Source: http://www.sumobrain.com/patents/wipo/Accessory-assembly-toilet-bowl-having/WO2019130235A1.html
Timestamp: 2019-10-20 16:21:35
Document Index: 64858854

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 21', 'art 21', 'art 35', 'art 36', 'art 35', 'art\n35', 'art 36', 'art 20', 'art\n36', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 25', 'art 21', 'art 36', 'art 25', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35']

AN ACCESSORY ASSEMBLY FOR A TOILET BOWL, HAVING A SERVICE EQUIPMENT - NEW LINE S.R.L.
AN ACCESSORY ASSEMBLY FOR A TOILET BOWL, HAVING A SERVICE EQUIPMENT
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/130235
A seat assembly for a toilet bowl, comprising a frame (20) adapted to be attached at an equipment seat (14) formed in the body (13) of a toilet bowl, a service equipment (30), comprising an equipment support (31) and at least one service device (33) carried by the equipment support (31) and provided to provide an auxiliary function for the use of the toilet bowl, the equipment support being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame (20), and comprising an upper part (35) and a lower part (36) extending from the upper part (35), and an upper plate (40) carrying a seat (50) for a toilet bowl hinged thereto, the plate being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame (20) or to the upper part (35) of the equipment support (31), to form an ensemble in which the frame (20) and the upper plate (40) enclose at least the upper part (35) of the equipment support (31).
RAVIZZOTTI, Paolo (Via d'Enricis 16/A, Novara, I-28100, IT)
IB2018/060647
NEW LINE S.R.L. (Corso della Vittoria 14, Novara, I-28100, IT)
E03D9/08; A47K13/00; E03D11/13
EP2261428A1 2010-12-15
JP2002081122A 2002-03-22
US20030126677A1 2003-07-10
JP2006283400A 2006-10-19
JP2007291644A 2007-11-08
1. An accessory assembly for a toilet bowl, comprising
a frame (20) to be attached at an equipment seat (14) formed in the body (13) of a toilet bowl,
a service equipment (30) comprising an equipment housing (31) and at least one ser vice device (33) carried by the equipment housing (31) and adapted to provide an auxiliary function for toilet bowl use, said equipment housing being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame (20) and comprising an upper part (35) and a lower part (36) extending from the upper part (35), and
an upper plate (40), said plate being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame (20) or to the upper part (35) of the equipment housing (31) to form an ensemble in which the frame (20) and the upper plate (40) enclose at least the upper part (35) of the equipment housing (31),
wherein the frame (20) comprises a flat part (21) adapted to be arranged around the edge of the equipment seat (14), said flat part having at least one aperture (23) adapted to be penetrated by the lower part (36) of the equipment housing (31), and
wherein the equipment housing (31) and the frame (20) have respective connecting means (61, 63) configured for a removable connection between the equipment housing (31) and the frame (20).
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the service equipment (30) comprises at least one hydraulic or electric connector (37, 38; 36a, 36b) adapted to be connected to an external water or electricity supply network (H, E) to form at least one hydraulic or electric communication between the service equipment (30) and the external supply network.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame (20) further comprises a housing part (25) extending from the flat part (21) and adapted to enclose the lower part (36) of the equipment housing (31).
4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the housing part (25) comprises connect ing means (26a, 26b) adapted to be connected on one side to at least one hydraulic or electric connector (36a, 36b) of the service equipment (30), and on the other side to an external water or electricity supply network (H, E) to form at least one hydraulic or electric communication between the service equipment (30) and the external supply network.
5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said equipment housing and frame are configured for a push-push or push-pull coupling between the equipment housing (31) on the frame (20), and said connecting means of the frame (20) are configured for automatically connecting to said at least one hydraulic or electric connector of the equipment housing (31) upon mounting the equipment housing (31) on the frame (20).
6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat part (21) of the frame (20) comprises a central bridge (2 la) extending between opposite sides of the flat part (21), said bridge providing a rest for the upper part (35) of the equipment housing
7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (20) and the equipment housing (31) have respective guiding means (29, 39) configured for guid ing insertion of the service equipment (30) into the frame (20).
8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper plate (40) and the equipment housing (31), or the upper plate (40) and the frame (20), have re spective connecting means (65, 67) configured for a quick coupling connection between the upper plate (40) and the equipment housing (31), or between the upper plate (40) and the frame (20).
9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein control means (59) are arranged on the upper plate (40), said control means being adapted to be operated by a user for controlling the service equipment (30).
10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the service equipment (30) is selected from the group consisting of bidet equipment, detergent dispens ers, dispensers of seat protective films and combinations thereof.
11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the service equipment (30) is a bidet equipment comprising at least one water dispensing nozzle (34), and said service device comprises at least one valve device (33) hydraulically connected to the water dispensing nozzle (34) and adapted to be connected to a water supply network.
12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper plate (40) carries a seat (50) for a sanitary bowl hinged thereto.
13. An assembly according to one of claims 1 to 11, configured to be mounted on the toilet body (13) independently of a seat (50) for a toilet bowl.
14. A toilet bowl comprising
a bowl body (13) delimiting an inner receptacle (11) and having an upper surface (13) comprising a seat part (l3a) surrounding the inner receptacle (11), and a seat attaching part (l3b) substantially flush with the seat part (l3a), and in which an equipment seat is formed (14), and
an accessory assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, attached to the bowl body at the equipment seat (14).
The present invention generally relates to toilet bowls of the type adapted to be equipped with seat assemblies provided with service equipment, such as for example equipment which adds a bidet functionality, detergent dispensers, protective film dispensers for the seat and so on.
A need felt in the field is to provide solutions that facilitate the maintenance of the seat assembly and the possible replacement or removal of the equipment.
For this purpose, the object of the invention is an accessory assembly for a toilet bowl com prising
a frame adapted to be attached at an equipment seat formed in the body of a toilet bowl, a service equipment comprising an equipment housing and at least one service device carried by the equipment housing and adapted to provide an auxiliary function for toilet bowl use, said equipment housing being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame and com prising an upper part and a lower part extending from the upper part, and
an upper plate, said plate being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame or to the upper part of the equipment housing to form an ensemble in which the frame and the upper plate enclose at least the upper part of the equipment housing,
wherein the frame comprises a flat part adapted to be arranged around the edge of the equipment seat, said flat part having at least one aperture adapted to be penetrated by the lower part of the equipment housing, and
wherein the equipment housing and the frame have respective connecting means con figured for a removable connection between the equipment housing and the frame.
The frame may further comprise a housing part extending from the flat part and adapted to enclose the lower part of the equipment housing.
In this case, the housing part may comprise means adapted to be connected on one side to at least one hydraulic or electric connector of the service equipment, and on the other side to an external water or electricity supply network to form at least one hydraulic or electric communication between the service equipment and the external supply network.
Otherwise, a direct connection may be implemented between a hydraulic or electrical con nector of the service equipment and the external supply network.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, said equipment housing and frame are configured for a push-push or push-pull mounting of the equipment support on the frame and said connecting means of are configured for automatically connecting to said at least one hydraulic or electric connector upon mounting the equipment support on the frame.
In one embodiment, the flat part of the frame comprises a central bridge extending between opposite sides of the flat part, said bridge providing a rest for the upper part of the equipment housing.
The frame and the equipment housing may have respective guiding means configured for guiding insertion of the service equipment into the frame.
The upper plate and the equipment housing, or the upper plate and the frame, may be pro vided with respective connecting means configured for a quick coupling connection between the upper plate and the equipment housing, or between the upper plate and the frame.
Control means may be arranged on the upper plate, said control means being adapted to be operated by a user for controlling the service equipment.
In particular, the service equipment may be a bidet apparatus, a detergent dispenser, a pro tective film dispenser for the seat, or a combination thereof.
Another object of the invention is a toilet bowl comprising
a toilet body delimiting an inner receptacle and having an upper surface comprising a seat part surrounding the inner receptacle, and a seat attaching part substantially flush with the seat part, and in which an equipment seat is formed, and
an accessory assembly according to the invention, attached to the equipment seat. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accom panying drawings, provided for illustrative and non-limiting purposes only, in which
figures 1 to 11 and 16 are exploded views of different embodiments of the seat assem bly according to the invention, and
figures l2a-b, l3a-b, l4a-b and l5a-b are perspective and sectional views of different methods of connection between an upper plate and a frame of the seat assembly according to the invention.
In the various embodiments shown in the figures, same reference numbers have been as signed to corresponding elements.
With reference to figure 1, a toilet bowl is shown comprising a toilet body 10, for example of ceramic material. The toilet body 10 delimits an inner receptacle 11 and has an upper surface 13, which comprises a seat part l3a surrounding the inner receptacle, and a seat attaching part l3b substantially flush with the seat part l3a, and in which an equipment seat 14 is formed. In the illustrated example, the equipment seat is formed by two cavities sepa rated by a central bridge portion. The equipment seat 14 could however have different shapes.
The toilet bowl further comprises a seat assembly adapted to be attached at the equipment seat 14 by conventional means, for example screwing means such as screws, bolts or expan sion plugs.
The seat assembly comprises a frame 20 adapted to be attached at the equipment seat 14, in the manner described above. In the example in figure 1, the frame 20 comprises a flat part 21 adapted to be arranged around the edge of the equipment seat 14. The flat part 21 of the frame comprises a central bridge 2 la extending between opposite sides of the flat part, so as to define two through apertures 23.
The seat assembly further comprises a service equipment 30. In the illustrated example, the service equipment 30 consists of an equipment for adding a bidet functionality to the toilet bowl. According to embodiments not illustrated, the service equipment may consist of a detergent dispenser, a protective film dispenser for the seat or a combination of the afore mentioned equipment.
In general, from a structural point of view the equipment 30 comprises an equipment support 31, for example a box, which carries devices 33 conventionally provided for operating the equipment. For example, in the case of a bidet apparatus, such devices may include, for example, valves, conduits, tanks adapted to connect a water dispensing nozzle 34 to an ex ternal water supply network to provide a washing water dispensing function. Such devices may also include for example also a fan and conduits for providing a drying air functionality. Furthermore, sensors, heating devices and electrical circuits for controlling the apparatus may be provided, adapted to be connected to an external power supply network. The types of devices listed above are only an example provided for the purpose of explanation, but it is understood that other devices commonly used in this kind of toilet bowl equipment may be carried by the equipment support 31.
The equipment support 31 is adapted to be removably coupled to the frame 20, and com prises an upper part 35 and a lower part 36 extending from the upper part 35. The upper part
35 forms a sort of peripheral flange with respect to the lower part 36. In the illustrated ex ample, support 30 and frame 20 may both be attached to the toilet body 10 by the same attachment means.
In the illustrated example, a hydraulic conduit 37 and an electric cable 38 come out from the equipment support 31, provided with respective connectors for the connection, respectively, to a hydraulic conduit H and a cable E of the external electric network for supplying water and electricity to the device.
The apertures 23 of the flat part 20 of the frame are adapted to be crossed by the lower part
36 of the equipment support 31, while the bridge 2la provides a support for the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31.
The seat assembly further comprises an upper plate 40, to which a seat 50 for toilet bowl, conventionally comprising a seat surface and a cover, is hinged.
The upper plate 40) is adapted to be removably coupled to the frame 20 or to the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31 to form an ensemble in which the frame 20 and the upper plate 40 enclose at least the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31.
A removable cover 41 may also be mounted on the upper plate 40 to cover any accesses to the underlying equipment, formed in the plate 40, such as for example an aperture for the introduction of anti-scale tablets or liquid.
With reference to figure 2, a different embodiment provides that the frame 20 further com prises a housing part 25 extending from the flat part 21 of the frame and adapted to enclose the lower part 36 of the equipment support 31.
The housing part 25 of the frame comprises connectors 26a and 26b, adapted to be connected on one side, to a hydraulic connector 36a and an electrical connector 36b, respectively, inte grated into the service equipment, and on the other side to the external hydraulic conduit H and the electric cable E.
With reference to figure 3, a further embodiment provides that the frame 20 is without the bridge 2 la, thus defining only one aperture.
A hydraulic connector 36a and an electrical connector 36b integrated in the service equip ment are adapted to be connected to the external hydraulic conduit H and electric cable E.
With reference to figure 4, a further embodiment provides a frame 20 as for the embodiment in figure 1.
With reference to the embodiment in figure 5, the frame 20 and the equipment support 31 have respective guiding means 29, 39 configured for guiding insertion of the service equip ment 31 into the frame 20. In the illustrated example, the guiding means consist of a pair of ribs formed on opposite sides of the frame 20 and extending towards the inside of the aper tures 23, and correspondingly by a pair of grooves formed on the equipment support 31. Of course, the arrangement of ribs and grooves may be reversed. Furthermore, the shape of the guiding means may be different.
With reference to the embodiment in figure 6, the frame 20 and the equipment support 31 have respective guiding means 29, 39 configured for guiding insertion of the service equip ment 31 into the frame 20. In the illustrated example, the guiding means consist of a pair of ribs formed on opposite sides of the central bridge 2 la of the frame 20 and extending towards the inside of the apertures 23, and correspondingly by a pair of grooves formed on the equip ment support 31.
With reference to the embodiment in figure 7, the equipment support 31 and the frame 20 have respective connecting means 61, 63 configured for a quick coupling connection be tween the equipment support 31 and the frame 20. In the illustrated example, the connecting means comprise a knob provided with a radial tab (not shown) and arranged rotatable on the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31, and a corresponding grooved seat formed on the frame 21, and shaped to implement a bayonet coupling with the radial tab of the knob. Of course, the shape of the connecting means may be different. Alternatively, the connecting means 61, 63 may be configured for a snap connection between the equipment support 31 and the frame 20. More generally, the connecting means 61, 63 are configured for a remov able connection between the equipment support 31 and the frame 20.
With reference to the embodiments in figures 8 to 11, control means 59 may be provided, adapted to be operated by a user for controlling the service equipment. Such control means 59 may comprise, for example, knobs, push-buttons, keyboards, cursors, touch displays, etc., and may be arranged on the upper plate 40 (figures 8-10) or on the seat 50 (figure 11). Ac cording to another embodiment, the service equipment may be controlled remotely.
With reference to figures l2a-b, l3a-b, l4a-b and l5a-b, connecting means 65, 67 configured for a removable connection, in particular a quick coupling, may be provided between the upper plate 40 and the equipment support 31, or between the upper plate 40 and the frame 20. In the example in figures l2a and l2b, the connecting means comprise a knob provided with a radial tab (not shown) and arranged rotatable on the upper plate 40 40, and a corre sponding grooved seat formed on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31, and shaped to implement a bayonet coupling with the radial tab of the knob. In the example in figures l3a and l3b, the connecting means comprise a pair of sliders elas tically stressed and integral with respective rods, arranged sliding on the upper plate 40, and corresponding seats formed on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31, and adapted to receive the free ends of the rods. In the example in figures l4a and l4b, the connecting means comprise hooking formations formed on one side on the upper plate 40, and on the other side on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31, such hooking formations being configured to implement a coupling between the parts by sliding them with respect to each other. In the example in figures l5a and l5b, the connecting means comprise ribs formed on the upper plate 40, and corresponding grooves formed on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment support 31, ribs and grooves being configured to implement a coupling between the parts by sliding them with respect to each other.
Of course, other forms of connecting means may be provided with respect to those described above.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the equipment support 31 and the frame 20 (in the form in figure 2) are configured for push-push or push-pull coupling of the equip ment support 31 on the frame 20. In this case, the connectors 26a and 26b of the frame 20 must be configured to automatically connect to the hydraulic and electrical connectors 36a and 36b upon mounting of the equipment support 31 on the frame 20.
For the purposes of the present description, by push-push it is meant a type of assembly in which a pressure is applied to the equipment support 31 against the frame 20, both for en gaging the equipment support 31 to the frame 20 and for achieving the subsequent release of the equipment support from the frame. By push-pull it is meant a type of assembly in which a pressure is applied to the equipment support 31 against the frame 20, in order to couple the equipment support 31 to the frame 20, and the equipment support 31 is pulled to achieve the release from the frame.
With reference to figure 16, another embodiment is shown which differs from the previous ones in that the seat 50 is mounted on the toilet body 13 independently of the assembly. In this case, the upper plate 40 has a simple closing function.
The elements described above in relation to one embodiment may be combined, where pos sible, with elements described in relation to other embodiments.
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