Bowl Patents (Class 4/420)
  • Patent number: 10053849
    Abstract: A flush toilet of the present invention is provided with a toilet main body and a storage tank supplying cleaning water to a supply opening of the toilet main body. The toilet main body includes a bowl, a rim, a rim water passage formed on an entire circumference of the rim, and an aperture formed on the entire circumference of the rim, and a water conduit formed between the supply opening and the rim water passage. The water conduit includes an upstream water conduit extending to the right side from the supply opening, and a downstream water conduit extending to the left side from the upstream water conduit, and the downstream water conduit is formed such that a downstream end of an inner wall surface on the right side is positioned in the left side to a center line of the toilet main body in the left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Matsuo, Eiji Shiohara, Hiroyuki Hara, Yoshikatsu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10047510
    Abstract: A rimless toilet pan (20) includes a forward end (F), a rearward end (R) and a pan bowl (28). A flushing outlet (32) is in fluid communication with the pan bowl (28). A flushing water inlet (30) is in fluid communication with the pan bowl (28). An inwardly facing first sidewall (34) extends substantially around the top of the pan bowl (28). A substantially horizontal ledge extends (36) substantially around the bottom of the first sidewall (34). An inwardly facing second sidewall (37) extends substantially around the pan bowl (28) under the horizontal ledge (36). A flushing water flow splitter (38) is substantially adjacent a rearward end of the first sidewall (34), the flow splitter (38) is in fluid communication with the flushing water inlet (30) and has a leftwards outlet (38a) and a rightwards outlet (38b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Caroma Industries Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cummings, Leonard Conrad, Johann Karunaratne, Frank Quartiero
  • Patent number: 10030377
    Abstract: A refill and wash down assembly for a vacuum toilet. The refill and wash down assembly includes a manifold having a left side, a right side and an inlet configured to be connected to a water source, a slot defined through the manifold and extending from the left side to the right side. The manifold further includes a plurality of left side ports defined on the left side and a plurality of right side ports defined on the right side. A first array of refill tubes extends from the ports on the right side of the manifold and a second array of refill tubes extends from the ports on the left side of the manifold. Each refill tube also has a nozzle on its distal end and is of a different length different than the other refill tubes in the same array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Acorn Engineering Company
    Inventor: Darryl M. Boeltl
  • Patent number: 10030376
    Abstract: A flush toilet forms a bowl including a waste-receiving surface and a rim; a rim water passageway and rim spout port for spouting flush water into the bowl and forming a circulating flow are formed on the rim; this rim spout port downstream side flow path changes in curvature from small to large at curved portions formed at positions in the rim inner circumferential wall closest to the rim spout port in at least the right rear area inside the bowl and the front area inside the bowl, and these curved portions are formed by transition curves as seen in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventor: Shu Kashirajima
  • Patent number: 9938706
    Abstract: The flush toilet includes a bowl that includes a drainage outlet portion in a bottom portion and a discharge port in an upper inner surface portion. The flush toilet is configured to wash an inner surface of the bowl by allowing washing water discharged from the discharge port to flow down while swirling along the inner surface of the bowl. The inner surface of the bowl includes a guide passage configured to control flow of the washing water that flows down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9895035
    Abstract: Provided is a toilet seat assembly comprising: a bidet housing for defining the appearance of a bidet; a hinge member which is fixed to the inner side of the bidet housing and is provided with a shaft, wherein the hinge member is provided with a circular ring-shaped coupling groove formed along the outer circumference of the shaft; and a toilet seat connected to the shaft so as to allow rotation thereon, wherein the bidet housing is provided with a coupling protrusion protruding to the inner side so as to be inserted into the coupling groove. Thus, it is possible to prevent moisture from permeating into the inside of the bidet housing, and to facilitate wiring of wires for supplying electricity to a heating device provided in the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: COWAY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hee-Ju Kang, Sung-Worl Jin, Young-Pyo Kim, Da-Woon Jung
  • Patent number: 9719239
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl having an opening, an outlet, and two jet holes positioned above a water line defined by a weir of a trapway. The two jet holes are configured to evacuate waste from the bowl into a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Kohler India Corporation Private Limited
    Inventors: Arun Bhardwaj, Vivek Kumar Srivastava, Shyam Nandan Kumar
  • Patent number: 9701410
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a grey water flush system for use with vacuum toilets. One embodiment of the system provides a two-stage flush that uses a transient tank in between the toilet bowl and the main aircraft waste tank, which reduces the noise level associated with the flush process because a lesser vacuum is demanded for the first stage of the flush. Embodiments of the system further capture grey water from a sink basin in a reservoir and use that water in the toilet flush process. There is further provided a lavatory odor removal system option that is activated during the second stage of the flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAG Aerospace Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Razmik B. Boodaghians, Kevin Huang, Christoph Goeschel, Christina Ortolan, Volker Antonczyk, Timothy Birbeck
  • Patent number: 9623133
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for disinfecting a lavatory inside a vehicle in response to a set of criteria being met. A determination is made as to whether a set of criteria for activation of a disinfection system that emits far-ultraviolet radiation to perform a disinfection process inside a lavatory has been met. In response to a determination that the set of criteria has been met, the disinfection system is activated to perform the disinfection process inside the lavatory using the far-ultraviolet radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James J. Childress, Mark L. Cloud, Karen Lee Hills
  • Patent number: 9518384
    Abstract: A flush toilet includes: a bowl portion having a waste-receiving surface, a rim and a recess; a rim spout portion configured to spout flush water to form a swirl flow which swirlingly flows along the inner peripheral surface; a drainage conduit having an inlet connecting with the recess to discharge waste therethrough, wherein the waste-receiving surface of the bowl portion is composed of a left waste-receiving sub-surface and a right waste-receiving sub-surface defined, respectively, on both sided of a center line with respect to a lateral direction of the bowl portion, the left waste-receiving sub-surface and the right waste-receiving sub-surface are formed, respectively, in different shapes in a front region of the bowl portion so as to allow flush water spouted from the rim spout portion to form a major stream which flows from a front end of the bowl portion into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shu Kashirajima, Tomohiro Hirakawa, Masaki Kitamura, Yuki Shinohara, Yuki Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 9481992
    Abstract: Free-standing toilet with cast-on toilet tank, comprising a ceramic toilet body and a ceramic toilet tank, wherein the pressure cast toilet body (2) has an annular flange (11) located on the upper rim of its bowl section (10), which annular flange continues circumferentially around and extends substantially horizontally toward the inside of the bowl section (10) and serves as a border for flushing water that is introduced below the annular flange (11) by means of an introduction unit (14), and in that the toilet tank (3), which is also pressure cast, is fixedly joined to the toilet body (2) by means of a ceramic bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: DURAVIT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Stammel, Juan De La Corte, Emil Vuck, Werner Griebe
  • Patent number: 9467823
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a value-added service for short message service, VAS-SMS, processing method and a VAS-SMS processing center, which include: the VAS-SMS processing center receives an original short message forwarded from the short message service center, generates a value-added service short message associated with the original short message in accordance with data of VAS-SMS subscribed by the calling and called parities of the original short message, submits the value-added service short message to the short message service center, and receives a delivery status report returned from the short message service center, and the value-added service for short message service processing center takes the delivery result of the value-added service short message as that of the associated original short message and sends a delivery result notification of the original short message to the short message service center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaolong Hou, Ning Chen
  • Patent number: 9440269
    Abstract: Waste containing a cytotoxic chemotherapy drug is collected in a container and contacted with a solidification material to form a solidified waste. The solidification material includes a mixture of an organic polymer and a Portland cement clinker. The organic polymer facilitating dispersal of the Portland cement clinker upon contacting said waste with the solidification material, wherein a volume of the solidified waste forms a stable matrix. The solidified waste is sealed within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Pharma-Cycle, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Mullowney, Jr., Theresa L. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 9371135
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to quick release toilet concepts, which can be useful particularly on-board aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles. Further embodiments relate to improved shroud components for toilets that help reduce splash. Further embodiments also relate to flushing systems for use with vacuum toilets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: MAG Aerospace Industries, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Beach, Kevin Huang, Christoph Goeschel, Timothy Birbeck, Howard C. B. Kuhns, Nguyen Tram, Gil Fitzpatrick Lenhard, Angela M. Hsueh
  • Patent number: 9359753
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Hirakawa, Masaki Kitamura, Shu Kashirajima, Yuki Shinohara, Koji Kamei
  • Patent number: 9353512
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AS IP Holdco, LLC
    Inventors: James McHale, Christophe Bucher, David Grover, Jian Zhou
  • Patent number: 9303395
    Abstract: A flush toilet which is capable of completing flushing of a bowl portion at or before termination of a siphon action, thereby improving toilet flushing performance in a situation where flushing is performed while generating a siphon action by using a reduced amount of flush water. The flush toilet is configured such that, after a first rim water spouting portion starts to spout flush water therefrom, a jet water spouting portion and a second rim water spouting portion start to spout flush water therefrom, in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shigehisa Shirakawa, Jing Chen
  • Patent number: 9260852
    Abstract: A spiral guiding drain structure is disposed on a toilet and includes a hidden segment and an open segment connecting with the hidden segment. The hidden segment passes through the toilet and has an inlet end leaving away from the open segment. The open segment is defined on an inner wall of the toilet and spirally surrounds the inner wall downward, a length of the open segment is at least Âľ circumference of the inner wall of the toilet, and the toilet includes a fence portion extending outwardly from a bottom rim of the open segment adjacent to an opening, and a height of the fence portion changes when an extending distance of the open segment from the hidden segment increases so that water flows out of the open segment, thus flushing the inner wall of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Global Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Mingchia Wu, Chungyu Kuo, Tsungyi Lo, Chuwan Hong
  • Patent number: 9242282
    Abstract: A method for using a mixture of an organic polymer combined with an inorganic polymer is provided. When the mixture is combined with a liquid material, such as a urine from a patient that is contaminated with a dangerous cytotoxic drug, a multi-step process occurs that sequester the dangers. The combined material forms a stable matrix in which the cytotoxic chemotherapy drug is destroyed. Due to the combination of polymers, the multi-step process will occur without any mechanical mixing or stirring, as the organic polymer facilitates dispersal of the inorganic polymer through-out the combined material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Pharma-Cycle, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Mullowney, Theresa L. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 9157225
    Abstract: A flush toilet which includes: a bowl portion having a waste-receiving surface, a rim and a recess; a first rim spout portion which spouts flush water toward a front end of the bowl portion so as to form a swirl flow; and a second rim spout portion which spouts flush water so as to form a swirl flow having a same flow direction as that of the swirl flow formable by the first rim spout portion. The bowl portion is configured to allow flush water spouted from the first rim spout portion to form a major stream which flows from the front end of the bowl portion into the recess, and allow flush water spouted from the second rim spout portion to flow into the recess from a lateral side of the bowl portion and then merge with the major stream M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shu Kashirajima, Tomohiro Hirakawa, Masaki Kitamura, Yuki Shinohara, Koji Kamei
  • Patent number: 9021620
    Abstract: A brace for a wall-mounted toilet, particularly useful for wall-mounted porcelain toilets in hospitals and other health care facilities. The brace a weight receiving structure supported by cantilevered struts that attach the brace to the wall, preferably using the same bolts that attach the toilet to the wall. The weight receiving structure may be seat portion that overlies the rim of the toilet bowl, so that the weight of the user is transmitted from the toilet seat to the seat structure and then to the walls through the struts. Alternately, the weight receiving structure may include an under-bowl support that extends underneath the toilet bowl so that the user's weight is transmitted from the bowl to the wall through the struts. Thus, the cantilevered brace increases the weight-bearing capacity of the wall-mounted toilet. A plastic shroud may be included for enclosing the brace and toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Modular Services Company
    Inventor: James A. Walker
  • Publication number: 20150107011
    Abstract: A wall hung toilet is described which has a toilet body having a toilet body inlet, a back plate having at least a first and a second lower fastener opening therethrough, a toilet body outlet, a bowl and a base. The bowl has an interior surface defining a interior area for receiving fluid, an inlet for introducing fluid to the interior area of the bowl and a bowl outlet. A trapway for passing fluid from the bowl outlet to the toilet body outlet is also included. The base of the toilet body extends from a front bowl portion of the base to a rear portion of the base that contacts the back plate, and the base is configured so as to distribute load bearing forces when applied to the bowl in use towards each of a first area around the first fastener opening and a second area around the second fastener area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Christophe Bucher, David Grover
  • Publication number: 20150107010
    Abstract: A novel toilet bowl having an inclined surface being an angle between 30 degrees and 70 degrees in relation to the floor is capable of supporting a user as they lean against the toilet as opposed to sitting on the toilet. The inclined surface has a substantially central opening having a perimeter sufficient in size to receive human derived waste. The toilet bowl pitched at an inclined angle has a seat. The seat can receive a plurality of barriers, whereby a user tears away each layer to expose a new sanitary layer for a user to lean against. A toilet seat attachment has an inclined angle for use with an existing standard toilet. The toilet seat has an inclined surface for use with a toilet having a horizontal toilet bowl surface in relation to the floor. A user can be secured to the toilet seat with a seat belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Linda Leigh Mogan
  • Publication number: 20150082531
    Abstract: A flush toilet which includes: a bowl portion having a waste-receiving surface, a rim and a recess; a first rim spout portion which spouts flush water toward a front end of the bowl portion so as to form a swirl flow; and a second rim spout portion which spouts flush water so as to form a swirl flow having a same flow direction as that of the swirl flow formable by the first rim spout portion. The bowl portion is configured to allow flush water spouted from the first rim spout portion to form a major stream which flows from the front end of the bowl portion into the recess, and allow flush water spouted from the second rim spout portion to flow into the recess from a lateral side of the bowl portion and then merge with the major stream M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shu KASHIRAJIMA, Tomohiro HIRAKAWA, Masaki KITAMURA, Yuki SHINOHARA, Koji KAMEI
  • Patent number: 8966676
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a toilet apparatus includes a toilet, a bowl configured to receive solid waste being formed in the toilet, the bowl being hydrophilic; a spray unit configured to spray at least one selected from water and hypochlorous acid water onto a surface of the bowl; a detection unit configured to detect a state of use of the toilet; and a control unit configured to spray at least one selected from the water and the hypochlorous acid water from the spray unit before the use and to spray the hypochlorous acid water from the spray unit after the use. The cleanliness of the bowl surface of a toilet can be maintained by suppressing the affixation of solid waste and the propagation of bacteria caused by oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd
    Inventors: Aki Hamakita, Yo Morotomi, Koichiro Matsushita, Shuichi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20150026876
    Abstract: A flush toilet which is capable of completing flushing of a bowl portion at or before termination of a siphon action, thereby improving toilet flushing performance in a situation where flushing is performed while generating a siphon action by using a reduced amount of flush water. The flush toilet is configured such that, after a first rim water spouting portion starts to spout flush water therefrom, a jet water spouting portion and a second rim water spouting portion start to spout flush water therefrom, in this order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Shigehisa SHIRAKAWA, Jing CHEN
  • Publication number: 20150020301
    Abstract: A ceramic toilet pan having a raised rear portion to which a hinge tube may be accurately located and fixed in position for example by adhesive using a jig despite variations in pan body size due to ceramic firing, a water pump and air pump being provided for flushing the toilet pan when a seat and lid are in a closed position. The seat and lid are rotationally mounted to the pan by a horizontal hinge pin located in the hinge tube and a latch member is provided for latching the lid and seat closed. A cistern is also provided having an overflow weir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Garry Moore
  • Publication number: 20140259351
    Abstract: A wall-hung toilet including a bowl, a water inlet chamber receiving water, a rim channel, a shroud surrounding at least a portion of the bowl, a rear mount, and a pocket. The rim channel is provided above the bowl and is fluidly connected to the water inlet chamber to receive the water. The rim channel includes an opening that introduces water into a rear portion of the bowl at an angle relative to vertical. The rear mount includes a mounting hole that is configured to connect the toilet to a wall via a fastener engaging the wall and the mounting hole. The pocket is formed in a side of the toilet and extends through the shroud to provide access to an interior side of the mounting hole from the side of the toilet, such that the fastener can be accessed through the pocket from the side of the toilet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Spankowski, Michael Bates, Rob Davis, Carl Barlett, John Zutz, Thomas C. Jorsch
  • Publication number: 20140259350
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Robert S. Davis, Thomas M. Spankowski, Lachlan A. Stewart,, III
  • Publication number: 20140250578
    Abstract: Various disclosed systems relate to fixtures, such as toilets, that include a lighting mechanism for illuminating portions of the fixture. One embodiment relates to a toilet. The seat assembly of the toilet includes a hinge assembly having a hinge housing and a lighting mechanism. The lighting mechanism is at least partially encapsulated by the hinge housing. The lighting mechanism including a first light source and a power source. The seat assembly further includes a lid pivotally connected to the hinge assembly. The seat assembly includes a ring pivotally connected to the hinge assembly. The lighting mechanism is configured to direct light at the tank and to direct light into the bowl such that light is reflected off of the tank and off of an interior of the bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Roger W. Murphy, Michael Luettgen, Gary Clarke, Joseph L. Stauber
  • Publication number: 20140215705
    Abstract: A flush toilet bowl capable of satisfactorily cleaning a toilet during a power failure is provided. The flush toilet bowl includes: a toilet bowl main body (10) that includes a bowl (11); a toilet bowl device (30) that is attached to the toilet bowl main body (10) including a human body detection sensor (32A), a local cleaning device (31), a heated toilet seat (21), or the like and is driven using a commercial power source (P) as a power source; and a toilet bowl cleaning device (50) that is driven using a battery (55) as a power source and supplies cleaning water to the bowl (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Lixil Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Miwa
  • Publication number: 20140201895
    Abstract: A lid for a toilet including a bottom surface that faces a top surface of a seat for the toilet when the seat is in a lowered position proximate to a bowl of the toilet. The bottom surface of the lid has a sweeping profile that extends along at least a portion of the bottom surface of the lid and is configured to engage the top surface of the seat. A uniform gap between the seat and lid is defined by the sweeping profile of the lid and the material thickness of the lid when both the lid and the seat are in a lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Roger W. Murphy, Jeffrey T. Laundre, Michael R. Bates, David P. Ourada
  • Publication number: 20140189947
    Abstract: A toilet includes a seat, a bowl and a damper locking mechanism that allows the seat to rotate relative to the bowl with an influenced inertia. The damper locking mechanism includes a hinge base having a biasing member and an interior surface that defines a bore and a damper having an exterior surface that engages the interior surface. When the damper is disposed in the bore, the biasing member imparts a radial force to bias the damper into the hinge base and remove a looseness between the seat and the bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Roger W. Murphy, Jeffrey T. Laundre, David Ourada
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140130246
    Abstract: A spiral guiding drain structure is disposed on a toilet and includes a hidden segment and an open segment connecting with the hidden segment. The hidden segment passes through the toilet and has an inlet end leaving away from the open segment. The open segment is defined on an inner wall of the toilet and spirally surrounds the inner wall downward, a length of the open segment is at least 3/4 circumference of the inner wall of the toilet, and the toilet includes a fence portion extending outwardly from a bottom rim of the open segment adjacent to an opening, and a height of the fence portion changes when an extending distance of the open segment from the hidden segment increases so that water flows out of the open segment, thus flushing the inner wall of the toilet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Mingchia Wu, Chungyu Kuo, Tsungyi Lo, Chuwan Hong
  • 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: 8667620
    Abstract: A toilet, comprising a bowl, a rim provided at an upper portion of the bowl, a rim channel disposed in the rim, a rear extension that extends from the rim, and a water distribution structure provided in the rear extension and configured to receive water from a water supply. The rim channel includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening located between the first and second openings, the openings being configured to communicate water to the bowl. The water distribution structure having at least two exit channels configured to communicate water to at least two different locations of the rim channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Mueller, Terrence J. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20140059757
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a toilet apparatus includes a toilet, a bowl configured to receive solid waste being formed in the toilet, the bowl being hydrophilic; a spray unit configured to spray at least one selected from water and hypochlorous acid water onto a surface of the bowl; a detection unit configured to detect a state of use of the toilet; and a control unit configured to spray at least one selected from the water and the hypochlorous acid water from the spray unit before the use and to spray the hypochlorous acid water from the spray unit after the use. The cleanliness of the bowl surface of a toilet can be maintained by suppressing the affixation of solid waste and the propagation of bacteria caused by oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Aki Hamakita, Yo Morotomi, Koichiro Matsushita, Shuichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8640272
    Abstract: A flush toilet bowl includes: a bowl portion including a pooling portion in communication with a drain conduit; a rim surface provided above the bowl portion; and a first slit opening configured to spout flush water supplied through a first conduit toward the bowl portion and to spout the supplied flush water in a generally tangential direction of the rim surface, thereby generating a swirling flow flowing forward near a boundary between the rim surface and the bowl portion. A slit opening shape in a cross section generally perpendicular to a flow direction of water flow spouted from the first slit opening is horizontally flattened. There is provided a flush toilet bowl capable of minimizing the overhang of the rim portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toto Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoaki Morita, Toshifumi Yoneda, Tomohiro Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20140007337
    Abstract: A flush toilet including a seat; a stirring device; and a control unit. The stirring device includes a stirring chamber, a mixer, and a drain outlet. The stirring device is disposed below the seat. The stirring chamber communicates with the seat. The drain outlet is disposed at the lower part of the stirring device and communicates with the stirring chamber. A closing device is disposed on the drain outlet to control the opening and closing of the drain outlet. The mixer and a motor for driving the mixer are disposed in the stirring chamber. The control unit controls the operation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Guangmin ZHENG
  • Publication number: 20130340156
    Abstract: Toilets, kits and methods for installing toilets using a moveable trapway are described in the disclosure. The moveable trapway comprises a conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a passage. The conduit body has an upper inlet portion defining an inlet opening configured to receive fluid from a bowl outlet, such as the end of a partial trapway of the toilet, and an outlet portion defining an outlet opening for fluid to exit to a sewage drain pipe. The passage extends from the inlet opening in the upper inlet portion to the outlet opening in the outlet portion. The trapway also includes a connector configured to attach the inlet portion of the conduit body so as to be in fluid communication to the bowl outlet, for example to a partial trapway of the toilet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: AS Holdco, LLC
    Inventors: James McHale, Christophe Bucher, David Grover
  • Publication number: 20130276221
    Abstract: The toilet and support bars for the disabled has a toilet bowl and toilet seat configured to face the toilet tank, thereby enabling disabled and physically debilitated persons to move forward to sit on the toilet seat. The toilet has a pedestal on which the tank is mounted, and an inverted U-shaped support bar having legs supported by the building structure, to provide stability for the disabled person to use the toilet. The support bar includes a crossbar handle above the level of the tank that a disabled person may grasp for assistance in moving forward onto the toilet seat and rearward off the toilet seat. The handle may have a resilient grip. The support bar may also include stabilizers for maintaining the support bar in a rigid and fixed position so that the user is assured to find the necessary support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: KISHOR C. DESAI
  • Patent number: 8528123
    Abstract: A one-piece bowl including an open top, a bottom opening, a rim portion, an interior space and a plurality of cavities is provided. The rim portion substantially surrounds the bowl near the open top, and an inner channel is formed along and within the rim portion. The interior space is substantially defined by an interior surface, the open top and the bottom opening. The plurality of cavities extends from the inner channel to the interior space. The inner channel and the cavities are configured to pass fluid from an outer fluid source to the interior space. A mold assembly and a method for forming a one-piece greenware piece for the bowl are also provided. The mold assembly includes a top mold component and a bottom mold component that are configured to mate and thereby form a reservoir substantially defining the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dometic Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Hashem, Gerald James ST.Louis, Stanley Andrews
  • Publication number: 20130227773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toilet bowl including a rotary discharge pipe. A toilet bowl according to the present invention includes: a bowl on which a user sits; an outlet disposed behind the bowl; a discharge guide pipe communicating with the outlet, and connecting to a pipe embedded in a floor to discharge water; and a rotary discharge pipe having a discharge hole in the top thereof, and an inflow hole in an end thereof. According to the present invention, both the restoring force generated from a balancing structure of the rotary discharge pipe and torque generated from the kinetic energy of water (wastewater) discharged from the bowl are used to operate the rotary discharge pipe, thereby reducing the possibility of malfunction. In addition, since the toilet bowl has a simple structure, the manufacturing cost thereof can be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Hee-beom Park
  • Patent number: 8516623
    Abstract: Tilting Bowl Toilet comprises a frame, a toilet basin, and a tilting bowl. The tilting bowl is supported below the toilet basin to receive and hold water/waste delivered from the toilet basin. The tilting bowl tilts to discharge its content to drainage. The tilting bowl at standby is sustained to stay in a horizontal position by a sustaining turning moment about its support axis. When water is added, the turning moment produced by the tilting bowl with its content becomes larger than the sustaining turning moment, and the tilting bowl moves to a tilted position to discharge its content. As the tilting bowl tilts, the sustaining turning moment is simultaneously reduced to accelerate bowl tilting for efficient discharge of waste to sewage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Shu-Ki Yeung
  • Publication number: 20130205488
    Abstract: A mounting assembly comprising a support member having a leg and a foot configured to be coupled to the trap; a clamping member including a bore and a distal end pivotally coupled to the leg of the support member; and an adjusting member extending through an opening in a wall of the pedestal, through an opening in the leg of the support member, and into the bore of the clamping member; wherein adjustment of the adjusting member pivots the clamping member relative to the support member to change a pitch of the adjusting member such that the adjusting member imparts a load into both the support member and the wall of the pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Jeff Laundre, Daniel N. Halloran, Randy O. Mesun
  • Publication number: 20130205487
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a toilet device includes: a washing unit washing a surface of a bowl in a toilet bowl; a water supplying unit supplying washing water to the washing unit; a silicic acid polymerization inhibiting unit adding inhibitor for silicic acid polymerization to the washing water left on the surface of the bowl after the washing of the bowl, the inhibitor inhibiting polymerization of silicic acid component in the washing water left on the surface of the bowl; and a control portion executing a control starting an operation of the silicic acid polymerization inhibiting unit before the surface of the bowl is evaporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventor: Toto Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8484770
    Abstract: The toilet for the disabled has a toilet bowl and toilet seat configured to face the toilet tank, thereby enabling disabled and physically debilitated persons to move forward to sit on the toilet seat. The toilet has a pedestal on which the tank is mounted, and an inverted U-shaped support member having legs attached to opposite sides of the pedestal. The support member includes a crossbar handle above the level of the tank that a disabled person may grasp for assistance in moving forward onto the toilet seat and rearward off the toilet seat. The handle may have a resilient grip. The toilet may have two independently flush handle mounted on opposite sides of the tank for operation by right-handed or left-handed users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Kishor C. Desai
  • Patent number: 8465652
    Abstract: The invention relates to a technique of disinfecting household and industrial waste water used as the basis of organo-mineral fertilizers. The present method of disinfection is carried out by means of quick vacuum-pulse actions on sewage sludge using a receiver and quick response valves, with a pulse duration of less than 1.0 seconds at a pressure of not more than 20 mmHg to achieve the required degree of disinfection. Technical result of the use of the invention is to accelerate and simplify the process of disinfection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Twin Trading Company
    Inventors: Yakov Kuzmich Abramov, Vladimir Mihailovich Veselov, Viktor Mihailovich Zalevsky, Vitaly Grigorevich Tamurka, Nikolay Dmitrievich Argunov, Ljubov′ Viktorovna Motovilova, Nikolay Vladimirovich Dvoryaninov, Lidija Petrovna Bogdanova
  • Publication number: 20130067652
    Abstract: A water-conserving toilet and method of manufacture includes an upper portion jointed to a lower portion. The upper portion includes an upper and lower opening with a smooth, shallow, sweeping transition therebetween. A first flowpath enters the upper portion for allowing water to wash the upper portion. The lower portion includes a base with sidewalls extending upward to an upper opening, with the sidewalls defining a concave, steeply-sided flushing cavity. A second flowpath enters the lower portion for evacuating the pushing waste out of the flushing cavity and into a waste outlet. In an embodiment the distance between the front and back of the upper portion upper opening is approximately 3 times the distance between the front and back of the upper portion lower opening. In another embodiment the sidewalls extend from the base at an angle between about approximately 45 degrees and approximately 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Audie MURPHY