U.S. patent application number 10/845726 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-18 for toilet seat and lid.
Invention is credited to Squicciarini, John B..
Application Number | 20040226082 10/845726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33424081 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040226082 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Squicciarini, John B. |
November 18, 2004 |
Toilet seat and lid
Abstract
An apparatus comprising: a member having an external surface and
a channel extending into the member from a slit in the external
surface; wherein the channel has opaque sides adjoining the
external surface of the member; the channel width increases and
subsequently decreases as the channel extends into the member; and
the channel is or contains an optical wave guide. In some instances
the apparatus is a toilet comprising an RLS with the toilet seat
comprising a side emitting optical fiber. In other instances the
apparatus is a toilet lid comprising a graphic image illuminated by
at least one optical fiber.
Inventors: |
Squicciarini, John B.;
(Aliso Viejo, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT D. FISH
RUTAN & TUCKER LLP
611 ANTON BLVD 14TH FLOOR
COSTA MESA
CA
92626-1931
US
|
Family ID: |
33424081 |
Appl. No.: |
10/845726 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60471128 |
May 16, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/001 20130101;
A47K 13/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/234 |
International
Class: |
A47K 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus comprising: a member having an external surface and
a channel extending into the member from a slit in the external
surface; wherein the channel has opaque sides adjoining the
external surface of the member; the channel width increases and
subsequently decreases as the channel extends into the member; and
the channel is or contains an optical wave guide.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel contains a side
emitting optical fiber having a diameter greater than the width of
the slit.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus is formed by
subjecting the fiber to a process which increases its malleability
prior to its being inserted into the channel via the slit.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein an adhesive is position between
at least some portions of the fiber and at lease some portions of
the channel.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the channel has a cross
sectional shape of a truncated circle.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the member is a toilet seat
having an outside edge and the channel is positioned along a
portion of the outside edge of the seat.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a vehicle.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vehicle is a wheelchair,
golf cart, baby carriage, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, truck,
van, sport utility vehicle, tank, or submarine.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is an article of
clothing.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the article of clothing is a
shoe, jacket, vest, hat, or helmet.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is at least one
of a piece of furniture, a building member, a floor, a wall, and a
ceiling.
12. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the wave guide defines a path
between locations.
13. A toilet comprising at least one of (a) a seat with a light
emitting outer edge and (b) a lid having a graphic image
illuminated by at least one optical fiber.
14. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the seat comprises a channel
along its outer edge and a side emitting optical fiber positioned
within the channel.
15. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the optical fiber comprises two
ends positioned within the seat and at least one illuminator
positioned within the seat adjacent to at least one end of the
fiber.
16. The toilet of claim 17 wherein the seat comprises at least two
channels positioned along its outer edge and at least two side
emitting optical fibers wherein at least one optical fiber is
positioned within each of the at least two channels.
17. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the at least one optical fiber
is at least partially embedded in the seat.
18. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the graphic image comprises a
photo, sketch, or text.
19. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the image is backlit by the one
or more embedded fibers.
20. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the graphic image is positioned
on an acrylic insert removably coupled to an opaque frame, the
insert being positioned adjacent to at least one of the one or more
embedded fibers.
21. The toilet of claim 13 wherein one or more fibers at least
partially surround the insert.
22. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the one ore more fibers are
positioned in a grove in an opaque portion of the lid such that a
majority of any light emitted by the lid is emitted by the insert.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional
application No. 60/471128 filed May 15, 2003, incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention is remote source lighting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Remote source lighting systems and methods such as the use
of fiber optic and/or prism guides to transmit light are known and
provide numerous advantages over more traditional lighting systems
and methods. However, known remote source lighting apparatus and
methods can still be improved to better achieve such advantages. As
such, there is a continuing need for improvements to remote source
lighting apparatus and methods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with an aspect of this invention, toilet seats
each comprise a light emitting outer edge, and methods for
producing, installing and using such a seat. In preferred
embodiments, such toilet seats comprise a channel along their outer
edge and a side emitting optical fiber positioned within the
channel. Some embodiments will also include one or more
illuminators positioned within the seat while alternative
embodiments may have illuminators positioned elsewhere on a toilet
the seat is coupled to such as in the hinges coupling the seat to
the toilet. In some instances, seats may comprise optical fibers
positioned in a lower outer corner or in the bottom surface of the
seat such that the light emitted by the fibers are visible when the
seat is raised.
[0005] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention,
along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals
represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a toilet embodying the
invention.
[0007] FIG. 1B is a side view of the toilet seat shown in FIG.
1A.
[0008] FIG. 1C is a detail cutaway view of the toilet seat of FIGS.
1A and 1B.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of a second toilet seat embodying the
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view of a third toilet seat embodying the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view of a fourth toilet seat embodying the
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top view of a fifth toilet seat embodying the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top view of a sixth toilet seat embodying the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a toilet embodying the
invention.
[0015] FIG. 7B is a side view of the toilet lid shown in FIG.
1A.
[0016] FIG. 7C is a top view of the lid of FIG. 1A.
[0017] FIG. 7D is a cutaway side view of the body of the lid of
FIG. 1C.
[0018] FIG. 7E is a top view of the insert of FIG. 1A.
[0019] FIG. 7F is a side view of the insert of FIG. 1E.
[0020] FIG. 7G is a top view of the lid of FIG. 1A.
[0021] FIG. 8A is a top view of the body of a second lid.
[0022] FIG. 8B is a cutaway side view of the lid of FIG. 2A.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of a second insert.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring first to FIG. 1A-1C, a toilet 10 comprises a tank
21, hinge assembly 22, lid 23, seat 100, bowl 24 and base 25. Seat
100 and lid 23 are each shown in a closed position, i.e. positioned
adjacent to the rim of bowl 24 as shown in FIG. A. Seat 100 also
comprises an integral side emitting optical fiber 110. The term
"integral" is used herein to indicate that the side emitting
optical fiber is at least partially embedded within body 120 of
seat 100 rather than being coupled to an outside surface of body
120. Inclusion of fiber 110 causes seat 100 to have a light
emitting outer edge if fiber 110 is also coupled to an illuminator
or other light source. As used herein, the term optical fiber
refers to a flexible optically transparent fiber, usually made of
glass or plastic, through which light can be transmitted by
successive internal reflections. A side emitting optical fiber is a
fiber adapted to disburse light along its length rather than one
adapted to maximize the amount of light transferred from one end to
another along the length of the fiber.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1B, fiber 110 is positioned around the
outer edge for seat 100, where the outer edge is the portion of the
seat that would be visible to someone viewing a toilet on which the
seat and a toilet lid are installed while the seat and lid are in a
closed position. If the seat is substantially planar, preferred
embodiments will have a fiber positioned in a plane substantially
parallel to the plane formed by the seat.
[0026] FIG. 1C illustrates a preferred method of integrating fiber
110 into body 120 of seat 100. Seat 100 comprises a channel 123
along its outer edge and side emitting optical fiber 110 positioned
within the channel 123. Channel 123 intersects surface 121 of seat
100 so as to form slit 122 in surface 121. It is preferred that the
diameter of fiber 110 be greater than the width of slit 122 such
that fiber 110 is must be compressed or otherwise reduced in
diameter if it is to pass through slit 122. As the terms are used
herein, the width of slit 122 is the distance between points 122A
and 122B shown in FIG. C where points 122A and 122B lie in a plane
perpendicular to the plane formed by channel 123. It is
contemplated that body 120 may be any toilet seat into which an
appropriate channel can be formed either during or after the
formation of the seat. In preferred embodiments body 120 is opaque
such that light emitted by fiber 110 is substantially blocked by
the wall(s) of channel 123 such that a majority, if not all, of the
light emitted by fiber 110 is only visible through slit 122.
Channel 123 is preferably shaped to have a cross sectional area
shaped like a truncated circle.
[0027] Fiber 110 may be coupled to body 120 or some other device by
(a) providing a device having channel extending into the device
from a slit in the external surface of the device; (b) providing an
optical fiber; (c) increasing the malleability of the optical
fiber; (e) inserting the fiber into the channel; and (f) causing
the malleability of the fiber to decrease. The malleability of
fiber 110 can be increased by heating the fiber and subsequently
decreased by allowing the fiber to cool. In some instances, one
might also apply an adhesive to the fiber or to the interior of the
channel prior to inserting the fiber into the channel. In most
instances one would also couple at least one end of the fiber to an
illuminator.
[0028] In preferred embodiments fiber 110 is
polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon.TM.) coated and sealed into groove
123 with epoxy, silicon glue, some type of pliable adhesive and/or
bonding material so as to fill substantially all of any spaces
positioned between fiber 110 and the wall(s) of groove 123. Once
positioned within the channel, it is contemplated that a
transparent or translucent coating may be applied to body 120 such
that the coating helps fill and seal off slit 122 and channel 123.
In some instances such a coating may form a surface on seat 100
that helps protect fiber 110 and body 120.
[0029] As toilet seats come in different sizes and shapes,
different seats may have optical fibers integrated differently. As
an example, a seat that is a closed oval may comprise a single
fiber and a single illuminator such as is shown in FIG. 2, or may
comprise multiple fibers and multiple illuminators as is shown in
FIG. 5. In addition to those shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, alternative
embodiments are shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6.
[0030] In FIG. 2, seat 200 comprises a fiber 210 having ends 211
and 212, a body 220, an illuminator 230, and one or more conductors
240. As can be seen in FIG. 2, fiber 210 is positioned on the outer
edge 202 (not inner edge 201) of seat 200 and with end 211 being
coupled to illuminator 211, and end 212 terminating inside body
220. Illuminator 230 comprises one or more LEDs or other light
sources and fiber 210 is adapted to emit light transmitted to it by
illuminator 230 along the length of fiber 210. As can be seen, in
seat 200 optical fiber 210 comprises two ends positioned within the
seat and at least one illuminator positioned within the seat
adjacent to at least one end of the fiber.
[0031] In FIG. 3, seat 300 comprises a fiber 310 having ends 311
and 312, a body 320. Seat 300 is coupled to a toilet (not shown)
via hinges 22A and 22B where hinge 22B comprises an illuminator 330
and one or more conductors 340. As can be seen in FIG. 3, fiber 310
is positioned on the outer edge 302 (not inner edge 301) of seat
300. End 311 of fiber 310 extends out of body 320 into hinge 22A
and is coupled to illuminator 311. End 312 of fiber 310 terminates
inside body 320. Fiber 310 also comprises a segment 314 that
extends through body 320 from the channel holding a majority of the
fiber to the point at which the fiber emerges from body 320
adjacent to hinge 22A. Illuminator 330 comprises one or more LEDs
or other light sources and fiber 310 is adapted to emit light
transmitted to it by illuminator 330 along the length of fiber
310.
[0032] In FIG. 4, seat 400 comprises two side emitting optical
fibers 410A and 410B, body 420, illuminators 430A and 430B and a
hinge assembly comprising hinges 22A and 22B and connecting member
22C. Fibers 410A and 410B each comprise two ends 411A, 412A, 411B,
and 412B. As shown in the Figures, fibers 410A and 410B are
positioned on opposite sides of outer edge 402 of seat 400. Ends
412A and 412B of fibers 410A and 410B terminate inside of body 420,
while ends 411A and 411B extend outward from body 420 into hinges
22A and 22B. Hinge 22B comprises illuminator 430B while hinge 22A
comprises illuminator 430A. Illuminator 430B is coupled to
illuminator 430A via one or more conductors 440B passing through
member 22C. Power to illuminators 430A and 430B is provided via one
or more conductors 440A. Ends 411A and 411B of fibers 410A and 410B
are coupled to illuminators 430A and 430B. As can be seen, seat 400
comprises at least two channels positioned along its outer edge and
at least two side emitting optical fibers wherein at least one
optical fiber is positioned within each of the at least two
channels. It can also be seen that seat 400 comprises at least one
illuminator positioned adjacent to at least one end of each of the
at least two side emitting fibers. It can also be seen that at
least one end of each of the at least two fibers extends out of the
seat, wherein each end extending out of the seat is positioned
adjacent to an illuminator positioned outside of the seat.
[0033] In FIG. 5, seat 500 comprises fibers 510A and 50B, body 520
having an inner edge 501 and an outer edge 502, illuminators 530A
and 530B and conductor pairs 540A and 540B. Seat 500 is similar to
seat 400 of FIG. 4 except that the two illuminators 530A and 530B
are both positioned within body 520 rather than in a hinge
assembly.
[0034] In FIG. 6, seat 600 comprises fibers 610A and 610B, body 620
having an inner edge 601 and an outer edge 602, a bi-directional
illuminator 630 and one or more conductors 640. Ends 611A and 611B
of fibers 610A and 610B are each coupled to opposite ends of
illuminator 630, while ends 612A and 612B terminate within body
620. Seat 600 is similar to seat 500 of FIG. 5 except that it
comprises a single bi-directional illuminator rather than a pair of
illuminators.
[0035] Referring first to FIG. 7A, a toilet 710 comprises a tank
721, hinges 722A and 722B, lid 800, seat 723, bowl 724 and base
725. Lid 800 and seat 723 are each shown in a closed position, i.e.
positioned adjacent to the rim of bowl 724 as shown in FIGS. 7A and
7B. Lid 800 also comprises an integral side emitting optical fiber
810, a graphic 830, and a transparent or translucent ("non-opaque")
insert 840. The term "integral" is used herein to indicate that the
side emitting optical fiber is at least partially embedded within
body 820 of lid 800. Inclusion of fiber 810 causes insert 840 and
graphic 830 to be backlit by fiber 810 if fiber 810 is also coupled
to an illuminator or other light source such as illuminator 852 of
FIG. 7C. As used herein, the term optical fiber refers to a
flexible optically transparent fiber, usually made of glass or
plastic, through which light can be transmitted by successive
internal reflections. A side emitting optical fiber is a fiber
adapted to disburse light along its length rather than one adapted
to maximize the amount of light transferred from one end to another
along the length of the fiber.
[0036] FIG. 7C depicts lid 800, without insert 840 and graphic 830,
coupled to hinges 722A and 722B. In FIG. 7C, one or more conductors
851 are used to provide power and/or data signals to illuminator
852. Illuminator 852 in turn transmits light into fiber 810 which
is laid out in a grill pattern along the back of cavity 821 which
is sized and dimensioned to receive insert 840. FIG. 7D is a
cutaway side view of lid 800 that more clearly shows the
relationship between fiber 810, cavity 821, and insert 840 when
insert 840 is positioned in cavity 821. As shown in FIGS. 7E and
7F, graphic 830 is preferably positioned on a surface of insert 840
such that when insert 840 is inserted into cavity 821 of body 820
of lid 800 as shown in FIGS. 7D and 7G, light from fiber 810
backlights graphic 830.
[0037] FIG. 8A illustrates a lid which sidelights rather than
backlights a graphic. In FIG. 8A, lid 900 comprises fiber 910, body
920, cavity 921, illuminator 950, hinges 722A and 722B and one or
more conductors 851. As shown in more detail in FIG. 8B, fiber 910
is positioned around the circumference of cavity 921. If body 920
is opaque, light emitted by fiber 910 will essentially be visible
only as it is emitted by non-opaque insert 940.
[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative inert 950 wherein fiber
951 is positioned in insert 950 rather than in the body of a toilet
seat lid.
[0039] As can be seen in the Figures, a toilet may comprise one or
more optical fibers and/or one ore more illuminators where the
illuminators may be positioned within the seat body or in a hinge.
It is contemplated that less preferred embodiments may position one
or more illuminators elsewhere on the toilet, or may even position
one or more illuminators someplace other than in or on the
toilet.
[0040] It is contemplated that the method of integrating an optical
fiber into a toilet seat shown in the Figures could be applied to
other apparatus as well. Such apparatus would typically have a
member having an external surface and a channel extending into the
member from a slit in the external surface; wherein the channel has
opaque sides adjoining the external surface of the member; the
channel width increases and subsequently decreases as the channel
extends into the member; and the channel is or contains an optical
wave guide. In many such apparatus such as the toilet seat
described above the channel will contain a side emitting optical
fiber having a diameter greater than the width of the slit, and the
apparatus will be formed by subjecting the fiber to a process that
increases its malleability prior to its being inserted into the
channel via the slit. Such apparatus will typically also have an
adhesive is position between at least some portions of the fiber
and at lease some portions of the channel.
[0041] It is contemplated that apparatus as described above may
include almost any apparatus in which a groove may be formed.
However, it is contemplated that apparatus that are vehicles,
building members, building materials, articles of clothing and/or
pieces of furniture may be particularly enhanced by having a side
emitting optical fiber integrated into them. Such apparatus may
include but are not necessarily limited to wheelchairs, golf carts,
baby carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, vans,
sport utility vehicles, tanks, submarines, shoes, jackets, vests,
hats, helmets, baby cribs, floors, walls, ceilings, counter tops,
tiles, and wood. If optical fibers are integrated into building
structures, they may be used to define one or more paths between
locations.
[0042] Thus, specific embodiments, applications, and methods
relating to remote source lighting systems have been disclosed. It
should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many
more modifications besides those already described are possible
without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive
subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the
specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in
the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In
particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be
interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a
non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,
components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with
other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly
referenced.
* * * * *