Led toilet seat cover

Abstract

A device for cleaning a toilet bowl including a toilet seat assembly having a toilet lid and a toilet seat, a UV-light source producing UV-light of a wavelength of approximately 360 nm secured to an interior side of the toilet lid, a first switch for turning the UV light source on when the toilet lid is placed in a closed position, and a second switch for turning the UV light off upon expiration of a predetermined period of time.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]Each document cited in this text (“application cited documents”) and each document cited or referenced in each of the application cited documents, and any manufacturer's specifications, data sheets, descriptions, product literature, instructions and the like for any products mentioned herein or in herein cited documents or in documents cited in herein cited documents, is hereby incorporated herein by reference. None of the documents incorporated by reference into this text is admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention, but, documents incorporated by reference into this text may be employed in the practice of the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a toilet seat and lid and in particular a toilet seat and lid in combination with an ultra-violet light source which acts on a titanium dioxide coating on a surface of a toilet to produce a cleaning effect.BACKGROUND[0003]Devices incorporating an ultra-v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]Another aspect of the present invention is a method of producing a cleaning effect in a toilet bowl including the steps of coating surfaces of toilet bowl where the cleaning effect is desired with a photocatalyst coating, providing a UV light source producing UV light having a wavelength of about 360-410 nm, and energizing the UV light source for a predetermined period of time to allow the UV light to react with the photocatalyst coating to produce a photocatalytic effect at the coated surface of the toilet to oxidize organic stain producing compounds.

Problems solved by technology

Because of its orientation, the toilet seat of the '543 patent does not appear to provide the necessary intensity into the bowl itself.

However, the location of the light is less than optimal for projecting energy onto the rim of the toilet bowl or into the bowl itself.

UV lights in the form or light bulbs are relatively expensive, use large amounts of energy, and require approximately 40-75 Watts of energy at 120 Volts.

As can be readily understood by those of skill in the art, the presence of such an energy source in close proximity to water, and particularly water that may be in very close proximity to an individual, is less than desirable.

Moreover, though the preceding described devices are directed to use of energy sufficient to kill microbes, such an energy output can have detrimental effects on users.

Indeed, UV light of sufficient energy to kill microbes can cause serious injury to humans.

For example, prolonged exposure can lead to sight issues, and more immediately even relatively short exposure to UV light in the 230-260 nm (nanometer) wavelength range is well known to cause serious burns to the skin of individuals.

Perhaps in view of these problems there has been relatively little large scale commercialization of UV light toilet seats.

Still further, even when used to good antimicrobial effect, the toilets on which such devices are mounted are not cleaned.

That is they are still susceptible to staining or being dirty, and in fact the killed microbes actually add to the problem.

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