Primed siphonic flush toilet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10145097-B2
Application number	US-201514619989-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A siphonic flush toilet system and method of priming the same having a toilet bowl assembly comprising at least one jet flush valve assembly and at least one rim valve; and bowl having a rim and a jet defining at least one jet channel, the at least one jet channel having an inlet port and a jet outlet port configured for discharging fluid to a sump area, wherein the sump area is in fluid communication with a trapway. The bowl has a closed jet pathway including the jet channel and extending from the jet flush valve assembly outlet to the jet channel outlet port to maintain the jet channel in a primed state with fluid from the jet flush valve assembly so as to assist in preventing air from entering the closed jet pathway. Flush valves are also disclosed having back-flow preventer mechanisms and/or at least partly flexible valve covers for use with the toilet systems and methods herein.

First claim

We claim:

1. A siphonic flush toilet assembly, the toilet bowl assembly comprising
at least one jet flush valve assembly having a jet flush valve inlet and a jet flush valve outlet, the jet flush valve assembly configured for delivery of fluid from the jet flush valve outlet to a closed jet fluid pathway;
at least one rim valve assembly having a rim valve inlet and a rim valve outlet, the rim valve assembly configured for delivery of fluid from the rim valve outlet to at least one rim inlet port; and
a bowl having an interior surface defining an interior bowl area and comprising
(a) the at least one rim inlet port for introducing water to an upper perimeter area of the bowl;
(b) a jet defining at least one jet channel, the jet having an inlet port in fluid communication with the jet flush valve outlet and a jet outlet port positioned in a lower portion of the bowl and configured for discharging fluid to a sump area of the bowl, wherein the sump area is in fluid communication with an inlet to a trapway having a weir and the closed jet fluid pathway comprises the at least one jet channel;
wherein the jet flush valve assembly is positioned above the weir of the trapway and wherein the closed jet fluid pathway comprising the at least one jet channel extends from the jet flush valve outlet to the jet outlet port and once primed, the closed jet fluid pathway is capable of remaining primed with fluid and assisting in preventing air from entering the closed jet fluid pathway before actuation of and after completion of a flush cycle.

2. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the toilet bowl assembly further comprises a rim manifold, wherein the rim manifold has a rim manifold inlet opening for receiving fluid from the rim valve outlet and a rim manifold outlet opening for delivery of fluid to the rim inlet port; and
wherein the bowl comprises a rim that extends at least partially around an upper perimeter of the bowl, the rim defining a rim channel extending from the at least one rim inlet port around the upper perimeter of the bowl and having at least one rim outlet port in fluid communication with an interior area of the bowl, and wherein the at least one rim inlet port is in fluid communication with the rim manifold outlet opening.

3. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bowl has a rim that comprises a rim shelf extending transversely along an interior surface of the bowl in an upper perimeter area thereof from the at least one rim inlet port at least partially around the bowl so that fluid is able to travel along the rim shelf and enter the interior space of the bowl in at least one location displaced from the at least one rim inlet port.

4. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a tank configured for receiving fluid from a source of fluid, the tank containing at least one fill valve.

5. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the tank includes at least one jet reservoir and at least one rim reservoir, the at least one jet reservoir comprising a jet fill valve and the at least one jet flush valve assembly, and the rim reservoir comprising the at least one rim valve assembly.

6. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one rim reservoir further comprises a rim fill valve, the rim valve is a rim flush valve assembly and the rim flush valve assembly comprises an overflow tube.

7. The siphonic flush toilet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an interior wall of the toilet bowl in the sump area is upwardly inclined from the jet outlet port toward the inlet of the trapway.

8. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the toilet is capable of operating at a flush volume of no greater than about 6.0 liters.

9. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the toilet is capable of operating at a flush volume of no greater than about 4.8 liters.

10. The siphonic flush toilet system according to claim 9 , wherein the toilet is capable of operating at a flush volume of no greater than about 2.0 liters.

11. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet channel is positioned to extend at least partially around a lower portion of an exterior surface of the bowl.

12. The siphonic toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sump area of the bowl has a jet trap defined by the interior surface of the bowl and having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end of the jet trap receives fluid from the jet outlet port and the interior area of the bowl and the outlet end of the jet trap is in fluid communication with the inlet to the trapway; and wherein the jet trap has a seal depth.

13. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 12 , wherein an upper surface of the jet outlet port is within the jet trap and is positioned at a seal depth below an upper surface of the inlet to the trapway as measured longitudinally through the sump area.

14. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the jet trap seal depth is about 1 cm to about 15 cm.

15. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the jet trap seal depth is about 2 cm to about 12 cm.

16. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the jet trap seal depth is about 3 cm to about 9 cm.

17. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rim valve is a rim flush valve assembly having a rim flush valve body extending from the rim valve inlet to the rim valve outlet and a rim flush valve cover.

18. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one jet channel is positioned to pass at least partially under the bowl.

19. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet flush valve assembly comprises a jet flush valve body extending from the jet flush valve inlet to the jet flush valve outlet and a jet flush valve cover, and wherein the at least one jet flush valve assembly also comprises a back-flow preventer mechanism.

20. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the jet flush valve cover is at least partly flexible and is able to be peeled upwardly upon opening.

21. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the back-flow preventer mechanism is one or more of a hold-down linkage mechanism, a hook and catch mechanism, a poppet mechanism, and a check valve.

22. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet flush valve assembly comprises a jet flush valve body extending from the jet flush valve inlet to the jet flush valve outlet and a jet flush valve cover.

23. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the jet flush valve cover is at least partly flexible and is able to be peeled upwardly upon opening.

24. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 23 , wherein the jet flush valve cover further comprises hinged arms and/or at least one grommet for attachment of a chain having a float thereon.

25. The siphonic flush toilet bowl assembly according to claim 23 , further comprising a back-flow pr

Assignees

• As Ip Holdco L L C
• As Ip Holdco Llc

Inventors

• Mchale James
• Bucher Christophe
• Grover David

Classifications

• E03D2201/40

  Devices for distribution of flush water inside the bowl · CPC title

• E03D2201/30

  Water injection in siphon for enhancing flushing · CPC title

• E03D2201/20

  Noise reduction features · CPC title

• E03D11/08

  Bowls with means producing a flushing water swirl · CPC title

• E03D11/06

  Bowls with downwardly-extending flanges {for the sake of flushing} · CPC title