The present invention relates to a floor system comprising a porous floor element with an upper surface and a lower surface, through which floor element liquid can pass, and a liquid chamber provided under the floor element, wherein the lower surface of the floor element forms an upper wall of the liquid chamber.

The present invention also relates to a sanitary space provided with such a floor system and to a method for cleaning a floor.

The floor system according to the present invention can be applied particularly advantageously in sanitary spaces such as for instance a (public) toilet or a washing and/or shower area in for instance a swimming pool or at a camping site. Other applications of the floor system are however not hereby precluded.

A known floor system as according to the introduction is a water-permeable washable floor for a public toilet. It is highly important in public toilets that the floor can be cleaned automatically and in a very short time following each use of the toilet. The floor is provided for this purpose with porous granule floor tiles. Provided along the periphery of the floor and directly above the upper surface of the floor tiles are flushing nozzles through which, making use of a pump, water can be carried onto the upper surface of the floor tiles in order to flush off the floor soiling resulting from a use of the toilet space in which the floor is present. The greater part of the water flows off the upper surface of the floor and is further drained. As a result of the porous nature of the floor tiles, the water left behind on the floor flows downward through the tiles from above and enters a chamber situated under the floor. Owing to the porous nature of the floor tiles such a known floor is characterized by a rapid drying time, whereby shortly after use the public toilet is already available again for subsequent use. Because the floor is thus at least substantially dry prior to subsequent use following the flushing, it attracts considerably less dirt than in the case the floor were still (partly) wet. Said granule floor tiles moreover have an attractive appearance.

Drawbacks of the above specified known floor system are however that the standard of cleaning of the floor is in practice open to improvement and that particularly for this reason the cleaning interval of the floor is only short. This is because it has been found that during flushing of the floor a significant part of the water flows in practice through the floor tiles and here carries dirt such as sand grains into the interior of the floor tiles, which dirt is therefore not flushed off the upper surface of the floor. The floor hereby becomes clogged relatively quickly and the cleaning interval for thorough manual cleaning of the floor is relatively short. Thorough manual cleaning is a time-consuming task wherein the floor has to be partially disassembled to enable proper cleaning of the floor tiles. The passages in the porous floor tiles are moreover found to have a suction action during the flushing with water such that larger dirt components, such as for instance pieces of toilet paper, as it were remain stuck to the upper surface of a floor tile and are not flushed away off the floor together with the water. In addition to contributing toward clogging of the floor, this gives an untidy and unhygienic impression.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a floor system particularly suitable for applying in a public sanitary facility such as a public toilet, wherein a floor surface can be cleaned better, and which floor system has an increased cleaning interval. Said object is achieved with the floor system according to the present invention, the floor system being characterized in that the liquid chamber is embodied as pressure chamber, wherein the floor system is provided with supply means for forcing liquid upward from below out of the liquid chamber and through the floor element, and with discharge means for discharging from the upper surface liquid forced through the floor element.

An advantage of the floor system according to the present invention is that, by applying the supply means which are connected to the liquid chamber functioning as pressure chamber for the purpose of forcing liquid upward from below out of the pressure chamber and through the floor element, the suction action of the floor element is on the one hand not a factor during cleaning of the floor element. Dirt present on the floor is hereby discharged in effective manner. A self-cleaning action of the floor is on the other hand provided by applying the supply means, since not only is dirt prevented from penetrating into the interior of the floor element during cleaning of the floor, and more specifically while residual liquid flows downward from above through the floor element, but dirt which has possibly already found its way into the floor during use of the floor is also driven out of the floor element again through the agency of the liquid forced upward from below through the floor element . A floor is thus provided with a markedly higher level of cleaning after use of the floor and with a considerably longer cleaning interval, and as a result reduced maintenance costs. A further advantage of the floor system according to the present invention is relevant when the floor system is applied in a space in which users are usually barefooted, such as for instance in a shower area in a swimming pool. It is found in practice that there is an increased risk of contracting (fungal) infections in such spaces due to the presence of flakes of dead skin on the floor of the shower space. Because the floor element in the floor system according to the invention can be easily cleaned, also during use, by means of providing liquid passing upward from below through the floor element, a high standard of hygiene can be achieved, thereby reducing the risk of users contracting an infection.

In an extremely favourable preferred embodiment the discharge means comprise flushing means for flushing liquid over the upper surface of the floor element. Although it is possible within the context of the present invention to envisage the liquid forced upward from below through the floor element being discharged manually from the upper surface of the floor element, for instance with a water or air spray, a squeegee or the like, it is particularly advantageous if said flushing means are provided with which the upper surface can be flushed (automatically) with liquid, preferably simultaneously with forcing of liquid upward from below through the floor element, so that liquid including dirt components are effectively removed from the upper surface (after which the still remaining liquid flows away downward through the floor element from above) .

It is also advantageous if the flushing means comprise a flushing nozzle disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface of the floor element, wherein the flushing means are adapted to carry liquid through the flushing nozzle onto the upper surface of the floor element. Using the thus provided flushing liquid, liquid which has been carried through the floor element onto the upper surface of the floor element, including dirt components, can in this way be removed effectively from the upper surface.

It is further favourable if there extends upward from the floor element a wall on which a porous wall element is arranged, wherein the flushing means comprise a further flushing nozzle disposed above the wall element, wherein the flushing means are adapted to force liquid through the further flushing nozzle to cause liquid to flow downward along the wall element. An advantage hereof is that a wall element can in this way also be cleaned effectively, wherein the liquid flowing downward along the wall element also contributes toward discharge from the floor element of liquid forced through the floor element. An advantage of providing such a wall element is that, when the forcing of liquid through the further flushing nozzle is stopped, the liquid remaining on the wall element which does not flow downward along the wall element drains into the wall element itself, thus achieving that the wall element dries again very quickly, at least on its surface. When a user thus touches the wall element shortly after cleaning of the floor and wall element, for instance with clothing, this does not result in the clothing getting wet. For effective and rapid draining of liquid from the upper surface of the floor element it is favourable if the floor element lies at an incline.

The discharge means preferably comprise a liquid basin for collecting liquid flowing off the upper surface of the floor element, this liquid basin being connected via a feed conduit to the pressure chamber, wherein the supply means comprise a first pump member for forcing liquid upward from below out of the liquid basin via the feed conduit and the liquid chamber and through the floor element. The liquid in the floor system itself can hereby be recirculated so that a considerable saving is realized in the liquid consumption for cleaning the floor element.

It is a further advantage for the flushing nozzle to be connected via a flushing liquid supply conduit to the liquid basin, wherein the flushing means comprise a second pump member for forcing liquid out of the liquid basin via the flushing liquid supply conduit to the flushing nozzle. Not only is liquid used by the supply means thus recirculated, but also the liquid used by the flushing means.

For the purpose of highly effective discharge of liquid forced through the floor element from the upper surface of the floor element, it is favourable that the flushing nozzle comprises a number of separate flushing nozzle units which are provided along a part of a peripheral edge of the floor element and which are adapted to flush liquid over the upper surface of the floor element in the direction of a remaining part of the peripheral edge. Thus is achieved that the liquid forced through the floor element is driven in effective manner in the direction of said remaining part of the peripheral edge by the (flushing) liquid coming out of the flushing nozzle units and there further discharged by the discharge means .

For effective flushing of the whole upper surface of the floor element it is favourable for the number of separate flushing nozzle units to comprise a number of nozzle units, some of which are directed directly downward at the upper surface of the floor element, and others of which are directed at least substantially parallel to the upper surface. Because some of the nozzle units are directed directly downward, the upper surface is also flushed directly with liquid at the peripheral edge where the respective nozzle unit is present. The nozzle units directed at least substantially parallel to the upper surface drive the liquid present more centrally on the upper surface in efficient manner in the direction of the remaining part of the peripheral wall. These latter nozzle units can also be advantageously utilized for spraying larger dirt components such as paper, leaves and syringes with force off the upper surface, such dirt components being left with some regularity by a user on the floor element particularly in a public toilet, and it being very important that these be removed before use by a subsequent user of the space in which the floor system is present.

It is a further advantage that the pressure chamber is connected via a discharge conduit to the liquid basin, wherein a valve member is provided in the discharge conduit for closing the discharge conduit in a blocking position and leaving the discharge conduit open in a release position. It is thus possible in simple matter to switch between closing of the pressure chamber during forcing of liquid through the floor element by the supply means and leaving open the discharge conduit so that liquid still present in the pressure chamber can easily flow back to the liquid basin.

Is also favourable for the discharge means to comprise a screen member for screening liquid flowing off the surface of the floor element. This advantage applies particularly when said liquid basin is present. A filter action is thus realized by the screen member, whereby possible soiling is not carried back into or onto the floor element.

In a simple preferred embodiment the floor element is constructed from a number of separate mutually adjacent parts, wherein the pressure chamber also comprises a number of chamber parts provided under a separate part of a floor element. The floor system can in this way be more easily applied (arranged) in a relatively large space.

In order to simplify the periodic cleaning of the floor element it is favourable for the floor element to be provided releasably in the floor system.

It is a further advantage for the floor element and the pressure chamber to form a unit provided releasably in the floor system.

In a highly favourable preferred embodiment the floor element is a granule floor element which is preferably formed from granule gravel bound together by a synthetic resin. Such granule floor elements are highly wear-resistant and have a highly suitable porous character. The appearance of at least the upper surface of such a granule floor element is also attractive. Other materials such as sintered metal or for instance a porous plastic are however not precluded as material for the floor element.

The present invention also relates to a sanitary space provided with a floor system according to the present invention. Advantages of such a sanitary space correspond to the above stated advantages of the floor system according to the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning a floor, comprising of

- providing a porous floor element with an upper surface and a lower surface, through which floor element liquid can pass, and a liquid chamber provided under the floor element, wherein the lower surface of the floor element forms an upper wall of the liquid chamber,

wherein the method is characterized by

- forcing liquid with supply means upward from below out of the liquid chamber and through the floor element, and

- discharging liquid forced through the floor element from the upper surface with discharge means.

Advantages of the method according to the present invention correspond to the above stated advantages of the floor system according to the present invention. The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the description of two preferred embodiments of floor systems according to the present invention, with reference to the following figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a three-dimensional

representation of a preferred embodiment of a part of a floor system according to the present invention, and

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of the floor system partially shown in figure 1, including further components, and Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of a further preferred embodiment of a floor system according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a part of a floor system 1 according to the present invention. Floor system 1 comprises a floor which is formed by three floor elements 2 to be further described below and which is supported by a concrete support construction 12. Floor system 1 according to figure 1 forms part of a public toilet which has walls (not shown) extending upward from side edges of support 12. Also present in the public toilet is a toilet pot and preferably also a washbasin (not shown) . Space is provided at the position of location 9 for a door of the toilet so that a user can enter the toilet. The use of the floor system according to the present invention in another, preferably sanitary space such as a shower space is not however precluded. The dimensions of the floor formed by the three floor elements 2 amount to 1.8 by 2.5 m, i.e. the size of a single element is 0.6 by 2.5 m. It is also possible within the scope of the present invention to apply floor elements smaller or larger than said floor elements and a distribution of floor elements over the floor surface other than shown in figure 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1 the floor is formed by three floor elements 2 connecting directly to each other. It is however also possible to provide the floor elements at some mutual interspace, wherein the interspace is preferably filled with material of support 12 up to the level of at least the upper surface of floor elements 2. Floor system 1 comprises three floor tiles 2 functioning as floor element (two of the three tiles 2 are shown in figure 1) . Floor tiles 2 are more specifically granule floor tiles formed from granule gravel bound by a synthetic resin. Floor tiles 2 hereby have a porous character, i.e. narrow passages are present in the spaces between the granule gravel through which liquid such as water can pass from upper surface 4 to lower surface 6, and vice versa. See also figure 2. Upper surface 4 of each of the floor tiles 2 lies in the same plane so that a floor with a flat surface is formed. The granule floor tiles are preferably each further provided with a reinforcing mat to increase the load-bearing capacity of the tiles. The number of floor tiles 2 as seen in longitudinal and transverse direction of the overall floor surface can otherwise be freely selected, three mutually adjacent floor tiles 2 sufficing in the example of figure 1, each extending over the full longitudinal direction of the floor surface. Present under each floor tile 2 is a liquid chamber 8 formed by a stainless steel tray 10, this tray 10 supporting a floor tile. A floor tile 2 and an associated tray 10 can be placed as individual unit on a concrete support 12 of floor system 1.

Each tray 10 has a feed connection 14 and a discharge connection 16. Discharge connections 16 debouch directly into a basin 18 which is provided in support 12 are and which also extends under trays 10. The placing of the basin relative to trays 10 can be freely determined per se. Each of the feed connections 14 is connected via a supply conduit 15 to the outlet port 24 of a first pump 20. An inlet port 22 of pump 20 is connected directly to basin 18. Inlet port 22 is also connected directly to inlet port 26 of a second pump 25. It is likewise possible within the scope of the present invention to integrate liquid chambers 8 into support 12 in the form of chamber-like recesses in the material of support 12, wherein a floor tile 2, or at least its lower surface 6, forms an upper wall of the thus formed chamber. If desired, feed and discharge connections can also be integrated into support 12. Arranged along the outer periphery of the whole of the three floor tiles 2 is a conduit 30 which is connected with an inlet 22 via a conduit 29 to outlet port 27 of second pump 25. Conduit 30 comprises a number of nozzles 34, 36 provided along three of the four peripheral sides of the whole of the three floor tiles 2. No nozzles 34, 36 are arranged in conduit 30 on the side of conduit 30 located at the position of inlet 32. Floor tiles 2 further lie at an incline wherein, as shown particularly in figure 2, between the part of conduit 30 located on the side of inlet 32 and above floor tile 2 a space 38 is present through which liquid can flow from upper surface 4 into basin 18.

Due to the use of the space in which the floor formed by floor tiles 2 is present the upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2 becomes soiled. When the floor has to be cleaned, pump 20 is first activated so that it suctions liquid (mainly water) out of basin 18 and pumps it via conduit 15 into the respective liquid chambers 8 under floor tiles 2. Because liquid chambers 8 are enclosed by enveloping walls of trays 10 and on the upper side by lower surface 6 of a floor tile 2, the respective liquid chambers 8 function as pressure chambers and, under the influence of first pump 20, a water pressure is developed in each liquid chamber 8 under floor tiles 2. Because, as stated above, floor tiles 2 are porous, water is hereby forced upward from below through floor tiles 2, whereby a highly effective cleaning occurs in each of the floor tiles 2. Because floor tiles 2 lie at an incline, liquid which comes to lie on upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2 flows off upper surface 4 (to the right in the direction of passage 38 as seen in figure 2) and back into basin 18. Although not shown in the figures, a filter serving as screen member is incorporated between basin 18 and first pump 20, whereby dirt components which enter basin 18 cannot pass through into first pump 20 and second pump 25.

During operation of first pump 20 second pump 25 is also activated, whereby it pumps liquid out of basin 18 into conduit 30, and this liquid flows via nozzles 34, 36 onto upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2. Here the nozzles 34 are spray nozzles provided with a cap such that liquid forced through the respective nozzle 34 is deflected directly downward in the direction of upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2, so that liquid is carried onto upper surface 4 in the direct vicinity of the peripheral edges of floor tiles 2. Nozzles 36 are formed by spray nozzles not provided with the above specified caps, whereby nozzles 36 discharge liquid more parallel to upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2. This liquid thus comes to lie further toward the centre of floor tiles 2, whereby it contributes in effective manner toward the flow in the direction of passage 38 of liquid carried by means of first pump 20 and second pump 25 onto upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2. Nozzles 36 in particular also serve to drive coarser dirt components, such as paper, leaves or syringes, from upper surface 4 of floor tiles 2 under the influence of the liquid flowing with force out of nozzles 36.

First pump 20 and/or second pump 25 are deactivated after a preset time period in which these pumps are in operation. The carrying of liquid via conduit 30 via nozzles 34, 36 onto floor tiles 2 hereby stops on the one hand, and the forcing of liquid upward from below out of liquid chamber 8 and through floor tiles 2 stops on the other. At this moment a valve provided in discharge 16 of trays 10 is opened, whereby liquid still present in liquid space 8 flows back directly into basin 18 via discharge 16. Part of the liquid remaining on the upper surface of floor tiles 2 flows via passage 38 (due to the incline) into basin 18 and the remaining part flows downward from above through floor tiles 2 and back into liquid space 8, wherein the liquid enters basin 18 via discharge 16. Particularly due to the downward flow from above of liquid present on upper surface 4 floor tiles 2, or at least the upper surface 4 thereof, dry extremely quickly, whereby the floor is very soon available again for a subsequent use.

Floor system 100 according to figure 3 is substantially the same as the above specified floor system 1 according to figures 1 and 2. In floor system 100 however, conduit 30 is also connected to a flushing rail 42. Flushing rail 42 is situated at the top of a wall 44 on which is arranged a wall element 40 which preferably has the same properties as the above specified floor elements 2. When pump 25 is now actuated and liquid is forced into conduit 30, it flows not only via nozzles 34, 36 onto upper surface 4 of floor elements 2 but, via passages provided in flushing rail 42, also flows downward along at least the surface of wall part 40 facing toward the space onto floor tiles 2. Not only are floor tiles 2 thus cleaned during a cleaning operation of floor tiles 2, but also at least a part of wall 44 reached due to the position of flushing rail 42.