EP4088634A1

EP4088634A1 - Polyethylene terephthalate toilet seat

Info

Publication number: EP4088634A1
Application number: EP22170073.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro COMINOTTI
Original assignee: Cominotti Srl
Current assignee: Cominotti Srl
Priority date: 2021-05-12
Filing date: 2022-04-26
Publication date: 2022-11-16
Also published as: DE202022105882U1; IT202100012191A1

Abstract

A toilet seat (1) for a toilet according to the present invention comprises a seat (2) and/or a cover (3) made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Innovatively, a toilet seat made in this way is completely recyclable, durable, and has a level of aesthetics and solidity typical of high-end toilet seats. In fact, a toilet seat made in this way does not absorb acids and therefore prevents bad odors. Also, since it does not yellow, it maintains a high level of aesthetics over time. In addition, the toilet seat is very impact resistant and as solid as high-end toilet seats while having a low manufacturing cost. [Fig. 1]

Description

The present invention relates to a novel seat and/or cover for a toilet.
In the bathroom furnishing sector, particular attention is paid to the materials used for making bathroom accessories, from towel rails to toilet seats, which must ensure high levels of strength and quality. In addition to the aesthetics and functionality of bathroom accessories, safety for the health and well-being of the user are also very important aspects in the industry. Thinking about the toilet seat, that is to say the seat and the cover of the toilet, the material used for its manufacture must not cause any kind of damage to the body. Making a good toilet seat starts with the choice of raw material.
In the bathroom accessories industry, the use of plastics to make toilet seats is well known. These are mainly thermosetting resins, such as thermosetting urea (urea-formaldehyde), which has the appearance of ceramics, with a smooth, rigid surface. However, being a porous material, it has the disadvantage of being very absorbent and therefore with the passage of time the toilet seat gives off bad odors. In addition, thermosetting urea is a very fragile material, and the toilet seat therefore risks breaking at the slightest impact. Finally, thermosetting urea is a material that may not be reused or recovered, so the toilet seat must be disposed of using proper procedures.
Polyester resin toilet seats are also known in the industry, polyester resin being considered a top-of-the-line material due to a long production phase, which, however, raises the costs considerably. Further, although polyester resin does not absorb acids and is therefore optimal against odors, it will yellow in a short time. Finally, this material is also very fragile and not easy to dispose of.
From the point of view of the increasing attention paid to environmental protection, the disposal of the toilet seat at the end of its use or in the case of its replacement has become very important. As for the materials used up to now for the manufacture of plastic toilet seats, thermosetting urea, precisely because of the presence of urea, is a difficult material to dispose of, as is polyester.
In addition, the toilet seat must also provide strength, functionality and a certain level of aesthetics.
The object of the present invention is to make a toilet seat, i.e., a seat and cover for a sanitary toilet, which is completely recyclable and at the same time provides strength, functionality, and good aesthetics.
This object is achieved by a toilet seat, i.e., seat and cover for a toilet, according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the toilet seat.
The features and advantages of the toilet seat according to this invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a toilet seat, i.e., a seat and a cover, according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows the toilet seat of Fig. 1 applied to a toilet.

With reference to the attached figures, 1 has been used to indicate as a whole a toilet seat comprising a seat 2 and a cover 3 for a toilet 4.
The term "seat" refers to the annular portion that is employed when using the toilet in a seated position; the term "cover" refers to the element that may be placed on top of the seat, suitable for closing the toilet.
The toilet seat 1 is attached to the toilet 70 by a pair of hinges 5, each of which hinges the seat 2 and the cover 3 to the toilet 4.
In an example embodiment, the hinge 5 is provided with a damping mechanism to cushion the falling motion of the seat 2 or the cover 3, accompanying it during its rotation about the rotation axis X, in the descent from a substantially vertical open position to a substantially horizontal closed position while resting on the rim of the toilet 4.
The toilet seat 1 according to the present invention is made of polyethylene terephthalate. Thus, the seat 2 and/or the cover 3 is a solid body made of polyethylene terephthalate. The toilet seat 1 according to the present invention is therefore 100% recyclable.
The toilet seat 1 is made completely of polyethylene terephthalate. That is, both the seat 2 and the cover 3 are made of polyethylene terephthalate.
PET is a well-known material for packaging in the food, cosmetics, and pharmacological sectors, but it has never been used to make a toilet seat. In fact, being light and naturally transparent, as well as suitable for contact with food, it has always been a material associated with packaging in the food, cosmetics, and pharmacological fields. However, it is precisely these features of lightness and transparency, far removed from the solidity and white coloring typical of high-end toilet seats, that have meant that it has never been considered for the production of toilet seats.
Preferably, the material used is recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET). Recycled polyethylene terephthalate R-PET (Recycled PET) is a polymer obtained through recovery and recycling processes of common PET, which involve sorting, washing, shredding, and melting of plastic materials. Preferably, the material used is recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) obtained from post-consumer PET bottle flakes and/or PET bottle scraps from industrial production.
Preferably, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) has an intrinsic viscosity (1% w/vol DCA) between 0.5 and 0.11 dL/g, preferably about 0.8 dL/g.
Preferably, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) has a density between 1.0 g/cm3 and 1.6 g/cm3, preferably about 1.3 g/cm3.
Preferably, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) has a melting point between 245°C and 265°C, preferably about 255°C.
Preferably, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) comprises acetaldehyde in an amount < 3 ppm, preferably < 1.5 ppm, as measured by the MC_PET-009 method.
Preferably, dye is added to the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) for a better aesthetic appearance of the toilet seat 1. Preferably, the dye is white.
The toilet seat 1 according to the present invention is obtained by molding.
Preferably, to avoid obvious scratches, the surface finish is not smooth and glossy, but rough and opaque. Preferably, the surface finish is obtained directly by molding.
The toilet seat 1, i.e., the seat 2 and the cover 3, both consist of a solid body made of polyethylene terephthalate by injection molding: i.e., there are no layers and no additions of other material.
The toilet seat 1, i.e., the seat 2 and the cover 3, does not require any painting step: the color is obtained by adding a colorant pigment directly to the polyethylene terephthalate during the injection molding stage. For example, the white dye pigment is added to polyethylene terephthalate at a rate of 5% to 10%, preferably 8%. For example, for colors other than white, the color pigment is added to the polyethylene terephthalate at a rate of less than 5%, preferably 4%. Preferably, the colorant pigment is a PET-based colorant, resulting in a fully recyclable seat.
The seat 2 and the cover 3 are both made of a single body in polyethylene terephthalate obtained by injection molding that does not require subsequent processing, such as deburring, polishing, and other surface treatments.
The seat 2 and cover 3 both consist of a single solid body made exclusively of fully recyclable recycled polyethylene terephthalate.
Innovatively, a toilet seat, i.e., a seat and a cover for a toilet, made of polyethylene terephthalate according to the present invention is fully recyclable, durable, and has a level of aesthetics and solidity typical of high-end toilet seats. In fact, a toilet seat made in this way does not absorb acids and therefore prevents bad odors. Also, since it does not yellow, it maintains a high level of aesthetics over time. In addition, the toilet seat is very impact resistant and as solid as high-end toilet seats while having a low manufacturing cost.
Advantageously, a toilet seat, i.e., a seat and cover for a toilet, made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate is also environmentally sustainable, as it is derived from flakes of post-consumer PET bottles and/or PET bottle scraps from industrial production.
It is understood that a person skilled in the art could make modifications to the device described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Toilet seat (1) for a toilet, comprising a seat (2) and/or a cover (3), and characterized in that said seat (2) and/or cover (3) is made as a solid body of polyethylene terephthalate.
Toilet seat (1) according to claim 1, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate is recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET).
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the seat (2) consists of a solid body made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET), and also the cover (3) consists of a solid body made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET).
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate is colored with a PET-based colorant.
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate has an intrinsic viscosity (1% w/vol DCA) of between 0.5 and 0.11 dL/g, preferably about 0.8 dL/g.
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate has a density between 1.0 g/cm3 and 1.6 g/cm3, preferably about 1.3 g/cm3.
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate has a melting point between 245°C and 265°C, preferably about 255°C.
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate comprises acetaldehyde in the amount of <3 ppm, preferably <1.5 ppm, measured with the MC_PET-009 method.
The toilet seat (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein white colorant is added to the polyethylene terephthalate.
Toilet seat (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said seat (2) and/or cover (3) has a rough and opaque surface finishing.