JP2003144352A - Heating type toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that temperature nonuniformity occurs in the distribution of temperature on a heat conductor corresponding to the location condition of heaters, the temperature nonuniformity becomes temperature nonuniformity on the surface of a body of a toilet seat as it is, a user feels cold and discomfort partially in the case of sitting. SOLUTION: In the heating type toilet seat having a sitting member, on which the user of a toilet bowl sits down, a seat heating means provided on the rear side confronted to the sitting plane of the sitting member for giving heat energy to the sitting member, a seat temperature detecting means for monitoring the temperature of the sitting member and an electrification control means for controlling a quantity of electrification to the seat heating means on the basis of information from the seat temperature detecting means, a heat conduction correcting means is located to cover the upper face of the seat heating means for changing the state of heat conduction to the sitting member.

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 Conventionally, a heated toilet seat is equipped with a toilet seat heating means consisting of a heater and a heat conductor inside the toilet seat to warm the toilet seat. A typical configuration of these toilet seats is a hollow shape consisting of a toilet seat body as a seating member on which a user sits and a toilet seat bottom plate facing the toilet bowl, and an aluminum sheet is attached to the inside of the toilet seat body as a heat transfer body. Has been. A heater is arranged on the toilet seat bottom plate side of the aluminum sheet, and the heat of the heater is transferred to the toilet seat body through the aluminum sheet. Further, an opening is provided in the aluminum sheet, and a toilet seat temperature detecting means is arranged inside the toilet seat body at the opening to detect the temperature of the toilet seat. The energization control means controls ON / OFF of the heater according to the detected temperature.

[0003]

As the heater, a nichrome wire is used as a heating element and its periphery is covered with a heat-resistant material in many cases, and the heater is arranged linearly in various patterns on the toilet seat body. When the heater generates heat, the heat spreads to the heat transfer body, but the temperature distribution of the heat transfer body varies depending on the arrangement of the heaters. The temperature unevenness becomes the temperature unevenness on the surface of the toilet seat body as it is, and there is a problem that when sitting, it feels partially cold and uncomfortable. As a method of alleviating the temperature unevenness, it is common to devise the arrangement of the heater, but it is necessary to consider the positional relationship between the toilet seat temperature detecting means and a temperature fuse provided as a safety device (not shown). Therefore, it is difficult to make the temperature uniform. A typical arrangement example thereof is as shown in FIG. 7, and the temperature distribution of the seating surface obtained at that time is schematically shown in FIG. In this example, the temperature around the temperature detecting means provided on both sides of the toilet seat and the temperature at the rear of the toilet seat are low. Here, if the toilet seat temperature detecting means is too far away from the heater, it takes time to transfer the heat of the heater to the toilet seat temperature detecting means, so that the time lag delays the control of the heater and the temperature rises significantly.

Further, when the toilet seat is set too close, the temperature of the toilet seat temperature detecting means rises and the amount of electricity supplied to the heater is suppressed before the toilet seat body reaches the set temperature when the energization starts or when the toilet seat set temperature is changed. It takes longer for the temperature to reach the set temperature. Thus, the distance between the heater and the toilet seat temperature detecting means has a great influence on the response characteristics of the toilet seat temperature. Further, even if the thickness of the toilet seat body is not uniform, or if the shape of the toilet seat body is slightly different depending on the model, there will be a large difference in the toilet seat temperature characteristics. We spend a lot of time setting the optimum relationship for each component when developing a new product. Moreover, even in the case of a model with a small number of sales, the toilet seat heating means must be specially prepared, which is inefficient in terms of production and causes a cost increase.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a heating toilet seat according to claim 1 is provided with a seating member on which a toilet user sits, and a rear surface side facing the seating surface of the seating member. Toilet seat heating means for applying heat energy to the seat member, toilet seat temperature detection means for monitoring the temperature of the seat member, and energization for controlling the amount of electricity to the toilet seat heating means based on information from the toilet seat temperature detection means. A heating toilet seat having a control means is provided with heat transfer correction means arranged to cover an upper surface of the toilet seat heating means and changing a heat transfer state to the seat member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heated toilet seat according to the first aspect, wherein the heat transfer correction means is arranged in contact with the toilet seat heating means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating toilet seat according to the first or second aspect, wherein the toilet seat heating means heats a heat-generating body by energization and a heat transfer body for transmitting heat from the heat-generating body to the seating member. And the heat transfer body has an opening for disposing the toilet seat temperature detecting means, and the heat transfer correcting means is disposed so as to cover the toilet seat temperature detecting means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the heated toilet seat according to the first to third aspects, wherein the heat transfer correction means is a flexible sheet.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heated toilet seat according to the fourth aspect, wherein the heat transfer member is provided with a hole.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the heating toilet seat according to the fifth aspect, wherein the hole of the heat transfer member is provided near the toilet seat temperature detecting means.

[0011]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, which is an example in which the present invention is applied to the toilet seat shown in FIG. The toilet seat 1 is composed of a toilet seat body 2 and a toilet seat bottom plate 3, and a toilet seat heating means 4 is attached to the inner surface side of the toilet seat body 2. The toilet seat heating means 4 is composed of a heater 5 and a heat transfer body 6, and the heater 5 is fixed to the heat transfer body 6. The heat transfer body 6 is an aluminum sheet with an adhesive material and is attached to the inner surface side of the toilet seat body 2. An opening 7 is provided in the heat transfer body 6, and a toilet seat temperature detecting means 8 is arranged in contact with the toilet seat body 2 exposed from the opening 7. A sheet-shaped heat transfer member 10 is arranged as heat transfer correction means so as to cover the temperature detection means 8 and the heater 5 and the heat transfer body 6 around the temperature detection means 8.

In the present embodiment, the heat transfer member 10 is an aluminum sheet with an adhesive material, but any material having heat transfer property and flexibility can be substituted. Further, the heater 5 may be arranged not on the sheet-shaped member but on the toilet seat body 2 formed in an arbitrary shape and thickness by a method such as printing or spraying a heat-conductive material.

Further, since the toilet seat 1 is slightly different in shape from the viewpoint of design as a product, the shape of the toilet seat body 2 is often different in each model. Further, the toilet seat body 2 is often made of a resin molding material, and the thickness is often not uniform due to molding reasons.

The heat transfer member 6 has a shape that can be commonly installed in the toilet seats of these models, and in order to correct the difference in temperature distribution due to the shape of the toilet seat body 2, the heat transfer member having a different shape for each model. The member 10 is prepared. Since the heat transfer member 10 may be an aluminum sheet with an adhesive material or the like, it is structurally much cheaper than the toilet seat heating means 4, and since the toilet seat heating means 4 is commonly used, mass production effect is improved and cost is reduced.
The cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the toilet seat heating means 4 is prepared for each model.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of holes 11 are formed in the heat transfer member 10, and the heat transfer member 10 has a mesh shape. Here, the holes 11 are changed in arrangement and size. This is to say that at the time of product development, the temperature distribution of the seating surface of the toilet seat obtained only by the basic toilet seat heating means 4 is first obtained, and then according to the result. The heat transfer member 10 having a desired shape is determined by repeating the same procedure for obtaining the temperature distribution of the seating surface of the toilet seat having the holes 11 arranged and changed in size until the toilet seat to be applied has a target temperature distribution. To do. During actual toilet seat production, the heat transfer member 10 having the shape thus obtained and the basic toilet seat heating means 4 are used together to create a toilet seat.

FIG. 4 is a comparative schematic view showing the heat transfer action of the heat transfer member 10. As can be seen from the figure (b), the heat generated from the heater 5 is transmitted to the toilet seat body 2 by the route shown by each arrow. In the case where the heat transfer member 10 is provided in contact with the heater in this way, heat energy is more efficiently transferred to the surface of the toilet seat body 2 by the heat transfer amount transmitted through the heat transfer member 10 and the decrease amount of radiant heat radiated to the outside. It is transmitted to the seating surface.

Further, the heat transfer member 10 near the temperature detecting means 8
Although the hole 11 is also provided in the above, the degree of temperature transfer to the temperature detecting means 8 is adjusted in the same manner. Although the holes 11 are formed in the heat transfer member 10 in the present embodiment, the outer shape of the heat transfer member 10 is not changed to a simple shape such as a substantially rectangular shape in the present embodiment, but an appropriate different shape. Alternatively, the heat transfer state may be adjusted and corrected by partially varying the wall thickness. Furthermore, the temperature distribution may be corrected by forming a heat transfer substance in the same manner as described above by a method such as printing or spraying.

[0018]

The present invention has the following effects due to the above configuration. In the heated toilet seat according to claim 1, the contribution amount to the temperature distribution of the toilet seat is divided into a basic portion by the toilet seat heating means and a correction portion by the heat transfer correction means, and fine adjustment of the temperature distribution is performed by correction by the heat transfer correction means. It will be possible. Therefore, when developing the toilet seat, it is not necessary to give detailed consideration to the arrangement of the basic toilet seat heating means, which facilitates the design of the toilet seat heating means. In addition, for a plurality of similar toilet seats, only one type of basic toilet seat heating means is prepared, and heat transfer correction means corresponding to each toilet seat is prepared. As a result, the toilet seat heating means can be shared, and not only the design / development load can be reduced, but also the cost reduction due to the mass production effect can be achieved.

In the heating toilet seat of claim 2, in addition to the effect obtained in claim 1, the heat transfer correcting means prevents heat from the heat generating portion of the toilet seat heating means from escaping to the opposite seating side as radiant heat. Not only can energy use efficiency be improved, but also heat transfer from the heat generating part to the heat transfer correction means will be improved, so that heat energy can be distributed and transferred more efficiently to the toilet seat, so there is freedom in designing the temperature distribution correction. It is possible to raise.

In the heating toilet seat of claim 3, claim 1 or 2
In addition to the effect obtained by the above, since the temperature distribution around the toilet seat temperature detecting means can be corrected by the heat transfer correcting means, the toilet seat temperature characteristics such as the responsiveness of the toilet seat temperature detecting means can be easily set to the target characteristics. It will be possible.

In the heating toilet seat according to claim 4, claims 1 to 3 are provided.
In addition to the effect obtained in, since the shape following of the heat transfer correction means with respect to the shape of the mounting part is improved, it is easy to install in a place with unevenness or a narrow place,
It is possible to correct the temperature distribution at any part.

In the heating toilet seat of claim 5, in addition to the effect obtained in claim 4, the heat transfer correction means can change the degree of transfer of heat energy by changing the size and arrangement of the holes. It is possible to correct the temperature distribution.

In the heated toilet seat of claim 6, in addition to the effect obtained in claim 5, it becomes possible to correct the temperature response characteristic when the toilet seat temperature setting is changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a toilet seat body view seen from the toilet seat bottom plate side showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a toilet seat showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of heat transfer correction means showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 (a) is a model diagram showing a heat conduction state in a conventional form. (B) It is a model diagram showing a heat conduction state of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an overall view of a toilet seat showing a conventional form.

FIG. 6 is an overall view of a heated toilet seat showing a conventional form.

FIG. 7 is a toilet seat body view seen from the toilet seat bottom plate side showing a conventional configuration.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toilet seat showing the temperature distribution of the toilet seat in the conventional form.

9 is a sectional view of the toilet seat at the position AA in FIG. 5 showing a conventional form.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Toilet seat 2: Toilet seat body 3: Toilet seat bottom plate 4: Toilet seat heating means 5: heater 6: Heat transfer body 7: opening 8: Toilet seat temperature detection means 10: Heat transfer member 11: hole 12: Flight lid 13: toilet bowl

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A seating member on which a toilet user sits, a toilet seat heating means for providing thermal energy to the seating member, which is provided on the back surface side facing the seating surface of the seating member, and the temperature of the seating member is monitored. In a heated toilet seat having a toilet seat temperature detecting means for controlling and a power supply controlling means for controlling the amount of electricity supplied to the toilet seat heating means based on information from the toilet seat temperature detecting means, the heating toilet seat is arranged so as to cover the upper surface of the toilet seat heating means. A heated toilet seat, comprising heat transfer correction means for changing the heat transfer state to the seating member. 2. The heated toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer correction means is arranged in contact with the toilet seat heating means. 3. The toilet seat heating means includes a heating element that generates heat when energized and a heat transfer body that transfers heat from the heating element to the seating member, and the heat transfer element is provided with the toilet seat temperature detecting means. 3. The heated toilet seat according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an opening portion for heating, and the heat transfer correction means is arranged so as to cover the toilet seat temperature detection means. 4. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer correction means is a flexible sheet-shaped heat transfer member. 5. The heated toilet seat according to claim 4, wherein the heat transfer member is provided with a hole. 6. The heated toilet seat according to claim 5, wherein the hole of the heat transfer member is provided near the toilet seat temperature detecting means.