a bottom view of the rim  112  in  FIG. 4 . After the water enters the hole  110  from the conduit  108 , the water enters a reservoir, shown as an inlet chamber  300 . In addition to functioning to pass water from the conduit  108  to the basin  116 , the inlet chamber  300  collects water during a flush cycle such that after the flushing cycle (e.g., after the refill) has been completed, collected water is drained (e.g., completely drained, drained such that no water remains in the inlet chamber  300 , etc.), due to the force of gravity on the water, from the inlet chamber  300  into the basin  116  such that the depth of water in the basin  116  is at least equal to the water seal depth of the toilet  100 . In this way, the inlet chamber  300  facilitates desirable operation of the toilet regardless of the amount of waste and/or solids removed from the toilet  100  during a flush cycle (e.g., during the main flush). 
     The inlet chamber  300  is oversized and includes geometric features configured to facilitate collection of water during the flush cycle. Specifically, the inlet chamber  300  includes a first portion, shown as a collection chamber  302  (e.g., accumulator chamber, water accumulator chamber, etc.), and a second portion, shown as a transfer channel  304 , which is contiguous with the collection chamber  302 . The hole  110  is positioned such that water from the conduit  108  flows into the inlet chamber  300  through the collection chamber  302 . 
     The collection chamber  302  is generally trapezoidal in shape and includes a first wall (e.g., face, surface, boundary, border, etc.), shown as a first wall  306 , a second wall, shown as a second wall  308 , and a third wall, shown as a third wall  310 . The second wall  308  is contiguous with the first wall  306  and the third wall  310 . The collection chamber  302  also includes a fourth wall, shown as a fourth wall  312 , and a fifth wall, shown as a fifth wall  314 . The fourth wall  312  is contiguous with the first wall  306  and the fifth wall  314 . The first wall  306  is generally parallel to the third wall  310  and the fifth wall  314 . In this way, the second wall  308  and the fourth wall  312  taper from the third wall  310  and the fifth wall  314 , respectively, to the first wall  306 . An aperture between an endpoint of the third wall  310  and an endpoint of the fifth wall  314  facilitates communication between the collection chamber  302  and the transfer channel  304 . 
     Water from the hole  110  collects in the collection chamber  302  due to the trapezoidal shape of the collection chamber  302  and because the third wall  310  and the fifth wall  314  each extend from the transfer channel  304 . Specifically, this shape causes water to be forced into a pocket formed between the second wall  308  and the third wall  310  and into a pocket formed between the fourth wall  312  and the fifth wall  314 . 
     Conventional Flushometer toilets do not have inlet chambers with structures similar to the collection chamber  302 . Instead, conventional toilets have straight and rectangular inlet chambers. These inlet chambers do not function to collect water during the flush cycle for the purpose of providing the water after the flush cycle has been completed in order to maintain a depth of water in the toilet that is equal to the water seal depth. In some applications, the collection chamber  302  may provide the inlet chamber  300  with, for example, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or more additional volume than convention straight and rectangular inlet chambers. 
     The transfer channel  304  is generally rectangular and includes a first wall, shown as a first wall  316 , and a second wall, shown as a second wall  318 . The first wall  316  is generally parallel to the second wall  318 . The first wall  316  is contiguous with the third wall  310  and the second wall  318  is contiguous with the fifth wall  314 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a distance, D 1 , is defined between the first wall  316  and the second wall  318 , a distance, D 2 , is defined between an apex of the second wall  308  and the third wall  310  and an apex of the fourth wall  312  and the fifth wall  314 , and a distance, D 3 , is defined between an endpoint of the second wall  308  and an endpoint of the fourth wall  312 . D 1  is less than D 2 . In various embodiments, D 1  is less than D 3 . However, in some applications, D 1  may be greater than D 3 . In many embodiments, D 3  is less than D 2 . However, in other embodiments, D 3  is greater than D 2 . 
     The inlet chamber  300  defines a target amount of water that is collected in the inlet chamber  300  during a flush cycle. For example, the inlet chamber  300  may collect 0.01 gallons of water, 0.1 gallons of water, 0.25 gallons of water, 0.5 gallons of water, and other similar amounts. The configuration of the inlet chamber  300  establishes the target amount of water that is collected in the inlet chamber  300  during the flush cycle. For example, the volume of the collection chamber  302 , the length of the third wall  310 , the length of the fifth wall  314 , the angle between the second wall  308  and the third wall  310 , the angle between the fourth wall  312  and the fifth wall  314 , and other similar characteristics of the inlet chamber  300  can be altered to configure the inlet chamber  300  to collect the target amount of water during the flush cycle. The target amount of water may be based on characteristics of the toilet  100  such as, for example, a gallon per flush (GPF) rating of the toilet  100 , a capacity of the basin  116  and other similar characteristics. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the third wall  310  and the fifth wall  314  each extend substantially perpendicularly from the first wall  316  and the second wall  318 , respectively. In other embodiments, the third wall  310  and the fifth wall  314  do not extend perpendicularly from the first wall  316  and the second wall  318 , respectively, and are not parallel with the first wall  306 . Instead, the third wall  310  extends at an angle (e.g., forty-five degrees, thirty degrees, sixty degrees, etc.) relative to the first wall  316  and the fifth wall  314  extends at an angle relative to the second wall  318 . 
     The transfer channel  304  contains an opening, shown as an opening  320 , that provides the water from the inlet chamber  300  to a channel (e.g., internal rim cavity, passageway, runner, etc.), shown as a channel  322 . The channel  322  is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber  300  and is positioned within the rim  112 . The channel  322  is circular, oval, or similarly shaped, and circumscribes an opening, shown as an opening  324 , in the rim  112 . The rim  112  is aligned with the base  114  such that the opening  324  is substantially contiguous with, or adjacent to, the basin  116 . 
     The channel  322  is not intended to substantially store water (e.g., for using in a flush cycle, etc.). Instead, the channel  322  functions as a conduit between the inlet chamber  300 , where water is stored, and the basin  116 . In this way, the rim  112  is capable of having a slim and sleek profile proximate the opening  324 , rather than a bulky and large profile as would be required if water was stored in the channel  322 . 
     The rim  112  also includes a plurality of openings (e.g., jet holes, etc.), shown as holes  326 , circumscribing the opening  324  and each being communicable with the channel  322 . Water is provided from the collection chamber  302  to the transfer channel  304 , through the opening  320 , into the channel  322 , and out of the holes  326 . The water is then propelled from the holes  326  onto and/or into the basin  116  to flush the waste and/or other solids from the toilet  100  and to refill the basin  116  to maintain the water seal depth. 
     The rim  112  also includes a surface, shown as a bottom surface  328 . The bottom surface  328  extends along the rim  112  and is disposed along a single plane such that the rim  112  may be mounted flush against the base  114  and no water may leak between the base  114  and the rim  112 . The bottom surface  328  is contiguous with the first wall  306 , the second wall  308 , the third wall  310 , the fourth wall  312 , the fifth wall  314 , the first wall  316 , and the second wall  318 . In some embodiments, a gasket, seal, or sealant is incorporated between the rim  112  and the base  114 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a process, shown as a process  500 , for using the toilet  100 . Before the process begins (block  502 ), the toilet  100  is in the initial state. For example, the toilet  100  may be initial state before the handle  106  has been actuated (e.g., before waste has been deposited into the toilet  100 , etc.). Once the handle  106  has been depressed (block  504 ), the flush cycle is initiated. For example, a user may articulate the handle  106  after waste has been deposited into the toilet  100 . 
     The valve of the valve assembly  104  is then opened (block  506 ), causing water to be provided to the basin  116  while water is simultaneously drained from the basin  116 . After the flush cycle has been initiated, any waste deposited in the toilet  100  may be carried out of the basin  116  along with the water. As the water is provided to the basin  116 , the inlet chamber  300  is filled with a target amount of water (block  508 ). For example, the water may collect in the collection chamber  302  as the water flows through the inlet chamber  300 . 
     After a target amount of water has been drained from the basin  116 , the valve of the valve assembly  104  is closed (block  510 ), thereby causing water to cease being drained from the basin  116 , and the flush cycle is complete. Unlike conventional toilets, the toilet  100  provides additional water to the basin  116  after the flush cycle has been completed. After the flush cycle has been completed, a target amount water drains from the collection chamber  302  into the basin  116  (block  512 ) after the valve of the valve assembly  104  is closed. The target amount of water ensures that a depth of water in the basin  116  is at least equal to the water seal depth. After the water has been provided from the inlet chamber  300  to the basin  116 , the inlet chamber  300  is substantially empty until another flush cycle is initiated and more water is provided to the inlet chamber  300 . The inlet chamber  300  is not filled with water prior to the initiation of a flush cycle, as is done with reservoirs of some toilets. 
     As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “parallel,” “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 invention as recited in the appended claims. It is understood that the term “parallel” is intended to encompass de minimus variations as would be understood to be within the scope of the disclosure by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Additionally, the word “exemplary” is used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples). Rather, use of the word “exemplary” is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
     The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. 
     References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) 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. 
     The construction and arrangement of the elements of the toilet  100 , the inlet chamber  300 , the collection chamber  302 , and all other elements and assemblies as shown in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. 
     Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Also, for example, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration, and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.