WO2014176667A1

WO2014176667A1 - Light for illuminating a toilet bowl

Info

Publication number: WO2014176667A1
Application number: PCT/CA2014/000290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephan Guenard
Original assignee: Stephan Guenard
Priority date: 2013-05-01
Filing date: 2014-03-25
Publication date: 2014-11-06
Also published as: CA2819974A1

Abstract

A light device for enlightening only the inside of a toilet bowl for use during night to prevent dazzling of eyes when all the room is illuminated. The device comprises a LED fixed inside the toilet bowl, a switch, means of tie attaching the switch to the light, and means of clamp in a reversed U-shaped form placed on the edge of the toilet bowl for seizing the light and maintaining it inside the bowl. The switch may be a motion sensor, and can be attached directly on one end of the clamp with the LED attached on the other end, without any thread. The light offers a softer lighting for eyes not too brilliant for sleepy eyes. The light could be mounted inside means of tube, as a torch with the beam thereof illuminating the inside of the toilet bowl. The light intensity can vary by means of a potentiometer.

Description

SPECIFICATION

TITLE : LIGHT FOR ILLUMINATING A TOILET BOWL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention belongs to the field of means used for illuminating the interior of a toilet bowl for avoiding eyes dazzling when one lights all the bathroom.

PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a previous provisional application US 61 /81 8,054 having same title and filed on May 01 , 201 3 by same inventor, and to a Canadian patent application CA 28 1 9974 filed on June 25 , 201 3.

Our search among patents revealed some systems that caught our attention:

US 5 ,664,867 «Night light for toilet seat» filed on 06/07/ 1995 by David A. Martin and Robert Fisher, shows a night light for use in combination with a toilet. The night light is movement responsive, actionned by a mercury switch, and comprises a lamp attached to a top region of underside of toilet seat so that when in use, the toilet seat is lifted up to a vertical position so that the lamp shines downward into the toilet bowl.

US 5 ,926,867 ((Illuminated toilet target device» filed on 1 1 /21 / 1997 by Craig Buchanan, shows a toilet target device proj ecting a moving target onto the surface of the water in the toilet bowl. The target changes position in the bowl; the target is produced by a light bulb with the light passing through moving or alternating apertures which open and close, through moving masks or lenses. The device is mounted on the underside of the seat cover or onto the front of the toilet tank, or onto the wall or ceiling of the bathroom.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES

There is a need on the market for a toilet night light device easily installable and not requiring expensive materials. Our light device is a combination of three elements; namely: a light located inside the toilet bowl under the toilet rim, means of clamp in a U-shape preferably on horseback on the edge of the toilet bowl for seizing the light, a switch for activating the light.

The light is more particularly a LED (light emitting diode) mounted inside means of tube like a torch or a flashlight; the flashlight is against the internal wall of the toilet bowl below the edge of the toilet bowl.

The switch is posed on the top of the toilet where anybody could find it. The switch could be a motion sensor detecting the presence of someone approaching the toilet and activating the LED through a thread linking them. The light device may be used in combination with a solar panel used to recharge a battery supplying the light. A potentiometer inside the switch may be used to vary light intensity.

The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. l is a perspective view of the light device installed.

FIG.2A is a perspective view of the light device only.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a compact light device.

FIG.3 is a perspective view with a motion sensor and means of subdued light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. l shows the light device 20 used to illuminate the interior 30 of a bowl 32 of a toilet 34. The device comprises a LED (light-emitting diode) light 22 mounted on a means of tube 24 which is held by means of clamps 26 hung on the edge 36 of the bowl of the toilet. The clamp 26 is placed directly on the edge of the bowl, under the toilet seat 40 which is shown in an upward position. The clamp 26 being U- shaped and located as horseback on edges of the toilet bowl.

A switch device 28 posed on the top 42 of the toilet is used to action the LED through a thread connector 38. At night, when someone actions the switch the LED illuminates the interior of the bowl of the toilet and it is no longer necessary to switch on the light of the room which is too brilliant for sleepy eyes. The tube 24 is placed under the seat 40 (shown here in an upward position). One sees a wall 44 behind the toilet.

FIG.2A shows the device 20 with the LED 22, the clamp 26, the thread 38, and the switch 28.

FIG.2B shows a light device 21 comprising the motion sensor 29 directly fixed on one end of the clamp 26 and the LED 22 fixed on the other end. The whole device 21 would be installed as horseback on edges of the toilet bowl.

FIG.3 shows the device 20' comprising a motion sensor 29 lighting the LED when someone approaches the toilet. A sliding wall 46 on the light source adjusts the direction of the beam of light. This wall can be opaque to sieve the light intensity. Suction fixations 48 are used to attach the thread 38 to the wall 44 for preventing inadvertent extracting. Another succion fixation maintains also the clamp against the outside edge of the toilet bowl, thus preventing moving along the rim of the toilet bowl.

SUMMARY

A device for enlighting the interior of a toilet bowl when during night one needs to use the toilet and does not wish to light all the bathroom for not assaulting sleepy eyes. The device produces a soft and located lighting very comfortable for eyes. The device comprises a source of light, for example a LED (light emitting diode), mounted inside tubular support means forming a like flashlight or torch, or any support means. The support is installed inside the toilet bowl against the interior wall of the toilet bowl and is kept by means of clamp as horseback on the edge of the toilet bowl. The clamp is in a reversed U-shape form and posed on the edge of the toilet bowl under the seat 40 to avoid sitting on it directly.

The light is connected by a thread connector to a switch, or to a motion sensor, putting the light on.

The LED and the motion sensor may also be connected directly on each edge of the U-shaped clamp 26, therefore a thread connector is no longer necessary (see FIG.4). A solar panel can be used to reload a necessary battery feeding the light source. Different options allowing to improve the use of the device can be used, such as:

• A thread retractable connector to adj ust its length;

• A tubular support means provided with a wall covering partially the light source to adj ust the direction of the beam of light. The wall may be sliding or not. Furthermore the wall may be opaque and covering the light source to sieve the intensity of the light.

• A potentiometer varying light intensity;

• A timer in the switch to adj ust the time the light is "on";

• Suction fixations to stick the thread on the wall to avoid inadvertent extraction, and also to fix the clamp against the outside edge of the bowl to prevent it from moving along the edge.

It is to be clearly understood that the instant description with reference to the annexed drawing is made in an indicative manner and that the preferred embodiments described herein are meant in no way to limit further embodiments realizable within the scope of the invention. The matter which is claimed as being inventive and new is limited only by the appended claims.

PARTS

20,20' Device

22 Light emitting diode

24 Tight tubular means

26 Means of clamp in a reversed U-shape

28 Switch

29 Motion sensor

30 Interior of a toilet bowl

32 Toilet bowl

34 Toilet

36 Edge of a toilet bowl

38 Thread connector

40 Toilet seat

42 Top of the toilet

44 Wall

46 Sliding wall

48 Succion fixation

Claims

CLAIMS I claim :

1 . A light device enlightening interior of a toilet bowl and comprising a light source located in said interior by means of a clamp, in combination with means of switching on said light, said means of clamp being U-shaped and located as horseback on edges of said toilet bowl.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped clamp has two ends; on a first end said light source is attached and illuminating said toilet bowl, and on a second end said means of switching on is attached.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means of switching comprises a thread connector.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said light source is mounted inside means of tube, said means of tube being attached to said first end of said means of clamp.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said means of switching is an on-off switch.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said means of switching is a motion sensor switching on said light when ones approaches said toilet bowl.

7. The device of claims 5 and 6 wherein said means of switching comprise a timer keeping on said light during a predetermined time.

8. The device of claim 3 wherein said thread connector is retractable inside said means of switching.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said light is a light emitting diode (LED).

1 0. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a potentiometer varying light intensity.

1 1 . The device of claim 4 wherein said tube comprise a wall partially covering said light source for adj usting the beam of light.

12. The device of claim 1 1 wherein said tube comprise an opaque wall covering said light source to sieve light.