JP4569130B2 - Heating toilet seat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet seat having a heating function.

  In this type of conventional heated toilet seat, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the user can quickly transmit the radiant heat from the lamp heater 4 provided in the cavity 1 along the horseshoe shape of the toilet seat 2 to the seat 3 as shown in FIG. It was the structure of raising the temperature of the warming surface which is a surface on which a person is seated (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  However, in the configuration of FIG. 8, the temperature of the seating portion 3 can be quickly raised by radiant heat from the lamp heater 4, but there is no detailed description of the lamp heater 4, and in the case of a horseshoe shape as shown in FIG. It is conceivable that the lamp heater 4 is damaged due to the strain or impact applied to 2, and the heating function of the toilet seat cannot be used.

Although it is technically possible to form the lamp heater 4 in a horseshoe shape, it can be considered that the cost becomes considerably high.
JP 2000-210230 A

  In view of the problems of the prior art, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to obtain a heated toilet seat that does not have to be damaged due to distortion or impact, quickly warms the seating portion, and provides comfortable heating. Objective.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention includes a substantially donut-shaped or substantially horseshoe-shaped toilet seat that forms a cavity therein, and a radiation-type heating element that is provided in plurality in the cavity according to the toilet seat shape, a seating portion of the flight seat to be heated by the radiant heating elements, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the seating section, and a control section for controlling the plurality of radiation heating elements by a signal of said temperature detecting means The plurality of radiant heating elements are arranged on the inner side of a center line A-A that is equidistant from the inner periphery and the outer periphery in a plan view of the toilet seat .

  With this configuration, since a plurality of radiation-type heating elements are provided, heating is performed appropriately in accordance with complicated and various toilet seat shapes.

The heating toilet seat of the present invention can be heated evenly and instantaneously even in a curved shape such as a substantially donut-shaped or substantially horseshoe-shaped toilet seat by providing a plurality of radiation-type heating elements in the cavity in the toilet seat. Even if it is incorporated in a toilet seat where local force may be applied, the heating element itself is not easily damaged, and durability as a heating toilet seat is improved. In particular, since the plurality of radiant heating elements are disposed on the inner side of the center line A-A that is equidistant from the inner periphery and the outer periphery in a plan view of the toilet seat, the load is inevitably generated when a person is seated. Even if the contact surface is concentrated on the inner side and the contact pressure is higher on the inner side, more comfortable heating can be achieved by mainly radiant heating of this part .

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substantially donut-shaped or substantially horseshoe-shaped toilet seat having a hollow portion therein, a plurality of radiation-type heating elements provided in the cavity portion in accordance with the toilet seat shape, and heating by the radiation-type heating element. comprising a seating portion of the flight seat to be, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the seating section, and a control section for controlling the plurality of radiation heating elements by a signal of said temperature sensing means, said plurality of radiation The mold heating element is disposed on the inner side of the center line AA at an equal distance from the inner periphery and the outer periphery in a plan view of the toilet seat .

By providing a plurality of radiation-type heating elements in the toilet seat cavity , even a curved shape such as a generally donut-shaped or horseshoe-shaped toilet seat can be heated evenly and instantaneously. Even if it is incorporated in a toilet seat where there is a possibility that the heating will take place, the heating element itself is not easily damaged, and the durability as a heating toilet seat is improved. In particular, since the plurality of radiant heating elements are disposed on the inner side of the center line A-A that is equidistant from the inner periphery and the outer periphery in a plan view of the toilet seat, the load is inevitably generated when a person is seated. Even if the contact surface is concentrated on the inner side and the contact pressure is higher on the inner side, more comfortable heating can be achieved by mainly radiant heating of this part .

In the second invention, in particular, the radiation-type heating element according to the first invention is arranged in a substantially equal distance from the inner periphery of the seating portion of the toilet seat, and each has a curved shape. Since the distance is equal, the heating range can be determined with reference to the inside, and radiant heating can be performed.

In the third invention, the radiant heating element according to the first or second invention is particularly arranged so as to maintain a substantially equal distance from the surface of the seating portion of the toilet seat, and the arrival of radiant heat to the surface of the seating portion. Comfortable heating is achieved by keeping the distance constant and making the seating section temperature uniform.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, a radiant heat reflector is provided in the cavity of the toilet seat, and a radiant heating element is provided so as to maintain a substantially equal distance from the radiant heat reflector. Thus, the reach of the radiant heat to the surface of the seating portion is made constant, the seating portion temperature is made uniform, and comfortable heating is achieved. It becomes comfortable by radiant heating at a uniform temperature. In addition, even if the shape of the radiant heating element is limited, even if it cannot be matched to the toilet seat shape, the radiant heat reflecting plate is appropriately provided and the radiant heating element is configured accordingly, thereby expanding the range of shapes that can be radiantly heated. .

In particular, the fifth aspect of the present invention is the one according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the seat portion of the toilet seat is provided with the second heating element, and the portion that is difficult to be heated by the radiant heating element or immediately heated. The seating area that does not need to be heated is heated by heating with the second heating element, and the seating part of the seating part that is desired to be heated quickly is heated by the radiant heating element only when it rises up, and is heated for a long time. If it is necessary, energy-saving and appropriate heating can be realized by switching to the second heating element or reducing the output of the radiant heating element.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a cross section of a main part of a toilet seat of a heating toilet seat according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toilet apparatus equipped with the heating toilet seat, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the upper part of the toilet seat case of the heating toilet seat.

  1 to 3, a heated toilet seat with a hot water washing function for washing the anus and bidet after stool has a horizontally long main body 21 attached to the rear end of the toilet 20 of the toilet device. A part of the warm water washing function is internally provided, and a ring-shaped toilet seat 22 and a toilet lid 23 mounted on the toilet 20 are rotatably provided. In addition, an infrared sensor 25 that detects the presence or absence of a human body in the toilet room is built in the sleeve portion of the main body 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet seat 22 forms a case 26 by welding and joining two upper and lower members made of synthetic resin at the inner and outer peripheral edges of each, and prevents the intrusion of water or the like inside thereof. The structure has a sealed cavity 27 that can be formed.

Inside the hollow portion 27, a radiant heat reflecting plate 28 having a mirror-finished aluminum plate facing the seat portion 24 of the toilet seat 22 on which a user who uses the toilet apparatus sits, and a radiant heating element on both sides of the seat portion 24. These two lamp heaters 29 a and 29 b are provided in accordance with the shape of the toilet seat 22. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the lamp heaters 29 a and 29 b are provided along the horseshoe-shaped toilet seat shape in a plan view of the toilet seat 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the radiant heat reflecting plate 28 has an upward bent portion 28a on the entire periphery of the inner and outer end portions thereof, and the heat radiation from the lamp heaters 29a and 29b is deflected by the bent portion 28a. Therefore, it acts to increase the radiation density at the outer peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge that are separated from the lamp heaters 29a, 29b, and the radiation distribution to the upper part of the case 26 is made uniform. In the vicinity of the lamp heater 29, thermostats 30a and 30b and thermal fuses 31a and 31b electrically connected in series with the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are provided to prevent an excessive temperature rise in the event of an unsafe situation. Acts to The thermostats 30a and 30b and the thermal fuses 31a and 31b are provided so as to correspond to the two lamp heaters, and safety is improved.

  The lamp heaters 29 a and 29 b are configured by penetrating a filament 33 made of tungsten inside the glass tube 32 and enclosing a halogen gas 34. The lamp heaters 29 a and 29 b perform a halogen cycle reaction that forms tungsten halide as the filament 33 generates heat. By repeating, it acts to prevent the filament 33 from being consumed. By this action, the filament 33 having a very small heat capacity can be used as a heat source, and the radiation energy can be caused to rise very steeply. Therefore, the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are used for a few seconds, for example, for a few seconds until the user enters the toilet room, lowers clothes, and sits on the seat 24 of the toilet seat 22. A radiation-type heating element capable of rapidly raising the temperature of 24 to an appropriate temperature is used, and a power-saving radiation-type heating element that does not need to keep the toilet seat heated by always energizing is used.

  The lamp heaters 29 a and 29 b are fixed to the radiant heat reflecting plate 28 by a lamp heater fixture 36 having a rubber bush 35 that is an elastic material, and the radiant heat reflecting plate 28 is fixed to the case 26 by rubber feet 37. 38 is a seating detection means comprising a microswitch 40 provided in the leg rubber 39 of the toilet seat 22 on the toilet 20, and the microswitch is turned on by the load of the user seated on the seating portion 24 of the toilet seat 22. By doing so, the user's seating is detected.

  In FIG. 4, a case 26 constituting the toilet seat 22 is formed with a radiant heat absorption layer 42 containing a large amount of carbon black on the upper surface of a case body 41 formed by injection molding using a transparent polypropylene resin material, and further thereon. The surface decorative layer 43 is formed as a light blocking layer that shields all visible light emitted from the lamp heaters 29a and 29b and also considers surface hardness, chemical resistance, gloss, and the like. The surface decorative layer 43 can achieve the object of the present invention even if it does not block all visible light emitted from the lamp heaters 29a and 29b.

  The case body 41 on the case 26 constituting the toilet seat 22 is formed of a transparent polypropylene resin material with an average thickness of 2.5 mm, so that the radiant heat transmittance is set to 70% or more, and at the same time, the structure of the toilet seat is determined from its rigidity. It functions as a rectangle. The formed radiant heat absorption layer 42 has a thickness of 0.1 mm and the surface decorative layer 43 has a thickness of 0.2 mm. These layers completely absorb the radiant heat transmitted through the case body 41 and have a very high heat capacity. Therefore, the temperature rises instantaneously and at the same time, the visible radiation is completely shielded.

  Further, the case body 41 of the case 26 constituting the toilet seat 22 is provided with a thermistor 44 as a temperature detecting means in a recess opened on the inner surface thereof, so that the temperature in the vicinity of the radiant heat absorption layer 42 can be detected. Yes. Since the thermistor 44 is provided corresponding to the seating portion 24 heated by the two lamp heaters 29a and 29b, fine temperature control for controlling each temperature separately is possible, an abnormal temperature rise, Further, it is possible to detect the heat generation stop of the lamp heaters 29a and 29b, etc., and to cope with it appropriately.

  The toilet seat 22 has an electrode 46 formed on the rotation shaft 45 thereof, and constitutes a toilet seat position detecting means 47 together with a bearing portion (not shown) of the main body 21, and the toilet seat is in an upright state or is used while being seated. It is detected whether it is in a substantially horizontal use position.

  The main body 21 receives a detection signal of a room temperature thermistor 48 serving as a room temperature detection means, controls the temperature of the lamp heaters 29a and 29b, and starts heating by energizing the lamp heaters 29a and 29b of the toilet seat 22. There is provided a control unit 50 mainly composed of a microcomputer having a timer unit 49 that counts the elapsed time from the time point. The control unit 50 takes in the signals from the infrared sensor 25, the seating detection means 38 and the toilet seat position detection means 47, controls the start and stop of energization of the lamp heaters 29a and 29b, and the signals from the thermistor 44 and the room temperature thermistor 48. Thus, the temperature of the lamp heaters 29a and 29b can be controlled so that the temperature of the seating portion 24, which is a warming surface, becomes a predetermined temperature that is an appropriate temperature.

  The thermostat 30 exposes the bimetal 51 to the outside, and a heat-resistant black paint is applied to the surface of the bimetal 51 as the radiant heat absorber 52. The thermostat 30 is configured to efficiently absorb the heat radiated from the radiation-type heating element toward the bimetal 51 by the radiant heat absorber 52, and to raise the temperature of the bimetal more quickly.

In the above embodiment, when the user enters the toilet, the infrared sensor 25 detects this and a signal is sent to the control unit 50. At this time, when it is confirmed by the signal from the toilet seat position detecting means 47 that the toilet seat 22 is in a substantially horizontal use position, the control unit 50 starts energizing the lamp heaters 29a and 29b. By this initial energization, the input energy is instantaneously converted into radiant energy and radiated from the filament 33 toward the case body 41 through the glass tube 32 and the radiant heat reflector 28. Further, the radiant energy is partially absorbed or reflected inside the case body 41, but most of it is transmitted and contributes to the temperature rise of the radiant heat absorption layer 42 and the surface decorative layer 43. Accordingly, the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are energized when the user enters the toilet and can heat the warming surface of the seating portion 24 of the toilet seat 22 almost instantaneously. It becomes an energy-saving radiation-type heating element. Although the toilet seat 22 itself has a horseshoe-shaped special shape , the lamp heater 29 is divided into two parts according to the shape of the toilet seat 22, so even if an impact or local force is applied to the toilet seat 22 in normal use, the lamp heater 29a, 29b itself is hard to break, and durability as a heating toilet seat improves. It should be noted that fine heating can be realized by increasing the number of divisions so that the arrangement is more tailored to the shape of the toilet seat, or by controlling energization for each divided part.

  Based on the signals from the thermistor 44 and the room temperature thermistor 48 at the start of energization, the control unit 50 calculates the temperature difference between them and the respective temperatures, and sets the initial energization time limit for initial energization that is set and stored in advance. When a value is selected and the elapsed time counted by the timer unit 49 reaches the energization limit time, the energization amount is reduced or zero, and then the seating portion 24 of the toilet seat 22 is set to an appropriate temperature based on a signal from the thermistor 44. Control the energization amount.

  As a result, the thermistor 44 detects the temperature in the vicinity of the seating section 24 that is actually touched by the user, and the control section 50 raises and maintains the temperature to an appropriate temperature with high accuracy, so that the use of the toilet seat 22 is comfortable. Since the input amount of radiant energy is controlled in accordance with the load amount based on the signal from the thermistor 48, it can be heated to an appropriate temperature with higher accuracy and safety.

In addition, since the initial energization time control is prioritized, the energization amount is reduced and the temperature rise rate is reduced after the energization limit time, so that the toilet seat can be heated safely even if the response speed of the temperature detection means is slow. In addition, an inexpensive temperature detecting means can be used. In general, many common heaters control the temperature by reducing the applied voltage, but the lamp heater 29 repeats a halogen cycle reaction for forming tungsten halide as the filament 33 generates heat, so that the filament 33 Therefore, when the temperature of the glass tube is 200 ° C. or lower, the halogen cycle becomes unstable. Therefore, in order to bring the seating portion 24 to an appropriate temperature with the lamp heaters 29a and 29b, the energization cycle is changed within an output range in which the halogen cycle is effective.

  On the other hand, when the toilet seat 22 is in a standing state or when a male user holds the toilet seat 22 in a standing state for small use after entering the room, the control unit 50 uses the signal from the toilet seat position detecting means 47 to Energization of the lamp heaters 29a and 29b is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the wasteful heating of the toilet seat 22 and to save energy, and it is possible to prevent the filament 33 from being disconnected due to gravity in the length direction which is the tension direction of the filament 33.

  Further, even if the user opens and closes the toilet seat 22 in a standing state and a substantially horizontal state according to the purpose, in addition to the impact damping effect of the lamp heater fixture 36 having the rubber bush 35 which is an elastic material, the rubber feet 37 Due to the effect, the impact on the lamp heaters 29a and 29b is absorbed, and breakage of the glass tube and the filament can be prevented.

  Next, when the user is seated for defecation, the halogen cycle is effective as described above until the energization amount to the lamp heaters 29a and 29b is zero or the toilet seat temperature does not rise excessively by the signal of the seating detection means 38. Control by changing the energization cycle in the output range. Thus, the toilet seat temperature does not rise excessively during use, and it is safe without fear of causing burns or the like.

  In particular, since the heated toilet seat is seated with the skin in direct contact with the toilet seat with a built-in heater, sufficient consideration is required for safety. In normal use, it can be used safely and comfortably as described above. However, in the unlikely event that a microcomputer (not shown) malfunctions for some reason and the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are continuously energized, etc. It is also necessary to operate safely.

  In this embodiment, in order to realize this, as shown in FIG. 5, the thermostats 30 a and 30 b expose the bimetal 51, and heat-resistant black paint is applied as a radiant heat absorber 52 on the surface of the bimetal 51. Therefore, since the bimetal 51 is exposed, the bimetal 51 is directly heated by the radiant heat from the lamp heaters 29a and 29b, and a heat resistant black paint is applied to the surface of the bimetal 51 as the radiant heat absorber 52. Therefore, most of the radiant heat reaching the bimetal 51 from the lamp heater 29 is absorbed by the bimetal 51 and quickly follows the rapid fluctuation of the temperature of the toilet seat 22, and when the temperature rises, the energization circuit of the lamp heater 29 is cut off. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are described as being provided with a pair of left and right, but the present invention is not limited to this. The radiant heat absorption layer 42 and the surface decorative layer 43 are configured to completely shield light and radiation emitted from the lamp heaters 29a and 29b. However, a part or most of them may be intentionally transmitted. .

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway plan view of a heated toilet seat with a hot water cleaning function in the second embodiment of the present invention. Those denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment perform the same operation and action, and description thereof will be omitted, and only configurations different from those in the first embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 6, lamp heaters 29 a and 29 b are provided along the shape of the toilet seat 22. Furthermore, it is arranged inside the center line AA of the seating portion 24 of the toilet seat, and has a curved shape so as to maintain an approximately equal distance a from the inner periphery of the seating portion 24 of the toilet seat 22. Further, in a part of the toilet seat where heating by the lamp heaters 29a and 29b is difficult or a seating part that does not need to be heated immediately, a cord-like heater is meanderingly disposed on the back surface of the seating part 24. A heating element 53 is installed. In FIG. 6, the second heating element 53 is provided in the rear portion of the toilet seat 22, but is not limited thereto. The second heating element has been described as a cord-like heater. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use a metal pattern formed in a planar shape, a heater having PTC characteristics, or the like. The second heating element 53 is electrically connected in parallel with the lamp heaters 29a and 29b, and also receives signals from the thermistors 30a and 30b and the room temperature thermistor 48 provided on the back surface of the seating portion 24 on which the second heating element 53 is disposed. At the same time, the controller 50 controls the seating section 22 so that the temperature of the seating section 22 becomes an appropriate temperature.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are arranged so as to maintain an approximately equal distance b from the surface of the toilet seat seat portion in the longitudinal direction and further to maintain an approximately equal distance c from the radiant heat reflector 28. Yes.

  When a person sits on the toilet seat 22, the load is inevitably applied to the inside, the contact surface is concentrated on the inside, and the contact pressure is also higher on the inside. Become. By arranging the central axis of the lamp heaters 29a and 29b on the inner side of the center line AA of the seating portion 24 of the toilet seat 22, the inside of the toilet seat that is easy to feel cold is heated, so that the toilet seat feels cold when seated. It is possible to use the heated toilet seat comfortably.

In addition, the lamp heaters 29a and 29b are arranged in a curved shape so as to maintain an approximately equal distance a from the inner periphery of the seating portion 24, thereby making the reach of the radiant heat constant and making the temperature inside the toilet seat uniform and comfortable. Can be improved. Similarly lamp heater 29a, by disposed so as to maintain a substantially equal distance b from the surface of the seat 24 and 29b in the longitudinal direction, also arranged to maintain a substantially equal distance c from the radiant heat reflector seating The reach of the radiant heat to the surface of the part can be made constant, the seating part temperature can be made uniform, and the comfort can be improved. Since the 2nd heat generating body 53 heats the part with which heating with the lamp heaters 29a and 29b is hard to be performed, a heating toilet seat can be used comfortably. The second heating element 53 is always energized to warm the surface of the toilet seat 22 by heat conduction. However, since the second heating element 53 is set as a part of the seating portion 24, the power consumption does not increase significantly. As described above, by providing a plurality of lamp heaters 29a and 29b, there is no risk of damage against distortion and impact applied to the toilet seat 22, and it is safe, and the non-occurrence caused by dividing the lamp heaters 29a and 29b. By heating the heated portion with the second heating element, a heated toilet seat that provides a comfortable feeling of heating can be obtained.

  As described above, the heating toilet seat of the present invention realizes a heating toilet seat that can be used safely without worrying about damage due to distortion or impact of the toilet seat by installing a plurality of radiation-type heating elements inside the toilet seat. Therefore, it can be applied as a heating technique for a sitting apparatus.

Schematic configuration diagram of a heating toilet seat in the first embodiment of the present invention The perspective view of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention The partially cutaway plan view of the heating toilet seat according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Sectional drawing of the principal part of the case upper part of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing for demonstrating the safety apparatus of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention Cutaway plan view of a heated toilet seat according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Sectional drawing of the principal part of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 2 of this invention Cross section of a conventional heated toilet seat Cutout plan view of a conventional heated toilet seat

22 Toilet seat 24 Seating section 27 Cavity section 29 Lamp heater (radiant heating element)
44 thermistor (temperature detection means)
50 control unit 53 second heating element

Claims (5)

A generally donut-shaped or substantially horseshoe-shaped toilet seat that forms a cavity therein;
A plurality of radiation-type heating elements provided in the hollow portion according to the toilet seat shape;
A seating portion of the flight seat to be heated by the radiant heating elements,
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the seating portion ;
A controller that controls the plurality of radiation-type heating elements according to a signal from the temperature detection means ;
The plurality of radiation-type heating elements are heating toilet seats disposed on the inner side of a center line A-A that is equidistant from an inner periphery and an outer periphery in a plan view of the toilet seat. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of radiation-type heating elements is arranged in a curved shape at an approximately equal distance from an inner periphery of a seating portion of the toilet seat. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the radiant heating element is disposed at a substantially equal distance from a seating portion surface of the toilet seat. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a radiant heat reflecting plate is provided in a cavity of the toilet seat, and a radiant heating element is provided so as to maintain a substantially equal distance from the radiant heat reflecting plate. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein a second heating element is provided in a part of a seating portion of the toilet seat.

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