Rimless toilet

Abstract

A siphonic gravity-powered toilet is provided that is a rimless toilet and includes a toilet bowl assembly having a body and an inlet for receiving fluid. The toilet bowl has an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral portion configured to have a shelf formed therein below an upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl. The rimless toilet includes a jet having a jet inlet, an outlet and at least one jet channel. A manifold is included which is configured so that fluid entering an inlet of the toilet bowl assembly divides into a portion that enters the inlet of the direct-fed jet and a portion that enters an interior area of the toilet bowl. At least one toilet bowl inlet port is positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl. The at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet having a toilet bowl assembly comprising
 a toilet bowl assembly body and a toilet bowl assembly inlet for receiving fluid from a source of fluid;   a toilet bowl in the toilet bowl assembly body having an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral edge, wherein
 the interior bowl surface of the toilet bowl defines an interior area for receiving fluid during flushing, 
 the interior area is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, and 
 an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface is configured to have a shelf formed therein along at least a part of an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface below the upper peripheral edge; 
   a toilet bowl assembly outlet for fluid communication with a sewage outlet;   a jet having a jet inlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, a jet outlet in communication with the toilet bowl assembly outlet and at least one jet channel extending between the jet inlet and the jet outlet;   a manifold having a manifold area therein, wherein the manifold is configured so that fluid entering the toilet bowl assembly inlet will divide into a first portion for entering the inlet of the jet and a second portion for entering the interior area of the toilet bowl;   at least one toilet bowl inlet port positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl, wherein the at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl.   
     
     
         2 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein there are two toilet bowl inlet ports, each positioned so that fluid entering the interior area of the toilet bowl passes in opposing directions along the shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 2 , wherein an opening is provided between the two toilet bowl inlet ports to introduce a portion of fluid from the manifold and/or the jet channel into the toilet bowl in a generally downward direction for cleaning a rear area of the interior surface of the toilet bowl approximately between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         4 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 3 , wherein the toilet bowl further comprises a distributor positioned so as to at least partially cover the opening between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         5 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 4 , wherein the distributor comprises a cover situated to extend over the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 4 , wherein the distributor is an assembly comprising a distributor guide, a fastener, and a distributor lock. 
     
     
         7 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 6 , wherein the assembly further comprises a cover. 
     
     
         8 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein there are two toilet bowl body inlet ports, each positioned so that fluid entering the interior area of the toilet bowl passes in opposing directions along the shelf, and further comprising an opening between the two toilet bowl body inlet ports to introduce a portion of fluid from the manifold and/or the jet channel into the toilet bowl in a generally downward direction for cleaning a rear area of the interior surface of the toilet bowl approximately between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         9 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 8 , further comprising a distributor positioned so as to at least partially cover the opening between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         10 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein the shelf has a width measured transversely across an upper surface thereof, and the width of the shelf is largest at a rear portion of the shelf than at a front portion of the shelf. 
     
     
         11 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 10 , wherein the width of the shelf decreases gradually from the rear portion of the shelf to the front portion of the shelf. 
     
     
         12 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 10 , wherein the shelf does not extend around the entire upper peripheral portion of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         13 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet inlet is in a lower portion of the manifold 
     
     
         14 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein the toilet assembly further comprises a mechanism that enables operation of the toilet using at least two different flush volumes. 
     
     
         15 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein toilet bowl assembly has a longitudinal axis extending in a direction transverse to a plane defined by the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl, and the primary manifold extends in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         16 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet channel extends within the interior of the toilet bowl assembly body around the outside of the toilet bowl and the jet outlet is positioned so that fluid from the jet channel enters into the bottom of the toilet bowl so as to merge with fluid that traveled at least partially along the shelf in the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         17 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 16 , wherein there are two jet channels formed within the jet, each channel extending within the interior of the toilet bowl assembly body around the outside of the toilet bowl and meeting at the jet outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet channel extends from the jet inlet within the interior of the toilet bowl assembly body and passes around the outside of the toilet bowl, and wherein the jet channel is positioned so as to be at least partially within a space defined within the toilet bowl assembly body generally under the shelf of the toilet bowl and the jet outlet is positioned so that fluid from the jet channel enters the bowl at a front area of the toilet bowl proximate the upper peripheral portion of the bowl so that fluid from the jet channel and entering the jet outlet travels generally downwardly along the interior bowl surface at the front of the bowl so as to merge with fluid that traveled at least partially along the shelf in the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         19 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity powered toilet according to  claim 18 , wherein there are two jet channels formed within the jet, each channel extending within the interior of the toilet bowl assembly body around the outside of the toilet bowl and meeting at the jet outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity powered toilet according to  claim 1 , wherein a hollow channel is formed in the upper peripheral portion of the toilet beneath the peripheral edge, having at least one hollow channel inlet in fluid communication with the manifold and at least one hollow channel outlet in communication with a second shelf positioned in alignment with at least one hollow channel outlet for receiving fluid exiting therefrom and positioned above the shelf aligned with the at least one inlet port. 
     
     
         21 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity powered toilet according to  claim 20 , wherein the second shelf has a width measured transversely across the second shelf that decreases towards a front of the toilet bowl and fluid flowing off of the second shelf merges with fluid flowing on the shelf aligned with the at least one inlet port before the merged flow passes into the lower portion of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         22 . A rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet having a toilet bowl assembly comprising
 a toilet bowl assembly body and a toilet bowl assembly inlet for receiving fluid from a source of fluid;   a toilet bowl in the toilet bowl assembly body having an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral edge, wherein
 the interior bowl surface of the toilet bowl defines an interior area for receiving fluid during flushing, 
 the interior area is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, and 
 an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface is configured to have a shelf formed therein along at least a part of an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface below the upper peripheral edge; 
   a toilet bowl assembly outlet for fluid communication with a sewage outlet;   a jet having a jet inlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, a jet outlet in communication with the toilet bowl assembly outlet and at least one jet channel extending between the jet inlet and the jet outlet, wherein the at least one jet channel extends within the interior of the toilet bowl assembly body around the outside of the toilet bowl and the jet outlet is positioned so that fluid from the jet channel enters into the toilet bowl so as to merge with fluid that traveled at least partially along the shelf in the toilet bowl;   a manifold having a manifold area therein, wherein the manifold is configured so that fluid entering the toilet bowl assembly inlet will divide into a first portion for entering the inlet of the jet and a second portion for entering the interior area of the toilet bowl;   two toilet bowl inlet ports positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl, wherein each inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that a portion of the fluid travels in opposing directions along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl.   
     
     
         23 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein an opening is provided between the two toilet bowl inlet ports to introduce a portion of fluid from the manifold and/or the jet channel into the toilet bowl in a generally downward direction for cleaning a rear area of the interior surface of the toilet bowl approximately between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         24 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 23 , wherein the toilet bowl further comprises a distributor positioned so as to at least partially cover the opening between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         25 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 24 , wherein the distributor comprises a cover situated to extend over the opening. 
     
     
         26 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 24 , wherein the distributor is an assembly comprising a distributor guide, a fastener, and a distributor lock. 
     
     
         27 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 26 , wherein the assembly further comprises a cover. 
     
     
         28 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein the shelf does not extend around the entire upper peripheral portion of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         29 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein the jet inlet is in a lower portion of the manifold. 
     
     
         30 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein the jet outlet is positioned so that fluid from the jet channel enters into the bottom of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         31 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein there are two jet channels formed within the jet, each channel extending within the interior of the toilet bowl assembly body around the outside of the toilet bowl and meeting at the jet outlet. 
     
     
         32 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 22 , wherein the jet channel is positioned so as to be at least partially within a space defined within the toilet bowl assembly body generally under the shelf of the toilet bowl and the jet outlet is positioned so that fluid from the jet channel enters the bowl at a front area of the toilet bowl proximate the upper peripheral portion of the bowl so that fluid from the jet channel and entering the jet outlet travels generally downwardly along the interior bowl surface at the front of the bowl. 
     
     
         33 . A rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet comprising:
 (a) a toilet bowl assembly comprising
 a toilet bowl assembly body and a toilet bowl assembly inlet for receiving fluid from a source of fluid; 
 a toilet bowl in the toilet bowl assembly body having an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral edge, wherein
 the interior bowl surface of the toilet bowl defines an interior area for receiving fluid during flushing, 
 the interior area is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, and 
 an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface is configured to have a shelf formed therein along at least a part of an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface below the upper peripheral edge; 
 
 a toilet bowl assembly outlet for fluid communication with a sewage outlet; 
 a jet having a jet inlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, a jet outlet in communication with the toilet bowl assembly outlet and at least one jet channel extending between the jet inlet and the jet outlet; 
 a manifold having a manifold area therein, wherein the manifold is configured so that fluid entering the toilet bowl assembly inlet will divide into a first portion for entering the inlet of the jet and a second portion for entering the interior area of the toilet bowl; 
   at least one toilet bowl inlet port positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl, wherein the at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl; and   (b) a toilet seat configured to fit over the upper peripheral edge of the toilet, comprising a lower surface having a seat bumper for contacting the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl, wherein the bumper abuts the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is in a lowered position over the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl.   
     
     
         34 . A rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet comprising:
 (a) a toilet bowl assembly comprising
 a toilet bowl assembly body and a toilet bowl assembly inlet for receiving fluid from a source of fluid; 
 a toilet bowl in the toilet bowl assembly body having an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral edge, wherein
 the interior bowl surface of the toilet bowl defines an interior area for receiving fluid during flushing, 
 the interior area is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, and 
 an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface is configured to have a shelf formed therein along at least a part of an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface below the upper peripheral edge; 
 
 a toilet bowl assembly outlet for fluid communication with a sewage outlet; 
 a jet having a jet inlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, a jet outlet in communication with the toilet bowl assembly outlet and at least one jet channel extending between the jet inlet and the jet outlet; 
 a manifold having a manifold area therein, wherein the manifold is configured so that fluid entering the toilet bowl assembly inlet will divide into a first portion for entering the inlet of the jet and a second portion for entering the interior area of the toilet bowl; 
 at least one toilet bowl inlet port positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl, wherein the at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl; 
   (b) a toilet seat configured to fit over the upper peripheral edge of the toilet, comprising a lower surface having a seat bumper for contacting the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl, wherein the bumper abuts the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is in a lowered position over the upper peripheral edge of the toilet; and   (c) a splash guard having an upper portion and a downwardly extending portion, an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the splash guard is configured to fit beneath the toilet seat and above the rear portion of the toilet bowl, to complement a shape of the rear portion of the toilet bowl and to have an outwardly extending end portion extending from the rear portion of the toilet bowl in a direction of flow at least partially along the upper peripheral edge of the bowl towards the front of the toilet so as to at least cover the at least one toilet inlet port and block upward splashing water.   
     
     
         35 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 34 , wherein the splash guard forms a generally right angle in transverse cross section along the outwardly extending portions. 
     
     
         36 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 34 , wherein an outwardly extending portion of the splash guard terminates rearwardly of the bumper on the toilet seat. 
     
     
         37 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 34 , wherein the splash guard has a rearwardly extending portion configured to extend backwards towards a hinge on the toilet seat. 
     
     
         38 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 34 , wherein there are two toilet bowl inlet ports and two outwardly extending end portions on the splash guard. 
     
     
         39 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 38 , wherein the toilet further comprises an opening positioned between the two toilet bowl inlet ports to introduce a portion of fluid from the manifold and/or the jet channel into the toilet bowl in a generally downward direction for cleaning a rear area of the interior surface of the toilet bowl approximately between the two toilet bowl inlet ports and a distributor positioned so as to at least partially cover the opening between the two toilet bowl inlet ports. 
     
     
         40 . A toilet splash guard for a rimless toilet, comprising,
 an upper portion and a downwardly extending portion, an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the splash guard is configured to fit beneath a toilet seat and above a rear portion of a rimless toilet bowl, to complement a shape of a rear portion of a rimless toilet bowl and to have an outwardly extending end portion extending from a rear portion of a rimless toilet bowl in a direction of flow at least partially along an upper peripheral edge of a rimless toilet bowl towards a front of the rimless toilet bowl so as to block upward splashing water.   
     
     
         41 . A toilet seat assembly for a rimless toilet comprising the toilet splash guard of  claim 40 . 
     
     
         42 . A rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet having a toilet bowl assembly comprising,
 a toilet bowl assembly body and a toilet bowl assembly inlet for receiving fluid from a source of fluid;   a toilet bowl in the toilet bowl assembly body having an interior bowl surface with an upper peripheral edge along an upper surface thereof, wherein
 the interior bowl surface of the toilet bowl defines an interior area for receiving fluid during flushing, 
 the interior area is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, and 
 an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface is configured to have a shelf formed therein along at least a part of an upper peripheral portion of the interior bowl surface below the upper peripheral edge; 
   a toilet bowl assembly outlet for fluid communication with a sewage outlet;   a jet having a jet inlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl assembly inlet, a jet outlet in communication with the toilet bowl assembly outlet and at least one jet channel extending between the jet inlet and the jet outlet;   a manifold having a manifold area therein, wherein the manifold is configured so that fluid entering the toilet bowl assembly inlet will divide into a first portion for entering the inlet of the jet and a second portion for entering the interior area of the toilet bowl;   at least one toilet bowl inlet port positioned at an upper rear portion of the toilet bowl, wherein the at least one inlet port is configured to receive fluid from the manifold into the interior area of the toilet bowl such that at least a portion of the fluid travels along the shelf of the toilet bowl prior to passing into a lower portion of the toilet bowl; and   wherein a portion of the upper surface of the toilet bowl is configured to extend downwardly so as to cover the at least one inlet port and a rear portion of the shelf so as to act as a splash guard for water entering the shelf from the at least one inlet port.   
     
     
         43 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 42 , wherein the portion of the upper surface of the toilet bowl that acts as a splash guard forms a generally right angle in transverse cross section. 
     
     
         44 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 42 , wherein an outwardly extending portion of the portion of the upper surface of the toilet bowl that acts as a splash guard is configured so that it terminates rearwardly of a position where a toilet seat would contact the upper peripheral edge of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         45 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 42 , wherein there are two toilet bowl inlet ports and two outwardly extending end portions on the upper portion of the toilet bowl that acts as a splash guard. 
     
     
         46 . The rimless, siphonic, gravity-powered toilet according to  claim 45 , wherein the toilet further comprises an opening positioned between the two toilet bowl inlet ports to introduce a portion of fluid from the manifold and/or the jet channel into the toilet bowl in a generally downward direction for cleaning a rear area of the interior surface of the toilet bowl approximately between the two toilet bowl inlet ports and a distributor positioned so as to at least partially cover the opening between the two toilet bowl inlet ports.