US20060206997A1

US20060206997A1 - Toilet disinfection system

Info

Publication number: US20060206997A1
Application number: US11/084,564
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuo Chiang; Chi Liu; Ching Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-18
Filing date: 2005-03-18
Publication date: 2006-09-21

Abstract

The present invention provides a toilet seat with a disinfection unit comprising a toilet cover connected to the toilet seat, a disinfection unit is equipped to the toilet seat or the toilet cover for disinfecting the toilet seat. A trigger is equipped on the seat or the cover to trigger the disinfection unit when the cover is closed on the seat. The disinfection unit includes UV-light source.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toilet, and more particular, to a toilet with a disinfection system.

BACKGROUND

Toilet is necessary to everyone for daily life. Some prior arts disclose a toilet seat-lifting device having a lever assembly mounted on a platform that rests on the floor such that depressing a foot pedal downward causes upward movement of a link connected to a lift arm attached to the toilet seat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,446 to Crocker discloses a similar device including a cable that pulls on a lever attached to the toilet seat. U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,347 to King discloses a toilet seat lifting system having a bracket secured to a toilet seat of a toilet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,165 to Wescott, Sr., discloses a commode flush and seat lift device in which foot pedals are linked to the flush lever and to the toilet seat lid via four conduits. U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,687, entitled “Toilet seat and cover system”, discloses a cover system for a toilet. U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,194, entitled “Toilet seat having a cleansing facility”, discloses a toilet seat having a cleansing facility with a pivotal arm supplied with warm water for cleaning and warm air for drying the anal and genital areas of a user.
None of the prior toilet seat or toilet cover discloses the facility to eliminate the bacteria or germ on the toilet seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a toilet comprising a toilet bowl and a seat pivotally equipped to the bowl. A cover is pivotally equipped on the toilet for the seat. A disinfection unit is equipped for disinfecting the seat and a trigger is equipped on the surface of the seat or the cover to turn on the disinfection unit when the cover is closed on the seat.
The other purpose of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat comprising: a toilet cover connected to the toilet seat. A disinfection unit is equipped to the toilet seat or the toilet cover for disinfecting the toilet seat, a trigger is equipped on the seat or the cover to trigger the disinfection unit when the cover is closed on the seat. The disinfection unit includes UV-light source. The toilet seat may be made of polymer (such as plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin), ceramic (glass or quartz) or the combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a functional diagram according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the toilet with a disinfection system.
FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate the toilet with a disinfection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a toilet seat and cover with a disinfection system, FIG, 1, 2 and 3 diagrammatically illustrate the toilet seat disinfection system including a seat 14 disposed on a toilet bowl 12. The toilet seat and cover disinfection system is used for eliminates the bacteria or germ on or around the seat 14 or the cover 16 of the toilet. The disinfection system is designed to be retrofit using a preexisting toilet seat and toilet cover, or as a device to replace the preexisting toilet seat and cover. The toilet seat and toilet cover may be manufactured as part of the mechanical components that make up the toilet seat and cover disinfection system. The disinfection system is designed to be mounted atop the toilet bowl 12. The toilet seat cover, the toilet seat and the mechanical components discussed below may be constructed of polymer (such as plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin), ceramic (glass or quartz) or the combination thereof. Similar items are referenced by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. Please refer to FIG. 1, the disinfection unit 18 is provided to the toilet cover 16 or the seat 14 on the toilet bowl 12. A power source or power supply 19 is coupled to the disinfection unit 18. A trigger 24 is coupled between the power source 19 and the toilet cover 16 or the seat 14. A control circuit 26 maybe coupled to the trigger 24 and the power supply 19.
In FIG. 2A-2D and 3A-3D, toilet seat 14 and toilet cover 16 are substantially planar members as is known in the art. The seat 14 is disposed on the toilet opening via a plurality of spacers 14 a that are typically rubber or plastic. However, other suitable materials may be used. The distal end of the seat 14 is attached via bracket to a hinge member 21. The distal end is furthest away from the front side edge of the toilet. Similarly, seat cover 16 is disposed on the toilet seat 12 via a plurality of spacers 16 a. The spacers are optional parts but are customarily used to absorb some of the energy resulting from either the seat or cover. The distal end of toilet cover 16 is attached via the same or a second bracket to hinge member. The seat and bracket are manufactured as a single piece. Likewise, cover and respective bracket may be manufactured as a single piece. The bracket and hinge for toilet cover and seat are well known in the art. This embodiment is merely exemplary as other means of securing seat and cover may be employed as known to those skilled in the art.
One aspect of the present is that the present invention includes at least one disinfection or decontamination unit 18 equipped in the seat unit 14 (see FIG. 3A-3D) or cover 16 (see FIG. 2A-2D) to eliminate bacteria. In one preferred embodiment, the disinfection or bacteria eliminating unit 18 includes UV light source or the like that could illuminate UV (ultraviolet) light substantially through or partially through the seat 14, thereby killing or eliminating the bacteria or germ on or around the seat 14. For instance, the UV light source could be equipped into a socket 20 set at the lower surface of the seat 14 or cover 16. In one embodiment, the wave length of the UV light source is about 150-360 nm, preferably, 260-280 nm. The energy of the UV light source is substantially higher than 0.1 Joule/m². Preferably, higher than 20 Joule/m².
The toilet seat 14 may be constructed of polymer (such as plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin), ceramic (glass or quartz) or the combination thereof. A power source or power supply 19 is provided to the disinfection unit 18. In another embodiment, please refer to FIG. 2A-2D, the disinfection unit 18 could be equipped into a socket 20 set at the lower surface of the cover 16. The disinfection unit 18 could be constructed by a plurality of UV light bulbs 18 attached on the lower surface of the cover 16, as shown in FIG. 2B. Conductive lines (in the dash line area) are used to electrically connect the UV light bulbs 18 (FIG. 2B). In another example, the disinfection unit 18 could be a UV light tube with a shape similar to the seat shape (FIG. 2C) and substantially aligned to the toilet seat 14. Similar arrangement of above could be arranged on the seat 14. It should be understand that any type of the UV tube and arrangement could be used.
In the embodiment, the disinfection unit 18 could illuminate UV light on the upper surface of seat 14 while the cover is closed on the seat 14, the cover 16 will trigger a switch to power on the UV light, thereby eliminating the bacteria or germ on or around the seat 14. Thus, a trigger 24 is coupled to the cover 16 or seat 14 to turn on the disinfection unit 18 while the cover 16 is closed on the seat 14, Owing to the UV light will injure the human eyes, therefore, the UV light should be power on after the cover 16 is closed to prevent the UV light from hurting the eyes. The trigger 24 could be a sensor (such as IR sensor or pressure sensor) or a switch set either on the cover 16 or seat 14. A control circuit 26 is coupled to the trigger 24 to allow the UV light to turn on or off. In another case, the trigger is formed in the spacer 16 a.
In another embodiment, the disinfection unit 18 could be equipped in the seat 14 (FIG. 3B) for the toilet. In further case, the disinfection unit 18 could be attached any suitable location for the cover or seat. An optical fiber 30 (please refer to FIG. 3C) could guide the illumination generated by the UV source 18 to the desired area of the seat 14 or cover 16. The optical fiber 306 includes a rough surface to allow the light penetrating through the surface of the fiber 30. Please refer to FIG. 3D, a heating element 28 is also provided in the seat 14 to provide thermal.
The toilet disinfection system 10 functions as follows, a person could trigger the trigger by closing the cover 16 of the toilet for instance. The disinfection unit 18 will generate the UV light to expose the seat of the toilet 12 after the trigger responses the action. Any person will not be exposed in the UV light environment when it functions due to the seat 12 is covered by the cover 16, Any bacteria or germ on or around the seat will be eliminated by the disinfection unit.
As known in the art, the toilet in these illustrations includes bowl 12, tank (not shown), toilet seat 14, toilet seat cover 16, In this embodiment, the toilet seat 14 and toilet cover 16 are similar to the well-know art, they could downward or upward pivotal movement of seat or cover to its lower or upper position. The seat or cover is rotatably coupled to the toilet at joint as well known in the art also. The above embodiments could be practiced alone or combination.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toilet comprising:

a toilet bowl;

a seat pivotally equipped to said bowl;

a cover pivotally equipped on said toilet for said seat; and

a disinfection unit equipped for disinfecting said seat.

2. A toilet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a trigger equipped on the surface of said seat or said cover to turn on said disinfection unit when said cover is closed on said seat.

3. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein said trigger includes a switch or a sensor.

4. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensor includes a pressure sensor or IR sensor.

5. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disinfection unit includes UV-light source.

6. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wave length of said UV-light source is about 150-360 nm, preferably, 260-280 nm.

7. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the energy of said UV light source is substantially higher than 0.1 Joule/m², preferably, higher than 20 Joule/m².

8. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat is made of a material that includes polymer.

9. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein said polymer includes plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin.

10. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein said seat is made of a material that includes glass or quartz.

11. A toilet seat comprising:

a toilet cover pivotally connected to said toilet seat; and

a disinfection unit equipped to said toilet seat or said toilet cover for disinfecting said toilet seat.

12. A toilet as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a trigger equipped on the surface of said seat or said cover to turn on said disinfection unit when said cover is closed on said seat.

13. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 12, wherein said trigger includes a switch or a sensor.

14. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sensor includes a pressure sensor or IR sensor.

15. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disinfection unit includes UV-light source.

16. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein the wave length of said UV-light source is about 150-360 nm, preferably, 260-280 nm.

17. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein the energy of said UV light source is substantially higher than 0.1 Joule/m², preferably, higher than 20 Joule/m².

18. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein said toilet seat is made of a material that includes polymer.

19. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 18, wherein said polymer includes plastic, fiberglass, acrylic or resin.

20. A toilet seat as claimed in claim 18, wherein said seat is made of a material that includes glass or quartz.