WO2016077866A1 - Agencement de régulation de chaleur pour un porte-serviettes chauffé, et procédé de régulation du chauffage dudit porte-serviettes chauffé pour fournir une serviette chauffée/sèche à un intervalle de temps pouvant être sélectionné par l'utilisateur - Google Patents

Agencement de régulation de chaleur pour un porte-serviettes chauffé, et procédé de régulation du chauffage dudit porte-serviettes chauffé pour fournir une serviette chauffée/sèche à un intervalle de temps pouvant être sélectionné par l'utilisateur Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016077866A1
WO2016077866A1 PCT/AU2015/000697 AU2015000697W WO2016077866A1 WO 2016077866 A1 WO2016077866 A1 WO 2016077866A1 AU 2015000697 W AU2015000697 W AU 2015000697W WO 2016077866 A1 WO2016077866 A1 WO 2016077866A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
set time
time
heat control
control arrangement
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2015/000697
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Steven Fraser
Original Assignee
Hendon Semiconductors Pty
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2014904665A external-priority patent/AU2014904665A0/en
Application filed by Hendon Semiconductors Pty filed Critical Hendon Semiconductors Pty
Publication of WO2016077866A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016077866A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • H05B1/0252—Domestic applications
    • H05B1/0275—Heating of spaces, e.g. rooms, wardrobes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
    • A47K10/04—Towel racks; Towel rails; Towel rods; Towel rolls, e.g. rotatable
    • A47K10/06—Towel racks; Towel rails; Towel rods; Towel rolls, e.g. rotatable combined with means for drying towels

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a heat control arrangement for a heated towel rail and/or similar such towel drying devices that make towels hanging from the rail dry and/or warmed ready for use.
  • this invention relates to a unique heat control arrangement for a heated towel rail which incorporates a simplistic user-operable interface which will make it possible for a user to conveniently select an interval of time where the towel being hung upon the rail will be appropriately warmed without the necessity of having the heated towel rail continuously heated thereby significantly increasing the energy efficiency and reducing costs associated with running the heated towel rail.
  • a heated towel rail which conventionally may include a series of metal rungs mounted to a wall or supported as a free-standing rack includes an internal heating mechanism such as a radiating heat coil, circulating hot water and/or a combination of fans with heating elements within the relevant structural enclosure of the heated towel rail.
  • the heating mechanism for the heated towel rail to heat the towels for use requires a significant input of energy. Therefore, it is recognised from an energy conservation point of view and/or cost of running the heated towel rail it would be more advantageous to have the heating towel rail configured so it would only operate at specified times so that warmed towels are made available just at that time a user would require the towel.
  • One way in which this could be achieved is to program into the heat control arrangement of the heated towel rail daily specified times for use such that the heated towel rail heating mechanism becomes operable only at such time that it can provide the necessary warming and drying of the towel so that the towel is ready for use at the daily specified time selected by the user.
  • a real-time clock that can be set to the actual time of day and/or date, generally from a four year calendar period.
  • the heated towel rail may then also require a digital display clock which is configured to represent the actual time of the day which the user can then further program to achieve switching ON and OFF of the heating mechanism for the heated towel rail so that the heated towel rail can provide heat to the towels before being used at a specified selected time by the user.
  • a digital display clock which is configured to represent the actual time of the day which the user can then further program to achieve switching ON and OFF of the heating mechanism for the heated towel rail so that the heated towel rail can provide heat to the towels before being used at a specified selected time by the user.
  • a heated towel rail is a fairly streamlined structure often used in stylised bathrooms so it is a consideration that the heated towel rail keep its simplicity and aesthetic appearance without having introduce distracting features such as a real-time clock and display which a user would have to engage to program the heated towel rail in order to have a heat control arrangement that was configured to turn on the heating mechanism for the heated towel rail such that the towels will be appropriately warmed only at that interval of time when specified by a user ready for use.
  • a heat control arrangement for a heated towel rail said heat control arrangement including:
  • a user-operable interface in communication with said continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer wherein the user-operable interface is adapted to receive an input from a user;
  • the continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer is further adapted to time a continuous cyclic 7-day period.
  • the user operable interface is further adapted to receive a daily input from the user over a 7-day period.
  • the daily input from the user over the 7-day period provides for a first set time, second set time, third set time, fourth set time, fifth set time, sixth set time and a seventh set time, wherein the first set time, second set time, third set time, fourth set time, fifth set time, sixth set time and the seventh set time is representative of the user selected daily time for each day of a cyclic 7-day period to which a towel hung on the towel rail is to be heated ready for use by the user.
  • first set time, second set time, third set time, fourth set time, fifth set time, sixth set time and the seventh set time is referenced against a corresponding instant timed value of the continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer over the 7-day period, wherein each instant timed value of the continuous cyclic 24 hour timer over the 7-day period is stored in memory.
  • the switching arrangement is in communication with said continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer and each instant timed value of the continuous cyclic 24 hour timer over the 7-day period stored in memory such that the switching arrangement is adapted to turn ON the heating mechanism to heat the towel hung of the towel rail so as to make available the towel heated ready for use for the user at the first set time, second set time, third set time, fourth set time, fifth set time, sixth set time and the seventh set time for each cyclic 7-day period.
  • the user input is received from the user-operable interface by user engagement of touch, near touch or gesture upon or towards a button, touch pad, key, keyhole and/or toggle.
  • the user operable interface includes an indicator recognising user engagement with the user operable interface.
  • the indicator includes a visual device and/or audible device.
  • the visual device includes an LED.
  • the user engagement with the user operable interface is through a button.
  • the user-operable interface is adapted to receive the input from a user when the user momentarily or for a generally defined period of time, engages the button in a non-resting button position.
  • the non-resting button position of said button is when said button is pushed in by the user.
  • An advantage of the heat control arrangement referenced above is that it provides a simple mechanism in which the heated towel rail can be programmed in order to operate the heating mechanism at specified times such that a towel will be available appropriately warmed and ready for use just at the desired selected time of the user, either at the set daily time or alternatively at the each day set times throughout the 7-day period.
  • the heated towel rail includes a heat control arrangement which is only turning on the heating mechanism at the necessary time prior to the user selected heated towel ready time so that the towel will be warmed appropriately when the user wishes to use the towel, means that the heating mechanism is not operating all the time and energy levels can be conserved substantially and operating costs for the heated towel rail can be reduced substantially.
  • the heat control arrangement need not include additional functionality such as communication with a real-time clock and a display which is matched with an actual time of the day which the user would then further program in order to achieve the requisite switching ON and OFF of the heating mechanism for the heated towel rail at specified time.
  • the timer does not need to be set against any actual or real time of the day as all the user will need to do is simply mark a time of use which will be acknowledged by the engagement with the user operable interface wherein this recognised input will cause the referencing and recording of the time relative to the timer at that moment of time to then be synchronised thereafter with the time so as to have the heating mechanism turned on just prior to each user selected ready time, so the towels will be available for use at the specified time.
  • the continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer is configured to time a cyclic 24 hour period based on a counting of AC mains power supply cycles or by an electronic oscillator that is regulated by a quartz crystal.
  • the continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer is configured to time a cyclic 24 hour period based by a micro-controller.
  • the micro-controller includes a counter adapted to count up or down to a cyclic reset number that corresponds to a 24 hour period and/or 7-day period.
  • the micro-controller includes or has access to, non-volatile memory wherein each instant timed value of the continuous cyclic 24 hour period timer is storable therein.
  • non-volatile memory storage enables retention of the referenced and recorded set times inputted by the user to provide the user selected heated towel ready time during the 24 hour period or over the 7-day period.
  • the switching means is ON for an interval of time prior to the user selected heated towel ready time, wherein the interval of time is determinable upon a factory pre-programmed period into the micro-controller, controlling the switching arrangement.
  • a definable user engagement upon the user operable interface is adapted to adjust the interval of time to which the switching arrangement will turn ON the heating mechanism to heat the heated towel rack.
  • the aim is to have the towel dried and/or warmed by the selected specified time of the user but in some instances this may see the switching on period for the heating mechanism to be turned off prior to the specified time, to have the heating mechanism on during the actual specified time or in some instances even staying on for a period of time after the specified period.
  • the heating period of the heating mechanism can be periodic for example a continuous timed OFF/ON cycle of the heating mechanism as the specified time approaches.
  • the switching arrangement includes current/power capabilities adapted to control an AC mains operated heated towel rail.
  • the switching arrangement includes two power terminals connectable between the AC mains power supply the heating mechanism thereby not requiring the continuous availability of the AC mains supply via a third, active or neutral wire.
  • the heat control arrangement further includes a back-up energy storage device.
  • the heat control arrangement for the heated towel rail includes a crystal oscillator that provides for calibrated reference frequency such that in combination with the energy storage device will enable the timer to maintain its inherent ability to continue timing throughout the cyclic 24 hour period and/or 7-day period if there is a disconnection or loss of power for a duration of a reasonably expected or specified duration of power interruption.
  • the user selected heated towel ready time can be re-programmed by subsequent user engagement with the user operable interface so as to receive a subsequent input which will then override the existing input for that 24 hour period so as to establish a new specified time for a particular specified 24 hour period.
  • the heat control arrangement is adapted to recognise input from a subsequent user and/or multiple subsequent users.
  • the switching arrangement will provide ON control for the heating mechanism to turn ON such that there will be two specified times within a respective period in which the heated towel rail requires to have the hung towel or towels appropriately warmed and/or dried for the user.
  • the recorded and referenced user selected heated towel ready times will be cleared and the indicator is adapted to indicate, preferably by way of an illuminated flashing or the like, that the recorded and referenced user selected heated towel ready times have been lost in order to instigate renewed user engagement with the user operable interface so as to provide new inputs to establish the requisite user selected heated towel ready time either within a 24 hour time period or a cyclic 7-day time period.
  • the heat control arrangement for the heated towel rail stands alone and/or is structural independent from the heated towel rail.
  • the heat control arrangement for the heated towel rail is contained in a wall mount or wall plate.
  • said wall mount is mountable in a close or general proximity to the heated towel rail wherein said wall mount further includes a switch for controlling power to the heated towel rail.
  • the heat control arrangement for a heated towel rail is supported with the wall mount with the user interface button presentable therefrom a face of said wall mount for user engagement.
  • the user interface button presentable therefrom the face of said wall mount for user engagement includes an illumination indicator viewable through the button.
  • the user interface button presentable therefrom the face of said wall mount for user engagement is transparent such that an illumination device when illuminated from a housing block for the heat control arrangement is viewable through the user interface button by the user.
  • the heat control arrangement for the heated towel rail is incorporated within the heated towel rail and the user-operable interface adapted to receive an input from a user is made available from an external surface, side, edge or end of the heated towel rail.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heated towel rail incorporating the heat control arrangement of a preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic representation showing the operation of the heat control arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention for a heated towel rail for a cyclic 24 hour period.
  • Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g are schematic representations showing the operation of the heat control arrangement in a preferred embodiment of this invention with a heated towel rail with a timer adapted to time a cyclic 7-day period.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the invention wherein the heat control arrangement is mounted and operated by the user separate from the heated towel rail.
  • Figure 1 shows a conventional heated towel rail shown generally as (10) which includes two vertical supports (17) and (19) which are mounted to the wall (14) by the four fastening mounts shown as (15).
  • the heated towel rail (10) includes a series of horizontal rungs (16) which are adapted to support a towel (18) thereon.
  • the heated towel rail (10) includes an internal heating mechanism which is adapted to heat up the individual rungs (16) which is powered in this preferred embodiment through the electrical connection shown generally as (12) connected to the heated towel rail (10).
  • the heated towel rail includes the heat control arrangement which in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3 includes a simple user operable and accessible push button (20) and an associated indicator light (22).
  • Figure 2 schematically shows how the heat control arrangement works with the heated towel rail during a cyclic 24 hour period
  • Figure 3 shows use of the heat control arrangement as part of the heated towel rail for a cyclic 7-day period.
  • the user (36) is able to operably interface with the heat control arrangement which is shown as the functional block (24) through the push button (20), wherein the push button (20) is the user-operable interface in
  • the functional block (24) includes a controller (28) which includes as part of its features or is accessible to the timer (30) which is able to provide a cyclic 24 hour countable period.
  • This timer (30) is unconnected to any real actual time of the day or real time clock.
  • the timer (30) cycles through consecutive 24 hour periods through a discreet counting interval wherein the completion of each of those counted intervals then correlates to a 24 hour period rather than any one particular calendar day.
  • FIG. 2 pictorially a real-time wall clock (38) is shown which has no functional engagement with the heated towel rail (10) but simply acts a way in assisting in how to realise how this invention works in that the real time shown on the face (40) of the wall clock (38) at that moment of time when the user engages the button (20) is 7 o'clock.
  • timer (30) and controller (28) do not record or reference that input as being 7 a.m. per se but simply a set time that matches a discrete individual count of the cyclic 24 hour period so that the controller (28) can utilise that
  • non-volatile memory (32) so that in the following 24 hours the switching arrangement (34) working in communication with the timer (30) and controller (28) is adapted to switch ON the heating mechanism shown generally as (26) which in fact would be enclosed within the heated towel rail (10) in order to heat the respective rungs (16) so that the towel (18) will be warmed appropriately for the user (36) at that user selected specified time.
  • the user (36) did not have to program the heated towel rail (10) as one would conventionally do utilising a real-time clock that is set for the actual time of the day which would then have to be further programmed by the user to then select the switching on time for the heating mechanism (26). Thereby the heated towel rail (10) does not need to incorporate any real-time clock or other such displays and programming requirements in order to be able to achieve the warming of the towel for the user (36) at the user's (36) specified time of each 24 hour period.
  • definable user engagement upon the button (20) and the like can allow the altering of the interval of time that the heating mechanism (26) needs to be turned on before the specified time is reached so that the towel is adequately warmed ready for use.
  • Figure 3 is an extension of the scenario appearing in Figure 2 however rather than having a cycle of a 24 hour time period provided by the timer this is now extended to a 7-day cyclic period which for convenience in the schematic
  • the real-time clock shown as a wall clock (38) is pictorially shown only to place the invention in context and has no functional relationship with the heat control arrangement of the heated towel rail (10).
  • the real-time wall clock (38) is used to illustrate that the user (36), as the user (36) progresses through the 7-day period each day may decide to input a specified time which is different to the preceding or the subsequent 24 hour period.
  • the heat control arrangement is able to make sure that the towel is appropriately warmed and ready for use at 6.00 a.m. on Monday (42), 7.00 a.m. on Tuesday (44), 7.00 a.m. on Wednesday (46), 6.00 a.m. on Thursday (48), 7.00 a.m. on Friday (50), not on at all on Saturday (52) and have the towel warmed and ready for use by 9.00 a.m. on Sunday (54) all without ever having to rely upon the assistance of a real time clock.
  • the heat control arrangement is supported within a wall mount or plate (62), mounted to the wall 61 separate from the heated towel rail (60).
  • the wall plate (62) including the ON/OFF switch (63) for the heated towel rail (60) and the heat control arrangement with the presented user interface button (64) on the face of the wall mount (62) have all been appropriately wired to be in electrical and as required electronic communication and control of the heated towel rail (60).
  • the visual indicator includes a small slot (65) from the front face of the user interface button (64) to which illuminated light can be viewed therefrom.

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  • Central Heating Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un agencement de régulation de chaleur pour un porte-serviettes chauffé comprenant une minuterie d'une période de 24 heures cyclique continue et/ou une minuterie conçue pour compter une période de 7 jours cyclique continue. L'interface actionnable par l'utilisateur est conçue pour recevoir une entrée en provenance d'un utilisateur pour une heure définie représentant une heure sélectionnée par l'utilisateur à laquelle une serviette placée sur le porte-serviettes doit être chauffée pour être prête à l'emploi, l'heure définie étant référencée par rapport à une valeur chronométrée instantanée de la minuterie qui est ensuite stockée dans une mémoire. Un agencement de commutation est en communication avec la minuterie et la ou les valeur(s) chronométrée(s) instantanée(s) stockée(s) dans la mémoire, de telle sorte que l'agencement de commutation est conçu pour allumer un mécanisme de chauffage de façon à rendre disponible la serviette chauffée prête à l'emploi à l'heure définie à chaque période de 24 heures cyclique et/ou chaque jour pendant la période de 7 jours cyclique.
PCT/AU2015/000697 2014-11-20 2015-11-19 Agencement de régulation de chaleur pour un porte-serviettes chauffé, et procédé de régulation du chauffage dudit porte-serviettes chauffé pour fournir une serviette chauffée/sèche à un intervalle de temps pouvant être sélectionné par l'utilisateur WO2016077866A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2014904665A AU2014904665A0 (en) 2014-11-20 A heat control arrangement for a heated towel rail and a method of controlling the heating of said heated towel rail to provide a warmed/dry towel at a user selectable time interval
AU2014904665 2014-11-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016077866A1 true WO2016077866A1 (fr) 2016-05-26

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2015/000697 WO2016077866A1 (fr) 2014-11-20 2015-11-19 Agencement de régulation de chaleur pour un porte-serviettes chauffé, et procédé de régulation du chauffage dudit porte-serviettes chauffé pour fournir une serviette chauffée/sèche à un intervalle de temps pouvant être sélectionné par l'utilisateur

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2016077866A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110811391A (zh) * 2019-11-03 2020-02-21 杭州金知科技有限公司 一种用于卫浴间的智能毛巾风干装置
CN111990917A (zh) * 2020-07-10 2020-11-27 帝欧家居股份有限公司 一种电热毛巾架控制方法、系统及电热毛巾架
CN113157024A (zh) * 2021-02-08 2021-07-23 浙江万陌科技有限公司 控制电动牙刷加热的方法
CN113558514A (zh) * 2021-07-01 2021-10-29 施贝德(江苏)智慧科技有限公司 一种电热毛巾架及其操作系统
RU219196U1 (ru) * 2022-06-30 2023-07-04 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Глосс энд Рейтер" Полотенцесушитель электрический модульный

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2004235639A1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-23 Marcus Stephen Tetro Heated towel rail controller and method thereof
EP1701236A1 (fr) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-13 KERMI GmbH Dispositif de régulation de température pour un dispositif de chauffage, en particulier un radiateur de chauffage de bain
US7784704B2 (en) * 2007-02-09 2010-08-31 Harter Robert J Self-programmable thermostat

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2004235639A1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-23 Marcus Stephen Tetro Heated towel rail controller and method thereof
EP1701236A1 (fr) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-13 KERMI GmbH Dispositif de régulation de température pour un dispositif de chauffage, en particulier un radiateur de chauffage de bain
US7784704B2 (en) * 2007-02-09 2010-08-31 Harter Robert J Self-programmable thermostat

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110811391A (zh) * 2019-11-03 2020-02-21 杭州金知科技有限公司 一种用于卫浴间的智能毛巾风干装置
CN111990917A (zh) * 2020-07-10 2020-11-27 帝欧家居股份有限公司 一种电热毛巾架控制方法、系统及电热毛巾架
CN113157024A (zh) * 2021-02-08 2021-07-23 浙江万陌科技有限公司 控制电动牙刷加热的方法
CN113558514A (zh) * 2021-07-01 2021-10-29 施贝德(江苏)智慧科技有限公司 一种电热毛巾架及其操作系统
RU219196U1 (ru) * 2022-06-30 2023-07-04 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Глосс энд Рейтер" Полотенцесушитель электрический модульный

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