US2947850A - Lighted toilet - Google Patents

Description

J. T. REILLY LIGHTED TOILET Filed June 20, 1957 Aug. 2, 1960 CilMES .7 Belt. Y:

INVENTOR.

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United a s P ten 'Offi .r

2,947,850 LIGHTED TOILET James T; Reilly, 2080 Catalina St., Laguna Beach, Calif. Filed June 20, 1957, Ser. No. 666,996

8 Claims. Cl. 240- 2 This invention relates to a novel way of lighting a bathroom, particularly with the idea of providing a dim night light, for assisting a person in finding his. way about the bathroom in the middle of the night.

The novelty of the invention resides in the unique combination of a toilet bowl and a light carried by the bowl at a location such that the interior of the bowl is illuminated by the light, and then serves in turnto indirectly illuminate the room. The illumination of a bathroom in this way gives a very soft and pleasing effect, and has the decided advantage of providing maximum light intensity exactly where it is needed. Such lighting of the bowl is felt to be especially helpful to chlidren by providing illumination at a location which will tend to encourage their proper use of the toilet. t V I The electric light is preferably so located as to not be directly visible when a person looks into the bowl, to thus assure an indirect and therefore soft and pleasing type of lighting. For best results, I find it desirable to direct the light toward the small body of water which is normally maintained in the bottom of the bowl, so that the light appears to emanate from that water, For this purpose, the light may actually be located beneath the normal water level of the bowl. t

A particular object of the invention is to provide an arrangement in which the light is located below thewater level in the bowl, but at the same time is so positioned as to at all times be kept clean, and in fact be repeatedly washed by the normal motion of fluishing water in the bowl. In order to achieve this result, thelight may be located in a passage through which water enters the bowl during flushing. Preferably, the light is positioned in the ie passage from which a relatively rapid flow of water discharges into the bowl in a direction to initiate motion of the bowl contents from the bowl during flushing.

The light may be mounted in the bowl by connection into an openingfformed in a wall of the bowl. Thus,

, shown includes a toilet bowl 10 of basically conventional normally contained inthe bowl.

cally under the control of a brightness regulating rheostat 15...

The bowl 10, preferably formed of porcelain, has the usual walls 16 defining the main chamber of the bowl,

and converging downwardly from the upper relatively large opening 17 to a reduced dimension bottom opening 18 through which the contents of this main bowl chamber are emptied. About the lower end of these convergiing walls 16, the bowl structure includes a wall 19 which defines an imper-forate structure adapted to contain water up to the level 20 defined by the upper edge 21 of wall structure 19. This normal water level is of course somewhat above the bottom opening 18 of the main bowl chamber, to thus maintain some water in the main bowl when the light bulb burns out, or other repair is required,

the bulb may be easily removed through this opening for replacement. A fitting associated with the light may close and seal the opening when the bowl is in use. In this connection, a particular feature of the invention resides in the preferred positioning of the access opening at a location above the normal water level in the bowl, so that the removal of the seal fitting Will not allow escape ofany of the water from the bowl'throu'gh the opening. 7

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following' detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a toilet installation constructed in accordance with the invention; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the light unit portion of the Fig. 1 arrangement; and c Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through a variational form of the invention. i 1' Referring first to Figs. 1 and Zyth e app a us"t ere-v chamber at all times.

During flushing, the flushing water enters the bowl structure 10 through a pipe 22, which leadssome of the water into an upper annular distribution channel 23 extending within the upper peripheral portion 24 of the bowl, and from which the contained water flows downwardly along walls 16 from a number of openings 25 communicating with passage 23. Some of the water from pipe 22 flows downwardly within the bowl structure through a jet passage 26, which directs a stream of water at a substantial rate of'flow, at 27, into the bottom receptacle formed beneath and about opening 18.

From the discharge point 27 of jet passage, 26, the stream of water flows across the under side of opening 18 to discharge from the bottom basin formed by wall 19 through an upper opening 28 located essentially diametrically opposite jet passage 27, with respect to opening 18. From discharge opening 28, the flushing water and entire contents of bowl 10 of course flow downwardly through the siphon discharge passage 29, to ultimately flow through a bottom outlet 30 in to soil pipe 31. Also, the bowl structure 10 of course carries at its upper side the usual essentially annular seat 32, mounted to the bowl at 33 for upward swinging movement.

The flushing water flows from tank 11 into the pipe or tube 22'leading to the bowl, under the control of a vertically movable flush valve 34'which is actuable upwardly away from its seat 35 by means of an actuating mechanism 36 controlled by swinging movement of handle 37. The water is filled into the flush tank through inlet 38 under control of a conventional float valve 39, which normally maintains water in the tank up to the predetermined level 40. During filling of the tank 11 after a flushing operation, water is filled into the lower portion of the bowl up to level20, through a tube 41 which receives water from valve 39 through a tube 141.

The above discussed details of the bowl and flush tank are entirely conventional, except as to the provision of the light unit-12 in the bowl. The details of the bowl and tank have been described merely to assure a complete disclosure of the combination of the present-invention; With regard now to the particular mounting andarrangement of the light unit itself, with which theinvention is especially concerned, this light unit is preferably and upwardly facing inclined preferably planar surface 43, through which a passage 44'extends downwardly-and forwardly into the interior of; the .bowl, at a location gg m un ca e w th 9 r ti -o i tlre sas 2 Patented Aug. 2., 1960- Passage 44 may be essentially straight, and be aligned with the lower essentially straight portion of the jet passage, in a manner such that the aligned portions of these passages form together an elongated chamber into which the correspondingly elongated and straightlight unit 12' is removably connectible;

The light unit 12'rnay include an elongatedtube or body 45, typically formed of a suitable electrically conductive material such as brass. Atits lower or inner end, the conductive tube 45 contains a socket structure 46, which removably and threadedly carries a low voltage flashlight type bulb 47, preferably of the type having an integr-al'lens 48 formed in its outer end for directing the light from the bulb in the form of a beam 49 projecting axially outwardly from the bulb. The two contacts of. socket structure 46 are connected to tube 45 and an insulated wire 50 respectively, with the wire extending axially outwardly through a rubber or other fluid tight seal element 52 within the outer end of tube 45. A second insulated wire 51 is connected to the outer 'end of tube 45, and the two leads 50 and 51 extend to the transformer 14 and rheostat 15 to receive power therefrom.

The tube 45 may be rigidly attached to an annular mounting fitting 53, having threads 54 which are threadedly and removably connectible to threads 55 formed in the porcelain enlargement 42 of the bowl structure. When element 53 and the carried light structure are connected into the bowl structure, an annular fluid tight seal is formed between element 53 and the bowl by means of an annular seal ring 56. Also, the annular engagement between elements 45 and 53 is a fluid tight connection, to prevent the leakage of any water outwardly between these parts.

110 V. AC. current is fed to transformer 14 through a power line 57. The transformer is designed to reduce the voltage to a smaller value, for example v. A.C. and is connected in series, on its secondary side, with the light bulb 47, the rheostat and the switch 58. The rheostat is variable through a predetermined resistance range, but in all settings has at least a certain predetermined minimum resistance, so that though the input may be'lO volts, the maximum output in the circuit will be limited to the rated voltage of the bulb, for example two or three volts. Within this limit, adiustment of the rheostat S9 varies the voltage at bulb 47, to thereby vary the intensity of the light emitted by the bulb. Switch 58 extinguishes the light when it is not needed, as during the day time.

As is clearly seen in Fig. l, the light unit 12 is so formed that, when it is mounted in its active position within the bowl, the bulb 47 is so positioned that it can not be seen directly from the upper side of the bowl (or from any' other location from the outside of the bowl). Also, the bulb 47 is of course of a type which is designed primarily for illumination, and emits light which is primarily within the visible spectrum, as distinglished from essentially non-visible ultraviolet or infrared light.

A particular feature of the invention resides in the positioning of the opening in surface 43 at a location preventing leakage of any of the water from the bowl when the light unit 12 is removed for repair or replacement. For this purpose, the opening 43 is so positioned as to be entirely above the normal level at which water is maintained in the bottom of the bowl during non-flushing intervals.

In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the rheostat 59 is adjusted, to energize bulb 47 to an extent suflicient to indirectly illuminate the entire bathroom from the toilet bowl structure. The light from bulb 47 is directed downwardly into the body of water 13 contained in the bowl, and illuminates that body of water and the bottom portion of the bowl Very eifectively, at the same time producing, due to refraction andpreflection, a very pleasing pattern which may be varied substantially by slight changes in the position of the light. The light from this lower portion of the bowl emanates upwardly to indirectly light the room in a manner forming a very effective night light. This light may be left on at all times through the entire night, with little cost in view of the small amount of current taken by the small flashlight bulb. Further, because the light unit 12 is positioned within the inlet water jet passage 26, this light unit is very effectively washed clean by the flow of flushing water upon each flushing operation, and thus is at all times maintained in clean condition in spite of its direct contact with the water in the bowl. If the bulb burns out, the light unit :12 may be unscrewed from its position of connection to the bowl, so that the unit may be removed and the bulb be replaced. If necessary, means may be provided about the bulb for forming an annular fluid tight seal between the bulb and tube 45, to assure against the passage of any water into engagement with the contacts of socket structure 46. For this purpose, an annular rubber seal ring maybe provided about the bulb at a location to annularly engage and form a seal with both the bulb and tube 45.

Fig. 3 shows fragmentarily a variational form of the invention in which the light unit 1211 is positioned differently than is the light unit 12 of Figs. 1 and2. Except as for the manner of mounting the light unit, the bowl 10a and associated apparatus of Fig. 3 may be considered to be identical with the corresponding parts of Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 3 the light unit 12a is mounted within a bore or recess 44a formed within an enlarged portion 43a of the wall 16a of the bowl. This enlarged portion 43a may be located at the front of the bowl, with the light unit 12a projecting into bore 44a through a threaded opening 55a, with the outer enlarged plug 53a of unit 12a being removably connectible into that threaded opening 55a. As in the first form of the invention, a seal ring 5611 may be provided for forming a fluid tight seal when unit 12a is screwed into its active position.

The light unit 12a may receive its electrical power through a pair of insulated leads 50a and 51a, which extend downwardly through a vertical passage 150a in the forward wall 29a of the bowl, to connect to a low voltage electrical power source beneath the floor on which the bowl rests (a transformer, rheostat, and switch such as those shown in Fig. 1 typically being provided at a suitable control location). The light unit 12a may include an elongated tubular body member such asthat shown at 45 in Fig. 2, and may be sealed with respect to the inner or lower end of bore 44a by means of anannular rubber O-ring '60a'mounted about the forward reduced diamterlens portion 48a of bulb 47a. The bore or passage 4411 may reduce in diameter at its lower end 144a, to present a shoulder against which the seal ring 43a may seat, to form an annular fluid tight seal between bulb 47a and the shoulder. The light from bulb 47a is directed downwardly into thebody of water 13a, to illuminate that water and the bottom of the bowl, so

' that indirect light will pass upwardly through'the opening 18a to light the interior of the bowl and the room.

It will of course be understood that the present invention may be adapted to any of the numerous types of toilet bowls which are presently on the market, and it it not intended to limit the invention to the particular type of bowls which are typically represented in the accompanying drawing.

I claim:

l. The combination comprising a toilet bowl having walls of the bowl having an opening formed therein at a location spaced beneath said upper edge of the bowl and through which said light is connectible into the bowl from its exterior, said opening being located above said predetermined normal water level so that water will not leak out of the bowl when said light is removed from said opening for replacement, there being means for closing said opening when the light is attached to the bowl.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said light when connected into the bowl is located below said predetermined normal water level.

3. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said last mentioned means includes a fitting detachably connected to said bowl at said opening and removable from the bowl with the light and closing said opening, and there being conductor means passing through said opening past said fitting to conduct electricity to the light.

4. The combination comprising a toilet bowl having opaque walls which extend upwardly at the sides, front and back of the bowl and which form an upper edge of the bowl defining a top opening thereof, said toilet bowl having a lower portion which normally contains a body of water up to a predetermined level therein, and an electric light unit carried by said toilet bowl at a location to illuminate the interior thereof and to illuminate said water therein, said light unit being so positioned that it is not directly visible when a person looks downwardly into the toilet bowl through said top opening, and so that the illumination of the interior of the bowl is therefore indirect and pleasing to the eye, said bowl containing a passage through which a stream of flushing water enters the bowl when the toilet is flushed, said light unit being positioned at a location to be contacted and cleaned by said stream of flushing water as it flows through said passage, said bowl having an opening in one of said'upwardly extending walls at a location spaced beneath said upper edge and through which the light is connectible into the bowl from its exterior, said opening being located above said predetermined normal water level in the bowl.

5. The combination comprising a toilet bowl, and an electric light carried by said bowl at a location to illuminate the interior of the bowl, said bowl containing a passage through which flushing water enters the upper part of the bowl to flow downwardly along its side walls, said bowl containing another passage through which a jet of water flows rapidly into the lower portion of the bowl during flushing, said light being located in said jet passage at a location to be contacted and cleaned by said jet of flushing water as it flows through said passage, said bowl having an opening in one of its walls at a location spaced beneath the upper edge thereof and through which the light is connectible into the bowl from its exterior, said bowl being adapted to contain water in the bottom thereof to a predetermined level except during flushing, said opening being located above said predetermined normal water level, said light being located beneath said predetermined water level and in contact with the water, and there being means for closing said opening when the light is in said jet passage.

6. The combination comprising a toilet bowl having opaque walls which extend upwardly at the sides, front and back of the bowl and which form an upper edge of the bowl defining a top opening thereof, said toilet bowl having a lower portion which normally contains a body of water up to a predetermined level therein, and an electric light unit carried by said toilet bowl at a location to illuminate the interior thereof and to illuminate said water therein, said light unit being so positioned that it is not directly visible when a person looks downwardly into the toilet bowl through said top opening, and so that the illumination of the interior of the bowl is therefore indirect and pleasing to the eye, and said bowl containing a passage through which a stream of flushing water enters the bowl when the toilet is flushed, said light unit being positioned 'at a location to be contacted and cleaned by said stream of flushing water as it flows through said passage.

7. The combination comprising a toilet bowl, and an electric light carried by said bowl at a location to illuminate the interior of the bowl, said bowl containing a pas sage through which flushing water enters the upper part of the bowl to flow downwardly along its side walls, and said bowl containing another passage through which a jet of water flows rapidly into the lower portion of the bowl during flushing, said light being located in said jet passage at a location to be contacted and cleaned by said jet of flushing water as it flows through said passage.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7, in which said toilet bowl has an opening in one of its walls at a location spaced beneath the upper edge thereof and opening into said jet passage and through which the light is conneotible into the bowl from its exterior, there being means for closing said opening when the light is positioned in said passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS 1,974,068 Greensaft Sept. 18, 1934 1,979,358 Welch Nov. 6, 1934 2,170,377 Nisle Aug. 22, 1939 2,528,132 Gibson et a1. Oct. 31, 1950 2,532,800 Adinamis et a1. Dec. 5, 1950 2,765,399 Drosakis Oct. 2, 1956 2,777,052 Combs Jan. 8,- 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 419,448 Germany Sept. 29, 1925

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