Patent Publication Number: US-9895035-B2

Title: Toilet seat assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a toilet seat assembly and, more particularly, to a toilet seat assembly capable of preventing internal penetration of moisture through a separate hinge member hinge-coupling a bidet housing and a toilet seat. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A toilet in a restroom has a toilet seat which a user may sit on, and here, such a toilet seat is installed to be attached on top of a toilet. 
     Recently, toilet seats have continuously been developed through bidet technology for the purpose of making a restroom interior agreeable and practicing hygiene among users. 
     In general, a bidet is a toilet seat intended for washing and cleaning the genitalia and the anus after a user relieves himself/herself. That is, after a user relieves himself/herself, hot water having an appropriate temperature is dispensed from a central portion of a plumbing fixture, without the necessity for the user to use a hand, to smoothly clean a part intended to be cleaned. 
     A toilet seat is in direct contact with a user&#39;s buttocks when the user relieves himself/herself, causing a problem in that when the user sits on the toilet seat, the user may feel cold. In particular, such a problem may be magnified in the winter season. Thus, recently, in order to solve the problem, a heating device such as a hot wire is provided in the toilet seat to keep the toilet seat warm. 
     Here, the heating device provided within the toilet seat is generally operated by electricity, requiring wiring for supplying electricity. Preferably, such wiring is not exposed outwardly in terms of safety and aesthetic design. 
     Meanwhile, various devices operated by electricity are provided within a bidet, which may be easily exposed to moisture in terms of characteristics of an environment of installation of a bidet. Thus, a structure preventing penetration of moisture to an interior of a bidet is essential. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat assembly which facilitates wiring and prevents penetration of moisture into a bidet 
     Technical Solution 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toilet seat assembly including: a bidet housing for defining the appearance of a bidet; a hinge member fixed to an inner side of the bidet housing and having a shaft, the hinge member having an annular coupling groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft; and a toilet seat rotatably connected to the shaft, wherein the bidet housing has a coupling protrusion protruding to the inner side and inserted into the coupling groove. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the bidet housing may have a toilet seat connection part provided on an inner side thereof and having a hinge coupling hole formed on one side thereof, and one end of the shaft may protrude to an outer side of the toilet seat connection part through the hinge coupling hole. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the hinge member may include a housing coupling part extending outwardly in a radial direction from the other end of the shaft and extending toward one end of the shaft in an axial direction, and the coupling groove may be formed by the housing coupling part on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the coupling protrusion may have a cylindrical shape formed on a circumference of the hinge coupling hole. 
     The toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure may further include an annular ring inserted into the coupling groove. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the ring may be formed of rubber. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the shaft may have a wire transfer hole provided on an inner side thereof. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the toilet seat may have a heating device and a wire for supplying electricity to the heating device, and the wire may be connected through the wire transfer hole. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the hinge member may further include a wire duct extending in an axial direction from the other end of the shaft. 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to the present disclosure, the hinge member may further include a fixing portion having a bolt hole, and may be fixed to the bidet housing through screw-coupling of the bolt penetrating through the bolt hole. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     In the toilet seat assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure, penetration of moisture to an interior of a bidet may be prevented, and wiring related to a heating device within the toilet seat may be facilitated. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a hinge member according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a toilet seat assembly  100  according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure may include a bidet housing  110 , a toilet seat  130  rotatably connected to a shaft, and a hinge member  120  fixed to the bidet housing  110  and rotatably connecting the toilet seat  130  to the bidet housing  110 . 
     The bidet housing  110  defines an appearance of the bidet, and within the bidet housing  110 , a reservoir (not shown) storing water upon receiving the water from a water source, a nozzle assembly (not shown) dispensing water stored in the reservoir to the anus or genitalia of a user, and various driving devices for operating the nozzle assembly may be provided. 
     Also, the bidet housing  110  may have at least one toilet seat connection part  111  provided on an inner side thereof. A hinge coupling hole  111   a  may be formed on one side of the toilet seat connecting part  111 . In addition, the bidet housing  110  may have a cylindrical coupling protrusion  111   b  protruding inwardly along a circumference of the hinge coupling hole  111   a . When the hinge member  120  is coupled to the bidet housing  110 , the coupling protrusion  111   b  may be inserted into a coupling groove  124  (to be described hereinafter). 
     The toilet seat  130  may be rotatably connected to the bidet housing  110 , and here, the toilet seat  130  may be connected to the bidet housing  110  through a hinge member  120 . 
     Also, the toilet seat  130  may have a heating device  131  therein. When a user relieves himself/herself, the toilet seat  130  is in direct contact with the user&#39;s buttocks, and thus, the heating device  131  may operate to adjust a temperature of a surface to obtain a heat reserving effect. Here, the heating device  131  may be a hot wire heater. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any other heating device known to a person skilled in the art may also be used as long as it can increase a temperature of a surface of the toilet seat  130  by supplying electricity. The heating device  131  may be operated by electricity, and the toilet seat  130  may further include a wire (not shown) for supplying electricity to the heating device  131 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the hinge member  120  may be fixed to an inner side of the bidet housing  110 , and may have a shaft  121  having one end protruding to an outside of the toilet seal connection part  111  through the hinge coupling hole  111   a.    
     A wire transfer hole  122  may be provided on an inner side of the shaft  121 , and the wire (not shown) may pass through the wire transfer hole  122 . In this manner, since the wire (not shown) passes through the wire transfer hole  122 , wiring may be facilitated without exposing the wire (not shown). 
     Also, the hinge member  120  may have a housing coupling part  123  extending outwardly in a radial direction from the other end of the shaft  121  and extending toward one end of the shaft  121  in an axial direction. Accordingly, an annular coupling groove  124  may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft  121 . In other words, the coupling groove  124  may be formed between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft  121  and the housing coupling portion  123 . Accordingly, when the hinge member  120  is fixed to the bidet housing  110 , the coupling protrusion  111   b  may be inserted into the coupling groove  124 . In this manner, as the coupling protrusion  111   b  is inserted into the coupling groove  124 , a sealing structure may be formed to prevent penetration of moisture to an interior of the bidet housing  110 . 
     Meanwhile, the hinge member  120  may further include a wire duct  125  extending in an axial direction from the other end of the shaft  121 . The wire duct  125  may accommodate a portion of the wire (not shown) passing through the wire transfer hole  122 , facilitating wiring. 
     Conversely, the hinge member  120  may further include a fixing portion  126  in which a bolt hole  126   a  is formed, and may be fixed to the bidet housing  110  through screw coupling of a bolt (not shown) penetrating through the bolt hole  126   a.    
     The toilet seat assembly  100  according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure may further include an annular ring  140  inserted into the coupling groove  124 . The ring  140  may be formed of rubber. That is, the ring  140  may be positioned between the housing coupling part  123  and the coupling protrusion  111   b , forming a sealing structure, whereby penetration of moisture to the interior of the bidet housing  110  may be more effectively prevented. 
     As described above, according to the toilet seat assembly  100  according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, penetration of moisture to an interior of the bidet housing  110  may be effectively prevented, and wiring of the wire (not shown) supplying electricity to the heating device  131  provided within the toilet seat  130  may be facilitated. 
     While embodiments have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.