Toilet paper holder

Abstract

Toilet paper holder, including: i) a cuboid housing 101, a clamp 102 on the back of the housing 101 and a plurality of suction cups 201 on the back for attaching the housing 101 to a surface, ii) a motorized roller 103 arranged inside the housing 101, the roller 103 serving to hold a spool of toilet paper; iii) a rectangular flap 301 which is attached to a rectangular opening 302 on a front surface of the housing 101 by a hinge for covering the toilet paper, wherein a plurality of spring-loaded balls are arranged in the opening 302 to allow smooth dispensing of the toilet paper from the roll 103; iv) an air blower unit 303 configured with a Peltier unit mounted below the housing 101 to blow hot air onto a user's hands for drying, wherein a proximity sensor detects the presence of the user's hands near the air blower unit 303 to trigger a microcontroller to actuate the air blower unit 303 and the Peltier unit to blow hot air onto the user's hands for drying; (v) a storage box 104, which is provided above the housing 101 for storing new toilet paper spools, wherein an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105, which is installed on the housing 101 and integrated with a processor for recording and processing images near the housing 101, identifies a finished toilet paper spool to trigger the microcontroller to actuate a robotic arm 106 attached to the housing 101 to remove the finished spool, to place the finished spool in a waste container 107 attached to the housing 101, and to retrieve a new toilet paper spool from the storage box 104 to install the spool on the roll 103; and vi) an ultraviolet light emitter 108 arranged inside the housing 101 to emit ultraviolet light onto the toilet paper in order to disinfect the toilet paper before use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet paper holding device capable of automatically dispensing the toilet paper upon a command given by the user, detecting the finished toilet paper roll and replacing the roll with a new toilet paper roll, and removing the foul odor from the environment if a foul odor is detected. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Toilet paper is found in every bathroom, requiring toilet paper holders. Toilet paper holders are fixtures that come in various designs, including wall-mounted, freestanding, and recessed models. Some holders even have additional features such as covers or storage for spare rolls. These various types of holders are essential bathroom accessories designed to keep toilet paper safely stored in the bathroom.

[0003] Traditionally, toilet paper holders and storage boxes were used to store toilet paper. These storage boxes took up a lot of floor space, reducing the bathroom's space. Sometimes, toilet paper was placed on the floor or on a shelf, which filled the shelves and prevented other items from being used. Hygiene and sanitation issues are also present with this type of toilet paper holder. Therefore, there is a need for an invention that reduces space consumption and improves sanitation.

[0004] US2017027395A1 discloses a toilet paper holder according to the invention for the efficient and orderly storage of toilet paper. The toilet paper holder comprises a base plate that can be attached to a wall or other support surface with one or more fastening elements, such as screws. The base plate includes one or more telescopic arms extending from it. The telescopic arms can be extended or retracted lengthwise to hold a desired number of toilet paper rolls thereon. In embodiments with multiple arms, the arms are substantially parallel to each other and separated by a gap. The telescopic arms can be removably attached to the base plate via a threaded connection. In this way, the toilet paper holder allows the user to store a number of toilet paper rolls in an orderly manner.While the US'395 can provide a stand that holds the toilet paper roll according to the number of rolls by expanding the size, the device fails to monitor the rolls that have been used up and to replace them with new ones.

[0005] US8397907B 1 discloses an invention in which a toilet paper holder device is provided for holding a spare roll of toilet paper or tissue. The toilet paper holder device comprises a base plate and a cover plate. A plurality of plates and a plurality of rods are mounted between the base plate and the cover plate. The spare roll of toilet paper is visible between the plates and the rods. The lid rests on the toilet paper roll when inserted. When the holder is empty, the lid rests on the bottom of the device and reminds the user that the container needs to be refilled. US'907 does provide an enclosed structure for storing the rolls and indicates to the user when the container is full. However, the device fails to disinfect the toilet paper rolls before use.

[0006] Conventionally, there are many devices on the market as mentioned in the prior art that assist the user in storing and dispensing toilet paper, but they are not able to monitor the rolls that are used up and replace them with new rolls, and the device also fails in disinfecting the toilet paper before use.

[0007] To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, there is a need in the art to develop a device capable of monitoring the finished rolls and replacing them with new ones. Furthermore, the device must also be capable of cleaning the new rolls before use. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of automatically dispensing toilet paper in response to a command given by the user.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of detecting the finished toilet paper roll and replacing the roll with a new toilet paper roll.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of disinfecting the new toilet paper rolls before they are used.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of removing the foul odor from the environment if a foul odor is detected.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is portable and reliable in nature.

[0014] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon closer examination of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention relates to a toilet paper holding device capable of automatically dispensing the toilet paper upon a command given by the user, detecting the finished toilet paper roll and replacing the roll with a new toilet paper roll, and removing the foul odor from the environment if a foul odor is detected.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a toilet paper holder comprises a cuboid-shaped housing, a clamp on a back side of the housing, a plurality of suction cups on the back side for attaching the housing to a surface, a motorized roller arranged inside the housing to receive a spool of toilet paper, a rectangular flap hinged to a rectangular opening on a front side of the housing for covering the toilet paper, a rectangular flap hinged to a rectangular opening on the front surface of the housing for covering the toilet paper, with a plurality of pop-up balls arranged in the opening to enable smooth dispensing of the toilet paper from the roll, an air blower unit configured with a Peltier unit mounted under the housing,to blow hot air onto a user's hands for drying, and a proximity sensor detects the presence of the user's hands near the air blower unit.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises a storage box provided above the housing for storing new toilet paper spools, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit installed on the housing for determining a finished toilet paper spool, a robotic arm attached to the housing for removing the finished spool, placing the finished spool in a waste container connected to the housing, and removing a new toilet paper spool from the storage box, an ultraviolet light emitter arranged within the housing for emitting ultraviolet light onto the toilet paper to disinfect the toilet paper before use, a tank with a pump for storing an odor-neutralizing liquid, which is attached to the housing, an odor sensor provided on the housing,to detect an unpleasant odor near the housing, a spray nozzle on the tank to spray the odor-neutralizing liquid to remove the detected unpleasant odor, and a microphone provided on the housing to receive an audio command from the user regarding the dispensing of toilet paper.

[0018] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations are possible which would fall within the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a toilet paper holder; Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the proposed device; and Fig. Figure 3 shows a front view of the proposed device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The following description contains the preferred best mode for carrying out an embodiment of the present invention. It will be apparent from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0021] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms “comprising,” “comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with “including,” “with,” and “characterized by”) may be replaced by the respective partially closed terms “consists essentially of,” “consists essentially of,” and the like, or the respective closed terms “consists of,” “consists of,” and the like.

[0022] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to both the singular and the plural, unless explicitly stated that only the singular is meant.

[0023] The present invention relates to a toilet paper holding device capable of automatically dispensing the toilet paper upon the command given by the user, detecting the finished toilet paper roll and replacing the roll with a new toilet paper roll, and removing the foul odor from the environment if a foul odor is detected.

[0024] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig.3 shows an isometric view of a toilet paper holder device, a rear view of the proposed device, and a toilet paper holder device comprising a cuboid-shaped housing 101, a clamp 102 on the rear side of the housing 101, a plurality of suction cups 201 on the rear side, a motorized roller 103 arranged inside the housing 101, a rectangular flap 301 attached to a rectangular opening 302 on the front side of the housing 101, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 303 attached to the housing 101, a robotic arm 106 attached to the housing 101, a waste bin 107 attached to the front side of the housing 101, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105, an air blower unit 303 attached below the housing 101, a storage box 104, which is provided above the housing 101,an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 installed on the housing 101, a robot arm 106 attached to the housing 101, a waste container 107 attached to the housing 101, an ultraviolet light emitter 108 disposed within the housing 101, a tank 109 with a spray nozzle 110 attached to the housing 101, and a microphone 111 provided on the housing 101.

[0025] The proposed device comprises a cuboid-shaped housing 101 and a clamp 102 on a rear surface of the housing 101. The clamp 102 used here acts as a hand for grasping the handle. The clamp 102 has a pair of jaws that open or close under the operation of the microcontroller to grasp the handle. Attached to the rear are several suction cups 201 (4 to 6) with which the housing 101 can be attached to a surface. When pressed onto the surface, the suction cups create a negative pressure in the suction cups 201 by forcing the air out of the suction cups 201 using a suction pump, thereby creating a negative pressure in the suction area. The atmospheric pressure outside the suction cups 201 presses on the negative pressure inside the unit to create a negative pressure for attaching the housing 101 to the surface.

[0026] Furthermore, a motorized roller 103 is arranged inside the housing 101 to hold a spool of toilet paper. The motorized roller 103 is a disc driven by a bidirectional motor, which is operated by the microcontroller to move the roller 103. The bidirectional motor is capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy and rotating the motor shaft clockwise and counterclockwise. Counterclockwise movement of the motor shaft results in counterclockwise movement of the roller 103, while clockwise movement of the motor results in movement of the roller 103 containing the spool of toilet paper.

[0027] Furthermore, a rectangular flap 301 is attached to a rectangular opening 302 on a front surface of the housing 101 by a hinge for covering the toilet paper. The hinge is a small piece that connects the flap 301 to the surface of the housing 101 and allows it to rotate along its longitudinal axis by rotation, the operation of which is controlled by a bidirectional motor connected to the microcontroller. When the motor rotates clockwise, the motor imparts movement to the hinge, causing the frame to also rotate clockwise. When the motor rotates counterclockwise, the motor imparts movement to the hinge, causing the frame to also rotate counterclockwise.When the motor is actuated, the microcontroller causes the motor to rotate clockwise to unfold the flap 301 so that the flap 301 is positioned over the opening 302 to cover the toilet paper.

[0028] Several pop-out balls (6 to 8) are arranged in the opening 302 to enable smooth dispensing of the toilet paper from the roll 103. The pop-out balls consist of a spherical body connected to a motorized mechanism on the body. When activated by the microcontroller, these mechanisms drive the balls outward from their rest position, thus generating the rotational movement for the pop-out balls. This movement is evaluated by the microcontroller as a force and causes the pop-out balls positioned in the opening 302 to rotate, allowing the roll 103 to dispense the toilet paper smoothly.

[0029] On the housing 101 is a microphone 111, which receives an audio command from the user to dispense toilet paper. The microphone 111 is an electronic unit that converts sound vibrations in the air into an electronic signal and transmits it to a microcontroller. The microphone 111 consists of a diaphragm and a magnet wound with a coil. When the user gives voice commands to dispense toilet paper, the sound wave strikes the diaphragm. This causes the coils to move back and forth in the magnet's field, generating an electric current. The electric current is transmitted to the microcontroller, which extracts the command to dispense toilet paper and actuates the roller 103 and the pop-up balls to unwind the toilet paper spool and dispense it from the opening 302.

[0030] Furthermore, an air blower unit 303 with a Peltier unit is mounted below the housing 101 to blow hot air to dry a user's hands. The air blower consists of a heater, a vortex, an impeller, and an outlet duct. The blower increases the pressure of the sucked air through a series of vortex movements created by the centrifugal motion of the impeller. As the impeller rotates, the channels in the impeller force the sucked air through a heater, which increases the temperature of the sucked air through the centrifugal motion, creating a spiral motion of the air. During this centrifugal motion, the sucked air is continuously compressed along the duct, and the pressure increases linearly. The pressurized air is transferred from the outlet duct of the blower to the user's hand.

[0031] The air blower is equipped with a Peltier unit to blow out the hot air. The Peltier unit is based on the Peltier effect, which states that when an electric current is maintained in a circuit made up of two dissimilar conductors, one junction cools and the other heats up. The Peltier unit consists of several pairs of semiconductor materials, usually made of bismuth telluride or other thermoelectric materials. These pairs are connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. Each pair consists of a p-type and an n-type semiconductor. When a direct current is applied to the Peltier unit, electrons flow from the n-type semiconductor to the p-type semiconductor on one side of the unit, while on the other side, electrons flow in the opposite direction. As the electrons move, they transfer heat energy.At the junctions of the semiconductor pairs, heat is either absorbed or released depending on the direction of current flow. This means that one side of the device becomes cooler while the other side becomes hotter, which is transferred to the air fan.

[0032] Additionally, a proximity sensor detects the presence of the user's hands near the blower unit 303. The proximity sensor, integrated into the housing 101, consists of a transducer. The proximity sensor works by emitting a sound wave with a frequency above the human hearing range. The sensor's transducer acts as both a sound receiver and a sound transmitter, receiving and transmitting the ultrasonic wave, respectively. When the transducer emits the sound wave, the wave strikes the hands of the user who is near the air blower and is reflected back to the transducer. The proximity sensor then analyzes the presence of the user's hand by measuring the time intervals between the transmission and reception of the sound wave.While the proximity sensor analyzes the presence, it converts the signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the microcontroller, which controls the air blower unit 303 and the Peltier unit to blow hot air onto the user's hands for drying.

[0033] Furthermore, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is installed on the housing 101 and integrated with a processor for capturing and processing images of the surroundings of the housing 101 to determine a finished toilet paper roll. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is equipped with a camera, a lens, and a processor, wherein the camera lens is adapted to capture a series of images of the surroundings of the housing 101. The processor performs a series of image processing operations, including preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification. The image captured by the artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is a real-time image of the surroundings of the housing 101.The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 transmits the captured image signal in the form of digital bits to the microcontroller, which, upon receiving the signal, analyzes and processes the finished toilet paper spool to recognize it and operate a robotic arm 106 attached to the housing 101 to remove the finished spool and place it in a waste container 107 attached to the housing 101 and to remove a new toilet paper spool from a storage container 104 provided above the housing 101, in which new toilet paper spools are stored, in order to install the spool on the roll 103.

[0034] The robot arm 106 consists of a shoulder, an elbow, and a wrist. All of these parts are configured with the microcontroller. The elbow is located in the middle part of the arm 106, allowing the upper part of the arm 106 to move the lower part independently. Finally, the wrist is located at the tip of the upper arm 106 and is connected to the end effector, which serves as a hand to hold the finished toilet paper roll, place it in the waste container, and insert the new toilet paper roll for use.

[0035] An ultraviolet light emitter 108 is arranged within the housing 101 to emit ultraviolet light onto the toilet paper to disinfect the toilet paper before use. The ultraviolet light emitter 108 works by penetrating the toilet paper with UV light, destroying pathogens and their DNA, as DNA is the fundamental basis. The light emitted by the UV light emitter 108 impairs the organism's functions such as growth and reproduction. The incidence of UV light disinfects the toilet paper before use.

[0036] An odor sensor is attached to the housing 101 to detect the odor in the environment surrounding the housing 101. The odor sensor operates by changing chemical properties and generates an electrical resistance that is measured when the sensor is exposed to odors. The chemical sensors contained in the odor sensor have a sensitive layer that converts a chemical interaction into a unique signal pattern that is transmitted to the microcontroller. The microcontroller then interprets the signal pattern and determines the odor of the environment surrounding the housing 101. If the microcontroller detects a foul odor in the environment, it actuates a pump to spray the odor-neutralizing liquid from a tank 109 connected to the pump and a spray nozzle 110 to remove the detected unpleasant odor.

[0037] The pump used here consists of an impeller equipped with a motor connected to the microcontroller. When activated, the microcontroller controls the movement of the motor, followed by the movement of the impeller. As the impeller rotates, a partial vacuum is created to draw in air from the surrounding area and transport it to the tank 109. While the odor-neutralizing liquid is being pumped into the environment, the microcontroller controls the opening 302 and closing of the spray nozzle 110 to release the odor-neutralizing liquid into the environment to eliminate the detected unpleasant odor.

[0038] Finally, a battery is installed in the device which is connected to the microcontroller that supplies power to all the electrically operated components that require a certain amount of electrical energy to perform their functions and operation in an efficient manner. The battery used here is usually a dry battery, which is made of lithium-ion material and provides the device with a long lifespan along with an efficient direct current that helps all the components to function properly and efficiently. Since the device is battery-operated, it does not require any electrical voltage for its operation. Therefore, the presence of a battery leads to the portability of the device, meaning the user can move the device from one place to another as per their need.

[0039] The present invention works best in the following manner, in which the cuboid-shaped housing 101, as disclosed in the invention, is integrated with the bracket 102 at the back of the housing 101, attached to the floor surface via a plurality of suction cups 201. The motorized roll 103 contains the spool of toilet paper. The rectangular flap 301, attached to the rectangular opening 302, covers the toilet paper. Several pop-up balls allow the smooth dispensing of toilet paper from the roll 103. The microphone 111 receives the command to dispense the toilet paper. The blower unit 303, equipped with the Peltier unit, blows the hot air detected by the proximity sensor near the blower onto the user's hands to dry them.

[0040] Subsequently, the storage box 104 containing the new toilet paper reels is stored. When the artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 detects the finished toilet paper reel, the robot arm 106 removes the finished reel and places it in the waste bin 107, while removing the new toilet paper reel from the storage bin 104 to install the reel on the roll 103. The ultraviolet light emitter 108 irradiates the toilet paper with ultraviolet light to disinfect the toilet paper before use. The odor sensor detects the unpleasant odor near the housing 101, and the pump sprays the odor-neutralizing liquid to remove the detected unpleasant odor.

[0041] Although the scope of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2017027395A1

[0004] US 8397907B

[0005]

Claims

[1] Toilet paper holder, comprising: i) a cuboid-shaped housing 101, a clamp 102 on the back of the housing 101 and a plurality of suction cups 201 on the back for attaching the housing 101 to a surface, ii) a motorized roller 103 disposed within the housing 101, the roller 103 serving to receive a spool of toilet paper; iii) a rectangular flap 301 hinged to a rectangular opening 302 on a front surface of the housing 101 for covering the toilet paper, a plurality of pop-up balls being disposed in the opening 302 to enable smooth dispensing of the toilet paper from the roll 103; iv) an air blower unit 303 configured with a Peltier unit mounted below the housing 101 to blow hot air onto a user's hands for drying, wherein a proximity sensor detects the presence of the user's hands near the air blower unit 303 to trigger a microcontroller to operate the air blower unit 303 and the Peltier unit to blow hot air onto the user's hands for drying; v) a storage box 104 provided above the housing 101 for storing new toilet paper spools, wherein an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 installed on the housing 101 and integrated with a processor for recording and processing images near the housing 101 determines a finished toilet paper spool to trigger the microcontroller to operate a robotic arm 106 attached to the housing 101 to remove the finished spool, to place the finished spool in a waste container 107 attached to the housing 101, and to remove a new toilet paper spool from the storage box 104 to install the spool on the roll 103; and vi) an ultraviolet light emitter 108 disposed within the housing 101 for emitting ultraviolet light onto the toilet paper to disinfect the toilet paper before use. [2] The device according to claim 1, wherein a tank 109 having a pump and a spray nozzle 110 on the tank 109 storing an odor-neutralizing liquid is connected to the housing 101, wherein an odor sensor provided on the housing 101 detects an unpleasant odor in the vicinity of the housing 101 to trigger the microcontroller to operate the pump to spray the odor-neutralizing liquid to remove the detected unpleasant odor. [3] The device according to claim 1, wherein a microphone 111 connected to the microcontroller is provided on the housing 101 to receive an audio command from the user regarding the dispensing of toilet paper to trigger the microcontroller to actuate the roller 103 and the pop-up balls to unroll the toilet paper spool and dispense it from the opening 302. [4] The device of claim 1, wherein a battery is connected to the device to power electrical and electronically operated components connected to the device.

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