Toilet seat fitting and method for manufacturing a toilet seat fitting

Abstract

Disclosed are a toilet seat set and a method for manufacturing such a toilet seat set, wherein the energy supply to consumers integrated in a toilet seat is inductive.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a toilet seat set according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for producing such a toilet seat set.

[0002] For toilet seat sets with a seat and a lid, there are various approaches to supplying the integrated electrical consumers with electrical energy.

[0003] The document WO 2016 / 020409 A1, which originates from the applicant, discloses a toilet seat assembly in which electrical consumers, for example a seat heater and a sensor, are integrated on the seat side. These consumers are supplied with power via a control unit called a technology box, which is mounted on the ceramic and to which the seat and lid are preferably mounted. Electrical contact is established via electrical cables that run from the electrical consumers in the seat or lid to the control unit. If the seat or lid is to be removed, this cable connection must first be disconnected. A further problem with such solutions is that the cable connection between the power supply and the toilet seat assembly must be carefully covered to prevent contamination.

[0004] DE 10 2016 108 379 A1, filed by the applicant, describes a toilet seat assembly in which additional sensors are integrated for the direct or indirect recording of a user's physiological or health-related parameters / vital parameters. These sensors can record the parameter itself or a value required for calculating the parameter. For example, a BMI (body mass index) can be calculated from the recorded weight, given the height. In principle, vital data such as pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, body fat percentage, blood sugar levels, etc., can also be recorded using such a sensor arrangement.

[0005] The power supply for these electrical devices and the data exchange between the control box and the sensors is problematic, as there is very little space within the toilet seat for routing the wires and cables. Common solutions involve routing the individual wires through the clamps and the seat hinge assembly into the control box. This number of wires requires a lot of space in an area where dampers and actuators / motors are also located.

[0006] WO 2017 / 029369 A1 by the applicant describes a toilet seat hinge assembly in which the power supply is via cables. In the area of ​​a damper of the toilet seat hinge assembly, a plug part is provided, to which a seat- and / or lid-side plug counterpart is assigned. Thus, during assembly of the toilet seat assembly, in which the toilet seat hinge assembly is brought into operative connection with the toilet seat and the toilet lid, the electrical connection can be established relatively easily by connecting the plug part to the plug counterpart. In a preferred embodiment described in the latter publication, the connection to the external power supply is then made via the ceramic-side fastening pins, so that an electrical plug connection is also provided in the connection area of ​​the fastening pin to an adapter piece of the damper.

[0007] However, this version, which has been optimized for assembly, also has the disadvantage described above that a great deal of effort is required for the electrical contact between the external power supply and the electrical consumers on the seating set side.

[0008] With such solutions, the electrical consumers (seat heating, sensors) can be integrated into the lid or seat during pressing / injection molding - however, the cabling / cable routing outside of these components remains problematic, especially in the area of ​​the toilet seat hinge assembly.

[0009] Document DE 10 2010 010 881 A1, also attributable to the applicant, describes a toilet seat assembly with a motorized drive for opening / closing the seat or lid. The actuator is powered via the pins described above.

[0010] Patent application DE 10 2019 110 281 A1 describes a toilet seat assembly that solves the aforementioned problems with regard to cabling. Wireless energy transmission is proposed therein, with opposing coupling coils arranged in the seat and the lid, respectively, enabling energy transmission between the lid and the seat. Alternatively and / or additionally, the coupling coils can also transmit energy between a ceramic element and the seat and / or between a wall or a cistern and the lid. The energy supply provided for the basic supply of a primary coil, i.e., an energy-emitting transmitter, can be wired, so that only one cable harness is sufficient to supply the electrical consumers of the toilet seat assembly with electrical energy.Other embodiments have electrical storage elements mounted in the seat and / or the cover so that the electrical loads still perform their function independently of a permanent power supply.

[0011] Document DE 20 2011 108 948 U1, which is considered relevant prior art, describes a toilet seat assembly in which the power supply for a seat heater is also provided by wireless energy transmission. A primary coil and a secondary coil for contactless energy transmission are integrated into a control box and a toilet seat. The seat also has an energy storage device in the form of a battery, which is charged via the secondary coil, allowing the power supply for the seat heater to be provided via the battery.

[0012] Such a solution is very complex, as the integration of the battery into the seat contour is problematic both in terms of design and in terms of manufacturing effort.

[0013] Similar complex solutions are also described in the documents JP 2010-125241 A and JP 2009-201559 A, in each of which a contactless energy transfer is used to supply energy to a seat heater.

[0014] US 2019 / 0203455 A1 describes a toilet in which a primary coil is arranged on the ceramic side and the secondary coils are arranged on the seat side. A disadvantage of this solution is that the seat is designed exclusively for use with this ceramic, making it unsuitable for use with other types of ceramic.

[0015] Neighbouring prior art is also known from WO 2017 158 196 A1 and US 2019 216 275 A.

[0016] One problem with the solutions described above, in which a receiver module is integrated into the seat, is that integrating the receiver module into the seat requires significant manufacturing effort during compression or injection molding. Furthermore, care must be taken to ensure that the surface quality of the toilet seat is not negatively affected by wall thickness variations in the area of ​​the receiver module mount.

[0017] In contrast, the object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat and a method for producing such a toilet seat, by which the integration of a receiver module for contactless energy transmission (near-field energy transmission) is simplified.

[0018] This problem is solved with regard to the toilet seat set by the features of patent claim 1 and with regard to the method by the combination of features of the independent patent claim 10.

[0019] Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0020] The toilet seat assembly according to the invention is designed with a seat and a lid, which are pivotally connected to a technology box via a toilet seat hinge assembly. This can be secured to the ceramic via ceramic-side fastening means. The toilet seat is designed with at least one electrical consumer, for example a seat heater or a lighting device (for example an LED module), to which electrical energy is supplied via a power supply device. This device has a power transmission device designed for contactless energy transmission, which takes place between the technology box and the seat. A receiver coil is arranged on the seat side and a transmitter coil on the technology box side. According to the invention, the toilet seat is designed with two shells, with the receiver coil and the associated electronics being inserted before the shell parts are joined.The design of the toilet seat fitting is particularly compact as a recess is formed on the shell part of the toilet seat facing the technology box, into which the technology box is immersed at least with the area accommodating the transmitter coil, so that when the seat is closed, this is in operative connection with the excitation coil on the seat side to supply energy to the consumer, and a seat ring edge between the toilet seat joint and the transmitter coil is immersed in a correspondingly designed groove-shaped recess in the technology box.

[0021] This makes it possible to design the receiving chamber and the shell components according to the desired design, while also creating sufficient space to accommodate the receiver coil and electronics. Furthermore, a very flat design of the toilet seat assembly is ensured, with the two coils being positioned very close together and in parallel to increase the efficiency of the near-field transmission.

[0022] Accordingly, the method according to the invention provides for first forming, preferably by pressing, two shell parts that, when assembled, define a receiving space. Before assembly, according to the method according to the invention—as explained above—the receiver coil with the associated electronics is mounted in the area of ​​one shell part. In a subsequent process, the two shell parts are connected to each other so that the receiver coil and the associated control electronics are precisely integrated into the toilet seat.

[0023] According to the invention, it is preferred if the two shell parts are glued together along joining surfaces.

[0024] These joining surfaces can, for example, have joining areas that are angled relative to one another. A joining projection on one shell part can extend into a joining recess in the other shell part, with the joining surfaces being positioned approximately at right angles to one another.

[0025] As mentioned, it is preferred according to the invention if the excitation coil together with the associated control electronics / control board is accommodated in the receiving space.

[0026] This reduction is preferably designed in such a way that it covers the area of ​​the technical box towards the ceramic.

[0027] In such a concept, it is particularly preferred if the seat ring width in the area covering the technical box is larger than in the user-side area remote from the technical box.

[0028] The coils are preferably designed as flat coils.

[0029] The quality of the toilet seat is further improved if the bowl parts and the toilet lid are pressed from UREA or a similar material.

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show: Figure 1a three-dimensional representation of a toilet seat according to the invention; Figure 2 a cut along the Figure 1 indicated middle section plane AA; Figure 3 a detailed representation of the section according to Figure 2 ; Figure 4 a side view of the toilet seat according to Figure 1 in closed position; Figure 5 a three-dimensional view of a toilet seat of the toilet seat set according to the Figures 1 to 4 ; Figure 6 a cut along the Figure 1 indicated central plane AA and Figure 7 a detailed representation of the section according to Figure 6 .

[0031] Figure 1shows a three-dimensional representation of a toilet seat assembly 1 designed according to the invention in the open state, i.e., in the state lifted off a ceramic unit (not shown). This toilet seat assembly 1 has a technology box 2, to which a toilet seat 8 and a toilet lid 10 are hinged via toilet seat joints 4, 6. The technology box 2 is attached to the ceramic unit via fastening means (not shown), which can be designed as a take-off system so that the toilet seat assembly 1 can be easily removed from the ceramic unit for replacement and cleaning. In the support area of ​​the toilet seat 8, buffers 12 are provided in a manner known per se, along which the toilet seat assembly is supported on the ceramic unit.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the technology box 2 is approximately rectangular in shape, with side walls 14, 16 sloping towards the ceramic, so that a front side 18 is formed whose height is less than that of a rear wall 20. In the central area, the front side 18 is stepped back approximately in a V- or trapezoidal shape to ensure better adaptation to the ceramic.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a section along the Figure 1indicated central plane AA. In this sectional view, one can see that the toilet lid 10 almost completely encompasses the toilet seat 8 in the open position. As will be explained in more detail below, the toilet seat 8 is formed from two switching parts, specifically a lid-side upper part 22 and a ceramic-side / buffer-side lower part 24, which together form the seat ring, with clamps 26 formed on the rear side, into which the previously described toilet seat joints are inserted, of which in the Figure 2 only one is provided with a reference number 4. The structure of such toilet seat joints 4, 6 is known, so further explanations are unnecessary.

[0034] The upper part 22 and the lower part 24 define a preferably annular receiving space 28, in which a receiver module 30 of an inductive power supply for consumers integrated into the seat is accommodated. Accordingly, a consumer accommodated in the toilet seat 8, for example a seat heater or a light source (LED module), can be inductively supplied with power via the receiver module 30. This seat heater can, for example, also be accommodated in the receiving space 28 or in one of the shell parts, for example in the upper part 22. The transmitter module 32 assigned to the inductive power supply is integrated into the technology box 2 in the illustrated embodiment, wherein a joint bracket 34 for supporting the toilet seat joint arrangement is also formed on the latter.

[0035] A seat ring width B is larger in the area of ​​the technical box 2 than a seat ring width b in the area remote from it.

[0036] Further details will be provided Figure 3 which shows a detailed view of the console-side area of ​​the toilet seat set 1. In In this illustration you can clearly see that the seat-side clamps 26 (only one of the clamps is in the Figure 2 and 3 (provided with a reference symbol) is constructed in one piece with the upper part 22 of the toilet lid. The lower part 24 is inserted into the upper part 22, so that the latter, with side walls 36, 38 and a seat wall 40, encompasses the lower part along the entire seat ring and thus covers it from the outside.

[0037] The lower part 24 has in the sectional view according to Figure 3a correspondingly formed, approximately U-shaped cross-section with peripheral walls 42, 44, between which extends a bottom wall 46, which runs approximately parallel to the seat wall 40. This parallel spacing is selected such that the receiving space 28, into which the receiver module 30 is inserted, is formed essentially between the seat wall 40 and the bottom wall 46. Of course, additional electrical loads, such as a seat heater or a light source or the like, can also be integrated into the receiving space 28. This can extend along the entire seat ring or only in sections.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, joining surfaces are formed in the area of ​​the circumferential side walls 36, 38, by means of which the contact surface of the lower part 24 on the upper part 22 is enlarged. In the embodiment according to Figure 3On the upper part side, a joining projection 50 is formed with joining surfaces 52, 54 arranged approximately at right angles to one another, to which a joining recess 56 with joining surfaces 58, 60 also arranged approximately at right angles to one another is assigned on the lower part side. The joining projection 50 dips into the joining recess 56, so that through this design of the annular joining areas, the lower part 24 is precisely fixed in position with respect to the upper part 22. The connection is made via an adhesive 62, which in Figure 3 indicated below.

[0039] According to the invention, before the lower part 24 is bonded to the upper part 22, the transmitter module 30 (and any other components arranged in the receiving space 28) is inserted. This can be inserted into the upper part 62 or placed on the lower part 24. After this assembly and fixing of the position of the receiver module 30 and the other loads, the upper part 22 and the lower part 24 are then positioned relative to one another and bonded, whereby this bonding can be carried out as a hot-melt bond.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver module 30 has a receiver coil 64 designed as a flat coil, which is arranged on a control board 66 or is in contact with it, via which the consumers are activated / controlled.

[0041] The peripheral wall of the lower part 24 is designed with a recess 68 in the area of ​​the technology box 2, which is designed in such a way that the area of ​​the technology box 2 receiving the transmitter module 32 dips into this recess 68 and is thus covered to the outside.

[0042] According to the presentation in Figure 3The transmitter module 32 is also designed with a control board 72 accommodating the control electronics, which in the illustrated embodiment carries a transmitter coil 74. This is fixed in position in the technology box 2, for example, via a centering hub 76. This can be designed in a conventional manner with a housing base covered by a cover 78, on which the previously described centering hub 76 is also formed. On the technology box 2, in the area between the pivot bracket 34 and the part of the technology box 2 accommodating the transmitter module 32, a groove-shaped recess 80 is provided, into which a section of the peripheral walls of the toilet seat 8 on the seat joint side dips when the toilet seat 8 / toilet lid 10 is closed, so that it lies flush with the ceramic.

[0043] This can be seen in Figure 4, which shows a side view of the closed toilet seat assembly with the toilet seat 8 and the toilet lid 10 largely covering it. As explained above, the technology box 2 is largely recessed into the toilet seat 8, in particular the lower part 24 with the recess 68 and the recess 80. In the closed state shown, the toilet seat assembly rests on the ceramic 82 via the buffers 12.

[0044] Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the toilet seat 8 with the toilet lid 10 removed. Accordingly, rotary pistons 84 of a damper of the toilet seat joints 4, 6 protrude laterally from the blocks 26a, 26b, wherein these rotary pistons 84 are either rotationally fixed or rotatably in operative engagement with the corresponding blocks of the toilet lid 10, so that accordingly both the lowering movement of the toilet seat 8 and the lowering movement of the toilet lid 10 are damped.

[0045] Figure 6shows a section through the toilet seat 8 along the Figure 1 indicated cutting plane, which corresponds to a central plane of the toilet seat set. Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the clamp-side area in Figure 6Accordingly, the transmitter coil 74 and the receiver coil 64 are positioned within the technology box 2 or the receiving space 28 such that, when closed, they are positioned relative to one another in such a way that inductive energy transmission is possible. The two control circuit boards 66, 72 are oriented toward the upper part 22 or the ceramic 82, respectively, so that the coils 64, 74 are arranged between the two circuit boards 66, 72, thus optimizing near-field transmission. This illustration also clearly shows how the part of the technology box 2 accommodating the transmitter module 32 extends into the recess 68 of the lower part 24. Accordingly, a seat ring edge of the hinge-side peripheral area of ​​the toilet seat 8 extends into the recess 80, so that the overall height of the toilet seat assembly relative to the ceramic is minimal, ensuring a flat seat surface.

[0046] In the representation according to Figure 7For clarity, the joining recess 56 with the joining surfaces 58, 60 and the joining projection 50 with the joining surfaces 52, 54 are shown again, with the bonding being applied along this circumferential joining area.

[0047] As explained above, an inductive, alternating electromagnetic field is generated in the closed position via the transmitter coil 74 of the transmitter module 32, which is housed in the technology box 2, and the receiver coil 64 of the receiver module 30, which is integrated into the toilet seat 8. Energy is transferred by mutual induction between the two coils 64, 74. The alternating voltage induced in the receiver coil 64 is rectified and passed on via the control electronics to the consumers integrated in the toilet seat 8, for example, a seat heater or lighting.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the two coils 64, 74 are only aligned for inductive energy transfer when the toilet seat 8 is closed. If the toilet seat 8 is in a different position, for example, in an open position, no energy transfer occurs and thus no power is supplied to the consumers. Such a concept enables the control of the consumers without complex sensors or switches.

[0049] Of course, the technology box can also be designed in such a way that it allows the consumers to be controlled independently of the swiveling of the toilet seat.

[0050] Disclosed are a toilet seat assembly and a method for producing such a toilet seat assembly, wherein energy is supplied to consumers integrated in a toilet seat inductively. Reference symbol

[0051] 1 WC seat set 2 Technology box 4 Seat joint 6 Seat joint 8 WC seat 10 WC lid 12 Buffer 14 Side wall 16 Side wall 18 Front side 20 Rear wall 22 Upper part 24 Lower part 26 Clamp 28 Mounting space 30 Receiver module 32 Transmitter module 34 Swivel bracket 36 Side wall 38 Side wall 40 Seat wall 42 Perimeter wall 44 Perimeter wall 46 Base wall 50 Joint projection 52 Joint surface 54 Joint surface 56 Joint recess 58 Joint surface 60 Joint surface 62 Bonding 64 Receiver coil 66 Control board 68 Step-down 72 Control board 74 Transmitter coil 76 Centering hub 78 Lid 80Recess 82Ceramic 84Rotary piston

Claims

1. A toilet seat set with a toilet seat (8) and a toilet lid (10), which are pivotably connected to a technical box (2), which is connectable to a ceramic (82) via fixing means on a side of the ceramic, wherein the toilet seat (8) is equipped with at least one electrical consumer and with a device for supplying power to the electrical consumer, which comprises an energy transmission device which is designed for contactless inductive energy transmission, wherein the contactless inductive energy transmission takes place between the technical box (2) and the toilet seat (8), a receiver coil (64) is arranged on a side of the seat and a transmitter coil (74) is arranged on a side of the technical box, wherein the toilet seat comprises two shell parts, which, when joined together, delimit a receiving space (28) in which the receiver coil (64) with the control electronics is accommodated, a downgrade (68) is formed on the shell part facing the technical box (2), wherein the technical box (2) is immersed at least with a region accommodating the transmitter coil (74) into the downgrade, so that, when the toilet seat (8) is closed, the transmitter coil is in operative connection with the receiver coil (64) for supplying energy to the consumer, and wherein the toilet seat comprises a seat ring edge on a side of a joint, wherein the seat ring edge is immersed between a toilet seat joint (4, 6) and the transmitter coil (74) into a correspondingly designed channel-shaped recess (80) of the technial box (2).

2. The toilet seat set according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil (64) is inserted into the receiving space (28) before the shell parts are joined.

3. The toilet seat set according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two shell parts are glued together.

4. The toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver coil (64) is accommodated on a control board (66) which is also arranged in the receiving space (28).

5. The toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the downgrade (68) covers the region of the technical box (2) towards the ceramic (82).

6. The toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a seat ring width in the region overlaying the technical box (2) is greater than in the regions away from the technical box (2).

7. The toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coils are flat coils.

8. The toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell parts are pressed, preferably made of urea.

9. The toilet seat set according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell parts abut one another along joining surfaces (52, 54, 58, 60) which are set against one another, wherein the joining surfaces are preferably set approximately at approximately right angles to one another.

10. A method for producing a toilet seat set (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein first the two shell parts are produced, in a subsequent operation the receiver coil (46) and the associated control electronics are inserted into at least one of the shell parts and then the two shell parts are connected together.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the connection is made by gluing.

Images