JP2003125981A - Heated toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heated toilet seat which can be promptly heated at its seating surface so that a heater can be energized only in use. SOLUTION: The surface on the seating side of the toilet seat is formed of a thin metal member 16 with an excellent thermal conduction and a flat heating portion 15 is provided on its back surface side through a heat-resistant insulation member 14 enabling thermal conduction. A thermal insulator 13 and a reflector 12 are disposed on the opposite side of the metal member 16 of the heating portion 15 to reduce wasteful heat loss.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a heated toilet seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A heated toilet seat has a function of warming the toilet seat to the level of human skin in order to prevent discomfort caused by coldness when sitting on the toilet seat. A conventional heated toilet seat has a structure in which a tubing heater in which a heater is inserted into a heat-resistant tube is built in a resin hollow toilet seat body, and it takes about 10 minutes to heat up to 37 ° C, so it is used by people. Even if it is not done, the heater is always energized.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional heated toilet seat, since the heater is always energized, power consumption is large. In addition, some timers set the heating time zone with a timer to save power consumption, but when used in non-heating time zones, there is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable due to coldness. . Further, even when the heating time zone is set by the timer, there is a problem that power is consumed even when there is no user in the heating time zone.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the problems of the conventional technique, and provides a heated toilet seat capable of quickly warming the seating surface so that the heater can be energized only when in use. Is intended.

[0005]

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object resides in the inventions of the following items. [1] At least a seating side surface is formed of a metal member (16), and a heat generating portion (15) is provided on the back surface side of the metal member (16) via a heat-resistant insulating member (14) capable of conducting heat. A heated toilet seat.

[2] The heated toilet seat according to [1], characterized in that the metal member (16) covers at least a lateral upper portion of the toilet seat.

[3] The heating portion (15) is a sheet heating element, and the sheet heating element is provided on substantially the entire rear surface of the metal member (16) [1] or The heated toilet seat according to [2].

[4] A heat insulating material (13) and / or a heat reflecting material (12) are arranged on the side of the heat generating portion (15) opposite to the metal member (16) [1]. ~
The heated toilet seat according to any one of [3].

[5] At least the metal member (16), the heat-resistant insulating member (14), and the heat generating portion (15) are formed separately from the toilet seat body (11), and these are made into the toilet seat body (11). ) Attached to [1] ~
The heated toilet seat according to any one of [4].

[6] The heated toilet seat according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the metal member (16) is made of stainless steel.

[7] A human body detecting means (22) for detecting the presence or absence of a person is provided, and the power supply to the heat generating part (15) is controlled based on the detection result of the human body detecting means (22). The heated toilet seat according to any one of [1] to [6].

[8] The metal member (16), the heat resistant insulating member (14), the heat generating portion (15), the heat insulating material (13) and / or the heat reflecting material (12), and the toilet seat body ( 11) and the heating toilet seat according to [5], characterized in that they are arranged with no space between them.

The present invention operates as follows. When the heat generating part (15) is energized, the heat from the heat generating part (15) is transferred to the metal member (16) forming the seating side surface (surface layer) through the heat resistant insulating member (14). The metal member (16) has better thermal conductivity than resin, and is thin so as to form the surface on the seating side, so that the heat capacity is small and the temperature rises quickly. In addition, a heat-resistant insulating member capable of conducting heat (1
Even if the seating side surface is made of the metal member (16), the user does not get an electric shock.

As described above, the seating side surface layer portion is provided with the metal member (1
6), and the heat generating portion (15) is provided on the back side of the heat resistant insulating member (14), so that the temperature of the seating surface rises quickly. It is possible to reduce the power consumption. Further, the safety against electric shock is secured by interposing the heat resistant insulating member (14).

With the metal member (16) which covers at least the upper side portion of the toilet seat, even when the thigh portion of the foot or a part of the buttocks touches the side portion of the toilet seat when seated,
No discomfort due to coldness.

In the case where the heat generating part (15) is formed of a sheet heating element and the sheet heating element is provided on the substantially back surface of the metal member (16) through the heat resistant insulating member (14), The metal member (16) forming the seating side surface layer portion can be uniformly heated. Thereby, a more comfortable feeling can be given.

In the case where the heat insulating material (13) and the heat reflecting material (12) are arranged on the side of the heat generating portion (15) opposite to the metal member (16), heat is prevented from escaping to useless portions.
As a result, the temperature rise time can be further shortened, and the power consumption is also reduced.

At least the metal member (16), the heat-resistant insulating member (14) and the heat generating portion (15) are attached to the toilet seat body (11).
In the case where the heat-generating part (15) and the metal member (1) are formed separately from the toilet seat body (11),
It becomes easy to separate and disassemble the portion 6) from the toilet seat body (11) formed of resin or the like, and the recyclability at the time of disposal can be improved.

If the metal member (16) is made of stainless steel, it has good cleanability, is resistant to rust and scratches, and is resistant to dirt.

The metal member (16) and the heat resistant insulating member (1
4), the heat generating part (15), the heat insulating material (13) and / or the heat reflecting material (12) and the toilet seat body (11) are arranged so that they are adjacent to each other without a gap, the heat generating part (1
The heat generated in 5) can be efficiently transferred to the surface of the toilet seat. As a result, the surface temperature of the toilet seat can be quickly raised to the set temperature, and useless power consumption required for heat generation can be reduced.

Further, because of such a construction, it is sufficient to simply attach the two together at the time of assembling work, and high workability can be obtained. Furthermore, the toilet seat body (11) can have a function as a member for holding the strength of the toilet seat,
The "heat generating structure" located above the toilet seat body does not have to be designed with strength in mind.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Each drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention. Heating toilet seat 1 according to the present embodiment
2 is attached to the Western-style toilet 1 as shown in FIG. 2 (a) and is used, FIG. 2 (b) shows the front of the heated toilet seat 10, and FIG. 1 is a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. Is shown in FIG.
It is the exploded view. 1 and 3 schematically show a cross section of the heating toilet seat 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a heated toilet seat 10 is provided.
Is a heat-generating part 15 whose front and back are covered with a reflector 12, a heat insulating material 13, and a heat-resistant resin 14 on a toilet seat body 11 made of resin.
And the metal member 16 are placed in this order and bonded to each other. The metal member 16 and the like cover not only the seating surface of the heated toilet seat 10 but also the upper side portions of the heated toilet seat 10.

The metal member 16 is made of thin stainless steel such as SUS. The thickness of the metal member 16 is about 0.2 mm. The heat resistant resin 14 is a thin film of silicon. The heat resistant resin 14 has insulation and heat resistance. Further, since the heat resistant resin 14 is thin, the heat of the heat generating portion 15 is satisfactorily transferred to the metal member 16. The heat generating part 15 is made of SUS.
Is a sheet-like heating element that is made to crawl so as to meander repeatedly, and the front and back surfaces are covered with a heat-resistant resin 14 to form a film. The heat insulating material 13 is made of heat-resistant silicon resin, and the reflector 12 is made of aluminum.

The seating surface is made of the metal member 16 and the thickness thereof is made thin so that the heat conductivity is enhanced and the heat capacity is reduced. Further, by covering the heat generating portion 15 with the heat resistant resin 14 having an insulating property, the metal member 16
To prevent electric leakage. Further, by covering the front and back of the heat generating portion 15 in which the resistance wires are arranged in zigzag with the heat resistant resin 14, a film-shaped planar heat generating element is formed. The heat insulating material 13 provided on the lower surface side of the heat generating portion 15 (on the side of the toilet seat body 11)
The heat from the heat generating portion 15 causes the reflector 12 to receive heat from the toilet seat body 1.
It serves to prevent escape to the side of 1.

In manufacturing the heated toilet seat 10, the reflector 1 is used.
2. The heat generating portion including the heat insulating material 13, the heat resistant resin 14, the heat generating portion 15, and the metal member 16 is configured separately from the supporting portion including the toilet seat body 11, and is shaped in advance according to the shape of the toilet seat body 11. To be done. The toilet seat body 11 includes a heat generating portion formed by stacking the reflector 12, the heat insulating material 13, the heat resistant resin 14, the heat generating portion 15, and the metal member 16 which are adjacent to each other without a gap.
After they are stacked on top of each other with no space left therebetween, these are heated and pressed in a mold corresponding to the shape of the heated toilet seat 10 to be completed and fixed. Finally, the end portions of the metal member 16 are caulked. As a result, the lifting of the end portion is prevented.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of the heated toilet seat 10. The control circuit of the heating toilet seat 10 is composed of a control unit 21 including a one-chip CPU that incorporates ROM, RAM, and the like, and various components such as a sensor connected to the control unit 21. Of these, the human body detection unit 22 is a sensor that detects the presence of a person. The human body detection unit 22 includes a sensor for detecting that a person has approached a predetermined distance or less, and a sensor for detecting that the person is sitting on the heated toilet seat 10. For example, the approach of a person is detected by an optical sensor,
Sitting is detected by a switch that is pressed down according to the weight of the person.

The heating section 15 is connected to the control section 21 via a drive circuit (not shown). Temperature sensor 23
Detects the temperature of the heated toilet seat 10. The toilet seat opening / closing sensor 24 detects the open / closed state of the heated toilet seat 10. As for the temperature setting means 25, the user heats the toilet seat 10
It is an operation switch for setting the temperature of. The timer unit 26 is a unit that measures the passage of time, and measures, for example, tens of seconds after the seating is no longer detected,
It is used for measuring the timing of turning off the power supply to the heat generating portion 15.

Next, the operation will be described. The heating toilet seat 10 always turns off the power supply to the heat generating portion 15. Control unit 2
When the human body detection unit 22 detects that a person has entered the toilet, the power supply unit 1 starts energizing the heat generation unit 15. Since it takes at least 5 seconds for a person to take off their clothes after they enter the toilet and take a seat, during this period, the surface of the heating toilet seat 10 is set to a set temperature (for example, slightly higher than human skin). 37 ° C.). The power supply to the heat generating portion 15 is controlled not only based on human body detection, but also based on toilet seat / toilet lid open / closed detection, seating detection, toilet seat heater on switch operation, and the like.

The metal member 16 rises to the set temperature in a few seconds (about 5 seconds). The metal member 16 covering the seating surface of the heating toilet seat 10 is made of thin stainless steel having good heat conductivity and a small heat capacity, and substantially the entire back surface thereof is heated by the planar heat generating portion 15, Toilet seat body 1
1 that the heat escapes to the side of the heat insulating material 13 and the reflector 12.
As described above, the rapid temperature rise (30 ° C./5 seconds) is possible in this way.

After that, the control section 21 continues to energize the heat generating section 15 while the seating of a person is detected. When the seating of a person is no longer detected, after a predetermined time (several tens of seconds) elapses, the power supply to the heat generating unit 15 is turned off, and the standby state is restored.

As described above, since the seating surface of the toilet seat quickly warms up, it becomes possible to energize only when in use,
It is possible to reduce power consumption. Further, since the sheet-shaped heat generating portion 15 is provided on substantially the entire rear surface of the metal member 16, the seating side surface can be uniformly heated.

Further, since the upper side of the toilet seat is covered with the metal member 16, even when a person sits down, even if the thigh part of the foot or a part of the buttocks touches the side part of the toilet seat, it is cold. It does not cause discomfort. Since the metal member 16 has good thermal conductivity, the heat generating portion 15 on the back surface side of the metal member 16 does not necessarily have to be provided to the upper side of the toilet seat.

Further, since the metallic member 16 on the surface of the toilet seat is made of stainless steel, it is easy to clean and is resistant to scratches, rust and dirt.

Further, the heat generating portion constituted by the reflector 12, the heat insulating material 13, the heat resistant resin 14, the heat generating portion 15 and the metal member 16 and the supporting portion constituted by the toilet seat body 11 are separately constituted, and these are adhered to each other. Since the toilet seat is configured, the toilet seat main body 11 can have a function as a member for holding the strength of the toilet seat, and the heat generating portion located on the upper side of the toilet seat main body 11 does not care about the strength in design. I'm done. That is, the heat generating portion can be thinned and the surface of the toilet seat can be quickly warmed.

In addition to the above structure, the heater unit is not incorporated in the resin seat body, but the metal member 1 is used.
6, the heat-resistant resin 14, the heat generating portion 15 and the like are configured separately from the toilet seat body 11, and are attached to the toilet seat body 11 by adhesion or the like. Therefore, the heat generating portion 15 and the metal member 16 are attached to the toilet seat body 11.
It becomes easy to separate and dismantle from, and the recyclability at the time of disposal can be improved.

In the embodiment described above, the metal member is made of SUS304, but the kind of metal is not limited to this. In addition, in order to reduce the appearance of coldness, the surface of the metal part is painted with a color other than the metal color, for example, a color matching the toilet bowl or the toilet lid or the same color as the toilet seat body 11,
It is better to coat with a colored thin film.

[0038]

According to the heated toilet seat of the present invention, the seating side surface is formed of a metal member having good heat conduction, and the heat generating portion is provided on the back side of the seat via a heat conductive insulating member capable of heat conduction. Therefore, the seating surface can be quickly heated to the set temperature after the start of energization to the heat generating portion. As a result, power can be supplied from the time when the approach of a person is detected, and the power consumption can be reduced.

In the case where at least the upper part of the side of the toilet seat is covered with a metal member, even if the thigh part of the foot and a part of the buttocks touch the side part of the toilet seat when sitting, No discomfort. When the heat generating portion is a planar heat generating element and is provided on substantially the entire rear surface of the metal member, the seating surface can be uniformly warmed and a more comfortable feeling can be given.

In the case where the heat insulating material and the heat reflector are arranged on the side of the heat generating portion opposite to the metal member, wasteful escape of heat is reduced and the rise time of temperature can be further shortened. . If the metal member is made of stainless steel, it has good cleanability, is resistant to rust and scratches, and is resistant to dirt.

In the case where at least the metal member, the heat-resistant insulating member and the heat generating portion are formed separately from the toilet seat body, and these are attached to the toilet seat body, the heat generating portion and the metal member are made of resin or the like. The disassembled toilet seat body can be easily separated and dismantled, and the recyclability at the time of disposal can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a heated toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a heated toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention and a state in which the seat is attached to a toilet bowl.

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the heated toilet seat according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a heating toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 ... Western style toilet 2 ... toilet lid 10 ... Heating toilet seat 11 ... Toilet seat body 12 ... Reflector 13 ... Insulation 14 ... Heat resistant resin 15 ... Heating part 16 ... Metal member 21 ... Control unit 22 ... Human body detection unit 23 ... Temperature sensor 24 ... Toilet seat open / close sensor 25 ... Temperature setting means 26 ... Timer part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A heating toilet seat characterized in that at least the seating side surface is formed of a metal member, and a heat generating portion is provided on the back surface side of the metal member via a heat-resistant insulating member capable of conducting heat. 2. The heated toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the metal member covers at least a lateral upper portion of the toilet seat. 3. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the heating portion is a sheet heating element, and the sheet heating element is provided on substantially the entire rear surface of the metal member. 4. The side of the heat generating portion opposite to the metal member,
The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a heat insulating material and / or a heat reflecting material is arranged. 5. The at least metal member, the heat-resistant insulating member, and the heat generating portion are configured separately from the toilet seat body, and these are attached to the toilet seat body.
The heated toilet seat according to any one of to 4. 6. The heated toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the metal member is stainless steel. 7. A human body detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a person,
The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein power supply to the heat generating unit is controlled based on a detection result of the human body detecting unit. 8. The metal member, the heat resistant insulating member, the heat generating portion, the heat insulating material, and / or the heat reflecting material and the toilet seat body are arranged adjacent to each other without a gap. The heated toilet seat according to claim 5.