EP3960054A1 - Toilet seat fitting and method for manufacturing a toilet seat fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet seat set and a method for producing such a toilet seat set are disclosed, in which consumers integrated in a toilet seat are supplied with energy inductively.

Description

The invention relates to a toilet seat set according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for producing such a toilet seat set.

In the case of toilet seat sets with a seat and a cover, there are various approaches for supplying electrical consumers integrated therein with electrical energy.

In the pamphlet WO 2016/020409 A1 , which goes back to the applicant, a toilet seat set is disclosed in which electrical consumers, such as a seat heater and a sensor, are integrated on the seat side. These consumers are supplied with power via a control unit known as a technology box, which is placed on the ceramic and on which the seat and the cover are preferably mounted. The electrical contact is made via electrical lines that are routed from the electrical consumers in the seat or in the cover to the control unit. If the seat or the cover is to be removed, this line connection must first be released. Another problem with such solutions is that the line connection between the power supply and the toilet seat set must be carefully covered so that contamination is prevented.

In the DE 10 2016 108 379 A1 the applicant describes a toilet seat set in which further sensors for the direct or indirect detection of physiological or health-specific parameters/vital parameters of a user are integrated. The parameter itself or a value required for the calculation of the parameter can be detected via these sensors. For example, a BMI (Body Mass Index) can be calculated from the recorded weight with knowledge of the height. In principle, such a sensor arrangement Vital data such as pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, body fat percentage, blood sugar content, etc. can also be recorded.

The power supply of these electrical consumers and the data exchange between the technology box and the sensors is problematic, since there is little space left within the toilet seat set for line/cable routing. Solutions are known in which the individual lines are routed through the block and the seat joint arrangement into the technology box. This number of lines requires a lot of installation space in an area in which dampers and actuators/motors are also arranged.

In the WO 2017/029369 A1 The applicant describes a toilet seat joint arrangement in which the power supply/energy supply takes place via lines, with a plug part being provided in the area of a damper of the toilet seat joint arrangement, to which a seat and/or cover-side plug counterpart is assigned. Thus, when assembling the toilet seat set, in which the toilet seat joint arrangement is brought into operative connection with the toilet seat and the toilet lid, the electrical connection can be made relatively easily by connecting the plug part to the plug counterpart. In a preferred embodiment described in the last-mentioned publication, the connection to the external power supply then takes place via the ceramic-side fastening pins, so that an electrical plug-in connection is also provided in the connection area of the fastening pin to an adapter piece of the damper.

However, this version, which is optimized with regard to assembly, also has the above-described disadvantage that a great deal of effort is required for the electrical contacting between the external power supply and the electrical loads on the seating set.

With such solutions, the electrical consumers (seat heating, sensors) can be integrated into the cover or seat during pressing/injection molding, but the cabling/line routing is still problematic outside of these components, especially in the area of the toilet seat joint arrangement.

In the publication that can also be attributed to the applicant DE 10 2010 010 881 A1 a toilet seat set is shown with a motorized drive for opening/closing the seat or the lid. The actuator is supplied with power via the pins described above.

In the patent application DE 10 2019 110 281 A1 describes a toilet seat set that solves the aforementioned problems in relation to the wiring. There, wireless energy transmission is proposed, with opposing coupling coils being arranged in the seat and the cover, which enable energy transmission between the cover and the seat. Alternatively and/or additionally, the coupling coils can also transfer energy between a ceramic and the seat and/or between a wall or a cistern and the lid. The energy supply provided for the basic supply of a primary coil, ie a transmitter emitting energy, can be wired, so that only one cable harness is sufficient to supply the electrical consumers of the toilet seat set with electrical energy. Other exemplary embodiments have electrical storage elements that are mounted in the seat and/or the cover, so that the electrical loads still fulfill their function independently of a permanent power supply.

In the pamphlet DE 20 2011 108 948 U1 a toilet seat set is described in which the energy supply for a seat heater also takes place via wireless energy transmission. A primary coil and a secondary coil for contactless energy transmission are integrated in a technology box and in a toilet seat. In addition, the seat has an energy store in the form of a rechargeable battery, which is charged via the secondary coil, so that the seat heating can be supplied with energy via the rechargeable battery.

Such a solution is very complex, since the integration of the battery into the seat contour is problematic both in terms of design and also in terms of manufacturing complexity.

Similar complex solutions are also in the publications JP 2010-125241A and JP 2009-201559 A described, in each of which a contactless energy transfer is used to power a seat heater.

In the U.S. 2019/0203455 A1 a toilet is described in which a primary coil is arranged on the ceramic side and the secondary coils are arranged on the seating set side. A disadvantage of such a solution is that the seating set is only designed for use with this type of ceramic, so that it cannot be used on other types of ceramic.

One problem with the solutions described above, in which a receiver module is integrated into the seat, is that the integration of the receiver module into the seat during pressing or injection molding requires a high level of manufacturing complexity. In addition, care must be taken to ensure that the surface quality of the toilet seat is not negatively affected by the wall thickness variations in the area of the receiver module mount.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a toilet seat set and a method for producing such a toilet seat set, through which the integration of a receiver module of a contactless energy transmission (near-field energy transmission) is simplified.

This object is achieved with regard to the toilet seat set by the features of patent claim 1 and with regard to the method by the combination of features of the independent patent claim 12 .

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The toilet seat set according to the invention is designed with a seat and a cover, which are pivotally connected to a technology box via a toilet seat joint arrangement. This can be fixed to a ceramic by means of fasteners on the ceramic side. The toilet seat is designed with at least one electrical load, for example a seat heater or a light source (for example an LED module), to which electrical energy is supplied via a power supply device. This device has an energy transmission device that is designed for contactless energy transmission, which takes place between the technology box and the seat. A receiver coil is arranged on the seat side and a transmitter coil on the technology box side. According to the invention, it is provided that the toilet seat has two shells, with the receiver coil and the associated electronics being inserted before the shell parts are assembled.

It is thus possible to design the receiving space and the shell parts with regard to the desired design on the one hand and to create sufficient space to hold the receiver coil and electronics on the other.

Accordingly, the method according to the invention provides, first of all, preferably by pressing, to form two shell parts which, in the assembled state, delimit a receiving space. Before assembly, according to the method according to the invention - as explained above - the receiver coil with the associated electronics is mounted in the area of a shell part and in a subsequent process the two shell parts are connected to one another so that the receiver coil and the associated control electronics are integrated precisely into the toilet seat are.

According to the invention, it is preferred if the two shell parts are glued to one another along joining surfaces.

These joining surfaces can, for example, have joining areas that are positioned in relation to one another. In this case, a joining projection on one shell part can dip into a joining recess of the other shell part, with the respective joining surfaces being positioned approximately at right angles to one another.

As mentioned, it is preferred according to the invention if the excitation coil is accommodated in the accommodation space together with the associated control electronics/control board.

The structure of the toilet seat set is particularly compact if the shell part of the toilet seat facing the technology box is recessed, into which the technology box at least immerses the area accommodating the transmitter coil, so that when the seat is closed it is operatively connected to supply energy to the consumer with the seat-side excitation coil.

This step back is preferably designed in such a way that it covers the area of the technology box towards the ceramic.

The compact design can be further improved if a seat ring edge between the toilet seat joint and the transmitter coil dips into a correspondingly designed channel-shaped recess in the technology box. This ensures a very flat design of the toilet seat set, whereby the two coils can be positioned very close together and in a parallel arrangement to increase the efficiency of the near-field transmission.

With such a concept, it is particularly preferred if a seat ring width is greater in the area covering the technology box than in the user-side area remote from the technology box.

The coils are preferably designed as flat coils.

The quality of the toilet seat set is further improved if the shell parts and also the toilet lid are pressed from UREA or a similar material.

• Figur 1 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen WC-Sitzgarnitur;
• Figur 2 einen Schnitt entlang der in Figur 1 angedeuteten mittleren Schnittebene A-A;
• Figur 3 eine Detaildarstellung des Schnitts gemäß Figur 2;
• Figur 4 eine Seitenansicht der WC-Sitzgarnitur gemäß Figur 1 in geschlossenem Zustand;
• Figur 5 eine dreidimensionale Ansicht eines WC-Sitzes der WC-Sitzgarnitur gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 4;
• Figur 6 einen Schnitt entlang der in Figur 1 angedeuteten Mittelebene A-A und
• Figur 7 eine Detaildarstellung des Schnitts gemäß Figur 6.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below using schematic drawings. Show it:

• figure 1 a three-dimensional representation of a toilet seat set according to the invention;
• figure 2 a cut along the in figure 1 indicated middle section plane AA;
• figure 3 a detail view of the cut according to figure 2 ;
• figure 4 according to a side view of the toilet seat set figure 1 in closed condition;
• figure 5 a three-dimensional view of a toilet seat of the toilet seat set according to Figures 1 to 4 ;
• figure 6 a cut along the in figure 1 indicated center plane AA and
• figure 7 a detail view of the cut according to figure 6 .

figure 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a toilet seat set 1 designed according to the invention in the open state, ie in the state in which it has been lifted off a ceramic piece, not shown. This toilet seat set 1 has a technology box 2 on which a toilet seat 8 and a toilet lid 10 are articulated via toilet seat joints 4, 6. The technology box 2 is attached to the ceramic by means of fasteners (not shown), which can be designed as a take-off system so that the toilet seat set 1 can be easily removed from the ceramic for replacement and cleaning. In the support area of the toilet seat 8, buffers 12 are provided in a manner known per se, along which the toilet seat set is supported on the ceramic.

In the illustrated embodiment, the technology box 2 is approximately rectangular, with side walls 14, 16 sloping down towards the ceramic, so that a corresponding end face 18 is formed, the height of which is less than that of a rear wall 20. In the middle area, the end face 18 is approximately V-shaped or stepped back in a trapezoidal shape to ensure a better adaptation to the ceramic.

figure 2 shows a section along the in figure 1 indicated center plane AA. In this sectional view it can be seen that the toilet cover 10 almost completely surrounds the toilet seat 8 in the open position. As will be explained in more detail below, the toilet seat 8 is formed from two switching parts, specifically an upper part 22 on the cover side and a lower part 24 on the ceramic side/buffer side, which together form the seat ring, with the rear clamps 26 are formed, into which the above-described toilet seat joints dip, of which in the figure 2 only one is provided with a reference number 4 . The structure of such toilet seat joints 4, 6 is known, so that further explanations are unnecessary.

The upper part 22 and the lower part 24 delimit a preferably ring-shaped receiving space 28 in which a receiver module 30 of an inductive energy supply for loads integrated into the seat is received. Accordingly, a consumer accommodated in the toilet seat 8 , for example a seat heater or a light source (LED module), can be inductively supplied with energy via the receiver module 30 . This seat heater can, for example, likewise be accommodated in the accommodation space 28 or else in one of the shell parts, for example in the upper part 22 . The transmitter module 32 associated with the inductive energy supply is integrated into the technology box 2 in the exemplary embodiment shown, a joint bracket 34 for supporting the WC seat joint arrangement also being formed on this.

A seat ring width B is greater in the area of the technology box 2 than a seat ring width b in the area remote from it.

More details will be given based on figure 3 explained, which shows a detailed representation of the console-side area of the toilet seat set 1 . In this representation you can see quite well that the seat-side clamps 26 (only one of the clamps is in the figures 2 and 3 provided with a reference number) is made in one piece with the upper part 22 of the toilet seat. The lower part 24 is inserted into the upper part 22, so that this surrounds the lower part along the entire seat ring with side walls 36, 38 and a seat wall 40 and thus covers it from the outside.

The lower part 24 has in accordance with the sectional view figure 3 a correspondingly formed approximately U-shaped cross-section with peripheral walls 42, 44, between which a bottom wall 46 extends, which runs approximately parallel to the seat wall 40. This parallel spacing is selected such that the receiving space 28 into which the receiver module 30 is inserted is formed essentially between the seat wall 40 and the bottom wall 46 . Of course there can be more electrical consumers, for example a seat heater or a lamp or the like, can be integrated into the receiving space 28 . This can extend along the entire seat ring or only in sections.

In the illustrated embodiment, joining surfaces are formed in the area of the peripheral side walls 36, 38, via which the contact surface of the lower part 24 on the upper part 22 is enlarged. In the embodiment according to figure 3 a joining projection 50 with joining surfaces 52, 54 arranged approximately at right angles to one another is formed on the upper part side, and a joining recess 56 with joining surfaces 58, 60 likewise set approximately at right angles to one another is assigned to the lower part side. The joining projection 50 dips into the joining recess 56 so that the lower part 24 is precisely fixed in position with respect to the upper part 22 as a result of this configuration of the annular joining regions. The connection is made via an adhesive bond 62, which is figure 3 is indicated below.

According to the invention, before the lower part 24 is glued to the upper part 22 , the transmitter module 30 (and possibly other components arranged in the receiving space 28 ) is inserted, whereby it can be inserted into the upper part 62 or placed on the lower part 24 . After this assembly and fixing of the position of the receiver module 30 and the other consumers, the upper part 22 and the lower part 24 are then positioned relative to one another and glued, it being possible for this glueing to be carried out as a hot glueing.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the receiver module 30 has a receiver coil 64 designed as a flat coil, which is arranged on a control circuit board 66 or is in contact with it, via which the consumers are actuated/controlled.

The peripheral wall of the lower part 24 is designed with a step back 68 in the area of the technology box 2, which is designed such that the area of the technology box 2 that accommodates the transmitter module 32 dips into this step back 68 and is thus covered on the outside.

According to the illustration in figure 3 the transmitter module 32 is also designed with a control circuit board 72 accommodating the control electronics, which circuit board carries a transmitter coil 74 in the exemplary embodiment shown. This is fixed in position, for example, via a centering hub 76 in the technology box 2 . This can be designed in a manner known per se with a housing base which is covered by a cover 78 on which the centering hub 76 described above is also formed. A channel-shaped recess 80 is provided on the technology box 2 in the area between the swivel bracket 34 and the part of the technology box 2 that accommodates the transmitter module 32, into which, when the toilet seat 8/toilet lid 10 is closed, a section of the peripheral walls of the toilet seat 8 immersed so that it is flush with the ceramic.

You can see this in figure 4 , which shows a side view of the closed toilet seat set with the toilet seat 8 and the toilet lid 10 that largely covers it. As explained above, the technology box 2 dips as far as possible into the toilet seat 8 , in particular the lower part 24 with the recess 68 and the recess 80 . In the closed state shown, the toilet seat set rests on the ceramic 82 via the buffers 12 .

figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the toilet seat 8 with the toilet lid 10 removed. Accordingly, rotary pistons 84 of a damper of the toilet seat joints 4, 6 protrude laterally from the blocks 26a, 26b, with these rotary pistons 84 being either non-rotatably or rotatably in operative engagement with the corresponding block of the toilet seat 10 are, so that accordingly both the lowering movement of the toilet seat 8 and the lowering movement of the toilet seat 10 is damped.

figure 6 shows a section through the toilet seat 8 along the figure 1 indicated sectional plane, which corresponds to a median plane of the toilet seat set. figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the area on the pin side in figure 6 . Accordingly, the transmitter coil 74 and the receiver coil 64 are positioned within the technology box 2 or the receiving space 28 in such a way that in the closed state they are positioned relative to one another such that the inductive transmission of energy is made possible. The two control boards 66, 72 to the upper part 22 or to Ceramic 82 oriented towards so that the coils 64, 74 are arranged between the two boards 66, 72 and thus the near-field transmission is optimized. In this representation one can also clearly see how the part of the technology box 2 accommodating the transmitter module 32 dips into the recess 68 of the lower part 24 . Correspondingly, a joint-side peripheral area of the toilet seat 8 dips into the recess 80, so that the overall height of the toilet seat set in relation to the ceramic is minimal and a flat rest on this is ensured.

In the representation according to figure 7 For clarification, the joining recess 56 with the joining surfaces 58, 60 and the joining projection 50 with the joining surfaces 52, 54 are shown again, with the adhesive bond being introduced along this circumferential joining area.

As explained above, an inductive, electromagnetic alternating field is generated via the transmitter coil 74 of the transmitter module 32, which is accommodated in the technology box 2, and the receiver coil 64 of the receiver module 30, which is integrated into the toilet seat 8, in the closed position, whereby the energy is transmitted by mutual induction between the two coils 64, 74. The AC voltage induced in the receiver coil 64 is rectified and passed on via the control electronics to the consumers integrated in the toilet seat 8, for example seat heating or lamps.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two coils 64, 74 are only aligned for inductive energy transmission when the toilet seat 8 is closed. If the toilet seat 8 is in a different position, for example in an open position, there is no transmission of energy and therefore no supply to the consumers. Such a concept enables the consumers to be controlled without complex sensors or switches.

Of course, the technology box can also be designed in such a way that it enables the consumers to be activated independently of the pivoting of the toilet seat.

A toilet seat set and a method for producing such a toilet seat set are disclosed, in which consumers integrated in a toilet seat are supplied with energy inductively.

Reference sign

1

toilet seat set

2

technical box

4

seat joint

6

seat joint

8th

WC seat

10

toilet lid

12

buffer

14

sidewall

16

sidewall

18

face

20

rear panel

22

top

24

lower part

26

cock

28

recording room

30

receiver module

32

transmitter module

34

swivel console

36

Side wall

38

Side wall

40

seat panel

42

peripheral wall

44

peripheral wall

46

bottom wall

50

joining projection

52

mating surface

54

mating surface

56

joint recess

58

mating surface

60

mating surface

62

bonding

64

receiver coil

66

control board

68

demotion

72

control board

74

transmitter coil

76

center hub

78

lid

80

deepening

82

pottery

84

rotary piston

Claims (13)

Toilet seat set with a toilet seat (8) and a toilet lid (10) which are pivotably connected to a technology box (2) which can be connected to a ceramic (82) via fastening means on the ceramic side, the toilet seat ( 8) is designed with at least one electrical consumer and with a device for supplying power to the electrical consumer, which has an energy transmission device designed for contactless inductive energy transmission, this taking place between the technology box (2) and the toilet seat (8), wherein a receiver coil (64) is arranged on the seat side and a transmitter coil (74) on the technology box side, characterized in that the toilet seat has two shell parts which, when assembled, delimit a receiving space (28) in which the receiver coil (64) with the control electronics is recorded. Toilet seat set according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil (64) is inserted into the receiving space (28) before the shell parts are connected. Toilet seat set according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two shell parts are glued. Toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver coil (64) is accommodated on a control circuit board (66) which is also arranged in the accommodation space (28). Toilet seat set according to one of the preceding patent claims, wherein a setback (68) is formed on the shell part facing the technology box (2), into which the technology box (2) immerses at least with an area accommodating the transmitter coil (74), so that this closed toilet seat (8) for supplying energy to the consumer in operative connection with the receiver coil (64). Toilet seat set according to patent claim 5, wherein the stepped back (68) covers the area of the technology box (2) towards the ceramic (82). Toilet seat set according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a seat ring edge between a toilet seat joint (4, 6) and the transmitter coil (74) dips into a correspondingly designed channel-shaped depression (80) in the technology box (2). Toilet seat set according to patent claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein a seat ring width is greater in the area covering the technology box (2) than in the areas remote from the technology box (2). Toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coils are flat coils. Toilet seat fitting according to one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the shell parts, preferably made of urea, are pressed. Toilet seat set according to one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the shell parts bear against one another along joining surfaces (52, 54, 58, 60) which are positioned in relation to one another, these preferably being positioned approximately at right angles to one another. Method for producing a toilet seat set (1) with a toilet seat (8) and a toilet lid (10) which are pivotably connected to a technology box (2) and which can be connected to a ceramic (82) via fastening means, wherein the toilet seat (8) is designed with at least one electrical consumer and wherein a device for supplying power to this electrical consumer is provided, which has an energy transmission device designed for contactless inductive energy transmission between the technology box (2) and the toilet -Seat (8) takes place, with a receiver coil (64) on the seat side and a transmitter coil (74) on the technology box side and the toilet seat (8) has two shell parts which, when assembled, have a delimit the receiving space (48) in which the receiver coil (46) is received, with the two shell parts being produced first, the receiver coil (46) and the associated control electronics being inserted in at least one of the shell parts in a subsequent work step, and the two shell parts then being connected to one another will. Method according to claim 12, wherein the connection is made by gluing.

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