U.S. patent application number 12/479930 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for automatic toilet electrical control system.
Invention is credited to HSI-YU CHEN.
Application Number | 20100306910 12/479930 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43299658 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100306910 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; HSI-YU |
December 9, 2010 |
AUTOMATIC TOILET ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM
Abstract
An automatic toilet electrical control system includes a toilet
seat, a toilet lid for covering the toilet seat, and a control
system. The control system includes a first detection unit, a first
starting unit, a second detection unit, and a second starting unit.
The first starting unit and the second starting unit have motors
for driving the toilet lid and the toilet seat, respectively.
Detection of a user entering a washroom and a wave given by the
user, using the first detection unit and the second detection unit,
is followed by timely automatic controllable lifting (opening) or
lowering (shutting) of the toilet seat and the toilet lid.
Inventors: |
CHEN; HSI-YU; (PINGJHEN
CITY, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHMEISER, OLSEN & WATTS
22 CENTURY HILL DRIVE, SUITE 302
LATHAM
NY
12110
US
|
Family ID: |
43299658 |
Appl. No.: |
12/479930 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/246.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/246.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 13/10 20060101
A47K013/10 |
Claims
1. An automatic toilet electrical control system, comprising: a
toilet seat; a toilet lid for covering the toilet seat; and a
control system comprising a first detection unit, a first starting
unit, a second detection unit, and a second starting unit, the
first detection unit being connected to the first starting unit
having a first motor for driving the toilet lid to lift and lower,
the second detection unit being connected to the first starting
unit and the second starting unit, and the first starting unit
being connected to the second starting unit having a second motor
for driving the toilet seat to lift and lower.
2. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1,
wherein the first detection unit of the control system further
comprises a first sensor, a first proximity sensor, and a first
relay.
3. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1,
wherein the first starting unit of the control system further
comprises a first limit switch, a second limit switch, and a fifth
relay.
4. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1,
wherein the second detection unit of the control system further
comprises a second sensor, a second proximity sensor, a second
relay, and a third relay.
5. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1,
wherein the second starting unit of the control system further
comprises a third limit switch, a fourth limit switch, and a fourth
relay.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic toilet
electrical control system, and more particularly, to a toilet
capable of sensing a user's act and state and thereby lifting and
lowering a lid and a seat of the toilet in an automatic
controllable manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Normally, the seat of a conventional toilet is lifted and
lowered manually. For instance, a conventional sit toilet comprises
a toilet seat and a toilet lid pivotally coupled to each other. The
toilet lid and toilet seat are lowered when unused. To use the sit
toilet for defecation or urination, a female lifts up the toilet
lid manually and then sits on the toilet seat. The only scenario
where the toilet lid and toilet seat must be lifted up manually so
as for the sit toilet to be used is when a male wants to urinate
with the sit toilet; and, with the toilet lid and toilet seat being
up, the male is unlikely to spatter urine on the toilet seat during
urination, thereby keeping the toilet seat sanitary and clean.
However, it is not uncommon for lazy, selfish males to urinate
without lifting the toilet seat, and in consequence the
buttock-facing surface of the toilet seat and the seat-facing
surface of the toilet lid end up with urine stains. At times, urine
even goes through the hollowed-out portion of the lifted toilet
seat to splash on the seat-facing surface of the toilet lid. A
sanitation-conscious user feels sick at the sight of a urine stain
on the toilet lid or toilet seat of a toilet, not to mention that
removing the urine stain from the toilet lid or toilet seat is a
nasty job to the user.
[0003] Therefore, the present invention discloses an automatic
toilet electrical control system that automatically detecting a
user entering a washroom and a wave given by the user so as for a
lid and a seat of the toilet to ascend (open) and descend (shut) in
an automatic controllable manner, thereby allowing the user to use
a sit toilet at ease and keep the toilet seat clean without the
hassle of lifting the toilet lid and the toilet seat by hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of conventional toilets
with a manually operable toilet lid and toilet seat, the inventor
of the present invention believes that there is room for
improvement in the prior art and finally succeeded, based on years
of practical experience and after conducting pertinent research and
experiments, in developing an automatic toilet electrical control
system so as to enable automatic detection and automatic
seat-lifting and seat-lowering.
[0005] It is a primary objective of the present invention to
provide an automatic toilet electrical control system of automatic
detection and capable of lifting and lowering its seat and lid
automatically, wherein the toilet comprises the toilet seat, the
toilet lid, and a control system for automatically detecting a user
entering a washroom and a wave given by the user, so as for the
toilet to lift (open) and lower (shut) the toilet seat and the
toilet lid in an automatic controllable manner, thereby allowing
the user to use a sit toilet at ease without the hassle of lifting
the toilet seat and the toilet lid by hand.
[0006] To achieve the above and other objectives, the present
invention provides an automatic toilet electrical control system,
comprising: a toilet seat; a toilet lid for covering the toilet
seat; and a control system comprising a first detection unit, a
first starting unit, a second detection unit, and a second starting
unit, the first detection unit being connected to the first
starting unit having a first motor for driving the toilet lid to
lift and lower, the second detection unit being connected to the
first starting unit and the second starting unit, and the first
starting unit being connected to the second starting unit having a
second motor for driving the toilet seat to lift and lower.
[0007] The present invention provides an automatic toilet
electrical control system, which is operable in the following four
control modes of automatic seat-lifting. In the first control mode,
the first detection unit detects for the state of a user entering a
washroom and supplies power to the first motor of the first
starting unit so as to lift the toilet lid automatically. In the
second control mode, to urinate, the user may give a wave to the
second detection unit so as for the second detection unit to detect
the user's act and supply power to the first motor of the first
starting unit, and in consequence the toilet lid is automatically
lowered; then, the second detection unit supplies power to the
first motor of the first starting unit and the second motor of the
second starting unit so as to lift the toilet lid and the toilet
seat simultaneously. In the third control mode, the user gives a
wave to the second detection unit again so as for the second
detection unit to detect the user's act and supply power to the
first motor of the first starting unit and the second motor of the
second starting unit again, thereby lowering the toilet lid and the
toilet seat simultaneously before lifting only the toilet lid. In
the fourth control mode, the first detection unit detects the state
of the user leaving the washroom and thereby enables the toilet lid
and the toilet seat to be lowered simultaneously so as for the sit
toilet to be covered with the toilet lid and the toilet seat.
Hence, the present invention effectuates automatic detection,
automatic seat-lifting, and automatic seat-lowering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] To enable persons skilled in the art to gain insight into
the objectives, features, and effects of use of the present
invention, the present invention is hereunder illustrated with a
preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the framework of a preferred
embodiment of an automatic toilet electrical control system
according to the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the circuit of the preferred
embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system
according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing how the preferred
embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system
according to the present invention works;
[0013] FIG. 5 is another schematic view showing how the preferred
embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system
according to the present invention works;
[0014] FIG. 6 is yet another schematic view showing how the
preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control
system according to the present invention works; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a further schematic view showing how the preferred
embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system
according to the present invention works.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, an automatic toilet electrical control
system comprises a toilet seat 1, a toilet lid 2 for covering the
toilet seat 1, and a control system 3. The control system 3
comprises a first detection unit 31, a first starting unit 32, a
second detection unit 33, and a second starting unit 34. The first
detection unit 31 is electrically connected to the first starting
unit 32. The first starting unit 32 has a first motor 321
(M1-MOTOR). The first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) drives the toilet lid 2
to lift and lower. The second detection unit 33 is electrically
connected to the first starting unit 32 and the second starting
unit 34. The second starting unit 34 is electrically connected to
the first starting unit 32. The second starting unit 34 has a
second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR). The second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) drives
the toilet seat 1 to lift and lower.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 again, the first detection unit 31 of
the control system 3 comprises a first sensor 311 (SENSOR-S1), a
first proximity sensor 312 (S1), and a first relay 313 (RELAY-R1),
whereas the first starting unit 32 further comprises a first limit
switch 322 (SWITCH-1), a second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), and a
fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5). The second detection unit 33 of the
control system 3 comprises a second sensor 331 (SENSOR-S2), a
second proximity sensor 332 (S2), a second relay 333 (RELAY-R2),
and a third relay 334 (RELAY-R3). The second starting unit 34
further comprises a third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3), a fourth
limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), and a fourth relay 344 (RELAY-R4).
[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, which is a schematic view of the
circuit and the control mode of the control system 3 of the present
invention, the first control mode is described hereunder. As soon
as a user happens to be less than 90 cm from the front of the
toilet, the contact of the first sensor 311 (SENSOR-S1) between the
first proximity sensor 312 (S1) is electrically connected to T2 b
contact so as to be electrically connected to the first relay 313
(RELAY-R1), leaving the first relay 313 (RELAY-R1) stuck; as a
result, electric current goes from R1a contact to R2b contact and
eventually reaches the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), and in
consequence the NC contact of the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1)
is electrically connected to the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR); hence,
the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) starts to rotate clockwise, and thus
the toilet lid 2 lifts when driven by the first motor 321
(M1-MOTOR) (as indicated by solid arrows shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
5); once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating clockwise touches
the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), the NC contact of the first
limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1) will get open and thereby stop the
first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating; in so doing, the toilet
lid 2 is solely lifted (opened) in the first control mode.
[0019] The second control mode is described hereunder. As soon as
the user's hand gets close to the second sensor 331 (SENSOR-S2),
the contact of the second proximity sensor 332 (S2) is electrically
connected to T1 b contact, R1 a contact, R4 b contact, and then the
second relay 333 (RELAY-R2), and thus the second relay 333
(RELAY-R2) is stuck and electrically connected to (T1 TIME),
causing (T1 TIME) to perform timing; starting from R1 a contact,
electric current passes the following: R2 a contact, the NC contact
of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), and R5 b contact; and
the electric current eventually reaches the first motor 321
(M1-MOTOR) to cause the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) to rotate
anticlockwise, and thus the toilet lid 2 lowers when driven by the
first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) (as indicated by dashed arrows shown in
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5); once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating
anticlockwise touches the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), the
NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) will get open
and thereby stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating,
thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to lower temporarily (as shown in
FIG. 3). In the meantime, electric current goes from the NO contact
of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) to the fifth relay 324
(RELAY-R5) via R3 b contact, leaving the fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5)
stuck; the two a contacts of the fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5) divide
electric current so that the divided electric currents follow two
routes, respectively. Electric current that takes one of the two
routes goes from R1 a contact to the NC contact of the first limit
switch 322 (SWITCH-1) via R5 a contact, and thus the first motor
321 (M1-MOTOR) starts to rotate clockwise and thereby drive the
toilet lid 2 upward; once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating
clockwise touches the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), the NC
contact of the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1) contact will get
open and stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby
causing the toilet lid 2 to lift. On the other hand, electric
current that takes the other route goes from R1 a contact to the NC
contact of the third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3) via R5 a contact;
once the electric current reaches the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR),
the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) will start to rotate clockwise and
thereby lift the toilet seat 1; once the second motor 341
(M2-MOTOR) rotating clockwise touches the third limit switch 342
(SWITCH-3), the NC contact of the third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3)
will get open and stop the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) from
rotating. Therefore, in the second control mode, the toilet lid 2
and the toilet seat 1 are simultaneously lifted (opened) (as
indicated by solid arrows shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) to enable a
male user to stand in front of a sit toilet to urinate.
[0020] The third control mode is described hereunder. As soon as
the user's hand gets close to the second sensor 331 (SENSOR-S2)
again, (T1 TIME) determines that three seconds have passed, causing
the TIME NC contact to open and the TIME NO contact to close; as a
result, electric current goes from T1 a contact to the third relay
334 (RELAY-R3), leaving the third relay 334 (RELAY-R3) stuck; since
the NC contact of the third relay 334 (RELAY-R3) is open now, the
fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5) is no longer stuck, and electric current
passes R5 a contact no more; hence, electric current is divided,
and the divided electric currents following two routes,
respectively. Electric current that takes one of the two routes
goes from R1 a contact and passes the following: R2 a contact, the
NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), and R5 NC
contact; eventually, the electric current reaches the first motor
321 (M1-MOTOR), causing the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) to rotate
anticlockwise and drive the toilet lid 2 downward; once the first
motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the second
limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), the NC contact of the second limit
switch 323 (SWITCH-2) will get open and stop the first motor 321
(M1-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to
lower; meanwhile, the NO contact of the second limit switch 323
(SWITCH-2) will be closed, allowing electric current to pass 5R b
contact and R3 a contact and finally reach the fourth relay 344
(RELAY-R4). On the other hand, electric current that takes the
other route starts from R1 a contact, passes R5 b contact and the
NC contact of the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), and reaches
the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR), causing the second motor 341
(M2-MOTOR) to rotate anticlockwise and drive the toilet seat 1
downward; once the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) rotating
anticlockwise touches the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), the
NC contact of the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4) will get open
and stop the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby
causing the toilet lid 2 and the toilet seat 1 to lower
simultaneously (as indicated by dashed arrows shown in FIG. 6 and
FIG. 7).
[0021] Furthermore, once the NO contact of the second limit switch
323 (SWITCH-2) is closed, electric current will pass R5 b contact,
R3 a contact, and the fourth relay 344 (RELAY-R4), causing R4 b
contact to open and thus the second relay 333 (RELAY-R2) to stop
sticking. Also, as the second relay 333 (RELAY-R2) stops supplying
power, the control system 3 returns to the first control mode.
[0022] The fourth control mode is described hereunder. As soon as
the user leaves the toilet, the contact between the first sensor
311 (SENSOR-S1) and the first proximity sensor 312 (S1) gets open;
the first relay 313 (RELAY-R1) no longer supplies power after (T2
TIME) determines that 10 seconds have passed and the NC contact
gets open; after the contact between the first sensor 311
(SENSOR-S1) and the first proximity sensor 312 (S1) has been
electrically connected to (T2 TIME) for 10 seconds, electric
current passes (T2 TIME) a contact and divides, with the divided
electric currents following two routes. Electric current that takes
one of the two routes starts from T2 a contact and passes the NC
contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) and R5 b contact
before reaching the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR), and in consequence
the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) starts to rotate anticlockwise and
drive the toilet lid 2 downward; once the first motor 321
(M1-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the second limit switch
323 (SWITCH-2), the NC contact of the second limit switch 323
(SWITCH-2) will get open and stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR)
from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to lower. On the
other hand, electric current that takes the other route starts from
T2 a contact, passes R5 b contact and the NC contact of the fourth
limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), and reaches the second motor 341
(M2-MOTOR), thereby causing the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) to
rotate anticlockwise and drive the toilet seat 1 downward; once the
second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the
fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), the NC contact of the fourth
limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4) will get open and stop the second motor
341 (M2-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby lowering the toilet lid 2 and
the toilet seat 1 simultaneously (as shown in FIG. 3) until the
toilet lid 2 and the toilet seat 1 rest on the sit toilet.
[0023] As described above, an automatic toilet electrical control
system of the present invention meets the three conditions for
patentability, namely novelty, involving an inventive step, and
high industrial applicability. The present invention is novel and
involves an inventive step, as the automatic toilet electrical
control system of the present invention comprises the toilet seat
1, the toilet lid 2, and the control system 3 for automatically
detecting a user entering a washroom and a wave given by the user,
so as for the toilet to lift (open) and lower (shut) the toilet
seat 1 and the toilet lid 2 in an automatic controllable manner,
thereby allowing the user to use a sit toilet at ease without the
hassle of lifting the toilet seat 1 and the toilet lid 2 by hand.
The present invention has high industrial applicability, because
the toilet having automatic seat-lifting capacity of the present
invention meets the demand of the market nowadays.
[0024] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described
above. Persons skilled in the art should be able to understand that
the preferred embodiment serves to illustrate the present invention
rather than limits the scope of application of the present
invention. It should be noted that all equivalent changes of or
replacements for the preferred embodiment fall within the scope of
disclosure of the present invention. Hence, the scope of protection
for the present invention should be defined by the claims as found
hereunder.
* * * * *