Patent Application
20240074627
The present disclosure generally relates to sanitary equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to and hands-free toilet seat apparatus.
The field of sanitary equipment is technologically important to several industries, business organizations, and/or individuals.
In light of the recent global pandemic, public health is now more important than ever. Consumers are more conscious of their daily interactions with the environment, especially in public. One of the places in which we take greater contact precautions is public restrooms. Bathrooms are high-traffic areas where viral and bacterial transmission between people occurs often. Frequently touched surfaces carry millions of germs that could make humans seriously ill. Current toilet seats do not provide a way to avoid the germs at all costs by offering a more sanitary alternative to touching dirty toilet lids and seats with bare hands.
Therefore, there is a need for improved toilet seat apparatus that may overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems and/or limitations.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
The present disclosure provides a hands-free toilet seat apparatus. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a toilet seat including a seat ring surrounding a central opening. Further, the toilet seat may be configured to be movably attached to a toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat may be movable between a seating position proximate to the toilet bowl and a non-seating position distal to the toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat may be configured to support a seating of a user on the toilet bowl in the seating position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a seat cover which may be configured to be movably attached to a rear side of the toilet seat. Further, the seat cover may be movable between an open position proximate to the toilet seat and a closed position distal to the toilet seat. Further, the seat cover may be configured to close the central opening in the closed position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include an actuator operatively coupled to each of the toilet seat and the seat cover. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the toilet seat between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a control command. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the seat cover between the open position and the closed position based on the control command. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a sensor that may be configured to capture environmental data in a vicinity of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a processing device communicatively coupled to each of the sensor and the actuator. Further, the processing device may be configured for analyzing the environmental data. Further, the processing device may be configured for determining a user state of the user. Further, the user state may include one or more of an arrival and a departure in relation to the hands-free toilet seat apparatus based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device may be configured for determining a gender of the user based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device may be configured for generating the control command based on each of the user state and the gender of the user. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a power source which may be configured to supply power to each of the actuator, the sensor, and the processing device.
The present disclosure provides a hands-free toilet seat apparatus. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a toilet seat including a seat ring surrounding a central opening. Further, the toilet seat may be configured to be movably attached to a toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat may be movable between a seating position proximate to the toilet bowl and a non-seating position distal to the toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat may be configured to support a seating of a user on the toilet bowl in the seating position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a seat cover which may be configured to be movably attached to a rear side of the toilet seat. Further, the seat cover may be movable between an open position proximate to the toilet seat and a closed position distal to the toilet seat. Further, the seat cover may be configured to close the central opening in the closed position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include an actuator operatively coupled to each of the toilet seat and the seat cover. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the toilet seat between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a control command. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the seat cover between the open position and the closed position based on the control command. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a sensor which may be configured to capture environmental data in a vicinity of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a processing device communicatively coupled to each of the sensor and the actuator. Further, the processing device may be configured for analyzing the environmental data. Further, the processing device may be configured for determining a user state of the user. Further, the user state may include one or more of an arrival and a departure in relation to the hands-free toilet seat apparatus based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device may be configured for determining a gender of the user based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device may be configured for generating the control command based on each of the user state and the gender of the user. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a power source which may be configured to supply power to each of the actuator, the sensor and the processing device. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a manually operable switch electrically coupled to the actuator. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the toilet seat between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a switch state associated with the manually operable switch. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the seat cover between the open position and the closed position based on the switch state. Further, the switch state overrides the control command.
The present disclosure provides a hands-free toilet seat apparatus. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a toilet seat including a seat ring surrounding a central opening. Further, the toilet seat may be configured to be movably attached to a toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat may be movable between a seating position proximate to the toilet bowl and a non-seating position distal to the toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat may be configured to support a seating of a user on the toilet bowl in the seating position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a seat cover which may be configured to be movably attached to a rear side of the toilet seat. Further, the seat cover may be movable between an open position proximate to the toilet seat and a closed position distal to the toilet seat. Further, the seat cover may be configured to close the central opening in the closed position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include an actuator operatively coupled to each of the toilet seat and the seat cover. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the toilet seat between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a control command. Further, the actuator may be configured to transition the seat cover between the open position and the closed position based on the control command. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a sensor which may be configured to capture environmental data in a vicinity of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a processing device communicatively coupled to each of the sensor and the actuator. Further, the processing device may be configured for analyzing the environmental data. Further, the processing device may be configured for determining a user state of the user. Further, the user state may include one or more of an arrival and a departure in relation to the hands-free toilet seat apparatus based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device may be configured for determining a gender of the user based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device may be configured for generating the control command based on each of the user state and the gender of the user. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a power source which may be configured to supply power to each of the actuator, the sensor, and the processing device. Further, the power source may include a rechargeable battery.
Both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing summary and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings contain representations of various trademarks and copyrights owned by the Applicants. In addition, the drawings may contain other marks owned by third parties and are being used for illustrative purposes only. All rights to various trademarks and copyrights represented herein, except those belonging to their respective owners, are vested in and the property of the applicants. The applicants retain and reserve all rights in their trademarks and copyrights included herein, and grant permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.
Furthermore, the drawings may contain text or captions that may explain certain embodiments of the present disclosure. This text is included for illustrative, non-limiting, explanatory purposes of certain embodiments detailed in the present disclosure.
As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim limitation found herein and/or issuing here from that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection is to be defined by the issued claim(s) rather than the description set forth herein.
Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.
Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims found herein and/or issuing here from. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.
The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in the context of hands-free toilet seat apparatus, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context.
In general, the method disclosed herein may be performed by one or more computing devices. For example, in some embodiments, the method may be performed by a server computer in communication with one or more client devices over a communication network such as, for example, the Internet. In some other embodiments, the method may be performed by one or more of at least one server computer, at least one client device, at least one network device, at least one sensor and at least one actuator. Examples of the one or more client devices and/or the server computer may include, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a portable electronic device, a wearable computer, a smart phone, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a smart electrical appliance, a video game console, a rack server, a super-computer, a mainframe computer, mini-computer, micro-computer, a storage server, an application server (e.g. a mail server, a web server, a real-time communication server, an FTP server, a virtual server, a proxy server, a DNS server etc.), a quantum computer, and so on. Further, one or more client devices and/or the server computer may be configured for executing a software application such as, for example, but not limited to, an operating system (e.g. Windows, Mac OS, Unix, Linux, Android, etc.) in order to provide a user interface (e.g. GUI, touch-screen based interface, voice based interface, gesture based interface etc.) for use by the one or more users and/or a network interface for communicating with other devices over a communication network. Accordingly, the server computer may include a processing device configured for performing data processing tasks such as, for example, but not limited to, analyzing, identifying, determining, generating, transforming, calculating, computing, compressing, decompressing, encrypting, decrypting, scrambling, splitting, merging, interpolating, extrapolating, redacting, anonymizing, encoding and decoding. Further, the server computer may include a communication device configured for communicating with one or more external devices. The one or more external devices may include, for example, but are not limited to, a client device, a third party database, public database, a private database and so on. Further, the communication device may be configured for communicating with the one or more external devices over one or more communication channels. Further, the one or more communication channels may include a wireless communication channel and/or a wired communication channel. Accordingly, the communication device may be configured for performing one or more of transmitting and receiving of information in electronic form. Further, the server computer may include a storage device configured for performing data storage and/or data retrieval operations. In general, the storage device may be configured for providing reliable storage of digital information. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the storage device may be based on technologies such as, but not limited to, data compression, data backup, data redundancy, deduplication, error correction, data finger-printing, role based access control, and so on.
Further, one or more steps of the method disclosed herein may be initiated, maintained, controlled and/or terminated based on a control input received from one or more devices operated by one or more users such as, for example, but not limited to, an end user, an admin, a service provider, a service consumer, an agent, a broker and a representative thereof. Further, the user as defined herein may refer to a human, an animal or an artificially intelligent being in any state of existence, unless stated otherwise, elsewhere in the present disclosure. Further, in some embodiments, the one or more users may be required to successfully perform authentication in order for the control input to be effective. In general, a user of the one or more users may perform authentication based on the possession of a secret human readable secret data (e.g. username, password, passphrase, PIN, secret question, secret answer etc.) and/or possession of a machine readable secret data (e.g. encryption key, decryption key, bar codes, etc.) and/or or possession of one or more embodied characteristics unique to the user (e.g. biometric variables such as, but not limited to, fingerprint, palm-print, voice characteristics, behavioral characteristics, facial features, iris pattern, heart rate variability, evoked potentials, brain waves, and so on) and/or possession of a unique device (e.g. a device with a unique physical and/or chemical and/or biological characteristic, a hardware device with a unique serial number, a network device with a unique IP/MAC address, a telephone with a unique phone number, a smartcard with an authentication token stored thereupon, etc.). Accordingly, the one or more steps of the method may include communicating (e.g. transmitting and/or receiving) with one or more sensor devices and/or one or more actuators in order to perform authentication. For example, the one or more steps may include receiving, using the communication device, the secret human readable data from an input device such as, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a touch-screen, a microphone, a camera and so on. Likewise, the one or more steps may include receiving, using the communication device, the one or more embodied characteristics from one or more biometric sensors.
Further, one or more steps of the method may be automatically initiated, maintained and/or terminated based on one or more predefined conditions. In an instance, the one or more predefined conditions may be based on one or more contextual variables. In general, the one or more contextual variables may represent a condition relevant to the performance of the one or more steps of the method. The one or more contextual variables may include, for example, but are not limited to, location, time, identity of a user associated with a device (e.g. the server computer, a client device etc.) corresponding to the performance of the one or more steps, environmental variables (e.g. temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, lighting, sound, etc.) associated with a device corresponding to the performance of the one or more steps, physical state and/or physiological state and/or psychological state of the user, physical state (e.g. motion, direction of motion, orientation, speed, velocity, acceleration, trajectory, etc.) of the device corresponding to the performance of the one or more steps and/or semantic content of data associated with the one or more users. Accordingly, the one or more steps may include communicating with one or more sensors and/or one or more actuators associated with the one or more contextual variables. For example, the one or more sensors may include, but are not limited to, a timing device (e.g. a real-time clock), a location sensor (e.g. a GPS receiver, a GLONASS receiver, an indoor location sensor etc.), a biometric sensor (e.g. a fingerprint sensor), an environmental variable sensor (e.g. temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, etc.) and a device state sensor (e.g. a power sensor, a voltage/current sensor, a switch-state sensor, a usage sensor, etc. associated with the device corresponding to performance of the or more steps).
Further, the one or more steps of the method may be performed one or more number of times. Additionally, the one or more steps may be performed in any order other than as exemplarily disclosed herein, unless explicitly stated otherwise, elsewhere in the present disclosure. Further, two or more steps of the one or more steps may, in some embodiments, be simultaneously performed, at least in part. Further, in some embodiments, there may be one or more time gaps between performance of any two steps of the one or more steps.
Further, in some embodiments, the one or more predefined conditions may be specified by the one or more users. Accordingly, the one or more steps may include receiving, using the communication device, the one or more predefined conditions from one or more and devices operated by the one or more users. Further, the one or more predefined conditions may be stored in the storage device. Alternatively, and/or additionally, in some embodiments, the one or more predefined conditions may be automatically determined, using the processing device, based on historical data corresponding to performance of the one or more steps. For example, the historical data may be collected, using the storage device, from a plurality of instances of performance of the method. Such historical data may include performance actions (e.g. initiating, maintaining, interrupting, terminating, etc.) of the one or more steps and/or the one or more contextual variables associated therewith. Further, machine learning may be performed on the historical data in order to determine the one or more predefined conditions. For instance, machine learning on the historical data may determine a correlation between one or more contextual variables and performance of the one or more steps of the method. Accordingly, the one or more predefined conditions may be generated, using the processing device, based on the correlation.
Further, one or more steps of the method may be performed at one or more spatial locations. For instance, the method may be performed by a plurality of devices interconnected through a communication network. Accordingly, in an example, one or more steps of the method may be performed by a server computer. Similarly, one or more steps of the method may be performed by a client computer. Likewise, one or more steps of the method may be performed by an intermediate entity such as, for example, a proxy server. For instance, one or more steps of the method may be performed in a distributed fashion across the plurality of devices in order to meet one or more objectives. For example, one objective may be to provide load balancing between two or more devices. Another objective may be to restrict a location of one or more of an input data, an output data and any intermediate data therebetween corresponding to one or more steps of the method. For example, in a client-server environment, sensitive data corresponding to a user may not be allowed to be transmitted to the server computer. Accordingly, one or more steps of the method operating on the sensitive data and/or a derivative thereof may be performed at the client device.
In some embodiments, a hands-free toilet seat apparatus may include a hinged unit consisting of a round or oval open seat and a lid, which may be bolted onto the bowl of a toilet used in a sitting position (as opposed to a squat toilet).
In some embodiments, a toilet seat consists of the seat itself, which may be contoured for the user to sit on.
In some embodiments, a toilet seat may be a round or oval seat on which a user sits in a sitting position.
In some embodiments, a central opening may include a round or oval opening in the toilet seat allowing the fecal waste to fall into the toilet bowl.
In some embodiments, a toilet bowl may include a part below the seat of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus that can be flushed with water.
In some embodiments, a toilet bowl may comprise a hemispherical or oval structure, hinged to a wall, for receiving fecal waste.
In some embodiments, a seating position refers to a position of the toilet seat to allow the user to sit on the hands-free toilet seat apparatus.
In some embodiments, a non-seating position refers to a position of the toilet seat not parallel to a horizontal floor plane. Further, the user may not be able to sit on the hands-free toilet seat apparatus with the toilet seat in the non-seating position.
In some embodiments, a seat cover may include a lid, which covers the toilet when it may be not in use.
In some embodiments, a seat cover may include a flap, hinged to the toilet bowl, for opening and closing the central opening.
In some embodiments, an open position refers to a position of the seat cover proximate to the toilet seat. Further, in the open position, the seat cover may be not parallel to a horizontal floor plane. Further, the seat cover allows access to the central opening in the open position.
In some embodiments, a closed position refers to a position of the seat cover distal to the toilet seat. Further, in the closed position, the seat cover may be parallel to a horizontal floor plane. Further, the seat cover closes the central opening in the closed position.
In some embodiments, an actuator may be a component of a machine that may be responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system.
In some embodiments, an actuator may be a component for transitioning the toilet seat between a seated position and a non seating position and transitioning the seat cover between the open position and the closed position.
In some embodiments, a sensor may be a device that produces an output signal for the purpose of sensing a physical phenomenon.
In some embodiments, a sensor may be configured to capture environmental data.
In some embodiments, environment data may include information generated by the sensor based on sensing a physical phenomenon and/or event in a vicinity of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus.
In some embodiments, a processing device may include an electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The processing device performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions in the program.
In some embodiments, a processing device may be a circuitry for generating a control command for the transitioning of the toilet seat and seat cover.
In some embodiments, a user state characterizes a physical phenomenon/event of the user. Further, the user state may include at least one of an arrival and a departure in relation to the hands-free toilet seat apparatus.
In some embodiments, a gender may be a range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them.
In some embodiments, a gender of the user can be male or female.
In some embodiments, a power source may include an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load.
In some embodiments, a power source may include a power adaptor or battery configured to be electrically connected to a power outlet.
In some embodiments, a sensor may include a device that produces an output signal based on sensing/detecting a nearby motion.
In some embodiments, a proximity sensor may be a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact.
In some embodiments, an image sensor or imager may be a sensor that detects and conveys information used to make an image.
In some embodiments, an image may include an artifact, such as a photograph or other two-dimensional picture, that resembles a subject—usually a physical object—and thus provides a depiction of it.
In some embodiments, a thermal image may be an artifact, such as a photograph or other two-dimensional picture, that resembles a subject—usually a physical object formed by using infrared radiations emitted from the object.
In some embodiments, facial features may include facial characteristics of a face of a user used for identifying if a user is a male or a female. Further, the facial features may include characteristics such as wearing a nose pin and lipstick and having facial hair.
In some embodiments, clothing features may include characteristics of clothes worn by a user that may be used for identifying if a user is a male or a female. Further, the clothing features may include characteristics such as types of clothes (saree, jeans, top, t-shirt, trousers, etc.
In some embodiments, accessory features may include characteristics of accessories, possessed/worn by a user, used for identifying if a user is a male or a female. Further, the accessory feature may include characteristics such as having a sling purse, type of watch, etc.
In some embodiments, gait features may include gait characteristics of a user, used for identifying if a user is a male or a female. Further, the gait features comprise characteristics of a way with which the user walks. Further, the gait features may be determined by measuring body movements, body mechanics, and the activity of the muscles.
In some embodiments, body features may include physical characteristics of a body of a user used for identifying if a user is a male or a female. Further, the body features may include physical characteristics (dimensions of body parts) such as height, width, waist-to-shoulder ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, waist size, shoulder size, etc.
In some embodiments, a manually operable switch may include at least one button electrically coupled to the actuator to transition the toilet seat and the seat cover based on a switch state of the manually operable switch.
In some embodiments, a switch state may include a state or orientation of the manually operable switch based on which the actuator transitions the seat cover and the toilet seat. Further, in an instance, the switch state can be a depressed state, an embossed state, etc.
In some embodiments, a gesture may be a form of non-verbal communication or non-vocal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of or in conjunction with, speech.
In some embodiments, a gesture may include bodily actions such as a motion of the hands and/or feets made by the user to indicate whether he wants to transition the seat cover and the toilet cover.
In some embodiments, a power adapter may be a device that converts attributes of one electrical device or system to those of an otherwise incompatible device or system. Some modify power or signal attributes.
In some embodiments, a power outlet connects the equipment (such as hands-free toilet seat apparatus) to the alternating current (AC) mains electricity power supply in buildings and at other sites.
In some embodiments, a rechargeable battery may be a type of electrical battery that can be charged, discharged into a load, and recharged many times.
In some embodiments, a servomotor may be a rotary actuator or linear actuator that allows for precise control of angular or linear position, velocity, and acceleration.
In some embodiments, a servo motor may include a motor coupled to a sensor for position feedback along with a controller. Further, the servo motor may include a servo drive.
A user 112, such as the one or more relevant parties, may access online platform 100 through a web based software application or browser. The web based software application may be embodied as, for example, but not be limited to, a website, a web application, a desktop application, and a mobile application compatible with a computing device 200.
With reference to
Computing device 200 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 200 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
Computing device 200 may also contain a communication connection 216 that may allow device 200 to communicate with other computing devices 218, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet. Communication connection 216 is one example of communication media.
Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media.
As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory 204, including operating system 205. While executing on processing unit 202, programming modules 206 (e.g., application 220 such as a media player) may perform processes including, for example, one or more stages of methods, algorithms, systems, applications, servers, databases as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit 202 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include machine learning applications.
Generally, consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, general purpose graphics processor-based systems, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, application specific integrated circuit-based electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced within a general-purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments of the disclosure, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.
Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, solid state storage (e.g., USB drive), or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the disclosure.
Accordingly, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 300 may include a toilet seat 302 including a seat ring surrounding a central opening. Further, the toilet seat 302 may be configured to be movably attached to a toilet bowl. Further, the toilet bowl may be configured as a toilet bowl 1103, as shown in
In some embodiments, the sensor 308 may include one or more of a motion sensor and proximity sensor. Further, the sensor 308 may be configured as a motion sensor 1110, as shown in
In some embodiments, the sensor 308 may include an image sensor which may be configured to capture an image of the user.
In some embodiments, the image sensor may be configured to capture a thermal image of the user.
In some embodiments, the analyzing may include detecting a facial feature of the user. Further, the determining of the gender may be based on the facial feature.
In some embodiments, the analyzing may include detecting a gait feature of the user. Further, the determining of the gender may be based on the gait feature.
In some embodiments, the analyzing may include detecting a body feature of the user. Further, the determining of the gender may be based on the body feature.
In some embodiments, the analyzing may include detecting a clothing feature of the user. Further, the determining of the gender may be based on the clothing feature.
In some embodiments, the analyzing may include detecting an accessory feature of the user. Further, the determining of the gender may be based on the accessory feature.
In some embodiments, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 300 may include a manually operable switch 402 (as shown in
In some embodiments, the sensor 308 may be configured to detect a gesture of the user. Further, the processing device 310 may be configured for generating a modified control command based on the gesture. Further, the modified control command may override the control command. Further, the actuator 306 may be configured to transition the toilet seat 302 between the seating position and the non-seating position based on the modified control command. Further, the actuator 306 may be configured to transition the seat cover 304 between the open position and the closed position based on the modified control command.
In some embodiments, the processing device 310 may be configured for generating a notification based on the control command. Further, the notification may notify at least one user (or the user) about the transition of the seat cover 304 between the open position and the closed position. Further, the notification may notify at least one user about the transition of the toilet seat 302 between the seating position and the non-seating position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 300 may include an output device communicatively coupled to the processing device 310. Further, the output device may be configured for presenting the notification to the at least one user. Further, the notification may include a sound notification (such as a buzzer sound), a light notification, a vibrating notification, etc. Further, the output device may include a light source (such as an LED), a speaker, etc.
Further, in some embodiments, the processing device 310 may be configured for generating a usage information associated with the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 300 based on the control data and the environmental data. Further, the usage information may provide information about the extent of usage of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 300 to at least one second user. Further, the at least one second user may include an administrator, sanitation worker, sanitation inspector, etc. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 300 may include a communication device communicatively coupled to the processing device 310. Further, the communication device may be configured for transmitting the usage information to at least one second user device associated with the at least one second user. Further, the at least one second user device may include a mobile, tablet, a computer, a desktop, a laptop, and so on. Further, the at least one second user may want to run a sanitation/cleaning drive for cleaning the hands-free toilet usage 300 based on the usage information.
Further, in some embodiments, the communication device may be configured for transmitting at least one of the notification and the control command to at least one user device associated with the at least one user. Further, the at least one user device may include a mobile, tablet, a computer, a desktop, a laptop, and so on.
In some embodiments, the power source 312 may include a power adaptor 502 which may be configured to be electrically connected to a power outlet.
In some embodiments, the power source 312 may include a rechargeable battery 602.
In some embodiments, the actuator 306 may include a servo motor 702.
In some embodiments, upon determining the gender of the user as male, the control command may cause the actuator 306 to transition the toilet seat 302 from the seating position to the non-seating position. Further, the transitioning of the toilet seat 302 from the seating position to the non-seating position may cause transitioning of the seat cover 304 from the closed position to the open position. Further, upon determining the gender of the user as female, the control command may cause the actuator 306 to transition the seat cover 304 from the closed position to the open position.
In some embodiments, upon determining the user state as arrival, the control command may cause the actuator 306 to transition the seat cover 304 from the closed position to the open position. Further, upon determining the user state as departure, the control command may cause the actuator 306 to transition the seat cover 304 from the open position to the closed position. Further, the transitioning of the seat cover 304 from the open position to the closed position entails transitioning of the toilet seat 302 from the non-seating position to the seating position.
In some embodiments, each of the sensor 308, the actuator 306, the processing device 310, and the power source 312 may be disposed within a water-proof enclosure.
In some embodiments, the water-proof enclosure may be detachable from each of the toilet seat 302 and the seat cover 304.
Accordingly, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include a toilet seat 802 including a seat ring surrounding a central opening. Further, the toilet seat 802 may be configured to be movably attached to a toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat 802 may be movable between a seating position proximate to the toilet bowl and a non-seating position distal to the toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat 802 may be configured to support a seating of a user on the toilet bowl in the seating position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include a seat cover 804 which may be configured to be movably attached to a rear side of the toilet seat 802. Further, the seat cover 804 may be movable between an open position proximate to the toilet seat 802 and a closed position distal to the toilet seat 802. Further, the seat cover 804 may be configured to close the central opening in the closed position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include an actuator 806 operatively coupled to each of the toilet seat 802 and the seat cover 804. Further, the actuator 806 may be configured to transition the toilet seat 802 between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a control command. Further, the actuator 806 may be configured to transition the seat cover 804 between the open position and the closed position based on the control command. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include a sensor 808 which may be configured to capture environmental data in a vicinity of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include a processing device 810 communicatively coupled to each of the sensor 808 and the actuator 806. Further, the processing device 810 may be configured for analyzing the environmental data. Further, the processing device 810 may be configured for determining a user state of the user. Further, the user state may include one or more of an arrival and a departure in relation to the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device 810 may be configured for determining a gender of the user based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device 810 may be configured for generating the control command based on each of the user state and the gender of the user. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include a power source 812 which may be configured to supply power to each of the actuator 806, the sensor 808, and the processing device 810. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 800 may include a manually operable switch 814 electrically coupled to the actuator 806. Further, the actuator 806 may be configured to transition the toilet seat 802 between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a switch state associated with the manually operable switch 814. Further, the actuator 806 may be configured to transition the seat cover 804 between the open position and the closed position based on the switch state. Further, the switch state overrides the control command.
Accordingly, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 may include a toilet seat 902 including a seat ring surrounding a central opening. Further, the toilet seat 902 may be configured to be movably attached to a toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat 902 may be movable between a seating position proximate to the toilet bowl and a non-seating position distal to the toilet bowl. Further, the toilet seat 902 may be configured to support a seating of a user on the toilet bowl in the seating position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 may include a seat cover 904 which may be configured to be movably attached to a rear side of the toilet seat 902. Further, the seat cover 904 may be movable between an open position proximate to the toilet seat 902 and a closed position distal to the toilet seat 902. Further, the seat cover 904 may be configured to close the central opening in the closed position. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 may include an actuator 906 operatively coupled to each of the toilet seat 902 and the seat cover 904. Further, the actuator 906 may be configured to transition the toilet seat 902 between the seating position and the non-seating position based on a control command. Further, the actuator 906 may be configured to transition the seat cover 904 between the open position and the closed position based on the control command. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 may include a sensor 908 which may be configured to capture environmental data in a vicinity of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 may include a processing device 910 communicatively coupled to each of the sensor 908 and the actuator 906. Further, the processing device 910 may be configured for analyzing the environmental data. Further, the processing device 910 may be configured for determining a user state of the user. Further, the user state may include one or more of an arrival and a departure in relation to the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device 910 may be configured for determining a gender of the user based on the analyzing. Further, the processing device 910 may be configured for generating the control command based on each of the user state and the gender of the user. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 900 may include a power source 912 which may be configured to supply power to each of the actuator 906, the sensor 908, and the processing device 910. Further, the power source 912 may include a rechargeable battery 1002 (as shown in
Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100 may be versatile and unisex. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100 may be easily installed and used in men's rooms, ladies' rooms, or private residences. Further, at the rear of the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100, is the motion sensor 1110 that may automatically open or close the toilet seat 1104 in response to the arrival or departure of a user. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100 opens only the toilet lid 1102 if a woman is detected. If a man is detected, both the toilet lid 1102 and the seat 1104 open. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100 plugs into any standard power outlet via an A/C 12V power unit. If electrical outlets are not accessible, motors may also be battery-powered to raise or lower the seat 1104. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100 may include a battery panel located behind the motion sensor 1110. All mechanical operation is conducted by servo motors and uses micro-bit technology. Further, the hands-free toilet seat apparatus 1100 may be used easily by anyone, anywhere to avoid touching unsanitary toilet seats. Further, exact size, measurement, construction, and design specifications may vary upon further development and manufacturing.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
