Toilet water saving apparatus linkable with bidet, and water saving method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water saving method thereof. The water saving apparatus comprises branch tubes connected to the supply tube for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir and the bidet, respectively, a three-way valve installed to the branch tubes therebetween, and a urination water level sensor and a defecation water level sensor installed inside the water reservoir of the toilet for detecting a urination water level and a defecation water level. The three-way valve has a reservoir valve and a bidet valve for allowing the washing water to be selectively supplied to one or both of the bidet and the water reservoir. The bidet valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by a controller as a bidet button provided at the control pad is operated, and the reservoir valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by the controller according to the operation of a washing button or a supplement button provided at the control pad and according to signals from the urination water level sensor and the defecation water level sensor. The present invention results in prevention of unnecessary and significant consumption of water which is not required to flush urine.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a toilet water saving apparatus and method, and more particularly to a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water saving method thereof, which can allow the water volume used to flush a toilet to be adjusted according to the type of waste to be disposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement, by means of a controller provided in the bidet as well as water level sensors provided in a water reservoir of the toilet.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, conventional toilets consist of a bowl fitted with a hinged seat, and a water reservoir located behind the bowl so that it is connected to a certain water supply facility for storing a constant volume of water required to flush the toilet.

In such a conventional toilet, regardless of the type of waste to be disposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement, a predetermined volume of water is supplied from the water reservoir in order to flush the toilet. When considering the fact that the frequency of urination is higher than the frequency of defecation, the conventional toilet exhibits a problem in that it consumes significant volumes of water which are not required to flush urine.

In order to prevent such waste of water, it has been conventionally tried to put a block or PET bottle into the water reservoir of the toilet. Although this is somewhat effective to reduce the overall water consumption, it has less actual effect to control the water volume used per flush according to the type of waste to be disposed.

Recently, the use of a bidet is on the rise. Such a bidet serves to allow the user to wash the genital and posterior parts without using toilet paper after urination or defecation, and to dry the washed parts by making use of blown air. The bidet has a washing nozzle, and a drying nozzle, which are located below the toilet seat.

When using the bidet, in addition to the water volume required per flush, it requires an additional volume of water used to wash the genital and posterior parts of the user, resulting in increase in consumption of water.

In conclusion, using a constant volume of water regardless of the type of waste to be disposed results in consumption of unnecessary and significant volumes of water in connection with the fact that the frequency of urination is higher than the frequency of defecation. Flushing toilets is the major consumption activity in most homes, and nowadays, such waste of water in connection with toilets reaches a dangerous level unsuitable to many countries suffering from a lack of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water saving method thereof, the bidet being installed to a toilet for the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the user after urination or defecation, wherein the apparatus and method enable the water volume charged in a water reservoir of the toilet to be adjusted according to the type of waste to be disposed so that a small volume of water is supplied to flush urine, and a large volume of water is supplied to flush excrement, resulting in prevention of unnecessary and significant consumption of water which is not required to flush urine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet installed with a bidet for explaining a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with the bidet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet water saving apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, the configuration of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet installed with a bidet for explaining a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with the bidet in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

• • Referring to FIG. 1 illustrating a toilet 30, which is installed with a bidet 40, comprises a bowl fitted with a hinged seat 34, and a water reservoir 33 positioned behind the bowl. The water reservoir 33 is connected to a certain water supply facility by means of a supply tube 31, and is adapted to store a constant volume of water required to flush the toilet 30.

The bidet 40 is mounted to the seat 34 of the toilet 30 so that a washing nozzle 37 and a drying nozzle 38 thereof are positioned below the toilet seat 34. Such a bidet 40 serves to allow the user to wash the genital and posterior parts of the body using washing water 32, instead of toilet paper, after urination or defecation, and to dry moisture on the washed parts by using blown air. The bidet 40 is provided laterally with a control pad 36, on which a plurality of operating buttons are arranged.

In the present invention, in order to save the washing water 32, in case of urination as well as in the majority of the time, the volume of the washing water 32 charged inside the water reservoir 33 of the toilet 30 is maintained at a urination water level (SL), which is half of a high water level of the water reservoir 33. On the contrary, in case of defecation, the volume of the washing water 32 is maintained at a defecation water level (LL), which corresponds to the high water level. In this way, the volume of the washing water 32 inside the water reservoir 33 is adjustable according to the type of waste to be disposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement.

For enabling such an adjustment in the volume of the washing water 32, to the supply tube 31 is connected a pair of branch tubes 41 for supplying the washing water 32 to the bidet 40, and the water reservoir 33. Between the branch tubes 41, a three-way valve 42 is installed for allowing the washing water 32 to be selectively supplied to one or both of the bidet 40 and the water reservoir 33.

Inside the water reservoir 33 are installed a urination water level sensor 43 and a defecation water level sensor 44 for detecting the urination water level (SL) and the defecation water level (LL), respectively. In this case, the three-way valve 42 is designed to be opened or closed according to signals from the urination water level sensor 43 and the defecation water level sensor 44, and according to the operation of a washing button 45 or a supplement button 46 provided at the control pad 36 of the bidet 40.

The three-way valve 42 has a reservoir valve 47 installed at the side of the branch tube 41 connected to the water reservoir 33, and a bidet valve 52 installed at the side of the branch tube 41 connected to the bidet 40. In order to fulfill the urination water level (SL) required in case of urination as well as in the majority of the time, the reservoir valve 47 of the three-way valve 42 is opened or closed according to the signals from the urination water level sensor 43.

That is, in case of urination as well as in the majority of the time, the reservoir valve 47 is opened to supply the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33 until the urination water level sensor 43 detects the urination water level (SL), and then as soon as the washing water 32 reaches the urination water level (SL), the reservoir valve 47 is closed by means of a controller 50 provided in the control pad 36. After defecation, as the washing button 45 or the supplement button 46 of the control pad 36 is pressed, the reservoir valve 47 is opened for allowing the washing water 32 to be charged into the water reservoir 33 until the defecation water level sensor 44 detects the defecation water level (LL).

Meanwhile, if a bidet button 51 provided at the control pad 36 is pressed for the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the user, the bidet valve 52 of the three-way valve 42 is opened by the controller 50 for enabling the use of the bidet 40.

In an initial state wherein the water reservoir 33 is empty, as the bidet 40 is operated, and the supply tube 31 is opened, if the urination water level sensor 43 installed inside the water reservoir 33 fails to detect the urination water level (SL), the controller 50 of the bidet 40 is operated to open the reservoir valve 47 of the three-way valve 42 connected to the branch tubes 41 in order to charge the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33, and then to close the reservoir valve 47 as soon as the urination water level sensor 43 detects the urination water level (SL).

In such a closed state thereof, the reservoir valve 47 is kept in a standby mode by the controller 50.

After urination, if the bidet button 51 of the control pad 36 is pressed, the controller 50 is operated to open the bidet valve 52 for allowing the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the user, and then to again close it after completion of washing. As a result of such washing, the washing water 32 is discharged from the water reservoir 33, and thus the urination water level sensor 43 no longer detects the washing water 32. In such a state, the controller 50 is operated to again open the reservoir valve 47, thereby allowing the washing water 32 to be charged to the urination water level (SL). After reaching the urination water level (SL), the reservoir valve 47 again enters to the standby mode.

After defecation, if the washing button 45 of the control pad 36 is pressed, the controller 50 is operated to open the reservoir valve 47 so that the washing water 32 is further charged until the defecation water level sensor 44 detects the defecation water level (LL) sufficient to flush excrement.

Alternatively, even when the supplement button 46 of the control pad 36 is pressed, the same operation as the above is performed in order to charge the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33 to the defecation water level (LL).

After the washing water 32 is discharged from the water reservoir 33 to flush excrement, and thus lowered from the defecation water level (LL), the controller 50 is operated to open the reservoir valve 47 in order to charge the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33 until the urination water level sensor 43 detects the urination water level (SL). Then, the reservoir valve 47 is closed and enters to the standby mode.

Referring to FIG. 4 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, to a supply tube 31a is installed a reservoir inlet tube 60 for supplying the washing water 32 to the water reservoir 33, and a bidet inlet tube 61 for supplying the washing water 32 to the bidet 40. These inlet tubes 60 and 61 are independently operable, and thus a reservoir valve 47a and a bidet valve 52a are installed to the reservoir inlet tube 60 and the bidet inlet tube 61, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5 illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, a supply tube 31b is used to supply the washing water 32 to the water reservoir 33, and a bidet inlet tube 71 is connected to a certain point of the supply tube 31b for supplying the washing water 32 to the bidet 40. The bidet inlet tube 71 has a bidet valve 70.

The supply tube 31b is provided with a hand-operated valve 72 at a certain position between the bidet valve 70 and the water reservoir 33. In case of interruption of electric power, according to the selection of the user, the hand-operated valve 72 is operated to manually open or close the supply tube 31b in order to charge the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33.

Under normal conditions, in order to allow the washing water 32 to be charged automatically into the water reservoir 33, to the supply tube 31b is connected a bypass tube 75, which extends around the hand-operated valve 72. In this case, a reservoir valve 73 is installed to the bypass tube 75.

The bidet valve 70 and the reservoir valve 72 are opened or closed by the controller 50 as the washing button 45 or the supplement button 46 of the control pad 36 is selectively pressed.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, a seat sensor 80 may be provided in the toilet seat 34 in order to detect whether the user is seated. If the seat sensor 80 detects that the user has been seated for a predetermined time, the controller 50 determines such a state as defecation, and thus opens the reservoir valve 73 so that the washing water 32 is charged into the water reservoir 33 to the defecation water level (LL).

Referring to FIG. 6 illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention, to a supply tube 31c is installed a three-way pump 93, which has a single inlet 90, and two outlets 91 and 92. To the outlets 91 and 92 of the three-way pump 93 are connected a bidet inlet tube 94 and a reservoir inlet tube 95 for supplying the washing water 32 to the bidet 40 and the water reservoir 33, respectively. Thereby, as the washing button 45 and the supplement button 46 of the control pad 36 provided at the control pad 35 of the bidet 40 are selectively pressed, the three-way pump 93 is selectively opened or closed by the controller 50.

Referring to FIG. 7 illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention, to a reservoir inlet pipe 100 for supplying the washing water 32 to the water reservoir 33 is installed a flow rate sensor 101. According to signals from the flow rate sensor 101 informing whether the detected flow rate is suitable to flush urine or excrement, the controller 50 is operated to open or close the reservoir valve 47, thereby adjusting the volume of the washing water 32 inside the water reservoir 33 to the defecation water level (LL) or urination water level (SL).

In this way, the water saving apparatus of the present invention can be installed in a simplified manner without structural change of currently used toilets or bidets. The water saving apparatus is designed to reduce water consumption by approximately 50% per urination. Especially, when considering the fact that the frequency of urination is higher than the frequency of defecation, the present invention assures that the frequency of use is higher, a great deal of water can be saved.

Further, the water saving apparatus of the present invention, even in case of interruption of electric power, can be operated using the hand-operated valve so as to manually supply the washing water to the reservoir as usual.

Although the above description relates to various toilet water saving apparatuses linkable with the bidet 40, it will be clearly understood that the present invention is applicable without the bidet 40. In this case, the water saving apparatus comprises a pipe and valve for use in the supply of the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33, and a control pad provided at the toilet 30.

As apparent from the above description, in conclusion, the present invention provides a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water saving method thereof. The bidet is installed to a toilet for the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the user after urination or defecation. The water saving apparatus and method of the present invention enable the water volume charged in a water reservoir of the toilet to be adjusted according to the type of waste to be disposed so that a small volume of water is supplied to flush urine, and a large volume of water is supplied to flush excrement, resulting in prevention of unnecessary and significant consumption of water which is not required to flush urine.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A water saving method for a toilet, which is linkable with a bidet,

the toilet comprising:

a water reservoir connected to a certain water supply facility by means of a supply tube for storing a constant volume of washing water required to flush the toilet; and

a toilet seat provided in front of the water reservoir, the bidet comprising:

a washing nozzle and a drying nozzle located below the seat for enabling washing and drying of the genital and posterior parts of the user after urination or defecation; and

a control pad having a plurality of operating buttons,

wherein: in the majority of the time as well as in case of urination, the washing water inside the water reservoir of the toilet is maintained at a urination water level suitable to flush urine, the urination water level being half of a high water level; and

in case of defecation, as a washing button or supplement button provided at the control pad of the bidet is pressed, the washing water inside the water reservoir is maintained at a defecation water level corresponding to the high water level,

whereby the water saving method allows the volume of the washing water to be adjusted according to the type of waste to be disposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement.

2. A water saving apparatus for a toilet, which is linkable with a bidet,

the toilet comprising:

a water reservoir connected to a certain water supply facility by means of a supply tube for storing a constant volume of washing water required to flush the toilet; and

a toilet seat provided in front of the water reservoir,

the bidet comprising:

a washing nozzle and a drying nozzle located below the seat for enabling washing and drying of the genital and posterior parts of the user after urination or defecation; and

a control pad having a plurality of operating buttons, and a controller,

wherein the water saving apparatus comprises;

supply means for selectively supplying the washing water to one or both of the water reservoir and the bidet, and allowing the washing water inside the water reservoir to be maintained at a urination water level or a defecation water level; and

sensor means for detecting the levels of the washing water charged inside the water reservoir.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supply means includes:

branch tubes connected to the supply tube for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir and the bidet, respectively; and

a three-way valve installed to the branch tubes therebetween, and having a reservoir valve and a bidet valve for allowing the washing water to be selectively supplied to one or both of the bidet and the water reservoir, and

wherein the sensor means includes:

a urination water level sensor installed inside the water reservoir of the toilet for detecting the urination water level, which is half of a high water level; and

a defecation water level sensor installed inside the water reservoir of the toilet for detecting the defecation water level, which corresponds to the high water level.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bidet valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by the controller as a bidet button provided at the control pad is operated, and

wherein the reservoir valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by the controller according to the operation of a washing button provided at the control pad and according to signals from the urination water level sensor and the defecation water level sensor.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the reservoir valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by the controller according to the operation of a supplement button provided at the control pad and according to signals from the urination water level sensor and the defecation water level sensor.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supply means includes:

a reservoir inlet tube and a bidet inlet tube, which are independently installed to the supply tube for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir and the bidet, respectively; and

a reservoir valve and a bidet valve installed to the reservoir inlet tube and the bidet inlet tube, respectively.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supply means includes:

the supply tube used to supply the washing water to the water reservoir;

a bidet inlet tube connected to the supply tube for supplying the washing water to the bidet, and having a bidet valve;

a hand-operated valve installed on the supply tube between the bidet valve and the water reservoir for allowing the washing water to be charged into the water reservoir even in case of interruption of electric power; and

a bypass tube connected to the supply tube so as to extend around the hand-operated valve, and having a reservoir valve for allowing the washing water to be charged into the water reservoir under normal conditions.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supply means includes:

a three-way pump connected to the supply tube, and having a single inlet, and two outlets; and

a bidet inlet tube and a reservoir inlet tube connected to the outlets of the three-way pump for supplying the washing water to the bidet and the water reservoir, respectively.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supply means includes:

a reservoir inlet tube for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir, the reservoir inlet tube having a reservoir valve, and

wherein the sensor means includes a flow rate sensor installed to the reservoir inlet tube, according to signals from the flow rate sensor, the controller being operated to open or close the reservoir valve, thereby maintaining the washing water inside the water reservoir at the urination water level or defecation water level.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a seat sensor provided in the seat for detecting whether the user is seated, as the seat sensor detects that the user has been seated for a predetermined time, the controller considers such a state as defecation, and thus opens a reservoir valve so that the washing water is charged into the water reservoir to the defecation water level.

11. A water saving apparatus for a toilet,

the toilet comprising:

a water reservoir connected to a certain water supply facility by means of a supply tube for storing a constant volume of washing water required to flush the toilet; and

a toilet seat provided in front of the water reservoir,

wherein the water saving apparatus comprises;

supply means for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir, and allowing the washing water inside the water reservoir to be maintained at the urination water level or defecation water level;

sensor means for detecting the levels of the washing water charged inside the water reservoir; and

a control pad installed to the toilet.