Patent Grant
8208255
This invention relates to a remote control apparatus, for example, a remote control apparatus for operating electronic hardware such as a sanitary cleansing apparatus mounted on a toilet apparatus.
In general, in a remote control apparatus for operating electronic hardware, a display portion composed of a display panel and so forth and an operation portion composed of a plurality of operation buttons and so forth are provided. In recent years, in a toilet, electronic hardware such as a sanitary cleansing apparatus for cleansing a derriere or the like of a user has been provided, and drainage in a toilet bowl, opening and closing of a toilet lid, or the like has been electronically controlled. Therefore, a remote control apparatus for operating the electronic hardware has been placed on a wall or the like of a toilet room.
There is widely known such a remote control apparatus in which out of buttons for performing various settings and operations provided in the remote control main body, only the main buttons of high operation frequency are exposed and the other buttons are covered with a cover.
For example, in Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a technique in which in a remote control apparatus of sanitary cleansing apparatus attached to a toilet apparatus, a cover attached openably to a remote control main body is provided. And, in the front surface of the remote control main body, a display portion for displaying operation contents or the like and a plurality of operation buttons are provided, and on the cover, a plurality of openings are formed, the display portion and the main operation buttons are exposed from the openings when the cover is closed. Thereby, the main operation buttons and the display portion are visible in the closed state of the cover, and when the cover is opened, more specific settings or the like can be performed. In the operation buttons exposed from the opening portions, there are the buttons having a shape projecting from the surface of the cover.
Moreover, in Patent Document 2, there is disclosed a technique that in the ceiling of the remote control apparatus, three toilet-seat opening and closing switches are disposed contiguously to one another, and a cover covering the three switches is provided, and a projection is locally formed only at a position corresponding to one switch in the inner surface of the cover. In Patent Document 1, thereby, by pressing the cover in the closed state of the cover, the projection contacts the switch of the largest operation frequency, specifically, the switch for making only the toilet lid be in the opening state out of the above-described three toilet-seat opening and closing switches, and thereby, only the switch can be operated.
However, in the above-described conventional techniques, there are problems shown as follows. That is, in the remote control apparatus described in the Patent Document 1, a plurality of operation buttons are exposed in the front surface of the remote control apparatus, and therefore, selection of the operation buttons is difficult for a person who does not get used to the operation. Moreover, it is necessary for the user to select and push a relatively small operation button according to a function to be carried out. By the way, in the operation of the sanitary cleansing apparatus, the user operates the operation buttons in the state that the user sits down on the toilet seat of the sanitary cleansing apparatus, and the remote control apparatus is attached to any one of the right-side wall and the left-side wall according to the situation of the installation site, and therefore, it is desired to be easy to perform the operation with a hand other than the dominant hand. Furthermore, in such a case that the hand of the side in which the remote control is installed is injured, it is necessary to operate the buttons of the remote control apparatus with the opposite hand to the wall to which the remote control apparatus is attached, and therefore, the operability is desired to be more improved.
Moreover, in cleaning the remote control apparatus, if it is attempted to wipe the surface of the cover with a cloth or the like, the cloth comes to catch on the operation buttons projecting from the surface of the cover, and the buttons prevent the cleaning work.
Moreover, in the remote control apparatus described in Patent Document 2, only the switch of the largest operation frequency can be operated with the closed cover but the other switches cannot be operated with the closed cover. Specifically, the switch for making both of the toilet seat and the toilet lid be in the opening state and the switch for making both of the toilet seat and the toilet lid be in the closing state cannot be operated if the cover is not opened. That is, with the closed state of the cover, the plurality of switches cannot be selected and pushed according to purpose.
An object of this invention is to provide a remote control apparatus having excellent operability and excellent cleaning operability.
Alternatively, another object of this invention is to provide a remote control apparatus in which a plurality of switches can be operated in the state of being covered with a cover.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a remote control apparatus for operating electronic hardware, including: a remote control main body; a cover covering a front surface of the remote control main body; and a plurality of switches provided on at least one of the remote control main body or the cover and switching by pressing force, the cover being openably attached to the remote control main body and covering the front surface of the remote control main body when closed and exposing the front surface when opened, one part of the cover being pressed to the remote control main body in the closed state of the cover and thereby being displaced to the remote control main body, and by the displacement, the cover or the remote control main body pressing any one of the plurality of switches, and another part of the cover being pressed to the remote control main body in the closed state of the cover and thereby being displaced to the remote control main body, and by the displacement, the cover or the remote control main body pressing another one of the plurality of switches.
Hereinafter, embodiments of this Invention will be explained with reference to drawings.
First, a first embodiment of this invention will be explained.
A remote control apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is a remote control apparatus for operating electronic hardware such as a sanitary cleansing apparatus mounted on a toilet apparatus and is disposed to be fixed to a wall of a toilet room.
As shown in
In four corners of the front surface of the remote control main body 2, switches 6 are provided, respectively. The switches 6 are switches operated by pressing force. To the switches 6, operations of high operation frequency such as operations of initiation and stop of discharge of bottom cleansing water out of the operations of the sanitary cleansing apparatus are assigned. Moreover, in the central portion of the front surface of the remote control main body 2, a display portion 26 is provided. The display 26 displays at least a part of operation contents of the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like. Furthermore, in the remote control main body 2, a transmission portion 31 for transmitting a control signal representing the operation content to the electronic hardware such as the sanitary cleansing apparatus is provided.
In the front surface of the remote control main body 2, as well as the switches 6 and the display portion 26, switches (not shown) to which operations of low operation frequency such as operations of temperature setting of the bottom cleansing water and temperature setting of a toilet seat out of the operations of the sanitary cleansing apparatus are assigned may be provided. Moreover, in the upper surface of the remote control main body 2 that is not covered with the cover 3, switches for operations of high operation frequency used by a user in the standing state such as switches (not shown) for operating electronic hardware for controlling drainage in a toilet bowl and opening and closing of a toilet lid and so forth may be provided. Furthermore, the display portion 26 may be capable of displaying information of current time or battery remaining amount or the like or the display portion 26 may be capable of being brightened.
On the other hand, the cover 3 is composed so that a lower panel 7 disposed in the remote control main body 2 side when the cover 3 is closed, and an upper panel 8 disposed in the opposite side from the remote control main body 2 are superposed. The lower panel 7 is rotatably connected to the remote control main body 2, and is positioned with respect to the remote control main body 2 when the cover 3 is closed. Moreover, the upper panel 8 is supported by the lower panel 7.
In the lower panel 7, an opening portion 45A exposing the display portion 26 of the remote control main body 2 when the cover 3 is closed is formed. Moreover, in the lower panel 7, a bias means 9 for biasing the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from the lower panel 7 is provided and a regulation means 10 for regulating movement of the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from the lower panel 7. And, by the bias means 9 and the regulation means 10, the position of the upper panel 8 to the lower panel 7 is maintained to be constant, for example, the upper panel 8 is held to be in parallel to the lower panel 7. Furthermore, in the four corners of the lower panel 7, holes 12 are formed.
In the upper panel 8, an opening portion 45B exposing the display portion 26 of the remote control main body 2 when the cover 3 is closed is formed. The opening portion 45A of the lower panel 7 and the opening portion 45B of the upper panel 8 are formed in the position to be matched to each other, and by both of the opening portions, an opening portion 45 of the cover 3 is composed. Moreover, in the four corners of the upper panel 8, projection portions 56 projecting to the lower panel 7 are formed as switch operation means. The projection portions 56 are inserted through the holes 12 of the lower panel 7 and disposed in the positions to be matched to the switches 6 of the remote control main body 2. The switch operation means are not limited to the projection portions. For example, the cover 3 is in contact with the switches 6 and the switch operation means may be a contacting site of the cover 3 to the switches 6.
Next, operation of the remote control apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be explained.
The remote control apparatus 1 is used generally in the closed state of the cover 3. In this case, the display portion 26 is exposed to the outside through the opening portion 45 of the cover 3 and a region except for the display portion 26 in the front surface of the remote control main body 2 is covered with the cover 3. And when the remote control apparatus 1 is not operated, the bias means 9 of the lower panel 7 biases the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from the lower panel 7, namely, makes bias to front, and on the other hand, the regulation means 10 regulates movement of the upper panel 8 to front. Thereby, the upper panel 8 is held to be, for example, in parallel to the lower panel 7. In this case, the projecting portions 56 of the upper panel 8 are inserted through the holes 12 of the lower panel 7 but do not press the switches 6.
In the state, when a user presses a corner of the upper panel 8 on the cover 3, the corner overcomes the biasing force of the bias means 9 and is displaced to the direction approaching the lower panel 7, and the upper panel slopes to the lower panel 7. Therefore, the projecting portion 56 positioned in the pressed corner contacts the switch 6 disposed in the corner through the hole 12, and thereby, presses the switch 6. As a result, the switch 6 is operated. As described above, when the cover 3 is closed, the cover 3 is pressed to the remote control main body 2 and thereby at least a part of the cover 3 is displaced to the remote control main body 2, and the projecting portion 56 provided at the displaced portion presses the switch 6. In this case, the projecting portions 56 disposed in the corners except for the pressed corner do not press the corresponding switches 6. The operation contents are communicated to a transmission portion 31, and the transmission portion 31 transmits the control signal representing the operation content to the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like. Thereby, the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like carries out the requested operation. In this case, the display portion 26 may display the operation content. And, when the user detaches the hand from the upper panel 8, the position of the upper panel 8 returns to be in the original state by the biasing force of the bias means 9 and thereby the switch 6 returns to be in the original state.
Next, effect of this embodiment will be explained.
As described above, according to this embodiment, by pressing some region of the upper panel 8 on the cover 3 in the state that the cover 3 covers the switch 6, the switch 6 can be operated, and therefore, compared to such a push button as a conventional technique, the pressing region that can operate the switch is drastically wide and the operability is improved. Moreover, through the opening portion 45 of the cover 3, the display portion 26 is visible. Therefore, the operation of high operation frequency can be performed in the closed sate of the cover 3. And, in cleaning the remote control apparatus 1, even when the front surface of the cover 3 is wiped with a cloth or the like, the cloth or the like do not catch and the cleaning operability is good because the switch 6 is covered with the cover 3 and the member projecting from the opening portion 45 of the cover 3 does not exist.
Next, a second embodiment of this invention will be explained.
A remote control apparatus 1a according to this embodiment is also a remote control apparatus for operating electronic hardware such as a sanitary cleansing apparatus mounted on a toilet apparatus and is disposed to be fixed to a wall of a toilet room.
As shown in
Inside the remote control main body 2, a control substrate 5 is provided and a plurality of switches 6 are provided on the front surface of the control substrate 5. The switches 6 are switches operated with being pressed. Moreover, the switches 6 are disposed, for example, in four corners of the remote control main body 2. To the switches 6, operations of high operation frequency such as operations of initiation and stop of discharge of bottom cleansing water out of the operations of the sanitary cleansing apparatus are assigned. Furthermore, in the remote control main body 2, a transmission portion (not shown) for transmitting a control signal representing the operation content to the electronic hardware such as the sanitary cleansing apparatus is provided.
In the front surface of the remote control main body 2, switches (not shown) to which operations of low operation frequency such as operations of temperature setting of the bottom cleansing water and temperature setting of the toilet seat out of the operations of the sanitary cleansing apparatus are assigned may be provided. Moreover, in the upper surface of the remote control main body 2 that is not covered with the cover 3, switches for operations of high operation frequency used by a user in the standing state such as switches (not shown) for operating electronic hardware for controlling drainage in the toilet bowl and opening and closing of the toilet lid and so forth may be provided. Furthermore, the display portion (not shown) displaying information of current time or a battery remaining amount or the like may be provided. The display portion may be capable of being brightened.
On the other hand, the cover 3 is composed so that a lower panel 7 disposed in the remote control main body 2 side when the cover 3 is closed and an upper panel 8 disposed in the opposite side from the remote control main body 2 are superposed. The lower panel 7 is rotatably connected to the remote control main body 2, and is positioned with respect to the remote control main body 2 when the cover 3 is closed. Moreover, the upper panel 8 is supported by the lower panel 7.
Moreover, in the cover 3, between the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8, a bias means 9 for biasing the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other is provided. The bias means 9 is composed of, for example, an elastic member made of a spring or rubber or the like, or one pair of magnets repulsive to each other. Furthermore, an outer edge of the upper panel 8 bends once backward and then bends to the direction approaching each other and form a U-shape. Thereby, when the upper panel 8 is biased to the separating direction from the lower panel 7 by the bias means 9, the outer edge of the lower panel 7 is locked by the U-shaped outer edge of the upper panel 8. That is, the outer edge of the lower panel 7 and the outer edge of the upper panel 8 function as a regulation means 10 for regulating the movement of the lower panel 7 and upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other. And, by the bias means 9 and the regulation means 10, the distance between the lower panel 7 and upper panel 8 is held to be constant.
Furthermore, on the back surface of the upper panel 8, a plurality of projections 11 are formed. Furthermore, in the position matched to the projections 11 in the lower panel 7, holes 12 are formed. The projections 11 are inserted through the holes 12 and disposed in the positions matched to the switches 6 of the remote control main body 2 when the cover 3 is closed.
Next, the operation of the remote control apparatus 1a according to this embodiment will be explained.
The remote control apparatus 1a is used generally in the closed state of the cover 3. In this case, the front surface of the remote control main body 2 is covered with the cover 3. And when the remote control apparatus 1a is not operated, the bias means 9 biases the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other, and on the other hand, the regulation means 10 regulates the movement of the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other. Thereby, the upper panel 8 is maintained, for example, in the position that is parallel to the lower panel 7. In this case, the projections 11 of the upper panel 8 are inserted through the holes 12 of the lower panel 7 but do not press the switches 6.
The switch 6 is provided to be fixed to the remote control main body 2, and on the other hand, the lower panel 7 is positioned to the remote control main body 2 and the projection 11 is formed to be fixed to the upper panel 8. Therefore, the bias means 9 biases the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other and thereby biases the switch 6 and the projection 11 to the separating direction from each other. Moreover, the regulation means 10 regulates the movement of the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other and thereby regulates the movement of the lower panel 7 and the upper panel 8 to the separating direction from each other. As a result, by the bias means 9 and the regulation means 10, the distance between the switch 6 and the projection 11 is held to be constant.
In this state, when a user (not shown) presses a portion provided with the projection 11 in the upper panel 8 on the cover 3, the portion overcomes the biasing force of the bias means 9 and is displaced to the direction approaching the lower panel 7 so that the corresponding regulation means 10 is a support point, and thereby, the upper panel 8 is sloped to the lower panel 7. Therefore, the projection 11 positioned at the pressed portion contacts the switch 6 disposed in this region through the hole 12. As a result, the switch 6 is operated. As described above, when the cover 3 is closed, the cover 3 is pressed to the remote control main body 2 and thereby at least a part of the cover 3 is displaced to the remote control main body 2, and by the displacement, the projection 11 presses the switch 6. In this case, flow of the force applied by the user is the upper panel 8→the projection 11 (communication tool)→the switch 6. In this case, the projections 11 disposed in the portions except for the pressed portion do not press the corresponding switches 6.
The operation content is communicated to a transmission portion (not shown) and the transmission portion transmits the control signal representing the operation content to the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like. Thereby, the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like carries out the requested operation. In this case, the display portion (not shown) may display the operation content. And, when the user detaches the hand from the upper panel 8, the position of the upper panel 8 returns to be in the original state by the biasing force of the bias means 9 and thereby the switch 6 returns to be in the original state.
Next, effect of this embodiment will be explained.
As described above, according to this embodiment, by pressing the corresponding region to each of the switches 6 in the upper panel 8 on the cover 3 in the state that the cover 3 covers the switches 6, the switches 6 can be selected and pushed. As a result, compared to the case of directly pressing the switch 6, an area of the region that can be pressed can be extremely large, and therefore, the operability is extremely good. Moreover, compared to a conventional remote control apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the remote control apparatus according to this embodiment has high operability because a plurality of switches can be operated in the closed state of the cover.
Next, a third embodiment of this invention will be explained.
As shown in
Thereby, when a user presses the portion provided with the switch 6 in the upper panel 8 to the remote control main body 12, the pressed portion on the upper panel 8 overcomes the biasing force of the bias means 9 and is displaced to the direction approaching the lower panel 7 so that the corresponding regulation means 10 is a support point. Thereby, the switch 6 positioned in the pressed portion contacts the projection 15 through the hole 12 and is pressed by the projection 15. In this case, flow of the force applied by the user is the upper panel 8→the switch 6 →the projection 15 (communication tool). The structures, operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this embodiment are the same as the above-described second embodiment.
Next, a modified example of the third embodiment will be explained.
As shown in
Next, a fourth embodiment of this invention will be explained.
As shown in
In this embodiment, when a user presses the portion provided with the projection 16 in the upper panel 8 to the remote control main body 12, the pressed portion on the upper panel 8 overcomes the biasing force of the bias means 9 and is displaced to the direction approaching the lower panel 7 so that the corresponding regulation means 10 is a support point. Thereby, the projection 16 positioned in the pressed portion contacts the switch 6 and presses the switch 6.
According to this embodiment, the switches 6, the bias means 9, and the control substrate 13 are involved in the space sealed to an extent, and therefore, the members can be prevented from being degraded by attachment of moisture and being contaminated. As a result, the remote control apparatus of little trouble and high reliability can be obtained. The structures, operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this embodiment are the same as the above-described second embodiment.
Next, a modified example of the fourth embodiment will be explained.
As shown in
Next, a fifth embodiment of this invention will be explained.
As shown in
Thereby, when a user presses the portion provided with the switch 6 in the upper panel 8 to the remote control main body 12, the pressed portion on the upper panel 8 overcomes the biasing force of the bias means 9 and is displaced to the direction approaching the lower panel 7 so that the corresponding regulation means 10 is a support point. Thereby, the switch 6 positioned in the pressed portion contacts the projection 16 of the lower panel 7 and is pressed. The structures, operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this embodiment are the same as the above-described second embodiment.
Next, a modified example of the fifth embodiment will be explained.
As shown in
In the above-described first to fifth embodiments, it has been explained that the plurality of switches are displaced over a same surface. That is, there has been illustrated examples in which in the second embodiment, all of the switches 6 are disposed on the front surface of the remote control main body 2 (on the front surface of the control substrate 5), and in the third and fifth embodiments, all of the switches 6 are disposed over the back surface of the upper panel 8, and in the fourth embodiment, all of the switches 6 are disposed over the front surface of the lower panel 7. However, this invention is not limited thereto but one switch 6 may be disposed over one surface and another switch 6 may be disposed over the other surface. For example, it is possible that some switches 6 are disposed on the front surface of the remote control main body 2, and when the cover 3 is pressed, a part of the cover 3 contact each of the switches 6, and the other switches 6 are disposed on the back surface of the upper panel 8, and when the cover 3 is pressed, a part of the remote control main body 2 contacts each of the switches 6.
Next, a sixth embodiment of this invention will be explained.
As shown in
In this embodiment, when a user presses the portion corresponding to the switch 6 in the resin plate 17 to the rear namely to the direction facing to the remote control main body 2, the resin plate 17 is bended to the rear as shown by two-dot chain line in
In this case, because the rib 18 is provided among the switches 6, the displacement of the resin plate 17 to the rear is locally regulated by the rib 18 and the resin plate 17 transforms so that the rib 18 is a support point. Thereby, the transformation region of the resin plate 17 is compartmented by the rib 18, and therefore, two or more switches 6 are not operated by pressing a part of the resin plate 17. Therefore, the user can select and push a plurality of switches 6 from above of the cover 3h.
According to this embodiment, compared to the above-described second embodiment, the structure of the cover can be simplified. The operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this embodiment are the same as the above-described second embodiment.
In this embodiment, a projection may be formed in the region contacting the switch 6 in the back surface of the resin plate 17. Thereby, the switch 6 can be more certainly pressed by a small bend amount. In this case, the tip end of the switch 6 does not necessarily project from the front surface. Moreover, the rib 18 may be provided not on the back surface of the resin plate 17 but on the front surface of the remote control main body 2.
Hereinafter, specific examples for realizing the remote control apparatus according to these embodiments will be explained.
First, a first specific example will be explained. This first specific example is a specific example of the above-described second embodiment.
The remote control apparatus according to this specific example is an remote control apparatus for operating electronic hardware such as, a control apparatus for controlling drainage in the toilet bowl, a control apparatus for controlling opening and closing of the toilet lid, and a control apparatus for a heating apparatus of the toilet room (hereinafter, generically referred to as “sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like”), and is disposed to be fixed to the wall of the toilet room.
First, characteristics of the appearance of the remote control apparatus according to this specific example will be explained.
As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, around the display portion 26 in the front surface of the remote control main body 22, a plurality of switches 27 are provided so as to surround the display portion 26. The switch 27 is a switch operated with being pressed. For example, seven switches 27 are provided, and one switch is disposed above the display portion 26, and two switches are each disposed on the left, right, and lower sides thereof. The front surface of the switch 27 is sloped to the front surface of the remote control main body 22, and its outer circumferential side, namely, the end edge of the far side from the display portion 26 is located in front more than its inner circumferential side, namely, the end edge of the display portion 26. And, the end of the inner circumferential side of each of the switches 27 rides an end of a protective plate 26d (see
To the switch 27, for example, operations of higher operation frequency next to the operations assigned to the switches 25 are assigned out of the operations of the sanitary cleansing apparatus. For example, two switches 27 disposed in the left side of the display portion 26 are for controlling pressure of the bottom cleansing water, and the letter “+” is noted on the front surface of the upper-side switch 27 out of the two switches 27, and the letter “−” is noted on the front surface of the lower-side switch 27. Moreover, the two switches 27 disposed in the right side of the display portion 26 is for controlling a discharge position of the bottom cleansing water, and the sign “▴” is noted on the front surface of the upper-side switch 27 out of the two switches 27, and the sign “▾” is noted on the front surface of the lower-side switch 27. When the pressure and position of the bottom cleansing water are controlled by operating the switches 27, the letters “WATER PRESSURE” and drawings showing the pressure of the bottom cleansing water are displayed in the left region of the display portion 26, and the letters “WASH POSITION” and drawings showing the discharge position of the bottom cleansing water are displayed in the right region of the display portion 26. Thereby, a user operates the contiguous switches 27 to the display with looking at the display of the display portion 26, and thereby, can easily control the pressure and the discharge position of the bottom cleansing water.
Furthermore, the one switch disposed in the upper side of the display portion 26 is for operating dry function of the sanitary cleansing apparatus, namely, function of spraying a warm air to local area of the user, and the letters “DRY” are noted on the front surface of the switch 27. Furthermore, the two switches 27 disposed in the lower side of the display portion 26 are for operating the move function and massage function of the sanitary cleansing apparatus respectively, and the letters “MOVE ON/OFF” and “MASSAGE ON/OFF” are noted on the front surfaces of the switches 27, respectively.
Furthermore, around the region in which the display portion 26 and the switches 27 are disposed in the front surface of the remote control main body 22, a plurality of switches 28 are provided. The switches 28 are also switches operated with being pressed. To the switches 28, operations of relatively low operation frequency are assigned. For example, to the switches 28, operations of, operation of indoor heading function, mode setting of the sanitary cleansing apparatus, time setting, and temperature settings of the bottom cleansing water and the dry warm air and the toilet bowl and the indoor heating, are assigned. In this region, a soft surface sheet 29 is provided and the switches 28 are arranged so as to approach from the holes provided in the surface sheet 29.
Furthermore, on the upper surface of the remote control main body 22 that is not covered with the cover 23, switches for operations of high operation frequency operated by a user in the standing state such as switches 30 for operating the electronic hardware for controlling drainage in the toilet bowl and opening and closing of the toilet lid and so forth are provided. For example, five switches 30 are provided, and on the upper surfaces of the respective switches 30, the letters “LARGE” and figure that indicate drainage for stool, the letters “SMALL” and figure that indicate drainage for urine, a figure indicating that both of the toilet seat and the toilet lid are closed, a figure indicating that the toilet seat is closed and that the toilet lid is opened, and a figure indicating that both of the toilet seat and the toilet lid are opened, are noted sequentially from the left. The switches 30 are disposed so as to approach from the cutout provided in the upper surface side of the surface sheet 29. Thereby, width of the anteroposterior direction of the switches can be equal to width of the anteroposterior direction of the remote control main body 22, and therefore, the width of the switches 30 can be enlarged to the maximum. As a result, the operation areas of the switches 30 become wide and the operability is improved.
Furthermore, at both ends of right and left of the upper surface of the remote control main body 22, transmission portions 31 for transmitting control signals representing the operation contents to the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like are provided. The transmission portion 31 outgoes, for example, infrared. In the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like, a receiving portion for receiving the infrared is provided.
On the other hand, the cover 23 is composed so that a lower panel 41 disposed in the remote control main body 22 side when the cover 23 is closed and an upper panel 42 disposed in the opposite side of the remote control main body 22 are superposed. The hinge 24 is connected to the lower panel 41, and therefore, when the cover 23 is closed, the lower panel 41 is fixed to the remote control main body 22 and the upper panel 42 is supported by the lower panel 41.
As shown in
The height of the front surface of the cover 23 is approximately equal to the height of the end edge of the far side from the display portion 26. On the other hand, as described above, the end of the inner circumferential side of the switch 27, namely, the display portion 26 side rides the end of the display portion 26 and composes approximately continuous surface with the front surface of the display portion 26. Therefore, the front surface of the cover 23, the front surface of the switches 27, and the front surface of the display portion 26 compose approximately continuous surface. Thereby, when the cover 23 is closed, the front surface of the remote control apparatus 21 becomes approximately continuous surface in whole.
Moreover, at the corners in the front surface of the cover 23 that are regions corresponding to the front of the switches 25 of the remote control main body 22 when the cover 23 is closed, patelliform concave portions 46 are formed. On each of the concave portions 46, a note representing the corresponding operation content of the switch 25 is printed. For example, on the concave portion 46 of the upper left side, the sign “▪” representing discharge stop of the bottom cleansing water is printed and the letters “STOP” are printed in the vicinity thereof. Moreover, on the concave portion 46 of the upper right side, a figure representing general discharge initiation of the bottom cleansing water is printed and the letters “BOTTOM” are printed in the vicinity thereof. Furthermore, on the concave portion 46 of the lower right side, a figure representing discharge initiation of foam-like bottom cleansing water is printed and the letters “SOFT” are printed in the vicinity thereof. Furthermore, on the concave portion 46 of the lower left side, a figure representing discharge initiation of bidet water is printed and the letters “BIDET” are printed in the vicinity thereof.
For distinguishing each of the press regions of the cover 23, a convex portion may be formed instead of the concave portion 46, or a concave and convex portion may be formed. Moreover, the concave portion, the convex portion, or the concave and convex portion may be formed on a part of the press region of the cover 23 or may be formed on the whole press region.
On the other hand, as shown in
Next, the characteristics of the inner structure of the remote control apparatus according to this specific example will be explained.
Moreover,
Furthermore,
Furthermore,
As shown in
In the display portion 26, LED (Light Emitting Diode) 26a is provided as the light source, and a light guide plate 26b is provided at the position that the output light of the LED 26a reaches. The light guide plate 26b is to output the light input from the side surface thereof, in a uniform sheet form from the front surface thereof. In front of the light guide plate 26b, a crystal display panel 26c is provided, and in front of the crystal display panel 26c, a protection plate 26d is provided. Thereby, the light output from the LED 26a inputs the side surface of the light guide plate 26b and outputs in a sheet form to front from the front surface of the light guide plate 26b and passes through the crystal display panel 26c, and thereby, the image is added, and the light transmits through the protection plate 26d, and outputs to front from the display 26.
Moreover, as shown in
On the other hand, in the top plate 49, a columnar extending portion 49a extending to the axial direction of the switch 27 so as to be located between the locking portions 27e of each of the pairs thereof and a jutting portion 49b with which the step 27f engages when the key top 27a is pushed down are provided.
Thereby, the key top 27a is guided by the locking portion 27e engaging with the extending portion 49a of the top plate 49, and thereby, is rotatable in the anteroposterior direction so that the end 27g of the inner circumferential side of the front surface plate 27c is the rotational axis.
And, the locking portion 27e is locked by the extending portion 49a, and thereby, the end of the anterior side of the move region of the key top 27a is prescribed, and the step 27f contacts the jutting portion 49b, and thereby, the end of the posterior side of the move region of the key top 27a is prescribed.
As shown in
As shown in
Moreover, as shown In
Furthermore, for example, as shown in
Next, operation of the remote control apparatus 21 according to this specific example will be explained.
The remote control apparatus 21 is generally used in the closed state of the cover 23. In this case, the display portion 26 and the switches 27 provided in the central portion of the remote control main body 22 are exposed to the outside through the opening portion 45 of the cover 23, and the portion except therefor in the front surface of the remote control main body 22 is covered with the cover 23. Therefore, the switches 25 and 28 are in the state of not being seen with hidden by the cover 23. Moreover, the switch 30 disposed in the upper surface of the remote control main body 22 is exposed in the upper surface of the remote control apparatus 21. And, a user can operate switches 25, switches 27 and switches 30 in the closed state of the cover 23 and can view the display portion 26. On the other hand, the user opens the cover 23 and thereby can operate the switches 28. Also in this case, the display portion 26 can be viewed and the switches 27, 28, and 30 can be operated.
Next, operation in operating the switches 25 will be explained.
When the user does not touch the cover 23, the spring 54 in the lower panel 41 of the cover 23 biases the upper panel 42 toward front, and on the other hand, the U-shaped portion 43 of the upper panel 42 engages with the engaging portion 44 of the lower panel 41 to regulate movement of the upper panel 42 toward front. Thereby, the upper panel 42 is held, for example, to be in parallel to the lower panel 41. In this case, the projecting portion 56 of the upper panel 42 is inserted through the hole 53 of the lower panel 41 but does not press the switch 25.
In this state, when the user presses the concave portion 46 or its surrounding region formed in a corner of the upper panel 42 of the cover 23, the corner of the upper panel 42 overcomes the biasing force of the spring 54 and approaches the lower panel 41, and the upper panel 42 is sloped to the lower panel 41. Therefore, the projecting portion 56 located in the rear of the pressed concave portion 46 presses the switch 25 disposed in the rear through the hole 53 of the lower panel 41. As a result, the switch 25 is operated. In this case, the projecting portions 56 disposed in the corners except for the pressed corner do not press the corresponding switches 25. Therefore, the user can operate the switches 25 in the closed state of the cover 23. And, when the user detaches the hand from the concave portion 46, the position of the upper panel 42 returns to be in the original state by the biasing force of the spring 54 and the switch 25 comes back to be in the original state.
On the other hand, when the user presses a central vicinity of each of the sides of the cover 23, the upper panel 42 contacts the rib 52 of the lower panel 41, and thereby, the movement of the upper panel 42 to the rear is regulated. Therefore, any one of the switches 25 is not pressed. Thereby, when the user presses a central vicinity of each of the sides of the cover 23, such a mistake operation as operating the two switches 25 sandwiching the side can be prevented.
As described above, because the user can treat the wide site around the corner as the region being capable of operating the switch 25, the press region making the switch operation possible becomes drastically large and the operability of the remote control apparatus is improved.
Hereinafter, the operation difference between the case of pressing the corner (concave portion 46) of the cover 23 and the case of pressing the side will be explained quantitatively with reference to a numeric value example.
As shown in
As shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
As described above, the displacement of the position b provided with the projecting portion 56 in the upper panel 42 is 1.37 mm when the corner of the upper panel 42 is pressed, and 1.19 mm when the side is pressed, and the displacement when the corner is pressed is larger. Moreover, bend amount of the whole cover 23 is larger in the case of pressing the corner of the upper panel 42, compared to the case of pressing the side. Therefore, when the user presses the corner of the upper panel 42, the projecting portion 56 pushes and switches the switch 25, but when the user presses the side, the switch 25 is not switched. Thereby, mistake operation in the case of pressing the side can be prevented. The above-described sizes are an example, and it is sufficient that the sizes of the respective parts have a relation being capable of realizing the above-described operation.
Next, operation when the switch 27 is operated will be explained.
As shown in
And, the operation contents by the switches 25, 27, 28, and 30 are communicated to the transmission portion 31, and the transmission portion 31 transmits the control signal representing the operation contents to the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like. Thereby, the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like carries out the requested operation. In this case, the display portion 26 may display the operation contents.
Next, the effect of this specific example will be explained.
According to this specific example, four switches 25 can be selected and pushed in the closed state of the cover 23. Therefore, nine switches in sum total with five switches 30 provided in the upper surface of the remote control main body 22 can be operated with the closed cover 23. Thereby, the main operation of the remote control apparatus can be performed with the closed cover 23 and this is convenient, and the frequency of opening the cover 23 becomes small, and therefore, contamination of the front surface of the remote control main body 22 and the back surface of the cover 23 can be suppressed.
Moreover, according to this specific example, when the cover 23 is closed, the display portion 26 and the switches 27 are exposed from one opening portion 45 provided in the cover 23, and the switches 25 can be operated through the cover 23, and therefore, operations of high operation frequency can be performed with the closed cover 23. Furthermore, because it is sufficient to form only one opening portion in the cover 23, dust hardly accumulates in the opening portion, and cleaning in the opening portion is easy, and therefore, the cleaning property is excellent.
Furthermore, the end of the switch 27 rides the end of the display portion 26, and the front surface of the switch 27 is sloped to the front surface of the remote control main body 22, and therefore, the front surface of the display portion 26, and the front surface of the switches 27, and the front surface of the cover 23 compose an approximately continuous surface. As a result, when the remote control apparatus 21 is wiped and cleaned, catching is mall and cleaning operability is excellent. Moreover, its appearance is simple and design property is excellent.
Furthermore, in this specific example, when the user operates the switch 27, the display portion 26 can display the operation content by the switch 27, in the region contiguous to the operated switch 27. Thereby, the user can operate the switch 27 while seeing the display content of the display portion 26. In this case, because the end of the display portion 26 side of the switch 27 rides the display portion 26, the switch 27 is disposed in the extremely near position to the display portion 26, another part do not intermediate between the switch 27 and the display portion 26, and therefore, a strong sense of continuity between the display portion 26 and the switch 27 can be evoked to the user. Thereby, the user can integrally recognize the display region of the display portion 26 and the switch 27, and therefore, the operability of the switch 27 becomes extremely good.
Next, a modified example of the specific example will be explained,
First, a first modified example will be explained.
As shown in
In this modified example, when each of the sides of the cover 23 is pressed, two switches 25 provided in two corners sandwiching the side are operated. Moreover, when the corner of the cover 23 is pressed, only one switch 25 disposed in the corner is operated. Thereby, eight operations can be assigned to four switches 25. The structures, operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this modified example are the same as the above-described specific example.
In this modified example, the concave portions 46 may be formed on both of the corners and the sides of the cover 23, and figures or letters or the like representing the operation contents thereof may be displayed on the respective concave portions 46. Thereby, the operability is more improved.
Next, a second modified example will be explained.
As shown in
In this specific example, when each of the sides of the cover 23 is pressed, one switch 25 disposed in the side is operated. Moreover, when the corner of the cover 23 is pressed, two switches 25 disposed in the two sides sandwiching the corner are operated. Thereby, eight operations can be assigned to four switches 25. The structures, operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this modified example are the same as the above-described specific example.
In this modified example, ribs 52 may be formed in the corners of the cover 23. Thereby, it becomes impossible to operate two switches 25 by pressing the corner of the cover 23, but mistake operation of the switches 25 can be certainly prevented.
Next, a third modified example will be explained.
As shown in
Next, a fourth modified example will be explained.
As shown in
As a result, when a user desires to operate a special switch 25, the region to be pressed in the cover 23 is large, and the operability is improved. This effect is effective for a user having poor vision such as aged person. The structures, operations, and effects except for the above-described ones in this modified example are the same as the above-described specific example.
In
Next, a second specific example will be explained.
This second specific example is a specific example of the above-described remote control apparatus according to the sixth embodiment, namely, the remote control apparatus of type that the cover bends to be displaced.
In
As shown in
In the cover 73, for example, a resin plate 74 made of ABS resin and having a thickness of 1.5 millimeter is provided, and in the center of the resin plate 74, an opening portion 75 is formed. The opening portion 75 is located in the region matched to the display portion 26 and the switches 27 of the remote control main body 22 and exposes the display portion 26 and the switches 27.
Moreover, domed projections 76 are formed at four corners on the back surface of the resin plate 74, namely, on the surface to be in the remote control main body 22 side when the cover 73 is closed. The projections 76 are, for example, made of the same resin as the resin forming the resin plate 74 and formed integrally with the resin plate 74. The projections 76 are formed in the positions matched to the switches 25 of the remote control main body 22 when the cover 73 is closed.
Furthermore, around the opening portion 75 on the back surface of the resin plate 74, three ribs 78 extending radially to the outer edge of the resin plate 74 from the vicinity of the opening portion 75 are provided. Each of the three ribs 78 extends linearly from the vicinity of the opening portion 75 to the central portion of three sides except for the side to which the hinge 24 is connected in the resin plate 74. The ribs 78 is, for example, made of the same resin as the resin forming the resin plate 74 and formed integrally with the resin plate 74. That is, the ribs 78 are provided in the region between the projections 76 and located between the switches 25 when the cover 73 is closed. Furthermore, concave portions 79 are formed in the corners of the front surface of the 74, namely, in the region corresponding to the projection 76. The structures except for the above-described ones in this specific example are the same as the above-described first specific example.
Next, the operation of the remote control apparatus according to this specific example will be explained.
When the cover 73 is closed and a user does not touch the cover 73, the cover 73 is disposed approximately in parallel to the front surface of the remote control main body 22, and the projection 76 of the cover 73 does not press the switch 25 of the remote control main body 22.
In this state, when the user presses the concave portion 79 or the vicinity thereof in the resin plate 74 to the rear, the region containing the pressed concave portion 79 out of regions 80 represented by the diagonal lines in
In this case, because the rib 78 is provided between the projections 76, movement to the rear of the portion provided with the rib 78 in the resin plate 74 is regulated. Moreover, the rib 78 is not provided in the side to which the hinge 24 is connected in the resin plate 74, but the movement to the rear of the central portion of the side is regulated by the hinge 24. Thereby, when one concave portion 79 is pressed, the deformation of the regions 80 except for the region 80 containing this concave portion 79 can be prevented. Therefore, the projections 76 except for the projection 76 corresponding to the pressed concave portion 79 does not press the switch 25 and when one point of the resin plate 74 is pressed, two or more switches 25 are not operated. As a result, the user can select and push four switches 25 from above of the cover 73.
On the other hand, when the user detached the hand from the resin plate 74, the resin plate 74 returns to be in the original shape by its elastic force and the projection 76 separates from the switches 25.
According to this specific example, compared to the above-described first specific example, the structure of the cover can be simplified. The operations and effects except for the above-described ones in this embodiment are the same as the above-described first specific example.
Next, a seventh embodiment of this invention will be explained.
In this embodiment, examples in which the above-described remote control apparatuses according to the respective embodiments or their specific examples or their modified examples are applied to a toilet apparatus will be explained.
As shown in
The main body 400 houses a sanitary cleansing function part for realizing sanitary cleansing therein. That is, a seating sensor 420 detects that a user sits down on the toilet seat 200, and a water discharge nozzle (not shown) is advanced into the bowl of the toilet bowl 800 from the main body 400 according to switching operation or the like by the user, and water is squirted from a water discharge hole provided in the vicinity of the tip end thereof, and thereby, the “derriere” or the like of the user sitting down on the toilet seat can be cleansed. “Water” in this specification is referred to as heated hot water as well as cold water.
In this embodiment, a recessed portion 410 is formed on the upper surface of the main body portion 400, and a human body detection sensor 500 is provided so that a part thereof is buried into the recessed portion. The human body detection sensor 500 detects the existence of the user through a transparent window 310 provided in the vicinity of the base in the when the toilet lid is closed.
Moreover, in the main body portion 400, various mechanisms such as “warm air dry unit”, “deodorization unit” or “indoor heating unit” are appropriately provided, and in the side surface thereof, exhaust ports 440 and ejection holes 450 are appropriately provided. Moreover, there can be provided “automatic opening and closing function” by which the toilet lid 300 is automatically opened with detecting approach of the user and the toilet lid 300 is automatically closed when the user passes away. Furthermore, “automatic flushing function” of flowing flushing water into the toilet bowl 800 may be attached to the sanitary cleansing apparatus 100. This is the function that a drive mechanism for operating a drainage mechanism such as a low tank or a flush valve is provided and a signal for operating the drive mechanism is output from the main body 400 to automatically flow the flushing water into the toilet bowl 800.
These functions can be carried out and set by appropriately operating an operation portion (not shown) provided with the main body 400, and also can be carried out by operating a remote control (not shown) provided on a wall surface or the like of the toilet. And, in this embodiment, as the remote control apparatus, the remote control apparatus described above about
As described above, the embodiments of this invention have been explained with reference to specific examples. However, this invention is not limited to these embodiments and their specific examples. For example, the profile of the remote control apparatus is not limited to the square whose corners are rounded off but can be a discretional shape, and its arrangement position is not limited to the central portion of the cover. Furthermore, opening and closing operation of the cover is not limited to the specifically explained opening and closing operation so that the hinge is the center but the cover having a shape to which this invention can be applied such as a type of the cover for performing opening and closing with be slid is possible. Furthermore, communication between the remote control apparatus and the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like is not limited to one-way communication from the remote control apparatus to the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like but the two-way communication enabling the communication from the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like to the remote control apparatus is also possible. Thereby, for example, the state of the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like can be displayed in the display portion of the remote control apparatus. In this case, the control signal transmitted and received between the remote control apparatus and the sanitary cleansing apparatus or the like is not limited to the infrared process but may utilize a radio wave having another wavelength and may utilize supersonic wave, or it is also possible to transmit and receive electric signal by wired system. Furthermore, the electric power for driving the remote control apparatus may be supplied by a housed battery or may be supplied from a household electric source.
Furthermore, such a technique as so-called “double function” in which the different functions are exerted by the switch 25 in the closed state and opened state of the cover is combined, and thereby, a further wide variety of switch operation can be realized. Moreover, a technique in which the switch to be pressed with the cover can be operated only in the closed state of the cover and in which the switch to be pressed with the cover is cancelled in the opened state of the cover can be combined.
Moreover, the above-described embodiments, specific examples, and modified examples can be discretionally combined in the technically possible range, and a remote control apparatus obtained by such a combination is also included in the range of this invention as long as including the scope of this invention. Furthermore, in the above-described respective embodiments, examples in which the remote control apparatus is a remote control apparatus for electric hardware such as a sanitary cleansing apparatus mounted on a toilet apparatus is illustrated but this invention is not limited thereto but is applied to a remote control apparatus for various electric hardware.
Industrial Applicability
According to this invention, there can be realized a remote control apparatus in which, the main operation buttons and the display portion are visible in the closed state of the cover, the operability is excellent, and the cleaning operability is excellent.
Alternatively, according to this invention, a remote control apparatus by which a plurality of switches can be operated in the state of being covered with the cover can be realized.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-111402 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |
| 2006-152790 | May 2006 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2007/058008 | 4/11/2007 | WO | 00 | 1/26/2009 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2007/119758 | 10/25/2007 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4745397 | Lagerbauer et al. | May 1988 | A |
| 5092459 | Uljanic et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5436625 | Kubo | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5831555 | Yu et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
| 6134102 | Worn et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6902332 | McLoone | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 7123242 | Henty | Oct 2006 | B1 |
| 7911773 | Eromaki et al. | Mar 2011 | B2 |
| 20060170569 | Kubo et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20080242360 | Jang et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2225451 | May 1990 | GB |
| 60-177429 | Nov 1985 | JP |
| 01-122232 | Aug 1989 | JP |
| 02-128320 | Oct 1990 | JP |
| 04-58924 | May 1992 | JP |
| 05-032470 | Apr 1993 | JP |
| 06-093642 | Apr 1994 | JP |
| 06-136805 | May 1994 | JP |
| 06-189383 | Jul 1994 | JP |
| 07-324534 | Dec 1995 | JP |
| 09-319492 | Dec 1997 | JP |
| 10-247435 | Sep 1998 | JP |
| 11-071799 | Mar 1999 | JP |
| 11-213799 | Aug 1999 | JP |
| 11-231972 | Aug 1999 | JP |
| 11213799 | Aug 1999 | JP |
| 2000-217175 | Aug 2000 | JP |
| 2001-011921 | Jan 2001 | JP |
| 2001-132046 | May 2001 | JP |
| 2002-025379 | Jan 2002 | JP |
| 2002-294797 | Oct 2002 | JP |
| 2003-105832 | Apr 2003 | JP |
| 2003-223828 | Aug 2003 | JP |
| 2005-184130 | Jul 2005 | JP |
| 2005-192047 | Jul 2005 | JP |
| 2005-217298 | Aug 2005 | JP |
| 2005-277557 | Oct 2005 | JP |
| 9962287 | Dec 1999 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20090303670 A1 | Dec 2009 | US |
