ACCESSORY ASSEMBLY FOR A TOILET BOWL, HAVING A SERVICE EQUIPMENT

This application is a National Phase filing of PCT International Application No. PCT/IB2018/060647, having an International Filing Date of Dec. 27, 2018, claiming priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102017000150509, having a filing date of Dec. 28, 2017 each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to toilet bowls of the type adapted to be equipped with seat assemblies provided with service equipment, including equipment with bidet functionality, detergent dispensers, protective film dispensers for the seat and so on.

A need is felt to provide solutions that facilitate maintenance of the seat assembly and replacement or removal of the equipment.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an accessory assembly for a toilet bowl comprising

• • a frame adapted to be attached to an equipment seat formed in a toilet bowl body,
  • a service equipment comprising an equipment housing and at least one service device carried by the equipment housing and adapted to provide an auxiliary function for use of the toilet bowl, the equipment housing being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame and comprising an upper part and a lower part extending from the upper part, and
  • an upper plate, the upper plate being adapted to be removably coupled to the frame or to the upper part of the equipment housing to form an ensemble, in which the frame and the upper plate enclose at least the upper part of the equipment housing,
  • wherein the frame comprises a flat part adapted to be arranged around an edge of the equipment seat, the flat part having at least one aperture adapted to be penetrated by the lower part of the equipment housing, and
  • wherein the equipment housing and the frame comprise respective connecting devices for a removable connection between the equipment housing and the frame.

The frame may further comprise a housing part extending from the flat part and adapted to enclose the lower part of the equipment housing.

In this case, the housing part may comprise devices adapted to be connected on one side to at least one hydraulic or electric connector of the service equipment, and on the other side to an external water or electricity supply network to form at least one hydraulic or electric communication between the service equipment and the external water or electricity supply network.

Otherwise, a direct connection may be implemented between a hydraulic or electrical connector of the service equipment and the external water or electricity supply network.

According to a preferred embodiment, said equipment housing and frame are configured for push-push or push-pull mounting of the equipment housing on the frame and the connecting devices are configured for automatically connecting to said at least one hydraulic or electric connector upon mounting the equipment support on the frame.

In one embodiment, the flat part of the frame comprises a central bridge extending between opposite sides of the flat part, said central bridge providing a rest for the upper part of the equipment housing.

The frame and the equipment housing may have respective guiding elements for guiding insertion of the service equipment into the frame.

The upper plate and the equipment housing, or the upper plate and the frame, may be provided with respective connecting devices for a quick coupling connection between the upper plate and the equipment housing, or between the upper plate and the frame.

Control devices may be arranged on the upper plate, said control devices being adapted to be operated by a user for controlling the service equipment.

The service equipment may be a bidet apparatus, a detergent dispenser, a protective film dispenser for the seat, or a combination thereof

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl comprising

• • a toilet bowl body delimiting an inner receptacle and having an upper surface comprising a seat part surrounding the inner receptacle, and a seat attaching part substantially flush with the seat part, an equipment seat being formed in the seat attaching part, and
  • the accessory assembly according to the present invention, attached to the equipment seat.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for illustrative and non-limiting purposes only.

In the various embodiments shown in the figures, same reference numbers have been assigned to corresponding elements.

With reference to FIG. 1, a toilet bowl is shown comprising a toilet body 10 of ceramic material. The toilet body 10 delimits an inner receptacle 11 and has an upper surface 13, which comprises a seat part 13a surrounding the inner receptacle, and a seat attaching part 13b substantially flush with the seat part 13a, and in which an equipment seat 14 is formed. In the illustrated example, the equipment seat is formed by two cavities separated by a central bridge portion. The equipment seat 14 may have different shapes.

The toilet bowl further comprises a seat assembly adapted to be attached to the equipment seat 14 by conventional means, including screws, bolts or expansion plugs.

The seat assembly comprises a frame 20 adapted to be attached to the equipment seat 14, as described above. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the frame 20 comprises a flat part 21 adapted to be arranged around the edge of the equipment seat 14. The flat part 21 of the frame comprises a central bridge 21a extending between opposite sides of the flat part, so as to define two through apertures 23.

The seat assembly further comprises a service equipment 30. In the illustrated example, the service equipment 30 consists of an equipment for adding a bidet functionality to the toilet bowl. According to embodiments not illustrated, the service equipment may consist of a detergent dispenser, a protective film dispenser for the seat or a combination thereof

In general, from a structural point of view, the service equipment 30 comprises an equipment housing 31, including a box, which carries devices 33 for operating the equipment. In the case of a bidet apparatus, such devices may comprise valves, conduits, and tanks for connecting a water dispensing nozzle 34 to an external water supply network to provide a washing water dispensing function. Such devices may also comprise a fan and conduits for providing a drying air functionality. Furthermore, sensors, heating devices and electrical circuits for controlling the apparatus and adapted to be connected to an external electricity supply network may be provided. The types of devices listed above are only an example provided for the purpose of explanation, but it is to be understood that other devices commonly used in this kind of toilet bowl equipment may be carried by the equipment housing 31.

The equipment housing 31 is adapted to be removably coupled to the frame 20, and comprises an upper part 35 and a lower part 36 extending from the upper part 35. The upper part 35 forms a peripheral flange with respect to the lower part 36. In the illustrated example, the equipment housing 31 and the frame 20 may both be attached to the toilet body 10 by the same attachment devices.

In the illustrated example, a hydraulic conduit 37 and an electric cable 38 come out from the equipment housing 31, provided with respective connectors for connection, respectively, to an external hydraulic conduit H and an electric cable E of the external water and electricity supply network for supplying water and electricity to the device.

The apertures 23 of the flat part 20 of the frame are adapted to be crossed by the lower part 36 of the equipment housing 31, while the bridge 21a provides a support for the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31.

The seat assembly further comprises an upper plate 40, to which a seat 50 for toilet bowl, conventionally comprising a seat surface and a cover, is hinged.

The upper plate 40 is adapted to be removably coupled to the frame 20 or to the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31 to form an ensemble in which the frame 20 and the upper plate 40 enclose at least the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31.

A removable cover 41 may be mounted on the upper plate 40 to cover accesses to the underlying equipment, formed in the plate 40, including an aperture for introduction of anti-scale tablets or liquid.

With reference to FIG. 2, a different embodiment provides that the frame 20 further comprises a housing part 25 extending from the flat part 21 of the frame and adapted to enclose the lower part 36 of the equipment housing 31.

The housing part 25 of the frame comprises connectors 26a and 26b, adapted to be connected on one side, to a hydraulic connector 36a and an electrical connector 36b, respectively, integrated into the service equipment, and on the other side to the external hydraulic conduit H and the electric cable E.

With reference to FIG. 3, a further embodiment provides that the frame 20 is devoid of the bridge 21a, thus defining only one aperture.

A hydraulic connector 36a and an electrical connector 36b integrated in the service equipment are adapted to be connected to the external hydraulic conduit H and electric cable E.

With reference to FIG. 4, a further embodiment provides a frame 20 as for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

A hydraulic connector 36a and an electrical connector 36b integrated in the service equipment are adapted to be connected to the external hydraulic conduit H and electric cable E.

With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 5, the frame 20 and the equipment housing 31 have respective guiding elements 29, 39 for guiding insertion of the service equipment 30 into the frame 20. In the illustrated example, the guiding elements consist of a pair of ribs formed on opposite sides of the frame 20 and extending towards the inside of the apertures 23, and correspondingly of a pair of grooves formed on the equipment support 31. The arrangement of ribs and grooves may be reversed. Furthermore, the shape of the guiding elements may be different.

With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 6, the frame 20 and the equipment housing 31 have respective guiding elements 29, 39 for guiding insertion of the service equipment 30 into the frame 20. In the illustrated example, the guiding elements consist of a pair of ribs formed on opposite sides of the central bridge 21a of the frame 20 and extending towards the inside of the apertures 23, and correspondingly of a pair of grooves formed on the equipment housing 31.

With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 7, the equipment housing 31 and the frame 20 have respective connecting devices 61, 63 configured for a quick coupling connection between the equipment housing 31 and the frame 20. In the illustrated example, the connecting devices comprise a knob provided with a radial tab (not shown) and arranged rotatable on the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31, and a corresponding grooved seat formed on the frame 21, and shaped to implement a bayonet coupling with the radial tab of the knob. The shape of the connecting devices may be different. Alternatively, the connecting devices 61, 63 may be configured for a snap connection between the equipment housing 31 and the frame 20. More generally, the connecting devices 61, 63 are configured for a removable connection between the equipment housing 31 and the frame 20.

With reference to the embodiments in FIGS. 8 to 11, control devices 59, adapted to be operated by a user for controlling the service equipment may be provided. The control devices 59 may comprise knobs, push-buttons, keyboards, cursors, touch displays, etc., and may be arranged on the upper plate 40 (FIGS. 8-10) or on the seat 50 (FIG. 11). According to another embodiment, the service equipment may be controlled remotely.

With reference to FIGS. 12a-b, 13a-b, 14a-b and 15a-b, connecting devices 65, 67 configured for a removable connection, in particular a quick coupling, may be provided between the upper plate 40 and the equipment housing 31, or between the upper plate 40 and the frame 20. In the example in FIGS. 12a and 12b, the connecting devices comprise a knob provided with a radial tab (not shown) and arranged rotatable on the upper plate 4040, and a corresponding grooved seat formed on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31, and shaped to implement a bayonet coupling with the radial tab of the knob. In the example in FIGS. 13a and 13b, the connecting devices comprise a pair of sliders elastically stressed and integral with respective rods, arranged sliding on the upper plate 40, and corresponding seats formed on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31, and adapted to receive the free ends of the rods. In the example in FIGS. 14a and 14b, the connecting devices comprise hooking formations formed on one side on the upper plate 40, and on the other side on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31, such hooking formations being configured to implement a coupling between the parts by sliding them with respect to each other. In the example in FIGS. 15a and 15b, the connecting devices comprise ribs formed on the upper plate 40, and corresponding grooves formed on the frame 20 or on the upper part 35 of the equipment housing 31, ribs and grooves being configured to implement a coupling between the parts by sliding them with respect to each other.

Different connecting devices may be provided with respect to those described above.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the equipment housing 31 and the frame 20 (as shown in FIG. 2) are configured for push-push or push-pull mounting of the equipment housing 31 on the frame 20. In this case, the connectors 26a and 26b of the frame 20 are configured to automatically connect to the hydraulic and electrical connectors 36a and 36b upon mounting of the equipment housing 31 on the frame 20.

For the purposes of the present description, by push-push it is meant a type of assembly in which a pressure is applied to the equipment housing 31 against the frame 20, both for engaging the equipment housing 31 to the frame 20 and for achieving the subsequent release of the equipment housing from the frame.

By push-pull it is meant a type of assembly in which a pressure is applied to the equipment housing 31 against the frame 20, in order to couple the equipment housing 31 to the frame 20, and the equipment housing 31 is pulled to achieve the release from the frame.

With reference to FIG. 16, another embodiment is shown which differs from the previous ones in that the seat 50 is mounted on the toilet body 13 independently of the assembly. In this case, the upper plate 40 has a simple closing function.

The elements described above in relation to one embodiment may be combined with elements described in relation to other embodiments.