WO2016178633A1

WO2016178633A1 - Hand basin

Info

Publication number: WO2016178633A1
Application number: PCT/SG2016/050210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Garrie John Lindsay MCCREDDIN
Original assignee: Greenaway Wade Thomas
Current assignee: Greenaway Wade Thomas
Priority date: 2015-05-07
Filing date: 2016-05-06
Publication date: 2016-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-07

Abstract

A hand basin includes at least one channel shaped to receive water from at least one corresponding jet, and shaped to direct the water around an inner surface of the basin to clean the inner surface.

Description

HAND BASIN

TECHNICAL FIELD

[01] The present invention generally relates to a basin, to a water system including the basin, to a method of manufacturing the basin, and to a method of washing the basin. The basin may be referred to as a wash basin, a sink, a wash bowl, a water basin, or a hand basin.

BACKGROUND

[02] It is generally desirable to clean basins after use, e.g., to avoid build-up of soap, shaving detritus, toothpaste, etc. When a basin is used, e.g., for shaving, brushing teeth, or washing hands, it can be hard to clean the inner surface of the basin thoroughly and efficiently. A tap can be used to pour water into a basin for washing; however, taps are generally designed to direct water at least generally directly to a drain in the basin, e.g., to ensure that water passes into the drain without splashing off the basin surface, or staining the basin surface with prolonged use. Accordingly, to wash the entire surface of the basin generally requires manually re-directing the clean water from the tap around the surface of the basin e.g., using bare hands, a cloth, etc. This process can require considerable time, may be insufficiently thorough (e.g., depending on the skill or attention of the person), and may require significant volumes of the clean volume. It is desirable that basin cleaning be conducted as soon as possible after use to stop detritus and scum etc., drying and hardening in the basin, thus making it more difficult to clean.

[03] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

[04] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hand basin including at least one channel shaped to receive water from at least one corresponding jet, and shaped to direct the water around an inner surface of the basin in a direction at least partially transverse the direction of gravity. [05] The water is directed by the channel away from the jet and around the basin, around the drain, and at least partially perpendicular to a straight line between the jet and the drain. The channel is horizontal relative to a direction of travel of water in the basin when the basin is installed and in use. The channel is horizontal and aligned with the jet to maximize an area of the basin cleaned.

[06] The or each channel is open to the interior of the basin, thus allowing the channel to be accessed for manual cleaning, and for releasing water downwards continuously along the length of the channel when the basin is installed and in use.

[07] The at least one channel includes two channels, and the channels are on opposite sides of the basin to receive the water from two respective jets of the at least one jet pointing in opposite directions, wherein the jets receive the water from a shared source. The two jets receive the water from a shared source. Having a shared source allows the jets to be part of a single spreader in the basin, and a single spreader allows the basin to be connected to a single water source, allowing for more efficient plumbing.

[08] The channel or channels are formed by a groove or grooves in the inner surface of the basin. Each channel includes a top surface (which may be referred to as a "ceiling") that is above a centre of the channel, and is formed to direct the water along the channel, and to resist the water in the channel travelling up and out of the basin. Each channel includes a bottom surface (which may be referred to as a "floor") that carries the water in the channel along the channel, and that at least partially resists the water falling immediately from the channel due to gravity.

[09] The channel ceiling and the channel floor co-orporate to form the channel. The extent of the ceiling transverse the flow direction of water in the channel, and the extent of the floor transverse the flow direction of the water in the channel, co-orporate to define a depth of the channel, and a height of the channel. The channel height refers to the height of the channel in a direction along the inner basin surface towards the drain, and the channel depth is transverse the channel height, and transverse the flow direction of the water in the channel. In embodiments, the channel height can be 10 to 40 millimetres and the channel depth can be 5 to 10 millimetres. In embodiments, the channel or channels are in a plane transverse a central axis of the basin such that the channel or channels are generally horizontal when the basin is installed with the drain at the bottom of the basin. The groove ceiling and the groove floor co-operate to carry the water in the channel around the basin. The extent of the channel floor is formed to vary along each channel such that the water in the channel is released along at least a portion of the channel by flowing transversely from the channel due to gravity. The channel ceiling has a sharper angle to resist overflow (e.g., 70 - 90 degrees), and the floor has a softer angle to allow the water to flow down (e.g., 30 - 60 degrees).

[10] The channel depth is selected to carry the water from the jet along the channel, at least at the start of the channel, and to release the water from the channel, at least at the end of the channel. The channel depth is selected to release the water along the latter length of the channel towards the drain due to gravity. The central portion can extend for over half of the channel length. The channel is deepest near the spreader end, and tapers to nothing gradually by its far end. The channel depths tapers from the maximum depth to zero depth as it reaches the far end of the channel (towards a front of the basin) to allow a portion of the water from the jets to meet evenly at a front center of the basin directly opposite the jet.

[11] The channel length is selected to be sufficient to carry the water from the jet around a significant portion of the basin. In embodiments, one jet can deliver water around half of the basin circumference (along the inner surface of the basin) in conjunction with a channel extending one half of the basin circumference. The channel or channels can extend around a significant fraction of the basin circumference, and the significant fraction can be between 50% and 100%, and between 60% and 90%, and between 90% and 80%, and can be about 80%. For a fraction less than 100%, the channels can transition or taper to conform to the inner surface of the basin, thus effectively have no channel (and thus no channel ceiling and no channel floor) for this non-channel fraction of the diameter. The non-channel portion can be 20% at the front of the basin. In the non-channel portion, water can spill out naturally with gravity down the inner surface. [12] The profiles or cross-sections of the channel ceiling and the channel floor are selected to change along the channel length such that the inner surface of the bowl is generally smooth and gradually changing, including edges of and in the channel. The edges of the channel are selected to allow the water from the channel to disperse over the inner surface of the bowl, and in a direction towards the drain. In embodiments, the channel can transition (i.e., end) over a distance of about 30 millimetres to 40 millimetres, or in particular over 30 millimetres in length. The transition of the channel, and thus the edges of the channel, are selected to be smooth such that the water is guided into and out of the channel smoothly and without excessive turbulence or spraying that might leave unwashed portions of the inner basin surface below and/or adjacent the channel.

[13] The spreader includes an inlet with a transverse section (i.e., a cross-sectional aperture) equivalent to, or of, a diameter of 7 millimetres to 9 millimetres, or a diameter of 7 millimetres. The inlet can be connected to a water source, which may be a tube or pipe.

[14] The spreader includes one or more outlets for directing the water into the basin. The outlets may include a slit (or slot) in a lower portion of the spreader for directing a sheet (or curtain) of the water across ways and downwards into the basin (i.e., not upwards). The slit extends around the lower half of the spreader. The outlets include sideways holes or openings that provide the jets of water directed crossways into the channels. The outlets include downward holes that provide downward jets of the water onto the inner surface below, or at least partially below, the spreader. The sideways holes and downward holes can be formed in the spreader at selected points along the slot, thus the holes and the slot can form a continuous opening that has a change in width along its length. The slot can have a width of 1 millimetre. Each hole can have a diameter of 3 millimetres. The sideways holes are on the left and right sides of the spreader, and the downwards holes are between the sides and the bottom of the spreader, thus the downwards jets are at angles between the horizontal (directly towards the channels) and the vertical (in the plane of the inner surface at the spreader). The sideways holes may be referred to as "channel holes" because they direct respective jets into the channels. The downwards holes may be referred to as "surface holes", because they direct the downward jets directly onto the inner surface of the basin. The portion of the spreader that sits inside the basin and includes the sideways holes and the downwards holes may be referred to as a "head" or "head portion". When in place, the head aligns with the inner surface of the basin, and the head seals against the basin to resist water leaking out of the basin through a spreader hole in the basin, which holds the spreader in the basin. The spreader head may have a size equivalent to a diameter of 30 millimetres, or between 25 millimetres and 35 millimetres, for a basin with a diameter of 400 millimetres and water pressure at the inlet of between 400 kPascal (kpa) and 800 kpa, in particular 500 kpa. In the mains water supply, the mains water pressure is generally limited to 500 kpa by a Pressure Limiting Valve (PLV). The spreader head size is selected based on the orientations of the jets and the spreader inlet. The spreader may be referred to as a "nozzle".

[15] Each sideways hole may have an opening with a transverse section equivalent to a diameter of 0.5 to 5 millimetres and in particular a diameter of 3 millimetres. The sideways hole or holes, and corresponding/respective channel or channels, can direct water across the inner surface of the basin towards the drain in a plurality of flush areas, including: a channel-flush area for each channel, and a direct-flush area from the non- channel jets directly over the basin surface to the drain.

[16] The present invention also provides a water system, including the basin above, and an inlet for fluid connection to a water source.

[17] The water system, including the spreader, can include a Pressure Limiting Valve (PLV) in fluid communication with the spreader that controls the water pressure into the basin, and thus into the spreader.

[18] The water system can include a solenoid valve to control the duration the water is released to the spreader. A control system can include an optical auto-flush sensor and/or timer that controls the opening of the solenoid valve for a preselected wash time that is pre-selected to be sufficient to wash the basin (without wasting water). Alternatively, the water system can include a manually operated tap that controls the flow, pressure and timing. [19] The water system can include a back-flow prevention device in fluid communication with the spreader to stop or at least inhibit water from the basin passing through the spreader into the water supply.

[20] The basin can include an overflow aperture or a spillway to release water in the basin at a level lower than the spreader, and/or the upper edge of the basin, if the drain is blocked while the basin is in use.

[21] The water system can include a pressure control mechanism. The pressure control mechanism can include a screw device to control the pressure of the water entering the spreader.

[22] The water system can include an additive supply in fluid communication with the spreader for supplying an additive to the water before the water enters the spreader. The additive may be a detergent fluid or a disinfectant fluid, in a liquid or powder form.

[23] The present invention also provides a method including steps of: forming one or more channels in a basin surface to carry water from one or more jets around the basin.

[24] The method can include forming (which can include drilling) holes in a spreader for the jets.

[25] The present invention also provides a method including steps of:

directing a water jet into at least one channel in a basin; and

the channel directing water in the channel around an inner surface of the basin in a horizontal direction (at least partially transverse the direction of gravity).

[26] The method can include including releasing water from the channel downwards continuously along the channel (due to the channel releasing water downwards continuously along the length of the channel).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [27] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter f urther described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[28] Figure 1 is a top-front-left perspective view of a basin including a spreader and channels for directing water to wash the basin, including arrows indicating water-flow directions;

[29] Figure 2 is a top view of the basin;

[30] Figure 3 is a top-right perspective view of the basin;

[31] Figure 4 is a top-left perspective view of the basin;

[32] Figure 5 is a front-cross-sectional view of the basin;

[33] Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the basin;

[34] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of one portion of the channels;

[35] Figure 8 is an exploded view of the spreader;

[36] Figure 9 is a top view of the spreader;

[37] Figure 10 is a side view of the spreader;

[38] Figure 11 is a top cross-sectional view of the spreader;

[39] Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the spreader;

[40] Figure 13 is a top-rear perspective view of the spreader; and

[41] Figure 14 is a front-underside view of the spreader.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[42] As shown in Figure 1, a basin 100 includes one or more channels 102 that receive water from one or more water jets 104 from a spreader 110. The channels 102 carry the water around an inner surface 106 of the basin 100 to improve spread of the water around the inner surface for cleaning a greater fraction of the inner surface 106 than would be cleaned by the operation of water from the spreader 106 alone. The channels 102 are shaped to direct the water around an inner surface of the basin 100 in a direction at least partially transverse the direction of gravity and the inner surface 106.

[43] The jet 104 or jets 104 are directed by the spreader 110 into the channel 102 or channels 102. The channels 102 receive the water from the jets 104, and the received water forms channel flows 122 (or "channelled flows") of water in the channels 102, as shown in Figure 1. The channels 102 are horizontal in the basin 100 when in a position of use, e.g., installed in a bathroom or toilet room or kitchen etc. The channels 102 are thus perpendicular to a straight line from the spreader 110 to the drain 108, and thus the channel flow 122 is carried around the inner surface 106 in a curved or circular path following the curve or circumference of the inner surface 106. As the channel flow 122 travels along the channel 102, portions of the channel flow 122 spill out of the channel 102 continuously along its length in the form of one or more spill flows 124, which generally form a continuous sheet of water flowing from the channel 102 over a lower inner surface 120 of the inner surface 106 towards the drain 108, as shown in Figure 1. A portion of the channel flow 122 is carried by the channel 102 to an end portion 130 of the channel 102, and the end portion 130 allows an end flow 126 of the channel flow 122 to follow the curve of the inner surface 106 around to the far end of the basin 100 (opposite the spreader 110).

[44] As shown in Figure 2, each channel 102 includes a start 202 and start portion 128: these are shaped to receive the water jet 104 from the spreader 110 into the channel 102 with minimal spillage down to the lower surface 120, and minimal spray up to the upper surface 118 of the inner surface 106 (i.e., the portion of the inner surface 106 above the channel 102, or out of the basin 100). The water from the jet 104 is received and carried in the form of the channel flow 122 around the channel 102, and the end flow 126 is carried by the end portion 130 of the channel 102 and ejected from an end 204 of the channel. The end 204 and the end portion 130 are shaped to transition gradually to the inner surface 106 to minimize spray outwards (from the inner surface 106, i.e., into the air in the basin), and to minimize spray upwards (to the upper surface 118 and/or outer basin 100), but to allow gradually increasing spillage of the end flow 126 down into the downward flows 124 and out of the end 204 in a horizontal direction. The end flows 126 from the opposite channels 102 meet at a confluence point 206 that is opposite the spreader 110 in a symmetrical basin 100.

[45] As shown in Figure 2, the channels 102 are on opposite sides of the basin 100 to receive the water from the jets 104 that point in opposite directions. The jets 104 receive water from a single source in the spreader 110, as shown in the cross-sectional views in Figures 6, 11 and 12, where an input 602 for the water is shown in the spreader. The input 602 is in fluid communication with the jets 104.

[46] As shown in Figure 6, the channels 102 are formed by grooves in the inner surface 106 of the basin 100. Each channel 102 includes a top surface in the form of a ceiling 702 that is above centre of the channel 102, and is formed to direct the directed flow 122 along the channel 102, and to resist the water in the directed flow 122 from spraying up (i.e., spilling upward or travelling up) to the upper surface 118 or out of the basin 100. Each channel 102 also includes a bottom surface in the form of a floor 704 that carries the channel flow 122 along the channel 102. The floor 704 provides a smooth connection between the inner portion 708 of the ceiling 702 (i.e., the deepest portion of the channel 102 as shown in Figure 7) and the lower surface 120. The floor 704 is also formed to at least partially resist the water in the channel flow 122 from falling immediately from the channel 102 due to gravity: the floor 104 has a slope that is less steep than the slope of the lower surface 120, and the lower surface 120 connects to the floor 704 at the lower inflexion portion 706, as shown in Figure 7. The ceiling 702 connects to the upper surface 118 at an upper inflexion surface 710, as shown in Figure 7. The upper inflexion portion 710 is sharper than the lower inflection portion 706 when viewed in cross-section (e.g., as shown in Figure 7) because the ceiling 702 resists upwards spray of the channel flow 122 more strongly than the floor 704 resists downward spillage of the carried flow 122. The inflexion portion 710 and 706 are smooth, and the deepest portion 708 is also smooth, such that the inner surface 106 and the channel 102 form a continuous smooth surface for water flow and for cleaning. [47] The channel ceiling 702 and the channel floor 704 co-operate to form the channel 102. A depth of the channel 102 is defined by the depth of the ceiling 702 and the depth of the floor 704 in a direction transverse a plane of the inner surface 106 at the channel 102. The height of the channel 102 is the distance between the upper and lower inflexion portions 710 and 706 in the plane of the inner surface 106 transverse the horizontal direction.

[48] In embodiments, the basin 100 is curved or circular with a diameter of between 200 and 800 millimetres, in particular 400 millimetres. The channel height is 10 to 40 millimetres, in particular 20 millimetres. The channel depth is 5 to 10 millimetres.

[49] The channel height and depth vary smoothly (without discontinuities that cause spraying or spilling of the channel flow 122) around the length of the channel 102 between the transitional portions, which are the start portion 128 and the end portion 130. At the start portion 128, there is a relatively short distance to transition from the inner surface 106 to the full depth and full height of the channel 102. As shown in Figure 2, the length of the start portion 128 can be similar to a length between the spreader 110 and the channel 102 (i.e., a length of the jet 104). In embodiments, the length of the start portion 129 is between 1 mm and 10 mm, or about 1 mm to 4 mm. In the end portion 130, there is a relatively slower transition from the full depth and the full height of the channel 102 to the inner surface 106. As shown in Figure 2, the length of the end portion 130 can be a plurality of times larger than the start portion length, e.g., five or six times longer. In embodiments, the length of the end portion 130 is between 10 mm to 150 mm, or between 70 mm to 90 mm, or about 80 mm. The length of the start portion 128 can be a very small fraction of the length of the channel 102, the length of the end portion 100 can be a larger but still small fraction of the length of the channel 102, and the central portion of the channel 102 is generally more than 50% of the total length from start 202 to end 204, as shown in Figure 2.

[50] The total channel length is selected to be sufficient to carry the water from the jet 104 around a significant portion of the basin 100, and preferably around at least around half of the circumference of the basin 100, to the confluence point 206. Each channel 102 extends around one half of the basin circumference. As shown in Figure 2, the channel start point 128 is between 2 degrees and 10 degrees from the centre of the spreader 110 (which is at 0 degrees), and the channel end 204 is at between 150 degrees and 160 degrees (where the confluence point 206 is at 180 degrees). A portion of the basin circumference where there is no channel 102 can be referred to as a non-channel portion, and this can extend between 10% and 20% of the basin circumference, with the confluence point 206 at the centre as shown in Figure 2. In the non-channel portion 208, water spills or travels along the lower inner surface 120 under the influence of gravity towards the drain 108.

[51] The transition of the channel height or channel depth in the end portion 130 is gradual and continuous (and may be monotonic) between the full depth and height to zero depth and zero height at the end 204 of the channel 102, thus gradually releasing water from the channel 102 over the end portion 130, as described hereinbefore.

[52] As shown in Figure 7, the channel ceiling 702 has an angle from the vertical of greater than 60 degrees, and this angle can be between 70 degrees and 90 degrees. In contrast, the angle of the channel floor 704 from the vertical is less than 60 degrees, and can be between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

[53] As shown in Figures 6, 11 and 12, the spreader 110 includes the inlet 602. A transverse section of the inlet 602 (i.e., the cross-sectional aperture) is equivalent to, or has, a diameter sufficient to carry water at a pre-defined pressure to the jets 104 such that the jets 104 have sufficient velocity to substantially travel to the channels 102. In embodiments, the transverse section of the inlet 602 can be 7 millimetres, 8 millimetres or 9 millimetres.

[54] As shown in Figures 8 to 14, the spreader 110 includes a connector portion 136, which can be threaded to fit standard water and plumbing connections, pipes and hoses. The spreader 110 can accordingly be connected to a standard mains-pressure water supplies in domestic and commercial and industrial settings (e.g., between 400 kPascal (kpa) and 800 kpa, in particular 500 kpa). The spreader includes a head 132 and a cooperating clamping apparatus, in the form of a nut 134 and at least one washer 808, that together co-operate to clamp, hold and position the spreader 110 on and to the basin 100 at a selected location having a selected rotational angle with respect to the channels 102 (such that the jets 104 are in line with the channels 102). When in place, the head 132 aligns with the inner surface of the basin 110, and the head 132 seals against the basin 110, using a head seal (including the washer 808, and other sealing adhesives or washers, as required), to resist water leaking out of the basin 110 through the spreader hole 604 in the basin 110. The clamping apparatus, or clamping mechanism, include other standard plumbing components to hold the spreader 110 steady relative to the basin 100, and to resist water leakage from inside the basin 110 past the spreader 110, through a spreader hole 604 that extends through a wall of the basin 100, as shown in Figure 6. The hole 604 holds the spreader 110 in place, in co-operation with the clamping mechanism, and allows the water flow through the inlet 602 to the jets 104.

[55] As shown in Figures 9-14, the spreader 110 includes outlets for directing the water into the basin 100. The outlets include a slot 802 (or slit) in a lower portion of the spreader for directing a sheet (or curtain) of the water crossways and downwards into the basin 100 (i.e., not upwards). The slot 802 extends around the lower half of the spreader 110. The outlets include sideways holes 804 or openings that provide the jets 104 of water directed crossways (into the channels 102). The outlets include downward holes 806 that provide downward jets 112 of the water onto the inner surface 106 below at least partially below the spreader 110. The sideways holes 804 and downward holes 806 can be formed in the spreader 110 at selected points along the slot 802, thus the holes and the slot can form a continuous opening that has a change in width along its length, as shown in Figure 10. The slot 802 can have a width of 1 millimetre. Each hole 804, 806 can have a diameter of 3 millimetres. The sideways holes 804 are on the left and right sides of the spreader 100, and the downwards holes 806 are between the sides and the bottom of the spreader 110, thus the downwards jets 112 are at angles between the horizontal (directly towards the channels 102) and the vertical (in the plane of the inner surface at the spreader 110). The sideways holes 804 may be referred to as "channel holes" because they direct respective jets 104 into the channels 102. The downwards holes 806 may be referred to as "surface holes", because they direct the downward jets 112 directly onto the inner surface 106 of the basin 100. The portion of the spreader 110 that sits inside the basin 100 and includes the sideways holes 804 and the downwards holes 806 may be referred to as the "head" 132. When in place, the head aligns with the inner surface 106 of the basin 100. The spreader head 132 may have a size equivalent to a diameter of 30 millimetres, or between 25 millimetres and 35 millimetres for a basin with a diameter of 400 millimetres. The spreader head size is selected based on the orientations of the jets 104, 112 and the spreader inlet 602.

[56] The sideways holes 804 can be formed by drilling directly through the head 132 at the upper edge 1202 of the inner 602, as shown in Figure 12. The lower holes 806 can be formed by drilling directly through the head 132, in a line parallel to the sideways holes 804, at a point between the sideway holes 804 and a bottom 1024 of the head 132. The slot 802 can extend from the sideways holes 804 to the head bottom 1204, forming a continuous extended hemispherical slit or slot that includes the four holes 804, 806. In embodiments, the slot 802 is between 0.05 mm and 3 mm wide, particularly 1 mm wide. In embodiments, the holes 804, 806 are 1 mm to 4 mm in diameter, particularly 3 mm. In embodiments, the slot 802 is 3 mm from the exposed front face of the head 132, is 1 mm wide, and 2 mm from the back face of the head 132. In embodiments, the diameter of the head 132 is 30 mm, and the depth of the head 132 is 6 mm. In embodiments, the head 132 has a circumference of 94 mm, comprising a top 44 mm which is a closed face, and a bottom 50 mm which has the slot 802.

[57] As shown in Figure 1, the sideways holes 804 form the jets 104, and direct the jets 104 to the channels 102. The lower holes 806 form the lower jets 112 that spill directly onto the lower surface 120 and not into the channels 102. The slot 802 forms and directs non-jet flows 114 that form at least one sheet or curtain of water spilling from the spreader 110 across the lower surface 120 in directions at least partially towards the drain, including the directions between the horizontal (which would be into the channels 108) and the directly downward (towards the drain 108), thus directly flushing the lower surface 120 in a portion of the lower surface 128 on a side of the drain 108 that is the same side as the spreader 110. In contrast, the side of the basin that is the opposite side from the spreader 110 (this may be referred to as the front side, or confluence side) receives water from the channels 102, including the spill flows 124, and water from the confluence point 206, rather than directly from the lower hole 806 and slot 802 of the spreader 110. Nevertheless, the flow of water in the basin 110 is complicated, and turbulent, at least over the lower surface 120, and thus water can travel around the lower surface 120 from the different jets 104, 112 and from the spill flows 114, in unpredictable manners to substantially wash the lower surface 120 in a short blast of water.

[58] In a water system, the spreader 110 is connected to plumbing pipes or tubing to receive the water in the inlet 602 at a preselected pressure. The water system can include a water pressure control valve in fluid communication with the spreader 110 that controls the water pressure into the inlet 602. The water system includes a solenoid valve to control the duration of the water flow into the spreader 110. The water system can include a control system with an optical auto-flush sensor and/or timer that controls or regulates the opening of the solenoid valve for a preselected wash time that is preselected to be sufficient to wash the basin 100 without wasting water. The preselected wash time and water pressure can be determined based on testing of an embodiment of the basin 100 using available water pressures at an installation location: the wash time and the water pressure can be preset to provide thorough washing without wasting water. Alternatively, the water system can include a manual tap instead of the solenoid valve, and the water flow and water pressure into the spreader 100 can be controlled manually. The water system can include a back- flow prevention device in fluid communication with the spreader 100 to stop, or at least resist, water from the basin 100 passing through the spreader 100 into the water supply. The basin 100 can include an overflow aperture or spillway to release water in the basin 100 at a level lower than the spreader 110, and/or the upper edge of the basin, thus avoiding back flow into the spreader 110 if the basin fills while the drain 108 is blocked. The water system can include a pressure control mechanism which itself can include a screw device to control the pressure of the water entering the spreader 110.

[59] The water system can include an additive supply in fluid communication with the spreader 110 for supplying additive to the water before the water enters the spreader 110. The additive may be a detergent fluid or a disinfectant fluid, in a liquid or powder form. The additive supply can be connected to a plumbing pipe or tubing that communicates with the spreader 110, and may be re-filled using a shut-off valve that isolates the water pressure. [60] The basin 100 is operated according to a method of cleaning the basin 100, the method including the steps of:

[61] directing water jets 104 into the channels 102;

[62] directing the water jets 112 over the lower surface 120;

[63] carrying the channel flow 122 around the basin 100 in the channels 102;

[64] releasing the spill flows 124 from the channels 102 along most of the channel length;

[65] releasing the end flow 126 from the end 204 of each channel 102;

[66] allowing the end flows 126 to meet at the confluence point 206, and to spill therefrom over the lower surface 120 to the drain 108; and

[67] controlling the flow of water from the jets 104, 122 to wash the basin 100 without wasting water.

[68] The basin 100 is assembled according to a manufacturing or assembly method that includes the steps of:

[69] forming the channels 102 in the inner surface 106;

[70] forming the penetrating hole 604 at a level equal to or above the channels

102 (when considered in an installed orientation);

[71] arranging and fixing the spreader 110 in the hole 604 to align the upper jets

104 with the respective channels 102;

[72] installing the basin 100 with the channels 102 generally horizontally aligned;

[73] connecting a water supply to the spreader 110; [74] connecting the water system to the spreader 110, including connecting the side controller etc.;

[75] connecting the drain 108 to drain piping or hosing etc.;

[76] selecting a wash duration of an automatic valve, if required; and

[77] setting a water pressure at the spreader 110.

[78] In embodiments, the operation of a single flow of water into the spreader 110, which can be activated by a single valve, spreads water across the entire lower inner surface 120 of the basin 100 to clean away debris using a small volume of water. The use of the side jets 104 to direct the water around the basin 100 allows the channels 102 to be generally open along the lengths, which allows for the smooth inner surface of the basin 106 to continue smoothly into the interior surfaces (including the ceiling 702 and the floor 704) of the channels 102, allowing for effective and efficient cleaning and hygiene. In particular, there are few if any areas in the basin 100 where there is insufficient water flow to clear away debris or germs, and few if any areas on which water, germs, or scum can sit.

[79] In embodiments, the basin 100 may have only one channel 102 and one jet 104 from the spreader 110, configured such that the channelled water is still carried sufficiently around the basin 100 to clean the lower inner surface 120. In these embodiments, the inner surface 106 has a smaller circumference so that water from one jet 104 is sufficient in volume and pressure to substantially clean a substantial portion of the lower inner surface 120. In these embodiments, the basin 100 may have a non-circular shape.

[80] In embodiments, the jets 104 may be directed from respective holes such that the jets 104 direct the water in the same circular direction around the basin 100, instead of having jets 104 pointing in opposite directions, as shown in the drawings, for example Figure 1.

INTERPRETATION

[81] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[82] Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINED IN THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A hand basin including at least one channel shaped to receive water from at least one corresponding jet, and shaped to direct the water around an inner surface of the basin to clean the inner surface.

2. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel is horizontal when the basin is in use.

3. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel is open to the interior of the basin for releasing water downwards continuously along the length of the channel when the basin is in use.

4. The basin of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel includes two channels, and the channels are on opposite sides of the basin to receive the water from two respective jets of the at least one jet pointing in opposite directions, wherein the jets receive the water from a shared source.

5. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel is formed by a groove in the inner surface of the basin.

6. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a top surface that is above a centre of the channel, and is formed to direct the water along the channel, and to resist the water in the channel travelling up and out of the basin.

7. The basin of claim 6, wherein the top surface has an angle to resist overflow of 70 to 90 degrees from the vertical when the basin is in use.

8. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a bottom surface that carries the water in the channel along the channel, and that at least partially resists the water falling immediately from the channel due to gravity.

9. The basin of claim 8, wherein the bottom surface has an angle to allow the water to flow down of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical when the basin is in use.

10. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel has a height of 10 to 40 millimetres and a depth of 5 to 10 millimetres.

11. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel varies along its length such that the water in the channel is released along at least a portion of the channel by flowing transversely from the channel due to gravity.

12. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel has a depth that varies from a maximum depth to a zero depth at a far end of the channel from the jet.

13. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel has edges that are smooth such that the water is guided into and out of the channel smoothly.

14. The basin of claim 1, wherein the channel extends around 50% to 100% of a half circumference of the basin.

15. The basin of claim 1, including at least one spreader for directing the jet to the channel.

16. The basin of claim 15, wherein the spreader includes an inlet for connection to a water source.

17. The basin of claim 15, wherein the spreader includes one or more outlets for directing the water into the basin.

18. The basin of claim 17, wherein the outlets include a slit in a lower portion of the spreader for directing a sheet of the water across-ways and downwards into the basin.

19. The basin of claim 18, wherein the slit extends around the lower half of the spreader.

20. The basin of claim 17, wherein the outlets include at least one sideways hole that provides the at least one corresponding jet for the channel.

21. The basin of claim 20, wherein the outlets include at least two sideways holes on opposite sides of the spreader that provide two of the at least one jet in opposite horizontal directions.

22. The basin of claim 17, wherein the outlets include at least one downward hole that provides a downward jet of the water onto an inner surface of the basin when in use.

23. The basin of claim 17, wherein the spreader includes:

a head portion, seated inside the basin, with the one or more outlets; and a head seal that resists water leaking out of the basin.

24. A water system, including the basin of any one of claims 1 to 23, and an inlet for fluid connection to a water source.

25. The water system of claim 24, including a Pressure Limiting Valve (PLV) for controlling water pressure into the basin.

26. The water system of claim 24, including a solenoid valve to control a duration of water release to the basin.

27. The water system of claim 26, including a control system with an optical auto- flush sensor and/or timer that controls the opening of the solenoid valve.

28. The water system of claim 24, including a back-flow prevention device to inhibit water from the basin passing into the water supply.

29. The water system of claim 24, including a pressure control mechanism to control the pressure of the water entering the basin.

30. The water system of claim 24, including an additive supply in fluid communication with the jet for supplying an additive to the water, wherein the additive is a detergent fluid or a disinfectant fluid, in a liquid or powder form.

31. A method of manufacturing a hand basin, the method including steps of:

forming one or more channels in a basin surface to carry water from one or more jets around the hand basin.

32. The method of claim 31, including forming the channels to be horizontal when the basin is in use.

33. The method of claim 31 , including forming holes in a spreader for the jets.

34. A method of washing a hand basin, the method including steps of:

directing a water jet into a channel in the hand basin; and

directing water in the channel around an inner surface of the hand basin to clean the inner surface.

35. The method of claim 34, including releasing water from the channel downwards continuously along the channel.