The present invention relates to a toilet assembly, comprising a toilet pan provided with a bowl which can be flushed with flushing water for receiving excrement, in which the bowl is provided with a first opening for supplying flushing water and a second opening via which the flushing water can be discharged, with or without excrement, a flushing water supply pipe for supplying flushing water which is connected to the bowl and in open communication therewith, a flushing water reservoir for storing a supply of flushing water, and a valve mechanism having at least one movable valve for closing the flushing water reservoir, in which the liquid reservoir is incorporated into the flushing water supply pipe to form a flushing water element and in which the valve of the valve mechanism is positioned on the bottom side of the flushing water element, near the first opening of the bowl, in which the flushing water element has a substantially elongate shape.

A toilet assembly of this type is known from WO 01/07721. The flushing water reservoir of a toilet assembly (also referred to as water closet below) is situated at a higher position than the bowl, so that the reservoir can be emptied by operating the valve mechanism in order to flush away the contents of the bowl. The flushing water reservoir may be designed to be separate from the bowl and in that case is connected to the bowl by means of a long vertical flushing water supply pipe. In some embodiments, the reservoir is situated at 1 to 2 m above the bowl, so that the flushing water in the reservoir flows down at great speed when the valve mechanism between the reservoir and said flushing water supply pipe is operated. In one embodiment, the toilet assembly has a cylindrical reservoir for optimizing the water pressure across the valve mechanism and minimizing turbulence in the reservoir during flushing. In another embodiment, the reservoir is coupled directly to the bowl. In this embodiment as well, the flushing water can be passed to the bowl via the supply pipe by operating the valve mechanism between the supply pipe and the reservoir. Emptying is effected by pulling a chain or cord, as in the first-mentioned embodiment, or by pushing a button on the upper side of the water reservoir. A special structure ensures that the water does not flow away in the initial situation, but only when the flush is pulled. One drawback of such water closets is the fact that they take up a relatively large amount of space. Often, there is only limited space in buildings and the positioning of the flushing water reservoir in particular may be problematic. A further drawback is the fact that the known water closets are often less than attractive, due to the presence of a bulky water reservoir in the toilet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved toilet assembly in which the abovementioned and/or other drawbacks of the prior art are eliminated or are at least reduced.

At least one of said objects is achieved by a toilet assembly of the kind which is mentioned in the preamble and which is characterized by the fact that the flushing water supply pipe comprises a substantially straight pipe and/or a pipe with a substantially constant cross section, the substantially constant cross section of the pipe corresponding to the cross section of the first opening via which the pipe can be connected to the bowl. The substantially straight pipe and/or a pipe having a substantially constant cross section can provide a good through- flow of the water, with relatively little, if any, turbulence. The substantially constant cross section of the pipe which corresponds to the cross section of the first opening via which the pipe can be connected to the bowl ensures that a satisfactory through- flow can be achieved at the location of the connection of the pipe to the toilet pan as well.

In these embodiments, a height/width ratio of 4, preferably 6 and more preferably 10 or more can be realised and the flushing water in the entire supply system meets as little resistance as possible, which furthers the through- flow in the direction of the bowl.

In addition, another drawback of the known toilet assemblies is the fact that the bowl can stay warm and/or moist, which may result in a climate which is uncomfortable for the user of the toilet assembly. Yet another drawback is the fact that the malodorous smells which are produced when the toilet pan is being used can spread in the toilet. The smells can be extracted via a window or extraction installation. This extraction installation extracts the air via a ventilation opening which is provided either in the ceiling or the wall of the toilet. Solutions are known in which the smells are extracted by connecting the flushing water supply pipe of the toilet assembly to an extraction installation. The flushing water supply pipe can be used alternately for passing flushing water down in the direction of the bowl and for sucking air from the bowl upwards. Due to the fact that the pouring pipe ends in the bowl, the smells are sucked up in the direct vicinity of the source, which can thus reduce the degree to which the smells spread in the toilet. However, in the abovementioned embodiments the liquid reservoir and the flushing water supply pipe are integrated one with the other and due to the presence of flushing water in the flushing water supply pipe, it is not possible to extract air from the bowl via the same flushing water supply pipe. According to a further embodiment, the assembly therefore comprises a separate air extraction pipe which is connected to the bowl and is in communication therewith for extracting the malodorous air coming from the bowl. By means of the air extraction pipe, the smell can now be extracted by sucking it up. To this end, the extraction pipe may be connected to the existing ventilation system in the building and/or may be provided with its own extraction system, for example in the form of a fan which is connected to the extraction pipe.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flushing water element for storing and supplying flushing water is integrated into the air extraction pipe. The extraction pipe may, for example, extend on a side of the supply element and, if desired, form an integral part thereof. This makes it possible to produce a compact structure which can readily be concealed, for example in the wall of the toilet. In other embodiments, the supply element and the extraction pipe are of a mutually concentric design. Other configurations are likewise possible.

According to one embodiment, the bottom end of the air extraction pipe is connected to the flushing water supply pipe and is generally in open communication therewith, so that the supply of flushing water and the discharge of air takes place via the same (common) first opening in the bowl.

According to a further embodiment, the assembly comprises: - operating means for operating the valve mechanism, in which the valve of the valve mechanism is movable between a position which substantially closes the flushing water element for collecting flushing water therein and a position which substantially opens the flushing water element for allowing the water in the supply element to flow in the direction of the bowl. With these operating means, the toilet assembly can be flushed. The same operating means can also be configured to operate a second movable valve of the valve mechanism for closing the connection between the air extraction pipe and the flushing water supply pipe, so that no water can be sucked into the air extraction pipe and/or the stream of water is not impeded, or at least is impeded to a lesser extent, and the through- flowability (e.g. the pouring speed) is thus improved. More particularly, the operating means are designed to close the air extraction pipe when the flushing water supply pipe is opened and to open the air extraction pipe when the flushing water supply pipe is closed. According to a further embodiment, at least one opening is provided in the outer wall of the air extraction pipe, which opening can be closed by a closure element in the open position of the air extraction pipe and which leaves the opening at least partly open in the closed position of the air extraction pipe, so that, in the latter position, air is sucked into the extraction pipe via the opening. In a preferred embodiment, said closure element forms part of the valve operating mechanism, so that, when the valves are being operated, the opening is simultaneously cleared so that air can be sucked in via the latter.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the closure element comprises a closing cylinder which is movable in the air extraction pipe, the closing cylinder comprising:

- a cylindrical element having a longitudinal bore which forms a passage from the bottom side up to the upper side of the cylindrical element, and at least one transverse bore connected to the longitudinal bore for providing a passage from one side up to the upper side of the cylindrical element;

- a top and a bottom stop in the extraction pipe in order to limit the stroke of the cylindrical element, in which, in a first extreme position, the outer wall closes off the lateral bore in the cylindrical element and, in a second extreme position, the lateral bore is connected to the opening in the extraction pipe. As a result thereof, a bypass duct is formed so that air can be drawn in when the valve closes off the air extraction pipe. Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be explained with reference to the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof. In the description, reference is made to the attached figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view, partly in cross section, of an embodiment of a toilet assembly according to the invention, installed in a toilet;

Figs. 2a and 2b show cross sections of the closed and open positions of the bowl, respectively;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section along HI-III in Fig. 2a;

Figs. 4a and 4b show partly cut-away views in perspective of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 5a and 5b show cross sections of a third embodiment of the invention, respectively;

Figs. 6a and 6b show cross sections of a fourth embodiment of the invention, respectively;

Figs. 7a and 7b show cross sections of a fifth embodiment of the invention,

respectively, and

Figs. 8a and 8b show cross sections of a sixth embodiment of the invention, respectively.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a toilet assembly 1 according to the invention. The toilet assembly is composed of a toilet pan 2 which is attached to the floor 4 of a building in a known manner via a number of bolt connections 5. The toilet pan comprises a bowl 3 which is connected to a sewage pipe 7 and a flushing water element 9. By means of connecting means 8, the flushing water element 9 is connected to a passage in the toilet pan 2 which is provided in the bowl 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flushing water element 9 functions both as a flushing water reservoir, in which an amount of flushing water required for flushing the bowl 3 can be stored, and a supply pipe, via which the flushing water can be supplied and can be passed to the bowl. Furthermore, an air extraction pipe 14 is placed next to the flushing water element in order to extract malodorous smells from the bowl 3. The ends of both the flushing water element 9 and the air extraction pipe 14 are connected to the bowl 3 in such a manner that open communication between, on the one hand, the interior space of the bowl and, on the other hand, the reservoir 9 and the air extraction pipe 14 is effected.

Referring to Figs. 2a, 2b and 3, according to the present embodiment the flushing water element 9 is formed by a rear wall 10, two side walls 28, 28' and a dividing wall 15, while the air extraction pipe 14 comprises a part which forms an integral part of the flushing water element 9 and which is composed of a front wall 17 and the

aforementioned side walls 28, 28'. In the illustrated embodiment, both the flushing water element 9 and the air extraction pipe 14 have a substantially rectangular cross section (as is illustrated in Fig. 3), but obviously any other kind of shape of the reservoir and/or the extraction pipe is likewise possible. The rectangular shape has the advantage that it can have a minimal depth at a given width, which is advantageous with regard to the options for installation. Installation can, for example, take place by milling a slot in the wall, for example using a round or rectangular miller. Another option for installation is to brick it in. With this option as well, a rectangular cross- sectional shape is attractive.

The flushing water element 9 is connected to the water mains in a manner which is not illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the element can be filled with water in each case. When the flushing water element 9 is completely filled, the water level (w, Fig. 2a) is situated on the top side of the flushing water element, more specifically near the end 16 thereof. Although the cross-sectional dimensions of the flushing water element 9 are relatively limited, the height of the reservoir is considerable. This ensures that the entire contents of the liquid reservoir is sufficiently large to store an adequate amount of flushing water in the flushing water element 9 to be able to flush the bowl 3 in a satisfactory manner. Furthermore, due to the abovementioned dimensions (in particular also the ratio between the dimensions in the transverse direction and the dimensions in the height direction), it is possible to simply recess the flushing water element 9 and the air extraction pipe 14 into the wall 11 of the building. To this end, an elongate slot is first formed in the wall 11 , for example by milling the said slot into the wall. In the elongate slot, the flushing element 9 can be accommodated together with the air extraction pipe 14. After the element 9 has been connected to the water mains and the air extraction pipe has been connected to an extraction mechanism (not shown), for example a standard central extraction installation which is already present in the building, the slot containing the assembly of flushing water element and extraction pipe can be finished, for example by filling it with filler 12 and subsequently plastering it.

Referring to Fig. 1, and more particularly Figs. 2a and 2b, the water in the flushing water element 9 is retained on the bottom side by a movable valve 39. This valve 39 is attached to the bottom side of the abovementioned dividing wall 15 by means of a hinge 38. A second valve, also referred to as the air valve 37 is fixedly connected to the valve 39. In the starting position, as is illustrated in Fig. 2a, this air valve is oriented such that the mouth of the air extraction pipe 14 is completely or partly open. In this position, there is an open communication between the inside of the bowl 3 and the extraction installation via the air extraction pipe 14. When operating operating element 19 (Fig. 1) or operating element 29 (Figs. 2a and 2b), that is to say by pushing the operating element (in direction Pi), the air extraction pipe is closed while the flushing water element 9 is opened at the same time. When the operating element 29 is operated by being pushed, the operating element activates the valves of the valve mechanism, that is to say the water valve 39 and the air valve 37, via operating means to be described in more detail below. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2a and 2b, the operating means are designed, inter alia, as an elongate rod, provided at the top end with two projections 33, 34 via a connection 32. By their ends 31, 31 ', the two projections press against the dividing wall 15 and the front wall 17, respectively. At the bottom end, the rod 35 is connected to a hinge 36 to which the abovementioned air valve 37 is rotatably connected. When the operating element 19, 29 is pushed, the operating rod 35 will move in a downward direction (P ₂ , Fig. 2) due to the shape of the operating means, as a result of which the air valve 37 will hinge downwards until it reaches the final position illustrated in Fig. 2b. In this final position, the air extraction pipe 14 is completely closed on the bottom side. Since the air valve 37 and the liquid valve 39 are fixedly connected to one another, when the air valve 37 is rotated in a downward direction, the liquid valve 39 will be rotated in an upward direction (R ₂ ) until it reaches the final position illustrated in Fig. 2b. In this final position, also referred to as the release position, the water mass in the flushing water element 9 is free to flow down (in direction P ₃ ) and will then reach the bowl 3 (P ₄ ) via the mouth of the toilet pan 2. The special shape of the liquid valve 39, in particular the curved shape of the end thereof, ensures that, while the flushing water pours down, the valve 39 is pushed against the wall of the liquid duct and thus remains in its open position.

Therefore, the operating element 19 does not have to be held continuously by the user.

Since the bottom side of the air extraction pipe 14 is now closed, liquid is prevented from being sucked upwards out of the liquid reservoir 13 via the air extraction pipe. In addition, closing the air valve 37 ensures that the flow duct for the flushing water returns to its constant cross section, so that the flushing water can flow to the bowl virtually unhampered and with relatively little risk of turbulence occurring at the opening of the air extraction pipe 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cross section of the flushing water supply pipe, between the top and the bottom thereof, that is to say up to the connection to the toilet pan, is not the same everywhere. The flushing water supply pipe itself and the air valve 37 which can close off the air supply opening in the flushing water supply pipe are shaped such that, in the flow direction, an increase or decrease in the cross section occurs gradually and thus abrupt transitions are avoided as much as possible. This reduces the risk of turbulence in the flushing water and thus improves the through-flow. In other embodiments (not illustrated in the figures), the cross section of the flushing water supply pipe, between the top and the bottom thereof, that is to say up to the connection to the toilet pan, is virtually equal in order to improve the through- flow.

Furthermore, by operating, that is to say pushing, the operating element 29, an opening 40 is created. Air can then be extracted in an upward direction via this opening 40 (in direction P ₅ ). In this embodiment, the operating element 29 not only ensures that the air supply valve is closed and the water valve is opened, but also provides an additional opening via which air can be sucked into the air extraction pipe 14. Behind the operating element 19, a grate or the like may be provided to prevent objects or other impurities drawn in via the opening 40 from ending up in the air extraction pipe 14. By correctly choosing the centre of gravity of the liquid valve 39, the latter

automatically returns into the initial position on account of the force of gravity when the (majority of the) flushing water has left the liquid duct. Alternatively or in addition hereto, the operating element may be provided with an engagement means by means of which the user can grasp the operating element in order to force the latter back into the starting position. Since the elements 33 and 34 can hinge with respect to one another, the operating element 29 will be able to return to the starting position, as illustrated in Fig. 2a, when the liquid valve 39 swings back. In the unlikely event that this does not happen or if this does not happen sufficiently quickly in the eyes of the user, the user can return the liquid valve to the starting position by grasping the operating element and pulling it back. The flushing water element 9 is then closed again at the bottom side and the water level in the reservoir will rise again. In addition, the air discharge via the bottom end of the air extraction pipe 14 is cleared again due to the fact that the air valve 37 returns to its original position (as illustrated in Fig. 2a). In this way, the air can be continuously removed from the bowl 3, except when the operating element is being operated. The operating element not only ensures that the toilet pan 2 is being flushed, but also that the load on the extraction means does not increase significantly and furthermore prevents flushing water from being sucked into the air extraction pipe 13 during flushing.

In other embodiments of the invention, the combined air valve 37 and liquid valve 39 has been omitted and only a single liquid valve is present. In this case, the operating element is designed to only operate this liquid valve 39 and, in this embodiment, the bottom side of the air extraction pipe 14 remains open at all times. In order to prevent water from being sucked up into the air extraction pipe 14, as a result of the reduced pressure generated by the extraction means, it is nevertheless prudent to try and avoid this reduced pressure and/or to at least prevent the water entering via the air extraction pipe 14. Some embodiments aimed at achieving this are illustrated in Figs. 4a-8b.

Figs. 4a and 4b show an embodiment in which the air extraction pipe 14 is composed of a pipe 40 having, in this specific embodiment, a substantially circular cross section. In the pipe 40, a piston element 42 is arranged so as to be displaceable in an upward and downward direction. The intermediate distance between the peripheral wall of the piston element 42 and the wall 41 of the pipe is so small that no air, or hardly any air, can move along in an upward direction. The piston element 42 is provided with a centre bore 43 which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction from the top side of the piston element up to approximately halfway. From the bottom side of the bore 43, one or more lateral ducts 44 extend. These ducts 44 have been configured such that they can be attached to one or more corresponding openings 45 provided in the pipe wall 41. In the starting position illustrated in Fig. 4a, the liquid reservoir 13 is filled and air is sucked in from the top side. This ensures that the malodorous air can pass the piston element 42 in the upward direction (direction P ₆ ) via the bore 43 and can be extracted via the extraction means. If now the flushing water blocks the supply of air from the bowl 3 on the bottom side of the air extraction pipe, the upwardly directed air flow will decrease, as a result of which the piston element 42 will move downwards. However, when the position illustrated in Fig. 4b has been reached, in which the lateral ducts 44 connect to the openings 45 in the wall 41 of the pipe 40, a passage is created through which air from the outside can be extracted via the lateral ducts 44 and the bore 43 upwards (in direction P ₇ ). As a result thereof, the piston remains in the position illustrated in Fig. 4b and a continuous extraction of air via the extraction means can be achieved. The risk of flushing water being sucked up via the bottom side of the air extraction pipe is thus very small and the through-flow of the flushing water can be improved. If, then, the water has disappeared from the flushing water element 9 and the air extraction pipe 14 is no longer obstructed by the flushing water, the upward air flow from the bottom side of the air extraction pipe to the air extraction means will start again, as a result of which the piston element 42 will move to the higher position illustrated in Fig. 4a.

Figs. 5a and 5b show an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, one or more valves are provided which are attached to the pipewall 41 by means of hinges 48. In the starting position, that is to say the position in which the water is situated in the flushing water element 9, air is extracted upwards in the customary manner (see Fig. 5a).

However, when the water, upon operation of the operating element, is passed from the flushing water element 9 in the direction of the bowl 3 and the bottom side of the air extraction pipe 40 is thereby partly or completely closed, the valves 47 will open to take up the position illustrated in Fig. 5b as a result of the resultant pressure. The open valves 47 offer one or more openings 50 so that the air can be supplied via this opening (direction Pg).

Variants of the construction illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b are illustrated in Figs. 7a and 7b and Figs. 8a and 8b. Instead of a valve 47 which is hingedly attached to the pipe 41 on the bottom side via a hinge 48, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b, a substantially flexible (for example rubber) closure element 54 is provided. At its bottom side 55, the closure element is detached from the wall 41 while, at the top side

56, it is securely attached to the wall. If, as a result of an obstruction on the bottom side of the air discharge duct, a relatively large reduced pressure is created in the air discharge duct 40, the element 54 will be bent from the starting position illustrated in Fig. 7a to the position illustrated in Fig. 7b. In the position illustrated in Fig. 7b an opening 60 is fixed via which air can be supplied (Pn). The construction illustrated in Figs. 8a and 8b works in a similar way. In this construction, two flexible elements 60, 61 are provided instead of a single flexible element 54. The bottom flexible element 60 is securely attached to the wall 41 by its bottom end, while the top element 61 is attached to the same wall 41 via the top end 62. If a sufficiently high reduced pressure is produced in the extraction pipe, the air will be supplied via the outer side (direction P ₁₂ ), as a result of which the elements 60, 61 open to take up the position illustrated in Fig. 8b. A further embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 6a and 6b. In this embodiment, the valve 50 is generally directed downwards and attached to the wall 41 by means of a hinge 51. As long as the water valve 39 is in the starting position, the valve 50 closes off an opening

57. When the operating element 19 is being operated and the water is extracted in the direction of the bowl 3 via the bottom side of the flushing water element, the valve 50 may be opened to take up the position illustrated in Fig. 6b, as a result of the resultant reduced pressure. In this position, an opening 57 is produced via which (direction Pio) air can enter the pipe from the outside and can subsequently be extracted via the extraction means. After the flushing water element 9 has been emptied completely and the bottom side of the air extraction pipe is open again, the valve can be closed again, if desired. In this embodiment, closure of the valve 50 is effected automatically by the valve 50 swinging back down again under its own weight into the position illustrated in Fig. 6a. The end of a pin 53 in this case forms a limit for the swing of the valve 50. Other types of limits for the swing are of course also possible, for example in the form of a stop which is fitted just above the valve, on the inner side of the pipe wall. The degree of swing can be adjusted by pushing the pin 53 provided in the pipe wall 41 radially inwards or outwards (in direction Pn). By means thereof, it is possible to vary the ratio between the amount of air which is extracted via the toilet and the amount of air which is extracted by another extraction means (for example the usual extraction means in a toilet), as a result of which the risk of insufficiently replenished air accumulating elsewhere in the toilet is reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments thereof described herein. Rather, the rights sought are determined by the attached claims, within which numerous modifications are conceivable.

The invention can be summarized in the following definitions:

1. Toilet assembly, comprising:

- a toilet pan provided with a bowl which can be flushed with flushing water for receiving excrement, in which the bowl is provided with a first opening for supplying flushing water and a second opening via which the flushing water can be discharged, with or without excrement;

- a flushing water supply pipe for supplying flushing water which is connected to the bowl and in open communication therewith;

- a flushing water reservoir for storing a supply of flushing water;

- a valve mechanism having at least one movable valve for closing the flushing water reservoir;

in which the liquid reservoir is incorporated into the flushing water supply pipe to form a flushing water element and in which the valve of the valve mechanism is positioned on the bottom side of the flushing water element, near the first opening of the bowl, in which the flushing element has a substantially elongate shape, characterized in that the flushing water supply element comprises a substantially straight pipe and/or a pipe with a substantially constant cross section, the substantially constant cross section of the pipe corresponding to the cross section of the first opening via which the pipe can be connected to the bowl.

2. Toilet assembly according to definition 1, in which the flushing water element has a height/width ratio greater than 4, preferably greater than 6 and more preferably greater than 10.

3. Toilet assembly according to definition 1 or 2, comprising an air extraction pipe which is connected to the bowl and is in communication therewith for extracting the malodorous air coming from the bowl.

4. Toilet assembly according to definition 3, in which the flushing water element for storing and supplying flushing water is integrated into the air extraction pipe.

5. Toilet assembly according to definition 3 or 4, in which the bottom end of the air extraction pipe is connected to and in communication with the flushing water supply pipe.

6. Toilet assembly according to one of the preceding definitions, comprising:

- operating means for operating the valve mechanism, in which the valve of the valve mechanism is movable between a position which substantially closes the flushing water element for collecting flushing water therein and a position which substantially opens the flushing water element for allowing the water in the supply element to flow in the direction of the bowl.

7. Toilet assembly according to definition 6, in which the valve mechanism of the flushing water reservoir comprises a second movable valve for closing the connection between the air extraction pipe and the flushing water supply pipe.

8. Toilet assembly according to definition 6 or 7, in which the operating means of the valve mechanism are designed to close the air extraction pipe when the flushing water supply pipe is opened and to open the air extraction pipe when the flushing water supply pipe is closed.

9. Toilet assembly according to one of the preceding definitions, in which at least one opening is provided in the outer wall of the air extraction pipe and in which a closure element is provided which is designed to completely close the opening in the open position of the air extraction pipe and to leave the opening at least partly open in the closed position of the air extraction pipe. 10. Toilet assembly according to definition 9, in which the closure element forms part of the valve operating mechanism.

11. Toilet assembly according to definition 9, in which the closure element of the valve operating mechanism is hingedly fitted to the outer wall and is connected to one or more valves of the valve operating mechanism, in which, in the inwardly hinged position, the first valve opens the flushing water supply pipe, the second valve closes the air extraction pipe and the closure element opens the opening in the outer wall.

12. Toilet assembly according to definition 9, in which the closure element comprises a closing cylinder which is movable in the air extraction pipe, the closing cylinder comprising:

- a cylindrical element having a longitudinal bore which forms a passage from the bottom side up to the upper side of the cylindrical element, and at least one transverse bore connected to the longitudinal bore for providing a passage from one side up to the upper side of the cylindrical element;

- a top and a bottom stop in the extraction pipe in order to limit the stroke of the cylindrical element, in which, in a first extreme position, the outer wall closes off the lateral bore in the cylindrical element and, in a second extreme position, the lateral bore is connected to the opening in the extraction pipe.

13. Toilet assembly according to definition 9, in which the closure element comprises one or more reduced pressure valves provided in the discharge pipe outer wall, in which the reduced pressure valves are designed to open the opening from a specific reduced pressure threshold value in the extraction pipe and to close the opening at a reduced pressure lower than the reduced pressure threshold value.

14. Toilet assembly according to one of the preceding definitions, comprising an extraction element which can be attached to the extraction pipe, preferably comprising one or more fans, for extracting the malodorous air via the extraction pipe.

15. Toilet assembly according to one of the preceding definitions, in which the flushing water element and the air extraction element have a substantially rectangular cross section.

19. Toilet assembly according to one of the preceding definitions, in which the flushing water element and the air extraction element are integrated into a single

supply/discharge element. 20. Method for installing a toilet assembly according to one of the preceding definitions in a building, which method comprises:

- providing an elongate slot in a wall of the building;

- arranging the flushing water element in the slot;

- connecting the flushing water element to the water mains;

- fitting the toilet pan and connecting the flushing water element thereto.

21. Method according to definition 20, comprising connecting the air extraction pipe to an extraction system of the building.

22. Flushing water element as defined in one of definitions 1-19.

23. Flushing water element and air extraction pipe combined therewith, provided with a valve mechanism and operating means as defined in one of definitions 1-19.