TOILET DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application under 35 USC 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2023/034133, filed Sep. 20, 2023, which claims the priority of Japanese Application No. 2022-151863, filed Sep. 22, 2022, and claims the priority of Japanese Application No. 2022-151866, filed Sep. 22, 2022. The entire contents of each priority application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The technology disclosed in this description relates to toilet devices.

BACKGROUND

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-265693 describes a flushing toilet with a spiral guide path configured to control a flow direction of water in the bowl.

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

When a toilet is used, the toilet bowl may become soiled up to its upper edge. The description provides a technology for keeping a toilet bowl clean by washing the toilet bowl with flushing water.

Solution to Technical Problem

In a first aspect of the technology disclosed in this description, a toilet device may comprise a toilet body having a toilet bowl; and a discharger flowing flushing water on a surface of the toilet bowl. The discharger may flow the flushing water such that a flow velocity of the flushing water at its surface is 0.5 m/s or more.

In a second aspect of the technology disclosed in this description, a toilet device may comprise a toilet body having a toilet bowl; and a discharger flowing flushing water on a surface of the toilet bowl by discharging the flushing water in multiple directions. The discharger may flow the flushing water on the surface of the toilet bowl by at least one of: using a pressure of the flushing water supplied from a supply pipe extending from a clean water passage; and pressurizing the flushing water by a pump. The discharger may discharge the flushing water in a first direction of the multiple directions to flow the flushing water in a first region of the surface of the toilet bowl. The discharger may discharge the flushing water in a second direction of the multiple directions to flow the flushing water in a second region of the surface of the toilet bowl different from the first region.

Details and improvements of the technology disclosed in this description are described in Description of Embodiments below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a toilet device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a toilet body and a toilet seat in a cross section passing through their centers in a left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction;

FIG. 3 shows an end surface of a toilet bowl in a cross section III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the inside of the toilet bowl and an upper end flange in a cross section IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a toilet body and a toilet seat according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the toilet body according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the toilet body according to the first embodiment, illustrating a first region;

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the toilet body according to the first embodiment, illustrating a second region;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the toilet body according to the first embodiment, illustrating a third region;

FIG. 10 shows a diagram illustrating a direction of flushing water discharged from a discharge outlet according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a diagram illustrating a direction of flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a toilet body and a toilet seat in a cross section passing through their centers in a left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction;

FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of a discharger according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows a schematic block diagram of a discharger according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows a diagram illustrating a direction of flushing water discharged from a discharge outlet according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a region AR in FIG. 12 according to a variant; and

FIG. 17 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a region AR in FIG. 12 according to a variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configuration of Toilet Device 10

As shown in FIG. 1, a toilet device 10 is a flushing toilet. The toilet device 10 is fixed to a floor for use. The toilet device 10 may alternately be a so-called wall-mounted flushing toilet configured to be fixed to a wall, for example.

The toilet device 10 comprises a toilet part 12, a toilet seat 14, a functional part 16, a tank 18 (see FIG. 2), and a discharger 40 (see FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet part 12 comprises a toilet body 20 and an upper end flange 30. The toilet body 20 is a ceramic structure. The toilet body 20 comprises a toilet bowl 21 that receives excrements. The tank 18 is housed in the toilet body 20 below the toilet bowl 21. The tank 18 stores flushing water for washing the toilet bowl 21. The toilet device 10 comprises a flush button (not shown) electrically connected to the tank 18. When a user manipulates the flush button, the flushing water is discharged from the tank 18 through the discharger 40 to the toilet bowl 21. The functional part 16 may function to automatically open and close a toilet lid (not shown), or to provide a bidet function, a warm dryer function, or a deodorizing function.

In the toilet device 10, the flushing water in the tank 18 may be supplied to the toilet bowl 21 not only by the manipulation on the flush button but also by manipulation on a lever located on the toiled device 10. The flush button may be located on a remote controller electrically connected to the tank 18 in a wired manner or a wireless manner. The flushing water in the tank 18 may be supplied to the toilet bowl 21 without any user manipulation. For example, the flushing water in the tank 18 may be supplied to the toilet bowl 21 when the user becomes undetectable by a sensor.

The toilet seat 14 is mounted on the toilet body 20 in an openable/closeable manner. The user sits on the toilet seat 14. The toilet seat 14 has an opening 14a.

Hereinafter, a direction along which the toilet seat 14 and the functional part 16 are arranged is termed a front-rear direction. Regarding the front-rear direction, the side on which the toilet seat 14 is located relative to the functional part 16 is termed a front side in the front rear-direction, and the opposite side is termed a rear side. The horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is termed a left-right direction. Regarding the left-right direction, the side behind the sheet on which FIG. 1 is drawn is termed a right side, and the side from the sheet on which FIG. 1 is drawn toward a seer is termed a left side. The left and right directions coincide with the left and right directions in a viewpoint of the user facing the toilet device 10. The vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is termed an up-down direction. Regarding the up-down direction, the side on which the tank 18 is located relative to the toilet body 20 is termed a lower side, and the opposite side is termed a lower side.

The toilet bowl 21 has a downwardly recessed overall shape. The toilet body 20 comprises a drain portion 32 located at the lower end of the toilet bowl 21, a drainage pipe 36 communicating with the drain portion 32, and a drainage port 34 open toward the drain portion 32. The drain portion 32 is downwardly recessed from a lower end portion 21u of the toilet bowl 21. The drain portion 32 communicates with the drainage pipe 36 through the drainage port 34. The drainage pipe 36 extends upward from the drainage port 34. The drain portion 32 bends downward at a bend position 36a and extends downward from there. The drainage pipe 36 extends to the outside of the toilet part 12.

The drainage port 34 is located at a rearward position than the opening 14a in the toilet seat 14 in the front-rear direction. Assuming that the opening 14a in the toilet seat 14 is divided into eight equal parts in the front-rear direction, the drainage port 34 may be located at a rearward position than the third part from the rear end of the opening 14a in the toilet seat 14 (see FIG. 2). The drainage port 34 may be located at a rearward position than positions on which the user's excrements could drop.

At the upper end of the toilet bowl 21, an upper edge 21e that defines the upper end of the toilet bowl 21 extends continuously in a ring shape. The upper end flange 30 is located. The upper end flange 30 is placed on the upper end of the toilet body 20. The upper end flange 30 continuously in a ring shape along the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21 at the upper end of the toilet bowl 21. The upper end flange 30 protrudes inward from the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21 such that it faces the surface of the toilet bowl 21. A lower surface 30a of the upper end flange 30 is parallel to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

Shape of Toilet Bowl

The flushing water supplied to the toilet bowl 21 is trapped in the toilet bowl 21. This trap water is filled up to the bend position 36a of the drainage pipe 36. The surface of the toilet bowl 21 comprises a trap water region 21b below a water surface WF of the trap water and an upper region 21c above the water surface WF.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper region 21c extends along the perimeter of the water surface WF above the water surface WF. The upper region 21c comprises a front region 22, a side region 26, and a rear region 24. The front region 22 is depicted with a plurality of dots in FIG. 6. The front region 22 is located forward of a front end WF1 of the water surface WF. The side region 26 is colored in gray in FIG. 6 and extends rearward from the rear end of the front region 22 along left and right sides of the water surface WF. The side region 26 extends up to a rear end WF2 of the water surface WF. The rear region 24 is depicted with a plurality of parallel lines in FIG. 6 and connects the left and right rear ends of the side region 26 along the rear end WF2 of the water surface WF.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction. In the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the front region 22 has a linear shape 22a that is inclined from the upper edge 21e downward and rearward (i.e., toward the water surface WF) and a curved shape 22b that is downwardly curved from the lower end of the linear shape 22a to the water surface WF (i.e., the lower end of the upper region 21c). In the “curved shape that is downwardly curved”, when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction, a line segment representing a face between any two points on the curved shape is positioned below a straight line connecting the two points. The linear shape 22a extends in the tangential direction of the curved shape 22b. The linear shape 22a and the curved shape 22b are smoothly continuous without any steps therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3, in a cross section passing through any position in the front-rear direction and perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the front region 22 has a downwardly curved shape. The same is true in a cross section of the front region 22 passing through any position of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction. The front region 22 does not have an upwardly bulging shape.

In the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the trap water region 21b located below the front region 22 has a linear shape that is inclined downward and rearward (i.e., toward the water surface WF).

In the cross section passing through a position in the front-rear direction and perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the linear shape 22a includes a planar surface that is inclined downward from the upper edge 21e toward the water surface WF. In the cross section passing through a position in the front-rear direction and perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the curved shape 22b is downwardly curved from the lower end of the linear shape 22a to the water surface WF (i.e., the lower end of the upper region 21c).

In a variant, in the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the front region 22 may have shape(s) other than the linear shape 22a and the curved shape 22b. For example, the front region 22 may have the linear shape 22a, a curved shape that is downwardly curved from the lower end of the linear shape 22a to the middle position between the lower end and the water surface WF, and a linear shape that is inclined downward from the lower end of the curved shape toward the water surface WF. For example, the front region 22 may have a curved shape that is downwardly curved from the upper edge 21e. In the front region 22, curved shapes with different curvatures may be arranged in succession. The front region 22 may include only one of the linear shape 22a and the curved shape 22b. The same is true for the front region 22 in the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. If the front region 22 comprises only the curved shape 22b and the trap water region 21b comprises a linear shape, the radius of curvature of the front region 22 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the trap water region 21b. In a variant, in the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the trap water region 21b under the front region 22 may have a downwardly curved shape. In this case, in the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the radius of curvature of the front region 22 may be smaller than or equal to the radius of curvature of the trap water region 21b.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the side region 26 has, in its front portion, a downwardly curved shape continuous from the front region 22. This curved shape extends downward beyond the water surface WF into the trap water region 21b. As shown in FIG. 4, in the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the side region 26 has, in its rear portion, a linear shape 26a inclined downward from the upper edge 21e toward the water surface WF, a curved shape 26b downwardly curved from the lower end of the linear shape 26a to the midpoint between the lower end and the water surface WF, and a curved shape 26c upwardly curved from the lower end of the curved shape 26b to the water surface WF. The curved shape 26c extends beyond the water surface WF into the trap water region 21b. The portion with the curved shape 26c is the rear portion, and the portion without the curved shape 26c is the front portion. The boundary between the front portion and the rear portion may be at the front end of the drain portion 32.

In a variant, the side region 26 may include, all over the region, at least one of the linear shape 26a and the curved shape 26b and thus may not have the curved shape 26c. In this case, the trap water region 21b under the side region 26 may have an upwardly curved shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the rear region 24 has a linear shape 24a inclined downward and frontward (i.e., toward the water surface WF) from the upper edge 21e, a curved shape 24b downwardly curved from the lower end of the linear shape 24a to a midpoint between the lower end and the water surface WF, and a curved shape 24c upwardly curved from the lower end of the curved shape 24b to the water surface WF. The linear shape 24a may be parallel to the up-down direction. The rear region 24 is located rearward of the rear end of the opening 14a in the toilet seat 14. This makes the rear region 24 less likely to be seen from the user.

Trap Water

The water surface WF of the trap water in the toilet bowl 21 is stable at the same height level as the lower end of the bend position 36a at which the drainage pipe 36 extending upward bends downward. As shown in FIG. 6, in the top view of the toilet body 20 with stable trap water, within the upper end flange 30, a ratio of the area of the water surface WF to the area excluding the water surface WF (i.e., the area of the upper region 21c in the top view) is 4:6. In a variant, the ratio of the area of the water surface WF to the area excluding the water surface WF may be greater than 4:6. For example, the ratio of the area of the water surface WF to the area excluding the water surface WF may be between 4:6 to 10:0. Within the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21, the ratio of the area of the water surface WF to the area excluding the water surface WF may be between 4:6 to 10:0.

As shown in FIG. 12, the trap water fills the trap water region 21b of the toilet bowl 21 up to the bottom surface of the drain portion 32. In the cross section passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, assuming that the opening 14a is divided into eight equal parts in the front-rear direction, at any point between the first part and third part from the rear end of the opening 14a, a distance D1 vertically from the upper end of the toilet body 20 (i.e., the upper end of the upper end flange 30) to a position P on one of the bottom surface of the toilet body 20 (i.e., the lower end of the toilet bowl 21) and the bottom surface of the drain portion 32 is equal to a distance D2 from the position P to a front edge F of the trap water in the front-rear direction. In a variant, the distance D1 may be less than the distance D2.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the top view of the toilet body 20 with the toilet seat 14 placed thereon, within the opening of the toilet seat 14, the ratio of the area of the water surface WF is greater than the area of the water surface WF: the area excluding the water surface WF=5:5. In a variant, compared to the area excluding the water surface WF, the ratio of the area of the water surface WF may be greater than the area of the water surface WF: the area excluding the water surface WF=5:5. For example, the ratio of the area of the water surface WF to the area excluding the water surface WF may be between 5:5 and 10:0.

(Configuration of Discharger) The discharger 40 discharges the flushing water in the tank 18 to the toilet bowl 21. As shown in FIG. 13, the discharger 40 comprises a pump 52, a switching valve 54, a plurality of communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, and a plurality of discharge outlets 42, 44, 46, 48. FIG. 13 shows the connected state of the elements 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 54, 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d of the discharger 40. FIG. 13 shows respective positions of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46, 48. FIG. 13 does not show configurations of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46, 48. For discharging the flushing water in the tank 18 to the toilet bowl 21, the flushing water is suctioned from the tank 18 by the pump 52. The pump 52 pressurizes the flushing water and pumps it out to the switching valve 54. The switching valve 54 communicates the pump 52 with any of the communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, so that the flushing water from the pump 52 is delivered to the communication pipe communicating with the pump 52. The pump 52 and the switching valve 54 are located rearward of the toilet body 20.

For supplying the flushing water, the switching valve 54 first maintains a state in which the communication pipe 56b communicating with the discharge outlet 44, which is located on the left side, is in communication with the pump 52 but the communication pipes 56a, 56c, 56d communicating with the other discharge outlets 42, 46, 48 are not in communication with the pump 52. The flushing water pressurized by the pump 52 flows through the communication pipe 56b and is then discharged from the discharge outlet 44 to the toilet bowl 21.

As shown in FIG. 10, the discharge outlet 44 is located at an end of a nozzle 45 with a shape expanding both upward and downward from the communication pipe 56b. As shown in FIG. 4, the toilet body 20 has a tubular opening 44a extending along the inner surface of the toilet bowl 21 from the rear to front. The nozzle 45 is located within the opening 44a. The discharge outlet 44 has an elongated shape elongated in the up-down direction. The ratio of the short length of the discharge outlet 44 to the longitudinal length thereof is 1:4. The ratio of the short length of the discharge outlet 44 to the longitudinal length thereof may be 1:2 or 1:3. The opening 44a has an elongated shape elongated in the up-down direction. The ratio of the short length of the opening 44a to the longitudinal length thereof is 1:4. The ratio of the short length of the opening 44a to the longitudinal length thereof may be 1:2 or 1:3. As shown in FIG. 10, upon reaching the nozzle 45 after flowing through the communication pipe 56b, the flushing water flows upward and downward following the shape of the nozzle 45 as indicated by the arrows. Thus, the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 flows straight parallel to the front-rear direction and also flows upward and downward. The upward flow of the flushing water hits the upper end flange 30 and flows forward at the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21 along the upper end flange 30. As shown in FIG. 11, the flushing water is discharged from the discharge outlet 44 substantially parallel to the side region 26 as indicated by the arrow. Being substantially parallel may mean being parallel to the side region 26, that is, 0° to the side region 26. Being discharged substantially parallel includes that the flushing water is discharged toward the side region 26 at 30° or less relative to the side region 26. This configuration suppresses the pressure of the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 from being reduced by the flushing water hitting the side region 26. A reduction in the flow velocity of the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 can thus be suppressed. The discharge outlet 44 is located in the inner surface of the toilet bowl 21.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 flows in a first region 21x within the upper region 21c of the toilet bowl 21. The first region 21x, which is depicted with parallel diagonal lines, expands up to the upper edge 21e from the discharge outlet 44 to the front end of the toilet bowl 21. In other words, the flushing water flowing in the first region 21x flows along the lower surface of the upper end flange 30 from the discharge outlet 44 to the front end of the toilet bowl 21. Thus, the lower surface of a left portion of the upper end flange 30 can be washed by the flushing water flowing in the first region 21x. The lower end of the first region 21x reaches the water surface WF of the trap water. The first region 21x extends beyond the front end of the toilet bowl 21 into the right side.

The shape and direction of the discharge outlet 44 and the pressure of the flushing water provided by the pump 52 are adjusted such that the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 is maintained at 5.0 mm or less all over the first region 21x. The pump 52 pressurizes the flushing water such that the flow velocity of the flushing water flowing at a position 1.0 mm away from the surface of the toilet bowl 21 in the first region 21x at least momentarily reaches 0.5 m/s or more all over the first region 21x. In the height direction of the flushing water, the flow velocity of the flushing water is the slowest at the surface of the toilet bowl 21 and gradually increases as farther away from the toilet bowl 21. Thus, the flushing water flowing at 0.5 m/s or more at the position 1.0 mm away from the surface of the toilet bowl 21 also flows at 0.5 m/s or more at the surface of the flushing water.

The switching valve 54 switches the state in which the communication pipe 56b communicating with the left-side discharge outlet 44 is in communication with the pump 52 to a state in which the communication pipe 56b is not in communication with the pump 52. Then, the switching valve 54 maintains a state in which the communication pipe 56a communicating with the rear discharge outlet 42 is in communication with the pump 52 but the other communication pipes 56b, 56c, 56d are not in communication with the pump 52. The flushing water pressurized by the pump 52 flows through the communication pipe 56a and then is discharged from the discharge outlet 42 to the toilet bowl 21.

The discharge outlet 42 is located in an upper end portion of the rear region 24. A spreader 42a is located at the discharge outlet 42. The spreader 42a comprises a plate-shaped member positioned forward of the discharge outlet 42 such that a clearance in which the flushing water can flow is defined in front of the discharge outlet 42. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 42 hits the spreader 42a so that it spreads and flows in the up-down direction and the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 42 flows in a third region 21z covering the entire rear region 24. The lower end of the third region 21z reaches the water surface WF of the trap water. The upper end of the third region 21z reaches the lower surface of the upper end flange 30. The third region 21z extends leftward and rightward beyond the rear region 24. The third region 21z includes a region 21q overlapping a rear end portion of the first region 21x. The area of the region 21q is ½ or less of the area of the first region 21x. The area of the region 21q may be ¼ or less of the area of the first region 21x. The area of the region 21q is ½ or less of the area of the third region 21z. The area of the region 21q may be ¼ or less of the area of the third region 21z.

The switching valve 54 communicates the communication pipe 56a with the pump 52 after the switching to the state in which the communication pipe 56b is not in communication with the pump 52. That is, the discharge of flushing water to the third region 21z is started after the discharge of flushing water to the first region 21x is stopped. This prevents the flow velocity of the flushing water flowing in the region overlapping the first region 21x of the third region 21z from being reduced by the flushing water flowing in the first region 21x while the flushing water is flowing in the third region 21z.

The switching valve 54 switches the state in which the communication pipe 56a is in communication with the pump 52 to a state in which the communication pipe 56a is not in communication with the pump 52. Then, the switching valve 54 maintains a state in which the communication pipe 56c communicating with the discharge outlet 46, which is located on the right side, is in communication with the pump 52 but the other communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56d are not in communication with the pump 52. The flushing water pressurized by the pump 52 flows through the communication pipe 56c and is then discharged from the discharge outlet 46 to the toilet bowl 21.

The discharge outlet 46 is located at an end of a nozzle 47, as with the discharge outlet 44. The nozzle 47 is located in an opening 46a similar to the opening 44a. The discharge outlet 46, the opening 46a, and the nozzle 47 are located in plane-symmetrical with the discharge outlet 44 and the nozzle 45 with respect to a plane passing through the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction. Upon reaching the nozzle 47 after flowing through the communication pipe 56c, the flushing water spreads in the up-down direction following the shape of the nozzle 47. Thus, the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 flows straight parallel to the front-rear direction from the discharge outlet 46 and also flows upward and downward. The upward flow of flushing water hits the upper end flange 30 and flows forward at the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21 along the upper end flange 30.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 46 flows in a second region 21y within the upper region 21c of the toilet bowl 21. The second region 21y, which is depicted with dots, expands up to the upper edge 21e from the discharge outlet 46 to the front end of the toilet bowl 21. In other words, the flushing water flowing in the second region 21y flows along the lower surface of the upper end flange 30 from the discharge outlet 46 to the front end of the toilet bowl 21. Thus, the lower surface of a right portion of the upper end flange 30 can be washed by the flushing water flowing in the second region 21y. The lower end of the second region 21y reaches the water surface WF of the trap water. The second region 21y extends beyond the front end of the toilet bowl 21 into the left side. In the left-right direction, the first region 21x and the second region y extend in opposite directions beyond the front end of the toilet bowl 21. The first region 21x and the second region y overlap each other in a region 21p. The second region 21y and the third region z overlap each other in a region 21r (see FIG. 9). The area of the region 21p is ½ or less of the area of the first region 21x. The area of the region 21p may be ¼ or less of the area of the first region 21x. The area of the region 21p is ½ or less of the area of the second region 21y. The area of the region 21p may be ¼ or less of the area of the second region 21y. The area of the region 21r is ½ or less of the area of the second region 21y. The area of the region 21r may be ¼ or less of the area of the second region 21y. The area of the region 21r is ½ or less of the area of the third region 21z. The area of the region 21r may be ¼ or less of the area of the third region 21z.

The shape and direction of the discharge outlet 46 and the pressure of the flushing water provided by the pump 52 are adjusted such that the height of the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 46 is maintained at 5.0 mm or less all over the second region 21y. The pump 52 pressurizes the flushing water such that the flow velocity of the flushing water flowing at the position 1.0 mm away from the surface of the toilet bowl 21 in the second region 21y at least momentarily reaches 0.5 m/s or more all over the second region 21y.

The switching valve 54 communicates the communication pipe 56c with the pump 52 after the switching to the state in which the communication pipe 56a is not in communication with the pump 52. That is, the discharge of flushing water to the second region 21y is started after the discharge of flushing water to the third region 21z is stopped. This prevents the flow velocity of flushing water flowing in the region overlapping the third region 21z of the second region 21y from being reduced by the flushing water flowing in the third region 21z while the flushing water is flowing in the second region 21y. Similarly, the supply of flushing water to the first region 21x is stopped at the timing when the flushing water starts to flow in the second region 21y. This prevents the flow velocity of flushing water flowing in the region overlapping the first region 21x of the second region 21y from being reduced by the flushing water flowing in the first region 21x.

The switching valve 54 switches the state in which the communication pipe 56c is in communication with the pump 52 to a state in which the communication pipe 56c is not in communication with the pump 52. Then, the switching valve 54 maintains a state in which the communication pipe 56d communicating with the discharge outlet 48, which is located at the front end of the drain portion 32, is in communication with the pump 52 but the other communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56c are not in communication with the pump 52. The flushing water pressurized by the pump 52 is discharged from the discharge outlet 48 to the toilet bowl 21.

The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 washes the entire first region 21x. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlets 42, 46 other than the discharge outlet 44 washes parts of the first region 21x. The first region 21x is washed with the flushing water discharged from each of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46. A quarter or more of the first region 21x is washed only with the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44. A half or more of the first region 21x may be washed only with the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44. Similarly, the second region 21y is washed with the flushing water discharged from each of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46. A quarter or more of the second region 21y is washed only with the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 46. A half or more of the second region 21y may be washed only with the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 46. Similarly, the third region 21z is washed with the flushing water discharged from each of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46. A quarter or more of the third region 21z is washed only with the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 42. A half or more of the third region 21z may be washed only with the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 42.

The discharge outlet 48 is located at a through hole formed in the toilet body 20. Excrements and the like washed down by the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46 accumulates in the drain portion 32. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 48 flushes down the excrements and the like accumulating in the drain portion 32, together with the trap water, to the drainage pipe 36 through the drainage port 34.

Effects

The discharger 40 discharges the flushing water from the discharge outlets 44, 46 on the left and right sides such that the flushing water reaches the upper edge 21e. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 flows along the upper edge 21e beyond the front end of the toilet bowl 21 into the right side relative to the center in the left-right direction. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 46 flows along the upper edge 21e beyond the front end of the toilet bowl 21 into the left side relative to the center in the left-right direction. Thus, the entire region located forward of the discharge outlets 44, 46 can be washed with the flushing water up to the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21.

At the discharge outlets 44, 46, the flushing water is discharged upward through the nozzles 45, 47. This allows the flushing water to flow along the upper edge 21e. At the discharge outlet 44, the flushing water is discharged downward through the nozzle 45. This allows the flushing water to flow in the first region 21x appropriately. At the discharge outlet 46, the flushing water is discharged downward through the nozzle 47. This allows the flushing water to flow in the second region 21y appropriately. In a variant, the nozzles 45, 47 and the discharge outlets 44, 46 may have any shapes as long as such shapes allow the flushing water to be discharged upward and downward from the discharge outlets 44, 46.

The spreader 42a is located at the discharge outlet 42. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 42 is spread by the spreader 42a and thus flows in a spread manner.

The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 42 reaches the lower surface of the upper end flange 30. Thus, the entire region located rearward of the discharge outlets 44, 46 can be washed with the flushing water up to the upper edge 21e of the toilet bowl 21.

The flushing water disposed from the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46 can wash the toilet bowl 21 all around up to the upper edge 21e. The lower surface of the upper end flange 30 can be washed all around the upper end flange 30. In a variant, the flushing water may flow across at least ½ to ¼ of the entire circumference of the upper edge 21e. In a variant, the flushing water may flow at the flow velocity of 0.5 m/s or more across at least ½ to ¼ of the entire circumference of the upper edge 21e.

The front region 22 of the toilet bowl 21 includes the linear shape 22a and the curved shape 22b. In a cross section passing through a position in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction, the front region 22 includes the linear shape 22a and the curved shape 22b which is downwardly curved. The front region 22 does not have any upwardly bulging shapes. The same is true at any position in the front-rear direction. In the front region 22, an upwardly projecting shape that can interrupt the flow of flushing water is not provided.

This configuration allows the flushing water to flow smoothly downward from above. In a variant, the front region 22 may include the linear shape 22a and the curved shape 22b within a length range of the drain portion 32 in the left-right direction. In this case, the front region 22 may have an upwardly bulging shape in a portion thereof outside the length range of the drain portion 32 in the left-right direction.

In a front portion of the side region 26, an upwardly projecting shape that can interrupt the flow of flushing water is not provided, as with the front region 22. This configuration allows the flushing water to flow smoothly downward from above.

The front portions of the front region 22 and the side region 26 are likely to become soiled. The toilet device 10 suppresses the flow velocity of flushing water from decreasing in the front portions of the front region 22 and the side region 26, which are likely to become soiled, to facilitate washing down excrements and the like by the flushing water.

All over the first region 21x and the second region 21y, the flushing water flows at the flow velocity of 0.5 m/s or more at the surface of flushing water. This facilitates washing away the excrements and the like by the flushing water. Since a decrease in the flow velocity is suppressed in the above-mentioned front portions of the front region 22 and the side region 26, the initial velocity of flushing water discharged from the discharge outlets 44, 46 can be can be set lower. In a variant, the flow velocity of flushing water at its surface may be 0.6 m/s or more, 0.7 m/s or more, 0.8 m/s or more, 0.9 m/s or more, or 1.0 m/s or more. In a variant, in a portion of each of the first region 21x and the second region 21y such as along the upper edge 21e, the flushing water may flow at the flow velocity of 0.5 m/s or more at the surface of flushing water.

At the position 1.0 mm away from the surface of the toilet bowl 21, the flushing water is maintained at the flow velocity of 0.5 m/s or more. The height of excrements and the like adhering to the toilet bowl 21 is often 1.0 mm or less from the surface of the toilet bowl 21.

Maintaining the flow velocity at the position 1.0 mm away from the surface of the toilet bowl 21 facilitates washing the excrements and the like on the toilet bowl 21 away. In a variant, the flow velocity of flushing water at the position 1.0 mm away from the surface of the toilet bowl 21 may be 0.6 m/s or more, 0.7 m/s or more, 0.8 m/s or more, 0.9 m/s or more, or 1.0 m/s or more.

The height of flushing water flowing on the toilet bowl 21 is kept to 5.0 mm or less.

This saves the amount of flushing water used for washing the toilet bowl 21. When dirt such as excrements and the like adheres to the toilet bowl 21, the dirt can be washed away by flowing the flushing water near the contact surface with the toilet bowl 21. Thus, even when the height of flushing water is 5.0 mm or less, a decrease of the washing capability is avoided. In a variant, the height of flushing water flowing on the toilet bowl 21 is kept to 3.0 mm or less, 4.0 mm or less, 6.0 mm or less, or 7.0 mm or less.

In the top view of the upper region 21c, regarding to the trap water, the area of the water surface WF: the area excluding the water surface WF is 4:6. Further, within the opening of the toilet seat 14, regarding the area of the water surface WF and the area excluding the water surface WF, the area of the water surface WF: the area excluding the water surface WF=5:5. In this configuration, the large area of the water surface WF suppresses excrements from directly contacting and adhering to the toilet bowl 21. In a variant, in the top view of the toilet body 20, the area of the water surface WF: the area excluding the water surface WF may not be between 4:6 and 10:0, and for example, the ratio may be 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, or 5:5 instead of 10:0, and/or the ratio may be 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2, or 9:1 instead of 4:6. In a variant, when seen through the opening of the toilet seat 14 placed on the toilet body 20, the area of the water surface WF: the area excluding the water surface WF may not be between 5:5 and 10:0, and for example, the ratio may be 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, or 6:4 instead of 10:0, and/or the ratio may be 6:4, 7:3, 8:2, or 9:1 instead of 5:5.

The distance D1 in the vertical direction from the upper end of the toilet body 20 to the position P is equal to the distance D2 in the front-rear direction from the position P to the front edge F of the trap water. Excrements from the user often collapse forward along the shape of the toilet bowl 21 after contacting one of the surface of the toilet bowl 21 and the surface of the drain portion 32. The distance D1 being equal to or less than the distance D2 suppresses the excrements from being positioned above the trap water and directly contacting the toilet bowl 21.

Second Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 14, a toilet device 10 according to this embodiment may comprise four on-off valves 252, 254, 256, 258 instead of the switching valve 54. The four on-off valves 252, 254, 256, 258 are located at four communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, respectively. The four on-off valves 252, 254, 256, 258 switch the communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, at which the four on-off valves 252, 254, 256, 258 are located, between an open state and a closed state, respectively. For supplying the flushing water to the toilet bowl 21, the on-off valves 252, 254, 256, 258 sequentially switch the four communication pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d from the open state to the closed state, so that the flushing water is discharged from the discharge outlets 44, 42, 46, 48 in this order. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 15, a toilet device 10 according to this embodiment comprises a motor 345 for changing the direction of nozzle 45 and an manipulatable button for the user to change the direction of nozzle 45. In the default state, the nozzle 45 is directed as shown in FIG. 11. When the manipulatable button is manipulated by the user, the nozzle 45 is directed downward as depicted with broken lines in FIG. 15. In this case, the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 flows only in a rear potion of the first region 21x. This configuration allows the flushing water to flow toward a portion to which dirt is adheres. As with the nozzle 45, a motor for changing a direction may be provided for the nozzle 47.

Fourth Embodiment

In the toilet device 10 according to this embodiment, the flow velocity of flushing water is controlled by the pump 52 adjusting the pressure of flushing water. The toilet device 10 comprises a manipulatable button for the user to adjust the flow velocity of flushing water.

When the manipulatable button is manipulated by the user, the pump 52 discharges the flushing water with the user-adjusted flow velocity from at least one of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46, 48. This configuration allows for the adjustment of flow velocity of flushing water depending on the dirtiness level of the toilet bowl 21. In a variant, the pump 52 may change the flow velocity of flushing water discharged from at least one of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46, 48 within a period from the start to the end of flushing water supply.

While specific examples of the present disclosure have been described above in detail, these examples are merely illustrative and place no limitation on the scope of the patent claims. The technology described in the patent claims also encompasses various changes and modifications to the specific examples described above. Variants of the above embodiments are listed below.

• • (1) The number of discharge outlets provided in the toilet device 10 is not limited. For example, the number of discharge outlets may be three or less, or five or less. The positions of discharge outlets are not limited, either. For example, a discharge outlet may be located near the front end of the toilet body 20.
  • (2) The upper end flange 30 may not be provided. In this case, the lower surface of the toilet seat 14 may contact the upper edge 21e. The flushing water may flow toward the lower surface of the toilet seat 14. The lower surface of the toilet seat 14 may be washed by the flushing water. In this variant, the toilet seat 14 is an example of “projection”. The projection may continuously extend along the upper edge of the toilet bowl 21. In other words, the upper edge 21e may be located at the upper end of the toilet body 20. The upper edge 21e may be located below the upper end of the toilet body 20. For example, if the toilet body 20 is equipped with a water blocking member that blocks the flow of flushing water such as the upper end flange 30, the upper edge 21e may be located below the water blocking member. For example, if the toilet body 20 is equipped, at its upper end, with a folded portion that is folded downward toward the toilet bowl 21 and the lower end of the folded portion functions as a water blocking member, the upper edge 21e may coincident with the lower end of the folded portion. If the lower end of the folded portion is spaced away from the toilet bowl 21 and the upper end of the folded portion (i.e., the upper end portion of the toilet body 20) function as a water blocking member, the upper edge 21e may be coincident with the upper end portion of the toilet body 20. The upper edge 21e may be an upper end portion of a region designed to allow the flushing water to flow therein.
  • (3) For example, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the toilet bowl 21 near the upper edge 21e may have a shape in which a lower portion of the upper edge 21e is recessed from the upper edge 21e. In these variants, the upper end flange 30 may or may not be provided. If the upper end flange 30 is not provided, the toilet seat 14 may contact the upper edge 21e as with the variant (2).
  • (4) The discharger 40 may not arrange at least one of the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46, 48 at the toilet body 20. The discharger 40 may cause the functional part 16 to discharge the flushing water.
  • (5) The discharger 40 may start discharging the flushing water from at least one of the discharge outlets 42 and 46 after the flow velocity of flushing water flowing in the first region 21x has reached ½ or less of the maximum flow velocity or ¼ or less of the maximum flow velocity after the discharge of flushing water from the discharge outlet 44 started. The discharge order between the discharge outlets 42, 44, 46 is not particularly limited.
  • (6) The discharger 40 may start discharging the flushing water from the discharge outlet 46 while discharging the flushing water from the discharge outlet 44. The flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 44 and the flushing water discharged from the discharge outlet 46 may join together in the toilet bowl 21, for example, in the front region 22.
  • (7) The number and positions of discharge outlets in the discharger 40 are not particularly limited. For example, the discharger 40 may comprise only one discharge outlet that is located on the right side relative to the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction and forward of the drain portion 32. In this case, the discharge outlet may discharge the flushing water rearward. For example, the discharger 40 may comprise two discharge outlets in total, one on each of the left and right sides relative to the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the left-right direction. One of the two discharge outlets may be located forward of the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the front-rear direction. The other of the two discharge outlets may be located rearward of the center of the toilet bowl 21 in the front-rear direction. In the top view, the two discharge outlets may discharge the flushing water in the same direction which is one of clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction.

The technical elements explained in the present description or drawings provide at least one of technical utility either independently or through various combinations. The present disclosure is not limited to the combinations described at the time the claims are filed. Further, the purpose of the examples illustrated by the present description or drawings is to satisfy multiple objectives simultaneously, and satisfying any one of those objectives gives technical utility to the present disclosure.