JP2009207568A - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toilet seat device which does not impair the appearance of a toilet space by concealing a toilet without narrowing a toilet booth. <P>SOLUTION: In the toilet seat device having a toilet seat including a sitting surface where a user is to sit, since a skirt part which extends downward relative to the sitting surface and covers the toilet is provided, the space where the toilet seat device is provided is not narrowed. In addition, since the skirt part is arranged so as to hide the side face of the toilet, the toilet does not enter the field of view from a user, and the appearance of the toilet space is not damaged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet seat device, and particularly to a toilet seat that opens and closes the toilet seat device.

  The conventional toilet seat device has a cleaning mechanism that cleans the human body part, a heating mechanism that warms the seating surface on which the user is seated, a drying mechanism after cleaning, a deodorizing / deodorizing mechanism, etc. It is equipped with various functions and is widely used mainly in ordinary households due to its comfort. On the other hand, in public facilities such as hotels, department stores, and airports, the diffusion rate of toilet seat devices is still lower than that of general households.

  In recent years, toilet seat devices that can be used comfortably by an unspecified number of people have been proposed in public facilities such as hotels, department stores, and airports.

For example, in Patent Document 1, it is possible to install an infant rest board that also functions as a toilet lid on the upper surface of the toilet seat without increasing the area of the toilet booth, and the diaper exchange and the toilet can be used. The technique regarding a simple diaper exchange bed is disclosed.
JP2007-54289 (first page)

  However, the simple diaper exchange bed described in Patent Document 1 can be attached to an existing toilet booth and can hide the toilet bowl when a user enters the toilet booth. Since the board rests ahead of the toilet seat, the toilet booth becomes narrow, and there is a problem that the toilet cannot be used comfortably.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a toilet seat device that improves the appearance of the toilet space without making the space (toilet booth) provided with the toilet seat device narrower than before. It is the purpose.

  Means taken in order to achieve the above-mentioned object are a toilet seat device, a washing mechanism for washing a human body part, a main body portion attached to a toilet and incorporating the washing mechanism, and a seat on which a user is seated. In the toilet seat device having a toilet seat that has a surface and is openable and closable with respect to the main body, the toilet seat extends downward with respect to the seating surface, and a user is provided in a space provided with the toilet seat device. When it enters, it was set as the structure provided with the skirt part which covers the said toilet bowl. In this case, the skirt portion extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the seating surface to cover the side surface of the toilet, and particularly extends downward from the front of the seating surface. It is preferable.

  The toilet seat preferably has an operation unit for operating the cleaning mechanism in a state flush with the seating surface. The flush state means that the operating portion is substantially flush with the seating surface, and the seating portion and the operating portion are formed as a continuous surface.

  The operation unit has illumination means inside the operation unit formed on the seating surface, and pictograms are projected by the illumination unit. This pictograph displays an operating means for operating a cleaning device provided in the toilet seat apparatus, and has a pictograph that is not displayed. The pictograph is preferably hidden by the non-display means.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the pictograph is displayed differently for the male and female users. The pictogram that can be displayed differently for men and women is preferably a pictogram for operating bidet cleaning for women.

  According to the above means, since the skirt portion covering the toilet bowl extends downward with respect to the seating surface, the space provided with the toilet seat device does not become narrow. If the skirt portion covers the side or front of the toilet, the user who enters the toilet space does not see the toilet, and the toilet seat device in the toilet space is improved in aesthetics. Furthermore, even if it is installed in a high-quality toilet space, the high-class feeling is not impaired.

  In addition to the effects described above, the operation unit for operating the cleaning mechanism is formed flush with the seating surface of the toilet seat, so it can be used when a user enters the space where the toilet seat device is installed. A person recognizes that the toilet seat and the operation unit are integrated, and the beauty of the toilet seat device is improved. When a toilet seat having a smooth three-dimensional curved design that gives a high-class appearance to the toilet seat is used, the operation part formed on the seating surface is formed flush with the toilet seat, so Will not be damaged. Furthermore, since the operation surface is arranged near the user's hand seated on the seating surface, the user can easily operate.

  Furthermore, if pictograms for operating various functions are displayed on the operation unit without forming irregularities, dust and dirt are less likely to adhere to the operation unit, and cleaning is facilitated even when it is attached. In addition, in a toilet space that is dimly lit to enhance the sense of quality, pictograms are displayed so as to be raised, and a sense of quality can be produced.

  By switching the displayed pictograms to non-display, the user can reliably select the pictograms to be used by setting in advance so that the pictographs that are not used are hidden, thus preventing erroneous operations. Can do. Further, since only the pictograms to be selected by the user can be displayed in order, it is possible to add a navigation function for guiding the order of operation to the user.

  If the pictograms displayed on the operation unit are displayed differently for men and women, pictograms for women's bidet washing are displayed only for women, and for men. By hiding, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of a male user.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire toilet seat device 1 of the present invention. The toilet seat device 1 is used in a state of being installed on the toilet 2, and a skirt portion 4b extending downward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the seating surface 4a with respect to the seating surface 4a is formed. Although the toilet bowl 2 in the drawing uses a wall-mounted western style toilet, a general western style toilet installed on the floor may be used. The toilet seat 4 has an overall smooth three-dimensional curved surface so as to give a sense of luxury.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the toilet seat device 1 of the present invention. The toilet seat 4 is provided so as to be freely opened and closed by a hinge mechanism 5 with respect to the main body 3 attached to the toilet bowl 2. The skirt 4b formed on the toilet seat 4 is connected to the seating surface 4a with a smooth curved surface.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the skirt portion 4 a is formed so that the side surface 2 a of the toilet bowl 2 is hidden from the line of sight of a user who wants to enter the space 8 (toilet booth) including the toilet seat device 1.

  Further, the skirt portion 4b is designed so that the thickness of the toilet seat 4 can be seen thin by the user so that the toilet seat device 1 can be seen floating in the light of a downlight (not shown) that illuminates the toilet booth from the top. Is formed. That is, when viewed from the user, the skirt portion 4b is placed under the seating surface 4b so that the skirt portion 4b falls in the shadow of the seating surface 4b in the light of a downlight (not shown) that is dimly illuminated from above. The two side surfaces 2b are inclined in a certain direction. Furthermore, the skirt portion 4b is formed so that the inclination increases as the user moves away from the center when viewed from the front, and the thickness of the toilet seat 3 appears to be thinner. The shape of the skirt portion 4b is not limited to the shape disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 5. The numerical values for determining the shape of the skirt portion such as the length, width, thickness, inclination angle, etc. It can be set freely within the range that does not impair the beauty of the toilet seat device and the user's comfort.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the toilet seat device 1 of the present invention. An operation portion 7 is formed on the toilet seat 4 so as to be flush with the seating surface 4a. The position of the operation unit 7 may be any position that can be easily operated by a user sitting on the seating surface. In particular, considering that there are many right-handed users, the user can easily operate with the right hand. The right hand side when sitting on the seating surface is desirable. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation portion 7 is formed to be inclined with respect to the seating surface 4a. As a result, the user can easily recognize the seating surface 4a, and the user is not erroneously seated on the operation unit 7, thereby preventing malfunction. Further, the operation unit 7 is formed so that the pictogram 15 is copied.

  4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. The operation part 7 formed on the surface of the toilet seat 4 is formed without irregularities on the surface, and an operation switch device 11 is arranged inside the operation part 7. The operation switch 11 has a function that allows the user to operate various functions of the toilet seat device 1 by touching the surface of the operation unit 7 with a finger. This operation switch device 11 is an operation switch equipped with an electrostatic switch 11a capable of ON / OFF control of an electric signal in response to human static electricity and an illuminating means (LED) 11b for displaying a pictograph on the operation unit 7. It is comprised by the board | substrate 11c and the electrode film 11d used as the detection part of the electrostatic switch 11a. This electrostatic switch 11a is a well-known one. In order to increase the detection sensitivity of the electrostatic switch 11a, the electrode film 11d was disposed on the upper surface 4d inside the toilet seat, and the illumination means (LED) 11b was disposed on the back surface of the electrode film 11d. The toilet seat 4 is formed of a translucent resin PC having a black color tone, and the operation unit 7 has a property of transmitting LED light. Further, when the toilet seat 4 is molded, the operation portion 7 may be molded so as to be the translucent resin PC. These translucent resins may use PP. The printed sheet 14 between the upper surface 4d inside the toilet seat and the electrode film 11d is provided with a light-shielding part (printing part) and a light-transmitting part (non-printing part) by printing. It is formed so that it can be recognized as a pictograph. The printing sheet 14 uses translucent resin PET. With such a structure, the pictogram 15 is projected on the operation unit 7 on the surface of the toilet seat 4 through the light transmitting portion of the printing sheet 14 by the light of the LED 11b inside the toilet seat.

  This pictogram can be switched between pictograms for men and women. The pictograms are switched by the non-display means 3c arranged on the side surface of the main body 3 when the toilet seat device is installed in the toilet booth. The pictogram for bidet washing is displayed only when switching to female use. Similarly, the color of pictograms is switched between men and women, and blue and white pictograms for men and pink emoji for women.

 Furthermore, the operation unit 7 is provided with not only pictograms for operating the cleaning mechanism 3a for cleaning the local human body part but also pictographs for performing the operation of discharging the flush water of the flush toilet. This pictograph is for controlling an electromagnetic flush valve for discharging flush water of a toilet 2 (not shown) inside the wall on which the toilet seat device 1 is hung. The user can flush the flush water of the toilet 2 by touching the pictogram with a finger. For the user, since the operation unit 7 is concentrated on the toilet seat 4 in one place, the usability is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the toilet seat 4 includes a heater 12 that warms the seating surface 4 a so as not to give a cool feeling when the user is seated, in addition to the operation switch device 11 next to the toilet seat. The illumination unit 6 that illuminates the floor surface 8b from the back surface of the seating surface 4 is incorporated on both the left and right sides of the seating surface 4a.

  The illumination unit 6 that illuminates the floor surface 8b from the back surface of the seating surface 4b uses the LED 6a as illumination. The mounting position of the illumination unit 6 is provided in a line shape on both sides of the seating surface 4a and has a curved surface shape like the seating surface 4b. For this reason, a flexible substrate 6b for mounting the LED 6a is used. The toilet seat 4 is formed of a translucent resin PC having a black color tone, and has a property of transmitting the light of the LED 6a. Further, when the toilet seat 4 is molded, only the portion that transmits light when the floor surface is illuminated by the LED 6a provided inside may be molded to be the translucent resin PC. These translucent resins may use PP. Furthermore, in order to scatter the light from the LED 6a, the resin surface layer may be molded into a texture or a lens cut when the toilet seat 4 is molded. Or you may arrange | position the film which has a light-scattering effect in the part which the light of LED6a permeate | transmits. By doing so, the light from LED6a is irradiated in a wide range, and becomes lighter.

  An example of this embodiment is shown next about this illumination part 6. FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, when the toilet seat device 1 of the present invention is installed in a toilet booth 8 of a general size, the illumination unit 6 is an illumination unit so that the toilet seat device 1 can be seen floating in the toilet booth. 6 is arranged so as to illuminate the floor surface 8b from the vertically lower side to the horizontal wall 8d of the toilet booth.

  Since this illumination part 6 illuminates the floor surface 8b, a user who has entered the toilet booth does not directly see the illumination, so there is little irritation to the eyes. Further, in a lighting environment where the inside of the toilet booth is dimmed, the toilet seat device 1 is recognized so as to float up by the indirect lighting effect that illuminates the toilet booth floor 8b from the back surface of the toilet seat 4, and the toilet seat device 1 is high-class. A feeling can be produced. When the floor surface 8b is irradiated in a spot manner, the user is strongly aware of the irradiation spot, and it is difficult to recognize the toilet seat 4 as if it is floating, which is not preferable. In addition, when illuminating up to the side wall 8d of the toilet booth, the user can easily be aware of the side wall 8d of the toilet booth, and the user feels the narrowness of the space. This lighting unit is turned on / off by a switch (not shown), a mechanism for lighting only for a predetermined time period by a timer, a mechanism for lighting only when the inside of the toilet booth is below a predetermined illuminance, or the inside of the toilet booth is dark Various mechanisms such as a mechanism that turns on the illumination only when a person is detected in the environment may be provided according to the function required for the toilet seat device.

  The heater section 12 incorporated in the toilet seat 4 has a heater wire 12a disposed along the upper surface inside the toilet seat, and a sheet-like heat transfer body 12b for transferring the heat of the heater wire 12a to the entire seating surface is attached. It is what has been.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 3 incorporates a cleaning mechanism 3 a that cleans the human body part and an electric control circuit 3 b that controls various functions mounted on the toilet seat device 1. .

  The electric control circuit 3b has a function of controlling the cleaning mechanism 3a for cleaning the human body local part, by touching a pictograph arranged on the operation unit 7 by the user to start / stop the cleaning of the human body local part. It has a function that can be performed, a temperature adjustment function of a heater that heats the discharge water used for cleaning the human body part, and a discharge water flow rate adjustment function. Moreover, you may add the production | presentation function that the toilet seat apparatus 1 greets a user by turning on the illumination part 6 and the operation part 7 in order as a user approaches a toilet seat apparatus.

  The toilet seat device 1 of the present invention has a cleaning mechanism for cleaning at least a human body part. As is well known, a heating mechanism that warms a seating surface on which a user is seated, a drying mechanism after cleaning, a deodorization / deodorization Mechanisms, etc. can be provided as needed.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole toilet seat apparatus of this invention. It is a top view of the toilet seat apparatus of this invention. It is a side view of the toilet seat apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the A-A 'surface of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the user's eyes | visual_axis entering the space provided with a toilet seat apparatus and a toilet seat apparatus. It is a bottom view of the toilet seat of the present invention. It is a front view of the space provided with a toilet seat apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toilet seat apparatus 2 Toilet bowl 3 Main-body part 3a Cleaning mechanism 3b Electric control circuit 3c Non-display means 4 Toilet seat 4a Seating surface 4b Skirt part 7 Operation part 8 Space (toilet booth)
9 Standing position 10 Line of sight 15 Emoji

Claims (4)

A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the human body part,
A main body that is attached to the toilet and incorporates the cleaning mechanism;
In the toilet seat device having a seating surface on which a user sits and a toilet seat that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body,
The toilet seat device includes a skirt that extends downward with respect to the seating surface and covers the toilet when a user enters a space in which the toilet seat device is provided.
The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat includes an operation unit that operates the cleaning mechanism in a state of being flush with the seating surface.
The operation unit has illumination means inside the operation unit formed on the seating surface, and pictograms are copied by the illumination unit,
The toilet seat device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the pictograms has a pictograph that is not displayed, and the pictograph is hidden by a non-display unit.
The toilet seat device according to claim 3, wherein the pictogram is displayed differently by a user for men and for women.

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