Heatable toilet seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a heatable toilet seat (1) for a flush toilet, the toilet seat (1) comprising a heating device (6), which is integrated in the toilet seat (1) and has a heating wire (5), which has the function of a heating resistor (4); the heating device (6) comprises an electronic circuit, a diode (3) having an on-direction and an off-direction, and a measuring resistor (2) which is connected in parallel to the heating resistor (4). The polarity conversion between the conduction direction and the cut-off direction of the diode can be caused by the electronic circuit; in the conduction direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in a heating phase, and in the cut-off direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in a temperature measuring phase; the toilet seat (1) comprises a shaft (13) with two shaft contacts (10a, 10b), and the heating wire (5) comprises two end sections which are each connected to one of the shaft contacts (10a, 10b).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heatable toilet seat according to the preamble of claim 1, a method for heating a toilet seat according to the preamble of claim 9, and a combination of a toilet seat and a flush toilet according to the preamble of claim 12. Background Art

[0002] Various seat heating devices are known, and it is considered particularly advantageous if the toilet seat can be assembled on the flush toilet without cables, since cleaning is then much easier. To achieve a cable-free heated seat, it is proposed in DE202011108948 to use an electrical energy storage device. However, the function of such a heating device is affected due to the limited battery life. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Here, the present invention provides a remedy. The object of the present invention is to provide a heatable toilet seat that is simpler in terms of energy, function and construction.

[0004] The present invention solves the posed task with a heatable toilet seat having the features of claim 1.

[0005] The advantages achieved by the present invention mainly lie in that the heating of the toilet seat and the temperature measurement necessary for setting the optimal temperature are carried out by a single circuit or only require two wires.

[0006] Other advantages of the present invention are that a heatable toilet seat can be provided for the user, but it can be very simply disassembled for cleaning. The known cable connections are disadvantageous for simple removal, and it has therefore proven advantageous that the necessary electrical connections "automatically" separate during disassembly. The present invention enables removability by means of the axis of the toilet seat, which enables the seat to be pulled out in a position perpendicular to the flush toilet by 90°.

[0007] Technically, separating only two wires is significantly simpler than separating four wires, which are necessary for heating and measurement. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to use a toilet seat having a heating device according to claim 1, since two functions (heating and measurement) can be achieved by means of a diode and polarity conversion with only two wires.

[0008] Another advantage of the present invention is that the toilet seat according to the present invention has a single pivot axis for the toilet seat and the lid, which is used both for powering the heating device and for assembling the toilet seat on the flush toilet. This results in a more compact form of the toilet seat compared to known toilet seats that require two pivot axes (one for the toilet seat and one for the lid).

[0009] Other advantageous design solutions of the present invention can be explained as follows:

[0010] In a particular embodiment, the toilet seat can be rotatably connected to the flush toilet by means of a shaft having two shaft contact portions.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the polarity conversion from the heating phase to the temperature measurement phase takes place after at most 12 seconds, preferably after at most 30 seconds.

[0012] In another embodiment, the polarity conversion from the temperature measurement phase to the heating phase takes place after at most 100 milliseconds, preferably after at most 50 milliseconds.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the ratio between the measuring resistance and the heating resistance is in the range between 100 and 10,000, preferably in the range between 900 and 1100.

[0014] In an additional embodiment, the toilet seat can be mechanically connected to the flush toilet by means of a shaft and electrically connected to a power supply. The electrical connection of the toilet seat to the power supply takes place via the power supply unit of the flush toilet.

[0015] In another embodiment, the toilet seat is arranged relative to the flush toilet so as to be rotatable about a shaft.

[0016] In another embodiment, the toilet seat has a lid which is arranged to rotate coaxially with the shaft.

[0017] The method according to the invention for heating a toilet seat according to the invention comprises the following steps:

[0018] a) Identifying the need for heating;

[0019] b) Heating the toilet seat during a predetermined heating interval I A ;

[0020] c) Reversing the polarity and measuring the actual temperature of the toilet seat;

[0021] d) Calculating the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature of the toilet seat and calculating the estimated time interval I S ;

[0022] e) In the presence of a temperature difference, during the time interval I S reversing the polarity and heating the toilet seat, and repeating steps c) to e) until the target temperature is reached;

[0023] f) Terminating the heating of the toilet seat (1) when the target temperature is reached.

[0024] In a specific embodiment of the method, after reaching the target temperature, the actual temperature of the toilet seat is continuously measured until the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature, preferably until the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature by at least 1 °C.

[0025] In an additional embodiment of the method, the polarity is switched in the case of a predetermined deviation of the actual temperature from the target temperature, and steps b) to f) are carried out again.

[0026] The invention also relates to a combination of a heatable toilet seat and a flush toilet, wherein the toilet seat is arranged relative to the flush toilet so as to be rotatable about an axis.

[0027] In a specific embodiment of the above combination, when the toilet seat is in the vertical position, the electrical connection of the toilet seat to the power supply is interrupted.

[0028] In another embodiment of the above combination, when the toilet seat is in the horizontal position, there is an electrical connection of the toilet seat to the power supply.

[0029] In an additional embodiment of the above combination, when the toilet seat is rotated 90° relative to the flush toilet, the electrical connection of the toilet seat to the power supply can be established or interrupted.

[0030] In another embodiment of the above combination, the combination has a lid which is arranged on the same axis of the toilet seat so as to be rotatable relative to the flush toilet. Description of the Drawings

[0031] The invention and further configurations thereof will be explained in more detail below with the aid of partial schematic views of embodiments.

[0032] The figures show:

[0033] Figure 1 Schematic view showing an embodiment of a toilet seat according to the invention.

[0034] Figure 2a Schematic circuit diagram showing the heating device of a toilet seat according to the invention, having the polarity of the voltage in the conduction direction of the diode;

[0035] Figure 2b Schematic circuit diagram showing the heating device of a toilet seat according to the invention, having the polarity of the voltage in the cut-off direction of the diode;

[0036] Figure 3 Perspective detail view showing the toilet seat;

[0037] Figure 4 Showing a plurality of cross-sections through the axis of the toilet seat or through the base plate of the flush toilet when the toilet seat is removed from the flush toilet. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0038] Figure 1 Schematic illustration of a heatable toilet seat 1 having a heating device 6 for heating the toilet seat 1. The heating device 6 is connected via a suitable voltage converter to a power supply (usually connected to the power supply network) not shown. In Figure 1 the embodiment shown, the heating device 6 includes a heating wire 5 integrated into the toilet seat. The heating wire 5 acts as a heating resistor 4 and converts electrical energy into heat.

[0039] From Figure 3 it can best be seen how the heating device 6 is connected to the supply network. The end sections of the heating wire 5 are connected within the toilet seat 1 to shaft contacts 10a, 10b (shaft contacts 10a, 10b for two wires respectively are present with a 180° stagger). The shaft 13 of the toilet seat 1 is positively located within the toilet seat 1 which is only partially visible in Figure 3 . If the toilet seat 1 is removed from the toilet (for cleaning, for example), the shaft 13 remains fixedly connected to the toilet seat 1.

[0040] The shaft 13 electrically and mechanically connects the toilet seat 1 to the toilet.

[0041] Spring contacts 11a, 11b are installed in the base plate 14 of the toilet. When the toilet seat 1 is assembled onto or removed from the toilet, the shaft 13 of the toilet seat 1 is inserted into or removed from the base plate 14 in the up - turned position. In the up - turned state of the toilet seat, there is no contact between the shaft contacts 10a, 10b and the spring contacts 11a, 11b. If the toilet seat 1 is lowered (for use, for example), the shaft 13 together with the shaft contacts 10a, 10b rotates 90° relative to the base plate 14, so that the shaft contacts 10a, 10b come into contact with the spring contacts 11a, 11b. Thus, a connection is produced between the heating wire 5 and the toilet connected to the power supply section.

[0042] The heating device 6 is also connected to a control device (not shown) of the toilet having an electronic circuit by means of the contact between the shaft contacts 10a, 10b and the spring contacts 11a, 11b.

[0043] The heating device 6 includes a heating resistor 4, a measuring resistor 2 and a diode 3. The heating device 6 is configured to be connected to a control device (not shown) having an electronic circuit as described above, so that the heating of the toilet seat 1 is started or terminated by means of the control device together with the electronic circuit. Similarly, the electronic circuit controls the polarity change of the voltage source of the heating device 6. The control device is placed in the chamber of the toilet. The electronic circuit includes a microchip with corresponding software which switches the polarity and accordingly starts or terminates the heating phase or the temperature measurement phase.

[0044] The principle of the present invention is illustrated by Figures 2a - 2b shown. Figure 2a Shown is a schematic circuit diagram of the heating device 6 during the heating phase. The heating device 6 includes a heating resistor 4, a measuring resistor 2, and a diode 3, wherein, during the heating phase, the diode 3 is arranged in the circuit in the current conduction direction. In this example, the heating resistor 4 is about 10 ohms, and the measuring resistor 2 is about 10,000 ohms. Therefore, the current mainly flows through the heating resistor 4 during the heating phase, and thus the current through the measuring resistor 2 can be ignored. Figure 2b Shown is a schematic circuit diagram of the heating device 6 during the heating pause (i.e., during the measuring phase), wherein, during the heating pause, the diode 3 is arranged in the circuit in the current cut-off direction, so that the current can only flow through the measuring resistor 2.

[0045] After recognizing the need for heating, the toilet seat 1 is heated.

[0046] Then, the heating of the toilet seat 1 is started, wherein the current flows in the conduction direction of the diode 3 and thus flows through the heating resistor 4 during a predetermined heating interval I A During. After passing through the heating interval I A The polarity is switched, so that the current now flows in the cut-off direction of the diode 3 and thus only flows through the measuring resistor 2. Here, the actual temperature is detected by a control device or corresponding software and compared with the target temperature, and the length of the next heating interval is determined according to the ascertained data. After passing through the heating interval I S The polarity is switched again, and the actual temperature is measured again, compared with the target temperature, and if necessary, the length of a further heating interval is determined. The heating / measuring / heating and other processes are carried out until the target temperature is reached, and the heating process is interrupted.

[0047] After reaching the target temperature, the measurement is now continuously carried out. When the actual temperature of the toilet seat 1 drops (e.g., by more than 1 °C), it is switched back to the heating phase again.

[0048] The heating process is started directly by the user or by a sensor, which can be arranged inside or outside the toilet seat. During the heating phase ( Figure 2a ), the current flows through the heating resistor 4, wherein the heating element (heating wire 5) and thus the toilet seat 1 gets hot. After the heating interval, the heating process is interrupted by switching the polarity of the power supply by the control device. During the heating pause ( Figure 2b ), the current only flows through the measuring resistor 2, so that the temperature of the heating wire 5 can be detected.

[0049] The heating interval is variable and depends on the deviation of the actual temperature from the target temperature. The greater the deviation from the target temperature, the longer the heating can be (usually > 10 s). The coefficient for determining how long to heat between measurements is 200 ms / °C, that is, when the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature is 10 °C, heat for 2 s before starting the next measurement. When approaching the target temperature, the interval can be shortened to 100 ms. The heating pause is in principle constant and typically lies in the range of 1 - 100 ms.

[0050] The polarity change of the voltage is controlled by an electronic circuit. The corresponding switching elements (transistors, relays) are connected and controlled such that for heating, typically 24 V is applied, and for measuring the temperature, typically 5 V or less is applied.

[0051] The temperature is measured by measuring the voltage that drops across a variable measuring resistor and is converted into a temperature variable in the control device.

[0052] Despite the different embodiments of the present invention described above, these embodiments should be understood in such a way that the different features can be used both individually and in any arbitrary combination.

[0053] Therefore, the present invention is not simply limited to the above - mentioned particularly preferred embodiments.

Claims

1. A heatable toilet seat (1) for a flush toilet, wherein: The toilet seat (1) comprises a heating device (6) integrated in the toilet seat (1) and having a heating wire (5), the heating wire having the function of a heating resistor (4), wherein the heating wire (5) is configured to be connectable to a power supply and a control device; and The heating device (6) comprises an electronic circuit, a diode (3) having a conducting direction and a blocking direction, and a measuring resistor (2), wherein - the measuring resistor (2) is connected in parallel with the heating resistor (4); and - the ability to cause a polarity reversal between a conducting direction and a blocking direction of the diode by means of an electronic circuit; and - in the conduction direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in the heating phase, and in the cut-off direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in the temperature measurement phase; and The toilet seat (1) comprises a shaft (13) having two electrical shaft contacts (10a, 10b), wherein the heating wire (5) comprises two end sections, each of which is connected to one of the shaft contacts (10a, 10b).

2. The heated toilet seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The toilet seat (1) can be rotatably connected to a flush toilet bowl by means of a shaft (13) having two shaft contact portions (10a, 10b).

3. The heatable toilet seat (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The polarity change from the heating phase to the temperature measurement phase takes place after a maximum of 12 seconds, preferably after a maximum of 30 seconds.

4. A heatable toilet seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The polarity change from the temperature measurement phase to the heating phase takes place after a maximum of 100 milliseconds, preferably after a maximum of 50 milliseconds.

5. A heatable toilet seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The ratio between the measuring resistor ( 2 ) and the heating resistor ( 4 ) is in the range between 100 and 10,000, preferably in the range between 900 and 1,100.

6. A heatable toilet seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The toilet seat (1) can be mechanically connected to the flush toilet and electrically connected to a power source via a shaft (13).

7. The heated toilet seat (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The toilet seat (1) is arranged relative to the toilet bowl so as to be rotatable about an axis (13).

8. A heatable toilet seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The heated toilet seat has a cover (15) which is arranged to rotate coaxially with the shaft (13).

9. Method for heating a toilet seat, in particular a toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the following steps: a) identify the need for heating; b) At a predetermined heating interval I A During heating of toilet seat (1); c) switching the polarity and measuring the actual temperature of the toilet seat (1); d) calculating the difference between the actual temperature of the toilet seat (1) and the target temperature and calculating the expected time interval I for heating the toilet seat until the target temperature is reached S ; e) In the presence of a temperature difference, at time interval I S During this time, the polarity is switched and the toilet seat (1) is heated, and steps c) to e) are repeated until the target temperature is reached; f) terminating the heating of the toilet seat (1) when the target temperature is reached.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that After reaching the target temperature, the actual temperature of the toilet seat (1) is continuously measured until the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature, preferably until the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature by at least 1°C.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: In the event of a predetermined deviation of the actual temperature from the target temperature, the polarity is reversed and steps b) to f) are carried out.

12. A combination of a heated toilet seat (1) and a flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The toilet seat (1) is arranged relative to the toilet bowl so as to be rotatable about an axis (13).

13. The combination according to claim 12, characterized in that When the toilet seat (1) is in a vertical position, the electrical connection between the toilet seat (1) and the power supply is interrupted.

14. A combination according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that When the toilet seat (1) is in a horizontal position, there is an electrical connection between the toilet seat (1) and a power source.

15. The combination according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that When the toilet seat (1) is rotated 90° relative to the flush toilet, the electrical connection between the toilet seat (1) and the power supply can be established or interrupted.

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