EP4374757A1 - Toilet lid and toilet seat assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet lid and a toilet seat set designed with such a lid are disclosed. The toilet lid has a cavity (18) for accommodating functional components, such as an electrical consumer, a power supply and/or a sensor system for detecting parameters or vital parameters used in the operation of the toilet seat set (1), wherein the lid (2) has at least two shells (14, 16) which are connected to one another approximately circumferentially and which together delimit the cavity (18) at least in sections.

Description

The invention relates to a toilet lid according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a toilet seat set designed with such a toilet lid.

Such a toilet lid is known, for example, from the patent EN 10 2019 110 281 B4 of the applicant. This patent discloses a toilet seat in which electrical functional components, such as an electrical consumer, a sensor system for detecting parameters used in the operation of the toilet seat or vital parameters are supplied with energy without contact via an inductive near-field transmission. Sensors and also coils, such as a transmitter coil, can be integrated into the toilet lid. According to the disclosure of the EN 10 2019 110 281 B4 These functional components can be inserted into the tool during the production of the toilet lid during molding (pressing, injection molding) and then pressed or overmolded. Alternatively, it is suggested that a cavity be formed during molding into which the functional component is then inserted.

Such a cavity is usually adapted to the contour of the functional component, so that considerable effort is required in terms of device technology, especially in the design of the tool.

A similar solution is found in the patent application also filed by the applicant. EP 3 960 054 A1 in which the transmitter coil is not integrated in a toilet lid but in a technology box of the toilet seat, in which other functional components are also accommodated. In this concept, a receiver coil is inserted into a cavity in the toilet lid, in which a seat heating and other sensors or lighting can also be installed. A corresponding arrangement is also shown in the US 2019/0 038 009 A1 disclosed.

A disadvantage of such solutions is that the realization of the technology box involves a considerable amount of equipment and also takes up a considerable amount of installation space.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a toilet lid and a toilet seat set made therewith, which enable the integration of functional components with little effort.

This object is achieved with regard to the toilet lid by the features of patent claim 1 and with regard to the toilet seat set by the features of the independent patent claim 11.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The toilet lid according to the invention is designed for use with a toilet seat and has a cavity for accommodating functional components, such as an electrical consumer (seat heating, lighting), a power supply and/or a sensor system for recording parameters or vital parameters used in the operation of the toilet seat or for forming a fluid reservoir. The lid is made of two shells that are connected to one another approximately on the circumference and that together delimit the cavity for accommodating the functional components. This two-shell structure makes it possible to design the lid with considerable stability, with the circumferential connection of the two shells making it possible to form a cavity with a comparatively large volume for accommodating the functional components.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bowls are designed with an upper bowl on the visible side (top view of the toilet seat with the lid closed) and a lower bowl on the toilet seat side, which together complement each other to form the toilet lid.

These shells are comparatively large and designed to match the contour of the toilet seat and can have reinforcing ribs that further improve the stability of the toilet lid.

The peripheral connection of the two shells is preferably made by means of a material bond, in particular by gluing or welding. Of course, alternatively or additionally, a force-fit connection by locking, screwing or the like is also possible.

The aesthetic appearance of the toilet lid can be further improved if the upper shell encloses the lower shell on the circumference so that the lower shell is not visible when viewed from above.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two brackets are formed on the toilet lid, via which the toilet lid can be connected to a toilet seat in an articulated manner by means of a toilet seat hinge arrangement. This seat hinge arrangement can then be designed with a soft-close mechanism, for example. It is particularly preferred if the cavity is formed adjacent to the brackets.

The production of the toilet lid is particularly simple if the hinges are formed on the upper shell, so that a smooth surface structure is ensured in the transition area from the upper shell to the hinge in the top view.

In the embodiments with a clamp, it is particularly preferred if the cavity extends over a width of the lid which corresponds approximately to a distance between the clamps.

In a variant of the invention, sensors, in particular sensors for detecting vital parameters, are arranged on the toilet lid in an oriented manner with respect to an upper or lower wall of the toilet lid.

The sensors can be covered by the wall on the upper shell or the lower shell or can be inserted into a pocket or recess in the wall.

The toilet seat set according to the invention accordingly has such a toilet lid, which is connected to a toilet seat via a toilet seat joint arrangement. The latter can also be designed with multiple shells, with further functional components then being integrated on the seat side.

• Figur 1 eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen WC-Sitzgarnitur in einer Schließstellung;
• Figur 2 eine Oberschale eines WC-Deckels der WC-Sitzgarnitur gemäß Figur 1 ;
• Figur 3 eine Figur 2 entsprechende Ansicht, wobei eine Unterschale an die Oberschale angesetzt ist und
• Figur 4 einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittebene A-A in Figur 3.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

• Figure 1 a side view of a toilet seat according to the invention in a closed position;
• Figure 2 an upper shell of a toilet lid of the toilet seat set according to Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 one Figure 2 corresponding view, with a lower shell attached to the upper shell and
• Figure 4 a section along the section plane AA in Figure 3 .

In Figure 1 an embodiment of a toilet seat set 1 is shown, which is designed with a toilet lid 2 according to the invention. This is connected in an articulated manner via a toilet seat joint arrangement 4 to a toilet seat 6, which in turn is supported on a ceramic 10 via buffers 8. In the embodiment shown, a peripheral wall 12 of the lid 2 encompasses a large part of the circumference of the seat 6, so that only the area of the seat 6 that protrudes towards the ceramic 10 is visible.

As will be explained in more detail below, the toilet seat, in particular the lid 2, is designed with electrical components that are essential for the function of the toilet seat 1. These components can be, for example, sensors for recording vital parameters, parts of an electrical power supply or a sensor system for recording the operating state of the toilet seat 1. Of course, other control elements for the toilet seat 1 can also be integrated. In the concept according to the invention, at least some of these functional components are integrated into the lid 2. This can be seen from Figure 2 explained.

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a part of the Figure 1 This is, as explained in more detail below, essentially made up of two shell parts, one in Figure 2 shown upper shell 14 and one in Figure 3 and Figure 4 visible lower shell 16. The two shell parts 14, 16 together define a cavity 18 in which functional components of the toilet seat set 1 are accommodated. This concept departs from conventional solutions in which such functional components are integrated into the seat 6.

In the Figure 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cavity 18 is formed with an additional recess, which in the exemplary embodiment shown forms an approximately rectangular receptacle 20 for control electronics 22 and at least part of a power supply, for example a receiver coil (coupling element) 24 of an inductive energy transmission device. As in Figure 2 As further indicated, several pockets 28a, 28b, 30a, 30b are provided on/in a cover wall 26 of the lid 2, into which sensors, lamps or the like can be inserted. This will be explained below with reference to Figure 4 explained in more detail.

In the embodiment shown, the upper shell 14 is formed with a circumferential wall 32, which in the illustration according to Figure 2 extends out of the plane of the drawing towards the viewer and encompasses the cover wall 26. Two spaced-apart clamps 34, 36 are arranged on a rear, straight rear edge 38 of the peripheral wall 32, which is approximately U-shaped in the view according to Figure 2. These are connected in a rotationally fixed or pivotable manner to dampers of the toilet seat joint arrangement 4, so that the lowering movement of the lid 2 or the seat 6 is dampened. The receptacle 20 preferably has a width which corresponds approximately to the distance A between the clamps 34, 36 and thus to the length of the rear edge 38.

As in Figure 3 As indicated, the cavity 18 with the functional components (control electronics 22, receiver coil 24, etc.) is covered upwards, ie towards the viewer, by the mentioned lower shell 16, so that the cavity 18 is completely closed. As can be seen from Figure 4 As explained in more detail, the lower shell 16 is also designed in cross-section with a U-profile, i.e. a side wall 40 designed according to the contour of the peripheral wall 32, which is surrounded by the peripheral wall 32, so that the peripheral wall 32 with the rear edge 38 and the other areas surrounds the peripheral side wall 40 of the lower shell 16. The overlapping areas of the side wall 40 and the peripheral wall 32 are then connected to one another in a suitable material/force-locking manner. Since the upper shell 14 with the peripheral wall 32 completely surrounds the lower shell 16 with the side wall 40, the two-part structure is practically invisible from the outside. Any joining surfaces are smoothed by polishing after the two shell parts have been put together.

Figure 4 shows a section along the section line AA in Figure 3 , whereby the sectional view is rotated by 180° so that the two clamps 34, 36 in the view after Figure 4 point downwards. In this illustration, the U-shaped structure of the upper shell 14 in cross-section with the large-area cover wall 26 and the surrounding peripheral wall 32 can be clearly seen. As explained, pockets 28a, 28b are formed in the cover wall 26, in which, for example, sensors 42a, 42b for recording an ECG are arranged. The circuit for measuring value recording and measurement value evaluation of this ECG device can also be integrated in the cover 2, for example in the control electronics 22. This can then be connected, for example, via a radio link to a central computer for evaluating the ECG.

An advantage of such a solution is that the user can sit very comfortably on the lid 2, since the large-surface cover wall 26, for example also optimized by suitable choice of material or padding, is much more comfortable than the seat ring, which is optimized with regard to its function in interaction with the ceramic 10.

Of course, other sensors can also be provided to record vital parameters, for example to record body weight, blood pressure or the like.

As explained, the peripheral wall 32 surrounds the lower shell 16, which is designed with a side wall 40, which in the embodiment shown lies flat against the peripheral wall 32, so that a material connection can be made along this contact area 44 by gluing, welding or the like. For more precise position fixing, the Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the peripheral wall 32 is stepped back downwards via a peripheral recess 46, into which a radial projection 48 of the lower shell 16 fits precisely, so that the two shell parts are precisely positioned relative to one another in the radial direction and in the vertical direction. This material-locking connection can of course also be formed in the area of this mutual engagement of the peripheral recess 46 and the radial projection 48.

The side wall 40 of the lower shell 16 extends out from a bottom wall 50 which, when assembled, runs parallel to the top wall 26, so that the cavity 18 mentioned above is formed, wherein the further recess for the receptacle 20 can be formed, for example, by a step in the bottom wall 50 or the top wall 26. As explained above, the control electronics 22 and, for example, part of a power supply, such as the receiver coil 24, and optionally also other control/evaluation units are then inserted into this cavity 18 and the further recessed receptacle 20. As explained above, this can be a radio module for the wireless transmission of the signals received via the sensors, for example an ECG, blood pressure or the body weight of the user.

According to the invention, the control electronics 22 or the other analysis units can be controlled via a remote control, an app or another control device, so that, for example, user identification and corresponding individual evaluation of the measured values can take place.

As already explained above, ribs can be provided along the top wall 26 or the bottom wall 50 to stiffen the cavity 18, which ribs on the one hand divide the cavity 18 and on the other hand enable mutual support of the wall areas.

In principle, the cavity 18 can also accommodate a fluid reservoir for liquids/gases required for the operation of the toilet.

Disclosed are a toilet lid and a toilet seat set provided with such a lid, wherein the lid is designed with multiple shells to accommodate functional components.

List of reference symbols:

1

Toilet seat set

2

Toilet lid

4

Toilet seat joint

6

WC seat

8th

buffer

10

Ceramics

12

Perimeter wall

14

Upper shell

16

Bottom shell

18

cavity

20

Recording

22

Control electronics

24

Receiver coil

26

Cover wall

28

Bag

30

Bag

32

Perimeter wall

34

Clamp

36

Clamp

38

Trailing edge

40

Side wall

42

Sensors

44

Investment area

46

Circumferential recess

48

Radial projection

50

Floor wall

Claims (11)

Toilet lid of a toilet seat set with a cavity (18) for accommodating functional components, such as an electrical consumer, a power supply and/or a sensor system for detecting parameters or vital parameters used in the operation of the toilet seat set (1), characterized in that the lid (2) has at least two shells (14, 16) which are connected to one another approximately circumferentially and which together delimit the cavity (18) at least in sections. Toilet lid according to claim 1, wherein the shells have an upper shell (14) and a seat-side lower shell (16). Toilet lid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shells (14, 16) are connected in a material-locking manner, in particular by gluing or welding. Toilet lid according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an upper shell (14) surrounds a lower shell (16) on the circumference. Toilet lid according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two blocks (34, 36) are formed thereon, wherein the cavity (18) is formed at least partially adjacent to the blocks (34, 36). Toilet lid according to claim 5, wherein the blocks (34, 36) are formed on an upper shell (14). Toilet lid according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the cavity (18) extends over a width of the lid (2) which corresponds approximately to a distance (A) between the blocks (34, 36). Toilet lid according to one of the preceding claims, with sensors (42) which are arranged oriented with respect to an upper or lower wall of the lid (2). Toilet lid according to claim 8, wherein the sensors (42) are covered by a wall section of the upper shell (14) or the lower shell (16) or are inserted into pockets (28, 30) of the wall (26). Toilet lid according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensors (42) are designed to detect vital parameters, such as an ECG, a body weight, a blood pressure or the like. Toilet seat set with a toilet lid (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which is connected to a toilet seat (6) via a toilet seat joint arrangement (4).

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