Rimless toilet

Abstract

A siphonic gravity-powered toilet is provided that is a rimless toilet and includes a toilet bowl assembly having a body and an inlet for receiving fluid. The toilet bowl has an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral portion configured to have a shelf formed therein below an upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl. The rimless toilet includes a jet having a jet inlet, an outlet and at least one jet channel. A manifold is included which is configured so that fluid entering an inlet of the toilet bowl assembly divides into a portion that enters the inlet of the direct-fed jet and a portion that enters an interior area of the toilet bowl. At least one toilet bowl inlet port is positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl. The at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 603,232, filed Feb. 24, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to the field of toilets for removal of human and other waste. The present invention further relates to the field of a toilet that operates for effective flushing without a rim.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Various toilets for removing waste products, such as human waste, are well known. Most toilets are powered by gravity and generally have two primary sections: a tank and a bowl. The tank and bowl can be separate pieces which couple together to form the toilet system (commonly referred to as a two-piece toilet) or can be combined into one integral unit (typically referred to as a one-piece toilet).[0006]The tank, which is usually posit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The toilet bowl assembly described in this patent has two inlet ports that allow fluid to enter the bowl in opposite directions, which helps to clean the interior surface of the bowl. An optional opening may also be included to direct fluid from the manifold and jet channel into the bowl for additional cleaning. The cover on the bowl helps to direct the flow of water and optimize cleansing. Additionally, the assembly may have a distributor to spread the fluid over the bowl. The patent also describes a jet channel that extends around the outside of the bowl and merges with fluid from the shelf inside the bowl. This design simplifies the manufacturing process and can improve the bowl's cleaning performance.

Problems solved by technology

Cleansing is sometimes an issue in toilets having this standard construction, as it is difficult to get good cleaning action up under the rim, even if the toilet has a good flush design for washing the main pan of the bowl.

As the underside of the rim is not readily visible to someone cleaning the bowl, potentially harmful materials can remain under the rim for extended periods of time.

A second and related issue presented by the standard pan-trapway-rim construction of toilet bowls is its effective use as a urinal for standing males.

The standard construction has the rim overhang the surface of the pan, which reduces the area available to accept a stream of urine.

As a result, the rim of a toilet of the standard construction is more easily soiled by an errant stream.

And as previously mentioned, no mechanism is generally provided for automatic cleaning of the rim itself during a flush cycle.

A third issue presented by the standard pan-trapway-rim construction of toilet bowls is the associated complexity of manufacturing such geometries in vitreous china.

This causes a rapid rise in water level and the excess water spills over the weir of the trapway, carrying liquid and solid waste along with it.

Siphonic toilets, due to the requirement that most of the air be removed from the down leg of the trapway in order to initiate a siphon, tend to have smaller trapways which can result in clogging.

Wash-down toilets with their small water spots therefore frequently require manual cleaning of the bowl after use.

Non-jetted bowls typically have adequate to good performance with respect to cleansing of the pan, but there is generally no mechanism provided to clean the surfaces of the rim itself Bulk removal is relatively poor, as the feed of water to the trapway is inefficient and turbulent, which makes it more difficult to sufficiently fill the down leg of the trapway and initiate a strong siphon.

Without the smaller size, bends, and constrictions, a strong siphon would not be achieved.

Unfortunately, the smaller size, bends, and constrictions result in poor performance in terms of bulk waste removal and frequent clogging, conditions that are extremely dissatisfying to end users.

Such clogging can also lead to issues with cleanliness when waste has an opportunity to sit in the bowl or block in the trapway before flushing easily or clearing a clog.

Even with that, the presence of the rim design with the overhanging surface remains with a cleanliness and sanitation issue, requiring manual cleaning.

But as above, there is generally no mechanism provided to clean the surfaces of the rim itself.

Although rim jetted bowls are generally superior to non-jetted, the long pathway that the water must travel through the rim to the jet opening dissipates and wastes much of the available energy.

With such improvement, better flushing occurs, but rim cleanliness of the rim itself remains a problem.

The result is that the water exiting the rim has very low energy and the bowl cleansing function of direct jet toilets is generally inferior to rim jetted and non-jetted.

This area is particularly affected when flush volume is reduced.

It does, however, not address issues of rim cleanliness.

While designs for gravity-powered flush toilets on the market today are becoming increasingly effective in pan cleaning, even as water use standards become more restrictive, particularly with introduction of a pressurized rim, the traditional rim design of the toilet bowl (with holes at the bottom for introducing flush water for cleaning the bowl area) remains an issue in terms of a lower surface that is harder to clean and keep free of germs.

Furthermore, generally prior art rimless toilet technologies, aimed at wash down flushing action, present the disadvantages of a small water spot and easy staining of the bowl.

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