JPH10335051A - Toilet seat heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toilet seat heater in which distance between facing electrodes is made to the approximately uniform distance, and the effect of voltage drop can be decreased by electrifying a flat heat generating layer through branch electrode layers alternately projecting from loop electrode layers arranged on the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the back surface of a toilet seat. SOLUTION: Loop electrode layers 3, 4 having the loop shapes are respectively formed on the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the back surface of a base cloth 1 in which a backing material is rubberized on the front surface, branch electrode layers 5, 6 are alternately and serratedly projected from the loop electrode layers 3, 4, and a PTC heat generating layer 7 is formed on the branch electrode layers 5, 6, and a toilet seat heater 10 is formed. In this toilet seat heater 10, the front surface side is stuck to the back surface of the toilet seat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet seat heater for warming a toilet seat of a Western toilet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional toilet seat heater for warming a toilet seat of a Western-style toilet bowl, there has conventionally been provided a synthetic resin molded product in which a heater wire (linear heating element) is meanderingly provided on a concave back surface of a toilet seat. (For example, the invention described in JP-A-8-78143). However, in such a toilet seat heater, even if the heater wire is sandwiched between sheets having good heat conductivity such as aluminum foil and laid, it is possible to completely prevent the occurrence of uneven heating between the position on the heater wire and the periphery thereof. Cannot be eliminated.

Therefore, recently, it has been studied to use a planar heating element layer in which a resistance heating element itself is formed in a layer shape as a toilet seat heater. The sheet-like heating element layer can generate heat from the entire sheet-like resistance heating element by bringing electrodes into contact with each other, for example, so as to oppose both side edges, and conducting electricity between these electrodes. In addition, as this planar heating element, P
Use of a TC heating element (positive temperature coefficient heating element) is also being considered. The PTC heating element is a resistance heating element having a positive temperature coefficient. Therefore, when the temperature rises due to heat generation, the resistance value also rises and the current is suppressed. Therefore, even if a feedback loop with a temperature sensor is not provided, the amount of current is automatically adjusted only by applying a constant voltage to reduce the temperature. This has the advantage that it can be controlled to be constant.

[0004]

However, when the distance between the electrodes is not uniform, current concentrates on a portion where the distance is small, so that the heating value of the planar heating element layer varies depending on the position on the surface. Occurs. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the toilet seat 11 has a substantially semi-elliptical shape and an annular shape with a non-uniform width W so as to cover a substantially oval upper edge of the toilet. Conventionally, when the above-mentioned sheet heating element layer is laid on the surface 11a, there has not been an appropriate pattern for arranging the facing electrodes so that the distance between them is uniform.
Further, for example, when one heater wire is meandered and laid on the back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11, the amount of heat generated does not greatly differ depending on the position on the heater wire. The problem is that the amount of heat generated between the opposing electrodes at a position far from the power supply terminal is significantly reduced due to the effect of the voltage drop across these electrodes because the resistance between the electrodes is distributed in parallel. There was also.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has been developed in the form of a loop electrode layer disposed on an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge of a back surface of a toilet seat, and is provided with branch electrode layers alternately protruding from the loop electrode layer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat heater capable of making the distance between opposed electrodes substantially uniform and reducing the effect of voltage drop by supplying electricity to the heating element layer.

[0006]

That is, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the toilet seat heater according to the present invention is arranged in a loop on the back surface of an annular toilet seat, on the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the rear surface. Loop electrode layers, branch electrode layers protruding from the inner and outer loop electrode layers in a branch shape toward the opposing loop electrode layer at substantially constant intervals alternately at a plurality of intervals, and inner and outer loops. A planar heating element layer formed so as to overlap at least substantially the entirety of each branch electrode layer is laid in an annular region surrounded by the electrode layers.

According to the means, the planar heating element layer comprises, in principle, a branch electrode layer projecting from the inner loop electrode layer;
Heat is generated by energization between the adjacent outer peripheral loop electrode layer and the branch electrode layer protruding therefrom. Each of the adjacent branch electrode layers can be protruded from an arbitrary position on the inner and outer loop electrode layers, so that it is not affected by the shape of the toilet seat or the width of the annular shape. They can be arranged at intervals. Therefore, since the distance between the adjacent branch electrode layers becomes substantially uniform, it is possible to prevent the heat generation amount of the planar heating element layer from becoming uneven. In addition, since each branch electrode layer is energized through the inner and outer loop electrode layers, even in the case of the branch electrode layer farthest from the power supply terminal, current is supplied from both loop-shaped paths. This can reduce the decrease in the amount of heat generated by the voltage drop in the loop electrode layer.

The sheet heating element layer may be formed not only so as to cover the electrode layer but also between the back surface of the toilet seat and the electrode layer. Further, the planar heating element layer may be formed such that a part of the edge overlaps the loop electrode layer. However, the distance between the branch electrode layer facing the loop electrode layer and the other loop electrode layer is made substantially equal to the distance between the other adjacent branch electrode layers.

Further, the planar heating element layer is a layer of a positive temperature coefficient heating element.

According to the means, since the planar heating element layer is formed of the positive temperature coefficient heating element, it is not necessary to control the temperature of the toilet seat heater by the feedback loop.

Further, the loop electrode layer, the branch electrode layer and the sheet heating element layer are printed on the back surface of an annular insulating sheet material, and the surface of this sheet material is placed on the back surface of the annular toilet seat. By sticking, the loop electrode layer, the branch electrode layer, and the sheet heating element layer are laid on the back surface of the toilet seat.

According to the means, the loop electrode layer, the branch electrode layer, and the sheet heating element layer are not laid directly on the back surface of the toilet seat, but are printed once on the back surface of the sheet material, and this sheet material is printed on the toilet seat. Since it only has to be attached to the back surface, the laying process becomes easy.

Further, the above-mentioned sheet material is characterized in that a rubber backing material is adhered to the surface of a base fabric woven of fibers.

According to the means, since the sheet material is composed of the base material and the backing material which have high flexibility and can be extended to a certain extent, the sheet material is stuck to the three-dimensional curved surface on the back surface of the toilet seat. Will be able to In addition, since the rubber backing material plays a role of waterproofing, even if cracks occur in the toilet seat and water enters through the gap, this water will reach the electrodes etc. and cause a short circuit accident or electric shock will occur. Can be prevented.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a toilet seat heater, and FIG. 2 is a rear view when an electrode layer is formed on the back surface of a base cloth. 3 is A- of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a toilet seat on which a toilet seat heater is laid.

In this embodiment, a description will be given of a toilet seat heater 10 laid on the back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11 shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet seat heater 10 is formed on a substantially semi-elliptical annular base fabric 1 that follows the entire shape of the toilet seat 11. The base fabric 1 is made of polyester (PE
T) It is made by cutting out a fabric woven from synthetic fibers such as 6-nylon, 6,6-nylon or acrylic, or glass fiber, or the like, and the fiber thickness of the fibers is 30 to 10
0 denier, 70-200 per inch
We use something of the degree. As shown in FIG. 3, a backing material 2 is attached to the surface of the base cloth 1. The backing material 2 is made of a rubber vulcanized product such as butyl rubber (IIR), ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), chloroprene rubber (CR) or the like, and is coated on the surface of the base fabric 1 at 10 g / m ² or more, preferably 20 to 60 g / m ^2. It is rubberized with a small amount of coating. In addition, these base cloth 1 and / or backing material 2 include
Preferably, a flame retardant treatment is performed. In this case, the flame retardant treatment is preferably based on JIS horizontal flame retardant having an oxygen index of about 24 or more.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner and outer loop electrode layers 3 and 4 and the branch electrode layers 5
6 are formed in a predetermined pattern by screen printing (in FIG. 2, these electrode layers 3 to 6 are shown in a dot pattern). These electrode layers 3 to 6 are formed by layer-patterning a conductive coating material having good conductivity such as silver paste by screen printing. The inner peripheral side loop electrode layer 3 is an electrode formed in a loop pattern along the inner peripheral edge of the annular base cloth 1, and the outer peripheral side loop electrode layer 4.
Are electrodes formed in a loop pattern along the outer peripheral edge of the annular base cloth 1.

The branch electrode layer 5 is a plurality of electrodes protruding in a comb shape from the inner loop electrode layer 3 toward the outer loop electrode layer 4. And a plurality of electrodes protrudingly formed in a comb shape from the loop electrode layer 4 on the outer peripheral side to the loop electrode layer 3 on the inner peripheral side. In addition, the branch electrode layers 5 and 6 are alternately arranged and formed in a pattern such that the distance between adjacent branch electrode layers 5 and 6 is constant. That is, the branch electrode layers 5 and 6 are formed in a straight shape long in the left and right direction in FIG. 2 so as to be parallel so that the vertical distance D is substantially constant, so that the adjacent branch electrode layers 5 and 6 are formed. Are kept almost constant.
Further, some of the branch electrode layers 5, 6 formed in the lower part of FIG.
Are formed in parallel with each other so that the distance D in the left-right direction is substantially constant. Accordingly, the region between the loop electrode layers 3 and 4 on the inner and outer circumferences becomes a semi-elliptical ring whose width is not constant along the shape of the base cloth 1, but the branch electrode layer protrudingly formed in this region. In the cases 5 and 6, the distance between adjacent objects can be easily made substantially constant.

The branch electrode layers 5 and 6 are not necessarily formed in a comb-teeth shape, and only the base portion has inner and outer loop electrode layers 3 and 4.
May be formed as long as it is formed in a branch shape such that the tip does not connect to any of the electrode layers 3 to 6. At this time, the branch electrode layers 5, 6
May be branched on the tip side. For example, a part of the loop electrode layer 3 protrudingly formed from the inner peripheral side loop electrode layer 3 shown in FIG. .

In the inner and outer loop electrode layers 3 and 4, feed terminals 3 a and 4 a are provided at appropriate places (lower right in FIG. 2).
Are formed. The power supply terminal portions 3a and 4a are portions for connecting a power supply terminal (not shown), and from the external power supply to the inner and outer loop electrode layers 3 and 4 and the branch electrode layers 5 and 6 connected to these via the power supply terminal. An electric current is supplied.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a PTC heating element layer 7 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the back surface of the base cloth 1 by screen printing so as to overlap the branch electrode layers 5 and 6 (FIG. 1). Here, the PTC heating element layer 7 is shown by a dot pattern). The PTC heating element layer 7 is formed by forming a resistive heating element having a positive temperature coefficient, that is, a paste of a positive temperature coefficient heating element in a layered pattern by screen printing. The PTC heating element layer 7 is formed in a pattern in an annular area surrounded by the inner and outer loop electrode layers 3 and 4. However, it is formed so as to be slightly spaced from the inner peripheral side of the loop electrode layer 3 on the outer peripheral side and to be slightly spaced from the outer peripheral side of the loop electrode layer 4 on the inner peripheral side. Therefore, this PTC heating element layer 7
Are formed so as to cover almost the whole except for a small portion of the base of each branch electrode layer 5, 6, and electricity is supplied only through these branch electrode layers 5, 6. However,
The PTC heating element layer 7 may be formed such that a part of the edge overlaps the loop electrode layer. For example, the PTC shown in FIG.
Part of the heating element layer 7 (lower left and right lower ends) is formed so as to overlap the outer peripheral side loop electrode layer 4.
The power is supplied directly from However, also in this case, the distance between the loop electrode layer 4 on the outer peripheral side on which the PTC heating element layer 7 overlaps and the branch electrode layer 5 facing the loop electrode layer 4 is equal to the distance D between the other adjacent branch electrode layers 5 and 6. It is almost the same.

The toilet seat heater 10 has electrode layers 3 to 6 formed on the back surface of the base cloth 1 and a PTC heating element layer 7 formed thereon.
Are formed, but the PTC heating element layer 7 is formed first,
Electrode layers 3 to 6 may be formed on top of this.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toilet seat heater 10 having the above-described structure has a front surface (the surface of the backing material 2) adhered to the concave back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11 with a double-sided adhesive tape or the like. Conventionally, a polyester (PET) sheet has often been used as a substrate on which the electrode layers 3 to 6 and the PTC heating element layer 7 are screen-printed. However, when the base cloth 1 and the backing material 2 as in this embodiment are used, the flexibility is high and a certain degree of elongation is possible, so that the three-dimensional curved surface of the back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11 is not wrinkled. You can attach it. In addition, the back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11 is subjected to insulation and waterproofing treatment by applying raw butyl rubber from above with the toilet seat heater 10 attached thereto. And
The back cover 12 is closed so as to cover the concave back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11.
Is fixed by ultrasonic welding or the like, and a urethane foam 13 is injected from an injection port (not shown) provided in the back cover 12 to foam and fill the inside to insulate and waterproof the inside. Therefore, even if cracks occur on the surface of the toilet seat 11 and water infiltrates through the gaps, the surface of the toilet seat heater 10 is blocked by the waterproof rubber backing material 2, and the back surface is also covered with raw butyl rubber or urethane foam 13. Because it is blocked,
This water can be prevented from reaching the electrode layers 3 to 6 and the PTC heating element layer 7 and causing a short circuit accident or electric shock.

The toilet seat 11 is formed by connecting an external power supply to a power supply terminal (not shown) of the toilet seat heater 10 to connect each of the branch electrode layers connected to the toilet seat heater 10 via loop electrode layers 3 and 4 on the inner and outer periphery of the toilet seat heater 10. Voltage is applied to 5,6. Then, the PTC heating element layer 7 between the adjacent branch electrode layers 5 and 6 is energized and generates heat. The PTC heating element layer 7
When the temperature rises due to heat generation, the resistance value also rises due to a positive temperature coefficient to limit the current, so that the temperature is automatically controlled to a constant temperature. In addition, since the distance between the adjacent branch electrode layers 5 and 6 is substantially constant, unevenness in the heat generation temperature of the PTC heating element layer 7 hardly occurs.
Further, since the branch electrode layers 5 and 6 are energized through the loop-shaped loop electrode layers 3 and 4 on the inner and outer circumferences, the power supply terminal 3
Also, in the case of the branch electrode layers 5 and 6 located far from the a and 4a, the current is supplied from both loop-shaped paths, and the voltage drop in the loop electrode layers 3 and 4 is reduced. PTC heating element layer 7 also has substantially the same temperature.
In the portion where the PTC heating element layer 7 shown in FIG. 1 overlaps the loop electrode layer 4 on the outer peripheral side, electricity is similarly generated between the loop electrode layer 4 and the branch electrode layer 5 by conducting electricity.

When the toilet seat heater 10 is energized, the temperature due to the heat generated by the same toilet seat 11 and the same backing material 1 and backing material 2 is determined by the pattern and layer thickness of the PTC heating element layer 7,
Blending of TC heating element, distance between adjacent branch electrode layers 5 and 6,
It is determined according to the applied voltage and the like. Therefore, the toilet seat heater 10 has a surface temperature of the toilet seat 11 of 3 due to these factors.
It is designed to be about 5-38 ° C. Of these elements, only the applied voltage can be changed from the outside. The temperature of the toilet seat heater 10 is adjusted by changing the applied voltage by, for example, pulse width modulation (the effective value of the applied voltage changes). It is possible to do.

In the above embodiment, since the backing material 2 is rubberized on the surface of the base cloth 1, not only the above-mentioned insulation and waterproof properties are obtained but also the air permeability is lost. The transport and positioning can be facilitated by pulling. However, instead of using the base cloth 1 and the backing material 2 as the base material of the toilet seat heater 10, another sheet material can be used. However, unless the sheet material is highly flexible and can be stretched to some extent, it cannot be stuck to the three-dimensional curved surface of the back surface 11a of the toilet seat 11.

Further, in the present embodiment, the PTC heating element layer 7 is used, but another planar heating element layer having no positive temperature coefficient may be formed instead. However, in this case, temperature control by a feedback loop is required to keep the temperature of the toilet seat 11 constant.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the toilet seat heater of the present invention, the distance between the opposing branch electrode layers can be easily made substantially uniform, so that the heat generation of the planar heating element layer can be easily achieved. Non-uniformity in the amount can be prevented. Further, since the voltage drop of the voltage applied to the planar heating element layer is reduced by the loop-shaped loop electrode layer, it is possible to prevent the amount of generated heat from decreasing according to the distance from the power supply terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and is a rear view of a toilet seat heater.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, and is a rear view when an electrode layer is formed on a back surface of a base fabric.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a toilet seat in which a toilet seat heater is laid.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the toilet seat.

6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 base cloth 2 backing material 3 inner loop electrode layer 4 outer loop electrode layer 5 branch electrode layer from inner circumference 6 branch electrode layer from inner circumference 7 PTC heating element layer 10 toilet seat heater 11 toilet seat 11a Back

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Takahiro Kariya 663 Minoshima, Arita-shi, Wakayama Prefecture Mitsubishi Cable Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A loop electrode layer arranged in a loop on an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge of the annular toilet seat, and a plurality of the loop electrode layers are alternately arranged from the inner and outer loop electrode layers. At regular intervals, a branch electrode layer protruding in a branch shape toward the opposing loop electrode layer, and at least substantially all of the branch electrode layers are superimposed on an annular region surrounded by the inner and outer loop electrode layers. And a sheet heating element layer formed on the toilet seat heater. 2. The toilet seat heater according to claim 1, wherein the planar heating element layer is a layer of a positive temperature coefficient heating element. 3. The loop electrode layer, the branch electrode layer, and the planar heating element layer are printed on the back surface of an annular insulating sheet material, and the surface of the sheet material is attached to the back surface of the annular toilet seat. The toilet seat heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loop electrode layer, the branch electrode layer, and the sheet heating element layer are laid on the back surface of the toilet seat. 4. The toilet seat heater according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material is formed by laminating a rubber backing material on a surface of a base fabric woven of fibers.