Patent Publication Number: US-2023148805-A1

Title: Toilet seat cleaning device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present general inventive concept relates generally to toilet seats, and particularly, to a toilet seat cleaning device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     During everyday use, a toilet becomes increasingly dirty. A toilet seat is usually considered a ripe target for hosting pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, parasites), which can lead to disease infections in humans. Sometimes, the toilet seat can be covered with urine droplets from previous users that causes a pungent odor. Not only is the toilet seat unclean, the odor can make individuals even more uneasy and anxious about using the restroom, whether in public or private settings. 
     Most public restrooms rely on a janitor to clean the toilets. However, in absence of the janitor, the public restroom is dependent on clean behavior of users to remain clean, which is rare. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a toilet seat cleaning device to automatically clean a toilet seat. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present general inventive concept provides a toilet seat cleaning device. 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a toilet seat cleaning device removably connected to at least a portion of a toilet, the toilet seat cleaning device including a plurality of seat cleaning units removably connected to at least a portion of a seat of the toilet to cleanse the seat using a liquid in response to each of the plurality of seat cleaning units moving from a rear portion of the seat in a first position to at least partially toward a front portion of the seat in a second position, a liquid storing container connected to the plurality of seat cleaning units to store the liquid therein, and a sensor connected to the plurality of seat cleaning units to send a command to the plurality of seat cleaning units to move the plurality of seat cleaning units in response to a departure of a user from the seat. 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units may include a body, and a plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles disposed on at least a portion of the body to dispense the liquid toward the seat. 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units may further include a plurality of rolling platforms disposed on at least a portion of the body to facilitate movement of the body over the seat. 
     The plurality of rolling platforms may be perpendicularly disposed at a first end and a second end of the body away from a center portion of the body. 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units may further include a motor disposed within at least a portion of the body and connected to the plurality of rolling platforms to rotate the plurality of rolling platforms in response to rotation of the motor based on the command from the sensor. 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units may further include a sponge movably disposed on at least a portion of the body to cleanse the seat in response to the body moving from the rear portion of the seat in the first position to at least partially toward the front portion of the seat in the second position, and a squeegee movably disposed on at least a portion of the body to remove the liquid from the seat in response to the body moving from the front portion of the seat in the second position to the rear portion of the seat in the first position. 
     The squeegee and the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles may rotate and switch positions, such that the squeegee replaces the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles in response to the body moving from the front portion of the seat in the second position to the rear portion of the seat in the first position. 
     The toilet seat cleaning device may further include a lock removably connected to a lid of the toilet to prevent the lid from closing over the seat in response to the sensor detecting an absence of the user after the toilet has been used, and allow movement of the lid after the plurality of seat cleaning units have completely cleansed the seat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an isometric view of a toilet seat cleaning device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a zoomed in view of a seat cleaning unit, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein. 
     LIST OF COMPONENTS 
     Toilet Seat Cleaning Device  100   
     Seat Cleaning Units  110   
     Body  111   
     Liquid Dispensing Nozzles  112   
     Liquid Chamber  113   
     Rolling Platforms  114   
     Motor  115   
     Sponge  116   
     Squeegee  117   
     Liquid Storing Container  120   
     Connecting Tubes  130   
     Sensor  140   
     Lock  150   
     Light  160   
       FIG.  1    illustrates an isometric view of a toilet seat cleaning device  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a zoomed in view of a seat cleaning unit  110 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     The toilet seat cleaning device  100  may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, glass, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto. 
     The toilet seat cleaning device  100  may include a plurality of seat cleaning units  110 , a liquid storing container  120 , a plurality of connecting tubes  130 , a sensor  140 , a lock  150 , and at least one light  160 , but is not limited thereto. 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may include a body  111 , a plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112 , a liquid chamber  113 , a plurality of rolling platforms  114 , a motor  115 , a sponge  116 , and a squeegee  117 , but is not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the body  111  is illustrated to have an arcuate shape. The body  111  may be designed to curve over a surface of a seat  11  of a toilet  10 . Moreover, the body  111  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the seat  11 . However, the body  111  may be rectangular, circular, conical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto. 
     Moreover, the body  111  may be constructed to have as a sponge. As such, the body  111  may absorb liquid therein and facilitate cleaning of the seat  11 . 
     The plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  may be disposed on at least a portion of the body  111 . Each of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  may dispense (i.e., spray) a liquid therefrom, such as water, soap, cleaning solution, and/or any combination thereof. For example, the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  may dispense the liquid toward the seat  11 , such that the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  may cleanse the seat  11 . 
     The liquid chamber  113  may be disposed within at least a portion of the body  111 . The liquid chamber  113  may store the liquid therein. Additionally, the liquid chamber  113  may be connected to each of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112 , such that the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  may dispense the liquid from the liquid chamber  113 . 
     Each of the rolling platforms  114  may include a sphere, a wheel, and a tire, but is not limited thereto. 
     Each of the rolling platforms  114  may be disposed on at least a portion of the body  111 , such as a first end and/or a second end of the body  111  perpendicularly disposed with respect to a center portion of the body  111 . The plurality of rolling platforms  114  may facilitate movement of the body  111  over the seat  11  in response to rotating. In other words, the plurality of rolling platforms  114  may roll across the seat  11 . 
     During operation, referring again to  FIG.  1   , the body  111  may move from a rear portion of the seat  11  in a first position to at least partially toward a front portion of the seat  11  in a second position. Conversely, the body  111  may move from the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position to the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position. As such, the body  111  may clean and/or scrub the seat  11  to remove dirt, urine, and/or fecal matter. 
     The motor  115  may be disposed within at least a portion of the body  111  and/or connected to the plurality of rolling platforms  114 . Each of the plurality of rolling platforms  114  may rotate in response to rotation of the motor  114 . 
     The sponge  116  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112 . Alternatively, the sponge  116  may be movably (i.e., rotatably) disposed on at least a portion of the body  111 . Also, the sponge  116  may be connected to the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112 , such that the sponge  116  may cleanse and/or scrub the seat  11  in response to the body  111  moving from the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position to at least partially toward the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position. 
     The squeegee  117  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  and/or the sponge  116 . Alternatively, the squeegee  117  may be movably (i.e., rotatably) disposed on at least a portion of the body  111 . Also, the squeegee  117  may be connected to the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112 , such that the squeegee  117  may remove (i.e., dry) the liquid from the seat  11  in response to the body  111  moving from the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position to the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position. 
     Furthermore, the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  and/or the sponge  116  may rotate from a first rotating position to at least partially toward a second rotating position in response to the body  111  moving from the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position to the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position and/or rotation of the motor  115 , such that the squeegee  117  may dry the seat  11 . Conversely, the squeegee  117  may rotate from the second rotating position to the first rotating position to expose the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  and the sponge  116  in response to the body  111  moving from the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position to at least partially toward the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position. As such, the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  and/or the sponge  116  may cleanse the seat  11  in response to the body  111  moving toward the front portion of the seat  11 , and the squeegee  117  may be exposed, while the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  and/or the sponge  116  are rotated, to dry the seat  11 . 
     The liquid storing container  120  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet  10 , such as the seat  11  and/or a lid  12 . The liquid storing container  120  may store the liquid therein. 
     Each of the plurality of connecting tubes  130  may be connected at a first end to at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110 . Each of the plurality of connecting tubes  130  may be connected at a second end to at least a portion of the liquid storing container  120 . Accordingly, the plurality of connecting tubes  130  may connect the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  to the liquid storing container  120 . 
     The sensor  140  may include a weight sensor, a heat sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, and a power source (e.g., a battery, a solar cell), but is not limited thereto. 
     The sensor  140  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet  10 . The sensor  140  may detect a presence of a user on the seat  11  and/or within a predetermined proximity (e.g., five feet) of the toilet  10 . The sensor  140  may activate the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  in response to detecting a departure of the user from the seat  11 . In other words, the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may cleanse the seat  11  in response to the user leaving the seat  11  and/or the predetermined proximity of the toilet  10 . As such, the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may automatically cleanse the seat  11  based on a command from the sensor  140  to the motor  115 . 
     The lock  150  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet  10 . The lock  150  may activate in response to the sensor  140  detecting an absence of the user, such that the user has departed from the seat  11  and/or moved away from the predetermined proximity of the toilet  10  after using the toilet  10 . As such, the lock  150  may prevent the lid  12  from moving, such that the lid  12  covers (i.e., closes) the seat  11 . Subsequently, the lock  150  may release (i.e., unlock) after the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  have completely cleansed the seat  11 . 
     The at least one light  160  may include an incandescent bulb, a light-emitting diode (LED), and a fluorescent bulb, but is not limited thereto. 
     The at least one light bulb  160  may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet  10 . The at least one light bulb  160  may illuminate a surrounding area, such as the toilet  10 . Moreover, the at least one light bulb  160  may facilitate use of the toilet  10  during night and/or low light conditions as detected by the sensor  140 . Also, the at least one light bulb  160  may turn on in response to the user approaching the toilet  10  within the predetermined proximity and/or night and/or low light conditions. The at least one light bulb  160  may turn off in response to the absence of the user and/or day light and/or bright light conditions. 
     Therefore, the toilet seat cleaning device  100  may automatically clean the seat  11  after use by the user. As a result, the toilet seat cleaning device  100  may prevent growth of pathogens and/or odors around the toilet  10 . 
     The present general inventive concept may include a toilet seat cleaning device  100  removably connected to at least a portion of a toilet  10 , the toilet seat cleaning device  100  including a plurality of seat cleaning units  110  removably connected to at least a portion of a seat  11  of the toilet  10  to cleanse the seat  11  using a liquid in response to each of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  moving from a rear portion of the seat  11  in a first position to at least partially toward a front portion of the seat  11  in a second position, a liquid storing container  120  connected to the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  to store the liquid therein, and a sensor  140  connected to the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  to send a command to the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  to move the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  in response to a departure of a user from the seat  11 . 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may include a body  111 , and a plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  disposed on at least a portion of the body  111  to dispense the liquid toward the seat  11 . 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may further include a plurality of rolling platforms  114  disposed on at least a portion of the body  111  to facilitate movement of the body  111  over the seat  11 . 
     The plurality of rolling platforms  114  may be perpendicularly disposed at a first end and a second end of the body  111  away from a center portion of the body  111 . 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may further include a motor  115  disposed within at least a portion of the body  111  and connected to the plurality of rolling platforms  114  to rotate the plurality of rolling platforms  114  in response to rotation of the motor  115  based on the command from the sensor  140 . 
     Each of the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  may further include a sponge  116  movably disposed on at least a portion of the body  111  to cleanse the seat  11  in response to the body  111  moving from the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position to at least partially toward the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position, and a squeegee  117  movably disposed on at least a portion of the body  111  to remove the liquid from the seat  11  in response to the body  111  moving from the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position to the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position. 
     The squeegee  117  and the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  may rotate and switch positions, such that the squeegee  117  replaces the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles  112  in response to the body  111  moving from the front portion of the seat  11  in the second position to the rear portion of the seat  11  in the first position. 
     The toilet seat cleaning device  100  may further include a lock  150  removably connected to a lid  12  of the toilet  10  to prevent the lid  12  from closing over the seat  11  in response to the sensor  140  detecting an absence of the user after the toilet  10  has been used, and allow movement of the lid  12  after the plurality of seat cleaning units  110  have completely cleansed the seat  11 . 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.