Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a U.S. national application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2008/052083 filed Feb. 20, 2008 with claiming of priority of European Application No. 07003708.0 filed Feb. 23, 2007. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention concerns a toilet seat with a device for applying and transporting a tube-like protective covering for the seat. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Cleaning of toilet seats and keeping them clean during or after use of a toilet can occur by means of a protective covering, this covering being replaced after each use. DE 28 35 257 describes such a device, in which a tube-like covering is pulled over the toilet seat and, after each use of the toilet, pulled further by at least the length of the toilet seat. 
         [0004]    An important requirement in such devices is that simple cleaning, possibly also using cleaning agents, is possible in readily accessible fashion without adversely affecting function of the transport mechanism for transport of the protective covering. 
         [0005]    A task of the present invention is therefore to allow for this requirement and to equip the toilet seat with the renewable protective covering of the known type and a driving transport mechanism, so that simple and reliable cleaning, without adversely affecting the method of function, is possible. 
         [0006]    Another requirement consists of properly protecting the drive, the electronics and the power supply, so that the method of function is not adversely affected by penetrating water, urine, etc., so that reliable further pulling of the protective cover is no longer guaranteed. However, these devices should nevertheless be readily accessible, i.e., easily removable and reusable during repair, replacement of batteries, connection of an external power supply, etc. It is important that during removal or insertion, the work is not hampered by complicated retainers, plug mechanisms, connection of plug connectors, etc. 
         [0007]    Another task of the present invention is therefore to configure the arrangement of functional elements, like drive, power supply, etc., as simply as possible, well secured relative to the exterior and easily installed or reinstalled. 
         [0008]    To solve the task defined according to the invention, a toilet seat of the invention as disclosed herein after is proposed. 
         [0009]    A toilet seat of the type described in DE 28 35 257 is proposed with a device for applying and transporting a tube-like protective covering for the seat arranged in the area of the toilet seat, which is unwound, on the one hand, from a delivery spool and wound, on the other hand, onto a drivable takeup spool. A housing is also proposed, having at least three at least partially separated areas, like an area at least including the delivery spool, an area provided for arrangement of a drive and a battery compartment and an area at least containing the takeup spool, as well as a cover. At least one partition that at least partially separates the areas is provided between the at least partially separated areas, in order to prevent penetration of, say, spray water, urine, etc. According to the invention, it is now proposed that the toilet seat freely lying on the end of the delivery spool is mounted to pivot and is fastened on the end facing the takeup spool via a hinge-like connection at least to a wall at least partially separating the housing interior or to a fastening element. 
         [0010]    This pivotable mounting guarantees that the toilet seat is firmly connected to the housing and can be pivoted away from the toilet and housing, so that the area containing the takeup spool is freely accessible from the outside and therefore can be easily cleaned. 
         [0011]    The same naturally applies for the area containing the delivery spool, which is also freely accessible from the outside by tilting the toilet seat up. 
         [0012]    Other preferred variants of the toilet seat according to the invention are disclosed herein as explained further below in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. 
         [0013]    It is prescribed in a toilet seat of the invention proposed as an alternative or supplement that a channel be provided in or on the housing, containing the at least three areas for the delivery spool, drive and takeup spool, with contact connections provided in the corresponding areas, to which the batteries, drive or an external power supply can be plugged or connected merely by contact and removed again without cable connection manipulations being necessary. 
         [0014]    A power rail inserted into the housing wall can then be involved with so-called tulip contacts directed laterally into the corresponding housing areas. 
         [0015]    Also with reference to this variant of the toilet seat according to the invention, additional preferred variants are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In the figures: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  schematically depicts, in a perspective view, mounting of the toilet seat in the rear housing provided for the transport mechanism of the protective covering, 
           [0018]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  show another perspective view of the toilet seat according to the invention with parts of the rear housing covered in the lowered position,  FIG. 2   a  and in the pivoted-out/tilted up position of the toilet seat,  FIG. 2   b , and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  again show a perspective view of the toilet seat according to the invention with the rear housing viewed from below, showing the power rails according to the invention and the channel cable cover in the removed,  FIG. 3   a , and inserted position,  FIG. 3   b.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  schematically depicts, in a perspective view, a toilet seat according to the invention, in which the seat ring and/or seat  1  can be protected with a tube-like covering and can be provided for hygienic reasons with a continuously renewable protective covering. 
         [0021]    A tube-like covering is unwound onto the toilet seat  1  from a delivery spool (not shown) arranged in a delivery chamber  17  formed in the housing  8  arranged to the rear, and guided along the toilet seat  1  to the takeup roll  9 , which is arranged in a corresponding takeup chamber  12  of the housing. A protective covering is shown with dashed lines in the area of delivery from the seat  1  and depicted with reference number  3 . The takeup roll  9  can be driven by a motor  11 , which can be arranged in a corresponding receiving chamber/compartment  18  in housing  8 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Instead of an electric drive, the takeup roll can also be driven manually or by mounting a crank in the area of the shaft connection  6 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . By use of a crank, a corresponding mount or wall for the shaft of the takeup roll must naturally be provided in the area of the receiving chamber  18 , which is provided for arrangement of an electric drive, so that this can be held stably in the corresponding receiving chamber. 
         [0022]    The progress of unwinding and winding of the protective covering  3  can be read on a display  13  and during use of an electric drive motor, additional operating data and the condition of the batteries, which are optionally arranged for power supply, can also be displayed. For centered guiding of the protective covering  3 , a guide roll  16  is additionally provided on the takeup roll  9 , which is fastened by means of fastening elements  20  to the cover hood  8   a  of housing  8  and lowered onto the protective covering  3  during lowering of the cover hood  8   a  onto the shell  14  of housing  8 . 
         [0023]    An at least partially separating wall  19  is provided between the takeup chamber and the drive chamber. 
         [0024]    During use of the drive motor  11  in the chamber  18  provided for it, the wall  24  of the motor housing provided opposite the takeup chamber can be designed, so that it lies on the at least partially separating wall  19 . If no electric drive  11  is arranged in the chamber  18  provided for the drive or during use of a corresponding hand drive, like a crank, either a special mount for the carrying shaft of the takeup spool  9  must be provided or the separating wall  19  is formed to fully separate the two chambers, so that the carrying shaft is mounted in a corresponding recess of separating wall  19 . 
         [0025]    In order for the area in the takeup chamber, especially next to and beneath the toilet seat, to be readily accessible, for example, for cleaning, the toilet seat  1  is mounted to be pivoted upward around pivot point  27  on separating wall  19 . The toilet seat  1  is then connected to the rotary fastening  27  via connection tabs  21  and  25 . In order to prevent tilting up of the toilet seat  1 , for example, during transport of the protective covering  3 , a seat lock  23 , like a so-called clip or stop tab, is additionally provided, which can be moved between a stop position and an open position for tilting up of the toilet seat  1 . 
         [0026]    Since the opposite end of toilet seat  1  lies loosely on the shell  14  of housing  8  in the area of delivery chamber  17 , the toilet seat  1  can be tilted upward during release by the lock  23 . By simultaneous tilting up of the cover hood  8   a  and upward movement of the guide roll  16 , the takeup chamber  12  is largely freely accessible from the outside, so that it can be reliably cleaned. 
         [0027]    It is readily apparent from the two  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  how the toilet seat  1  is arranged to be tilted up in the housing  8  (in the lowered position in  FIG. 2   a  and in the tilted up position in  FIG. 2   b ). The motor receiving chamber  18  is then shown with the motor removed, so that it is readily apparent how the toilet seat  1  is mounted to be tiltable on the at least partially separating wall  19  around an pivot point  27 , for example, an pivot pin  28 . A retaining clip  23  is shown in  FIG. 2   a  in the closed state, whereas  FIG. 2   b  shows the clip in the released position. As mentioned above, locking can also occur by means of a locking device, like a tab, which can secure or release the toilet seat by rotation by 90° or more. 
         [0028]    It is also apparent from  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  that in the center of housing  8  there are provided both a chamber  18  for arrangement of the drive motor as well as a receiving chamber/compartment  15  for arrangement of a battery pack for the power supply-motor. The battery chamber  15  is preferably separated via an additional partition  16  relative to the delivery chamber  17 . 
         [0029]    For stable mounting, the pivot pin  28  is preferably also mounted in a corresponding receptacle  36  in the separation wall between the drive motor chamber and the battery chamber. 
         [0030]    In order to simplify replacement of the battery pack or to disassemble and reassemble the drive, for example, for repairs, it is also advantageous, if the corresponding contacts for power supply can be handled as easily as possible. In other words, no complicated cable plug connection manipulations should be necessary and the electrical connections should in no way hamper sealing of the individual chambers, especially relative to penetration of spray water or urine, from the takeup or delivery chamber. 
         [0031]    For this reason, it is proposed that contacts, like so-called tulip contacts, be provided, as schematically shown in  FIG. 2   b  in the battery chamber  15  and provided with reference number  31 . The contact occurs in a common cable channel  34 , which connects the drive chamber  18 , battery chamber  15  and an external connection  33  to each other. 
         [0032]    The common channel is clearly apparent with reference to both  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , which show the toilet seat according to the invention, i.e., the seat  1  and the housing  8 , in a perspective view from below relative to shell  14 . The channel  34  is shown open in  FIG. 3   a , the contacts  31  for the batteries and for the motor being shown, whereas an external connection  33  is provided additionally laterally on the outside to the cover hood  8   a . In order to close the cable channel  34  spray water-tight to the outside, a cable channel cover  35  is provided, which is removed in  FIG. 3   a  and inserted and mounted spray water-tight in  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0033]    By using a common channel or cable channel  34  with a spray water-tight cover  35 , it is additionally guaranteed that both the battery compartment  15  and the motor compartment  18  can be sealed water-tight to the outside, so that water, urine or other contaminants cannot penetrate into the two chambers. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3   b  finally schematically shows a lock  41 , in order to connect the cover hood  8   a  to the shell. 
         [0035]    Through the two expedients primarily exposed according to the invention, namely the tiltable arrangement of the seat  1  and the formation of a common channel  34  with spray water-tight channel cover  35 , it is possible, on the one hand, to reliably clean the seat according to the invention, especially the different easily soiled chambers in housing  8  and, on the other hand, to guarantee that the chambers for arrangement of a battery pack and the motor, and optionally the electronics, can be protected spray water-tight relative to the outside. 
         [0036]    It is also proposed that the progress of unwinding of the protective covering from the delivery roll and winding onto the takeup roll can be recorded via an algorithm correspondingly coupled to the motor, in which it is assumed that the total length of the protective covering is almost equal. In other words, the drive can be controlled by the algorithm, so that with progressive winding, the corresponding drive length is reduced, so that the length of the wound protective covering remains roughly the same. When the process is completed and a new delivery roll is inserted, the algorithm is reset to the original value, so that the motor initially drives the winding roll longer again and, with progressive delivery of the protective covering, the winding time is shortened. In addition, progress of consumption of the protective covering can be visually followed on display  13 . 
         [0037]    It is naturally also possible to follow the progress of consumption of the protective covering by means of other devices, like optically by means of an optical sensor that records a corresponding marking on the guide roll  16 . Since rotation of the guide roll also remains constant during progressive consumption of the protective covering, the same path length can always be measured during optical recording. However, the use of an optical sensor has the drawback that countable recording of the path length is hampered by soiling. However, progress can also be recorded magnetically by arranging a metal part laterally on the guide roll. Instead of the metal part, however, a transmission device can also be arranged, whose movement can serve for recording the path covered by the tube. No limits are imposed on the possibilities, it being essential that roughly the same amount of tube is always replaced on the toilet seat. 
         [0038]    Different approaches are also possible for initiating tube replacement, for example, the process can occur by means of a simple pushbutton, by means of an electronic pressure sensor, by means of a capacitive switch, etc. The use of a capacitive switch has the advantage that only movements of a user to initiate tube replacement are recorded in the generated magnetic field and not any movements of textiles, clothing, etc. 
         [0039]    The possible variants of the toilet seat according to the invention depicted in  FIGS. 1 to 3  merely represent examples, which can be supplemented or modified in arbitrary ways. 
         [0040]    Tiltability of the toilet seat, on the one hand, and in the motor driven variant, use of a common channel for power supply of the drive motor, on the other hand, are essential to the invention.

Technology Category: 1