"SANITARY FIXTURES PROVIDED WITH HEATING MEANS"

The present invention relates to an innovative sanitary fixture (washbasins, bidets, toilets et cetera) for use in utility rooms.

It is well known to realize sanitary fixtures in private dwelling bathrooms or in utility rooms for the personal hygiene of users. The sanitary fixture normally includes a basin for collection of the sanitary water supplied by a delivery tap connected to the water piping of the room. The sanitary fixture also includes means of outflow of the water in the form of appropriate drains formed on the bottom of the collecting basin. Known sanitary fixtures are normally cold to the touch and can cause a sensation of discomfort in the user, who often finds himself touching the visible surface of the sanitary fixture with his bare skin. Utility rooms in addition must be heated with special radiant elements (radiators, heaters et cetera), which occupy a not negligible amount of space. Recently, the utility rooms often have rather limited dimensions so much so that the presence of radiators obliges a significant reduction of the free space available. The general purpose of the present invention is to remedy the above mentioned shortcomings by making available a sanitary fixture which would be pleasant to touch and comfortable for the user. Another purpose of this invention is to make available a

sanitary fixture allowing increase of the space available in the utility rooms.

In view of this purpose it was sought to provide in accordance with the present invention a sanitary fixture including a ceramic complex and means of adduction of sanitary water to said complex and means of outflow of the sanitary water from said complex and characterized in that means of heating configured for heating at least part of said ceramic complex are associated with said sanitary fixture .

To clarify the explanation of the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared with the prior art there is description below with the aid of the annexed drawings a possible embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example applying said principles. In the drawings :

FIG 1 shows a perspective view of a sanitary fixture in accordance with this invention, FIG 2 shows a perspective view analogous with the one above where means of heating the sanitary fixture have been made evident,

FIG 3 shows a cross section view of the sanitary fixture of the above figures, FIG 4 shows a cross section view of a second alternative realization of the sanitary fixture heating means,

FIG 5 shows a cross section view analogous to the one above relative to a third alternative realization of the heating means, and FIG 6 shows a cross section view analogous to the one above

relative to a fourth alternative realization of the heating means .

With reference to the figures, FIG 1 shows a sanitary- fixture 10 of the type suited for use in utility rooms, for example in a private dwelling.

The sanitary fixture includes a ceramic complex 11, means for outflow of running sanitary water 14 and means of outflow of such sanitary water 15 from the sanitary fixture . The ceramic complex 11 forms a washbasin provided with a basin 13 for collection of sanitary water and equipped with means of adduction and realized with a tap 14 connected to the water pipes of the utility room in which the sanitary fixture is installed. The water outflow means include a hole 15 on the bottom of the basin 13 to which a drain pipe is connected for the water in accordance with well known contrivances. The ceramic complex 11 includes a monolithic ceramic body 12 which forms the bowl 13 of the washbasin. From one side of the bowl 13, the body 12 forms a horizontal wall 25 in one piece with the bowl. At the wall 25 there can be fixed a shelf 16 by means of a vertical support as shown in the figure . The ceramic complex 11 can also include a vertical ceramic wall 17 connected on one side of the body 12 and realized a hollow internally. The wall 17 is advantageously drawn close to a wall of the utility room and has an open cavity turned toward the wall of the room to receive heating means .

FIG 2 shows heating means 18, 19 associated with the ceramic complex 11. Said heating means can be realized with a coiled tube arranged in a cavity formed inside the ceramic complex. Advantageously, the heating means are fastened to the ceramic complex so as not to be visible.

The heating means 18 are associated with the sanitary fixture so as to heat a part of the ceramic complex 11 accessible to the user of the sanitary fixture for example the horizontal wall 25 of the washbasin or the front wall 17.

FIG 3 shows a cross section view of the sanitary fixture of FIG 1 in accordance with a vertical plane secant the sanitary fixture in a median position. The body 12 of the ceramic complex is provided with edges 21, 22 projecting downward with respect to an upper shelf of the body so as to form an inner cavity 20 open below. In the cavity 20 between the edge 22 and the bowl 13 the heating means 18 are arranged and are realized with piping 24, advantageously with a single coiled pipe suited to carry heating fluid for advantageously heating water.

The piping 24 can be connected to the heating water supply system of the room. For this purpose the heating means 18 include appropriate connections to be connected to the heating system. The piping 24 is immersed in a matrix of insulating material 23 and has a single free side turned toward the wall 25 of the ceramic body 12. This arrangement allows conveyance in an excellent manner of the heat brought by the water in the piping toward the wall 25 so as to pleasantly heat to the

touch the body 12 forming the washbasin of the sanitary fixture.

Advantageously, the matrix 23 is realized of polyurethane and is fastened directly on the lower face of the wall 25. The pipes 24 have a round cross section and are in contact with the upper end to the wall 25 of the body 12. FIG 4 shows a view of an alternative realization of the heating means of the sanitary fixture where all the elements corresponding to the first realization are indicated with the same number increased by 100.

The only difference with respect to the heating means 18 lies in the form of the heating water conduction pipes which have a flat side face in contact with the lower face of the flat wall 125. This device allows improving the heat transfer from the heated water to the body 112 of the ceramic complex. The pipes 124 have a square cross section. FIG 5 shows a cross section view of a third realization of the heating means. In this view the elements corresponding to the first realization are indicated with the same number increased by 200.

Differently from the above realization, this time the heating water conduction pipes 224 has a flattened cross section and are brought near with the larger side face to the wall 225 of the body 222. In this manner it is possible to improve further the heat transfer from the hot water to the wall 225 of the sanitary fixture .

FIG 6 shows a cross section view of a fourth realization of the heating means. In this view, the elements corresponding

to the first realization are indicated by the same number increased by 300.

This time the heating water ducts 324 are made up between two metal plates 330, 331 welded together at the zones 332 between the two adjacent ducts 324.

The upper plate 331 is in contact with the wall 325 of the ceramic body and is made flat. The lower plate 330 is molded with a series of depressions to allow formation of the ducts 324. The ducts 324 could also be connected in parallel together and not in series to form a coil as shown in FIG 2. The heat is transmitted homogeneously to the ceramic through the upper plate 331 which conducts the heat and is in contact with the wall 325. In this case, too, the ducts are fed with a connection to the hot water circuit for heating of the utility room in which the sanitary fixture is installed.

The sanitary fixture can also be provided with adjustment means, possibly electronic, for controlling the ceramic complex heating intensity. The adjustment means can include for example a modulator for controlling the sanitary fixture heating water circulation.

It is now clear that the preset purposes have been achieved. In particular, a sanitary fixture is made available which is pleasant to the touch and comfortable for the user, thanks to the heating means which heat the surfaces of the sanitary fixture designed for user contact.

In addition, the sanitary fixture also performs a function of heating the environment allowing elimination or reduction

of the need for having special radiators in the bathroom with clear advantage in terms of space occupied. Especially in the case where all the sanitary fixtures of the bathroom are realized in accordance with this invention the heat input is distributed homogeneously in the room and in considerable quantities in order to heat the environment. Naturally the above description of an embodiment applying the innovative principles of the present invention is given by way of non-limiting example of said principles within the scope of the exclusive right claimed here.

It is understood that the sanitary fixture in accordance with this invention need not necessarily form a washbasin as shown above but could even realize a bidet, a toilet or some other kind of sanitary fixture.