Patent Abstract:
Tilting Bowl Toilet comprises a frame, a toilet basin, and a tilting bowl. The tilting bowl is supported below the toilet basin to receive and hold water/waste delivered from the toilet basin. The tilting bowl tilts to discharge its content to drainage. The tilting bowl at standby is sustained to stay in a horizontal position by forces applied to the tilting bowl creating a resultant sustaining turning moment about its support axis. When the turning moment produced by the tilting bowl with its content becomes larger than the sustaining turning moment, the tilting bowl moves to a tilted position to discharge its content. The effective support axis shifts with respect to the tilting bowl as guided by a motion guide.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is a new version of tilting-bowl toilet that replaces siphon and zigzag water trap in tank toilets with a tilting bowl, thus annihilating most deficiencies associated with traditional tank toilets, including siphon noise and blocking. With optional sequential water ejection, optimum cleaning can be easily achieved even from low water pressure, resulting in significant saving of water and elimination of water tank. 
         [0003]    2. Brief Description of Prior Arts 
         [0004]    Major drawbacks of conventional toilets include necessity for a water tank or water pump to create high-pressured water to force water and waste through a zigzag water trap by siphon action, thus consuming big volume of water and making big siphon noise. Low-flow toilets available are often complained about high noise and insufficient cleaning, often necessitating double-flushing. 
         [0005]    Other prior arts include those with a small flappable stopper at discharge hole or hand-driven through complicated mechanism, are generally only used as vehicle toilets. 
         [0006]    Applicant&#39;s inventions of Tilting-bowl toilets have been granted U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,802,627 and 6,070,276 and 6,076,200. With improved tilting bowl movement, this new version further improves operation efficiency and minimizes toilet size. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toilet comprising: 
         [0008]    a frame defining a chamber, 
         [0009]    a toilet basin associated with said frame to define said chamber into an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region, said toilet basin defining at least one basin discharge opening in communication between said upper chamber region and said lower chamber region, 
         [0010]    a tilting bowl disposed generally in said lower chamber region, said tilting bowl defining a fluid-receiving volume, 
         [0011]    said tilting bowl supported for movement relative to said toilet basin between a substantially horizontal first position to receive and hold fluid communicated through said at least one basin discharge opening, and a second position permitting flow of fluid from said toilet basin, through said at least one basin discharge opening, and from said fluid-receiving volume into said lower chamber region, 
         [0012]    characterized in that 
         [0013]    said tilting bowl is sustained to remain in said first position by the resultant of forces applied to said tilting bowl, said resultant of forces producing a sustaining turning moment about the effective support axis at least sufficient to counterbalance the turning moment produced by said tilting bowl with its content, 
         [0014]    said tilting bowl moves from said first position toward said second position when said sustaining turning moment is smaller than said turning moment produced by said tilting bowl with its content, 
         [0015]    said tilting bowl movement is guided by at least one prescribed motion guide. 
         [0016]    In accordance with preferred embodiments of the toilet according to the present invention: 
         [0017]    the toilet further comprises triggering means to reduce said sustaining turning moment to start toilet operation. 
         [0018]    the toilet further comprises means to actuate said tilting bowl movement at predetermined fluid level of said fluid receiving volume. 
         [0019]    said fluid-receiving volume, in said first position, at least partially overlaps said toilet basin, and retains a volume of fluid sufficient to engage said at least one basin discharge opening in a manner to restrict flow of gas therethrough; 
         [0020]    said tilting bowl in said first position constitutes an impervious joint with said toilet basin to restrict gas in said lower chamber region from entering said fluid-receiving volume; 
         [0021]    the toilet further comprises means to restrict sewage gas from entering said lower chamber region; 
         [0022]    the toilet further comprises means for delivering water through a plurality of outlets disposed and arrayed to direct water in predetermined ejection order against said toilet basin for cleaning action; 
         [0023]    the toilet further comprises means for maintaining a predetermined fluid level in said fluid-receiving volume, with said tilting bowl disposed in said first position, said level maintaining means triggering delivery of water when a fluid level below said predetermined fluid level is detected and stopping delivery of water when a fluid level at least equal to said predetermined fluid level is detected; 
         [0024]    the toilet further comprises means to discharge excessive fluid when fluid level in said fluid-receiving volume exceeds a prescribed level; 
         [0025]    delivery of water to said plurality of outlets and movement of said tilting bowl from said first position toward said second position are actuated simultaneously after toilet is triggered to operate; 
         [0026]    delivery of water to said plurality of outlets and movement of said tilting bowl from said first position toward said second position are actuated at different time intervals after toilet is triggered to operate; 
         [0027]    the toilet further comprises means to disable triggering when said tilting bowl and/or water delivery is operating; 
         [0028]    said means to disable triggering is controlled by fluid level in said fluid-receiving volume; 
         [0029]    the toilet is adapted for manual triggering, and/or electronic triggering, and/or remote triggering, and/or automatic triggering in response to departure of user; 
         [0030]    said forces applied to said tilting bowl comprise constituents of gravity force and/or magnetic force and/or pneumatic force and/or hydraulic force and/or spring force and/or electrical force and/or electromagnetic force; 
         [0031]    said tilting bowl, is biased to return from said second position toward said first position; 
         [0032]    the toilet further comprises retard means to retard said tilting bowl from returning from said second position toward said first position; 
         [0033]    said at least one basin discharge opening is disposed generally above a bottom discharge hole and with a vertical projection view at least partially overlapping a vertical projection view of said bottom discharge hole; 
         [0034]    said plurality of outlets are arrayed to define an enclosure region disposed generally above said at least one basin discharge opening, said enclosure region casting a vertical projection view at least partially overlapping a vertical projection view of said at least one basin discharge opening and/or at least partially overlapping a vertical projection view of said bottom discharge hole; 
         [0035]    the toilet in separate parts comprises separate and/or foldable frame, separate and/or foldable toilet basin, separate and/or foldable tilting bowl, separate and/or foldable water storage container, and/or separate and/or foldable waste container; 
         [0036]    The objects, advantages and unique features of present invention will be illustrated and explained by the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0037]    In the appended drawings 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the toilet in accordance with the present invention, comprising a tilting bowl; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  shows the tilting bowl with grooves fitted to toilet basin studs. The studs form a support axis, and the grooves serve to guide the tilting bowl movement; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  shows the tilting bowl in tilted position; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  shows how the tilting bowl is supported to studs on toilet frame. The grooves serve to guide bowl movement; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment with switch to trigger tilting bowl movement; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  shows a preferred embodiment with water outlets to supply water for cleaning; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment with start switch capable of actuate both water supply and tilting bowl movement; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the toilet wherein tilting bowl movement is triggered with respect to a predetermined fluid level; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the toilet showing a dry gas seal between tilting bow and toilet basin; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the toilet showing preferred locations of array of jet outlets, basin discharge opening and bottom discharge hole; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a preferred self-installable embodiment with separate and/or foldable parts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0049]    A preferred embodiment of the toilet in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and is generally identified by the reference  1 . 
         [0050]    Toilet  1  comprises a frame  2  which supports a toilet basin  3  with a basin discharge opening  4  such that basin  3  partitions frame  2  into an upper chamber region  5  and a lower chamber region  6 , with discharge opening  4  forming a communication channel between them. Lower chamber region  6  comprises a bottom discharge hole  7  for discharging waste and water to sewage pipes outside the toilet (not shown). 
         [0051]    Inside lower chamber region  6 , a tilting bowl  8  is sustained to stay just below toilet basin  3  in a generally horizontal position during standby, and capable of tilting and moving toward a second location to discharge its content. Tilting bowl  8  comprises grooves  11  and  12 , one on each side in generally symmetrically opposite positions as shown in  FIG. 2A . The outer wall surface of basin  3  comprises 2 supporting studs  9  and  10  in generally symmetrically opposite positions as shown in  FIG. 2B . Studs  9  and  10  fit into grooves  11  and  12 , as shown in top-view cross-section diagram  FIG. 2C . Thus support studs  9  and  10  form an effective support axis  38  about which tilting bowl  8  can effect tilting movement. At standby, studs  9  and  10  are at the right ends of grooves  11  and  12  respectively. The studs and grooves are so shaped that when tilting bowl  8  starts tilting, the right ends of grooves  11  and  12  begin to loose grip with studs  9  and  10 , allowing tilting bowl  8  to move toward a second location with grooves  11  and  12  sliding about studs  9  and  10  respectively. Relatively support axis  38  simultaneously shifts from right ends of the grooves toward left ends of the grooves, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Hence grooves  11  and  12  serve as relative motion guides for support axis  38 , which in turn guides tilting bowl  8  for moving toward the second location and discharging its content. 
         [0052]    Since support grooves  11  and  12  are situated on one end of tilting bowl  8 , on the left end in this embodiment, in the horizontal standby position, the centre of gravity of bowl  8  together with its water content constitutes a turning moment tending to tilt bowl  8  in clockwise direction. A mass  15  is fixed to the left end of bowl  8  to form a counterclockwise turning moment to stop bowl  8  from tilting, tending to sustain bowl  8  in its horizontal position. Alternatively, bowl  8  may be purposely built with one end significantly heavier, (left end in this embodiment), to eliminate necessity of mass  15 . A small block  14  inside toilet frame  2  may also be added to assure bowl  8  not to exceed the generally horizontal position at standby. 
         [0053]    In its standby position, bowl  8  encompasses the lower part of basin  3 , and contains a standby volume of water  13  to seal off discharge opening  4  to stop sewage gas from passing through. When water is added to the toilet and flow into bowl  8 , its content weight increases and hence the clockwise movement turning moment increases. When water content increases to the extent that the movement turning moment exceeds the sustaining moment, bowl  8  starts to tilt and move toward the second position, with grooves  11  and  12  sliding about studs  9  and  10 . Relatively support axis  38  shifts from right ends toward left ends of the grooves simultaneously. As the support axis gradually shifts to the left side of bowl  8 , the clockwise turning moment increases and the anticlockwise turning moments decrease, thus accelerating bowl  8  tilting to effectively pour its water content to lower chamber  6 , to be discharged to sewage through discharge hole  7 . The empty bowl  8  will then be pushed back to its standby horizontal position by the sustaining moment from mass  15 . In case desired, grooves  11  and  12  may also comprise special return tracks for efficient returning of bowl  8  to standby position. A volume of water will then be added to bowl  8  to seal opening  4  to assure no sewage gas escape at standby. 
         [0054]    Alternatively, grooves  18  and  19  may be added on the outer side of bowl  8 , as shown in  FIG. 4A , to slide along studs  16  and  17  on inside surfaces of frame  2 , with an effective support axis  70  constituted along studs  16  and  17 , as shown in top view cross-sectional drawing  FIG. 4B . For better support and smooth operation, grooves may be added to both inner surface and outer surface of the same bowl  8 , with studs on both basin  3  and frame  2  simultaneously. It is of course possible to combine inner grooves with outer grooves to form hollow grooves  73  and  74  through which rods  75  and  76 , linking basin  3  and frame  2 , constitutes effective support axis  78  to support bowl  8 , as shown in  FIG. 4C . Alternatively studs may be added to bowl  8 , with grooves on basin outer surface and/or frame inner surface. Although studs and grooves are described herewith, other forms of supporting tilting bowl to basin and/or frame for movements are within scope of this invention. 
         [0055]    With support studs  9 ,  10 ,  16  and  17  replaced by properly shaped magnets and with grooves  11 ,  12 ,  18  and  19  made ferrous, or alternatively, both studs and grooves made magnetic, bowl  8  may be sustained in standby position by magnetic force and movement can be made magnetic. Alternatively magnetic fields may also be generated electrically for bowl suspension and bowl movement may also be effected magnetically or electrically. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  illustrates another preferred embodiment with bowl  8  sustained to stay in its standby position by a small tongue  20 , at rim of bowl  8 , resting on tip  21  of support plank  22 , which forms part of a trigger assembly  23 . A push on trigger switch  25  forces plank  22  to retreat away from tongue  20 , allowing bowl  8  to tilt and move toward the second position. In this embodiment weight mass  24  can be adjusted to only for returning the empty bowl  8  from tilted position back to standby position. Tip  21  is of slant shape at its lower side so that the returning tongue  20  will push plank  22 , which is spring-supported, to retreat. Once tongue  20  is above tip  21 , plunk  22  will be pushed by internal spring action to protrude again. The incoming standby water volume  13  will press tongue  20  to rest on the flat upper surface of tip  21  again. A preferred trigger assembly is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,276. 
         [0057]    Whilst a mechanical sustaining support with plank  22  and tongue  20  is herewith illustrated, magnets with ferrous parts may be employed for the sustaining support. Magnetic fields generated by electricity may also be employed for tilting bowl suspension and movement. In addition to possible no-contact suspension and minimum tear and wear for movements, electrical operation also enables electronic controls for remote operation, time-controlled operation and/or automatic operation in response to departure of user. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  illustrates another preferred embodiment with automatic water supply. With water valve  26  connected to water mains, a push on trigger switch  28  will start water ejection through water outlets  27  located along inner side of frame rim  29 . These water outlets are orientated to achieve optimum cleaning of toilet basin  3 . To assure high water pressure cleaning, these outlets preferably should eject water in order of one by one, or pair by pair in sequence, or in any preferred ejection order. Sequential ejection is possible when valve  26  is a sequential valve. A preferred sequential valve is illustrated in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,276. Of course, preferred ejection order includes water ejecting through all outlets simultaneously when water pressure is high. 
         [0059]    Whilst water ejection and bowl tilting may be triggered separately, it is preferably to be triggered by a single switch.  FIG. 7  shows a preferred embodiment wherein a push on start switch  33  will trigger both water valve  26  and trigger assembly  23  simultaneously. Start switch  33  goes through a side opening on frame  2 . A dynamic O-ring is fitted inside the side opening to assure imperviousness. Start switch  33  as shown here is a simple push-button, but any mechanism serving the purpose, e.g. a lever handle, a rotational device etc. may be used, and are within scope of present invention. 
         [0060]    Water ejection starts immediately upon triggering. Retreat of plank  22  may also start immediately, or preferably, may also be delayed by a predetermined time interval to allow thorough cleaning. A trigger assembly with time delay is illustrated also in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,276. Alternatively, to achieve further water saving, it is also possible for immediate bowl movement to discharge its content prior to delivery of cleaning water. 
         [0061]    In addition to capability of manual triggering, tilting bowl toilet operation may also be electrically or electronically triggered. This enables remote triggering to assure a clean toilet prior to entering toilet room. This also enables automatic toilet cleaning upon detection of user departure. Electrical control also enables preset timing for automatic periodic cleaning of public toilets. 
         [0062]    To assure sufficient time for basin cleaning, bowl  8  can be retarded to slowly return to its horizontal standby position with mass  24  connected to retarding means  32 . In this way, the time interval for return of bowl  8  is determined by retarding means  32 , for best cleaning of toilet basin  3 . A preferred retarding means is described also in Applicant&#39;s granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,627. 
         [0063]    To assure a gas-sealing water volume  13  at standby, a float  35  can be added, which, when water is below desired level, will trigger to supply water from individual valve  36 , through an individual water outlet  69 . When water level reaches or is above that of water volume  13 , float  35  stops valve  36  operation. On the other hand, whenever water level is too high, excessive water will be discharged through side opening  37  on tilting bowl  8 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Whilst this embodiment is incorporated with both means, to raise low water level and to discharge excess water, either means may be used individually in other embodiments as preferred. 
         [0064]      FIG. 8  illustrates another preferred embodiment that assures bowl  8  movement is triggered at an optimum water level. V-shaped element  39  with a latch  40  on its outer tip and a float  41  on its inner tip is hinged to upper end of bowl  8  for pivoting movement, as shown. At standby, float  41  stays above initial water level  42 , and latch  40  is pressed onto block  44  of frame  2  to prevent bowl  8  from moving clockwise. With addition of water, after water level reaches float  41 , float  41  begins to rise with further rise of water level. The pivoting of element  39  gradually retreats latch  40  away from block  44  simultaneously. When optimum water level  43  is reached, latch  40  leaves no more contact with block  44 , allowing bowl  8  to start moving. Then turning moment by mass  45  returns the empty bowl  8  back to its standby position. With a slanting underside, latch  40  easily pass block  44 . Once back to under block  44 , the upper flat surface of latch  44  is pressed onto block  44  again by weight of element  39 . 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , to restrict sewage gas from entering lower chamber region  6 , a liquid seal  50  is formed with a circular groove  46  encircling bottom discharge hole  7  and a circular cover  47  with diameter matching that of circular groove  46 . The rim of cover  47  totally dips into water  48  retained in groove  46 , thus forming a complete liquid seal to restrict gas from passing through. Cover  47  is connected to bowl  8  by a connecting element  49  with a ring-joint. When bowl  8  tilts, cover  47  is simultaneously lifted up to render bottom discharge hole  7  open. It is of course possible to use dry seals for seal  50 , e.g. rubber seals, without deviating from scope of this invention. 
         [0066]    It would be desirable not to allow trigger switch  33  to be triggered during toilet operation. To achieve this, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a blocking metal plate  51  is included into float mechanism  52  linked with float  35  so that the water level control system also serves to disable triggering when water level in tilting bowl  8  is below standby level. When water level falls below standby level, float  35  falls, float mechanism  52  also falls, bringing down metal plate  51  to block passage  53  through which start switch  33  would pass, making triggering impossible. After bowl  8  has returned to standby, and as water level increases, float  35  rises and metal plate  51  goes up. When standby water level is reached, blocking metal plate  51  will be out of passage  53  where start switch  33  travels, and triggering becomes possible again. Whilst a blocking plate is herewith described, it is to be understood that other forms to disable triggering toilet operation during operation can be used and are within scope of present invention. 
         [0067]    For those skilled in the art, tilting bowl toilet operation may be easily designed to be jointly or separately triggered by electrical means, or pneumatically or hydraulically driven. Bowl  8  may also be sustained to stay in its first position by different kinds of forces, including but not limited to, gravity force, electrical force, electromagnetic force, magnetic force, pneumatic force, hydraulic force, and/or spring force, in any suitable combination, by modification to the preferred embodiments. 
         [0068]    In cases preferred, e.g. for economical embodiments without level control, a dry gas seal can be incorporated between tilting bowl and toilet basin to prevent sewage gas from escaping through basin discharge opening  4 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, toilet basin  71  is shaped to match curvature of rim  55  of tilting bowl  72  at standby horizontal position. A rubber lining  54  can also be added along rim  55  for impervious joint as shown. Of course, as preferred, a dry gas seal may also be added as an additional safeguard to water volume  13  sealing in all embodiments. 
         [0069]    Since there is no zigzag water trap, it is possible for this invention to locate basin discharge opening  4  directly above bottom discharge hole  7  and connect bottom discharge hole  7  directly to sewage pipes which are normally just a short distance from a wall. Thus, when bowl  8  tilts to discharge, waste water can be directly poured into sewage outlets, resulting in minimum blocking chance, and requires minimum water to carry away waste. In fact, in this invention, region  56  encircled by array of water outlets  27 , the basin discharge opening  4 , and the bottom discharge hole  7  may be made concentric, as in  FIG. 10 , or preferably, with vertical views of projection overlapping one another. In cases preferred, basin discharge opening  4  may consist of more than one opening to facilitate easier discharge of waste. 
         [0070]      FIG. 11  shows another preferred embodiment comprising separate parts of individual frame, individual tilting bowl, individual basin and toilet rim for user assembly. Frame  57 , basin  58  and toilet rim  59  each comprises matching flange  60 ,  61  and  62  respectively, with matching screw holes  63  suitably located as shown. A user can then assemble the toilet by fixing the separate parts together with screws  64  and nuts  65 . The advantage of this embodiment is that separate toilet parts, including fixing accessories, can be packed into a compact package, making the toilet portable. 
         [0071]    By making the separate parts foldable, the package volume can be further minimized. Thus, when made with flexible materials like nylon or thick PVC, tilting bowl  66  can be designed to be foldable. Frame  57  can also be replaced by a foldable skeleton support  67 , with matching screw holes  63 , and a matching PVC envelope  68 , also with matching screw holes  63 , as shown in  FIGS. 11A &amp; 11B . With these foldable parts, all toilet components, including mounting and fixing accessories can be packed inside a hand-carrying case. For use as portable toilets, where tap water may not be available, it is desirable that foldable water storage container be included. Of course, for easy disposal of waste, foldable waste containers may also be included. 
         [0072]    Whilst features of present invention are described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is herewith reiterated that these embodiments can be modified at will, within scope of the appended claims, without departing from spirit and nature of subject invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4