Siphon Discharge Patents (Class 4/421)
  • Patent number: 11913207
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes an electrical component insert-molded within a portion of the plumbing fixture, the portion formed from an epoxy. The electrical component is offset from and disposed below an outer surface of the plumbing fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Mark Schibur, Jeremiah Rauwerdink
  • Patent number: 11781304
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a toilet and components thereof, including a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, a toilet lid, and flushing apparatus. Also described are methods for manufacturing such toilets and components, and materials suitable therefore. A disclosed toilet may be used in a squatting posture and includes toilet a bowl including a flat base for contacting a floor, the base including an outlet, the flat base defining a plane that includes a forward direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the forward direction. The toilet bowl is shaped to define a rearward portion including the base and an elongate frontal extension for a user to straddle, the frontal extension extending generally in the forward direction from the rearward portion; and at least some of the frontal extension is elevated or inclined relative to the base to provide a clearance between the toilet bowl and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: PROJECT NO. 2 LIMITED
    Inventors: Ian Webb, Andre De Koning
  • Patent number: 11591786
    Abstract: A skirted toilet assembly, comprising a toilet bowl having a sump outlet; and a wall extending around the bowl from a first rear edge to a second rear edge; wherein the wall, the first rear edge, and the second rear edge define a space within the wall, the sump outlet is configured to couple to a trapway, the trapway is configured to fluidly couple the sump outlet with a sewer outlet, and the trapway is configured to be disposed within the space. A trapway may be a thermoplastic and the sump outlet a ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: AS America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Helmstetter, David Grover, Yasuhiro Kondo, Douglas Leavitt, Ronald D. Barndt
  • Patent number: 11377834
    Abstract: A flush toilet is revealed. The flush toilet includes a bowl portion, a drain pipe, an inlet channel, a first outlet channel, a second outlet channel, and a jet channel. The first and second outlet channels are turned into different directions from diversion area of the inlet channel. The second outlet channel further includes a curved potion for changing the direction of water flow so that the direction of a second water flow out of the second outlet channel and along a shed portion of the bowl portion is consistent with the direction of a first water flow out of the first outlet channel and along the shed portion. Thus the first and second water flows are out almost synchronously throughout the bowl portion and combined to form a swirling flow which interacts with a third water flow from the jet channel to create a siphon effect for better waste removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Hongsheng Zhou, Yanjun Wang, Shaoqing Li, Zhiqiang Liu, Wenjuan Li
  • Patent number: 10988917
    Abstract: A toilet flushing device includes a first rim water pipe within which is formed a first water passage through which water flows to a first rim discharge hole, through which water is discharged to a rim part of a toilet bowl. The first rim water pipe extends from the first rim discharge hole toward a rear part of the toilet bowl, and the rear part side of the first rim water pipe is positioned lower than the first rim discharge hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: LIXIL Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Higuchi, Takeya Ichiyanagi, Yasuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 10633848
    Abstract: A toilet for facilitating bowel movements comprising a toilet base having a bowl for receiving the human waste and a rim for supporting the human. The rim defines a generally circular shape having a proximal edge, a primary side edge, a secondary side edge and a distal edge. The proximal edge defines a first elevation. The distal edge defines a second elevation. The second elevation has a greater elevation than the first elevation for defining an ascending slope from the proximal edge and the distal edge. The ascending slope positions the human in a squatting position while defecating for improving the bowel movement from the human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Albert R. Luper
  • Patent number: 10526775
    Abstract: A toilet according to an embodiment includes a toilet body and a water drainage socket. The toilet body has a water drainage outlet on a back surface thereof. The water drainage socket connects the water drainage outlet and an inlet of a water drainage pipe that is provided on a wall surface. The back surface of the toilet body is provided with an opening and a guide part. The opening is provided to insert therethrough a tubular member that extends from the wall surface in a case where the toilet body is mounted on the wall surface. The guide part guides the tubular member that is provided in a state where it is inserted through the opening so as to move to an outer side of the water drainage socket in a case where the toilet body is mounted on the wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakamura, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Shuichi Nagashima, Mayu Okubo, Shoko Imaizumi, Shinichi Urata, Isami Sakaba, Haruka Saito, Takumi Tsuchitani
  • Patent number: 10472810
    Abstract: An inflow fitting for the filling of a cistern comprises a housing, an outlet pipe, and a water passage formed in the housing and outlet pipe and having an entry and an exit, a float-controlled valve, which is disposed in the water passage and which shuts off the water passage or opens it up in the filling operation, and a float, which cooperates with the valve, for controlling the valve, wherein the float has a cavity that is fillable with water, and at least one buoyancy chamber. The inflow fitting further comprises a supplemental water tap, branched off from the water passage, for filling the said cavity in order to provide an additional weight. In the water passage, in the region of the supplemental water tap, is arranged at least one backflow element, with which a backflow can be provided in the region of the supplemental water tap for the pressure-independent removal of supplemental water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GEBERIT INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Matthias Holzinger
  • Patent number: 10323400
    Abstract: A wash-out type toilet according to an embodiment includes a bowl that receives waste and a drainage water trap. The drainage water trap includes an inlet that is connected to a lower part of the bowl, a rise pipeline that is connected to the inlet and extends upward toward its own top part, a fall pipeline that extends downward toward an inlet of a drainage water pipe that is arranged on a floor surface, and an intermediate pipeline with an upstream-side portion that is connected to the rise pipeline and a downstream-side portion that is connected to the fall pipeline. Furthermore, the intermediate pipeline includes a retention surface that is formed to slope downward from an upstream side to a downstream side and temporarily retains waste at a time of toilet washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hashimoto, Shinichi Urata, Shuichi Nagashima, Mayu Okubo, Shoko Imaizumi, Daisuke Yamamoto, Kenichi Nakamura, Takumi Tsuchitani
  • Patent number: 10072407
    Abstract: A flush toilet of present invention includes a bowl that includes a bowl-shaped waste receiving surface, a rim formed above the waste receiving surface, and a pooled water portion formed below the waste receiving surface, a discharge passage that has an inlet connected to the pooled water portion and discharges waste, and a spout portion that spouts flush water onto the bowl and forms a swirling flow on the waste receiving surface. The waste receiving surface of the bowl has a sectorial recess that is formed between a front end portion of the waste receiving surface and a front end portion of the pooled water portion so as to spread from the pooled water portion toward the front end portion of the waste receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Urata, Tsuyoshi Ozeki, Hiroshi Tomonari
  • Patent number: 10060113
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl having a vertically-elongated jet orifice near a top of the bowl that is designed to introduce flush water into the bowl from an interior water channel through a surface of an inner wall of the bowl, such that the flush water is directed around the inner wall of the bowl to wash the inner wall. The toilet also includes a shelf for directing the flush water. The toilet is a gravity-fed toilet that does not include an overhanging rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael J. Luettgen, Wiliam C. Kuru, Sudip Mukerji, Douglas E. Bogard, Peter W. Swart, Clayton C. Garrels, John F. Emmerling, Kari L. Jaeckels, Michael D. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 10036152
    Abstract: A volume controllable toilet flush system, comprising: a cistern configured to hold and retain a fluid; a vertically moveable siphon assembly comprising a siphon portion, a pipe and at least one resilient element attached to the pipe; a toilet bowl shaped to retain and hold waste; an actuator operatively connected to the pipe by a stud attached to the pipe and configured to provide vertical movement to the siphon assembly, wherein movement of the siphon assembly by the actuator stores or releases energy in the at least one resilient element and, wherein downward vertical movement of the siphon assembly puts the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the cistern by creating a siphoning action between the siphon portion and the fluid in the cistern and wherein subsequent upward vertical movement of the siphon assembly terminates the siphoning action to stop fluid flow from the cistern to the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Etash Kumar Guha
  • Patent number: 9845593
    Abstract: A modular toilet is disclosed comprising a toilet shell and a hydraulic core. The hydraulic core module is a separate unit from the toilet shell module and may be non-symmetrical with the internal and external form of the shell. The core module comprises a toilet bowl connected to a siphon drain comprising a weir. The drain may be a vertical loop drain. The toilet shell and the hydraulic core may comprise mutual sealing surfaces. The drain may comprise openings for connection to a toilet ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Dan Allen, Jared Reynolds, Joshua Larsen, Joe Fox
  • Patent number: 9752311
    Abstract: A wash-down toilet including a bowl, a passageway, and a trapway. The bowl includes a sump. The passageway includes an inlet in fluid communication with the sump, an outlet provided at a height above the inlet, and a weir. The trapway includes an inlet, an outlet, and a vent, with the inlet of the trapway being in fluid communication with the outlet of the passageway and the outlet being in fluid communication with a soil pipe. The vent is configured to introduce a supply of air into the trapway during a flush cycle to prevent siphoning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Robert S. Davis, Thomas M. Spankowski, Lachlan A. Stewart, III
  • Patent number: 9353513
    Abstract: A toilet has a trapway extending between a bowl opening and a toilet outlet opening. A heel links and provides a bend between a down leg and an out leg of the trapway. The heel has a cross-sectional profile having a major dimension and a minor dimension. The major dimension increases as the down leg transitions into the heel and reduces as the heel transitions into the out leg. This heel configuration in the trapway forms a siphon during a flushing action of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Randy O. Mesun, Daniel N. Halloran
  • Patent number: 9009877
    Abstract: Air suction device for a flush toilet configured to suction air from a toilet drain duct having a suction chamber dividing a tank body interior, a float in the suction chamber and an on-off valve closing an air inlet when the float lifts to prevent air flow from the toilet drain duct side into the suction chamber. The air inlet is higher than the water level in a toilet flushing standby mode. The on-off valve opens the air inlet to allow air flow form the drain duct side in the suction chamber when flush water in the tank drops such that the float is lowered form the raised position. An embodiment includes a valve chest, a float and attracting member for on-off valve manipulation. Another embodiment includes a valve chest with a small air flow manipulation hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Lixil Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Miwa, Kojiro Watari, Hitomi Yamai, Ken Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9003575
    Abstract: A toilet has a trapway extending between a bowl opening and a toilet outlet opening. A heel links and provides a bend between a down leg and an out leg of the trapway. The heel has a cross-sectional profile having a major dimension and a minor dimension. The major dimension increases as the down leg transitions into the heel and reduces as the heel transitions into the out leg. This heel configuration in the trapway forms a siphon during a flushing action of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Randy O. Mesun, Daniel N. Halloran
  • Publication number: 20140289947
    Abstract: A flush toilet which including a bowl portion having a waste-receiving surface, a rim and a recess; a water spouting portion for spouting the flush water forwardly; and a drainage conduit. The recess of the bowl portion has a bottom below a pooled water level, and a wall surface connecting between the bottom and a lower edge of the waste-receiving surface, wherein the bottom of the recess has a front bottom surface and a rear bottom surface. The bowl portion is configured to allow flush water to form a major stream which is directed to flow from an front end of the bowl portion toward the inlet of the drainage conduit, and the rear bottom surface of the bottom is configured to allow a part of the major stream to collide therewith, and then guide the collided major stream to a front region inside the drainage conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro HIRAKAWA, Masaki KITAMURA, Shu KASHIRAJIMA, Yuki SHINOHARA, Koji KAMEI
  • Patent number: 8844067
    Abstract: A device to shut-off a water supply to a toilet diverts water from a toilet fill valve to a shut-off valve that has a housing that includes a valve mechanism, a trip mechanism, and a trip circuit. The trip mechanism includes a rotational spring that urges closing of the valve mechanism. A trip latch is adapted to prevent closing of the valve mechanism except when withdrawn from the valve mechanism by a solenoid that is electrically connected to the trip circuit. The trip circuit includes at least one trip sensor input and a power source, such that when the trip circuit detects a fault condition on any of the trip sensors, the trip circuit connects power to the solenoid to withdraw the solenoid to close the valve mechanism. A rest knob may then be rotated to reset the valve mechanism into a valve-open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ceto Technologies Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Quintana, David Millar, Kermit L. Achterman
  • Patent number: 8756722
    Abstract: The flushing device has a flushing tank (28), from which a quantity of flushing water can be fed to the toilet bowl (6). This flushing water quantity is divided into a part-quantity for cleaning an upper region of the toilet bowl (6) and a further part-quantity for moving water which is present in the toilet bowl (6). Means (30) are provided, with which the flushing water quantity is divided into at least three part-quantities. With a first part-quantity at least an upper region (A) of the inner side of the toilet bowl (6), and with a second part-quantity a middle region (B) of the inner side of the toilet bowl (6) is cleanable, and with a third part-quantity a siphon trap (12) of the toilet bowl (6) can be flushed and cleaned. The flushing device enables a more thorough cleaning of the toilet bowl with comparatively little water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Geberit International AG
    Inventors: Urs Inglin, Reto Lienin
  • Patent number: 8695126
    Abstract: A flush toilet includes a bowl portion having a waste receiving surface, a rim portion, spout portions for spouting flush water supplied from a reservoir tank into the bowl portion, and a water discharge trap pipe for discharging waste. The water discharge trap includes an inlet connected to a bottom of the bowl portion. The bowl portion waste receiving surface includes an upper waste receiving surface connected to the rim portion, and a concave portion connected between the upper waste receiving surface and the discharge trap pipe. The concave portion includes a bottom surface connected to the discharge trap pipe and is positioned below the upper waste receiving surface, and a wall surface connecting the bottom surface and a bottom edge portion of the upper waste receiving surface. A front region of this wall surface forms a sloped surface sloping on the inside from bottom to top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ToTo Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yoneda, Masaaki Inoue, Yu Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8656525
    Abstract: A sanitary ware of environmental protection including a sanitary ware body; wherein a sewage cavity is provided at the bottom of the sanitary ware body, and a sewage draining exit is arranged on the bottom of the sewage cavity; a liquid channel and a foam channel that are not in communication with each other are provided on the sanitary ware body, and the liquid channel and the foam channel are ceramic structure integrally formed in the sanitary ware body; the sanitary ware body is further provided with a water inlet and a foam inlet, the water inlet is in communication with the liquid channel; the liquid channel is provided with liquid outlets; a deodorizing device adapted to be closed and opened is provided at the bottom of the sewage draining exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Weidong Shi
  • Patent number: 8595868
    Abstract: An air suction device for a toilet drain passage includes a suction tank partitioned by a diaphragm into an upper chamber and a lower chamber communicating with the passage, and an electromagnetic drive device moving the diaphragm upward. The drive device has a cylindrical case body installed away from the tank, a moving member housed in the case body so as to be vertically movable, and a moving device located on a lower end of the case body. The moving device has a casing and an actuator assembled in the casing to move the moving member. The case body has a first airtight chamber surrounded by the moving member and the moving device. The first airtight chamber has a cubic capacity changed by movement of the moving member and communicates with the first chamber. The first airtight chamber sucks air in the first chamber to move the diaphragm upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: LIXIL Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Fukagawa, Ken Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8544123
    Abstract: A flush toilet device has a toilet body having a bowl section, rim water discharge opening, a jet water discharge opening, and a discharge water trap conduit. A pressurizing pump is provided for pressurizing flush water contained in a cistern to supply it to the jet water discharge opening. A pump controller regulates the operation and rotation speed of the pressurizing pump to regulate the flow speed and flow rate of flush water discharged from the jet water discharge opening so that flush water at a first flow rate for generating a siphon effect is discharged and then at a second flow rate is discharged at the end of the siphon effect generated by the first flow rate. The second flow rate having a flow speed that can carry away human wastes and causes the siphon effect to continue by closing the cross section of any portion of the discharge water trap conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayu Okubo, Yoshikazu Ushijima, Yuichi Sato, Yoshinobu Kato, Ryosuke Hayashi, Shinji Shibata
  • Publication number: 20130219605
    Abstract: A siphonic gravity-powered toilet is provided that is a rimless toilet and includes a toilet bowl assembly having a body and an inlet for receiving fluid. The toilet bowl has an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral portion configured to have a shelf formed therein below an upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl. The rimless toilet includes a jet having a jet inlet, an outlet and at least one jet channel. A manifold is included which is configured so that fluid entering an inlet of the toilet bowl assembly divides into a portion that enters the inlet of the direct-fed jet and a portion that enters an interior area of the toilet bowl. At least one toilet bowl inlet port is positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl. The at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: AS IP HOLDCO, LLC
    Inventor: AS IP Holdco, LLC
  • Patent number: 8438670
    Abstract: A gravity flush toilet system is provides that includes a toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl and a tank, wherein the bowl includes a trapway extending from the bottom of the toilet bowl to a sewage line. The toilet system is capable of operating at multiple flush volumes without loss of siphonic function or significant change in the surface area of the water in the bowl. The multiple flush volumes allow the user to select appropriate water usages for the required waste removal without diminishing the performance of the toilet, resulting in significant water savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: AS IP Holdco, LLC
    Inventors: David Grover, Zheng Chen, James McHale
  • Publication number: 20130019391
    Abstract: The flush toilet comprises: a bowl portion including a waste receiving surface and a rim portion; spout portions for spouting flush water supplied from a reservoir tank into the bowl portion; and a water discharge trap pipe for discharging waste, the inlet of which is connected to the bottom of the bowl portion; whereby the bowl portion waste receiving surface includes an upper waste receiving surface connected to the rim portion, and a concave portion connected between the upper waste receiving surface and the discharge trap pipe, the concave portion includes a bottom surface connected to the discharge trap pipe and positioned below the upper waste receiving surface and a wall surface connecting this bottom surface and the bottom edge portion of the upper waste receiving surface, and the front region of this wall surface forms a sloped surface sloping on the inside from bottom to top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Toshifumi YONEDA, Masaaki INOUE, Yu YAMASAKI
  • Patent number: 8327472
    Abstract: The flushing arrangement has a toilet bowl (2) which has an inlet (3) and an outlet (21) and, between these, means (8, 20) for generating a pulse. By means of the pulse, water (13) which is present in a U-bend (4) and forms a stench trap can be accelerated, for a flushing operation, in the direction of the outlet (21). Said means (8, 20) are arranged in the descending region of the toilet bowl (2) and, during flushing, generate a downwardly directed flow cone (14, 14?). The flow narrows downwardly and at a saddle point (26) forms a wall jet (28) which cleans the U-bend (4) particularly thoroughly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Gerberit International AG
    Inventors: Urs Inglin, Abdullah Oengören, Peter Schwendener
  • Publication number: 20120260415
    Abstract: A water-saving toilet is made of a novel thermoplastic resin compound material. The material includes inorganic stuffing provided by an injection technique and includes a main body with a water outlet in the lower part and a flushing water pipe outlet in side wall of the water outlet, a water tank with a cavity at the bottom which is provided with a main pipe opening and a flushing pipe inlet opposite the water tank and communicating with the main body by the main pipe opening, a flushing pipe and a siphon pipe the upper end of which including a water inlet connected with the water outlet. The present invention also provides a method of producing the toilet, featuring easily available and sufficient raw material, simple operation, high production efficiency, low energy consumption and environment friendly property. The toilet has fine appearance, is self-cleaning, water saving and smooth flushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Liqun CHI
  • Publication number: 20120198610
    Abstract: A siphonic, gravity-powered toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl, which includes a bowl inlet in fluid communication with a source of fluid; a rim around an upper perimeter of the bowl defining a rim channel, having an inlet port in fluid communication with the bowl inlet and at least one outlet port; a bowl outlet in fluid communication with a sewage outlet; a direct-fed jet having an inlet port in fluid communication with the bowl inlet for receiving fluid and the bowl outlet for discharging fluid; and a control unit arranged in communication with the bowl inlet for controlling flow from the source of fluid passing through the bowl inlet into the inlet ports of the rim channel and the direct-fed jet, having a first extending rear portion and a second rim channel end portion, wherein the rear portion may extend at least partially into the bowl inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: AS IP Holdco., LLC
    Inventors: James McHale, Christophe Bucher, David Grover, Jian Zhou
  • Patent number: 8127376
    Abstract: A water closet has a variable siphon soil exhaust system with a flexible water bladder connected to a water inlet, a tension spring within the water bladder to contract the water bladder, a variable siphon tube connected to the water bladder to allow soil to be exhausted from the bowl while lifted and lowered by an expanding and contracting motion of the water bladder, and a small tube for connecting the water bladder to the variable siphon tube. A cover has a first port connected to the water supply passage, a second port connected to the bowl, and a third port connected to a bottom tube laid under the floor. The variable siphon tube has one end connected to the bowl through a bellows tube and an opposite freely movable open end communicating with the interior of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: H & G. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-In Lee, Bong-Kyun Lim
  • Patent number: 8082605
    Abstract: A low volume hygienic apparatus used a high pressure spray to break up solid waste material in a containment chamber and to push liquid and broken-up solid waste from the containment chamber. A high pressure nozzle is pointed into the containment chamber and configured to break-up the solids using a prescribed pressure level and to propel the liquids and the broken-up solids from a chamber interior through a chamber outlet of the containment chamber. A completing structure is disposed between the chamber outlet and a drain and is configured to draw liquids and broken-up solids from the chamber at the end of a flushing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Dan Marius Andreiu
  • Patent number: 8037552
    Abstract: A flush toilet is provided having a bowl portion with a bowl-shaped waste-receiving surface and a rim portion the inside wall surface on the top edge of which protrudes inward. A trap pipe is connected to the bottom portion of the bowl portion. A first shelf portion is formed to follow the rim and a second shelf portion is formed on the waste receiving surface below the first shelf portion projecting above the initial accumulated water level. An orifice for issuing water into the first shelf portion and forming a swirl flow in the waste receiving surface is provided along with a second orifice for issuing water into the second shelf portion for forming a flow to swirl water within the bowl portion is further provided with first and second flow paths for respectively supplying water to the first and second orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Ichiki, Tsuyoshi Ozeki, Toshifumi Yoneda, Shinji Shibata, Shuichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7827628
    Abstract: A flush toilet is provided having a bowl portion with a bowl-shaped waste-receiving surface and a rim portion the inside wall surface on the top edge of which protrudes inward. A trap pipe is connected to the bottom portion of the bowl portion. A first shelf portion is formed to follow the rim and a second shelf portion is formed on the waste receiving surface below the first shelf portion projecting above the initial accumulated water level. An orifice for issuing water into the first shelf portion and forming a swirl flow in the waste receiving surface is provided along with a second orifice for issuing water into the second shelf portion for forming a flow to swirl water within the bowl portion is further provided with first and second flow paths for respectively supplying water to the first and second orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Ichiki, Tsuyoshi Ozeki, Toshifumi Yoneda, Shinji Shibata, Shuichi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20100175177
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a water closet comprising a variable soil exhaust system which can improve durability and reduce an amount of flush water. The water closet according to the present invention comprises a variable siphon soil exhaust system including: a flexible water bladder installed at a rear side of a bowl to be connected to a water supply passage, a tension spring for applying an elastic force to contract the water bladder, a variable siphon tube connected to the water bladder via a bracket to allow soil to be exhausted from the bowl while lifted and lowered by an expanding and contracting motion of the water bladder, and a small tube for connecting the water bladder to the variable siphon tube; and a cover installed to surround the soil exhaust system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: H & G CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-In Lee, Bong-Kyun Lim
  • Patent number: 7661153
    Abstract: A flush toilet that uses a prescribed amount of cleansing water stored in a cleansing water tank to cleanse the toilet and discharge waste is disclosed. The flush toilet includes a bowl having a waste receiving surface, an overhanging rim and a shelf, a drainage channel whose inlet is connected to the bottom of the bowl for discharging waste, a first water spouting section for spouting cleansing water onto the shelf of the bowl to form a vortex; a second water spouting section for spouting cleansing water onto shelf of the bowl in the same direction as the swirling direction of the vortex, a first water channel for supplying cleansing water from the cleansing water tank to the first water spouting section, and a second water channel for supplying cleansing water from the cleansing water tank to the second water spouting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Ozeki, Toshifumi Yoneda, Tomoyasu Ichiki, Hiroshi Tomonari, Kyoji Asada, Katsuhiro Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7640604
    Abstract: A waste removal system that includes a toilet pan (28) for a ultra-low flushing volume toilet (20). The pan (28) includes a rearward end (28a) adapted for positioning substantially adjacent a cistern (22) and a frontward end (28b) adapted for positioning substantially remote the cistern (22). The pan (28) also includes a flushing water outlet having a primary outlet nozzle arrangement (42) disposed substantially adjacent the pan frontward end (28b) and adapted to direct flushing water (62) downwards and towards the pan rearward end (28a). The system also includes a related flushing method and drainline (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Caroma Industries Limited
    Inventor: Stephen John Cummings
  • Patent number: 7376985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toilet. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for operating a variable siphon tube of a toilet, wherein operating reliability of the variable siphon tube can be primarily improved as well as a deodorizing structure can be provided and a rear part of the toilet can also be slimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Jong-Chil Wen
  • Patent number: 7305721
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable provision of a toilet device in which a user can select a necessary toilet wash mode whenever necessary. According to the present invention, in a toilet device which comprises: water supply means for supplying water to a rim water supply portion for flushing wash water to a bowl face of a toilet and to a jet water supply portion for orienting a trap drainage portion of the toilet; and control means for controlling operation of the water supply means, wherein said control means has a toilet wash mode for discharging a stool, and two or more toilet wash modes besides the above mode, and wherein the toilet device is provided with an operation switch for enabling selection of the two or more toilet wash modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Matsui, Tomokazu Goda, Motoshi Mase, Katsuhiro Egami
  • Patent number: 7111333
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl having a receiving portion, a converging portion in front of the receiving portion, an injecting portion and an inlet portion at opposite ends of the converging portion, and a discharging pipe behind the receiving portion and communicated with the receiving portion. The bowl has an inlet at an end thereof to communicate outside, two down tunnels on opposite side of the bowl with ends communicated with the inlet and ends extended downwards to a position in front of the receiving portion. Each of down tunnels has a U-turn section that the down tunnels have inward U-turns and are communicated with the converging portion, such that water flowing through the down tunnels will converge together in the converging portion for injecting to the discharging pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Lo, Jin-Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 7069604
    Abstract: The present invention provides an open/close valve which contributes the stabilization of the operation responsibility. A housing has a water-in port and a water-out port. Furthermore, a piston which is slidably mounted in the housing in an axial direction by means of an external operation of a shaft, and a pressure offset means for offsetting the pressure which the piston receives from water in the water-out port to the other side are provided. The piston is attached to a seat face of the housing by being slided on one side in an axial direction to close the communication between the water-in port and the water-out port, and the piston is detached to the seat face of the housing by being slided on the other side in an axial direction to open the communication between the water-in port and the water-out port. The pressure offset means comprises a pressure offset room which is formed at the other side of the piston, and a passage for communicating one side of the piston with the pressure offset room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: INAX Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tomita, Kenichi Ito, Koji Miwa, Shingo Morikawa, Yasuhiro Shirai, Masataka Mizutani, Shoichi Nakamura, Hideya Koike, Hidefumi Toyoshi, Atsushi Itoh
  • Patent number: 6986172
    Abstract: A flush toilet comprises a toilet body having a bowl for storing wash water as water seal, first means for supplying the toilet body with pressurized wash water and second means for discharging the wash water substantially horizontally along the upper peripheral portion of the inner surface of the bowl to swirl it along the inner surface of the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Toto, Ltd.
    Inventors: Miyahara Hidetaka, Noda Shosaku, Shimbara Noboru, Shibata Shinji, Shinkawa Masahiro, Matsuo Nobusuke
  • Patent number: 6934977
    Abstract: Water leak detecting or overflow devices for a toilet may be inserted into or formed integrally with the toilet. The devices include at least one water leak sensor assembly mounted in a position in a toilet tank so as to detect the rise and fall of the water level in the toilet tank and an overflow detector in a toilet bowl. If the water level rises and falls a predetermined number of times, or if water continues to flow to the toilet longer than a measured increment of time, a microprocessor operates a normally-open valve and shuts off flow of water to the toilet tank. The devices also include a second sensor, whereby if a flapper remains open or water reaches a level where it might overflow the bowl or tank and stays there for a predetermined period of time, the microprocessor will also shut off flow to the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Quintana, Devon Niccole
  • Patent number: 6859951
    Abstract: A toilet accessory concealment and toilet bowl evacuation apparatus designed to conceal common bathroom accessories as well as provide one with limited knowledge of plumbing systems with a safe and effective way to reduce the water level in a water closet bowl, or toilet bowl, to facilitate cleaning. The apparatus includes a water-tight primary compartment, a water-tight secondary compartment, and a cover configured to cooperate with the primary compartment and obscure the view of the inside of the primary compartment. The primary compartment is sized and configured to conveniently house a toilet brush, or other bathroom accessory, and retain a first predetermined quantity of liquid when the brush is not in the compartment. The secondary compartment is sized and configured to conveniently house a roll of toilet paper, or other bathroom accessory, and retain a second predetermined quantity of liquid when the roll of toilet paper is not in the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Eleanor French Spreitzer
  • Patent number: 6823535
    Abstract: A tankless western-style flush toilet having a western-style toilet body and a toilet washing device configured to wash the western-style toilet body with water, the toilet washing device including an open/close valve configured to be directly connected to a city water service pipe to supply water from outside and configured to spout water by being opened and closed electrically. The toilet washing device includes a control portion configured to ensure at least two periods of releasing times of the open/close valve, and a mechanism for switching the control portion in accordance with a pressure of city water in the city water service pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: INAX Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tomita, Kenichi Ito, Koji Miwa, Shingo Morikawa, Yasuhiro Shirai, Masataka Mizutani, Shoichi Nakamura, Hideya Koike, Hidefumi Toyoshi, Atsushi Itoh
  • Patent number: 6687922
    Abstract: A stainless steel toilet resistant to corrosion by sea water. The toilet has a toilet bowl portion which is butt-welded to a rim. The welding is carried out while the inside surface of the weld line is flushed with argon gas. Similarly, a P-trap is butt-welded to an exit opening at the bottom of the bowl portion. A flush ring assembly is supported below the rim member. The result is a toilet which can be operated with sea water without corrosion for a period of years.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Acorn Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Keith D. Marshall, Carlos J. Galeazzi, Darryl M. Boeltl
  • Patent number: 6668391
    Abstract: A water-saving toilet is disclosed. The water-saving toilet comprises: a toilet main body having an inlet orifice for introducing water from a water supply tube disposed at the outside of the main body, a toilet bowl for containing outside waste material and water supplied from the inlet orifice, and an outlet orifice for discharging the waster material and water in the toilet bowl; a discharge tube, one end of which is connected to the outlet orifice of the main body and the other end of which is connected to an outside outlet to serve as a discharge passage of waste material and water, including a curved portion which is movable up and down; means for moving the curved portion of the discharge tube up and down. With the water saving toilet, the waste material can be removed out of the toilet bowl with a minimum amount of water by the movement of the discharge tube. In addition, silent flushing operation is possible since open/close operation according to a siphon principle is not employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Korea Item Development Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Suk Lee, Kyeong Won Lee
  • Patent number: 6415457
    Abstract: The flushing device comprises a flush bowl (1) comprising an odor trap (8) on a bottom part (7) and comprises a flushing conduit (2) with flushing openings (14, 15, 16) on an upper edge (3). Flushing openings (14) in a frontal area (13) of the flushing conduit (2) have a greater throughput than laterally arranged flushing openings (15, 16) do. The flushing openings (4) in said frontal area (13) are arranged in an asymmetric manner and the flushing water (17) forms a flushing vortex (17c) in the bowl (11). The flushing device makes it possible to effectively flush with less flushing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
    Inventor: Peter Schmucki
  • Patent number: 6408449
    Abstract: A toilet assembly in combination with a urinal incorporating a commode including a bowl being supported by a base and being in communication with a water tank having a flushing mechanism thereon. The base has a peripheral wall which houses a passageway located therein. A nipple is projected through the wall of the base and connects the urinal to the commode utilizing a valve connection. A guard shield is interiorly attached to the wall of the base and is in communication with the nipple in order to allow fluids to flow through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: David Aguirre
  • Patent number: 6397405
    Abstract: A flush toilet having two nozzles located within its bowl. The two nozzles being oriented in opposite directions and alternately providing pulses of flush water into and around the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: George Grech, John E. Hammond, James Kenneth Miller