JP2021122656A - toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a toilet seat that can improve damage resistance of its surface while restraining its appearance from deteriorating.SOLUTION: A toilet seat comprises a bottom plate, an upper plate provided above the bottom plate, and a joining member for joining the bottom plate and the upper plate. The upper plate includes a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler. The joining member includes the thermoplastic resin. The melt flow rate of the joining member is higher than the melt flow rate of the upper plate, higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate, and 20 g/10 min or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to toilet seats.

Conventionally, a toilet seat composed of a bottom plate, an upper plate, and a joining member has been known (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a toilet seat, for example, a bottom plate and an upper plate are manufactured by molding a material containing a resin, and a material containing a resin is injected between the bottom plate and the upper plate and cured by a joining member to form a bottom plate. Manufactured by joining the top plate.

As a material for such a toilet seat, for example, an inexpensive resin such as polypropylene (PP) is used. However, when the toilet seat is molded using a resin such as PP, there is a problem that the surface of the toilet seat is easily scratched by dry wiping of toilet paper or the like because the surface hardness is small.

JP-A-2019-170761

As a means for improving the scratch resistance of the toilet seat, it is conceivable to add an inorganic filler to the resin used as the material of the toilet seat to increase the surface hardness of the toilet seat. However, if a large amount of inorganic filler is added to the material of the joining member to be injected between the bottom plate and the top plate, the fluidity of the material to be injected becomes low, and the material may not be firmly filled in the joint portion. Further, in this case, the material may leak from the injection portion and the appearance may be deteriorated, or the adhesive strength between the bottom plate and the upper plate by the joining member may be lowered.

The present invention has been made based on the recognition of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat capable of improving surface scratch resistance while suppressing deterioration of appearance.

The first invention includes a bottom plate, a top plate provided above the bottom plate, and a joining member for joining the bottom plate and the top plate, wherein the top plate is made of a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler. , The joining member contains a thermoplastic resin, and the melt flow rate of the joining member is higher than the melt flow rate of the top plate and higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate, at 20 g / 10 min or more. It is a toilet seat characterized by being present.

According to this toilet seat, the surface hardness of the upper plate can be improved by containing the thermoplastic resin and the inorganic filler in the upper plate. Thereby, the scratch resistance of the surface on the upper plate side of the toilet seat can be enhanced. Further, by setting the melt flow rate of the joining member to be higher than the melt flow rate of the upper plate and higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate to 20 g / 10 min or more, the fluidity of the material of the joining member becomes too low. Can be suppressed. As a result, the material of the joining member can be firmly filled in the joint part, the material leaks from the injection part, the appearance is deteriorated, and the adhesive strength between the bottom plate and the upper plate by the joining member is lowered. Can be suppressed. Further, since it is possible to prevent the material of the joining member from becoming too low in fluidity, the size of the injection portion (exposed surface of the joining member) can be reduced. As a result, the range of the exposed surface of the joining member having a different appearance from that of the upper plate can be minimized.

A second invention is a toilet seat according to the first invention, wherein the joining member does not contain an inorganic filler or contains an amount of an inorganic filler smaller than the amount contained in the upper plate.

According to this toilet seat, the amount of the inorganic filler contained in the joining member is larger than the amount of the inorganic filler contained in the upper plate even when the joining member does not contain the inorganic filler or the joining member contains the inorganic filler. Since the amount is small, it is possible to prevent the material of the joining member from becoming too low in fluidity. As a result, the material of the joining member can be firmly filled in the joint part, the material leaks from the injection part, the appearance is deteriorated, and the adhesive strength between the bottom plate and the upper plate by the joining member is lowered. Can be suppressed.

A third invention is a toilet seat according to the first or second invention, wherein the joining member has an exposed surface exposed to the outside, and the exposed surface is located on the lower surface of the toilet seat.

According to this toilet seat, by arranging the exposed surface on the lower surface of the toilet seat, the exposed surface of the joining member having a different appearance from the upper plate can be made inconspicuous. Further, by arranging the exposed surface on the lower surface of the toilet seat, it is possible to reduce the load on the exposed surface.

A fourth invention is a toilet seat according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the bottom plate contains a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler.

According to this toilet seat, the surface hardness of the bottom plate can be improved by containing the thermoplastic resin and the inorganic filler in the bottom plate. As a result, the scratch resistance of the surface can be improved even on the bottom plate side of the toilet seat.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the thermoplastic resin contained in the upper plate is a crystalline resin, and the mold heated by the heating portion is molded from the mold. The toilet seat is also characterized in that it is formed by filling a material heated to a high temperature, gradually cooling the material, and further cooling the mold by a cooling unit to cure the material.

According to this toilet seat, the thermoplastic resin contained in the upper plate is a crystalline resin, and the mold heated by the heating part is filled with a material heated to a temperature higher than that of the mold to gradually cool the material. Further, by cooling the mold with a cooling unit and curing the material, it is possible to promote crystallization near the surface and increase the surface hardness. As a result, scratches on the surface can be further suppressed.

According to the aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a toilet seat capable of improving the scratch resistance of the surface while suppressing deterioration of the appearance.

It is a perspective view which shows the toilet device provided with the toilet seat which concerns on embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the toilet seat which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective sectional view which shows a part of the toilet seat which concerns on embodiment. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are cross-sectional views schematically showing a part of the toilet seat according to the embodiment. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are cross-sectional views showing a part of the manufacturing process of the toilet seat according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet device provided with a toilet seat according to the embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet device 500 includes a toilet seat device 100 and a Western-style seated toilet (hereinafter, simply referred to as “toilet bowl”) 200.

The toilet seat device 100 is mounted on the toilet bowl 200. The toilet seat device 100 may be integrally attached to the toilet bowl 200, or may be detachably attached to the toilet bowl 200. The toilet seat device 100 includes a toilet seat 10, a toilet lid 20, and a main body 30.

Here, in the specification of the present application, the upper part is referred to as "upper" when viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10, and the lower part is referred to as "lower" when viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10. Further, when viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10 with his back to the toilet lid 20 in the open state, the left-right direction is defined as "left side" and "right side", respectively, and the front-back direction is defined as "front" and "rear", respectively. ". FIG. 1 shows an example of an upper UW, a lower DW, a left LW, a right RW, a front FW, and a rear BW.

The toilet bowl 200 has a bowl portion 200a that is recessed downward. The toilet bowl 200 receives excrement such as urine and feces of the user in the bowl portion 200a. The main body 30 of the toilet seat device 100 is provided in the upper part behind the bowl portion 200a of the toilet bowl 200. The main body 30 pivotally supports the toilet seat 10 and the toilet lid 20 so as to be openable and closable.

The toilet seat 10 has an opening 10h. The toilet seat 10 is provided on the toilet bowl 200 so as to surround the outer edge of the bowl portion 200a, and the bowl portion 200a is exposed through the opening 10h. As a result, the user can excrete in the bowl portion 200a while sitting on the toilet seat 10. In this example, a so-called O-shaped toilet seat 10 in which a through-hole-shaped opening 10h is formed is shown. The toilet seat 10 is not limited to the O-shape, but may be a U-shape or the like. Inside the toilet seat 10, a heater or the like for warming the seating portion (the portion in contact with the user's buttocks) is appropriately provided.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the toilet seat according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view showing a part of the toilet seat according to the embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toilet seat 10 includes a bottom plate 11, a top plate 12, a first joining member 13, and a second joining member 14. The upper plate 12 is provided above the bottom plate 11. The first joining member 13 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the toilet seat 10 and joins the bottom plate 11 and the upper plate 12. The second joining member 14 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the toilet seat 10 and joins the bottom plate 11 and the upper plate 12. Hereinafter, the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14 are collectively referred to as "joining member 15".

Hereinafter, a more specific structure of the toilet seat 10 will be described. Here, in the directions such as "upper" and "lower", the state in which the bottom plate 11 of the toilet seat 10 is placed on a horizontal plane (a state in which the bottom plate 11 is placed on the toilet bowl 200 and the user can sit on it). It is the standard.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 have an opening 11h and an opening 12h, respectively. The shape of the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 viewed from above is substantially the same as the shape of the toilet seat 10 viewed from above. That is, the shapes of the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 as viewed from above are annular or U-shaped. The opening 11h of the bottom plate 11 and the opening 12h of the top plate 12 form the opening 10h of the toilet seat 10.

The bottom plate 11 has a bottom plate base portion 11a, an inner peripheral support portion 11b, and an outer peripheral support portion 11c. The bottom plate base 11a has a substantially uniform thickness, for example, the front portion is provided along the horizontal direction, and the rear portion is inclined upward. A support foot 11d in contact with the upper surface of the toilet bowl 200 is appropriately provided on the bottom plate base 11a. The inner peripheral support portion 11b is provided on the inner peripheral side of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the bottom plate base portion 11a. The outer peripheral support portion 11c is provided on the outer peripheral side of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the bottom plate base portion 11a.

The upper plate 12 has a seating portion 12a, an inner peripheral side wall portion 12b, and an outer peripheral side wall portion 12c. The seating portion 12a supports the buttocks of the user seated on the toilet seat 10 from below. The seating portion 12a is supported from below by the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b and the outer peripheral side wall portion 12c. The inner peripheral side wall portion 12b is provided on the inner peripheral side of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the seating portion 12a. The outer peripheral side wall portion 12c is provided on the outer peripheral side of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the seating portion 12a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b is provided on the inner peripheral support portion 11b of the bottom plate 11. The outer peripheral side wall portion 12c is provided on the outer peripheral support portion 11c of the bottom plate 11. The lower end of the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b is joined to the inner peripheral support portion 11b by the first joining member 13. The lower end of the outer peripheral side wall portion 12c is joined to the outer peripheral support portion 11c by the second joining member 14.

The bottom plate base portion 11a and the seating portion 12a are separated from each other in the vertical direction. Further, the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b and the outer peripheral side wall portion 12c are separated from each other in the horizontal direction. As a result, the toilet seat 10 is formed with an internal space S surrounded by the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12.

When the toilet seat 10 is U-shaped, the inner peripheral support portion 11b and the outer peripheral support portion 11c are connected around the bottom plate base portion 11a, and the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b and the outer peripheral side wall portion 12c are around the seating portion 12a. It may be connected. In this case, the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14 may be continuously provided around the bottom plate base portion 11a and integrally provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the toilet seat 10 has a lower surface 10a, an upper surface 10b, an inner side surface 10c, and an outer surface 10d. The lower surface 10a is a surface facing downward of the toilet seat 10. The upper surface 10b is a surface facing upward of the toilet seat 10. The upper surface 10b is located above the lower surface 10a. The inner side surface 10c is a surface facing the inner peripheral side of the toilet seat 10. The outer side surface 10d is a surface facing the outer peripheral side of the toilet seat 10. The inner side surface 10c connects the lower surface 10a and the upper surface 10b on the inner peripheral side of the toilet seat 10. The outer side surface 10d connects the lower surface 10a and the upper surface 10b on the outer peripheral side of the toilet seat 10. Hereinafter, the inner side surface 10c and the outer side surface 10d are collectively referred to as a "side surface".

In this example, the lower surface of the bottom plate base portion 11a of the bottom plate 11, the lower surface of the inner peripheral support portion 11b, and the lower surface of the outer peripheral support portion 11c constitute the lower surface 10a of the toilet seat 10. Further, the first joining member 13 has an exposed surface 13a exposed to the outside between the inner peripheral support portion 11b of the bottom plate 11 and the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b of the upper plate 12. The second joining member 14 has an exposed surface 14a exposed to the outside between the outer peripheral support portion 11c of the bottom plate 11 and the outer peripheral side wall portion 12c of the upper plate 12. The exposed surface 13a and the exposed surface 14a are located on the lower surface 10a of the toilet seat 10, respectively. In other words, the exposed surface 13a and the exposed surface 14a each constitute the lower surface 10a of the toilet seat 10.

By arranging the exposed surface 13a and the exposed surface 14a on the lower surface 10a of the toilet seat 10 in this way, the exposed surface 13a of the first joining member 13 and the exposed surface 14a of the second joining member 14 having a different appearance from the upper plate 12 can be formed. It can be made inconspicuous. Further, by arranging the exposed surface 13a and the exposed surface 14a on the lower surface 10a of the toilet seat 10, it is possible to reduce the load on the exposed surface 13a and the exposed surface 14a.

Further, in this example, the upper surface of the seating portion 12a of the upper plate 12 constitutes the upper surface 10b of the toilet seat 10. Further, the inner peripheral side surface of the inner peripheral side wall portion 12b of the upper plate 12 constitutes the inner side surface 10c of the toilet seat 10. Further, the outer peripheral side surface of the outer peripheral side wall portion 12c of the upper plate 12 constitutes the outer surface 10d of the toilet seat 10.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are cross-sectional views schematically showing a part of the toilet seat according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the upper plate 12 of the toilet seat 10. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the joining member 15 of the toilet seat 10.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper plate 12 contains a thermoplastic resin 18a and an inorganic filler 18b. As the thermoplastic resin 18a, for example, a crystalline resin is used. As the thermoplastic resin 18a, for example, PP or polybutylene terephtalate (PBT) is used.

The inorganic filler 18b is a filler (filler) made of an inorganic material. As the inorganic filler 18b, for example, a fibrous inorganic filler such as glass fiber is used. The inorganic filler 18b does not have to be fibrous. Further, the inorganic filler 18b may be, for example, a mineral such as a needle-like mineral, a plate-like mineral, or a frit-based mineral. When glass fibers are used as the inorganic filler 18b, it is preferable to use glass fibers having a fiber diameter of 6 μm or more and 24 μm or less (for example, about 13 μm) and a length of 10 μm or more and 3000 μm or less (for example, 300 μm or more and 1000 μm or less). The amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the upper plate 12 is 5 parts by mass or more and 30 parts by mass or less (for example, 10 parts by mass) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the total of the thermoplastic resin 18a and the inorganic filler 18b (upper plate 12). Degree) is preferable.

When the upper plate 12 contains the thermoplastic resin 18a and the inorganic filler 18b, the surface hardness of the upper plate 12 can be improved. Thereby, the scratch resistance of the surface on the upper plate 12 side of the toilet seat 10 can be enhanced.

Further, the bottom plate 11 contains, for example, a thermoplastic resin 18a and an inorganic filler 18b. The thermoplastic resin 18a and the inorganic filler 18b contained in the bottom plate 11 are the same as, for example, the thermoplastic resin 18a and the inorganic filler 18b contained in the top plate 12. The amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the bottom plate 11 is, for example, the same as the amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the top plate 12.

When the bottom plate 11 contains the thermoplastic resin 18a and the inorganic filler 16b, the surface hardness of the bottom plate 11 can be improved. Thereby, the scratch resistance of the surface can be improved also on the bottom plate 11 side of the toilet seat 10.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the joining member 15 (first joining member 13 and second joining member 14) contains, for example, a thermoplastic resin 18a and does not contain an inorganic filler 18b. In the embodiment, the joining member 15 may include a thermoplastic resin 18a and an inorganic filler 18b. When the joining member 15 contains the inorganic filler 18b, the amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the joining member 15 is smaller than the amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the upper plate 12. When the joining member 15 contains the inorganic filler 18b, the amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the joining member 15 is 1 mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the total of the thermoplastic resin 18a and the inorganic filler 18b (joining member 15). It is preferably less than or equal to a portion.

As described above, even when the joining member 15 does not contain the inorganic filler 18b or the joining member 15 contains the inorganic filler 18b, the amount of the inorganic filler 18b contained in the joining member 15 is contained in the upper plate 12. Since it is less than the amount of the filler 18b, it is possible to prevent the material of the joining member 15 from becoming too low in fluidity. As a result, the material of the joining member 15 can be firmly filled in the joint portion, the material leaks from the injection portion and the appearance is deteriorated, and the adhesive strength between the bottom plate 11 and the upper plate 12 by the joining member 15 is lowered. It is possible to prevent this from happening.

In the embodiment, at least one of the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14 does not contain the inorganic filler 18b, or contains a smaller amount of the inorganic filler 18b than the amount contained in the upper plate 12. It is preferable that both the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14 do not contain the inorganic filler 18b, or contain an amount of the inorganic filler 18b that is smaller than the amount contained in the upper plate 12. ..

Further, the melt flow rate of the joining member 15 is higher than that of the upper plate 12. Further, the melt flow rate of the joining member 15 is higher than that of the bottom plate 11. The melt flow rate of the joining member 15 is 20 g / 10 min or more, preferably 50 g / 10 min or more. The melt flow rate can be determined as a melt mass flow rate according to JIS K 7210-1: 2014 or JIS K 7210-2: 2014. For example, when the thermoplastic resin 18a is PP, the melt flow rate can be determined as a melt mass flow rate according to JIS K 7210-1: 2014. For example, when the thermoplastic resin 18a is PBT, the melt flow rate can be determined as a melt mass flow rate according to JIS K 7210-2: 2014.

By setting the melt flow rate of the joining member 15 higher than the melt flow rate of the top plate 12 and higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate 11 to 20 g / 10 min or more, the fluidity of the material of the joining member 15 becomes low. It can be suppressed from passing. As a result, the material of the joining member 15 can be firmly filled in the joint portion, the material leaks from the injection portion and the appearance is deteriorated, and the adhesive strength between the bottom plate 11 and the upper plate 12 by the joining member 15 is lowered. It is possible to prevent this from happening. Further, since it is possible to prevent the material of the joining member 15 from becoming too low in fluidity, the size of the injection portion (exposed surface 13a of the first joining member 13 or exposed surface 14a of the second joining member 14) should be reduced. Can be done. As a result, the range of the exposed surface 13a of the first joining member 13 or the exposed surface 14a of the second joining member 14, which looks different from the upper plate 12, can be made as small as possible.

In the embodiment, the melt flow rate of at least one of the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14 is higher than the melt flow rate of the top plate 12 and higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate 11, 20 g. It may be 10 min or more, and the melt flow rate of both the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14 is higher than the melt flow rate of the top plate 12 and higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate 11, 20 g / It is preferably 10 minutes or more.

Hereinafter, the manufacturing process of the toilet seat 10 according to the embodiment will be described.
For the toilet seat 10, for example, the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 are manufactured by molding a material containing the above resin or the like, and the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 are joined by the first joining member 13 and the second joining member 14. It can be manufactured by making it. Hereinafter, the process of molding the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 will be described in detail.

5 (a) to 5 (c) are cross-sectional views showing a part of the manufacturing process of the toilet seat according to the embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the mold M used for molding the bottom plate 11 and the top plate 12 is provided with a heating portion H and a cooling portion C.

In the manufacturing process, first, as shown in FIG. 5A, the mold M heated by the heating unit H is filled with the material X containing the above-mentioned crystalline resin and the like. At this time, the material X is filled in the mold M in a state of being heated to a higher temperature than the mold M. In other words, the material X is filled in the mold M heated to a temperature equal to or higher than -30 ° C. of the thermal deformation temperature (ISOR75) and lower than the temperature of the injection cylinder in a state of being heated by the injection cylinder. As a result, the material X is gradually cooled in the mold M. Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the mold M is cooled by the cooling unit C to cool and cure the material X inside the mold M. Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the toilet seat 10 (bottom plate 11 and top plate 12) formed by curing the material X is taken out from the mold M.

In this way, the mold M heated by the heating unit H is filled with the material X heated to a temperature higher than that of the mold M to gradually cool the material X, and further, the mold M is cooled by the cooling unit C. By forming the toilet seat 10 by curing the material X, crystallization near the surface of the toilet seat 10 can be promoted and the surface hardness of the toilet seat 10 can be increased. As a result, it is possible to further prevent the surface of the toilet seat 10 from being scratched.

As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to provide a toilet seat that can improve the scratch resistance of the surface while suppressing the deterioration of the appearance.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. With respect to the above-described embodiment, those skilled in the art with appropriate design changes are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, material, arrangement, installation form, and the like of each element included in the toilet seat and the like are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate.
In addition, the elements included in each of the above-described embodiments can be combined as much as technically possible, and the combination thereof is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as the features of the present invention are included.

10 Toilet seat, 10a lower surface, 10b upper surface, 10c inner side surface, 10d outer side surface, 10h opening, 11 bottom plate, 11a bottom plate base, 11b inner peripheral support part, 11c outer peripheral support part, 11d support foot, 11h opening, 12 upper plate , 12a seating part, 12b inner peripheral side wall part, 12c outer peripheral side wall part, 12h opening, 13, 14 first and second joining members, 13a, 14a exposed surface, 15 joining member, 18a thermoplastic resin, 18b inorganic filler, 20 toilet lid, 30 body, 100 toilet seat, 200 toilet, 200a bowl, 500 toilet, C cooling, H heating, M mold, S internal space, X material

Claims (5)

With the bottom plate
An upper plate provided above the bottom plate and
A joining member that joins the bottom plate and the top plate,
With
The top plate contains a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler.
The joining member contains a thermoplastic resin and
The toilet seat is characterized in that the melt flow rate of the joining member is higher than the melt flow rate of the upper plate and higher than the melt flow rate of the bottom plate, and is 20 g / 10 min or more. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the joining member does not contain an inorganic filler, or contains an amount of an inorganic filler that is smaller than the amount contained in the upper plate. The joining member has an exposed surface exposed to the outside and has an exposed surface.
The toilet seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exposed surface is located on the lower surface of the toilet seat. The toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom plate contains a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler. The thermoplastic resin contained in the upper plate is a crystalline resin, and is
By filling the mold heated by the heating unit with a material heated to a temperature higher than that of the mold to gradually cool the material, and further cooling the mold by the cooling unit to cure the material. The toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toilet seat is molded.

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