Toilet seat device

Abstract

To suppress influence of discharged water from a washing nozzle on detection of excrement.SOLUTION: A toilet seat device 5 comprises: a toilet seat disposed on a rim 10 of a toilet bowl 4; a body part 11 connected to the toilet seat; a washing nozzle 14 that can move forward to and backward from the toilet seat side with respect to the body part 11 and discharges washing water toward a user sitting on the toilet seat; an irradiation part 17 that is provided on the body part 11 and radiates a laser beam toward the toilet seat 4; a detection part 18 that is provided on the body part 11 and detects a reflection light of the laser beam radiated from the irradiation part 17; and a shutter 21 as a guard part 20 that guards at least any one of the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18 from the washing water discharged from the washing nozzle 14 moved forward to the toilet seat side with respect to the body part 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a toilet seat apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A toilet seat apparatus provided with a washing nozzle for washing the private parts of the body of a user of the toilet apparatus has been devised (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-070431 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some toilet devices have a function to detect excrement for health management, for example. In toilet devices with such a detection function, when a flushing nozzle is used, the flushing water discharged from the flushing nozzle may splash on the human body, etc., and if the splashed water adheres to the part for detecting excrement, it may affect the detection accuracy.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a toilet seat apparatus capable of suppressing the effect of water discharged from a cleaning nozzle on excrement detection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the toilet seat device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a toilet seat to be placed on the rim of a toilet bowl, a main body connected to the toilet seat, a nozzle capable of advancing and retreating toward the toilet seat relative to the main body and spraying cleaning water toward a user seated on the toilet seat, an irradiation unit provided on the main body for irradiating laser light toward the toilet bowl, a detection unit provided on the main body for detecting reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation unit, and a guard unit for protecting at least one of the irradiation unit and the detection unit from cleaning water sprayed by the nozzle that has advanced toward the toilet seat relative to the main body.

[0007] According to this configuration, the guard portion prevents the cleaning water discharged from the nozzle from reaching the irradiation portion or the detection portion, thereby preventing the cleaning water from adhering to the irradiation portion or the detection portion and affecting the detection function.

[0008] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the guard portion is provided in the main body portion on the toilet seat side of the emission surface from which laser light is emitted in the irradiation portion and the light receiving surface that receives reflected light in the detection portion.

[0009] According to this configuration, the guard portion is provided on the toilet seat side of the emission surface and the light receiving surface, thereby preventing the cleaning water ejected from the nozzle from reaching the irradiation portion and the detection portion.

[0010] In addition, in the toilet seat apparatus according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, the irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on either side of the nozzle in the main body.

[0011] According to this configuration, the irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on either side of the nozzle, so that interference between the irradiated laser light and the reflected laser light can be suppressed.

[0012] Furthermore, in the toilet seat apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the guard portion is provided closer to the toilet seat than the irradiation portion and the detection portion, and rotates about the connection portion with the main body portion as an axis.

[0013] According to this configuration, the guard part that rotates toward the toilet seat side from the irradiation part and the detection part is provided, so that the cleaning water discharged from the nozzle is prevented from reaching the irradiation part and the detection part. Also, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the irradiation part and the detection part.

[0014] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the guard portion is provided in a hole portion in the main body portion through which the nozzle advances and retreats, and is a shutter that opens outward relative to the main body portion when the nozzle advances from the inside to the outside of the main body portion.

[0015] According to this configuration, by using the nozzle shutter that opens outward as the guard section, the cleaning water discharged from the nozzle is prevented from reaching the irradiation section or the detection section.

[0016] In addition, in the toilet seat apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the guard portion has a width parallel to the axis that is greater than a width perpendicular to the axis.

[0017] According to this configuration, the guard portion has a wide width in the direction parallel to the axis, thereby preventing the cleaning water discharged from the nozzle from reaching the irradiation portion or the detection portion.

[0018] Also, in the toilet seat apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the guard portion is a protrusion formed on the toilet bowl side surface of the main body portion and extending downward below the upper surface of the rim.

[0019] According to this configuration, by using the downwardly extending convex portion as the guard portion, the cleaning water discharged from the nozzle is prevented from reaching the irradiation portion or the detection portion, and it is also possible to increase the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the irradiation portion or the detection portion.

[0020] In addition, in the toilet seat apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the emitting surface and the light receiving surface are disposed on the toilet bowl side surface of the main body, between the rim and the convex portion.

[0021] According to this configuration, the emitting surface and the light receiving surface are provided between the rim and the convex portion, thereby effectively preventing the cleaning water from reaching the emitting surface and the light receiving surface.

[0022] Also, in the toilet seat apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the convex portion is located on a straight line connecting the nozzle protruding from the main body portion and the emitting surface or the light receiving surface.

[0023] According to this configuration, the convex portion is positioned on a straight line connecting the emitting surface or the light receiving surface with the nozzle, thereby effectively preventing the cleaning water from reaching the emitting surface or the light receiving surface. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the toilet seat apparatus according to the present disclosure, the effect of water discharged from the cleaning nozzle on excrement detection can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an overall configuration of a toilet system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toilet device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing the emission and reflection of laser light by an irradiation unit and a detection unit in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a main body around the cleaning nozzle in FIG. 1 as viewed from the left. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toilet device when the shutter of FIG. 1 is in an open state. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a main body around a cleaning nozzle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from the left. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the toilet device of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0027] ---First embodiment--- First, the first embodiment will be described.

[0028] <Overall composition> Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic example of the overall configuration of a toilet system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the toilet system 1 includes a toilet device 2 and an operating device 3. The toilet device 2 and the operating device 3 are provided in, for example, a toilet room R. In the toilet room R, the toilet device 2 is installed on a floor surface F. When viewed from the perspective of a user seated on a toilet seat 13 (described below), the front is the "front", the rear is the "rear", the left is the "left", the right is the "right", the vertically upward is the "up", and the vertically downward is the "down".

[0029] The toilet device 2 is a device for treating excrement of a user. The toilet device 2 mainly includes a toilet bowl 4, a toilet seat device 5, and an excretion management device 7.

[0030] The toilet bowl 4 is, for example, a ceramic toilet bowl. The toilet bowl 4 is formed with a bowl portion 8. The bowl portion 8 is a downwardly concave shape, and is a toilet bowl that receives the user's excrement. The toilet bowl 4 is not limited to a floor-standing type as shown in the figure, but may be a wall-hanging type or other type. The toilet bowl 4 is provided with a rim 10 around the entire periphery of the end of the opening that faces the bowl portion 8. In the toilet room R, for example, a flush water tank that stores flush water may be installed near the toilet bowl 4, or a so-called tankless type in which no flush water tank is installed may be used. For example, a user operates an operating lever operating device to supply flush water to the bowl portion 8 of the toilet bowl 4, and the toilet flush is performed.

[0031] The toilet seat device 5 is attached to the top of the toilet bowl 4, and includes a main body 11, a toilet lid 12, a toilet seat 13, a flushing nozzle 14, and an excretion detection unit 15. The toilet seat device 5 may be detachably attached to the toilet bowl 4, or may be attached so as to be integrated with the toilet bowl 4. The toilet seat device 5 is placed on the top of the toilet bowl 4 so that the flushing nozzle 14 advances into the bowl portion 8 before spraying flushing water.

[0032] The main body 11 is a casing that is placed on the rim 10 on the toilet bowl 4 where the bowl portion 8 is not formed. The main body 11 is attached and fixed to the toilet bowl 4. The main body 11 is connected to the toilet lid 12, and is rotatable around a pivotal portion relative to the main body 11. The main body 11 is also connected to the toilet seat 13, and is rotatable around a pivotal portion relative to the main body 11. This allows the toilet lid 12 and the toilet seat 13 to be opened and closed relative to the toilet bowl 4.

[0033] The toilet lid 12 is a lid body connected to the main body 11. By rotating the toilet lid 12 relative to the main body 11, the bowl portion 8 can be blocked when closed, and the bowl portion 8 can be released when opened. The toilet lid 12 may be omitted.

[0034] The toilet seat 13 is a portion on which a user sits. The toilet seat 13 functions as a seating portion that supports the buttocks of a seated user. The toilet seat 13 is an annular member having an opening 16 in the center. The toilet seat 13 is placed on the rim 10 and positioned relative to the toilet bowl 4 so that the bowl portion 8 and the opening 16 of the toilet seat 13 overlap, i.e., so that the toilet seat 13 is placed on the rim 10 and the annular portion of the toilet seat 13 overlaps with the rim 10. Therefore, a user seated on the toilet seat 13 can excrete into the bowl portion 8 of the toilet bowl 4.

[0035] The cleaning nozzle 14 is a nozzle for discharging water for cleaning (cleaning water). The cleaning nozzle 14 is a nozzle for cleaning private parts that can spray cleaning water toward a user who is seated on the toilet seat 13. The number of cleaning nozzles 14 is not limited. The cleaning nozzle 14 is configured to be able to advance and retreat toward the toilet seat 13 side with respect to the housing of the main body 11 by driving a driving source such as an electric motor. The cleaning nozzle 14 is also connected to a water source such as a water pipe (not shown). FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cleaning nozzle 14 is in an advanced position where it is advanced relative to the housing of the main body 11, and when the cleaning nozzle 14 is in the advanced position, it sprays water from the water source onto the user's body to clean the private parts. The cleaning nozzle 14 may be capable of cleaning the toilet bowl 4.

[0036] The excretion detection unit 15 is a sensor that detects excretion excreted in the bowl portion 8. Information detected by the excretion detection unit 15 is output to the excretion management device 7. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the toilet device 2 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the excretion detection unit 15 is configured using an irradiation unit 17 and a detection unit 18.

[0037] The irradiation unit 17 is provided in the main body 11 and irradiates the laser light toward the bowl 8. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the emission and reflection of the laser light. Specifically, the irradiation unit 17 irradiates the laser light downward from an opening in the bottom plate 11a of the main body 11, thereby irradiating the laser light toward the excrement excreted in the bowl 8. The irradiation unit 17 is a unitized configuration for irradiating the laser light, such as a laser emitting device or a prism. The surface from which the laser light is emitted from the irradiation unit 17 to the outside is called the "emission surface 17a". The emission surface 17a faces the bowl 8 side from the main body 11. The irradiation unit 17 may be provided inside the main body 11 so that the emission surface 17a is exposed to the outside from the opening in the bottom plate 11a of the main body 11, or may be provided outside the main body 11.

[0038] The detection unit 18 is provided in the main body 11 and detects the reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation unit 17. Specifically, the detection unit 18 detects the reflected light of the laser light reflected by the excrement in the bowl 8. The detection unit 18 is a unitized configuration for detecting the laser light, such as a focusing lens and a detection sensor (CMOS). The surface of the detection unit 18 that receives the reflected light from the outside is called the "light receiving surface 18a." The light receiving surface 18a faces the bowl 8 side from the main body 11. The detection unit 18 may be provided inside the main body 11 so that the light receiving surface 18a is exposed to the outside from an opening in the bottom plate 11a of the main body 11, or may be provided outside the main body 11.

[0039] 2 and 3, the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 are provided on the left and right sides of the cleaning nozzle 14 in the main body 11. That is, the cleaning nozzle 14 is disposed between the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 so that the cleaning nozzle 14 is located between them when stored.

[0040] Returning to FIG. 1, the excretion management device 7 is an information processing device that processes the user's excrement, and includes, for example, a CPU, memory, a communication unit, a storage device, etc. The excretion management device 7 judges the state of the excretion based on information detected by the excretion detection unit 15. The state refers to the state of the excretion, such as the presence or absence of excretion, color, amount, flow rate (amount of excretion per unit time), urination time (defecation time), shape, properties, etc. The state can be set appropriately depending on the purpose, such as health observation. Furthermore, the method of calculating the state of urine and feces based on the excretion detection unit 15 is not limited, and various methods can be applied.

[0041] The excretion management device 7 records (stores) the results of the excretion judgment. This allows excretion recording. The excretion record can be checked by the user, etc. The excretion record may be recorded in the excretion management device 7 or in a server, and the recording location is not limited. In this embodiment, the excretion management device 7 is provided in the toilet seat device 5, for example, as an example, but the location where the excretion management device 7 is provided is not limited.

[0042] The operating device 3 is provided, for example, on a wall surface of the toilet room R. The operating device 3 is provided in a position where a user can operate it, for example, where the user can operate it when seated on the toilet seat 13. For example, the operating device 3 may be provided integrally with the toilet seat device 5. The operating device 3 is capable of wired or wireless communication with the toilet seat device 5 and the like, and is capable of sending and receiving information. The operating device 3 accepts various operations from the user via a touch panel or buttons, and executes processing.

[0043] <Configuration of guard portion 20> When the cleaning nozzle 14 housed in the main body 11 advances to the front side, which is the toilet seat 13 side, and discharges cleaning water for cleaning the private parts, for example, the cleaning water may hit the private parts of the human body and fall downward as it is, or the cleaning water may scatter around. On the other hand, as described above, the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 emit and receive laser light to detect excrement, and if the scattered cleaning water adheres to the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18, the detection accuracy may deteriorate. In particular, if the cleaning water adheres to the emission surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a, the detection accuracy may be affected.

[0044] For this reason, the toilet seat device 5 is provided with a guard part 20 that guards the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18 from the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14. The guard part 20 may guard at least either the irradiation part 17 or the detection part 18. The guard part 20 performs a guard function for preventing the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 from reaching the irradiation part 17 or the detection part 18. In other words, the guard part 20 prevents the cleaning water from advancing to the positions where the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18 are provided. In particular, the guard part 20 protects the emission surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a from the cleaning water.

[0045] The guard part 20 is preferably provided closer to the toilet seat 13 than the irradiation part 17 (particularly the radiation surface 17a) and the detection part 18 (particularly the light receiving surface 18a). In particular, the guard part 20 is preferably provided closer to the toilet seat 13 than the radiation surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a. That is, when the toilet device 2 is viewed from directly above, the guard part 20 is disposed so as to be located on the toilet seat 13 side, that is, between the water discharge position of the advanced cleaning nozzle 14 and the predetermined human body part position to which cleaning water is applied, and the irradiation part 17 (radiation surface 17a) or the detection part 18 (light receiving surface 18a).

[0046] Specifically, in this embodiment, the guard part 20 is a shutter 21. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the cleaning nozzle 14 and its surroundings of the main body part 11 as viewed from the left. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body part 11 is provided with a hole part 22 at a position facing the tip of the cleaning nozzle 14, and the shutter 21 is provided in the hole part 22. The cleaning nozzle 14 can advance and retreat through the hole part 22. The shutter 21 is connected to the housing of the main body part 11 by a connection part 23 and can rotate around the connection part 23 as an axis. Note that, although the example of FIG. 4 shows a case where the connection part 23 is provided above the shutter 21, the connection part 23 may be below the shutter 21, and the position is not limited. The shutter 21 is in a closed state by blocking the hole part 22 when the cleaning nozzle 14 is accommodated, and is in an open state by opening the hole part 22 when the cleaning nozzle 14 advances from the inside of the main body part 11 to the outside (when washing local areas). The shutter 21 opens outward relative to the main body 11 to be in an open state.

[0047] 5 is a plan view of the toilet device 2 when the shutter 21 is in an open state. The shutter 21 is a horizontally elongated member. Specifically, the shutter 21 has a shape in which the width parallel to the axis is longer than the width perpendicular to the axis. Note that the shutter 21 does not have to be a horizontally elongated member. In this way, the shutter 21 has a shape in which the width in the left-right direction is wider than the width in the up-down direction.

[0048] 5, the shutter 21 is located between the water discharge position of the advanced cleaning nozzle 14 or a predetermined human body part position to which cleaning water is applied, and the emission surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a. Specifically, when viewed from directly above, the emission surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a is located in the area between the straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the water discharge position of the advanced cleaning nozzle 14 (or a predetermined human body part position to which cleaning water is applied) and both ends (left and right ends) of the shutter 21, and in the area behind the shutter 21.

[0049] As a result, even if cleaning water from the cleaning nozzle 14 splashes, the shutter 21 can protect the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 from the cleaning water.

[0050] In this embodiment, the case where the shutter 21 is used as the guard part 20 has been described, but the guard part 20 can be any component that rotates around the connection part 23, such as the shutter 21, without being limited to the shutter 21.

[0051] <Action and effect> As described above, the toilet seat device 5 of this embodiment comprises a toilet seat 13 placed on the rim 10 of the toilet bowl 4, a main body part 11 connected to the toilet seat 13, a cleaning nozzle 14 that can advance and retreat toward the toilet seat 13 relative to the main body part 11 and sprays cleaning water toward a user sitting on the toilet seat 13, an irradiation part 17 provided on the main body part 11 and irradiates laser light toward the toilet bowl 4, a detection part 18 provided on the main body part 11 and detects reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation part 17, and a guard part 20 that protects at least one of the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18 from the cleaning water sprayed by the cleaning nozzle 14 that has advanced toward the toilet seat 13 relative to the main body part 11.

[0052] According to this configuration, the guard part 20 prevents the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 from reaching the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18. This prevents the cleaning water from adhering to the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18 and affecting the detection function.

[0053] In the toilet seat device 5, the guard portion 20 is provided on the main body 11 on the toilet seat side of the emission surface 17a from which the laser light is emitted in the irradiation portion 17 and the light receiving surface 18a from which the detection portion 18 receives the reflected light.

[0054] According to this configuration, the guard portion 20 is provided on the toilet seat 13 side of the emission surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a, thereby preventing the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 from reaching the irradiation portion 17 and the detection portion 18.

[0055] In the toilet seat device 5, the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 are provided in the main body 11 on either side of the cleaning nozzle 14.

[0056] According to this configuration, the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 are provided on either side of the cleaning nozzle 14, so that interference between the irradiated laser light and the reflected laser light can be suppressed.

[0057] Furthermore, in the toilet seat device 5, the guard part 20 is provided closer to the toilet seat 13 side than the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18, and rotates about a connection part 23 with the main body part 11 as an axis.

[0058] According to this configuration, the guard part 20 is provided, which rotates toward the toilet seat 13 side relative to the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18, thereby preventing the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 from reaching the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18. In addition, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the irradiation part 17 and the detection part 18.

[0059] In addition, in the toilet seat device 5, the guard portion 20 is provided in a hole portion 22 in the main body portion 11 through which the cleaning nozzle 14 advances and retreats, and is a shutter 21 that opens outward relative to the main body portion 11 when the cleaning nozzle 14 advances from the inside to the outside of the main body portion 11.

[0060] According to this configuration, by using the shutter 21 of the cleaning nozzle 14 that opens outward as the guard section 20, the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 is prevented from reaching the irradiation section 17 or the detection section 18.

[0061] Moreover, in the toilet seat device 5, the width of the guard portion 20 in a direction parallel to the axis of the connecting portion 23 is longer than the width in a direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0062] According to this configuration, the guard part 20 has a wide width in the direction parallel to the axis as the connection part 23, which prevents the cleaning water ejected from the cleaning nozzle 14 from reaching the irradiation part 17 or the detection part 18.

[0063] --- Second embodiment --- Next, a second embodiment will be described.

[0064] In the second embodiment, a guard portion 20 different from that in the first embodiment will be described. Note that a description of the same points as in the first embodiment will be omitted. Also, the second embodiment can be combined with the first embodiment.

[0065] In the second embodiment, the guard part 20 is a convex part 31 formed on the surface of the main body part 11 facing the toilet bowl 4 and extending downward below the upper surface of the rim 10. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration around the cleaning nozzle 14 of the main body part 11 as viewed from the left. As shown in Fig. 6, the lower surface (bottom plate 11a) of the cleaning nozzle 14 in the main body part 11 forms a convex part 31 that convexes downward. The convex part 31 has a shape that extends to a position lower than the upper surface of the rim 10.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 6, the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 are provided between the rim 10 and the convex portion 31. In particular, the emission surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a are provided at a position higher than the lowest part of the convex portion 31. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the emission surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a are provided at a position equal to the upper surface of the rim 10.

[0067] 6, it is preferable that the convex portion 31 is located on a straight line connecting the cleaning nozzle 14 advanced from the main body portion 11 and the radiation surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a. Specifically, it is preferable that the height of the convex portion 31 is set so that the straight line L3 connecting the discharge position of the advanced cleaning nozzle 14 and the radiation surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a passes through the convex portion 31.

[0068] Fig. 7 is a plan view of the toilet device 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the convex portion 31 is located between the water discharge position of the advanced cleaning nozzle 14 or a predetermined human body part position to which cleaning water is applied, and the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a. Specifically, when viewed from directly above, it is preferable that the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a is located in an area between the straight lines L4 and L5 connecting the water discharge position of the advanced cleaning nozzle 14 (or a predetermined human body part position to which cleaning water is applied) and both ends (left and right ends) of the convex portion 31, and in an area behind the convex portion 31. Furthermore, it is preferable to arrange the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a inwardly by a predetermined distance from the ends of the area within the area.

[0069] <Action and effect> As described above, in the toilet seat device 5 according to this embodiment, the guard portion 20 is the protrusion 31 formed on the surface of the main body 11 facing the toilet bowl 4 and extending downward below the upper surface of the rim 10.

[0070] According to this configuration, by using the downwardly extending convex portion 31 as the guard portion 20, the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 is prevented from reaching the irradiation portion 17 and the detection portion 18. In addition, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in arranging the irradiation portion 17 and the detection portion 18.

[0071] Furthermore, in the toilet seat device 5, the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a are disposed between the rim 10 and the convex portion 31 on the surface of the main body 11 facing the toilet bowl 4.

[0072] According to this configuration, the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a are provided between the rim 10 and the convex portion 31, thereby effectively preventing the wash water from reaching the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a.

[0073] Moreover, in the toilet seat device 5, the convex portion 31 is located on a straight line connecting the cleaning nozzle 14 protruding from the main body portion 11 and the light emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a.

[0074] According to this configuration, the convex portion 31 is positioned on a straight line connecting the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a with the cleaning nozzle 14, thereby effectively preventing the cleaning water from reaching the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a.

[0075] <Modification> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In other words, the above-mentioned specific example, to which a person skilled in the art appropriately adds design modifications, is also included in the scope of the present disclosure as long as it has the features of the present disclosure. In addition, each element of the above-mentioned embodiment and the following modified examples can be combined to the extent technically possible, and the combination of these is also included in the scope of the present disclosure as long as it has the features of the present disclosure.

[0076] For example, in the first and second embodiments, an example was given in which the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 are provided on the left and right sides of the cleaning nozzle 14, respectively, but the arrangement of the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 is not limited to the above.

[0077] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the shutter 21 and the protrusion 31 are used as the guard portion 20, but the present invention is not limited to the above as long as the structure has the function of the guard portion 20.

[0078] For example, a shielding wall may be provided as the guard unit 20. For example, the shielding wall is provided closer to the toilet seat 13 side than the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18, and extends downward from the main body unit 11. This makes it possible to protect the irradiation unit 17 and the detection unit 18 from cleaning water scattered on the toilet seat 13 side. The shielding wall may be made of a transparent material.

[0079] Furthermore, the guard portion 20 may be provided with a shutter (shielding mechanism) that closes the front of the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a when water is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14. By closing the front with the shutter, the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a can be protected from the cleaning water.

[0080] Furthermore, the guard section 20 may be provided with a moving mechanism that moves the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a into the main body section 11 when water is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14. By moving them into the interior with the moving mechanism, the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a can be protected from the cleaning water.

[0081] The guard section 20 may be provided with an orientation change mechanism that changes the orientation of the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a when the cleaning nozzle 14 is discharging water. For example, the orientation is set so that the cleaning water does not adhere to the surface due to the expected scattering path of the cleaning water. By changing the orientation with the orientation change mechanism, the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a can be protected from the cleaning water.

[0082] Furthermore, a mechanism for generating an air curtain or a water curtain in front of the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a when water is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 14 may be provided as the guard portion 20. The air curtain or the water curtain can protect the emitting surface 17a or the light receiving surface 18a from the cleaning water.

[0083] Furthermore, a mechanism for preventing urination splashing provided on the toilet seat 13 may be used as the guard portion 20. The mechanism is, for example, a downwardly extending protrusion provided on the toilet seat 13. The mechanism for preventing urination splashing can protect the emitting surface 17a and the light receiving surface 18a from washing water.

[0084] Also, the housing of main body 11 may be used as guard part 20. That is, if the housing of main body 11 extending from rim 10 toward bowl part 8 (the overlapping part with bowl part 8) can protect emitting surface 17a and light receiving surface 18a from cleaning water, it can be used as guard part 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 4: Toilet 5: Toilet seat device 10: Rim 11: Main body 13: Toilet seat 14: Cleaning nozzle (nozzle) 15: Excretion detection unit (irradiation unit 17 and detection unit 18) 17: Irradiation unit 18: Detection unit 20: Guard section

Claims

1. a toilet seat that rests on the rim of the toilet bowl; A main body connected to the toilet seat; a nozzle that can move toward and away from the toilet seat with respect to the main body and that ejects cleaning water toward a user seated on the toilet seat; an irradiation unit provided in the main body and configured to irradiate a laser beam toward the toilet bowl; a detection unit provided in the main body unit and configured to detect reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation unit; a guard part that protects at least one of the irradiation part and the detection part from cleaning water discharged from the nozzle that has advanced toward the toilet seat side relative to the main body part; A toilet seat device comprising:

2. The guard portion is provided on the main body portion on the toilet seat side of an emission surface from which the laser light is emitted in the irradiation portion and a light receiving surface that receives reflected light in the detection portion.

2. A toilet seat apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

3. The irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on either side of the nozzle in the main body. A toilet seat device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The guard unit is provided on the toilet seat side of the irradiation unit and the detection unit, and rotates around a connection portion with the main body unit.

4. A toilet seat apparatus as claimed in claim 3.

5. the guard portion is provided in a hole portion in the main body portion through which the nozzle advances and retreats, and is a shutter that opens outward with respect to the main body portion when the nozzle advances from the inside to the outside of the main body portion.

5. A toilet seat arrangement as claimed in claim 4.

6. The guard portion has a width parallel to the axis that is greater than a width perpendicular to the axis.

5. A toilet seat arrangement as claimed in claim 4.

7. The guard portion is a protrusion formed on the toilet bowl side surface of the main body portion and extending downward below the upper surface of the rim.

3. A toilet seat apparatus as claimed in claim 2.

8. The emitting surface and the light receiving surface are disposed between the rim and the protruding portion on the toilet bowl side surface of the main body.

8. A toilet seat arrangement as claimed in claim 7.

9. the protrusion is located on a straight line connecting the nozzle protruding from the main body and the emitting surface or the light receiving surface, 9. A toilet seat arrangement as claimed in claim 8.

Images