TILE-ON RIM TOILET
A toilet having a water inlet structure, a bowl structure, a rim, and an outlet structure. The water inlet structure is configured to receive water from a water source. The bowl structure includes a toilet bowl and a water channel, which is fluidly connected to the water inlet structure and is configured to feed water into the toilet bowl from an outlet of the water channel that is located between a back portion and a side portion of the toilet bowl. The rim has a solid, annular member disposed around a top of the toilet bowl and entirely above the water channel, is formed separately from and coupled to the bowl structure. The outlet structure is fluidly connected to the toilet bowl to carry the water and contents from the toilet bowl to an outlet.
This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 and 37 C.F.R. § 1.53(b) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/582,608 (Docket No. 010222-20127A-US) filed Sep. 25, 2019, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/738,433, filed Sep. 28, 2018. The aforementioned U.S. application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present application relates generally to the field of toilets. More specifically, this application relates to toilets, such as swirl-flush toilets, having a tile-on rim configuration.
BACKGROUNDToilets can be configured to have various flush designs (i.e., different manners in which water may circulate into and within a toilet bowl from a water inlet). The most common design is a box rim design where, upon flushing, water may be flushed downward from a channel located within a rim, which extends around an upper perimeter of the bowl. However, a swirl design is also possible, where, upon flushing, water may be dispensed through an opening in a back or a side portion of the bowl, and may be directed in a direction around the bowl, providing a “swirl” cleaning effect around the bowl. Box rim designs generally have a series of holes formed on a lower surface of the rim through which water is distributed along the entire perimeter of the bowl. Forming the box rim with a series of holes creates a more complex manufacturing process, as it often requires additional forming steps to create the bowl (e.g., having a channel, or “box” rim) and the series of holes within the rim. The additional complexity may result in increased scrap rates during production, as well as more workers to perform the forming steps. In addition, due to the need to have multiple steps to create a single, integrated unit, storing inventory during this process may require a large amount of space.
SUMMARYAt least one embodiment of the application relates to a toilet having a water inlet structure, a bowl structure, a rim, and an outlet structure. The water inlet structure is configured to receive water from a water source. The bowl structure includes a toilet bowl and a water channel, which is fluidly connected to the water inlet structure and is configured to feed water into the toilet bowl from an outlet of the water channel that is located between a back portion and a side portion of the toilet bowl. The rim has a solid, annular member disposed around a top of the toilet bowl and entirely above the water channel, and is formed separately from and coupled to the bowl structure. The outlet structure is fluidly connected to the toilet bowl to carry the water and contents from the toilet bowl to an outlet.
At least one embodiment of the application relates to a toilet base or pedestal, which includes a bowl structure and a rim structure. The bowl structure includes a bowl defining an opening at a top thereof and having an outlet; a rear portion extending from a rear of the bowl and having an inlet channel; and a water channel that fluidly connects the bowl to the inlet channel. The rim structure is separate from and coupled to the bowl structure. That is, the rim structure is formed separately from the bowl structure. The rim structure includes a solid, annular member and a rear portion. The solid, annular member is disposed on the top of the bowl and around the opening of the bowl, with a bottom of the solid, annular member defining a top of the water channel. The rear portion is disposed on the rear portion of the bowl and has an inlet opening fluidly connected to the inlet channel, with the rear portion of the rim structure defining a top of the inlet channel.
At least one embodiment of the application relates a method of forming a toilet including forming a bowl structure. The bowl structure includes a bowl defining an opening at a top thereof and having an outlet, a rear portion extending from a rear of the bowl and having an inlet channel, and a water channel that fluidly connects the bowl to the inlet channel. The method includes forming a rim structure separately from the bowl structure, where the rim structure includes a solid, annular member and a rear portion extending from a rear of the solid, annular member. The method includes coupling the rim structure to the bowl structure, such that the solid, annular member is disposed on the top of the bowl and surrounds the opening of the bowl. A bottom of the solid, annular member defines a top of the water channel. The rear portion of the rim structure is disposed on the rear portion of the bowl, has an inlet opening fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and defines a top of the inlet channel.
Referring generally to the FIGURES, disclosed herein are toilet structures (e.g., pedestals, bases, etc.) for toilets having tile-on rims. The tile-on rim includes a solid and annular member, which couples to an upper surface of a bowl structure of a toilet. The tile-on rim may be planar including a flat top and/or a flat bottom surfaces, depending on the embodiment. The tile-on rim (e.g., rim structure) is formed separately from the bowl structure, and subsequently coupled to the bowl structure by way of a bonding material and/or one or more fasteners. The bonding material includes adhesives, cements, and any other material that is capable of permanently coupling (e.g., bonding, fusing, etc.) the rim structure and the bowl structure together. By way of non-limiting example, the material can be a clay, ceramic or vitreous (e.g., a “slip-roll” clay) that is applied to one or both of the rim and bowl structures as a paste or malleable solid, such as a semi-liquid and semi-solid material, then heated (e.g., in a kiln or oven) to permanently fuse the structures together. The tile-on rim is disposed entirely above a water channel, such that, instead of having an internal channel with vertical holes formed within the rim to direct flush water for cleaning the inner surface of a toilet bowl, the water channel supplies water into the toilet bowl outside of (e.g., below) the rim. For example, water can be supplied through an outlet (e.g., single outlet) located between a back portion and side portion of the toilet bowl, a jet, a combination thereof, or through other ways in the bowl structure. In this way, locating the water channel outside of the rim structure allows the rim to exclude features designed to carry water within. Accordingly, the tile-on rim of the present disclosure reduces manufacturing time and cost, such as by reducing the number of steps to form the toilet structure (e.g., the steps that would otherwise be required to form holes or a channel within the rim).
As shown in
The outlet structure 3 includes an inlet 30, which fluidly connects to the toilet bowl 40, an outlet, and a trapway extending between the inlet 30 and the outlet to carry water and waste contents from the toilet bowl 40 to a drainpipe or sewer system. For example, the trapway may include and extend between the inlet 30 and the outlet. As shown in
The illustrated bowl structure 4 includes a toilet body 47 having a toilet bowl 40, which defines an inlet opening and an outlet, and a water channel 45. The bowl structure 4 fluidly connects the water inlet structure 2 to the outlet structure 3, and is configurable to receive and contain water and waste within the toilet bowl 40. Specifically, the water channel 45 is fluidly connected to the water inlet structure 2 and is configured to feed water into the toilet bowl 40 from an outlet 48 of the water channel 45 that is located between a back portion 41 and a side portion 42 of the toilet bowl 40. As shown in
The illustrated rim 5 includes a solid, planar (e.g., flat), and annular member disposed around a top of the toilet bowl 40 and entirely above the water channel 45. That is, the rim 5 is solid and does not include a rim channel, fluid channel, or other fluid delivery or water carrying features. Further, the solid, annular member does not have to be planar or flat, but can include one or more contours (e.g., steps, curves, etc.) on either a top or a bottom thereof, such as to aid in coupling to the bowl, to improve flow of water/waste, support a seat, or for other reasons. The illustrated rim 5 is formable using a molding or casting process. As shown in
The rim 5 couples to and abuts an upper surface 44 of the bowl structure 4. For example, the rim 5 can couple (e.g., affix) to the upper surface 44 of the bowl structure 4 by a bonding material and/or one or more fasteners. The bonding material, if employed, can be applied around a portion of or the entire perimeter between the rim 5 and the upper surface 44 of the bowl structure 4. The rim 5 overhangs the shelf 46 of the toilet bowl 40 and is disposed entirely above the water channel 45 of the bowl structure 4 and the inlet channel 20 of the water inlet structure 2 when assembled. Thus, the rim 5 defines a top of a shelf channel extending from the outlet 48 of the water channel 45 and extending between the shelf 46 and the bottom surface 55 of the rim 5. A bottom (e.g., another part of the surface 55) of the rim 5 also defines a top of each of the inlet and water channels upon assembly of the rim structure to the bowl structure. A bonding material and/or one or more fasteners can couple the rim structure (e.g., rim 5) to the bowl structure 4. For example, if the toilet utilizes one or more fasteners, each fastener extends downwardly through one associated bore 53 in the rim 5 and into the upper surface 44 of the bowl structure 4.
As mentioned above, the concepts of this application are configurable with any type of toilet and are not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Further, the specific geometries (e.g., bowl, rim, etc.) shown and described are not limiting, but rather are exemplary embodiments.
The toilet concepts shown and described herein facilitate many improvements in the area of toilets. For example, the flat plate at top of rim can facilitate different geometries that were prohibitive with prior toilets. The concepts are configurable to deliver rim wash with different rim nozzles, which can employ embed nozzles (e.g., single, dual, etc.) into a tile-on piece of the toilet (e.g., the rim). The concepts are configurable with fluidics pieces, which can be formed (e.g., molded-in) with the rim. The concepts are configurable with open rim designs, such as where one would not see water swirling with sloped bowl structure. The concepts are configurable with different tail configurations to fit different bowl to tank coupling pieces for two-piece toilets, as well as with one-piece toilets. As non-limiting examples, the concepts are configurable with tail configurations using bi-lock and tri-lock, as well as dry couplings, snap locks, and other systems. U.S. Pat. No. 9,487,937, which issued on Nov. 8, 2016, describes some examples of such mounting systems.
An exemplary method of assembling or forming the toilets of this application involves a three step process. The first step involves forming a bowl structure that includes a bowl defining an opening at a top thereof and having an outlet, a rear portion extending from a rear of the bowl and having an inlet channel, and a water channel that fluidly connects the bowl to the inlet channel. The bowl structure can be formed (e.g., cast, molded, etc.) in a mold, such as the mold M shown in
The third step (or a separate fourth step) may involve coupling the rim structure to the bowl structure by applying a bonding material to the bottom of the solid, annular member and/or the top of the bowl, such that the bonding material forms a watertight seal between the bowl structure and the rim structure. The method may involve heating the bonding material, the rim structure, and the bowl structure to an elevated temperature to bond the rim structure and the bowl structure together. An elevated temperature is a temperature that is high enough above ambient temperature to cure (e.g., fuse, bond, etc.) the rim and bowl structures through the bonding material. Upon curing, the bonding material forms a watertight seal between fused rim and bowl structures. The heating may take place in mold, such as the mold M shown in
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The terms “connected” or “coupled,” as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. Such members may be coupled mechanically, electrically, and/or fluidly.
The term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is understood to convey that an element may be either X, Y, Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the toilets and the components/elements, as shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. For example, each inlet structure or component thereof, each bowl structure or component thereof, and/or each rim structure or component thereof described herein may be incorporated into any other embodiment of this application. Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A toilet comprising:
- a water inlet structure including an inlet channel configured to receive water from a water source and supply water to a water channel and a jet channel;
- a bowl structure including a toilet bowl, the water channel which is fluidly connected to the water inlet structure and configured to supply water into the toilet bowl, and the jet channel which is fluidly connected to the water inlet structure and is configured to supply water into the toilet bowl; and
- a vent hole disposed in the inlet channel and configured to pass air from the jet channel into the inlet channel.
2. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:
- a rim formed separately from and coupled to the bowl structure.
3. The toilet of claim 2, wherein the rim is disposed entirely above the water channel.
4. The toilet of claim 2, wherein at least one fastener couples the rim to the bowl structure, and each fastener extends through a bore in the rim and into the bowl structure.
5. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:
- an outlet structure fluidly connected to the toilet bowl to carry the water and contents from the toilet bowl to an outlet.
6. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the vent hole is a downwardly extending bore disposed on a ledge elevated from a bottom of the inlet channel.
7. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:
- a forward wall configured to divert a first flow of water into the water channel and to divert a second flow of water to the jet channel.
8. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the vent hole is configured to pass air from the jet channel to the inlet channel.
9. A toilet pedestal comprising:
- a water inlet structure including an inlet channel configured to receive water from a water source;
- a bowl structure including a bowl defining an opening at a top thereof and having an outlet, a water channel fluidly connected to the inlet channel and configured to supply water into the bowl, and a jet channel fluidly connected to the inlet channel and configured to supply water into the bowl; and
- a vent hole disposed in the inlet channel configured to pass air from the jet channel to the inlet channel.
10. The toilet pedestal of claim 9, further comprising:
- a rim structure separate from and coupled to the bowl structure.
11. The toilet pedestal of claim 10, wherein the rim structure includes a solid, annular member disposed on top of the bowl and around the opening of the bowl, a bottom of the solid, annular member defining a top of the water channel.
12. The toilet pedestal of claim 10, wherein the rim structure is disposed entirely above the water channel.
13. The toilet pedestal of claim 9, wherein at least one fastener couples the rim structure to the bowl structure, and each fastener extends through a bore in the rim structure and into the bowl structure.
14. The toilet pedestal of claim 9, further comprising:
- a forward wall configured to divert a first flow of water into the water channel and to divert a second flow of water to the jet channel.
15. The toilet pedestal of claim 9, wherein the vent hole is a downwardly extending bore disposed on a ledge elevated from a bottom of the inlet channel.
16. A method of forming a toilet, comprising:
- forming a bowl structure that includes a bowl defining an opening at a top thereof and having an outlet, an inlet channel, a water channel fluidly connected to the inlet channel configured to supply water into the bowl, a jet channel fluidly connected to the inlet channel configured to supply water into the bowl, and a vent hole disposed in the inlet channel and configured to pass air from the jet channel into the inlet channel;
- forming a rim structure separately from the bowl structure, the rim structure including a solid annular member; and
- coupling the rim structure to the bowl structure, a bottom of the solid annular member defining a top of the water channel.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the rim structure is disposed entirely above the water channel.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the vent hole is a downwardly extending bore disposed on a ledge elevated from a bottom of the inlet channel.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the bowl structure includes a forward wall configured to divert a first flow of water into the water channel and to divert a second flow of water to the jet channel.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one fastener couples the rim structure to the bowl structure, and each fastener extends through a bore in the rim structure and into the bowl structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2024
Publication Date: Oct 3, 2024
Inventors: John F. Emmerling (Howards Grove, WI), John A. Zutz (Valders, WI)
Application Number: 18/742,268