Heatable wc seat

Abstract

A heatable toilet seat (1) for a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet seat (1) comprises a heating device (6) integrated in the toilet seat (1) with a heating wire (5) which functions as a heating resistor (4), wherein the heating wire (5) is designed to be connectable to a power source and a controller; and the heating device (6) comprises an electronic circuit, a diode (3) with a forward direction and a reverse direction, and a measuring resistor (2), wherein - the measuring resistor (2) and the heating resistor (4) are connected in parallel; and - the polarity switching between the forward direction and the reverse direction of the diode can be effected by the electronic circuit; and - in the forward direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in a heating phase and in the reverse direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in a temperature measuring phase; and - the toilet seat (1) has an axle (13) with two electrical axle contacts (10a;10b), wherein the heating wire (5) comprises two end sections, each of which is connected to one of the axis contacts (10a; 10b);

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a heatable toilet seat according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a method for heating the toilet seat according to the preamble of patent claim 9 and a combination of the toilet seat with a toilet bowl according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0002] Various seat ring heaters are known, with the ability to mount a toilet seat wirelessly on the toilet bowl being considered particularly advantageous, as this significantly simplifies cleaning. To enable wireless heating of a seat ring, DE 20 2011 108 948 proposes the use of an electrical energy storage device. However, the functionality of this heater is compromised by the limited lifespan of a battery.

[0003] This invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention is based on the task of creating a heated toilet seat that is simpler in terms of energy efficiency, functionality, and design.

[0004] The invention solves the problem with a heated toilet seat having the features of claim 1.

[0005] The advantages achieved by the invention are essentially that the heating of the toilet seat as well as the temperature measurement necessary for setting the optimal temperature are carried out via a single circuit and only two electrical lines are required.

[0006] Further advantages of the invention include providing the user with a heated toilet seat that can be easily removed for cleaning. Conventional cable connections are not conducive to easy disassembly, so it has proven advantageous to have the necessary electrical connections "automatically" disconnected upon removal. The present invention enables removal via the toilet seat's spindle, which allows the seat to be pulled out at a vertical 90° position relative to the toilet bowl.

[0007] Technically, it's much easier to separate just two electrical wires than the four required for heating and measuring. Thus, installing the toilet seat with a heating device according to claim 1 is particularly advantageous, since the diode and polarity switching allow both functions (heating and measuring) to be realized with just two wires.

[0008] A further advantage of the present invention is that the toilet seat according to the invention has a single pivot axis for the toilet seat and lid, which serves both to power the heating device and to mount the toilet seat to a toilet bowl. This results in a more compact shape of the toilet seat compared to conventional toilet seats, which require two pivot axes (one for the toilet seat and one for the lid).

[0009] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be commented as follows: In a particular embodiment, the toilet seat can be rotatably connected to a toilet bowl by means of the axis having two axis contacts.

[0010] In a special embodiment, the polarity switch from the heating phase to the temperature measurement phase takes place after a maximum of 12 seconds, preferably after a maximum of 30 seconds.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the polarity switch from the temperature measuring phase to the heating phase takes place after a maximum of 100 milliseconds, preferably after a maximum of 50 milliseconds.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the ratio between measuring resistance and heating resistance is in the range between 100 and 10,000, preferably between 900 and 1,100.

[0013] In an additional embodiment, the toilet seat can be mechanically connected to a toilet bowl via the axle and electrically connected to a power source. The electrical connection of the toilet seat to a power source is established via the electrical supply of the toilet bowl.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the toilet seat is arranged to be rotatable about the axis relative to the toilet bowl.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the toilet seat has a lid that is arranged coaxially to the axis and can rotate.

[0016] The inventive method for heating the inventive toilet seat comprises the following steps: a) Detecting the need for heating; b) Heating the toilet seat during a predetermined heating interval IA ; c) Switching the polarity and measuring the actual temperature of the toilet seat; d) Calculating the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature of the toilet seat and the estimated time interval I s for heating the toilet seat until the target temperature is reached; e) Switching the polarity and heating the toilet seat during the time interval I s for the existing temperature difference and repeating steps c) to e) until the target temperature is reached; f) Stopping the heating of the toilet seat (1) when the target temperature is reached.

[0017] In a special embodiment of the method, after the target temperature has been reached, 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.

[0018] In an additional embodiment of the method, when the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature to a predetermined level, the polarity is switched and steps b) to f) are carried out again.

[0019] The invention also relates to the combination of the heated toilet seat with a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet seat is arranged to be rotatable about the axis relative to the toilet bowl.

[0020] In a special embodiment of the above-mentioned combination, the electrical connection of the toilet seat to a power source is interrupted when the toilet seat is in a vertical position.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the above-mentioned combination, when the toilet seat is in a horizontal position, there is an electrical connection between the toilet seat and a power source.

[0022] In an additional embodiment of the above-mentioned combination, an electrical connection of the toilet seat to a power source can be established or interrupted when the toilet seat is rotated by 90° relative to the toilet bowl.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the above-mentioned combination, it has a lid which is arranged to be rotatable relative to the toilet bowl about the same axis as the toilet seat.

[0024] The invention and further developments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the partially schematic representations of an embodiment.

[0025] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the toilet seat according to the invention. Fig. 2a a schematic circuit diagram of the heating device of the toilet seat according to the invention with the polarity of the voltage in the forward direction of the diode; Fig. 2b a schematic circuit diagram of the heating device of the toilet seat according to the invention with the polarity of the voltage in the reverse direction of the diode; Fig. 3 a perspective detailed view of the toilet seat; Fig. 4 several cross-sections through the axis of the toilet seat or through the base plate of the toilet bowl when dismantling the toilet seat from the toilet bowl.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a heated toilet seat 1, which has a heating device 6 for heating the toilet seat 1. The heating device 6 is connected to a power source (not shown) (usually to the electrical supply network) via a suitable voltage converter. In the Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the heating device 6 comprises a heating wire 5 integrated into the toilet seat. The heating wire 5 functions as a heating resistor 4 and converts the electrical energy into heat.

[0027] How the heating device 6 is connected to the supply network is best determined from Fig. 3 The end sections of the heating wire 5 are connected within the toilet seat 1 to the axis contacts 10a; 10b (there is one axis contact 10a; 10b for each of the two lines, offset by 180°). The axis 13 of the toilet seat 1 is positively located in the toilet seat 1, which is Fig. 3 is only partially visible. If the toilet seat 1 is removed from the toilet bowl (e.g., for cleaning), the axis 13 remains firmly connected to the toilet seat 1.

[0028] The axis 13 connects the toilet seat 1 both electrically and mechanically to the toilet bowl.

[0029] Spring contacts 11a; 11b are installed in the base plate 14 of the toilet bowl. When attaching or detaching the toilet seat 1 to or from the toilet bowl, the axle 13 of the toilet seat 1 is inserted or removed from the base plate 14 in the raised position. When the toilet seat is folded up, there is no contact between the axle contacts 10a; 10b and the spring contacts 11a; 11b. When the toilet seat 1 is lowered (e.g., for use), the axle 13, together with the axle contacts 10a; 10b, rotates 90° relative to the base plate 14, so that the axle contacts 10a; 10b come into contact with the spring contacts 11a; 11b. This creates a connection between the heating wire 5 and the toilet bowl connected to the electrical supply.

[0030] Also by means of the contact between the axis contacts 10a; 10b and the spring contacts 11a; 11b, the heating device 6 is connected to the control with an electronic circuit (not shown) of the toilet.

[0031] The heating device 6 comprises a heating resistor 4, a measuring resistor 2, and a diode 3. The heating device 6 is designed to be connectable to a controller with an electronic circuit (not shown) as mentioned above, so that the heating of the toilet seat 1 is initiated or terminated by means of the controller together with the electronic circuit. The electronic circuit also controls the polarity reversal of the voltage source of the heating device 6. The controller is housed in the cavity of the toilet bowl. The electronic circuit comprises a microchip with corresponding software, which switches the polarity and initiates or terminates the heating phase or the temperature measurement phase accordingly.

[0032] The principle of the present invention is based on the Fig. 2 shown. Fig. 2a shows a schematic circuit diagram of the heating device 6 during the heating phase. The heating device 6 comprises a heating resistor 4, a measuring resistor 2, and a diode 3. During the heating phase, the diode 3 is arranged in the forward direction of the current in the circuit. In the present example, the heating resistor 4 is approximately 10 ohms, while the measuring resistor 2 is approximately 10,000 ohms. Thus, the current flows primarily through the heating resistor 4 during the heating phase, so that the current flow through the measuring resistor 2 can be neglected. Fig. 2b shows a schematic circuit diagram of the heating device 6 during the heating pause (ie in the measuring phase), wherein during the heating pause the diode 3 is arranged in the reverse direction of the current in the circuit, so that the current flow can only flow through the measuring resistor 2.

[0033] The heating of the toilet seat 1 takes place after the need for heating is detected.

[0034] Heating of the toilet seat 1 is then initiated, with the current flowing in the forward direction of the diode 3 and thus through the heating resistor 4 during a predetermined heating interval IA. After the heating interval IA has expired, the polarity is switched so that the current now flows in the reverse direction of the diode 3 and thus only through the measuring resistor 2. The control system or the corresponding software detects the actual temperature and compares it with the target temperature, whereby the length of the next heating interval Is is determined based on the determined data. After the heating interval Is has expired, the polarity is switched again and the measurement of the actual temperature, its comparison with the target temperature and - if necessary - the determination of the length of a further heating interval Is is carried out again. The heating / measurement / heating etc. process continues until the target temperature is reached and the heating process is interrupted.

[0035] Once the target temperature is reached, continuous measurement is performed. If the actual temperature of toilet seat 1 drops (e.g., more than 1°C), a heating phase is activated again.

[0036] The heating process is initiated either directly by the user or by a sensor, which can be located either inside or outside the toilet seat. In the heating phase ( Fig. 2a ) the current flows through the heating resistor 4, heating the heating element (heating wire 5) and thus the toilet seat 1. After a heating interval, the heating process is interrupted by the control system switching the polarity of the voltage source. During the heating pause ( Fig. 2b ) the current flows only through the measuring resistor 2, so that the temperature of the heating wire 5 can be detected.

[0037] The heating interval is variable and depends on the deviation between the actual temperature and the target temperature. The greater the deviation from the target temperature, the longer the heating can last (typically > 10s). The factor for determining how long heating should last between measurements is 200 ms / °C, i.e. if the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature is 10°C, heating takes place for 2s before the next measurement is started. As the temperature approaches the target temperature, the interval can be shortened to 100ms. The heating pause is fundamentally constant and is typically in the range 1-100ms.

[0038] The polarity reversal of the voltage is controlled by the electronic circuit. The corresponding switching elements (transistors, relays) are wired and controlled in such a way that typically 24V is applied for heating and typically 5V or less for temperature measurement.

[0039] The temperature is measured by measuring the voltage that drops across the variable measuring resistor and converting it into a temperature value in the controller.

[0040] Although various embodiments of the present invention are provided as described above, it should be understood that the various features may be used individually or in any combination.

[0041] This invention is therefore not simply limited to the above-mentioned particularly preferred embodiments.

Claims

1. A heatable toilet seat (1) for a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet seat (1) comprises a heating device (6) integrated in the toilet seat (1) with a heating wire (5) which functions as a heating resistor (4), wherein the heating wire (5) is designed to be connectable to a power source and a controller; and the heating device (6) comprises an electronic circuit, a diode (3) with a forward direction and a reverse direction, and a measuring resistor (2), wherein - the measuring resistor (2) and the heating resistor (4) are connected in parallel; and - the polarity switching between the forward direction and the reverse direction of the diode can be effected by the electronic circuit; and - in the forward direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in a heating phase and in the reverse direction of the diode, the heating device (6) is in a temperature measuring phase; and - the toilet seat (1) has an axle (13) with two electrical axle contacts (10a;10b), wherein the heating wire (5) comprises two end sections, each of which is connected to one of the axis contacts (10a; 10b); 2. Heated toilet seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the toilet seat (1) can be rotatably connected to a toilet bowl by means of the axis (13) having two axis contacts (10a; 10b).

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

4. Heated toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the polarity switch from the temperature measuring phase to the heating phase takes place after a maximum of 100 milliseconds, preferably after a maximum of 50 milliseconds.

5. Heated toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe ratio between measuring resistance (2) and heating resistance (4) is in the range between 100 and 10,000, preferably between 900 and 1,100.

6. Heated toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the toilet seat (1) can be mechanically connected to a toilet bowl and electrically to a power source via the axis (13).

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

8. Heated toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that which has a cover (15) rotatably arranged coaxially to the axis (13).

9. Method for heating a toilet seat, in particular a toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by following steps: a) Detecting the need for heating; b) Heating the toilet seat (1) during a predetermined heating interval I A; c) Switching the polarity and measuring the actual temperature of the toilet seat (1); d) Calculating the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature of the toilet seat (1) and the estimated time interval I s heating the toilet seat until the target temperature is reached; e) switching the polarity and heating the toilet seat (1) during the time interval I s at the existing temperature difference and repeating steps c) to e) until the target temperature is reached; f) stopping the heating of the toilet seat (1) when the target temperature is reached.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that after the target temperature has been reached, 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. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in thatWhen the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature to a specified value, the polarity is reversed and steps b) to f) are carried out.

12. Combination of the heatable toilet seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 with a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet seat (1) is arranged to be rotatable about the axis (13) relative to the toilet bowl.

13. Combination according to claim 12, characterized in that when the toilet seat (1) is in a vertical position, the electrical connection of the toilet seat (1) to a power source is interrupted.

14. 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. Combination according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in thatWhen the toilet seat (1) is rotated by 90° relative to the toilet bowl, an electrical connection between the toilet seat (1) and a power source can be established or interrupted.

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