Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K13/00—Seats or covers for all kinds of closets
  • A47K13/24—Parts or details not covered in, or of interest apart from, groups A47K13/02 - A47K13/22, e.g. devices imparting a swinging or vibrating motion to the seats
  • A47K13/30—Seats having provisions for heating, deodorising or the like, e.g. ventilating, noise-damping or cleaning devices
  • A47K13/302—Seats with cleaning devices

Definitions

• the invention relates to an active seal system for sealing between two interlocking parts forming a space between them with means for distributing an agent in said space.
• the invention relates to a cleaning device for a toilet seat formed of a cleaning cavity piece and a seat that can fit into each other and ensure by means of seals active sealing the space created between the cleaning cavity piece and the seat so that a cleaning agent can be confined to this cavity or that this agent can only flow in the inner part from the toilet bowl
• a known device consists of a retractable arm provided with a cleaning device and a rotating bezel When it is activated, the arm positions on the seat a device of cleaning equipped with a flexible scraper while a motor rotates the telescope under the scraper
• This device implements a complicated and delicate mechanism whose life is limited By working by contact with the telescope the scraper can not eliminate the possible residues left on the seat after use, it only spreads them
• there is no way to clean the scraper and its support without external intervention Moreover, such a device does not allow install a cover covering the seat
• Another device proposes for example cleaning the bezel by placing it in a washing chamber disposed at the rear of the bowl In this case, it was even necessary to provide two interchangeable glasses to overcome the relatively long cleaning cycle during which toilet is without a seat In addition to its complexity, this type of device is cumbersome and its marketing has not been continued because it adapts badly or not at all to the space usually left between the bowl and the wall
• One of the aims of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of current devices made or proposed
• an object of the invention is to provide a device for cleaning a toilet seat that is simple, effective, economical and that is not likely to spill out of the bowl
• FIGS. 1a and 1b are partial side views of two possible embodiments of the sealing device between a lid and a container
• FIGS. 1c and 1d are partial side views showing how an active seal can shut off lights under the effect of pressure
• FIG. 2 is a partial sectional side view of the cleaning device according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the peripheral portion of the device represented in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the various members associated with the cleaning device according to the invention;
• FIG. 5a is a perspective view showing certain members associated with the cleaning device according to the invention.
• FIG. 5b represents another perspective view showing the open window widely used in the United States
• FIG. 5c represents a diagram explaining how the lid of the telescope can be pivoted so that its underside is not seen from the front
• FIG. 6 schematically represents various operating steps of the active joints according to the cleaning device of the invention
• FIG. 7a is a sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the drying module using a rotating turbine
• FIG. 7b is a sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the cleaning device covering the bowl
• FIG. 8a is a partial sectional side view of the inverted cleaning device according to the invention.
• FIG. 8b is a partial sectional side view of the inverted cleaning device illustrating an alternative embodiment of the cleaning device using a telescope that can be used on both sides,
• FIG. 9a is a side view and a top view of the pivoting device of the telescope;
• FIG. 9b presents another side view of the pivoting device of the telescope;
• the invention comprises, in a first possible embodiment, a cleaning device for a compound toilet seat, according to FIGS. 1a to 7b of an articulated cleaning cavity part 2 provided with inner and outer edges 3e and 3e capable of
• the device comprises in its upper part a conduit 5 pierced with orifices 6 for dispensing agents for cleaning and disinfecting the seat and a drying device 8 for the telescope and on its edges 3 ⁇ , 3e of the active joints 7 ⁇ , 7e for creating the seal between the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4 and to prevent the cleaning agent and / or disinfectant to enter the channels of the drying device 9 or to overflow on the outer portion of the bowl 10
• the articulated cleaning cavity part 2 may have the shape of a bezel lid and fulfill the dual function of protection and support of the cleaning device.
• the articulated cleaning cavity part 2 can be folded or lifted by hand, but this movement can advantageously be effected by an actuator 21 (see FIG. 4) comprising an electric motor, or a pneumatic motor or a hydraulic motor acting through a motion conversion member formed for example of a lever, a reducer or a helical device
• the drying unit 8 comprises, for example, a radial fan with or without a heating body producing a drying air flow associated with a channel 9 for directing this air flow on the telescope II may also be composed, as shown in Figure 7a of a small axial turbine 8, similar to that of a hair dryer, with or without a telescopic pipe 13 (see Figure 7a), to concentrate the air flow that it produces on a small radial part of the telescope 4 and thus expel residual cleaning liquids
• the turbine pivots about an axis 14 secured to the lid 2 so that the air flow it produces reaches the entire surface of the bezel
• a mechanism integral with the cover 2 and associated with the motor 8 of the turbine can ensure the rotation of the latter
• the orientation of the outlet nozzle 13 can be inclined so as to cause the turbine by reaction effect D
• the turbine may be placed at the rear of the lid, as shown for example in FIG.
• the drying air is then distributed through a tube housed in the lid.
• the drying device may also be advantageously be provided with a filter 16 (see Figure 7a) containing an odorant whose evaporation under the effect of the air flow sucked by the turbine 8 can spread good odors in the bowl and the room where is installed the WC
• the cleaning cavity piece 2 can be designed to cover the bowl 10, as shown in Figure 7b, and it can be advantageously provided with an additional active seal 7g for preventing odors from escaping
• the cleaning agent may advantageously consist of water that would come from the sanitary installation to which a dice agent infection could be added by an adequate dosing device
• the device ensuring the seal between the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4 is formed by the active joints in the form of deformable toroidal tubes 7 ⁇ , 7e fixed on the edges 3 ⁇ , 3e of the cleaning cavity part 2 facing each other. at the internal lateral edges 4 ⁇ and external 4th of the telescope to fulfill their function, which consists in sealing the space located between the edges of the telescope 4 ⁇ , 4th and those of the part forming the cleaning cavity 3 ⁇ , the third cores 7 ⁇ , 7e are deformed by hydraulic means, and / or pneumatic and / or electrical so that they apply on the side edges of the bezel 4 ⁇ , 4e and / or those of the cleaning cavity piece 3 ⁇ , 3e sufficient pressure for ensure a good hydraulic seal and thus confine the flow of the cleaning agent to a well-controlled area defined, delimited, for example, by the space between the bezel 4 and the cleaning cavity part 2
• the cores 7 ⁇ , 7e can be actuated individually and come to apply, depending on their expansion, on one or the other of the interfaces 3 ⁇ / 4 ⁇ , 3e / 4e
• the inner torus 7 ⁇ can thus close the lights of the drying device 9 while maintaining the seal between the bezel 4 and the cleaning cavity part 2
• the device ensuring the seal between the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4 can be used easily to plug in a simple and very effective way the space between two interlocking parts of any shape, closed or No, planar or three-dimensional
• the active seal which is the subject of the present invention, is more expandable than an ordinary full O-ring, it tolerates larger
• the clogging device can be composed of a single active seal disposed between the edge of a cylindrical container and its lid is inside thereof or outside as illustrated by the two cases shown schematically in Figures 1a and 1b 0
• the active joints 7 ⁇ , 7e can be attached to the edges 3 ⁇ , 3e of the cleaning cavity part 2 by glue, by one or more protuberances which are housed in a groove or be held by other mechanical means n ' not interferring with their function of clogging,
• the seals can also be attached in a manner similar to the edges 4 ⁇ , 4e of the telescope 4
• deformable seal which is the subject of the present invention, can be advantageously achieved by measuring the amount of liquid injected therein and / or the injection pressure.
• the seal itself can be provided with zones. variable elasticity made for example by changing its thickness, shape or elastic characteristics to perform additional functions, such as closing or opening flows in addition to its sealing function
• An O-ring illustrating this property of the invention may have, as shown in FIGS.
• the cleaning device comprises a programmable electronic module 22 for controlling in a given order the various elements of the engine cleaning system / actuator 21 for lowering or raising the lid, actuators of the active joints 7 ⁇ / 7e, distribution valves / cleaning agents 30 and engagement of the drying device 8
• an electronic module 22 may have for example a sensor 35 detecting the closure of the lid on the telescope, a sensor 23 indicating, for example, the availability of the disinfectant and an optical sensor 37 for example detecting the presence of a user and automatically triggering the cleaning process once the seat released
• the cleaning process can be triggered by the user by operating a manual control, passing the hand in front of a proximity sensor 37 or by folding the lid 2 on the bezel 4
• the cleaning process can also be triggered by an acoustic or other sensor detecting the action of the flushing of the bowl 10
• the electronic module 22 may be provided with memory elements and / or an internal clock to know, for example, whether a cleaning was carried out after the passage of the last user or to trigger during specified periods, or at specified time intervals, a standard cleaning or intensive cleaning performed, for example, by allowing the cleaning and / or disinfecting agent to act for a prolonged period of time or by changing the concentration thereof
• the electronic module 22 may also be provided with self-checking programs intended to perform a diagnosis of the device and provide, when interrogated, on site or remotely, information on its faults or potential damage.
• the device according to the invention shown in Figures 1a to 7b is designed to be mounted on a toilet seat with a bowl 10 and a telescope 4 may rest on the rim of the bowl, which may be a toilet bowl traditional
• the telescope 4 may be a traditional tiltable bezel, or a specially designed bezel
• the cleaning device comprises a cover 2 forming a cleaning cavity articulated on the rear edge of the bowl about a horizontal transverse axis 51 II comprises a motor 21 allowing raising or lowering the cleaning cavity part 2 between a position in which it covers the bezel 4 and a raised position in which it releases it completely
• the cleaning cavity piece 2 covers the bezel 4 so that it is located between its inner and outer edges 3e 3 ⁇ on which are disposed the active joints 7e, 7 ⁇ of elastic material
• a valve 27 actuated by the control module allows a pressurized fluid to enter the joints 7e, 7 ⁇ and deform them until they rest on the inner edges 4 ⁇ and outer 4e of the bezel 4 to ensure a perfect seal of the space between the bezel 4 and the cleaning cavity part 2
• the fluid used to deform the joints 7e, 7 ⁇ may be a gas contained in a pressure tank or a liquid contained in a reservoir 33 (see FIG. 4) in which a pressure is generated by the displacement of a piston 32 or the creation in this reservoir of pressure by any other means heating, exothermic chemical reaction, or explosion
• the displacement of the piston 32 associated with the fluid deforming the seals can be controlled in one or both directions by an electric motor or it can be actuated by the pressure of the water coming from the sanitary installation 40 as illustrated in Figure 4
• a simplification of the controls is achievable by combining the piston 32 a compression spring 31 to bring it back to its original position as soon as the pressure exerted by the water is removed by the opening, for example, the discharge valve 25
• a similar device can be achieved with an electric motor but it will be preferred, in this case, the simple electrical reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor
• the use of a piston 32 actuable in both directions can generate a pressure increase in one direction and a decrease in pressure in
• the liquid associated with the deformation of the seals may be water coming from the sanitary installation 28 under the pressure of the distribution network.
• the opening of a valve 27 connected to the network 28 on the one hand and the active joints 7th, 7 ⁇ on the other hand allow the water to engage under pressure and deform them until they exert the desired pressure detected by a pressure gauge 34 which causes the closure of the valve 27
• the closing of the valve 27 can be triggered by a circuit breaker (not shown in the drawings) actuated by one or the other or both active joints
• the suppression of the deformation of the joints 7 ⁇ is then achieved by opening the valve 25 allowing the water contained in the joints 7e, 7 ⁇ to flow, for example, in the bowl 10 of the toilet
• the activation of the joints 7e, 7 ⁇ described in the present invention can be achieved by resorting to other physical phenomena than those mentioned above
• the deformation by heating of a gas by means of a filament (for example embedded in the joints) or the use of shape memory materials or piezoelectric materials (present in the joints) making it possible to produce active joints may give a result similar to that previously described
• the internal seal 7 ⁇ is designed to close not only the space between the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4 but to shut off
• the joints 7e, 7 ⁇ can perform various other functions according to their state of deformation They can ensure in a state of maximum deformation the seal around the entire periphery of the bezel 4 or in a state of partial deformation ensure the sealing in certain areas and cancel in others, which allows, for example, to retain the cleaning fluid and disinfection in the space defined by the bezel 4 and the cleaning cavity part 2 and let it flow into the bowl 10 by the lower part of the bezel 4, a particularly advantageous arrangement when the entire bezel + lid is brought to a vertical position to accelerate, by example the evacuation of the cleaning liquid
• a valve 30 or a pump (not shown in the drawing) actuated by the module command 22 injects the cleaning liquid into the feed channel 5 which distributes it over the whole telescope 4 through the orifices 6 distributed over the telescope 4.
• the cleaning liquid can flow into the bowl 10 (see Figure 6 as for example) or remain confined in the space available between the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4 so that the disinfectant contained in the cleaning liquid can act for a prolonged period of time
• the cleaning liquid may be water from the sanitary installation 28 by means of an electromagnetic valve 30 controlled by the central unit 22.
• a given quantity of concentrated disinfectant may be added to the water of the plant. cleaning by a metering pump 24 also controlled by the central unit 22
• the drying unit 8 is composed of a turbine powered by an electric motor and an electric heating body making it possible to generate a flow of hot air 9 on the telescope intended to evaporate the residues of cleaning liquid by evaporation.
• the surface of the bezel 4 can be treated so that it retains only a minimum of cleaning liquid It can be covered with a special material facilitating the flow of liquids or be equipped with a microstructure to obtain the same effect
• a sufficient inclination of the bezel 4 towards the inside of the bowl 10 may be provided to optimize the flow but it is by straightening the assembly forming a cleaning cavity + bezel in a raised position that it is possible to optimize, in this embodiment, the evacuation of the cleaning liquid and reduce the amount of droplets remaining stuck to the surface of the telescope 4
• the drying device 8 can be installed in the center of the cleaning cavity part 2 and create an air flow by a radial diffuser 9.
• this device can be installed, as shown in FIG. 5b, in FIG. rear part the cleaning cavity part 2 and create a flow of drying air flowing in the space defined by the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4
• the drying device 8 can be Figure 7a shows a radial turbine described above.
• the drying can be carried out by simple evaporation without the aid of a drying device.
• the cleaning unit may also include various sensors for detecting, for example, the proper closure of the lid 2 on the bezel 4 or the presence of a user
• a switch 36, a pressure sensor 25 or a sensor optical 37 can advantageously perform these functions and provide information to the control unit 22
• a optical sensor 37 can also be used to trigger the cleaning process without the user having to touch a command
• the control unit 22 is equipped with a processor and circuits making it possible to interpret the signals of the sensors and to control the various functions of the device by means of motors and electromagnetic valves.
• the processor also has a memory in which it is possible to store various cleaning programs as well as various information relating to the use of the device Thanks to its internal clock, the processor can trigger special programs to perform, for example, intensive cleaning during periods of low use or trigger a spontaneous cleaning when the use of toilets is insufficient
• a control unit can be advantageously equipped with telecommunication means for transmitting, on request and / or spontaneously, information on the state of the system and / or the level of its reserves
• Such a device can also trigger, at a distance e, other devices such as a deodorant diffuser
• the operation of the toilet seat cleaning device according to the invention described above is as follows When a user approaches the WC, its presence is detected by the optical sensor 37 which triggers by means of the electronic control unit 22 the actuation of the motor 21 which rotates the cleaning cavity piece 2 upwardly about its axis 51 to reach the raised position The bezel 4 remains in its lowered position on the bowl 10 of the toilet The installation is then ready to be used
• the presence sensor 35 is active and prohibits any cleaning action until the user has finished his departure, reported to the control unit 22 by the presence sensor 35, or the noise generated by the flush, triggers the cleaning program, which is shown schematically for example in Figure 6
• This program starts by operating the motor 21 to lower the cleaning cavity part 2 on the bezel 4
• it actuates the inflator of the joints 7e, 7 ⁇ until they have reached the required shape and provide the desired seal between the cleaning cavity part 2 and the bezel 4
• the electronic unit 22 controls the opening of the valve 30 for feeding the cleaning orifices 6 disposed on the inner face of the cleaning cavity part 2
• the cleaning liquid rushes into the orifices 6 and just sprinkle the telescope 4 and fill the available space while producing significant swirls that facilitate the removal of any residues left by the user
• the assembly forming cavity cleaning + bezel is raised by the motor 21 in an almost vertical position and then the state of the joint 7 ⁇ is modified so that it allows the cleaning liquid
• the movement of the cleaning cavity piece can advantageously be supplemented by a rotation enabling it to be reversed as shown in FIG. 5c to conceal the cleaning device that can be seen in FIG. 5a.
• the device is simple and efficient It has few parts and can be made very robust so as to avoid the risk of deterioration and false maneuvers
• FIGS. 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b The device according to the invention shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b, is designed to be mounted on a toilet seat comprising a traditional toilet bowl.
• This device differs from that described in FIGS. 2 to 7 in that in that the piece forming a cleaning cavity 2, capable of conforming to the shape of the telescope 4, is located beneath the latter.
• this arrangement has the advantage of greatly reducing, if not completely eliminating, the possible residues of water and / or disinfectant from the surface of the telescope It eliminates or greatly simplifies the drying operation but it requires to rotate the telescope 4 on itself to present its "user" side, normally the one above, down
• FIGS. 9a and 9b Various pivoting devices, such as those illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 9a and 9b, may advantageously be envisaged.
• the telescope 4 is able to pivot about itself around two points of contact. rotation 12 materialized by the hubs of a fork 11 which allows to lift sufficiently the telescope 4 so that it can pivot on itself without hitting the bowl 10
• An active seal 7f can advantageously be used to seal the openings 16 through which the cleaning and / or disinfecting agent can flow.
• the fork 11 lifts the bezel so that it can rotate in the opposite direction and return to its normal position, face "user” upwards
• An ordinary lid, pivoting around a axis integral with the bowl 10 may be advantageously associated to protect the cleaned bezel and give a clear signal to the user
• the bezel 4 may be designed to be used on both sides
• the pivoting can also be carried out in an interesting manner according to the device shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9b.
• the bezel and capable of pivoting about the horizontal axis 51 is associated with the bezel 4 in its rear area
• the axis 51 is pivoted on itself by means of an actuator, not shown in the drawing , and the bezel 4 is raised by an angle sufficient to pivot about the axis 11 without hitting the bowl 10
• a device secured to the arm 11 and moved by an actuator, not shown HERE rotates the bezel 4 of 180 ° (steps 3a, 3b, 3c) then the arm goes down (step 5) to accommodate the bezel 4 in the cleaning cavity 2 In doing so it exposes upward the face that was previously in the cleaning cavity 2 and who is therefore cleaned in the previous cycle
• the arm 11 may also be provided with a device, which may use an actuator, not shown HERE, for sliding the telescope 4 along the arm 11 (steps 2 and 4 in FIG.
• an ordinary lid, not shown in the drawings, pivoting around an axis 15 integral with the bowl 10 may be advantageously associated to protect the telescope and give a clear signal to the user
• the active joints 7 ⁇ , 7e can remain in function while waiting for the next user or they can be activated when the control unit detects a user so as not to leave them all the time under pressure
• the active joints 7 ⁇ , 7e can be attached to the telescope 2 or to the piece forming cleaning cavity 4 They are designed so that associated with the grooves 3 ⁇ , 3e and 41, 4e they prevent the bezel 2 to come into contact with the cavity 4 under the effect of the weight of the user Safety stops 17 can be added in the cleaning cavity 2 to deal with the case of excessive overload
• FIGS. 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b does not require going to the vertical position to evacuate the cleaning and / or disinfecting agent.
• the cleaning cavity 2 may however be capable of pivoting about the axis. rotation 15 of the telescope and its lid to allow the user to lift the entire cleaning cavity + bezel and thus access the bowl to urinate example
• the devices shown schematically in Figures 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b can advantageously be associated with an electronic control unit 22 as shown schematically in FIG. 4 and described in more detail above
• the latter device is advantageous by simplifying the drying device II also comprises few parts and can be made very robustly to take into account the risk of deterioration and damage. false maneuvers
• the invention is not limited to the embodiments described by way of nonlimiting examples in the present description but its principle can be applied in many technical fields different from that of WC cleaning systems as indicated above. .
• the idea of active joints can actually be applied to other objects, such as barrels, boxes in which it is desired to effectively close and seal a portion of the object with another part as a lid. In such objects, this result is achieved by similarly applying the principles set out above for the case of a toilet cleaning device.

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• 2005
  • 2005-10-26 EP EP05825241A patent/EP1835834A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-10-26 WO PCT/IB2005/053501 patent/WO2006046208A1/fr active Application Filing

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