US20090100580A1

US20090100580A1 - Sensing-Type Lavatory Seat Structure with Covering Film

Info

Publication number: US20090100580A1
Application number: US11/873,962
Authority: US
Inventors: Chien-Chung Su
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-17
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

A sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film includes a covering film output portion and a covering film collecting portion, a rolling motor and a pivot motor accommodated in a body portion thereof, and a U-shaped seat, through two ends thereof, connected to the covering film output portion and the covering film collecting portion. When the user approaches, a sensing unit senses the situation, controls the pivot motor to lower down the seat and controls the rolling motor to replace the covering film. Then, after the user leaves, the sensing unit once again senses the variation, and controls the pivot motor to lift up the seat to wait for the next time usage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film, and more particularly to a lavatory seat structure which can automatically replace the covering film for the seat and also can lower down and lift up the seat corresponding to a detecting result from a sensing unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water closet is a very important invention in modern times, even more important than the gunpowder and the compass. Without water closet, people might not get free from the foul smell of excrement. It is a general opinion that water closet was invented by Sir John Harrington, who was a courtier of Queen Elizabeth, in 1596. Until 1778, Joseph Bramah improved the design of water closet and granted the patent. Right now, not only for flushing excrement, the water closet also should be provided with other functions, such as sanitation and comfort.
Generally, when using a public lavatory, some people might just sit on the water closet without considering, but most people will pay attention to the cleanness of lavatory seat. Therefore, for avoiding from being contaminated by the dirt or filth, some people might directly squat on the lavatory seat, which actually will worsen the situation and also make the later user more uncomfortable. One solution is to lay the toilet papers or tissues on the seat for cutting off the direct contact with the seat. However, this method might consume the toilet paper, and actually, the wind pressure caused from the sitting action of the user might also blow the paper away, so that this obviously is very inconvenient.
Consequently, the improvement is developed. Please refer R.O.C. Patent No. M296021, entitled “lavatory seat cushion”, which discloses a lavatory seat cushion, which can be positioned on a circular lavatory seat, including a circular bottom board for positioning on the lavatory seat, a fixing unit for fixing the bottom board on the lavatory seat, plural stacked circular cushions laid on the bottom board, a circular pressing element for pressing the topmost cushion, and plural positioning elements for pressing at the top of the pressing element and positioning thereof on the cushions.
But, this conventional structure is disadvantageous that if the former user splashes the filth or sewage onto the cushions, it might become, not only the topmost cushion, but all the cushions are contaminated, so as to cause the cushions can not be used any more. Besides, this conventional structure is also disadvantageous that since the cleaner always clean the water closet by water column, this structure which directly lays the cushions on the seat might easily be contaminated by water, or the cleaner has to disassemble the cushions, which is not only wasting time but also inconvenient.
Therefore, another structure is proposed, such as R.O.C. Patent No. M303712, entitled “foldable and portable lavatory seat fixing device” in which the fixing device includes a portable lavatory seat, plural portable rollers and plural bent arms whose diameter is far less than the inner diameter of the roller, characterized in that when lifting up the portable lavatory seat, the bent arm of the fixing device can automatically be rotated out owing to the gravity so as to block and fix the lavatory seat, thereby fixing the portable lavatory seat and reducing the volume.
However, except the travelers, it is hard for the common user to carry this kind of conventional structure only for temporary demand. Besides, this device not only occupies volume and weight, but also needs to be cleaned after using, so that it is also very inconvenient.
Consequently, owing to the drawbacks described above, it is really an urgent for the manufacturer to improve the lavatory seat for proving the user a better solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For solving the defects described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film, so as to solve the problems that the lavatory seat cushion is not convenient in use, is easily contaminated and might influence the cleaner.
For achieving the object described above, the main body of the present invention includes a body portion, a seat, a rolling motor, a pivot motor and a sensing unit, wherein the two ends of the body portion respectively have a covering film output portion and a covering film collecting portion mounted thereon, and the rolling motor and the pivot motor are accommodated in the body portion. The seat approximately has a U shape and the two ends thereof are respectively connected to the covering film output portion and the covering film collecting portion. A pivot is mounted at the linking portion between the seat and the covering film collecting portion, and the seat is mounted on the body portion through the pivot, which is driven by the pivot motor. When installing, the covering film is pulled out from the output roller of the covering film output portion and covers on the seat, the covering film is pulled to the collecting roller inside the covering film collecting portion along the seat, and then, the covering film is rolled up and collected by the collecting roller, which is driven by the rolling motor. The sensing unit can detect the environment and send out signal for controlling the pivot motor and the rolling motor, wherein the sensing unit includes an optical sensing unit and a pressure sensing unit. The optical sensing unit is used to detect that the user is approaching or leaving away. The pressure sensing unit is used to sense if the user sits on the seat.
In the present invention, the main body is mounted on the base of the water closet, so that when the user approaches, the sensing unit detects the position of the user through the optical sensing unit and sends out signal to the pivot motor, and then, the pivot motor drives the pivot. When the seat lowers down, the pivot motor stops driving the pivot and sends out signal to the rolling motor, so that the rolling motor drives the collecting roller to roll up the covering film, so as to collect the old covering film into the collecting roller and replace a new covering film for the seat. Therefore, every user can have a brand-new covering film.
When the user sits on the seat, the pressure sensing unit is initiated owing to the pressure, and after the user leaves the seat, the pressure sensing unit senses the pressure disappeared and sends the signal to the pivot motor, so that the pivot motor drives the pivot to lift up the seat, thereby avoiding the seat from being contaminated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit also can be installed at the top of the water tank of the water closet, so as to avoid erroneous trigger by cleaner. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensing unit also can be omitted and only the optical sensing unit is mounted on the base of the water closet, which also can achieve the same effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a decomposition drawing showing the appearance of a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film in a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film in a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are schematic views showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the 6-6 section in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film in a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film in a third embodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the system of a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The present invention is related to a sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film whose main body 10 including a body portion 11, a seat 15, a pivot motor 111, a rolling motor 112 and a sensing unit 14, wherein the body portion 11 have a covering film output portion 13 and a covering film collecting portion 12 respectively mounted at two ends thereof, and the covering film output portion 13 has an output roller 131 mounted therein and the covering film collecting portion 12 has a collecting roller 121 and a guiding wheel 122 mounted therein. Moreover, the rolling motor 112, the pivot motor 111 and a power supplier 113 are accommodated in the center of the body portion 11, and the power supplier 113 can be battery, accumulator or the general plug, which is conventional, so that no more unnecessary details will be given.
Furthermore, the body portion 11 is pivotally connected to a cover 16 at two ends thereof, so that the cover 16 can have a pivot movement relative to the main body 10, thereby covering the seat 15.
The seat 15 approximately has a U shape and the two ends thereof are respectively connected to the covering film output portion 13 and the covering film collecting portion 12. A pivot 153 is mounted at the linking portion between the seat 15 and the covering film collecting portion 12, and the seat 15 is mounted on the body portion 11 through the pivot 153, which is driven by the pivot motor 111, and a guiding piece 151 is pivotally mounted between the seat 15 and the covering film output portion 13. When installing, the covering film 20 is pulled out from the output roller 131 of the covering film output portion 13 and covers on the seat 15 through the guiding by the guiding piece 151, the covering film 20 is pulled to the collecting roller 121 inside the covering film collecting portion 12 along the seat 15, and then, the covering film 20 is rolled up and collected by the collecting roller 121, which is driven by the rolling motor 112. Besides, there are several pads 152 mounted at the bottom of the seat 15 for protecting the seat 15 from colliding with the water closet 30.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit 14 can detect the environment and send out signal for controlling the pivot motor 111 and the rolling motor 112, wherein the sensing unit 14 includes an optical sensing unit 141 and a pressure sensing unit 142. The optical sensing unit 141 is mounted on the body portion 11 at a position toward the seat 15 for detecting that the user is approaching or leaving away. The pressure sensing unit 142 is protrudently mounted at the bottom of the seat 15 near the front portion thereof and has a height identical to the pads 152, so as to sense if the user sits on the seat 15.
When using, the main body 10 is mounted on the base 31 of the water closet 30, so that when the user approaches, the sensing unit 14 detects the position of the user through infrared rays from the optical sensing unit 141 and sends out signal to the pivot motor 111, and then, the pivot motor 111 drives the pivot 153. When the seat 15 lowers down, the pivot motor 111 stops driving the pivot 153 and sends out signal to the rolling motor 112, so that the rolling motor 112 drives the collecting roller 121 to roll up the covering film 20, thereby collecting the old covering film 20 into the collecting roller 121 and replacing a new covering film 20 for the seat 15.
When the user sits on the seat 15, the pressure sensing unit 142 is initiated owing to the pressure, and after the user leaves the seat 15, the pressure sensing unit 142 senses the pressure disappeared and sends the signal to the pivot motor 111, so that the pivot motor 111 drives the pivot 153 to lift up the seat 15, thereby avoiding the seat 15 from being contaminated.
Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 which show the operation of the present invention. The seat 15 of the main body 10 is mounted on the base 31 of the water closet 30 and the body portion 11 is rejected to the water tank 32 of the water closet 30. When the user approaches or waves the hand, the light radiated by the optical sensing unit 141 is blocked, so that the optical sensing unit 141 sends out signal to the pivot motor 11 for controlling. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the pivot motor 111 drives the pivot 153 to have the pivoting movement for lowering down the seat 15, and when the pivot motor 111 drives the pivot 153 to a fixed position and the seat 15 is just positioned on the base 31 of the water closet 30, the pivot motor 111 sends out the signal to the rolling motor 112. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the rolling motor 112 drives the collecting roller 121 to roll pivotally for pulling the covering film 20, which will be more smooth through the guiding wheel 122, and thus, the old covering film 20 is moved along the seat 15 and collected by the collecting roller 121, thereby pulling out the brand-new covering film 20 from the covering film output roller 131.
The rolling distance of the collecting roller 121 driven by the rolling motor 112 is just identical to the total length of the seat 15, so that the rolling motor 112 can precisely drive the collecting roller 121 to receive the old covering film 20 through only one time rolling, and at the same time, the new covering film 20 can completely cover the seat 15, thereby the user can realize that the covering film is brand-new. According to FIG. 6, the covering film 20 has a hollow tube type structure, so that whole the seat 15 can be circularly covered without blocking.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the user sits on the seat 15, the pressure sensing unit 142 will be initiated by the pressure, and when the user leaves, the pressure sensing unit 142 senses the pressure variation, so that the pressure sensing unit 142 sends out signal to the pivot motor 111 to drive the pivot 153 and therefore lift the seat 15 (as shown in FIG. 8). Thus, it can avoid the seat 15 to be left on the base 31 and be contaminated and also prevent the seat 15 from being damaged by abnormal usage.
Please refer to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 which respectively show the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the optical sensing unit 141 can be mounted at the top of the water tank 32 of the water closet 30, so that it can avoid the optical sensing unit 141 from being erroneously triggered by the cleaner, and thus, prevent the pivot motor 111 and the rolling motor 112 from acting, which might waste the covering film 20.
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressure sensing unit 142 also can be omitted and only the optical sensing unit 141 is mounted on the base 31 of the water closet 31 at the position toward the front direction. Therefore, when the user approaches, the optical sensing unit 141 can detect the approaching and send out the signal to the pivot motor 111 to lower down the seat 15, and when the seat 15 is fallen on the base 31, the pivot motor 111 sends out signal to the rolling motor 112 for changing the covering film 20. Then, when the user leaves the seat 15, the optical sensing unit 141 will sense the leaving of the user and send out signal to the pivot motor 111 for driving the pivot motor 111 to lift up the seat 15. Thereby, the effect identical to the first embodiment can be achieved.
Please refer to FIG. 11, which is a block diagram showing the system of the present invention. The system includes a processing unit 17, and the pressure sensing unit 142 and the optical sensing unit 141 are connected to the rolling motor 112 and the pivot motor 111 through the processing unit 17, so that when the pressure sensing unit 142 and the optical sensing unit 141 sense the variation, the signals are sent to the processing unit 17, and then the processing unit 17 sends out signals to control the rolling motor 112 and the pivot motor 111, so as to perform the series actions described above.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A sensing-type lavatory seat structure with covering film, comprising a main body having:

a body portion, a seat, a rolling motor, a pivot motor and a sensing unit, wherein the body portion comprises a covering film output portion and a covering film collecting portion and the rolling motor, and the pivot motor are accommodated in the body portion;

the seat approximately has a U shape and the two ends thereof are respectively connected to the covering film output portion and the covering film collecting portion, wherein the covering film collecting portion is driven by the rolling motor and the seat is driven by the pivot motor, and the sensing unit controls the actions of the rolling motor and the pivot motor; and

thereby, when the user approaches, the sensing unit senses the approaching and sends out signal to control the pivot motor to lower down and also to control the rolling motor to act, so as to replace the covering film.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the user leaves, the sensing unit senses the leaving and sends out signal to control the pivot motor to lift up the seat.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is mounted on the body portion.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit includes an optical sensing unit for detecting through infrared rays.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises a pressure sensing unit for detecting the pressure.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pressure sensing unit is mounted at the bottom of the seat.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat is pivotally connected to a guiding piece for smoothly covering the covering film onto the seat.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering film collecting portion has a guiding wheel for smoothly rolling up and collecting the covering film.

9. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion is pivotally connected to a cover for covering the seat.

10. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion has a power supplier mounted therein for providing power to the rolling motor and the pivot motor.