US20110145985A1

US20110145985A1 - Toilet apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20110145985A1
Application number: US12/968,008
Authority: US
Inventors: Yen-Chun Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2010-12-14
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: TWM386321U

Abstract

A toilet apparatus includes a housing, a toilet seat, a toilet cover and a driving device to drive the toilet seat and the toilet cover. The toilet apparatus further includes a control module connected to the driving device as a control center of the toilet apparatus. The toilet apparatus further includes an infrared detection module, an induction module, a touch switch and a flush driving device which are respectively connected to the control module. The toilet apparatus of the present invention can automatically lift the toilet cover and the toilet seat and flush the toilet by detection, and provides phototherapy, sterilization and deodorization effects by means of far infrared ray, photocatalyst and anion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toilet apparatus, and more particularly to, a toilet apparatus which can automatically lift the toilet cover and flush the toilet by detection and provides phototherapy, sterilization and deodorization effects by means of far infrared ray, photocatalyst and anion.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The user has to lift a conventional toilet cover and to place down the toilet seat on the toilet when going to the toilet. If the user is male, he has to lift the toilet seat first. Some lazy male users urinate, not lifting the toilet seat, to dirty the toilet seat. Sometimes, the user forgot to flush the toilet, which also influences the hygiene of the toilet. People are reluctant to touch the toilet cover, the toilet seat and the bottom to flush the toilet. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve this problem and to develop a toilet apparatus which can lift the toilet cover and the toilet seat and flush the toilet automatically by detection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toilet apparatus. The toilet apparatus comprises a housing, a toilet seat, a toilet cover, a driving device, a control module, an infrared detection module, an induction module, a touch switch and a flush driving device. The toilet apparatus of the present invention can automatically lift the toilet cover and the toilet seat and flush the toilet.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a toilet apparatus, which comprises a far infrared transmission module to provide a phototherapy effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet apparatus, which comprises a photocatalyst transmitter to provide a sterilization effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet apparatus, which comprises an anion generator to provide a deodorization effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the present invention after installation;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the present invention to show that the toilet cover is lifted;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention to show that the toilet cover is lifted;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the present invention to show that the toilet cover is moved downward;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the present invention to show that the toilet seat is lifted;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present invention to show that the toilet seat is lifted; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the present invention to show that the toilet seat is moved downward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a toilet apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 10, a toilet seat 20 and a toilet cover 30 which are pivotally connected in front of the housing 10, and a driving device 40 to drive the toilet seat 20 and the toilet cover 30. The driving device 40 is coupled inside the housing 10. The housing 10 is a box in a rectangular shape or other shape, and is coupled on the rear end of the toilet. The housing 10 has a transparent window 101 at a front side thereof. The transparent window 101 faces the front of the toilet. The driving device 40 comprises a first driving motor 401, a first gear set 402, a second driving motor 403, and a second gear set 404. The first driving motor 401 and the first gear set 402 are used to lift the toilet cover 30. The second driving motor 403 and the second gear set 404 are used to lift the toilet seat 20.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the toilet apparatus further comprises a control module 1. The control module 1 is connected to the driving device 40 as the control center of the toilet apparatus. The control module 1 is a circuit board module coupled inside the housing 10. The toilet apparatus further comprises at least one infrared detection module 2 connected to the control module 1. The infrared detection module 2 is disposed at a specific position of the toilet apparatus to induct the approach/leaving of a human body. The toilet apparatus further comprises at least one induction module 3 connected to the control module 1. The induction module 3 is hidden inside the toilet cover 30 or the toilet seat 20 to induct the approach/leaving of a human body (hand). The toilet apparatus further comprises a touch switch 4. The touch switch 4 is disposed under the toilet seat 20 in contact with the top of the toilet. Through the weight of the human body, the touch switch 4 is operated to an open circuit or a broken circuit. The toilet apparatus further comprises a flush driving device 5. The flush driving device 5 is used to control the valve of the water tank to flush the toilet.
As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the infrared detection module 2 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is hidden inside the transparent window 101 of the housing 10 and the specific position of the toilet seat 20 to induct the approach/leaving of a human body. The induction module 3 is an induction coil or other sensor to induct a human body (hand) approaching the toilet cover 30 and the toilet seat 20. The toilet apparatus of the present invention further comprises a far infrared transmission module 6. The far infrared transmission module 6 is hidden inside the transparent window 101 of the housing 10 to transmit far infrared ray frontward. The toilet apparatus of the present invention further comprises a photocatalyst transmitter 7. The photocatalyst transmitter 7 is hidden inside the toilet seat 20 and the toilet cover 30. The surfaces of the toilet seat 20 and the toilet cover 30 is coated with a photocatalyst coating. The photocatalyst coating contains Titania of nanometer scale. Furthermore, the present invention further comprises an anion generator 8 at a specific position of the toilet seat 20. The anion generator 8 is connected to the control module 1 to generate anion, providing a deodorization function.
As shown in FIG. 4, to practice the present invention, the casing 10, the toilet seat 20 and the toilet cover 30 are coupled on a toilet 50, with the touch switch 4 under the toilet seat 20 in contact with the top of the toilet 50. The flush driving device 5 is coupled inside a water tank 60 of the toilet and connected with the valve of the water tank 60. The installation of the toilet apparatus is completed after the connection of a power source.
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when a human body or hand approaches the induction module 3 at the front edge of the toilet cover 30, the induction module 3 will send a signal to the control module 1. The control module 1 starts the first driving motor 401 of the driving device 40 to lift the toilet cover 30 through the first gear set 402, such that the user goes to the toilet without touching the toilet cover 30. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user leaves the toilet seat 20, the infrared detection module 2 at the front of the housing 10 will detect the leaving of the user and send a signal to the control module 1. The control module 1 is provided with a delay circuit. After a while, the control module 1 starts the first driving motor 401 of the driving device 40 to move the toilet cover 30 downward through the first gear set 402, without touching the toilet cover 30.
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, if a male user to urinate, the user's hand approaches the induction module 3 at the front edge of the toilet cover 30 or the toilet seat 20 after the toilet cover 30 is lifted, the induction module 3 will send a signal to the control module 1. The control module 1 starts the second driving motor 403 of the driving device 40 to lift the toilet seat 20 through the second gear set 404, preventing the user's urine from splashing on the toilet seat 20. As shown in FIG. 10, after the male user leaves the toilet, the infrared detection module 2 coupled to the toilet seat 20 will detect the leaving of the user and send a signal to the control module 1. After a while, the control module 1 starts the first driving motor 401 and the second driving motor 403 of the driving device 40 to move the toilet seat 20 and the toilet cover 30 downward. There is no need for the male user to touch the toilet cover 30 and the toilet seat 20. Accordingly, the toilet apparatus of the present invention can automatically lift the toilet cove 30 and the toilet seat 20, providing a convenient usage.
Besides, the present invention is provided with the touch switch 4 disposed under the toilet seat 20. When the user sits on the toilet seat 20 to press the touch switch 4 with the user's weight, such that the touch switch 4 is in an open circuit and sends a signal to the memory of the control module 1 through the delay circuit. When the infrared detection module 2 detects the leaving of the user to cover the toilet cover 30 according to the aforesaid principle, the flush driving device 5 will be activated to flush the toilet 50. If a male user to urinate, when the infrared detection module 2 detects the leaving of the user to cover the toilet seat 20 and the toilet cover 30 according to the aforesaid principle and send a signal to the control module 1 direct, the control module 1 will start the flush driving device 5 to flush the toilet 50. Accordingly, the toilet apparatus of the present invention provides an automatic flush function.
Furthermore, the present invention is provided with the far infrared transmission module 6. When the user sits on the toilet seat 20, the infrared detection module 2 will detect the user and the control module 1 will start the far infrared transmission module 6 to transmit far infrared ray to the waist, the back and the sciatic nerve of the human body. The far infrared ray transmission is beneficial to the cells of the human body, which has been disclosed in many science documents and won't be described hereinafter. When the user leaves the toilet seat 20, the infrared detection module 2 will detect the leaving of the user to switch off the far infrared transmission module 6 through the control module 1.
The present invention is provided with the photocatalyst transmitter 7 and the anion generator 8, and the toilet seat 20 and/or the toilet cover 30 is coated with a photocatalyst coating. The photocatalyst transmitter 7 uses a light tube of 365 nm wavelength as a power source to shine the photocatalyst coating of nanometer scale to generate a hole-electron pair. When hole-electron pair gets in touch with the air and water, it will generate hydroxyl free radial to decompose the organic matter in the air, providing sterilization, anti-pollution and anti-mold effects. The anion generator 8 is used to ionize the air for generating anions, providing a deodorization effect.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toilet apparatus, comprising a housing, a toilet seat and a toilet cover which are pivotally connected in front of the housing, and a driving device to drive the toilet seat and the toilet cover, the driving device being coupled inside the housing, and characterized by:

the toilet apparatus further comprising a control module, the control module being connected to the driving device as a control center of the toilet apparatus; an infrared detection module connected to the control module, the infrared detection module being disposed at a specific position of the toilet apparatus to induct the approach/leaving of a human body; an induction module connected to the control module, the induction module being hidden inside the toilet cover to induct the approach/leaving of the human body; a touch switch connected to the control module, the touch switch being disposed under the toilet seat, through the weight of the human body, the touch switch being operated to an open circuit or a broken circuit; and a flush driving device, the flush driving device being adapted for controlling a water tank to flush a toilet.

2. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving device comprises a first driving motor, a first gear set, a second driving motor and a second gear set, the first driving motor and the first gear set are used to drive the toilet cover, and the second driving motor and the second gear set are used to drive the toilet seat.

3. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control module is a circuit board module coupled inside the housing.

4. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infrared detection module is hidden inside a transparent window of the housing to induct the approach/leaving of the human body.

5. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction module is an induction coil to induct the human body approaching the toilet cover and the toilet seat.

6. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a far infrared transmission module connected to the control module.

7. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the far infrared transmission module is hidden inside a transparent window of the housing to transmit far infrared ray frontward.

8. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a photocatalyst transmitter connected to the control module, wherein the photocatalyst transmitter is hidden inside the toilet seat or the toilet cover.

9. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a surface of the toilet seat is coated with a photocatalyst coating, and the photocatalyst coating contains Titania of nanometer scale.

10. The toilet apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an anion generator connected to the control module, wherein the anion generator is coupled to the toilet seat.