U.S. patent application number 11/635109 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for led toilet seat cover.
Invention is credited to Edward HO.
Application Number | 20080134420 11/635109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39493098 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080134420 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HO; Edward |
June 12, 2008 |
Led toilet seat cover
Abstract
A device for cleaning a toilet bowl including a toilet seat
assembly having a toilet lid and a toilet seat, a UV-light source
producing UV-light of a wavelength of approximately 360 nm secured
to an interior side of the toilet lid, a first switch for turning
the UV light source on when the toilet lid is placed in a closed
position, and a second switch for turning the UV light off upon
expiration of a predetermined period of time.
Inventors: |
HO; Edward; (Warren,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG
745 FIFTH AVENUE- 10TH FL.
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
39493098 |
Appl. No.: |
11/635109 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/233 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/302
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/233 |
International
Class: |
A47K 13/00 20060101
A47K013/00 |
Claims
1. A device for cleaning a toilet bowl comprising: a toilet seat
assembly having a toilet lid and a toilet seat; a UV light source
producing UV light of a wavelength of approximately 360-410 nm
secured to an interior side of the toilet lid; a first switch for
turning the UV light source on when the toilet lid is placed in a
closed position; and a second switch for turning the UV light off
upon expiration of a predetermined period of time.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the toilet bowl is coated with a
photocatalyst suspended in a liquid polymer.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is
TiO.sub.2.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a gravity
switch.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first switch is located in a
dome housing also containing the UV light source.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a normally
open switch.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first switch is located
proximal to an edge of the toilet lid and closes upon closing of
the toilet lid.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the UV light source is an
LED.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the UV light source is a
plurality of LEDs.
10. A kit for retrofitting a toilet bowl and toilet seat assembly
combination comprising: a TiO.sub.2 coating material to be applied
to the surface of the toilet bowl; and a UV light source to be
connected to a toilet lid of the toilet seat assembly.
11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the coating material is an acrylic
based material.
12. The kit of claim 10, wherein the UV light source is a plurality
of LEDs.
13. The kit of claim 10, wherein the UV-light source is located in
a housing that includes a power source and one or more
switches.
14. The kit of claim 10, further comprising a normally open switch
to be placed proximate to an edge of the toilet lid and a timing
switch.
15. The kit of claim 10, further comprising a timing switch and a
gravity switch.
16. A method of producing a cleaning effect in a toilet bowl
comprising the steps of: coating surfaces of a toilet bowl with a
photocatalyst coating where the cleaning effect is desired;
providing a UV light source producing UV light having a wavelength
of about approximately 360-410 nm; and energizing the UV light
source for a predetermined period of time to allow the UV light to
react with the photocatalyst coating to produce a photocatalytic
effect at the coated surface of the toilet bowl to oxidize organic
stain producing compounds.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the photocatalyst is
TiO.sub.2.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the surface coated with the
photocatalyst is the internal bowl portion of the toilet bowl.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the surface coated with the
photocatalyst includes the rim of the toilet bowl.
20. A method of treating a toilet bowl to effect a photocatalytic
process comprising the steps of: providing a UV light source;
coating a desired portion of a toilet bowl with an photocatalytic
material; and exposing the portion of the toilet bowl coated with
the photocatalytic material to the UV light.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the photocatalytic material is
an acrylic based TiO.sub.2.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the coating is performed at
regular intervals.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the regular interval is
selected from the group consisting of weekly, semi-monthly,
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] Each document cited in this text ("application cited
documents") and each document cited or referenced in each of the
application cited documents, and any manufacturer's specifications,
data sheets, descriptions, product literature, instructions and the
like for any products mentioned herein or in herein cited documents
or in documents cited in herein cited documents, is hereby
incorporated herein by reference. None of the documents
incorporated by reference into this text is admitted to be prior
art with respect to the present invention, but, documents
incorporated by reference into this text may be employed in the
practice of the invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a toilet seat and lid and
in particular a toilet seat and lid in combination with an
ultra-violet light source which acts on a titanium dioxide coating
on a surface of a toilet to produce a cleaning effect.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Devices incorporating an ultra-violet ("UV") light into a
traditional toilet seat for the purpose of producing an
anti-microbial effect are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,460,543 (the
"'543 patent") and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,276 (the '276 patent").
In the '543 patent, the light is placed under the toilet seat
itself and is formed about the circumference of the underside of
the seat. This orientation causes good antimicrobial effect on the
rim of the toilet, but because of the light's location less energy
is focused into the bowl of toilet. Typically, sufficient intensity
of light along with sufficient time of exposure are considered
necessary to kill bacteria. Because of its orientation, the toilet
seat of the '543 patent does not appear to provide the necessary
intensity into the bowl itself.
[0004] In the '276 patent, the UV light is formed in the lower
section of the toilet lid with the light projecting outward and
downward in order to provide sufficient intensity to kill bacteria
in the bowl. However, the location of the light is less than
optimal for projecting energy onto the rim of the toilet bowl or
into the bowl itself.
[0005] Both of these devices include UV lights using UV bulbs. UV
lights in the form or light bulbs are relatively expensive, use
large amounts of energy, and require approximately 40-75 Watts of
energy at 120 Volts. As can be readily understood by those of skill
in the art, the presence of such an energy source in close
proximity to water, and particularly water that may be in very
close proximity to an individual, is less than desirable.
[0006] Moreover, though the preceding described devices are
directed to use of energy sufficient to kill microbes, such an
energy output can have detrimental effects on users. Indeed, UV
light of sufficient energy to kill microbes can cause serious
injury to humans. For example, prolonged exposure can lead to sight
issues, and more immediately even relatively short exposure to UV
light in the 230-260 nm (nanometer) wavelength range is well known
to cause serious burns to the skin of individuals. Perhaps in view
of these problems there has been relatively little large scale
commercialization of UV light toilet seats. Still further, even
when used to good antimicrobial effect, the toilets on which such
devices are mounted are not cleaned. That is they are still
susceptible to staining or being dirty, and in fact the killed
microbes actually add to the problem.
[0007] The present invention endeavors to overcome the problems of
the prior art and provide a toilet seat and lid with a UV light
which produces a cleaning effect using UV light outside of the
dangerous anti-microbial wavelength range and which does not
present a significant risk of electrocution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] One aspect of the present invention is directed to a device
for cleaning a toilet bowl including a toilet seat assembly having
a toilet lid and a toilet seat, a UV-light source producing near UV
light of a wavelength of about 360-410 nm secured to an interior
side of the toilet lid, a first switch for turning the UV light
source on when the toilet lid is placed in a closed position, and a
second switch for turning the UV light off upon expiration of a
predetermined period of time.
[0009] Additional features of the instant invention may include the
toilet bowl being coated with a photocatalyst. One photocatalyst
that may be used is TiO.sub.2 suspended in an acrylic or polymer
suspension. Further the first switch may be a gravity switch
located in a dome housing also containing the UV light source.
Alternatively the first switch may be a normally open switch
located proximal to the edge of the toilet lid and closes upon
closing of the toilet lid. Still further the UV light source may be
an LED or a plurality of LEDs.
[0010] A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a
kit for retrofitting a toilet bowl and toilet seat assembly
combination including a TiO.sub.2 coating material to be applied to
the surface of the toilet bowl, and a UV light source to be
connected to a toilet lid of the toilet seat.
[0011] Further aspects of the kit may include the coating material
being an acrylic based material, the UV light source being a
plurality of LEDs. The UV light source may be located in a housing
including a power source and one or more switches. The kit may
include a normally open switch to be placed proximate to the edge
of the toilet lid and a timing switch, or alternatively a timing
switch and a gravity switch.
[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is a method of
producing a cleaning effect in a toilet bowl including the steps of
coating surfaces of toilet bowl where the cleaning effect is
desired with a photocatalyst coating, providing a UV light source
producing UV light having a wavelength of about 360-410 nm, and
energizing the UV light source for a predetermined period of time
to allow the UV light to react with the photocatalyst coating to
produce a photocatalytic effect at the coated surface of the toilet
to oxidize organic stain producing compounds.
[0013] In one aspect of the method the photocatalyst is TiO.sub.2.
The surface to be coated with the photocatalyst may be the internal
bowl portion of the toilet, and may include the rim of the
toilet.
[0014] Yet another aspect of the instant invention is a method of
treating a toilet bowl to effect a photocatalytic process including
steps of providing a UV light source, coating a desired portion of
a toilet bowl with an photocatalytic material, and exposing the
portion of the toilet bowl coated with the photocatalytic material
to the UV light. In one aspect of this method the photocatalytic
material may be an acrylic based TiO.sub.2. The coating may be
performed at regular intervals. These regular intervals may include
weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and
annually.
[0015] In this text, the terms "comprising", "comprise",
"comprises" and other forms of "comprise" can have the meaning
ascribed to these terms in U.S. Patent Law and can mean
"including", "include", "includes" and other forms of
"include".
[0016] The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to
and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding
of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying
descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which corresponding
components are identified by the same reference numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] In the following detailed description of the invention,
reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, incorporated
herein by reference, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a toilet seat assembly, according
to one aspect of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly in a
closed position, according to one aspect of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly in an
open position having a LED light source attached to the lid,
according to one aspect of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side view of an LED light source, according to
one aspect of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly
installed on a toilet bowl, according to one aspect of the present
invention; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an LED light source,
according to one aspect of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The present invention can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, wherein a
toilet seat assembly 10 comprising a toilet seat 16 and lid 12 is
depicted. In FIG. 1 the toilet seat assembly 10 is viewed from
below and appears to comprise a normal toilet seat 16 and lid 12.
In FIG. 2 a perspective view of the toilet seat assembly 10 is
shown and again, from all outward appearances, the toilet seat
assembly 10 appears normal.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows the toilet seat assembly 10 of the present
invention in an open position. Mounted on the interior surface of
the toilet lid 12 is a dome-shaped housing 14. The dome-shaped
housing 14 includes a plurality of miniature UV lights, preferably
light emitting diodes or LED's. The light emitting diodes emit UV
light with a wavelength of approximately 360 nm, but in any event
not more than 410 nm and preferably not less than 340 nm which,
though known to be outside of the anti-microbial range, can create
an effective cleaning action. The dome-shaped housing 14 is shown
in side view in FIG. 4. The location of the light is essentially
the geometic center of the toilet bowl. Depicted in FIG. 5 is a
toilet seat assembly 10 according to one aspect of the instant
invention, installed on a toilet bowl 17.
[0026] To create an effective cleaning action, the toilet 17 bowl
and surfaces to be cleaned must be coated with a photocatalyst such
as a titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) in an acrylic or polymer
suspension. Other photocatalysts known to those of skill in the art
including but not limited to Tungsten Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Zinc
Sulfide, and Tin Oxide maybe used. When the photocatalyst coating
receives ultraviolet radiation, a hydroxyl radical (--OH) or a
sulfahydril radical (--SH), with its high performance in oxidative
decomposition, and an anion such as a superoxide anion
(--O.sub.2--), with its high performance in deoxidization, are
generated on the surface. These substances decompose organic
compounds, which unless treated would turn into stains. Thus, by
having a toilet bowl 17 coated with, for example, a TiO.sub.2
coating and by supplying a UV light, the present invention is able
to effectively clean the toilet bowl surface and prevent or remove
stains in the bowl and on the surfaces of the toilet.
[0027] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a
photocatalyst coating material such as TiO.sub.2 which is contained
in an acrylic mixture that can be coated onto an existing toilet
bowl and enable the use of the present invention with any toilet
bowl currently in use. Acrylic makes the surface of the toilet bowl
non-porous thereby preventing bacteria and dirt from sticking to
the bowl, making the bowl easier to clean. According to this aspect
of the invention the coating material is simply painted onto the
desired surface of the toilet and allowed to dry. The coating may
be performed as need depending upon the use of the individual
toilet such that for example a single person living alone might
only need to coat the toilet once per year, whereas a large family
may need to coat the toilet once per quarter and a public restroom
may need to be coated monthly or bimonthly.
[0028] Alternatively, during the manufacturing process of a toilet
bowl 17, a photocatalytic material may be incorporated into the
process such that the surfaces of the toilet bowl 17 include the
photocatalyst material.
[0029] As with the painted on photocatalyst material, the
dome-shaped housing 14 with the UV lights, which will be discussed
in detail below, can also be sold along with the photocatalyst
coating material as part of a kit for retrofitting to any existing
toilet seat.
[0030] The dome-shaped housing 14 with the UV lights is shown in
FIG. 5. The housing 14 holds the components which make up the
lighting aspects of the invention. Enclosed in the dome 14 is a
power source 102 such as, for example, a 9-volt battery. Connected
to the battery, in one example of the present invention is a
gravity activated or mercury switch 104. The gravity activated
switch 104 closes the circuit when the lid 12 of the toilet seat
assembly 10 is closed. In connection with the gravity switch 104 is
a timing switch 106. The timing switch guarantees that upon
activation the UV lights only remain on for a predetermined amount
of time, for example 30 seconds. Following the two switches 104 and
106 are the lights 108, which though shown as wired in parallel,
may also alternately be wired in series.
[0031] Another alternative to the two switches 104 and 106 is the
inclusion of a simple pressure switch 18 which connect to the power
source 102 and extends to the edge of the toilet lid 12, preferably
at the rear of the toilet lid 12, where the toilet lid 12 and the
toilet seat 16 connect. Such a switch can be secured on the bottom
surface of the toilet lid 12 and be a normally open switch. Upon
putting the toilet lid 12 in the lowered position, as shown in FIG.
2, the switch is closed and the light turns on. Again, the device
may be used in conjunction with a timer to ensure that the light
does not stay on beyond a predetermined period of time.
[0032] Having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the
present invention, it is to be understood that the invention
defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to particular
details set forth in the above description, as many apparent
variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit
or scope of the present invention.
* * * * *