TOILET DEVICE AND TOILET SEAT UNIT

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a toilet device and a toilet seat unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

There has been previously proposed a toilet device in which the reverse face of the toilet seat can be washed with wash water. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a toilet device in which wash water can be discharged through a discharge outlet, provided on the toilet seat, such as to spread on the reverse face of the toilet seat.

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-54216

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In terms of preventing leakage of wash water to the outside in toilet seat reverse face washing, in which the reverse face of the toilet seat is washed, there has been room for improvement in known toilet devices.

A purpose of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a toilet device in which leakage of wash water used for toilet seat reverse face washing to the outside can be prevented more accurately.

When the reverse face of the toilet seat is washed or when the inside of the toilet bowl in the toilet body is flushed with a strong flow, the wash water may leak outside through a gap between the toilet body and the toilet seat.

A purpose of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a toilet device in which leakage of wash water used for toilet seat reverse face washing or toilet flushing to the outside can be prevented more accurately.

In terms of keeping the toilet device clean, there has been room for improvement in the known toilet device described in Patent Literature 1.

A purpose of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a toilet device that can be kept cleaner.

A toilet device of one aspect of the present disclosure is configured to be capable of performing toilet seat reverse face washing, in which a cleaning liquid is supplied onto a reverse face of a toilet seat and the reverse face is washed. When the toilet seat is placed in a non-closed state, the toilet seat reverse face washing is not performed.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a toilet seat unit. The toilet seat unit is configured to be capable of performing toilet seat reverse face washing, in which a cleaning liquid is supplied onto a reverse face of the toilet seat unit and the reverse face is washed. When the toilet seat unit is placed in a non-closed state, the toilet seat reverse face washing is not performed.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure also relates to a toilet device. The toilet device includes: a toilet body including a toilet bowl; a toilet seat; a seal member that is sandwiched between the toilet body and the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in the closed state; and a pressing mechanism that presses the toilet seat onto the toilet body.

Still yet another aspect of the present disclosure also relates to a toilet device. The toilet device includes a toilet seat, and a drying device that dries the reverse face of the toilet seat. The drying device performs drying of the reverse face of the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in a closed state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet system in which a toilet device of an embodiment is employed according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toilet seat unit and a box shown in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the toilet seat unit and the box shown in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a magnified sectional view that shows the toilet device of FIG. 1 partially magnified according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that shows a control system of the toilet system shown in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the toilet device according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views that each show a seal member and the vicinity thereof according to some embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the toilet device according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the toilet device according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Like reference characters denote like or corresponding constituting elements and members in each drawing, and repetitive description will be omitted as appropriate. Also, the dimensions of a member may be appropriately enlarged or reduced in each drawing in order to facilitate understanding. Further, in each drawing, part of a member less important in describing embodiments may be omitted. In the present specification, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, and “right” means those viewed from a user who uses the bathroom vanity. Also, “front” and “rear” respectively means the closer side and the farther side viewed from the user.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet system in which a toilet device 10 of an embodiment is employed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toilet seat unit 16 and a box 20. A toilet system 1 includes the toilet device 10 installed within a toilet room (stall), and a remote control device 8 installed on a wall surface of the toilet room. The remote control device 8 includes multiple input units 8a and a display unit 8b. The input units 8a may include buttons used for a start operation and a stop operation for toilet seat reverse face washing, and buttons used to open and close a toilet seat 22 (described later), for example.

The toilet device 10 includes a toilet body 14, the toilet seat unit 16, and the box 20. The toilet body 14 includes a toilet bowl 12 of a substantial funnel shape for receiving waste, and an outer circumferential wall part 13 that surrounds an outer circumferential side of the toilet bowl 12 and a toilet drainage, not illustrated, such as to hide them. The box 20 is provided in an upper side of a rear part of the toilet body 14. The box 20 accommodates various components.

The toilet seat unit 16 includes the toilet seat 22, a toilet lid 24, a shutter 38, and a toilet seat opening and closing motor 40. In the description regarding the toilet seat unit 16, directions are expressed based on the toilet seat 22 placed in a closed state.

The toilet seat 22 is rotatably attached to the box 20 via a hinge mechanism, which is not illustrated. The toilet seat 22 as a whole is formed into a ring shape and has a center opening part 32 through which waste of the sitting user is brought in. Also, the toilet seat 22 is formed to be hollow and accommodates at least one functional component therein. Each functional component is provided to implement a certain function and is used in association with the toilet body 14. In this example, three functional components of a bidet device 26, a drying device 28, and a deodorizing device 30 are accommodated in the rear of the center opening part 32.

On the reverse face of the toilet seat 22, an opening part 36 is formed in the rear of the center opening part 32, and the opening part 36 communicates with the inside and the outside of the toilet seat 22. The shutter 38 is configured to be capable of opening and closing the opening part 36. When the bidet device 26, drying device 28, or deodorizing device 30 is operated, the opening part 36 is placed in an open state.

The bidet device 26 washes the genital area of a user sitting on the toilet seat 22. The deodorizing device 30 absorbs and removes odors produced in the toilet bowl 12.

The drying device 28 suctions gas (air) by means of a fan (not illustrated), heats the suctioned air by means of a heater (not illustrated), and blows out the heated air as dry air. The drying device 28 blows dry air to dry the genital area of the user. The drying device 28 also blows dry air onto the reverse face of the toilet seat after the toilet seat reverse face washing, so as to dry the reverse face of the toilet seat, as will be described later.

The toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 is accommodated in the toilet seat 22. With the rotation of a rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40, the toilet seat 22 is opened and closed. In the following, a state in which the toilet seat 22 is laid over the toilet bowl 12 of the toilet body 14 will be referred to as the “closed state”. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state.

As with the toilet seat 22, the toilet lid 24 is rotatably attached to the box 20 via a hinge mechanism, which is not illustrated. The toilet lid 24 is driven by a toilet lid opening and closing motor, which is not illustrated, to be opened and closed.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the toilet seat unit 16 and the box 20. The toilet device 10 further includes a toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42 for washing the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22 with a cleaning liquid, and a seal member 60 for restraining leakage of the cleaning liquid.

The toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42 includes at least one discharge part 46 (five discharge parts 46 in this example) from which the cleaning liquid can be discharged such as to spread on the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22, a liquid supply line 48 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the discharge part 46, and an on-off valve 50 provided midway along the liquid supply line and capable of opening and closing the liquid supply line 48. The on-off valve 50 may be a solenoid valve, for example, and opens and closes based on a control instruction from a control unit 70 (described later). The liquid supply line 48 is constituted by a hose or the like disposed within the box 20 and the toilet seat 22. The liquid supply line 48 includes a common line 48a, and at least one branch line 48b that branches off from the common line 48a and connects to a discharge part 46.

In the present embodiment, each discharge part 46 is formed on the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22 to be integral with the toilet seat 22. Each discharge part 46 includes an inflow port (not illustrated) connected with a branch line 48b, a discharge outlet 46a through which the cleaning liquid is discharged, and a communicating hole (not illustrated) that communicates with the inflow port and the discharge outlet 46a.

When the on-off valve 50 opens the liquid supply line 48, the cleaning liquid is supplied through the liquid supply line 48 to each discharge part 46, so that the cleaning liquid is discharged through the discharge outlet 46a of each discharge part 46 such as to spread on the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22. Accordingly, the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22 is washed. When the on-off valve 50 closes the liquid supply line, the supply of the cleaning liquid from the liquid supply line 48 to each discharge part 46 is stopped, so that discharge of the cleaning liquid from each discharge part 46 is stopped.

FIG. 4 is a magnified sectional view that shows the toilet device 10 partially magnified. The sectional view of the toilet seat 22 shown by FIG. 4 corresponds to a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 in addition to FIG. 3 will now be referred to. The seal member 60 is an elastic body, such as rubber. The seal member 60 is fixed to the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22 with an adhesive, for example. The seal member 60 is provided on the outer side with respect to each discharge part 46, i.e., provided opposite to the center opening part 32 with respect to each discharge part 46. When the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state, the seal member 60 is sandwiched between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12 such as to restrain the leakage of the cleaning liquid from between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12 to the outside during the toilet seat reverse face washing. The seal member 60 may suitably be formed into a ring shape, as shown in FIG. 3, and is fixed to the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22 such as to surround the center opening part 32 and all the discharge parts 46. When the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state, the seal member 60 is sandwiched between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12 over the entire circumference.

Because of manufacturing errors, for example, a surface of the toilet bowl 12 or the toilet seat 22 in contact with the seal member 60 may be sometimes not flat. In this case, only placing the toilet seat 22 in the closed state may cause a gap between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22, a gap between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12, or both, so that the cleaning liquid could leak out through the gap. Accordingly, at least during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat 22 is pressed (or biased) onto the toilet bowl 12 to increase the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12. Therefore, the gaps between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12 can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 is continuously rotated in the direction of closing the toilet seat 22 during the toilet seat reverse face washing, as will be described later. This can maintain the state of the toilet seat 22 pressed onto the toilet bowl 12.

The toilet seat 22 is generally made of resin, and the toilet bowl 12 is generally made of ceramic. The processing accuracy of ceramic is lower than that of resin, so that manufacturing errors of the toilet bowl 12 may be relatively larger. Also, when the seal member 60 is fixed to the toilet seat 22 with an adhesive or the like, the seal member 60 may be fixed such as not to cause a gap between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22. In the present embodiment, the hardness of the seal member 60 and the pressing force for pressing the toilet seat 22 onto the toilet bowl 12 are determined so that the seal member 60 is crushed by at least a tolerance of the toilet bowl 12 (3 mm to 7 mm, for example) so as to increase the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12, or to reduce the gap between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12. The hardness of the seal member 60 and the pressing force may be determined through experiments.

In some embodiments, the seal member 60 may be fixed to an upper surface 12a of the toilet bowl 12. Also in this case, the seal member 60 may suitably be formed into a ring shape and provided such as to surround all the discharge parts 46 and to be sandwiched between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12 over the entire circumference when the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that shows a control system of the toilet system 1. Each block shown therein can be implemented by an element such as a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer or by a mechanism in terms of hardware, and by a computer program or the like in terms of software. FIG. 5 illustrates functional blocks implemented by the cooperation of those components. Therefore, it would be understood by those skilled in the art, who have found the present specification, that these functional blocks may be implemented in a variety of forms by combinations of hardware and software.

The toilet device 10 further includes a human detecting sensor 52, a contact detecting sensor (sitting detecting sensor) 54, an opening and closing detecting sensor 56, and a control unit 70.

The human detecting sensor 52 detects a human (user) present within a predetermined detection range without contact. In the present embodiment, the human detecting sensor 52 is configured to detect a user present within a toilet room (stall). The human detecting sensor 52 is provided at a position where a human can be detected irrespective of the open and closed states of the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 24. The human detecting sensor 52 transmits the detection result to the control unit 70.

The contact detecting sensor 54 may be an electrostatic sensor, for example, and detects contact of a user with the toilet seat 22. More specifically, when a user sits on the toilet seat 22 and the buttocks of the user touches the toilet seat 22, the contact detecting sensor 54 detects the contact (sitting). Also, when the user touches a hand to the toilet seat 22 to put the toilet seat 22 up, the contact detecting sensor 54 detects the contact. The contact detecting sensor 54 transmits the detection result to the control unit 70.

The opening and closing detecting sensor 56 may be an angle sensor, for example, and detects opening and closing of the toilet seat 22. The opening and closing detecting sensor 56 transmits the detection result to the control unit 70.

The control unit 70 includes a communication unit 72, an operation control unit 74, and a storage unit 76. The communication unit 72 receives a radio signal transmitted from the remote control device 8 and identifies the user's operation performed on the toilet device 10.

The operation control unit 74 controls the start and stop of the toilet seat reverse face washing performed by the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42. The operation control unit 74 also controls the drying of the reverse of the toilet seat performed by the drying device 28 after the toilet seat reverse face washing. In the following, a specific description will be given.

The control for starting the toilet seat reverse face washing will be described. When the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state and when one of the following start conditions A1-A4 is satisfied, for example, the operation control unit 74 starts the toilet seat reverse face washing. More specifically, first, the operation control unit 74 continuously rotates the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 in the rotating direction in which the rotating shaft 40a is rotated to close the toilet seat 22. Accordingly, the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12, so that the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12 is increased. In this state, the operation control unit 74 allows the on-off valve 50 to open the liquid supply line 48. With regard to A2-A4, a start condition to be employed may be selected by the user.

A1. A user has performed an operation for starting the toilet seat reverse face washing on the remote control device.

A2. A start time of the toilet seat reverse face washing scheduled in advance has arrived.

A schedule for performing the toilet seat reverse face washing is stored in advance in the storage unit 76. The operation control unit 74 regularly refers to the storage unit 76 and, when a scheduled date and time has arrived, the operation control unit 74 starts the toilet seat reverse face washing. The toilet seat reverse face washing may be scheduled to be performed once a day at a fixed time, to be performed once a week at a fixed time, or to be performed at a fixed time on a particular day of the week, for example.

A3. A predetermined period of time has elapsed after the last toilet seat reverse face washing.

For example, based on the start time of the toilet seat reverse face washing, when a predetermined period of time (an hour, three hours, or five hours, for example) has elapsed after the last toilet seat reverse face washing, the operation control unit 74 may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing. In this case, the predetermined period of time is stored in advance in the storage unit 76. The execution time (the start time, for example) of the last toilet seat reverse face washing is also stored in the storage unit 76. The operation control unit 74 regularly refers to the storage unit 76 and, when the predetermined period of time has elapsed from the start time of the last toilet seat reverse face washing, the operation control unit 74 starts the toilet seat reverse face washing. Upon the start of the toilet seat reverse face washing, the operation control unit 74 updates the execution time (the start time) stored in the storage unit 76 to the latest execution time.

A4. The number of uses of the toilet device 10 after the last toilet seat reverse face washing has reached a predetermined number of times.

The operation control unit 74 counts the number of uses of the toilet device 10, regarding the number of times of toilet flushing as the number of uses of the toilet device 10. The toilet flushing means supplying flush water into the toilet bowl 12 to discharge waste and flush the toilet bowl 12. The number of uses of the toilet device 10 is stored in the storage unit 76. Each time the toilet flushing is performed, the operation control unit 74 increments by one the number of uses stored in the storage unit 76. When the number of uses has reached a predetermined number of times, the operation control unit 74 starts the toilet seat reverse face washing and clears the number of uses stored in the storage unit 76 to zero. For example, when the predetermined number of times is one, the toilet seat reverse face washing is performed after each use of the toilet device 10; when the predetermined number of times is ten, the toilet seat reverse face washing is performed each time after the toilet device 10 is used ten times.

Even if one of the start conditions A1-A4 is satisfied, when the toilet seat 22 is placed in the open state, the operation control unit 74 may skip the toilet seat reverse face washing. Alternatively, the operation control unit 74 may control the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 to place the toilet seat 22 in the closed state and then start the toilet seat reverse face washing.

Also, when a user has performed an operation for starting the toilet seat reverse face washing on the remote control device, it is considered that the user stays in the toilet room immediately thereafter. In this case, when one of the start conditions A1-A4 is satisfied but the toilet seat 22 is placed in the open state, the user may be notified to close the toilet seat 22. The notification may be provided by means of sound, or may be provided via the display unit 8b of the remote control device 8.

The control for stopping the toilet seat reverse face washing will now be described. When one of the following stop conditions B1-B6 is satisfied, the operation control unit 74 stops the toilet seat reverse face washing. Specifically, the operation control unit 74 allows the on-off valve 50 to close the liquid supply line 48 first. The operation control unit 74 then stops the rotation of the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40. The operation control unit 74 may suitably stop the rotation of the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the on-off valve 50 has been closed. The predetermined period of time is set to the time required before the cleaning liquid that has passed through the on-off valve 50 certainly flows out of the liquid supply line 48. With regard to B4-B6, a stop condition to be employed may be selected by the user.

B1. The toilet seat reverse face washing has been performed for a predetermined washing time.

B2. A user has performed an operation for stopping the toilet seat reverse face washing on the remote control device.

B3. A user has performed an operation for placing the toilet seat 22 in the open state on the remote control device.

The operation control unit 74 stops the toilet seat reverse face washing before controlling the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 to put the toilet seat 22 up. The operation control unit 74 allows the toilet seat 22 to be put up when a predetermined time, required before the discharge from each discharge part 46 certainly stops, has elapsed after the on-off valve 50 has been closed.

B4. The human detecting sensor 52 has detected a human.

If a user is present within the toilet room, the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing might be scattered around from the center opening part 32 or the like and may splash on the user. Also, although the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 by means of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat 22 can be put up if the user applies relatively large force thereto. This may cause splashing around of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing. Accordingly, when the human detecting sensor 52 has detected a human, i.e., when a user has entered the toilet room (stall), the operation control unit 74 stops the toilet seat reverse face washing.

When a user has operated the remote control device in the toilet room to start the toilet seat reverse face washing, even though the human detecting sensor 52 has detected the user, the toilet seat reverse face washing is not stopped. However, even when the toilet seat reverse face washing has been started by such an operation on the remote control device, when the human detecting sensor 52 has detected a human after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the start of the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat reverse face washing may be stopped because another user, different from the user who has started the toilet seat reverse face washing, may enter the toilet room.

B5. The contact detecting sensor 54 has detected contact of a user with the toilet seat 22.

If a user sits on the toilet seat 22 during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing might be scattered around from the center opening part 32 or the like and may splash on the sitting user. Also, as described previously, even during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat 22 can be put up if a user applies relatively large force thereto, which may cause splashing around of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing. Accordingly, when the contact detecting sensor 54 has detected contact of a user with the toilet seat 22, the operation control unit 74 stops the toilet seat reverse face washing.

B6. The opening and closing detecting sensor 56 has detected the toilet seat 22 placed in a non-closed state.

As described previously, even during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat 22 can be put up if a user applies relatively large force thereto, which may cause splashing around of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing. Accordingly, when the opening and closing detecting sensor 56 has detected the toilet seat 22 placed in a non-closed state, the operation control unit 74 stops the toilet seat reverse face washing.

There will now be described the drying control after the toilet seat reverse face washing.

After the toilet seat reverse face washing performed by the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42 is stopped, when the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state, the operation control unit 74 allows the drying device 28 to perform toilet seat reverse drying. More specifically, the drying device 28 blows dry air onto the reverse face of the toilet seat 22. This allows relatively large droplets to drop into the toilet bowl 12. Also, the wind pressure of the dry air collects the cleaning liquid adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 toward the downstream side of the dry air. The cleaning liquid thus collected forms relatively large droplets, which will receive the dry air and drop into the toilet bowl 12. Also, the drying device 28 blows (sends) warm air as the dry air onto the reverse face of the toilet seat 22. This volatilizes the cleaning liquid adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat 22. The flow rate, temperature, and blowing time of the dry air may be determined through experiments.

The effects provided by the present embodiment will now be described. In the present embodiment, the toilet seat reverse face washing is not performed when the toilet seat 22 is placed in a non-closed state, thereby preventing the cleaning liquid discharged from the discharge parts 46 from splashing around the toilet device 10 during the toilet seat reverse face washing.

Also, in the present embodiment, when the human detecting sensor 52 has detected a user, i.e., when it has detected a user entering the toilet room (stall), during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat reverse face washing is stopped. This can prevent the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing from splashing on the user. This can also prevent the situation where the user puts the toilet seat 22 up during the toilet seat reverse face washing and the cleaning liquid splashes around the toilet device 10.

Also, in the present embodiment, when the contact detecting sensor (sitting detecting sensor) 54 has detected contact of a user with the toilet seat 22 during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat reverse face washing is stopped. For example, when a user sits on the toilet seat 22, the toilet seat reverse face washing is stopped. This can prevent the situation where the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing splashes on the user sitting on the toilet seat 22 and displeases the user. Also, when a user touches the toilet seat 22 to put it up, the toilet seat reverse face washing is stopped, for example. This can prevent the situation where the user puts the toilet seat 22 up during the toilet seat reverse face washing and the cleaning liquid splashes around the toilet device 10.

Also, in the present embodiment, when the opening and closing detecting sensor 56 has detected the toilet seat 22 placed in a non-closed state during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat reverse face washing is stopped. Accordingly, if a user puts the toilet seat 22 up, the toilet seat reverse face washing will be stopped, thereby preventing the cleaning liquid from splashing around the toilet device 10.

Also, in the present embodiment, during the toilet seat reverse face washing, the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12, or, in other words, the toilet seat 22 is biased in the closing direction. Accordingly, the toilet seat 22 cannot be easily put up, preventing the situation where a user puts the toilet seat 22 up during the toilet seat reverse face washing and the cleaning liquid splashes around the toilet device 10. Also, the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12 can be increased, thereby preventing the leakage of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing from between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12.

Also, in the present embodiment, the toilet seat 22 is biased by the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 in the closing direction. Accordingly, the toilet seat 22 can be biased in the closing direction, without separately providing a dedicated mechanism for the biasing.

Also, in the present embodiment, the seal member 60 may suitably be formed into a ring shape and sandwiched between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12 over the entire circumference. This can more certainly prevent the leakage of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing from between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12.

Also, in the present embodiment, the drying device 28 dries the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 after the toilet seat reverse face washing. This can restrain the growth of mold and unwanted bacteria caused by the cleaning liquid (moisture) adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat 22, thereby keeping the toilet device 10 clean.

Also, in the present embodiment, to dry the reverse face of the toilet seat 22, dry air is blown onto the reverse face of the toilet seat 22. Accordingly, relatively large droplets of the cleaning liquid adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 drop into the toilet bowl 12. Also, the wind pressure of the dry air collects the cleaning liquid adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 toward the downstream side of the dry air. The cleaning liquid thus collected forms relatively large droplets, which will receive the dry air and drop into the toilet bowl 12. As a result, the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 can be dried.

Also, in the present embodiment, to dry the reverse face of the toilet seat 22, warm air, as the dry air, is blown onto the reverse face of the toilet seat 22. This volatilizes the cleaning liquid adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat 22, so that the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 can be dried.

The toilet device 10 of some embodiments has been described. The embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative only, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications to a combination of constituting elements could be developed and that such modifications also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the toilet device 10 of some embodiments. In some embodiments, a lock mechanism prevents the toilet seat 22 being put up during the toilet seat reverse face washing. Also, the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 by means of the lock mechanism such that the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12 is increased. In the following, the toilet device 10 will be described mainly for the differences from that of the embodiments previously described herein.

The toilet device 10 includes the toilet body 14, the toilet seat unit 16, a box (not illustrated), a toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism (not illustrated), a seal member (not illustrated), and a lock mechanism 80.

The lock mechanism 80 is provided in the rear of the toilet seat unit 16. The lock mechanism 80 includes a lock pin 82 and a drive device 84. The lock pin 82 is a rod-like member extending in a longitudinal direction and is fixed to the toilet body 14 via the drive device 84. The drive device 84 is controlled by the operation control unit 74 of the control unit 70 to move the lock pin 82 forward and backward. On the toilet seat 22, a hole 22b into which the lock pin 82 can be inserted is formed. When the lock pin 82 is inserted into the hole 22b of the toilet seat 22, the toilet seat 22 is locked in the closed state. When the lock pin 82 is removed from the hole 22b of the toilet seat 22, the lock of the toilet seat 22 is released. FIG. 6 shows the state where the lock pin 82 is inserted into the hole 22b of the toilet seat 22, and the toilet seat 22 is locked in the closed state.

As is the case of some embodiments described above, the operation control unit 74 starts the toilet seat reverse face washing when the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state and when one of the start conditions A1-A4 is satisfied. More specifically, first, the operation control unit 74 continuously rotates the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 in the rotating direction in which the rotating shaft 40a is rotated to close the toilet seat 22. Accordingly, the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12, so that the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12 is increased. In this state, the operation control unit 74 controls the drive device 84 of the lock mechanism 80 to insert the lock pin 82 into the hole 22b, so as to lock the toilet seat 22 in the closed state. The operation control unit 74 then stops the rotation of the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40. Since the toilet seat 22 is kept pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 by the lock mechanism 80, even when the rotation of the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 is stopped, the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12 can be kept increased. The operation control unit 74 then allows the on-off valve 50 to open the liquid supply line 48.

As is the case of some embodiments described above, the operation control unit 74 stops the toilet seat reverse face washing when one of the stop conditions B1-B6 is satisfied. Specifically, the operation control unit 74 allows the on-off valve 50 to close the liquid supply line 48. The operation control unit 74 then removes the lock pin 82 from the hole 22b to release the lock of the toilet seat 22.

With the toilet device 10, effects similar to those provided by the toilet device 10 of some embodiments described above can be obtained. In addition, with the toilet device 10, the toilet seat 22 cannot be put up during the toilet seat reverse face washing, thereby preventing the situation where a user puts the toilet seat 22 up during the toilet seat reverse face washing and the cleaning liquid splashes around.

Wherein some embodiments, the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 is continuously rotated during the toilet seat reverse face washing such as to bias the toilet seat 22 in the closing direction. However, if the purpose is only to prevent the toilet seat 22 being put up, the toilet seat 22 may be biased in the closing direction only when the human detecting sensor 52 has detected a human during the toilet seat reverse face washing, i.e., only when a user is present in the toilet room during the toilet seat reverse face washing. Also, the rotating shaft 40a of the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 may be continuously rotated at a relatively low rotational frequency when the human detecting sensor 52 has not detected a human, and the rotating shaft 40a may be continuously rotated at a relatively high rotational frequency when the human detecting sensor 52 has detected a human.

Also, the aforementioned describes the case where the toilet seat 22 is locked by the lock mechanism 80 such as not to be put up during the toilet seat reverse face washing. However, if the purpose is only to prevent the toilet seat 22 being put up, the toilet seat 22 may be locked such as not to be put up only when the human detecting sensor 52 has detected a human during the toilet seat reverse face washing, i.e., only when a user is present in the toilet room during the toilet seat reverse face washing.

Although the operation control unit 74 may not consider the open and closed states of the toilet lid 24 for the toilet seat reverse face washing in some embodiments described above, the open and closed states of the toilet lid 24 may be included in the start conditions and the stop conditions for the toilet seat reverse face washing. More specifically, even when the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state, when the toilet lid 24 is placed in a non-closed state, the operation control unit 74 may be set not to start the toilet seat reverse face washing. In other words, when both the toilet seat 22 and the toilet lid 24 are placed in the closed state and when one of the aforementioned start conditions A1-A4 is satisfied, the operation control unit 74 may start the toilet seat reverse face washing. Also, when the toilet lid 24 is placed in a non-closed state during the toilet seat reverse face washing, even though the toilet seat 22 is placed in the closed state, the operation control unit 74 may stop the toilet seat reverse face washing. In these cases, even if the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing splashes out through the center opening part 32 of the toilet seat 22, for example, the toilet lid 24 can receive the cleaning liquid. This can prevent the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing from splashing out of the toilet device 10, thereby keeping the toilet room clean.

Although some embodiments described above do not particularly refer to, with regard to the structure of the seal member 60, various embodiments can be considered. FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views that each show the seal member 60 and the vicinity thereof in some embodiments. Each of FIGS. 7A and 7B shows a state before the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12.

The seal member 60 shown in FIG. 7A is formed such that the toilet bowl 12 side thereof, which is not fixed, becomes narrower as the distance from the toilet seat 22 is larger. In this case, the toilet bowl 12 side of the seal member 60 can be deformed easily, so that, when the seal member 60 is sandwiched between the toilet seat 22 and the toilet bowl 12, the adhesion therebetween is increased.

The seal member 60 shown in FIG. 7B is made of rubber, and includes a first portion 60a located on the toilet seat 22 side, which is fixed, and having relatively high hardness (such as hardness of 60 degrees or higher), and a second portion 60b located on the toilet bowl 12 side and having relatively low hardness (such as hardness of 30 degrees or lower). The first portion 60a and the second portion 60b are integrally formed by two-color molding. In this case, the first portion 60a having high hardness receives the weight of the toilet seat 22 and the user such that the toilet seat 22 is not in direct contact with the toilet bowl 12. The second portion 60b having low hardness is largely deformed to adhere to the toilet bowl 12.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the toilet device in some embodiments. FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 4. In the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22, an inner side portion 22a2 is located on the inner side with respect to an outer side portion 22a1 that faces the upper surface 12a of the toilet bowl 12, and the inner side portion 22a2 is formed to be an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. In the example of FIG. 8, the cross section of the inner side portion 22a has an inverted U-shape. In some embodiments, when the dry air is blown, the cleaning liquid adhering to the inner side portion 22a2 flows along the inclined surface to drop into the toilet bowl 12. Thus, the cleaning liquid drops easily.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the toilet device in some embodiments. FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the toilet bowl 12 includes an outer side upper surface 12a1, and an inner side upper surface 12a2 positioned on the inner side and the lower side with respect to the outer side upper surface 12a1. The outer side upper surface 12a1 and the inner side upper surface 12a2 are connected via a connection wall 12b. When the toilet seat 22 is placed at the closed position, the seal member 60 is sandwiched between the reverse face 22a of the toilet seat 22 and the inner side upper surface 12a2. In this case, even if the cleaning liquid leaks outside the seal member 60, the cleaning liquid can be blocked by the connection wall 12b. Therefore, in some embodiments, leakage of the cleaning liquid can be restrained more certainly.

Although some embodiments do not particularly refer to, for the toilet seat reverse face washing performed by the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42, multiple washing modes with different washing conditions may be prepared. For example, for the toilet seat reverse face washing performed by the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42, there may be multiple washing modes that differ from one another in at least one of the following conditions:

- Washing time (or cleaning liquid discharging time)
- Total flow volume of discharge through all the discharge outlets 46a
- Temperature of cleaning liquid
- Kind of cleaning liquid (such as water, and water containing a detergent)

For example, for the toilet seat reverse face washing performed by the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42, there may be a first washing mode, a second washing mode in which the washing time is longer and the discharge flow volume is greater than in the first washing mode, and a third washing mode in which the washing time is longer and the cleaning liquid temperature is higher than in the second washing mode.

The total discharge flow volume may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the flow volume of discharge through each discharge outlet 46a, or may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of discharge outlets 46a used for discharge.

Each of the multiple washing modes may be suitably selected and used based on, for example, one of or a combination of the following conditions:

- Predetermined schedule
- The number of uses of the toilet device 10 after the last toilet seat reverse face washing
- Whether the user has urinated or defecated
- Operation performed on the remote control device 8

For example, the operation control unit 74 may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the first washing mode after each use of the toilet device 10, may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the second washing mode once a day at a fixed time, and may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the third washing mode once a week at a fixed time.

Also, for example, the operation control unit 74 may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the first washing mode when the number of uses of the toilet device 10 after the last toilet seat reverse face washing has reached 10 times, and may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the second washing mode when the number of uses has reached 30 times.

Also, for example, the operation control unit 74 may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the first washing mode after urination, and may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the second washing mode after defecation. The operation control unit 74 may determine whether the user has urinated or defecated based on the time for which the user has sat on the toilet seat 22, i.e., the time detected by the contact detecting sensor 54, for example.

The washing mode to be performed can be selected on the remote control device 8, and, when an operation for starting the toilet seat reverse face washing is performed on the remote control device, the operation control unit 74 may perform the toilet seat reverse face washing in the selected washing mode.

In some embodiments, when the toilet seat 22 is placed in a non-closed state, the toilet seat reverse face washing is not performed, by control by the control unit 70 (i.e., electrical control). However, such control may be mechanically implemented. More specifically, the on-off valve 50 may be a mechanical valve, for example, and may be configured such that, when the toilet seat 22 is placed in a non-closed state, the on-off valve 50 is mechanically closed in conjunction therewith.

In some embodiments, the contact detecting sensor 54 implements the function of the sitting detecting sensor. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the toilet device 10 may include a sitting detecting sensor, instead of or separately from the contact detecting sensor 54. The sitting detecting sensor may detect sitting based on the distance to the user. Also, the sitting detecting sensor may include a switch provided on the reverse face of the toilet seat 22 and may detect sitting when a user sits on the toilet seat 22 and the switch is pressed.

Some embodiments described above describe the case where the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 during the toilet seat reverse face washing so as to increase the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12. However, the operation is not limited thereto, and the toilet seat 22 may be pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 during the toilet flushing, for example. More specifically, when a user performs an operation for staring the toilet flushing on the remote control device 8, the operation control unit 74 may continuously rotate the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 in the direction of closing the toilet seat 22 for a predetermined period of time (the time required before the toilet flushing is certainly finished), for example. Accordingly, the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12.

Although some embodiments described above do not particularly refer to, the toilet seat reverse drying may be performed in the state where the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 to increase the adhesion between the seal member 60 and the toilet seat 22 and between the seal member 60 and the toilet bowl 12. More specifically, when the toilet seat reverse face washing by the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42 is stopped, the operation control unit 74 may continue rotating the toilet seat opening and closing motor 40 in the direction of closing the toilet seat 22 for a predetermined period of time, for example. Accordingly, the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12. The state of the toilet seat 22 being pressed onto the toilet bowl 12 may be maintained from the start of the toilet seat reverse face washing till the end of the toilet seat reverse drying. The operation control unit 74 allows the drying device 28 to perform the toilet seat reverse drying while the toilet seat 22 is pressed onto the toilet bowl 12. In some embodiments, the configuration can prevent leakage of the cleaning liquid blown by the dry air from the drying device 28, from between the toilet seat and the toilet body.

Although some embodiments describe the case where the toilet seat reverse drying is performed after the toilet seat reverse face washing, the operation is not limited thereto. For example, the toilet seat reverse drying may be performed after the toilet flushing. The operation control unit 74 may start the toilet seat reverse drying when a predetermined period of time (the time required before the toilet flushing is certainly finished) has elapsed after the toilet flushing has started, for example.

In some embodiments, the toilet seat unit 16 may include a toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42 and may have a function to control the toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism 42 among the functions of the control unit 70. Thus, the toilet seat unit 16 may be configured to be capable of performing the toilet seat reverse face washing.

When the disclosure embodied by some embodiments set forth above are generalized, the following technical ideas are derived.

The toilet device may include a control unit that controls the toilet seat reverse face washing. When the toilet seat is placed in a non-closed state, the control unit does not allow the toilet seat reverse face washing to be performed.

The toilet device may include a human detecting sensor that detects a user. Upon detection of a user by the human detecting sensor during toilet seat reverse face washing, the control unit may stop the toilet seat reverse face washing.

The toilet device may include a sitting detecting sensor that detects sitting of a user on the toilet seat. Upon detection of sitting of a user on the toilet seat by the sitting detecting sensor during toilet seat reverse face washing, the control unit may stop the toilet seat reverse face washing.

The toilet device may include an opening and closing detecting sensor that detects open and closed states of the toilet seat. Upon detection of the toilet seat placed in a non-closed state during toilet seat reverse face washing, the control unit may stop the toilet seat reverse face washing.

In these aspects, the situation can be prevented in which the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing splashes around the toilet device.

The toilet device may include a biasing means that biases the toilet seat in a closing direction during toilet seat reverse face washing.

The biasing means may be a motor used to open and close the toilet seat. During toilet seat reverse face washing, the control unit may rotate a rotating shaft of the motor in a rotating direction in which the rotating shaft is rotated to close the toilet seat.

The toilet device may include a lock mechanism that locks the toilet seat in the closed state during toilet seat reverse face washing.

In these aspects, the situation can be prevented in which the toilet seat is put up during the toilet seat reverse face washing.

In this aspect, the situation can be prevented in which the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing splashes around the toilet seat unit.

A toilet device of yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a toilet body including a toilet bowl; a toilet seat; a seal member that is sandwiched between the toilet body and the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in the closed state; and a pressing mechanism that presses the toilet seat onto the toilet body. In this aspect, the adhesion between the seal member and the toilet seat and between the seal member and the toilet body can be increased, thereby preventing the leakage of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing or the toilet flushing from between the toilet seat and the toilet body, for example.

The seal member may be formed into a ring shape and sandwiched between the toilet body and the toilet seat over the entire circumference when the toilet seat is placed in the closed state. In this aspect, leakage of the cleaning liquid used for the toilet seat reverse face washing or the toilet flushing from between the toilet seat and the toilet body can be prevented more certainly, for example.

The pressing mechanism may include a motor used to open and close the toilet seat and may press the toilet seat onto the toilet body by continuously rotating a motor shaft of the motor in a rotating direction in which the motor shaft is rotated to close the toilet seat. In this aspect, the toilet seat can be pressed onto the toilet body without separately providing a dedicated mechanism.

The pressing mechanism may include a lock mechanism that locks the toilet seat in the state of being pressed onto the toilet body.

The toilet body may include an outer side upper surface, and an inner side upper surface positioned on the inner side and the lower side with respect to the outer side upper surface. The seal member may be provided between the inner side upper surface and the toilet seat. In this case, even if the cleaning liquid leaks outside the seal member, the cleaning liquid can be blocked by the step part of the toilet body. Therefore, in this aspect, leakage of the cleaning liquid can be prevented more certainly.

The toilet device may include a toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism that supplies a cleaning liquid onto the reverse face of the toilet seat to wash the reverse face. The pressing mechanism may press the toilet seat onto the toilet body while the toilet body or the reverse face of the toilet seat is washed.

A toilet device of still yet another aspect of the present invention includes a toilet seat, and a drying device that dries the reverse face of the toilet seat. The drying device performs drying of the reverse face of the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in a closed state.

The toilet device may include a seal member that is sandwiched between the toilet body and the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in the closed state, and a pressing mechanism that presses the toilet seat onto the toilet body while the drying device dries the reverse face of the toilet seat.

The seal member may be formed into a ring shape and sandwiched between the toilet body and the toilet seat over the entire circumference when the toilet seat is placed in the closed state.

In this aspect, the situation can be prevented in which the cleaning liquid adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat leaks out from between the toilet seat and the toilet body during the drying by the drying device.

The drying device may blow a gas onto the reverse face of the toilet seat.

The drying device may send warm air to the reverse face of the toilet seat.

The toilet device may include a toilet seat reverse face washing mechanism that supplies a cleaning liquid onto the reverse face of the toilet seat to wash the reverse face. The drying device may perform drying of the reverse face of the toilet seat after the reverse face of the toilet seat is washed.

In these aspects, the growth of mold and unwanted bacteria caused by the cleaning liquid (moisture) adhering to the reverse face of the toilet seat can be restrained, thereby keeping the toilet device clean.

The present disclosure is applicable to toilet devices.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
2018-068538	Mar 2018	JP	national
2018-068540	Mar 2018	JP	national
2018-068541	Mar 2018	JP	national

TOILET DEVICE AND TOILET SEAT UNIT

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (3)

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

PCT Information