Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a back-flow device for use in water closets, which enables the waste water to be transferred back into the water closet in case of a possible overflow and prevents bacteria and viruses from mixing into clean water.

Background Art

In the art, backflow prevention devices for water closets are provided to prevent that the polluted washing water and the dirt of a cleaning bowl flow backward to mains water. The backflow water may be caused by a variety of problems including when the water closet is clogged.

It is well known to provide a bidet apparatus to allow users of a lavatory to cleanse themselves. However, when the water closet is clogged, polluted water may also return from the bidet apparatus. One of the problems encountered in the art is that in case of a possible clogging, the backflow water coming from the bidet apparatus mixes with the mains water of the system.

Said backflow apparatus that prevents waste water coming from the bidet apparatus of the water closet from mixing into the main installation not only cause a series of differences in the structure of the water closet, but also increase the cost due to their complex structure. Due to these variations, production of the water closets becomes difficult and productivity decreases. Moreover, in order to implement such systems, it is necessary to switch from standard production to a tailor-made one.

It is also available in the art to use check valves that allow a unidirectional flow in cases of possible overflow in water closets. As a result of a possible overflow, check valves, however, are exposed to a direct contact with bacteria and viruses, and they do not provide a sufficient solution to prevent contamination of the main installation with the waste water. There is also a need for solutions enabling an effective return of the waste water to the system in case of a possible overflow, especially in standard size water closets.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the invention may be referred to as KR100901186 (Bl), which discloses a back-flow preventing cover in case of a possible overflow, which is supported and allows one-way opening.

Objects of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a back-flow device eliminating the above- mentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back-flow device that prevents mixing of the waste water from the bidet apparatus to the main installation, allows mass production and can also be used in standard water closets.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the waste water from mixing into the main installation in cases of overflowing water closet, and to provide a back-flow device where the water is transferred back into the water closet in a reverse flow of water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back-flow device in which the returning water is delivered directly to the water closet, not over a pan connecter of the water closet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back-flow device that will prevent bacteria and viruses from mixing into the clean water that may result from a backflow flow.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a back-flow device for water closets for preventing backflow, said back-flow device comprising a first conduit leading from a flow regulating valve; and a second conduit for conveying the water to a bidet apparatus. The back-flow device comprises a flow regulating apparatus interposed between the first conduit and the second conduit wherein the flow regulating apparatus comprises a check valve allowing a unidirectional flow and in communication with the first conduit, a flow chamber through which the flow from the check valve is sprayed, and a connection end to which said second conduit connected; a discharge reservoir disposed under the flow chamber facing a flow hole of the flow chamber and collecting the backflow water coming from the flow chamber; and a discharge conduit leading from discharge reservoir for returning the backflow water into the water closet. In addition, the invention proposes a water closet comprising the back-flow device. In addition, the invention discloses a water closet comprising the back-flow device. In this way, if there is an overflow of the water closet, the waste water is mixed back into the water closet in an effective manner.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The back-flow device of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings for better understanding thereof, which drawings are attached for better explaining the present invention and are not limiting the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water closet suitable for using a back-flow device presented according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a position of the back-flow device presented according to the present invention before being connected with a suitable connection group.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the back-flow device presented according to the present invention with a cover assembly.

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of a position of the back-flow device presented according to the present invention, mounted in the water closet.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the back-flow device presented according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back-flow device presented according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the back-flow device presented according to the present invention as well as a connection group suitable for use therewith and the relevant assembly parts.

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of the water closet presented in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view showing a second conduit having a bidet apparatus at one end.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the water closet to which the back-flow device is connected, showing a flow from the flow regulating valve and a flow path when there is back-flow.

Fig. 11a is a partial sectional view showing the flow path of the mains water passing through the back-flow device in normal use.

Fig. lib is a partial sectional view showing the flow path through which the waste water reaching to the back-flow device is collected and conveyed in case of overflow and/or back-flow.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the back-flow device as shown in Figs. 11a and lib.

Figs. 13a and 13b are perspective views of the back-flow device of the present invention, taken from different angles.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will herein be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the list of the part numbers used in the figures is as follows.

10. Back-flow device

20. Cover assembly

31. First conduit

32. Second conduit

33. Discharge conduit

34a. First water inlet conduit

34b. Second water inlet conduit

35. Discharge reservoir

36. Upper attachment portion

37. Outlet end

38. Connecting portion

39. Bidet apparatus

40. Flow regulating valve 41. Lever handle

42. Connection region

50. Connection group

51. Valve housing

52. Connection hole

53. Hiding cover

54. Fixing member

55. Attachment housing

60. Flow regulating apparatus

61. Connection end

62. Flow chamber

63. Check valve

64. Ventilating channel

65. Flow hole

66. Fixing member

67. Fin

68. Geared portion

100. Water closet

101. Water intake chamber

102. Discharge opening

The present invention relates to a back-flow device (10) for water closets (100) for preventing backflow, said back-flow device (10) comprising: a first conduit (31) leading from a flow regulating valve (40); and a second conduit (32) for conveying the water to a bidet apparatus (39). The back-flow device (10) comprises a flow regulating apparatus (60) interposed between the first conduit (31) and the second conduit (32) wherein the flow regulating apparatus (60) comprises a check valve (63) allowing a unidirectional flow and in communication with the first conduit (31), a flow chamber (62) through which the flow from the check valve (63) is sprayed, and a connection end (61) to which said second conduit (32) connected; a discharge reservoir (35) disposed under the flow chamber (62) facing a flow hole (65) of the flow chamber (62) and collecting the backflow water coming from the flow chamber (62); and a discharge conduit (33) leading from discharge reservoir (35) for returning the backflow water into the water closet (100). In addition, the invention proposes a water closet (100) comprising the back-flow device (10). In addition, within the scope of the invention, a water closet (100) comprising the back-flow device (10) is described. Thanks to the back-flow device (10) presented within the scope of the invention, mixing of the waste water with the clean water coming from the flow regulating valve (40) is prevented in possible overflow situations.

As shown in Fig. 7, when the user operates a lever handle (41) of the flow regulating valve (40) to allow water flowing, clean water first moves through the first conduit (31) and reaches the check valve (63) of the flow regulating apparatus (60). After having passed the check valve (63), the water is sprayed through the flow chamber (62) and reaches to the connection end (61) connected to the flow chamber (62) at the opposite end. Then, the water flows through the second conduit (32) connected with the connection end (61) and into the bidet apparatus (39) positioned at the end thereof.

Fig. 11a shows a course of the mains water in normal use, and Fig. lib shows how the backflow water is conveyed back into the water closet (100) in case of a possible overflow. In order to prevent the contamination of the waste water into the main installation (the mains water) in case of a possible overflow or due to the opening the flow regulating valve (40) during an overflow of the water closet, the flow regulating apparatus (60) is provided that prevents the flow passing through the second conduit (32) from flowing into the first conduit (31). In case of a possible overflow, the waste water coming from said second conduit (32) passes through the connection end (61) and then the flow chamber (62), which is configured to be hollow, and is collected in the discharge chamber (35) located underneath the flow regulating valve (40). Advantageously, the discharge conduit (33), which is also connected with the discharge reservoir (35), is connected to a suitable discharge opening (102) so that the collected waste water is transferred back into the water closet (100).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the discharge opening (102) is located on a water intake chamber (101). Again, as illustrated in Figs. 11a and lib, said flow chamber (62) also comprises a ventilating channel (64) located on its ceiling in order to allow waste water to exit from above in case of a possible overflow. The ventilating channels (64), which are preferably arranged in a row on the ceiling of the flow chamber (62), are open in such a way that in case of a sudden overflow, the returning waste water cannot be trapped in the flow chamber (62). The bottom of said flow chamber (62) may be configured to be empty, and this part can be referred as the flow hole (65). In another embodiment of the invention, an empty base structure may be configured to have a plurality of flow holes (65) therein with varying cross-sections. In the present embodiment, since the interior and the bottom of the flow chamber (62) is empty, the waste water that will return back flows directly to the lower part, i.e., the discharge reservoir (35) and then conveyed to the inside of the water closet (100). With this arrangement, the inflow of backflow water is prevented.

As shown in Fig. 7, the discharge reservoir (35) has a discharge volume with a predetermined depth. The depth of discharge volume can vary. The discharge reservoir (35), configured to have a substantially L section, is also provided with a connecting portion (38) extending in a vertical direction from the discharge volume. The bottom of the discharge reservoir (35) is also configured to be slightly inclined, so that the water coming into the discharge reservoir (35) is guided directly to the discharge conduit (33). An outlet end (37) of the discharge reservoir (35) can be configured to fit into the discharge conduit (33). The discharge conduit (33) may generally be connected with the water closet (100), or may preferably be connected with the water intake chamber (101) of the water closet (100).

As illustrated in Fig. 12, the connecting portion (38) of the discharge reservoir (35) comprises an upper attachment portion (36) shaped and sized to be connected to the flow regulating apparatus (60). The upper attachment portion (36), which is configured to have a C section, is securely engaged with a cylindrical outer surface of the check valve (63). In other embodiments of the invention, it is also possible to fix the discharge reservoir (35) to different parts. This attachment portion also has vertically extending grooves, which are configured to impart flexibility. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 12, in order to fix the flow regulating apparatus (60), there is at least one fin (67) through which a fixing member (66) can be passed. These fins (67), preferably two, extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connection end (61). In the fins (67), there is at least one hole through which the fixing member (66) will be passed.

The flow regulating apparatus (60), having the flow chamber (62) comprising the check valve (63) and the connection end (61) following the check valve (63), is positioned between the first conduit (31) and the second conduit (32) such that it is preferably integral. Referring to Fig. 11a, there is a geared portion (68) on the flow regulating apparatus (60) and preferably on the check valve (63) suitable for coupling with the teeth on the first conduit (31). Thus, the first conduit (31) may securely be connected by rotating on the check valve (63).

The back-flow device (10) of the invention is configured to be suitable for use in sanitary furniture items, preferably water closets (100) and even preferably wall-hung water closets. In the water closets (100) where the back-flow device (10) will be used, there may be a connection group (50) on which a cover assembly (20) will be connected and suitable to be fixed to the water closet by means of fixing members (54). The connection group (50) can comprise an attachment housing (55) to which the fixing member (66) of the flow regulating apparatus (60) will be connected. As illustrated in Fig. 7, there are preferably two connection holes (52) on the connection group (50) preferably made of plastic material. The connection group (50) is fixed to the water closet (100) by passing the fixing members (54) through these connection holes (52). In addition, after the fixing members (54) are passed, a hiding cover (53) is used to cover the exposed area.

There is a main water intake chamber (101) in order to supply the necessary water into the water closet (100), and on the main water intake chamber (101), a discharge opening (102) to which the discharge conduit (33) will be connected. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10, there is the main water intake chamber (101) in the water closet (100), into which the water to be delivered from the reservoir will flow. The waste water collected in the flow regulating apparatus (60) of the invention can be supplied to the main water intake chamber (101) via the discharge conduit (33). Thus, the waste water coming back from the water closet (100) can then be returned into the water closet (100).

Again, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the second conduit (32) passes through the main water intake chamber (101) and at its end, there is the bidet apparatus (39) for discharging the water. The bidet apparatus (39) is located inside the water closet and eventually supplies the mains water to the user.

The flow regulating valve (40) is disposed in the connection group (50). In the connection group, there is an internally threaded valve housing (51), and the flow regulating valve (40) also has a connection region (42) so as to couple with the threaded part. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the flow regulating valve (40) may be located on the connection group (50), or in another embodiment, it may be located on a different member or directly connected to the water closet (100). In the middle of the connection group (50), there is a raised intermediate portion, and the cover assembly (20) is connected with a holding member that will engage with the lateral walls of the intermediate portion. As the mains water, the first water intake conduit (34a) and the second water intake conduit (34b) are connected to the respective taps and connected with the flow regulating valve (40).

The proposed back-flow device (10) can be partially positioned in the connection group (50) of the water closet. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the back-flow device (10) can be positioned at the back of the water closet (100) facing a wall to which it is to be connected.