Patent Application
20240068219
The present invention relates to a toilet device according to claim 1, and to a toilet comprising such a toilet device according to claim 25.
Nowadays it is common to use toilets, which can be used by one person sitting as the user. A toilet is a sanitary device for holding bodily excretions such as, in particular, feces and urine. A toilet usually has a toilet bowl or basin, which forms an interior space into which bodily excretions can be placed. The person can sit on a toilet seat of the toilet for this purpose. Typically, bodily excretions can be discharged by a water flush through a drain to a sewer system.
In addition to bodily excretions, gases can also be emitted by the person using the toilet or produced by the bodily excretions, which can enter the ambient air in the immediate vicinity of the toilet and cause an odor nuisance. Moreover, the toilet interiors, i.e., the inside of the toilet bowl, are to be cleaned regularly.
For automatic cleaning of interiors of toilets or toilet bowls, the use of so-called toilet flushers is known, which are hung on the toilet rim in the toilet interior, such that when the water flush is operated, the toilet flushers are surrounded by water and a part of a cleaning agent is emitted into the water. This allows the toilet interior to be cleaned to a certain extent where the water mixed with cleaning agent can reach it. The cleaning agent can also contain a fragrance, which can be released and emitted into the ambient air. Both of these can take place automatically whenever the water flush is operated.
The disadvantage of this is that the cleaning effect can only occur in the toilet interior where water mixed with the cleaning agent reaches it. This can result in uneven cleaning of the surface of the toilet interior. Moreover, only the toilet interior itself can be cleaned in this manner.
A further disadvantage is that any odor nuisance that occurs can merely be masked by the scent of the cleaning agent, but itself persists.
The disadvantage in each case is that the effect of the cleaning and the fragrance depend on the quantity of cleaning agent that is dissolved or released by the water of the water flush. Accordingly, as the cleaning agent dwindles, the effects may also diminish.
The overall disadvantage is that the cleaning agent is consumed by the use of the toilet and must be replaced or refilled. This can lead to cost and effort for the user. In particular, the functions may not be available if or as long as the cleaning agent is used up.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet device, such that the odor nuisance during use of a toilet can be avoided or at least reduced and/or the cleaning and, in particular, disinfection of a toilet can be improved and/or simplified. This should be as simple, robust, economical, compact and/or cost-effective as possible. At least an alternative to the corresponding known options is to be created.
The object is achieved according to the invention by a toilet device with the features of claim 1 and by a toilet with the features of claim 25. Advantageous developments are described in the dependent claims.
Thus, the present invention relates to a toilet device with at least one air guide, which is designed to guide an airflow from the toilet interior into the toilet device and/or to guide an airflow from the toilet device into the toilet interior, comprising at least one fan, which is designed to generate the respective airflow, and comprising at least one ionizer, preferably at least one ozone generator, which is designed to generate ionized air, preferably ozone, and to dispense same into the respective airflow.
The air guide can be implemented by means of a hose, a duct or the like, and arranged with one open end facing the toilet interior in such a manner that air exchange can occur between the air guide and the toilet interior. The fan can be implemented, for example, as a blower or the like, and in any event serves to move air. The ionizer can be designed to at least partially ionize air such as ambient air. This can be done by means of high voltage. The ionized air or the generated radicals of the ionized air may cause chemical degradation processes, which can be used for odor elimination and/or disinfection. Thereby, using an ozone generator as an ionizer can be one way to achieve the previously described ionization of the air.
In other words, according to the invention, a device that can be used with a toilet can be created. Thereby, the toilet device can be an integral component of the toilet or a separate device, which can be removably arranged at the toilet in a non-destructive manner. In any event, the toilet device can also be a system of separate components, which functionally interact as a toilet device and may be arranged in a spatially separate manner. The separate components of such a toilet device may be partially integrated into the toilet, partially separated from the toilet or fully integrated or separated in each case.
In any event, a toilet device according to the invention can be designed to convey an airflow from the toilet interior into itself, such that odors from the toilet interior may be sucked away into the toilet device. Inside the toilet device, the odors of the sucked-in air can then be eliminated or at least reduced by ionizing the sucked-in air and/or mixing it with ionized air. Excess air can escape from the toilet device into the surrounding area with reduced or completely eliminated odors. This can eliminate or at least reduce the odor nuisance for the surrounding area that can arise when using a toilet.
In any event, a toilet device according to the invention can alternatively or additionally be designed to convey an airflow into the toilet interior. Inside the toilet device, air that can enter the toilet device from the outside can be ionized beforehand and then blown into the toilet interior by the fan. In such a case, the ionized air can reach and disinfect the toilet interior or its surfaces. This makes it possible to achieve the simplest and/or most complete automatic cleaning of the toilet interior.
The toilet device according to the invention can be designed to perform only one of the two functions described above. Alternatively, the toilet device according to the invention can be designed to provide both functions described above, such that they can be used automatically and/or by a user as desired. In such a case, the functions can be executed at different times independently of one another or, depending on requirements, or also in combination, one after the other. In the latter case, in particular, the odor elimination or odor reduction function can be used first, particularly while a person is using the toilet and possibly with a certain time lag, and then, possibly with a certain time lag, the disinfection or cleaning function.
In any event, an operation of at least the fan and the ionizer can take place by means of a control unit of the toilet device, which can perform the corresponding functions and perform further functions such as, for example, the evaluation of sensor information, the activation of the functions according to time sequences or at points in time and the like, as will be described in more detail below. The required electrical power supply for the toilet device and in particular its electrical and electronic components can be provided by an integrated electrical energy storage device, as will be described in more detail below. Alternatively, the toilet device can be connected to an electrical supply network by cable or wirelessly, for example inductively.
According to one aspect of the invention, the toilet device has a device interior arranged inside the toilet device and connected to the air guide in an airflow-guiding manner, wherein the ionizer is designed to dispense the ionized air into the device interior, and wherein the fan is designed to generate the respective airflow through the device interior. This allows a volume to be created inside the toilet device in the region of the ionizer and the fan, in which the ionized air can be generated by the ionizer and delivered by the fan. In particular, a volume can be created inside the toilet device in which mixing of the ionized air and the odors of the sucked-away air from the toilet interior can occur, such that the corresponding neutralization of the odors can be effected by the ionized air.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device has at least one air outlet, which is designed to discharge the airflow from the toilet device to the outside, and/or at least one air inlet, which is designed to introduce the airflow into the toilet device from the outside. In other words, the toilet device or its device interior is connected to the surrounding area in an air-guiding or air-permeable manner in such a manner that an airflow can be generated from the toilet interior through the toilet device via the air guide and to the outside of the toilet device via the air outlet and/or from outside the toilet device through the toilet device and into the toilet interior via the air guide. Through this, a corresponding exchange of air between the toilet device and the surrounding area can be achieved.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the air outlet and/or the air inlet has at least one, preferably replaceable, filter, preferably an activated carbon filter. This allows a corresponding filtering of the air drawn in from the toilet interior before it is emitted into the surrounding area. In this way, an additional odor-reducing effect can be achieved, in particular by means of an activated carbon filter. Additionally or alternatively, a corresponding filtering of the ambient air can take place if such air has been sucked into the toilet device from the surrounding area. Through this, a filtering of dust and similar particles can take place in order to keep them out of the interior of the toilet device, since otherwise the components and in particular electronic components arranged there could become dirty, blocked and/or reduced in their cooling effect, which can reduce the service life of the components and in particular the electronic components.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the air outlet has at least one neutralizer, preferably a catalyst, particularly preferably an ozone catalyst, which is designed to neutralize ionized air. In this manner, the air sucked in from the toilet interior, after being mixed with ionized air or ozone, can be passed through the neutralizer, catalyst or ozone catalyst, before exiting through the air outlet into the surrounding area, such that excess ionized air from the neutralizer or catalyst, or excess ozone from the ozone catalyst, is degraded and thus kept out of the surrounding area of the toilet device. This can prevent ionized air or ozone from entering the surrounding area of the toilet device, since the smell of the ionized air or ozone could be perceived as unpleasant by a user. Moreover, ionized air or ozone can be harmful to health and the surrounding area.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device has at least one sensor, which is designed to detect the use of the toilet, wherein the toilet device is designed to operate the fan and the ionizer in response to the sensor-detected use of the toilet. This allows the toilet device to recognize that at least one of the two functions described above, or both functions in succession, are to be executed automatically. This can relieve a person as a user from having to initiate the respective function themselves. In particular, this can prevent the user from forgetting to initiate the respective function.
In any event, the sensor can detect the (upcoming) use of the toilet, in which a change of the toilet itself and/or its surrounding area can be detected by the sensor, and this can be detected by the sensor itself or by a control unit of the toilet device according to the invention. This can take place, as will be explained in more detail in the following, for example, by a motion sensor, by a temperature sensor, by a pressure sensor, by a light barrier, by a brightness sensor or the like, which can detect the presence of the user depending on the functional principle.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the sensor is designed as a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is designed to be aligned with at least the region above the toilet interior. Such a motion sensor can thus detect the motion of the person towards the toilet or towards sitting on the toilet seat on top of it and conclude from this that the toilet is about to be used. In particular, this can activate the function of reducing odors so that they can be immediately sucked away and eliminated or reduced. The motion sensor can be arranged and aligned on the toilet device in such a manner that the corresponding region can be sensed. In particular, the motion sensor can be arranged and aligned in such a manner that its sensory detection range cannot be covered by a raised toilet lid.
According to a further aspect of the invention, at least the air guide, the fan and the ionizer, on the one hand, and the sensor, on the other hand, are designed as separate and spatially separated units. In other words, the toilet device can also be implemented as a system of two separate and spatially separated units, which functionally interact with one another and can therefore also be considered together as one device. For this purpose, the two units may be connected to one another in a data-transmitting and/or energy-transmitting manner, which can be implemented in a wired or wireless manner. In any event, this can in particular allow the sensor to be placed independently of the other unit, in particular as a motion sensor, which can increase the design flexibility of the sensor and in particular favor sensory detection. Particularly as a motion sensor, this can prevent the sensory detection range of the motion sensor above a toilet bowl from being covered by a raised toilet lid, for example.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the sensor is designed as a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is designed to be arranged between a toilet bowl rim of the toilet and a toilet seat of the toilet. In other words, in this manner, a load on the toilet seat due to the user's weight can be sensed, such that alternatively or additionally, the use of the toilet can be detected in this manner. The pressure sensor can also be considered as a force sensor. If necessary, an elastically deformable element such as, for example, a rubber element can be arranged between the pressure sensor and the toilet bowl rim and/or the toilet seat, in order to establish contact in the vertical direction between the toilet bowl rim and the pressure sensor and/or between the toilet seat and the pressure sensor, such that forces or pressures can also be effectively transmitted and, in particular, a contact-free gap can be avoided. This can favor or ensure the functioning of the pressure sensor.
In any event, the detection of a use of the toilet can occur later than with a motion sensor, which is aligned to the surrounding area of the toilet or to the region above the toilet seat, since the person must have already sat down on the toilet seat to load the pressure sensor. However, the use of the toilet can be reliably and directly detected in this manner, since motions of the person in the region around the toilet or even above the toilet interior cannot be inadvertently detected as use of the toilet without being so, as can be the case with a motion sensor.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device is design to start operation of the fan and the ionizer at at least one predetermined point in time and/or after the expiration of at least one predetermined time period. In this manner, in particular, the function of cleaning by means of ionized air can be used in a time-controlled manner. On the one hand, cleaning can take place automatically at predetermined points in time in order to ensure regular cleaning. Additionally or alternatively, cleaning can always take place after a use of the toilet, which can be done automatically after the expiration of a predetermined time period after the end of the use of the toilet. The end of the use of the toilet can be detected by sensors comparable to the start of the use of the toilet as described before. When using a motion sensor, the end of the use of the toilet can be detected by the absence of the person. When using a pressure sensor, the relief of the pressure sensor can indicate the end of the use of the toilet. In any event, this can ensure that the toilet is cleaned automatically after each use.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device is designed to terminate the operation of the fan and the ionizer after the expiration of a predetermined time period. This can ensure that the operation of the fan and the ionizer can be terminated automatically. Such predetermined time period can be suitably selected to ensure, on the one hand, the corresponding effect of the respective function and, on the other hand, to keep the operating time and the electrical energy consumption of the toilet device as low as possible.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device has at least one operating element that is designed such that the operation of the fan and the ionizer can be started and/or terminated by the operation of the operating element by a person. This can provide a person, as a user, with the additional or alternative option of activating and/or deactivating a respective function or both functions of the toilet device themselves. Such an operating element can be designed as a pushbutton, a toggle switch, a push button, a touch sensor or the like.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device is designed to be operated by means of an electrical energy storage device that is preferably rechargeable and/or removable. Such an electrical energy storage device can be implemented as a battery that, in particular, can be inserted into the toilet device in a charged state and removed from the toilet device by the user in a discharged state, in particular by opening a flap or the like. Such an electrical energy storage device can also be designed to be rechargeable and can be permanently arranged in the toilet device in order to be recharged there, for example, by connecting a charging cable. However, a rechargeable electrical energy storage device can also be removed from the toilet device for recharging in a manner comparable to the battery described previously, and then reinserted when recharged.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device has at least one high-voltage generator that is designed to generate high voltage for operating the ionizer. This allows the toilet device itself to provide the high voltage required to operate the ionizer.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device is designed to be removably arranged on the toilet. In other words, the toilet device, one-piece or multi-piece, as previously described, forms a device that can be manufactured and assembled independently of the toilet itself, in order to be subsequently arranged as a device or system on the toilet in accordance with its intended use and can be removed from the toilet again. Thus, the toilet device is an independent device, which is not a component of the toilet itself. In this manner, the toilet device can be retrofitted for toilets and/or removed non-destructively for cleaning, repair, charging an electrical energy storage device and the like.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device is designed to be arranged facing away from the toilet interior adjacent a toilet seat. This can enable the toilet device to be located close to the toilet interior, in order to be able to execute the respective function, or both functions, as intended and preferably as effectively as possible. Moreover, in this manner, the toilet device can be at least partially hidden from the view of the person as the user of the toilet, such that the sight of the toilet device can be less or not at all disturbing to the user.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the air guide is designed to be arranged, at least in sections, between a toilet bowl rim of the toilet and a toilet seat of the toilet. In this manner, the air guide can, at least in sections, pass through the gap that usually forms in the vertical direction between the upper side of the rim of the toilet bowl and the lower side of the toilet seat, in the horizontal direction, in order to take advantage of this gap that exists in any event. This also allows the air guide to be at least partially visually hidden from the user of the toilet. Further, the toilet seat can remain free from the airflow of the toilet device, such that the person is not disturbed while sitting on the toilet seat. Furthermore, the air guide or its air guide opening can be arranged in this manner close to the toilet interior and/or can be aligned towards the toilet interior.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the air guide is designed to project beyond a toilet bowl rim of the toilet into the interior of the toilet. This can be done both horizontally and vertically, as will be described in more detail below. In any event, the air guide or its air guide opening can be guided through this into the toilet interior, in order to be able to execute the respective function or both functions as effectively as possible.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an air guide opening of the air guide is designed to point at least substantially horizontally into the interior of the toilet. This allows the respective airflow to act on the toilet space over as full a horizontal surface as possible such that odors can be sucked away as completely as possible before they can leave the toilet interior upwards and/or beyond the toilet rim. Likewise, the airflow into the toilet compartment can reach it as uniformly as possible, and in particular, ionized air can descend from the horizontal as fully and uniformly as possible into the toilet interior and reach or fill it, which can improve the cleaning effect.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an air guide opening of the air guide is designed to point at least substantially vertically into the interior of the toilet. This makes it possible to generate an airflow for sucking away odors from the interior or from the lower regions of the toilet interior, if possible, which can promote the sucking away of odors that arise or are present there. Likewise, the toilet interior can be filled with ionized air from the bottom of the airflow directed into the toilet interior, which can improve the cleaning effect.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device has at least one holder, which is designed to hold the toilet device at least in a positively-locking manner against a toilet bowl rim of the toilet. This can allow for easy and, in particular, removable mounting of the toilet device to a toilet bowel rim. This can be done, for example, by means of at least one hook-shaped holder, which can partially embrace or engage behind the toilet bowl rim. In this way, at least a positive-locking hold and, if necessary, additionally a force-fitting hold of the toilet device on the toilet bowl rim of the toilet can be achieved with appropriate dimensioning, wherein the additional force-fitting hold can prevent or at least make it more difficult for the toilet device to move along the toilet bowl rim. In either case, the holder can be designed as a separate element in addition to the air guide, or the holder can be formed by the air guide itself, as will be described in more detail below.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the holder is formed by the air guide. For this purpose, the air guide can be of hook-like design in particular and, in particular, can lead horizontally in sections along between the upper side of the toilet bowl rim and the lower side of the toilet seat and can then point vertically with its air guide opening into the interior of the toilet bowl, i.e., into the toilet interior. Thereby, both the function of the holder and the function of guiding the respective airflow or both airflows can be performed by the air guide, which can keep the number of components of the toilet device low. This can have a reducing effect on the manufacturing costs, the assembly costs, the weight and/or the installation space of the toilet device.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the air guide is designed to be replaceable. In other words, the air guide can be non-destructively removed from the remaining components of the toilet device and, in particular, from a housing of the toilet device, in order to be replaced with an identical air guide. This can allow the air guide to be replaced, for example, if it is damaged, if it becomes dirty, or on a regular basis for hygienic reasons. Moreover, in this manner, different air guides can be used with the toilet device, which can have different designs, as described previously. This allows the toilet device to be adjusted to the particular toilet by selecting a suitable air guide.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the toilet device has at least one fragrance generator, which is designed to deliver a fragrance into the respective airflow, preferably into a device interior. Such an air generator can be a storage device or reservoir, in particular inside the toilet device, of a corresponding fragrance, in particular in liquid, paste or solid form, which can be reached in particular by the airflow of the fan. This allows fragrance particles of the fragrance to be carried along by the respective airflow in the respective flow direction, in order to spread the fragrance in the surrounding area of the toilet. This can be combined in particular with the odor reduction function, in order to additionally provide a pleasant scent to the ambient air of the toilet, which in particular can mask any remaining unpleasant odors.
The present invention also relates to a toilet having at least one toilet device as previously described. Such a toilet can have the toilet device according to the invention as a fixed and integral component, or can be non-destructively removable with a toilet device according to the invention. In any event, the previously described features and advantages of a toilet device according to the invention can be applied and used in a toilet in this manner.
Three exemplary embodiments and further advantages of the invention are illustrated and explained in more detail below in purely schematic form in connection with the following figures. In the figures:
The above figures are considered in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal direction X is shown, which can also be referred to as depth X or as length X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as width Y, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y, a vertical direction Z, which can also be called height Z and which corresponds to the direction of gravity, extends. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as horizontal plane X, Y.
The toilet device 1 according to the invention has a housing 10 from which an air guide 11 extends away in a straight line in the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as a duct 11. The air guide 11 has a rectangular cross-section, which is designed to be comparatively flat in the vertical direction Z. The air guide 11 can be replaceable in order to allow the toilet device 1 to be adjusted to different types or designs of toilets 2, or to allow the air guide 11 to be replaced as necessary. The air guide 11 ends facing away from the housing 10 with an air guide opening 11a. Facing away from the air guide opening 11a, the air guide 11 terminates in a device interior 14 inside the housing 10, in which the mechanical, electrical and electronic components of the toilet device 1 are arranged.
The housing 10 is further connected to the surrounding area in an air-conducting manner via an air inlet 18 or air outlet 18, wherein the air inlet/air outlet 18 extends over the upper side and approximately half over the two side surfaces of the housing 10. The air inlet/outlet 18 has a replaceable filter 17 in the form of an activated carbon filter 17, through which air can be exchanged between the surrounding area and the device interior 14 in both flow directions. Alternatively or additionally, the air outlet 18 can also have a neutralizer for neutralizing ionized air, which can preferably be implemented as a catalyst and particularly preferably as an ozone catalyst.
Furthermore, at the housing 10, a sensor 19a in the form of a motion sensor 19a and an operating element 19b in the form of a pushbutton 19b are arranged on the side of the housing 10 facing the air guide opening 11a, see in particular
A fan 13 in the form of a blower 13 is arranged in the device interior 14, which fan can generate an airflow A depending on the direction of rotation, which can convey or suck in air via the air guide opening 11a through the air guide 11 into the device interior 14. From there, due to the corresponding overpressure in the reservoir interior 14, the air can exit via the air inlet/air outlet 18 through the activated carbon filter 17 or through the neutralizer, catalyst or ozone catalyst into the surrounding area of the toilet device 1. When the fan 13 rotates in the opposite direction, an airflow B can be generated, which can expel air from the device interior 14 through the air guide 11 via the air guide opening 11a. Due to the corresponding negative pressure in the reservoir interior 14, air from the surrounding area of the toilet device 1 can be sucked into the device interior 14 through the activated carbon filter 17 via the air inlet/air outlet 18. Thus, depending on the operation or the direction of rotation of the fan 13, the airflow A can be generated through the toilet device 1 in the sucking-in direction or the airflow B can be generated through the toilet device 1 in the expelling direction.
Furthermore, an ionizer 15 is arranged in the device interior 14, which ionizer can be electrically supplied by means of a high-voltage generator 16. The ionizer 15 can form ionized air or radicals of the ionized air by means of the electrical high voltage from the air that is inside the device interior 14, which can cause chemical degradation processes. The ionized air and/or the radicals of the ionized air can be used for odor elimination and/or disinfection, as will be described in more detail below. An ozone generator 15 can be used as the ionizer 15 such that ozone can be generated as ionized air or as radicals of the ionized air. This can represent one possibility of an ionizer 15.
The high-voltage generator 16 is arranged on a circuit board (not designated), which also has a control unit 12 that can operate the toilet device 1 or its electrical and electronic components. These include the fan 13, the ionizer 15, the high-voltage generator 16 along with the sensor 19a and the operating element 19b. An electrical supply to the control unit 12 and the electrical electronic components is provided by means of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device 12a in the form of an integrated rechargeable battery 12a.
The toilet 2 represents a sanitary device, which is freely suspended in the vertical direction Z above a floor 4 and fixedly mounted on a wall 3. The toilet 2 has a toilet bowl rim 20, which can also be referred to as a toilet basin 20. A toilet interior 22 is formed inside the toilet bowl 20, which toilet interior can be flushed with water using a water flush (not shown). Water from the water flush can be discharged through the wall 3 to a sewer system via a drain (not shown). The toilet 2 can be used by a person as a user to emit bodily excretions such as, in particular, feces and urine, which can be discharged with the water of the water flush. For this purpose, the user can sit on a toilet seat 23 in the vertical direction Z from above, which is arranged to be folded up above a toilet bowl rim 21.
The toilet device 1 according to the invention according to the first exemplary embodiment is arranged between the wall 3 and the toilet seat 23 during intended use in such a manner that the air guide 11 runs between the upper side of the toilet bowl rim 21 and the lower side of the toilet seat 23, and extends beyond the toilet bowl rim 21 and the toilet seat 23 with its air guide opening 11a horizontally into the toilet interior 22. Thereby, the motion sensor 19a is directed at the region above the toilet interior 22.
If a person now sits down on the toilet seat 23 as a user of the toilet 2, this is sensed by the motion sensor 19a and transmitted to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 can thereby detect the start of a use of the toilet 2 by the user and cause the toilet device 1 to perform a first function. Thereby, the fan 13 is controlled by the control unit 12 in the direction of rotation that generates the airflow A. In this manner, odors that may be generated when the user uses the toilet 2 may be sucked in by the airflow A of the fan 13 from the toilet interior 22 via the air guide opening 11a through the air guide 11 and into the device interior 14. There, the ionized air from the ionizer 15 can mix with the airflow A such that the odors can be reduced and, if necessary, completely removed by the ionized air. The treated air can then pass through the activated carbon filter 17 into the surrounding area via the air outlet 18, wherein the activated carbon filter 17 can reduce and, if necessary, completely remove any remaining odors. This allows the ambient air of the toilet 2 to be kept as completely odor-free as possible. If a catalyst is also or alternatively provided in the air outlet 18, excess ionized air can be removed from the exiting air in order to keep the surrounding area free of ionized air. A fragrance generator (not shown), if provided in the device interior 14, can additionally enrich the air emitted to the surrounding area with fragrance, such that the ambient air of the toilet 2 can be selectively provided with a pleasant fragrance.
If the motion sensor 19a now detects the occurrence of an absence of the user from the toilet 2, the control unit 12 can, in response thereto, terminate the operation of the fan 13 and the ionizer 15, since the use of the toilet 2 by the user can be detected as terminated. Alternatively, in response thereto, the control unit 12 can wait for a predetermined time period before terminating operation of the fan 13 and the ionizer 15, in order to continue to use the odor-reducing function of the toilet device 1 for such time period and thereby reduce odors to a greater extent. This can promote the most complete elimination of odor nuisances, even in the case of strong odors. In any event, the odor-reducing function can thereby be executed and also terminated automatically on the part of the toilet device 1.
If necessary, for this reason the user can also additionally operate the operating element 19b and thereby switch the odor-reducing function of the toilet device 1 on and off, or switch it on and thereby simultaneously cause it to stop automatically after a predetermined time period. Through this, the odor-reducing function of the toilet device 1 can also be triggered and terminated on the part of the user.
In addition, on the part of the control unit, the toilet device 1 can also be operated with the opposite direction of rotation of the fan 13, such that the airflow B can be generated. Through this, a cleaning function of the toilet device 1 can be executed by blowing the ionized air of the ionizer 15 from the fan 13 through the air guide 11 via the air guide opening 11a into the toilet interior 12. The airflow B with ionized air can thus reach and disinfect the surfaces of the toilet interior 22.
For example, the cleaning function of the toilet device 1 can be automatically executed by the control unit 12 each time after the odor-reducing function of the toilet device 1 is executed and completed. This can enable an automatic cleaning of the toilet interior 22 after each use of the toilet 2. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning function of the toilet device 1 can also be automatically executed on the part of the control unit 12 at regular time intervals and/or at repetitive points in time, in order to perform the automatic cleaning of the toilet interior 22 independently of the use of the toilet 2 by users and thus to maintain the toilet 2 in a cleaned and/or in a disinfected state. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning function of the toilet device 1 can also be initiated by the user by operating the operating element 19b as needed. In any event, the duration of operation of the fan 13 and the ionizer 15 to perform the cleaning function of the toilet device 1 can be for a predetermined time period, which can enable the successful cleaning of the toilet interior 22.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021100114.5 | Jan 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/050009 | 1/3/2022 | WO |
