Sanitary equipment, such as a urinal, a urinal or similar

Abstract

Sanitary equipment (10), such as a urinal, a urinal or similar, with a front surface (11), with an area (12) designed to receive a stream of urine, wherein the area (12) is optically marked so that a user can direct a stream of urine onto this area (12), characterized by that this front surface (11) is formed as a closed surface and that in the area (12) one or more detection units (20) are provided which detect the impact of the urine stream and transmit this to an evaluation unit (30), wherein the evaluation unit (30) indirectly or directly emits an acoustic signal and / or controls an optical display on at least a partial area (15) of the front surface (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sanitary device such as a urinal, a pissoir, or similar, which can be designed with a flushing mechanism or without water. Such sanitary devices have been known since the 19th century.

[0002] To increase the user's accuracy when using a plumbing device, it is known to place a marker, such as a fly, in the device's collection tray. While this marker presents a potential target for the operator, it offers no entertainment value.

[0003] Furthermore, some urinals contain a goal in the form of a football goal with a suspended ball, which is supposed to be propelled into the goal by the urine stream. Additionally, stickers depicting a ball are known to disappear due to the temperature of the urine stream. Both of these devices pose hygiene problems, as the goal and the ball, or even the sticker, must be cleaned regularly to prevent the growth of germs. This significantly complicates the cleaning of the sanitary fixture.

[0004] It is also common practice to place posters, signs, and similar items, or even screens displaying moving images, near sanitary fixtures to entertain users or to send advertising messages. However, this is often ineffective, as users, out of embarrassment and / or to aim their urine stream correctly, tend to look downwards into the fixture's collection basin.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to create a sanitary device that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and, on the one hand, increases the user's aim and / or, on the other hand, entertains the user while urinating or, if necessary, transmits an advertising message to the user. Furthermore, the invention can be used, particularly in urologically specialized practices or clinics, to obtain information about the quality and quantity of the urinary stream or the amount of urine, as this is important for the diagnosis of certain diseases. This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, which are of particular importance as follows.

[0006] The sanitary device has a closed front panel. It also features a clearly marked area for the user, intended to be targeted by the urine stream. Within this area are one or more detection units that detect the impact of the urine stream and, if necessary, perform further measurements. The urine stream impact and any additional measurement results are then transmitted to an evaluation unit. This unit, in turn, forwards the results to a control unit, which then emits a visual and / or audible signal, either directly or indirectly. The visual signal is displayed on a screen on a portion of the front panel, allowing the user to directly perceive the information shown.This information can, for example, serve entertainment purposes and / or represent advertising messages and / or be made available to a doctor in the medical field so that he receives further diagnostic information if needed.

[0007] A display positioned in a section of the front panel offers a particularly wide range of options for presenting diverse information. Both still and moving images, text, and other content can be displayed here. This is especially effective when displaying information or advertising messages, or when evaluating data on the quality and quantity of the urine stream for medical purposes, as the user will have little opportunity to look elsewhere during this time and can therefore absorb the advertising message particularly well.

[0008] This display is particularly advantageous when positioned in the collection tray of the sanitary fixture. This is the area where the user should ideally direct the urine stream. As a direct consequence, they will look precisely at this area and perceive the information displayed on the screen most effectively.

[0009] The one or more detection units can be designed to detect a mechanical effect, an optical effect, a capacitive effect, and / or a change in electric field strength. If multiple detection units are used, they can be identical or different. Simple detection or measurement can be performed to determine parameters of the stream characteristics. These parameters include the position, duration, intensity, and / or movement of the urine stream. The determined parameters are intended to be displayed or transmitted to another electronic device such as a computer, mobile device, etc. This data can also be made available to medical personnel to detect urinary tract problems or diseases. The parameters can also be used to control a video game or similar application for user entertainment.

[0010] It is also possible to control games, such as video games, using the urine stream. This provides entertainment for the user and further improves the accuracy of the urine stream when the area to be targeted is located within the collection tray of the sanitary fixture. The games can then be displayed on the screen in a section of the front panel.

[0011] Optical analysis of the urine stream can be performed using cameras, infrared cameras, time-of-flight (ToF) measurements, or similar devices. Various measurements can also be taken to mechanically analyze the urine stream, such as structural wave measurements, vibrations, force, pressure and / or momentum of the urine stream, surface deformation, oscillations, etc. The urine stream can also be detected electromagnetically, for example, by measuring changes in capacitance caused by the urine stream in the area of ​​the toilet's collection basin, by changes in the electromagnetic field, or using piezoelectric sensors. The number and type of detection units can then be selected according to the desired parameters to be measured.

[0012] Finally, a transmitter may be provided that sends the determined values ​​wirelessly or via cabling to the display in the partial area of ​​the front surface or to another device, such as a computer, a mobile device, etc.

[0013] The sanitary device according to the invention exhibits high precision in the evaluation of the urine stream characteristics. It is very hygienic, as the front surface is completely enclosed and the associated electronics are located behind the device. The system is highly robust against environmental influences and tampering or vandalism. Efficient data processing enables the system to operate in real time and display the measured results immediately. The invention is applicable to all types of sanitary devices of this type, from individual urinals to large sanitary installations. It can also be retrofitted into existing sanitary devices.

[0014] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the further description, and the drawings. The invention is illustrated in several exemplary embodiments in the drawings. They show: Fig. 1: A sanitary device according to the invention, in perspective from the front, Fig. 2: the sanitary equipment from Fig. 1 on average.

[0015] Fig. Figure 1 shows a sanitary device (10), namely a urinal, which is equipped with a device according to the invention. On the closed front surface (11), an area (12) is marked in the collection trough (13) towards which a user should aim their urine stream. A display (14) is arranged in the sub-area (15), which can display games, advertising messages and other information.

[0016] An example of the construction of the sanitary device (10) can be found in Fig.2. Behind the area (12) on the front surface (11) four detection units (20) are visible. These can determine parameters of the urine stream and forward these results to the evaluation unit (30). The evaluation unit (30) in turn sends data to the controller (31), which then directly or indirectly controls the display (14) to show information. In this embodiment, the display (14) is controlled via the transmitter (32). This transmitter can also send the data to other devices, such as computers, mobile devices, etc.

[0017] Finally, it should be noted that the embodiment presented here is merely an exemplary configuration of the invention. The invention is not limited to this embodiment. Modifications and adaptations are possible. For example, the number and arrangement of the detection units can vary. The type of detection units and the type and number of determined beam characteristic parameters can also differ depending on the desired result. The data obtained can be used for medical purposes or for purely statistical or personal purposes. The invention can also simply be used to send a message to a user via text, image, or video. Reference symbol list: 10 Sanitary equipment 11 Front surface 12 area 13 Collection tray 14 Display 15 sub-area of ​​11 20 detection units 30 evaluation units 31 Control 32 Sender

Claims

[1] Sanitary appliance (10), such as a urinal, a urinal or similar, with a front surface (11), with an area (12) designed to receive a stream of urine, wherein the area (12) is visually marked so that a user can direct a stream of urine onto this area (12), characterized by , that this front surface (11) is formed as a closed surface and that in the area (12) one or more detection units (20) are provided which detect the impact of the urine stream and transmit this to an evaluation unit (30), wherein the evaluation unit (30) indirectly or directly emits an acoustic signal and / or controls an optical display on at least a partial area (15) of the front surface (11). [2] Sanitary appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that a display (14) is provided in the sub-area (15). [3] Sanitary appliance (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the one or more detection units (20) detect a mechanical effect and / or an optical effect and / or a change in capacitance and / or electric field strength caused by the urine stream. [4] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the partial area (15) of the front surface (11) is arranged in the collection tray (13) of the sanitary appliance (10). [5] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the stream characteristics of the urine stream can be determined by the one or more detection units (20), such as the position, duration, intensity and / or movement. [6] Sanitary appliance (10) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the user receives feedback on the optical display in the sub-area (15) of the front surface (11) regarding the parameters determined by the one or more detection units (20). [7] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that games can be controlled via the one or more detection units (20) by the beam position, which can be displayed on the optical display in the partial area (15) of the front surface (11). [8] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the one or more detection units (20) optically evaluate the urine stream, in particular by means of cameras, infrared measurement, ToF measurements or similar. [9] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the one or more detection units (20) mechanically evaluate the urine stream, in particular by measuring structural waves, vibrations, force, pressure, momentum, surface deformation, oscillation or the like. [10] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized bythat the one or more detection units (20) evaluate the urine stream electromagnetically, in particular by means of capacitive or piezoelectric sensors. [11] Sanitary appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that a transmitter (32) is provided which sends data to the sub-area (15) of the front surface (11) and / or also sends the data via cable or wirelessly to a computer or mobile device.

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