AU654566B2 - Hygienic toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A hygienic toilet has a seat which can be raised and lowered and is covered by a paper mat. The paper mat can be removed from a box, against whose open front side the raised seat rests and the paper mats are arranged in the box. A removal device is arranged in the seat for removing a paper mat which is activated via a Bowden cable or a linkage (45) via a lifting drive. The pivot drive of the seat is effected either by an electric motor (6) or by a hydraulic motor (27). <IMAGE>

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): BARBARA FREIFRAU VON LEPEL ROMAN SCHRECK BENNO KURTZ Address for Service: ~rt rr rrt ri r r ct r

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CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

HYGIENIC TOILET SEAT Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: r C IC S C

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THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

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HYGIENIC TOILET SEAFT Summary of the Invention The Hygienic Toilet of the present invention is contained within the broad concept disclosed in previous application WO 90/06715, by the same owners.

In the broad and generic concept referred to, a protective paper covering is withdrawn from the rear region of the toilet bowl, and the toilet seat is lifted or moved to the rear, into an upward slope. A device is arranged in the toilet seat, in the operation of which the foremost paper covering in the stack in which the coverings are arranged, grips it and removes it from the stack, and it is placed on the toilet seat, and the toilet seat lowered into position for use.

In that prior application, the generic concept covers the discharge device for removing the paper covering, and the accommodation of the simultaneous play between the discharge device and the lowering drive for the seat, but in the present instance, the invention is directed to a particular discharge device of the generic kind referred to, and a means for reliably securing the paper covering to the seat, wherein the device can be constructed in a very economical way.

t1 nI An advantageous feature of the present invention is the provision of a single drive means, for actuating the 'discharge device, and for moving the toilet seat between raised and lowered position, and further, wherein this drive means may be constituted by either an electric or hydraulic motor. A further and specific advantage is a relatively small cost of manufacture resulting in the fact that a single drive may be provided, and is operable, for the two functions stated.

Still another feature is the provision of a means for lifting the toilet seat by means of a Bowden cable, or a rod assembly, contained in or operably connected with the discharge device, and connected with the swinging end of the seat. As a further refinement, the bowden cable or rod are connected with a single drive shaft.

In devices presently known, problems exist in connection with simultaneous operation of the discharge device, in connection with the movement for swinging the seat, and the discharge device should be set into motion only when the seat is in raised position, so that a paper covering is reliably removed fromthe stack and secured S"to the seat, and only after this step has been accomplished, should the drive for swinging the seat be c !put into motion for swinging it downwardly into its t t C I I position of use.

In order to effect the proper timely sequence of 'actuation of the discharge device, and the subsequent engagement of the swinging drive for the seat, through a single force, or drive, there is provided a mechanical time delay between the turning drive of the seat and the lifting drive for the discharge device. This therefore results in the sequence that the engagement of the drive motor, the discharge device if first activated, and thereafter, and after a time delay, the turning drive for the seat is effected.

In establishing the feature just referred to, a refinement is incorporated in providing a mechanical time delay between the discharge device and the turning drive for the seat, by means of a mechanical sequential coupling. Only when the drive shaft has completed a certain angular movement, 300 60o, which is adjustable, a clutch acting between the drive shaft and the turning drive is actuated, so that only afte-, r turning of the drive, after the discharge aevice has been activated, is the seat lowered.

The device of the invention is capable of utilizi any of various forms of drive motor, such as an electric motor actuating through a gear train, which is connected with the drive shaft. This arrangement enables the use 3 11 4 44 4

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In another form, instead of a gear train, a toothed belt may be utilized.

In still another form, a hydraulic motor may be used instead of an electric motor. In the case of a hydraulic motor and drive, a piston rod is utilized and secured to a transmission belt. When the liquid pressure is not sufficient for actuating the hydraulic drive, or for other reasons, the hydraulic cylinder can be easily dismantled and in its place, another form of drive or motor can easily be installed.

It is also possible within the scope of the invention to utilize two separate constructions, including a hydraulic cylinder, or a drive motor, in which either can be exchanged, as a complete unit, for the other.

ii:: .In a preferred form of the device, means is provided having two rotatable sections, having interacting pins Swhich when they engage, transmits rotary motion from one i 20 section to the other, for providing the turning drive of the seat. Still another feature of the invention is that a drive shaft .may be provided, having a free-wheeling connection operable for driving a Bowden cable, for gripping and holding the paper covering. The feature referred tco, including free-wheeling connections, is i t I 4 effected for first actuating the Bowden cable for activating the paper clamping device, and after reaching a certain angular position, then a tionally driving the means for moving the toilet seat. By means of this arrangement, it is assured that a paper covering is always clamped, or released, first, after the desired respective lifting or lowering of the seat, and only after it is so gripped, is the toilet seat itself moved into its raised or lowered position.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision of a gas pressure spring, preferably positioned in an end position, which presses the toilet seat against the means for clamping the paper coverings, so that the paper coverings are held in position under a predetermined pressure, independent of the paper strength of the paper coverings. Consequently regardless whether .1 a large quantity, or a small quantity, of paper coverings a are in a stack in an operable position, at the front side of the tank, the gas pressure spring assures that the toilet seat is pressed with a certain predetermined pressure against the clamping device.

In a similar manner, the gas pressure spring always assures a certain definite pressure against the toilet seat in its lowered position. Consequently, the freewheeling means, independent of possible friction losses,

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always first affects a certain one drive shaft, which activates the Bowden cable, in order to thereafter first overcome the pressure force of the gas pressure spring to move the toilet seat into its raised position.

Consequently it is assured that the toilet seat remains in a defined, lowered position on the toilet bowl, until the turn drive effectively moves the toilet seat into its raised position.

Another advantage of the invention is a novel design of electric motor and drives that includes a sliding clutch. This sliding clutch provides the advantage that when the toilet seat is moved by manual force, without the mechanic turn drives being utilized, the gear in the drive train is not damaged. This provides an overload safety device, incorporated in the gears.

Still another advantage of the invention is the relatively great capacity for holding paper coverings, for a given size of device. For example, in devices heretofore known, a quantity of 100 sheets of paper coverings can be accommodated, but in the present case, two separate stacks may be arranged, one behind the other, and consequently 200 sheets can be accommodated.

f These sheets may be contained in a thickness of 2 cm. Even with this relatively great paper thickness, secure controlling effect is accomplished by the gas ftftt 6 7 I: i pressure spring.

The objects of the invention do not derive solely from individual claims, but instead, from combinations of all of the claims taken together.

Brief Description of the Figures of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of a drive unit made according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view from the side opposite that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a second form of drive unit made according to the invention.

Detailed Description The device includes a mounting 1 for the unit, including a pair of spaced apart, opposed bearing plates 2, 3 fastened together by suitable bolts.

Mounted on one of the bearing plates, 2 is a gear on the outer surface of which is mounted a motor 6. The motor includes a shaft 39 and powers the gear 5, the latter having a shaft coupled to a drive shaft 7 mounted in and between the plates 2, 3 for transmitting torsion force. Bearings 26 are provided for the drive shaft 7.

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The drive shaft 7 is connected for transmitting torsion to a cog wheel 8, over which a toothed belt 9 is trained. The belt 9 also is operably run over a lower cog wheel 10, which is torsionally connected with a driving shaft bushing 12, the latter being operably connected with a drive shaft 11, by means of a freewheeling arrangement that includes a certain angular movement of free play. The drive shaft bushing 12 is rotatably driven by the belt 9.

On the axially facing side of the cog wheel 10 are two axially extending locking pinz 16, 17 which are spaced apart at a certain angle, which after movement beyond this angle, one of the pins 16, 17 depending upon the direction of the movement, enqages another locking pin 20 on a clamp bushing 18 spaced therefrom in axial direction. The clamp bushing 18 is secured by means of screws 19 is connected for torsionally transmitting force through the drive shaft 11. The clamp bushing 18 may be angularly adjusted, for predetermining the swing angle of the free-wheeling, and thus the point at which the drive shaft 11 is engaged and rotated.

In this arrangement, the cog wheel 10 is securely connected with a clamp bushing 13, at the latter there being a clamp part 14 fastened by screws 15. In this manner a torsional connection between the drive shaft 3r'~-ii ~ii~

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*O0l.4 bushing 12 and the cog wheel 10 is established.

Outwardly of the bearing plate 3, a clamp lever 21 is mounted on the drive shaft 11, this clamp lever being also connected with an eccentric bearing 22 to which is connected the piston rod 23 of a gas pressure spring 24, the opposite end of the latter being secured to a bearing mounted on the bearing plate 3. By means of this gas pressure spring 24, the drive shaft 11 is constantly pressure preloaded to its end position referred to. The toilet seat is secured to the drive shaft 11 so as to transmit torsional force from the shaft to the toilet seat, by means of the gas pressure spring 24 which is constantly held in a predetermined end position. In the forward movement of the toilet seat from its raised to its lowered position, the gas pressure spring levels the toilet seat. so that the drive need not function with a large turning moment. Consequently the coupling action between the locking pins 16, 17, 20 does not take effect.

The invention of such scope that instead of the gear and electric motor arrangement referred to above, an alternate'design may be utilized, a hydraulic motor may be utilised. Preferably the drive unit is constructed in the form of a kit, so that it is sufficient to insert a plate 4 between the bearing plates 2, 3, at the upper end of the latter, carrying the hydraulic cylinder 27. This I i

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4 .64 hydraulic cylinder has an upper supply line 28 and a lower supply line 29.

In the cylinder space 35, 36 is a piston 34 having a piston rod arranged with its lower, free end operably connected, but not shown in the drawings. The piston rod acts on a clamp piece 31, the latter being securely connected with the rear run of the toothed belt 9.

When pressure is directed from the supply line 28 into the upper cylinder space 35, the piston 34 is forced downwardly, and the piston rod 30 drives the clamp piece 31 downward as indicated by the arrow 33, thereby turning the toothed belt and rotating the cog wheel 10, and thereupon the actuation described above takes place.

Hence it will be seen that the operation can be put into effect either by means of the hydraulic cylinder 27 or the motor 6 with the gear In the use of the Bowden cable, referred to above, attention is dir..-ted to Fig. 2; as an eccentric on the drive shaft bushing 12, is a bearing 37 having a pin 38 to which the core of the Bowden cable is secured.

An important advantage of the drive unit described, is the small spatial extent, whereby in a small space a very la-ge turning moment of the drive can be achieved.

A further advantage is that in this reduced space, a free-wheeling component is integrated whereby upon the

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1 actuation of the turning drive, the drive shaft bushing 12 is driven over a swing angle of about 300, and only after the passage of this swing angle, is the entire drive shaft 11 itself turned, the latter thereby taking over the turning drive for the toilet seat.

In the arrangement utilizes an electric motor, the gas pressure spring 24 can be eliminated.

Fig. 4 shows a second form of the drive unit, wherein the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals. In this form, the electric motor 6 may be of known type, such as is customarily used for opening a window, the motor being connected with the gear Instead of the toothed belt 9 of Fig. 1, a second gear is utilized in the present instance. In the present case the gear 5, operating through the drive shaft 7, acts on the cog wheel 8 which meshes with a cog wheel rotatably mounted on a shaft 57. A sliding clutch 42 is positioned between the cog wheel 40 and another coaxial, opposed cog wheel 41. The force actuating the sliding clutch 42 may be adjustably applied. The cog wheel 41 meshes with the cog wheel 10, the latter as described above being connected for transmitting torsion to the drive shaft bushing 12.

The clamp bushing 18, connected for transmitting torsion force to the drive shaft 11, is fastened at the 11 I I *Ct C

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seat 51 by means of a fastening device 56, whereby upon turning of the drive shaft 11, the seat 51 is swung on 'the axis of the drive shaft 11.

The sequential coupling is provided, as in the previously described example of Fig. 1, by means of the interengagement of the pins 16, 17 with the pin Thereby the drive shaft housing 12 is rotatably driven by the cog wheel 41, while the drive shaft 11 is coupled with the clamp bushing 18 by means of the above described time-delay sequential coupling 10, 16, 17.

Consequently, it is assured that in activating the motor 6 by means of the cog wheels 8, 40, 41, 10, the drive shaft bushing 12 is rotated. The drive shaft bushing 12 is torsionally secured at its ends to a lever 43, having an pin 44 to which one end of a rod assembly is secured. By means of a stationary housing bushing on the inner side of the seat 51, the rod assembly 45 is directed upwardly toward the front end of the seat. The rod assembly 45 has on its upper end a head 53 rotatably mounted on a U-shaped lever 47.

A plate 50 is mounted on the seat defining an axis 48. Upon activating the rod assembly 45 in the direction of the arrow 52, the lever 47 swings about the axis 48, and thereby the member 50 is swung outwardly out of the plane of the seat, in the manner disclosed in Fig. 3 of 0 9 t rC CL CC t t tC to cc t tt S* C 'EV *f

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tr i Crt t CC i the above mentioned application WO 90/06715, and thereby removes a paper covering out of the case and in returning back, fastens it in the gap between the front end of the member 50 and the recess in the seat. The member 50 is covered by a cover plate 49 on the inner surface of the seat, and fastened to the seat by screws 58.

Mounted on the drive shaft bushing 12 are cam wheels 54, having camming elements actuating control cams of one or more of the controls 55 which follow these cam elements. Accordingly, it is possible to also electrically intercept the turning of the drive shaft bushing 12 by means of the controls 55 and with the control activity of the controls 55, to trigger other actions, such for example as activating water flushing and other activities.

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Claims (9)

1. An hygienic toilet with a seat that can be raised and lowered by means of a swing drive, which seat is covered with a paper covering, whereby the paper covering can be removed from a case containing paper coverings, said case having an open front side on which the raised seat lies, whereby a discharge device for removing a paper covering consists of a pivot plate arranged in the upper part of the seat which is swung by a Bowden cable or rod assembly, whereby the seat can be swivelled around a drive shaft to which the seat is torsionally connected and a drivG shaft bushing is arranged on said drive shaft to which is torsionally connected a cog wheel meshing with the swing drive and the rod assembly or the Bowden cable; If ri 15 whereby a mechanical drive delay is provided between the drive of the Bowden cable or the rod assembly and the swing tdrive of the seat, which assures that in activating the swing drive, first of all the drive for the Bowden cable or the rod assembly is activated and thereafter with a previously determined delay the seat is lifted or lowered; rt wherein the drive shaft for the drive of the seat consists of two parts which are arranged equidistant from each other and axially aligned in corresponding mounting or bearing plates arranged opposite to each other, whereby a first part forms a shaft for the drive shaft bushing arranged on it and the seat, and the second part being a shaft is torsionally connected to the seat, and wherein the drive shaft bushing and the second part of the drive shaft are coupled with each other as a mechanical drive delay over a sequential clutch at the opposite ends for the transmission of a swing moment.

2. An hygienic toilet according to claim i, wherein the sequential clutch consists of a cog wheel torsionally connected to the drive shaft bushing and on which axial pins are arranged beyond the axis of the drive, the pins being capable of being brought into coupling connection with opposite-lying axial pins, which are fastened on a S 10 clamp bushing that is torsionally connected with the drive shaft.

3. An hygienic toilet according to claim 1 or claim [I 2, wherein the swing drive for the seat is effected by an 5 electric motor, which acts on the cog wheel of the drive it 15 shaft bushing by means of a gear.

4, An hygienic toilet according to claim 1 or claim r tc 6: 2 wherein an electric motor with gear acts on the drive t 6 shaft, and the motion transmission means from the gear to the drive shaft is constituted by a transmission or toothed belt. Ct,

5. An hygienic toilet according to claim 4, wherein the transmission belt is in the form of a toothed belt meshing as a closed run on one side with a lower cog wheel mounted on the drive shaft bushing and on the other side over a further cog wheel torsionally connected to a separate second shaft, which in response to turning is connected with the output of the gear.

6 An hygienic toilet according to any one of the •w 7X claims 1-5, wherein the second part of the drive shaft is impacted by a gas pressure spring by means of a clamp lever.

7, An hygienic toilet according to any one of the claims 3-6, wherein a sliding clutch is assigned to the gear.

8. An hygienic toilet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the swing drive for the drive shaft is effected by means of an hydraulic drive, whereby an hydraulic cylinder is provided having a piston and a piston rod and a clamp piece of the piston rod is connected with a toothed belt.

9. An hygienic toilet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 DATED THIS SECOND DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1994 BARBARA FREIFRAU VON LEPEL By her Patent Attorneys e t 15 DCULLEN CO BABR RIRA O EE A L HYGIENIC TOILET SEAT Abstract of the Disclosure A hygienic toilet construction having a seat that can be raised and lowered and which is covered with a protective paper covering. The paper covering can be removed from a case, against whose open front side the raised seat lies and the paper covering is arranged in the case. There is a discharge device arranged in the seat for removal of a paper covering which is activated by a lift drive by means of a Bowden cable or a rod assembly. The swing drive of the seat is effected either by means of an electric or hydraulic motor. C eI t( *~c i -I PBSIW'- Legend 1 Mounting 2 Bearing plate 3 Bearing plate 4 Plate Gear 6 Motor 7 Drive shaft 8 Cog wheel 9 Toothed belt Cog wheel 11 Drive shaft 12 Drive shaft busing 13 Clamp bushing 14 Clamp part Screws 16 Locking pin 17 18 Clamp bushing 19 Screws 20 Locking pin 21 Clamping lever 22 Bearing 23 Piston rod 24 Gas pressure spring 25 Bearing 26 Bearing 27 Hydraulic cylinder 28 Feed line 29 Feed line 30 Piston rod 31 Clamp piece 32 Arrow 33 34 Piston 35 Cylinder space 36 37 Bearing 38 Bolts 40 Cog wheel 41 42 Sliding clutch 43 Lever 44 Cam pin 45 Rod assembly C CC'' C C C C CC C C C F 4 46 Housing bushing 47 Lever 48 Axle 49 Cover plate Swivel plate 51 Seat 52 Arrow 53 Head 54 Cam wheel Control 56 Fastening device 57 Shaft 58 Screws 2 I :-k rr~ili