U.S. patent application number 11/084564 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for toilet disinfection system.
Invention is credited to Ching Yu Chang, Kuo Ching Chiang, Chi Wen Liu.
Application Number | 20060206997 11/084564 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37008721 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060206997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiang; Kuo Ching ; et
al. |
September 21, 2006 |
Toilet disinfection system
Abstract
The present invention provides a toilet seat with a disinfection
unit comprising a toilet cover connected to the toilet seat, a
disinfection unit is equipped to the toilet seat or the toilet
cover for disinfecting the toilet seat. A trigger is equipped on
the seat or the cover to trigger the disinfection unit when the
cover is closed on the seat. The disinfection unit includes
UV-light source.
Inventors: |
Chiang; Kuo Ching; (Taoyuan
Hsien, TW) ; Liu; Chi Wen; (Hsin Chu City, TW)
; Chang; Ching Yu; (Yi Lan Xian, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE MAXHAM FIRM
750 "B" STREET, SUITE 3100
SAN DIEGO
CA
92101
US
|
Family ID: |
37008721 |
Appl. No.: |
11/084564 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/233 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/302
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/233 |
International
Class: |
A47K 13/00 20060101
A47K013/00 |
Claims
1. A toilet comprising: a toilet bowl; a seat pivotally equipped to
said bowl; a cover pivotally equipped on said toilet for said seat;
and a disinfection unit equipped for disinfecting said seat.
2. A toilet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a trigger
equipped on the surface of said seat or said cover to turn on said
disinfection unit when said cover is closed on said seat.
3. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein said trigger
includes a switch or a sensor.
4. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensor
includes a pressure sensor or IR sensor.
5. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disinfection
unit includes UV-light source.
6. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wave length of
said UV-light source is about 150-360 nm, preferably, 260-280
nm.
7. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the energy of said
UV light source is substantially higher than 0.1 Joule/m.sup.2,
preferably, higher than 20 Joule/m.sup.2.
8. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat is made
of a material that includes polymer.
9. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein said polymer
includes plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin.
10. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein said seat is made
of a material that includes glass or quartz.
11. A toilet seat comprising: a toilet cover pivotally connected to
said toilet seat; and a disinfection unit equipped to said toilet
seat or said toilet cover for disinfecting said toilet seat.
12. A toilet as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a trigger
equipped on the surface of said seat or said cover to turn on said
disinfection unit when said cover is closed on said seat.
13. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 12, wherein said trigger
includes a switch or a sensor.
14. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sensor
includes a pressure sensor or IR sensor.
15. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disinfection
unit includes UV-light source.
16. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein the wave length
of said UV-light source is about 150-360 nm, preferably, 260-280
nm.
17. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy of
said UV light source is substantially higher than 0.1
Joule/m.sup.2, preferably, higher than 20 Joule/m.sup.2.
18. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein said toilet seat
is made of a material that includes polymer.
19. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 18, wherein said polymer
includes plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin.
20. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 18, wherein said seat is made
of a material that includes glass or quartz.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet, and more
particular, to a toilet with a disinfection system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Toilet is necessary to everyone for daily life. Some prior
arts disclose a toilet seat-lifting device having a lever assembly
mounted on a platform that rests on the floor such that depressing
a foot pedal downward causes upward movement of a link connected to
a lift arm attached to the toilet seat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,446 to
Crocker discloses a similar device including a cable that pulls on
a lever attached to the toilet seat. U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,347 to
King discloses a toilet seat lifting system having a bracket
secured to a toilet seat of a toilet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,165 to
Wescott, Sr., discloses a commode flush and seat lift device in
which foot pedals are linked to the flush lever and to the toilet
seat lid via four conduits. U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,687, entitled
"Toilet seat and cover system", discloses a cover system for a
toilet. U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,194, entitled "Toilet seat having a
cleansing facility", discloses a toilet seat having a cleansing
facility with a pivotal arm supplied with warm water for cleaning
and warm air for drying the anal and genital areas of a user.
[0003] None of the prior toilet seat or toilet cover discloses the
facility to eliminate the bacteria or germ on the toilet seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a toilet comprising a toilet
bowl and a seat pivotally equipped to the bowl. A cover is
pivotally equipped on the toilet for the seat. A disinfection unit
is equipped for disinfecting the seat and a trigger is equipped on
the surface of the seat or the cover to turn on the disinfection
unit when the cover is closed on the seat.
[0005] The other purpose of the present invention is to provide a
toilet seat comprising: a toilet cover connected to the toilet
seat. A disinfection unit is equipped to the toilet seat or the
toilet cover for disinfecting the toilet seat, a trigger is
equipped on the seat or the cover to trigger the disinfection unit
when the cover is closed on the seat. The disinfection unit
includes UV-light source. The toilet seat may be made of polymer
(such as plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin), ceramic (glass or
quartz) or the combination thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Further objects and advantages of the present invention can
be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0007] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a functional diagram
according to the present invention.
[0008] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the toilet with a disinfection
system.
[0009] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate the toilet with a disinfection
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] The present invention relates to a toilet seat and cover
with a disinfection system, FIG, 1, 2 and 3 diagrammatically
illustrate the toilet seat disinfection system including a seat 14
disposed on a toilet bowl 12. The toilet seat and cover
disinfection system is used for eliminates the bacteria or germ on
or around the seat 14 or the cover 16 of the toilet. The
disinfection system is designed to be retrofit using a preexisting
toilet seat and toilet cover, or as a device to replace the
preexisting toilet seat and cover. The toilet seat and toilet cover
may be manufactured as part of the mechanical components that make
up the toilet seat and cover disinfection system. The disinfection
system is designed to be mounted atop the toilet bowl 12. The
toilet seat cover, the toilet seat and the mechanical components
discussed below may be constructed of polymer (such as plastic,
fiberglass, acrylic or resin), ceramic (glass or quartz) or the
combination thereof. Similar items are referenced by the same
reference numerals throughout the drawings. Please refer to FIG. 1,
the disinfection unit 18 is provided to the toilet cover 16 or the
seat 14 on the toilet bowl 12. A power source or power supply 19 is
coupled to the disinfection unit 18. A trigger 24 is coupled
between the power source 19 and the toilet cover 16 or the seat 14.
A control circuit 26 maybe coupled to the trigger 24 and the power
supply 19.
[0011] In FIG. 2A-2D and 3A-3D, toilet seat 14 and toilet cover 16
are substantially planar members as is known in the art. The seat
14 is disposed on the toilet opening via a plurality of spacers 14a
that are typically rubber or plastic. However, other suitable
materials may be used. The distal end of the seat 14 is attached
via bracket to a hinge member 21. The distal end is furthest away
from the front side edge of the toilet. Similarly, seat cover 16 is
disposed on the toilet seat 12 via a plurality of spacers 16a. The
spacers are optional parts but are customarily used to absorb some
of the energy resulting from either the seat or cover. The distal
end of toilet cover 16 is attached via the same or a second bracket
to hinge member. The seat and bracket are manufactured as a single
piece. Likewise, cover and respective bracket may be manufactured
as a single piece. The bracket and hinge for toilet cover and seat
are well known in the art. This embodiment is merely exemplary as
other means of securing seat and cover may be employed as known to
those skilled in the art.
[0012] One aspect of the present is that the present invention
includes at least one disinfection or decontamination unit 18
equipped in the seat unit 14 (see FIG. 3A-3D) or cover 16 (see FIG.
2A-2D) to eliminate bacteria. In one preferred embodiment, the
disinfection or bacteria eliminating unit 18 includes UV light
source or the like that could illuminate UV (ultraviolet) light
substantially through or partially through the seat 14, thereby
killing or eliminating the bacteria or germ on or around the seat
14. For instance, the UV light source could be equipped into a
socket 20 set at the lower surface of the seat 14 or cover 16. In
one embodiment, the wave length of the UV light source is about
150-360 nm, preferably, 260-280 nm. The energy of the UV light
source is substantially higher than 0.1 Joule/m.sup.2. Preferably,
higher than 20 Joule/m.sup.2.
[0013] The toilet seat 14 may be constructed of polymer (such as
plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin), ceramic (glass or quartz)
or the combination thereof. A power source or power supply 19 is
provided to the disinfection unit 18. In another embodiment, please
refer to FIG. 2A-2D, the disinfection unit 18 could be equipped
into a socket 20 set at the lower surface of the cover 16. The
disinfection unit 18 could be constructed by a plurality of UV
light bulbs 18 attached on the lower surface of the cover 16, as
shown in FIG. 2B. Conductive lines (in the dash line area) are used
to electrically connect the UV light bulbs 18 (FIG. 2B). In another
example, the disinfection unit 18 could be a UV light tube with a
shape similar to the seat shape (FIG. 2C) and substantially aligned
to the toilet seat 14. Similar arrangement of above could be
arranged on the seat 14. It should be understand that any type of
the UV tube and arrangement could be used.
[0014] In the embodiment, the disinfection unit 18 could illuminate
UV light on the upper surface of seat 14 while the cover is closed
on the seat 14, the cover 16 will trigger a switch to power on the
UV light, thereby eliminating the bacteria or germ on or around the
seat 14. Thus, a trigger 24 is coupled to the cover 16 or seat 14
to turn on the disinfection unit 18 while the cover 16 is closed on
the seat 14, Owing to the UV light will injure the human eyes,
therefore, the UV light should be power on after the cover 16 is
closed to prevent the UV light from hurting the eyes. The trigger
24 could be a sensor (such as IR sensor or pressure sensor) or a
switch set either on the cover 16 or seat 14. A control circuit 26
is coupled to the trigger 24 to allow the UV light to turn on or
off. In another case, the trigger is formed in the spacer 16a.
[0015] In another embodiment, the disinfection unit 18 could be
equipped in the seat 14 (FIG. 3B) for the toilet. In further case,
the disinfection unit 18 could be attached any suitable location
for the cover or seat. An optical fiber 30 (please refer to FIG.
3C) could guide the illumination generated by the UV source 18 to
the desired area of the seat 14 or cover 16. The optical fiber 306
includes a rough surface to allow the light penetrating through the
surface of the fiber 30. Please refer to FIG. 3D, a heating element
28 is also provided in the seat 14 to provide thermal.
[0016] The toilet disinfection system 10 functions as follows, a
person could trigger the trigger by closing the cover 16 of the
toilet for instance. The disinfection unit 18 will generate the UV
light to expose the seat of the toilet 12 after the trigger
responses the action. Any person will not be exposed in the UV
light environment when it functions due to the seat 12 is covered
by the cover 16, Any bacteria or germ on or around the seat will be
eliminated by the disinfection unit.
[0017] As known in the art, the toilet in these illustrations
includes bowl 12, tank (not shown), toilet seat 14, toilet seat
cover 16, In this embodiment, the toilet seat 14 and toilet cover
16 are similar to the well-know art, they could downward or upward
pivotal movement of seat or cover to its lower or upper position.
The seat or cover is rotatably coupled to the toilet at joint as
well known in the art also. The above embodiments could be
practiced alone or combination.
[0018] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
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