JP4051796B2 - toilet seat - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toilet seat that can measure the body fat of a seated person by sitting on the toilet seat.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, public health awareness has increased, and health measuring devices have been incorporated and used in general households. Among these health measuring instruments, instruments have been developed that measure body impedance and display body fat. This type of body fat scale can measure body fat percentage by measuring the impedance between hands or hands or between feet and legs.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this type of conventional body fat scale. Measured by the left-hand electrode 1 and right-hand electrode 2 for measuring the body fat of the measurer, impedance detection means 3 for measuring the impedance between the left and right electrodes 1 and 2, and a signal from the impedance detection means 3 The body fat scale is composed of a body fat conversion means 4 for calculating the body fat of the person, a display means 5 for displaying the body fat obtained by the body fat conversion means 4, and a battery 6 for supplying power to each of the parts by wire. It is configured.
[0004]
The measurer holds each electrode 1 and 2 with the left hand and the right hand. The impedance detection means 3 passes a high-frequency current between the left and right electrodes 1 and 2 and measures the biological impedance of the measurer between the electrodes. In this impedance, the body fat percentage is obtained from the body weight value previously input to the body fat conversion means 4 by utilizing the tendency that the impedance increases with the body fat mass. That is, the impedance detection means 3 transmits the detected impedance signal to the body fat conversion means 4. The body fat conversion means 4 calculates a body fat percentage from the body weight value and the impedance value. Upon receiving this calculated body fat percentage signal, the display means 5 displays the body fat percentage to the measurer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional body fat scale is incorporated in the toilet seat, and in order for the measurer to measure body fat, the electrode and buttocks contact each other. In the environment where the temperature is low, the electrodes 1 and 2 cool down especially in winter, and the measurer sits down. There was a problem that sometimes caused discomfort that it was cold.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, an electrode provided at a position where a measurer's buttocks or the like on a toilet seat comes into contact with a toilet seat heating heater is heated to warm the body fat by reducing cold discomfort caused by the electrode at the time of sitting. The toilet seat which can measure is provided.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of electrodes provided at positions where the buttocks or the like of a measurer on the toilet seat are in contact with each other, impedance detection means for measuring the impedance between the electrodes, A body fat conversion means for calculating body fat based on a signal from the impedance detection means; a display means for displaying body fat based on a signal from the body fat conversion means; and a toilet seat heating heater for heating the toilet seat. The electrode is thermally coupled to the toilet seat heating heater.
[0008]
Since the electrode is heated by receiving heat from the toilet seat heating heater, it is less likely to feel cold even if the electrode is touched when seated.
[0009]
In the invention described in claim 2, the electrode is formed in a strip shape. Even if the measurer misplaces the seat, the misalignment is absorbed by the width of the belt-like electrode, thereby enabling stable measurement.
[0010]
In the invention described in claim 3, the electrodes are arranged on the toilet seat at an angle. Even if the measurer misplaces the seat, the misalignment is absorbed by the angle of the electrode to enable stable measurement.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided position changing means capable of changing the position of the electrode. The measurer can set the electrode by the position changing means and can measure at the electrode position suitable for his / her seating position.
[0012]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the toilet seat of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0013]
Example 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a toilet seat according to the first embodiment. 10 is a battery used as a power source, 11 is a toilet seat disposed on the toilet 11a, 12 is four electrodes provided on the left and right sides of the toilet seat 11 with a space in the front and rear, respectively. In order to measure body fat when seated, the buttocks of the measurer come into contact. Reference numeral 13 denotes an impedance detection means connected to each electrode 12 and measures the biological impedance of the buttocks between the electrodes 12. 14 is a body fat conversion means for calculating a body fat ratio from the impedance value detected by the impedance detection means 13 and a weight value inputted in advance, and 15 is a body fat ratio obtained by the body fat conversion means 14. Is a display means for displaying. Reference numeral 16 denotes a toilet seat heating heater provided on the toilet seat 11 for heating and keeping the toilet seat, and 17 is a heater control means for controlling the temperature of the toilet seat heating heater 16. The electrode 12 is thermally coupled to the toilet seat heating heater 16 and is always warmed by the toilet seat heating heater 16. In addition, although the number of the electrodes 12 is four, it is not limited to this number, What is necessary is just at least plurality.
[0014]
The operation of the first embodiment will be described below. The toilet seat heating heater 16 supplied with power from the battery 10 is controlled by the heater control means 17 to heat and maintain the toilet seat 11. Then, when the measurer sits on the toilet seat 11 and presses a measurement start button (not shown), each part of the body fat scale starts operation. That is, a high frequency current flows between the electrodes 12 by the impedance detection means 13. This constant current flows through the human body between the electrodes 12, and a voltage proportional to the impedance between the electrodes 12 is generated. By detecting the voltage between the electrodes 12, the impedance of the human body can be measured. The impedance detection means 13 detects the magnitude of the voltage and sends a signal to the body fat conversion means 14. The body fat conversion means 14 calculates a body fat percentage from the signal from the impedance detection means 13 and the weight value inputted in advance. The display means 15 displays the result of the calculation and notifies the measurer.
[0015]
In such body fat measurement, in general, when the room temperature is low, the temperature of the electrode is also low. When seated in this state, the measurer receives cold discomfort due to the electrode.
[0016]
However, since each electrode 12 is heated by the toilet seat heating heater 16 in the invention of the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the feeling of being cold even if the human body touches the electrode 12 to the seated measurer. Therefore, body fat can be measured comfortably even in an environment where the temperature is extremely low, such as in winter. In addition, since the toilet seat heating heater 16 is used to warm the electrode 12, not only can the cost be reduced, but also the configuration can be simplified.
[0017]
(Example 2)
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the toilet seat of the second embodiment. The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the configuration of the electrode shape is different from that of the first embodiment. The other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the detailed description will be omitted, and different parts will be mainly described.
[0018]
Reference numeral 21 denotes four electrodes provided on the left and right sides of the toilet seat 11 with an interval in the front-rear direction. The electrodes 21 are formed in a band shape having a certain width so as to measure body fat when seated on the toilet seat 11 for defecation and the like. In addition, it is configured so that even if the measurement subject's buttocks or the like comes into contact, even if a positional shift occurs, the contact can be made reliably.
[0019]
The operation of the second embodiment will be described below. The method for measuring body fat is performed in the same manner as in Example 1. In general, the positions of the buttocks and the like of the measurer who sits on the toilet seat 11 at the time of the measurement generally vary. As described above, even when the seating person is misaligned, each electrode 21 has a certain width. Therefore, the misalignment can be absorbed and the human body can be surely touched. Therefore, the body fat can be measured stably even if there is a displacement in the sitting position of the measurer.
[0020]
In addition, although the electrode 21 of the said Example gave the fixed width | variety with the strip | belt-shaped shape, it is not limited to this shape, What is necessary is just the shape which can absorb a seating position shift.
[0021]
(Example 3)
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a toilet seat according to the third embodiment. In the invention of the third embodiment, the configuration in which the angle at which the electrodes are installed is embodied is different from that of the first embodiment, and the other portions are the same. Detailed description will be omitted, and different parts will be mainly described.
[0022]
Reference numeral 31 denotes four electrodes provided on the left and right sides of the toilet seat 11 with an interval in the front-rear direction. The left and right front electrodes 31 are arranged in a square shape, and the left and right rear electrodes 31 are arranged on the same line. Each has an angle. The reason why the electrode 31 is provided on the toilet seat 11 at an angle is that when the operator sits on the toilet seat 11 for defecation or the like, the body fat is measured. This is to ensure contact even if it occurs.
[0023]
The operation of the third embodiment will be described below. The method for measuring body fat is performed in the same manner as in Example 1. In general, the positions of the buttocks and the like of the measurer who sits on the toilet seat 11 at the time of the measurement generally vary. In this way, even if the measurement person is misaligned, the electrodes 31 are arranged on the toilet seat 11 at a certain angle, so that the misalignment can be absorbed and the human body can be surely touched. it can. Therefore, the body fat can be measured stably even if there is a displacement in the sitting position of the measurer.
[0024]
Example 4
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a toilet seat according to the fourth embodiment. The invention of the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment except that the configuration for changing the electrode installation position is the same as the first embodiment. Detailed description will be omitted and different parts will be mainly described.
[0025]
Reference numeral 41 denotes a position changing means for changing the position of the electrode 12 provided on the toilet seat 11 in accordance with the displacement of the seating, and the electrode 12 is provided between a pair of rails so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the toilet seat 11. It is composed. Four electrodes 12 are provided on the left and right sides of the toilet seat 11 with an interval in the front-rear direction. When the user sits on the toilet seat 11 for defecation or the like, the body fat is also measured so that the measurement subject's buttocks and the like are in contact with each other. It is composed.
[0026]
The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described below. The method for measuring body fat is performed in the same manner as in Example 1. The position of the buttocks or the like of the measurer who sits on the toilet seat 11 at the time of measurement is generally not constant because there are variations in each of a person who sits shallowly and a person who sits deeply. When the sitting position shifts in this manner, an error occurs in the measurement of body fat depending on the position of the electrode 12 and the measuring person. However, since each electrode 12 of the present invention is arranged so as to be movable in the front-rear direction on the toilet seat 11 by the position variable means 41, the position of each electrode 12 is set by the position variable means 41 according to the seating position of the measurer. Thus, it is possible to absorb the above-described positional deviation and to make the electrode 12 touch the predetermined position of the human body with certainty. Therefore, even when there is a displacement in the sitting position of the measurer, the body fat can be measured stably with little measurement error.
[0027]
In the above embodiment, a pair of rails are used as the position variable means 41. However, the position variable means 41 is not limited to this as long as the position of the electrode can be changed.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of electrodes provided at positions where the buttocks or the like of a measurer on the toilet seat are in contact with each other, impedance detection means for measuring the impedance between the electrodes, A body fat conversion means for calculating body fat based on a signal from the impedance detection means; a display means for displaying body fat based on a signal from the body fat conversion means; and a toilet seat heating heater for heating the toilet seat. Since the electrode is thermally coupled to the toilet seat heating heater, it is possible to measure comfortable body fat while reducing cold discomfort caused by the electrode when sitting.
[0029]
In the invention described in claim 2, since the electrodes are formed in a band shape, even if the measurer causes the seating position shift, this can be absorbed and stable measurement can be realized.
[0030]
In the invention described in claim 3, since the electrodes are arranged at an angle on the toilet seat, even if the measurer misplaces the seat, this can be absorbed and stable measurement can be realized.
[0031]
Further, since the invention described in claim 4 is provided with the position variable means capable of changing the position of the electrode, it can be set to the electrode position suitable for the sitting of the measurer, and stable measurement with little error can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a toilet seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toilet seat according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the toilet seat according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional body fat scale [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Toilet seat 12, 21, 31 Electrode 13 Impedance detection means 14 Body fat conversion means 15 Display means 16 Toilet seat heating heater 41 Position variable means

Claims (4)

The body fat is detected by a plurality of electrodes provided at a position where a measurement person's buttocks on the toilet seat comes into contact, an impedance detection means for measuring the impedance between the electrodes, and a signal from the impedance detection means. A body fat conversion means for calculating; a display means for displaying body fat according to a signal of the body fat conversion means; and a toilet seat heating heater for heating the toilet seat, wherein the electrode is heated with the toilet seat heating heater. Combined toilet seat.   The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is formed in a belt shape.   The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is disposed at an angle.   The toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrode is provided with position changing means capable of changing a position.

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