Rim jet nozzle system for toilets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11668085-B2
Application number	US-202016794502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2020
Priority date	Feb 28, 2019
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a nozzle system. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl and a rim area disposed along an upper edge of the toilet bowl. The rim area includes a flange defining an opening. The nozzle system includes a nozzle having a first end configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply conduit and a second end fluidly coupled to the rim area. The second end defines an outlet formed at a compound angle. The connector assembly detachably couples the nozzle to the flange such that the nozzle extends through the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet assembly, comprising:
a toilet body defining:
a toilet bowl;
a rim area disposed along an upper edge of the toilet bowl, the rim area including a flange defining an opening; and

a nozzle system, comprising:
a nozzle having a first end configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply conduit and a second end fluidly coupled to the rim area, the second end defining an outlet, wherein the rim area includes a side wall and a ledge disposed at a lower end of the side wall, wherein together the side wall and the ledge define a rim channel, and wherein the outlet is angled toward the side wall and the ledge; and
a connector assembly that detachably couples the nozzle to the flange such that the nozzle extends through the opening.

2. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outlet forms a first oblique angle relative to a first reference line that is normal to a central axis of the nozzle and is directed toward a curved wall of the rim.

3. The toilet assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outlet forms a second oblique angle relative to a second reference line that is normal to both the central axis and the first reference line and is directed downward.

4. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein an angular position of the nozzle is adjustable without removing the nozzle from the connector assembly.

5. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a cylindrical outer wall defining a flow passage, and wherein the second end of the nozzle is flared in at least one direction with respect to the first end such that a dimension of the flow passage at the second end is greater than a dimension of the flow passage at the first end.

6. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a support member;
a retaining body integrally formed with the support member and coupled to the toilet body; and
a sealing member disposed between the support member and the flange, wherein the sealing member is configured to sealingly engage the support member, the flange, and the nozzle.

7. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a connector body defining a hollow passage, wherein the nozzle extends through at least a portion of the hollow passage; and
a spherical ferrule engaged with the nozzle and the connector body at an end of the connector body.

8. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a sealing member positioned around a portion of the nozzle at the opening and a nut coupled to the nozzle in front of the opening, and wherein the sealing member is configured to expand in a radial direction toward the flange in response to tightening the nut.

9. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outlet is formed at a compound angle directed toward the rim area and downward.

10. A nozzle system, comprising:
a nozzle comprising a cylindrical outer wall defining a flow passage, the cylindrical outer wall having a first end configured to fluidly couple the nozzle to a water supply conduit and a second end configured to fluidly couple to a rim area of a toilet body, the second end defining an outlet, wherein the rim area includes a side wall and a ledge disposed at a lower end of the side wall, wherein the side wall and the ledge collectively define a rim channel, and wherein the second end of the nozzle is positioned adjacent to, and in contact with, the side wall; and
a connector assembly configured to detachably couple the nozzle to a flange of the toilet body.

11. The nozzle system of claim 10 , wherein the outlet forms a first oblique angle relative to a first reference line that is normal to a central axis of the nozzle and is directed toward a curved wall of the rim.

12. The nozzle system of claim 11 , wherein the outlet forms a second oblique angle relative to a second reference line that is normal to both the central axis and the first reference line and is directed downward.

13. The nozzle system of claim 10 , wherein the connector assembly is configured to allow an angular position of the nozzle to be adjusted without removing the nozzle from the connector assembly.

14. The nozzle system of claim 10 , wherein the second end of the nozzle is flared in at least one direction with respect to the first end such that a dimension of the flow passage at the second end is greater than a dimension of the flow passage at the first end.

15. The nozzle system of claim 10 , wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a support member;
a retaining body integrally formed with the support member and coupled to the toilet body; and
a sealing member disposed between the support member and the flange, wherein the sealing member is configured to sealingly engage the support member, the flange, and the nozzle.

16. The nozzle system of claim 10 , wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a connector body defining a hollow passage, wherein the nozzle extends through at least a portion of the hollow passage; and
a spherical ferrule engaged with the nozzle and the connector body at an end of the connector body.

17. The nozzle system of claim 10 , wherein the outlet is formed at a compound angle directed toward the rim area and downward.

18. A toilet assembly, comprising:
a toilet body defining:
a toilet bowl;
a rim area disposed along an upper edge of the toilet bowl, the rim area including a flange defining an opening; and

a nozzle system, comprising:
a nozzle having a first end fluidly coupled to a water supply conduit and a second end fluidly coupled to the rim area, the second end defining an outlet, wherein the rim area includes a side wall and a ledge disposed at a lower end of the side wall, wherein together the side wall and the ledge define a rim channel, and wherein the outlet is angled toward the side wall and the ledge; and
a connector assembly that couples the nozzle to the flange such that the nozzle extends through the opening, the connector assembly configured such that an angular position of the nozzle is adjustable without removing the nozzle from the connector assembly.

19. The toilet assembly of claim 18 , wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a connector body defining a hollow passage, wherein the nozzle extends through at least a portion of the hollow passage; and
a spherical ferrule engaged with the nozzle and the connector body at an end of the connector body.

20. The toilet assembly of claim 18 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a sealing member positioned around a portion of the nozzle at the opening and a nut coupled to the nozzle in front of the opening, and wherein the sealing member is configured to expand in a radial direction toward the flange in response to tightening the nut.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Halloran Daniel N
• Lambert Tony L
• Mesun Randy O
• Bose Rahul
• Muellenbach Keith E
• Mukerji Sudip
• Grev Jessica A

Classifications

• E03D9/00

  Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories (hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ){; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells (cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30)} · CPC title

• E03D9/08

  Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices (showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ){; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting} · CPC title

• E03D11/13 Primary

  Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls {, e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing} · CPC title

• E03D11/08

  Bowls with means producing a flushing water swirl · CPC title

• B05B1/042 Primary

  Outlets having two planes of symmetry perpendicular to each other, one of them defining the plane of the jet (B05B1/044, B05B1/046 take precedence) · CPC title