Flush toilets

Abstract

A toilet comprises a pan, a trap which normally retains water as a gas seal, and an outlet. The trap is arranged for movement, during flushing of the toilet, in a manner which causes the retained water to transfer by gravity to the outlet. In one aspect, the trap comprises a length of flexible hose having a curved portion which retains water as the gas seal.

1 . A toilet comprising a pan, a trap which normally retains water as a gas seal, and an outlet, wherein the trap is arranged for movement, during flushing of the toilet, in a manner which causes said retained water to transfer by gravity to the outlet.  
     
     
         2 . A toilet according to  claim 1  in which the trap is a rigid conduit arranged for rotary or pivotal movement.  
     
     
         3 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which the trap is constituted by a length of flexible hose.  
     
     
         4 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 3  in which the hose normally forms a curve in which said water is retained and is arranged to be straightened during flushing by relative movement between the pan and the outlet.  
     
     
         5 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which the trap is moved by means linked to a flushing mechanism of an associated cistern.  
     
     
         6 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 5  in which the flushing mechanism is a conventional siphon or a bell mechanism of known type.  
     
     
         7 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 5  in which the flushing mechanism comprises a flexible hose having a partial loop which is moved to initiate flushing.  
     
     
         8 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 1  including means which upon initiation of flushing causes cleaning water to be supplied to the pan before or while movement of the trap commences.  
     
     
         9 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which the trap is a two part conduit connecting the pan and the outlet, which parts are moveable together and apart to open and close the conduit.  
     
     
         10 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 9  in which the two part conduit comprises a first conduit part and a second conduit part, the second conduit part being embracable by the first conduit part, the first conduit part including an internally mounted stopper which, upon movement of the two parts together, closes the second conduit.  
     
     
         11 . A toilet as claimed in  claim 9  in which the two parts are sealably connected.