Toilet bowl part cleaning device and toilet bowl part cleaning method using the same

The toilet bowl part washing device addresses the inefficiencies of existing cleaning methods by using a horizontally extendable and rotating nozzle with a zigzagging injection guide to physically impact the surface with washing or disinfectant water, effectively removing contaminants and improving hygiene.

JP2025059051AActive Publication Date: 2025-04-09コーラー ノビタ リミテッド
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024167144
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-09-27
Filing Date
2024-09-26
Publication Date
2025-04-09
Estimated Expiration
2044-09-26

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing toilet bowl cleaning devices have limitations in effectively cleaning the surface of toilet bowl parts due to blind areas that cannot be reached by direct injection methods, leading to inefficient removal of foreign matter and water stains, and requiring users to manually re-clean with a brush.

Method used

A toilet bowl part washing device with a cleaning nozzle that extends and rotates horizontally, equipped with a nozzle head and injection guide portion that zigzags the discharge flow, allowing for up-and-down spraying of washing or disinfectant water to physically impact the surface, thereby expanding the cleaning range and maximizing the removal of contaminants.

Benefits of technology

The device improves the efficiency of removing foreign matter and water stains from the toilet bowl surface by physically impacting the area with spraying water, expanding the cleaning range, and minimizing blind areas, thus enhancing the hygiene and reducing the need for manual re-cleaning.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a toilet bowl part cleaning device capable of effectively cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl part without any blind areas, and a toilet bowl part cleaning method using the same.SOLUTION: A toilet bowl part cleaning device sprays cleaning water or disinfecting water while oscillating up and down from the cleaning nozzle part controlled in a sequence operation mode, which not only improves the efficiency of removing foreign matter from the surface of the toilet bowl part by applying a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl part with the cleaning water or disinfecting water oscillating up and down, but also expands the cleaning range and / or disinfecting range on the surface of the toilet bowl part, minimizes the cleaning blind area, and improves the hygiene of the toilet, and by optimizing the structure of the toilet bowl part cleaning device, it is possible to reduce product costs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for cleaning a bowl of a toilet, and more particularly to a toilet bowl cleaning device and a toilet bowl cleaning method using the same, which can effectively clean the surface of the bowl of a toilet without blind areas by spraying cleaning water or disinfecting water while oscillating up and down from a cleaning nozzle controlled in a sequence operation mode to give a physical impact to the surface of the bowl of the toilet. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a bidet is a device that sprays cleansing water from a nozzle device onto the user's anus and / or localized area and its surroundings after defecation. A bidet is installed on a toilet and includes a bidet body that is combined with a seat cushion and a seat cover, an operating unit, and a cleaning nozzle unit that sprays cleansing water onto the user's anus and / or localized area and its surroundings.

[0003] On the other hand, the toilet bowl (or toilet seat) on which the bidet is installed is made of a ceramic structure, and even after flushing, foreign matter remains on the surface of the bowl of the toilet, creating a source of contamination that can cause limescale and the like, which can lead to the proliferation of bacteria. The proliferation of bacteria causes odors, and the odor rises during defecation, making it difficult to provide a comfortable environment for the user.

[0004] In this regard, existing Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0133053 discloses a toilet flushing device equipped with a flushing nozzle part for cleaning the bowl part, the flushing nozzle part being provided in a housing and having a jet hole, and the device includes a lifting means and a rotating means for extending and horizontally rotating the flushing nozzle part.

[0005] However, in the toilet flushing device according to the existing published patent publication, even if the flushing nozzle part is extended by the lifting means and rotated horizontally by the rotating means, the method of spraying cleaning water from the spray hole of the flushing nozzle part is direct spray, so there is a limit to how much the cleaning water sprayed from the spray hole of the flushing nozzle part can clean the surface of the bowl part of the toilet, and moreover, the existence of blind areas on the surface of the bowl part of the toilet that cannot be cleaned is unavoidable.

[0006] That is, when the nozzle portion is extended from the tip of the bidet body and then rotated in a horizontal direction to spray cleaning water from the spray hole in a direct spray manner, the cleaning water sprayed in the direct spray manner cannot physically impact the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet, and therefore cannot adequately clean contamination sources such as foreign matter and / or limescale solidified on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet.

[0007] In addition, the flushing nozzle unit simply sprays flushing water onto the surface of the bowl of the toilet, and does not realize a sequence operation mode in which the surface of the bowl of the toilet is divided into a whole flushing area or a partial flushing area and these areas are flushed sequentially, so that the efficiency of removing the contaminants from the surface of the bowl of the toilet is inevitably reduced. Therefore, in the past, there was the inconvenience that the user had to re-wash the surface of the bowl of the toilet with a flushing brush by himself. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] Published Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0133053 (Publication date: 2017.12.05.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a toilet bowl cleaning device and a toilet bowl cleaning method using the same that not only improves the efficiency of removing foreign matter from the surface of the toilet bowl by spraying cleaning water or disinfecting water while oscillating up and down from a cleaning nozzle part controlled in a sequence operation mode, by applying a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl part with the up and down oscillating cleaning water or disinfecting water, but also expands the cleaning range and / or disinfecting range on the surface of the toilet bowl part, minimizes the cleaning blind area, and improves the hygiene of the toilet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] As a means for solving the technical problems of the present invention, a toilet bowl cleaning device includes a cleaning nozzle section formed on the bottom side of a bidet body connected to a toilet, which extends and rotates horizontally, and which has a water supply section at one end and a water outlet section at the other end, and a nozzle head formed on the water outlet side of the cleaning nozzle section, which sprays cleaning water or disinfecting water from an injection hole onto the surface of the bowl of the toilet, and the nozzle head is formed with an injection guide section which guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or the disinfecting water in a zigzag manner, so that the cleaning water or the disinfecting water is sprayed from the injection hole in an up and down oscillating manner.

[0011] Further, the cleaning nozzle portion includes a first cylindrical portion in which the water supply portion connected to the cleaning water supply pipe in the bidet body is formed and which has a first internal flow path; a second cylindrical portion for forming the water outlet portion and having a second internal flow path communicating with the first internal flow path; and a connecting portion protruding from one end of the second cylindrical portion for guiding the insertion and coupling of the first cylindrical portion and having a third internal flow path communicating with the first internal flow path and the second internal flow path.

[0012] Furthermore, an open opening is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion, a key groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion, and a key for fixing the first cylindrical portion and the connecting portion is disposed in the open opening and the key groove.

[0013] Furthermore, the opening is a C-shaped hole structure, and the key is a C-shaped ring structure disposed on the connecting portion through the opening.

[0014] Furthermore, a gasket groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a gasket is disposed in the gasket groove in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion.

[0015] Furthermore, the water outlet portion is a slot structure, communicates with the second internal flow path of the second cylindrical portion, functions as an installation space into which cleaning water or disinfecting water flows, and is accommodated so that the nozzle head is inserted therein. The nozzle head has a water supply hole that communicates with the installation space, and the injection guide portion is formed between the water supply hole and the injection hole.

[0016] Furthermore, the injection guide portion is a ribbed block body, and is connected to the water supply hole to inject the cleaning water or the disinfecting water from the injection hole while oscillating up and down, and a drainage chamber is formed to guide the discharge flow of the cleaning water or the disinfecting water in a zigzag pattern.

[0017] In another embodiment, the toilet bowl cleaning method performed by the toilet bowl cleaning device includes step a of opening a water supply valve in a bidet body based on an input signal from a flush button to supply cleaning water; step b of activating a hot water heater in the bidet body to heat the cleaning water when cleaning water is supplied into the bidet body in step a; and step c of determining whether disinfectant water has been introduced into the cleaning nozzle or whether air has been mixed in, when the cleaning water heated by the hot water heater in step b reaches a target water temperature, and controlling a plurality of sequence operation modes for changing the extension distance and horizontal rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle, thereby spraying cleaning water or disinfectant water onto the surface of the bowl while oscillating up and down, and applying a physical impact to the surface of the bowl of the toilet, thereby cleaning or disinfecting it.

[0018] Furthermore, the plurality of sequence operation modes in step c include a soak mode, a cleaning mode, a deep cleaning mode, a flushing mode, and a disinfection mode, which are executed sequentially.

[0019] Furthermore, the immersion mode in step c is a mode for immersing a contamination source attached to the surface of the bowl part of the toilet, and the immersion mode includes a first step of extending the cleaning nozzle part stored on the bottom side of the bidet body, a second step of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle part extended in the first step by reciprocating from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle, and at the same time, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a spray guide part in the nozzle head, thereby repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from a spray hole onto the surface of the bowl part while oscillating up and down, and a third step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part after repeatedly spraying the heated cleaning water onto the surface of the bowl part while oscillating up and down by the reciprocating horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part in the second step.

[0020] Furthermore, the cleaning mode in step c is a mode for first removing by brushing contamination sources on the surface of the bowl part of the toilet immersed in the immersion mode, and the cleaning mode includes a fourth step of causing the extended cleaning nozzle part to repeatedly perform horizontal rotation at a first rotation angle and horizontal rotation at a second rotation angle smaller than the first rotation angle, and guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a jet guide part in the nozzle head and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from a jet hole while oscillating up and down in order to divide the surface of the bowl part into partial areas and repeatedly clean it, and a fifth step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part and returning the cleaning nozzle part to an initial rotation angle when the cleaning nozzle part, which repeatedly sprays heated cleaning water while oscillating up and down in the fourth step, reaches a maximum rotation angle through repeated horizontal rotation at the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle.

[0021] Furthermore, the deep cleaning mode in step c is a mode for removing contamination sources on the surface of the bowl part of the toilet twice by brushing after the cleaning mode, and the deep cleaning mode includes a sixth step of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle part by reciprocating within a range of a first rotation angle, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a jet guide part in the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from a jet hole onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the bowl part while swinging it up and down; and a sixth step of repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from a jet hole onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the bowl part while swinging it up and down based on the sixth step, stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part, and a seventh step of returning the cleaning nozzle part to its initial rotation angle; an eighth step of, based on the seventh step, reciprocating and horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle part within a second rotation angle range, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern using a spray guide part in the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from a spray hole onto the left and right surfaces of the bowl part while oscillating it up and down; and a ninth step of, based on the eighth step, stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part and then returning the cleaning nozzle part to its initial rotation angle, and the sixth to ninth steps are repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times.

[0022] Furthermore, the flushing mode in step c is a mode for removing sources of contamination remaining on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet from which the sources of contamination have been removed by the deep flushing mode, and the flushing mode is based on step b and includes a 10th step of heating or not heating the cleaning water by maintaining the hot water heater on or off, and an 11th step based on step 9 of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle portion at a maximum rotation angle, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a spray guide portion in the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water or unheated room temperature cleaning water from a spray hole onto the surface of the bowl portion while oscillating up and down.

[0023] Furthermore, the disinfection mode in step c is a mode for disinfecting the surface of the bowl part of the toilet from which residual contamination sources have been removed by the flushing mode, and the disinfection mode includes a 12th step based on step 10 of activating a disinfectant water generating unit provided in the bidet body to generate disinfectant water and heating or not heating the disinfectant water while maintaining the activation or shutoff of the hot water heater, a 13th step based on step 11 of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle part, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a jet guide part in the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated disinfectant water or unheated room temperature disinfectant water from a jet hole while oscillating up and down, and a 14th step based on step 12 of closing the water supply valve opened in step a after shutting off the hot water heater and the disinfectant water generating unit when the hot water heater is activated.

[0024] Furthermore, in the immersion mode, the cleaning mode, and the deep cleaning mode in step c, the heated cleaning water sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down is hot water in the range of 35°C to 75°C.

[0025] Furthermore, in the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c, the heated or unheated cleaning water sprayed from the spray hole while swinging up and down is warm water or room temperature water in the range of 35°C to 75°C.

[0026] Furthermore, in the soaking mode, the cleaning mode, the deep cleaning mode, the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c, the method further includes a step of mixing air through an air pump provided in the bidet body when the cleaning water flows into the nozzle head.

[0027] Furthermore, in step c, the amount of mixed air is a first mixed amount in the immersion mode, the flushing mode and the disinfection mode, and the amount of mixed air is controlled to a second mixed amount greater than the first mixed amount in the cleaning mode and the deep cleaning mode.

[0028] Furthermore, in the disinfection mode in step c, the disinfectant water generated by the disinfectant water generating unit is electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis.

[0029] Furthermore, in the step c, the rotation range of the cleaning nozzle part from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle is 0° to 360°.

[0030] Furthermore, in the step c), the maximum extension distance of the cleaning nozzle portion is 180 mm or less. Effect of the Invention

[0031] As described above, in the present invention, by spraying cleaning water or disinfecting water while oscillating up and down from the cleaning nozzle part controlled in a sequence operation mode, the up and down oscillating cleaning water or disinfecting water applies a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl part, thereby not only improving the efficiency of removing foreign matter from the surface of the toilet bowl part, but also expanding the cleaning range and / or disinfecting range on the surface of the toilet bowl part, minimizing the cleaning blind area, and improving the hygiene of the toilet; furthermore, by optimizing the structure of the toilet bowl part cleaning device, the cost of the product can be saved.

[0032] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural diagram of a toilet bowl cleaning device used in a bidet body according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a nozzle portion of a toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a stored state; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an extended state of a nozzle portion of a toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a nozzle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a structure of a nozzle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is an overall flowchart showing a method for cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl in a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a flow chart for cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl in a submersion mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 4 is a flow chart of cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl in a flush mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 4 is a flow chart of cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl in a deep flush mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 4 is a flow chart of cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl in a flushing mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 1 is a flow chart of cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl in a disinfect mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] 1 is a graph showing a schematic rotation range from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle of an extended or extended nozzle portion when cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl portion in a submerged mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] 4 is a graph showing a schematic representation of the horizontal rotation range of an extended or extended nozzle portion when cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl portion in a flush mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 14] 4 is a graph showing a schematic horizontal rotation range of an extended or extended nozzle portion when cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl portion in a deep flush mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 15]1 is a graph showing a rotation range from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle of a nozzle portion being extended or having been extended when cleaning a surface of a toilet bowl portion in a flushing mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 16] 11 is a graph showing a schematic representation of the rotation range from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle of the nozzle portion being extended or having been extended when cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl portion in a disinfection mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] The advantages, features, and methods for achieving the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following embodiments. However, the embodiments based on the technical idea of ​​the present invention are not limited to the embodiments shown below, and may be implemented in various forms. The embodiments are merely intended to complete the content of the present invention and fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the embodiments based on the technical idea of ​​the present invention are defined only by the claims.

[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular forms include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0036] It will be understood that, as used herein, the terms "comprise" or "have" and the like are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, structural elements, components, or combinations thereof set forth in the specification, but do not a priori exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, structural elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0037] In addition, the embodiments described in this specification will be described with reference to preferred exemplary cross-sectional and / or plan views of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the specific shapes given, and include necessary shape changes. For example, a region represented by a right angle may be an arc shape or a shape having a predetermined curvature. Therefore, the regions shown in the accompanying drawings have exemplary attributes, and the shapes of the regions shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate the specific shapes of the device and region, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0038] Throughout the specification, the same symbols refer to the same components, and therefore, reference can be made to the same or similar symbols in other drawings even if they are not mentioned or described in the corresponding drawing, and reference can be made to other drawings even if the symbols are not shown.

[0039] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a toilet bowl cleaning device used in a bidet body according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a stored state of a nozzle part of a toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing an extended state of a nozzle part of a toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the nozzle part according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the nozzle part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] 1 to 5, in the toilet bowl cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention, under the control of a bidet control unit (not shown), cleaning water flowing in at the time of start-up or disinfectant water generated by a disinfectant water generating unit (not shown) that generates disinfectant water (electrolyzed water) by electrolysis controlled by the bidet control unit is sprayed into the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2, either heated or unheated, according to the start-up of a hot water heater (not shown), or sprayed with air supplied by an air pump, thereby removing contamination sources such as foreign matter and limescale attached to the surface of the bowl portion 2a. The toilet bowl cleaning device includes a cleaning nozzle unit 10, a nozzle head 20, and a spray guide unit 30.

[0042] Here, the cleaning water supply pipe, water supply valve, hot water heater, disinfectant water generating unit, air pump, and bidet control unit (not shown) are publicly known technologies formed inside the bidet body 1 as disclosed in Published Patent Application No. 10-2023-0045330 filed by the present inventor, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted below.

[0043] The cleaning nozzle portion 10 is stored on the bottom side of the bidet body 1 connected to the toilet bowl 2, as shown in FIG. 2, and may perform extension and horizontal rotation simultaneously, or may perform extension and then horizontal rotation sequentially, as shown in FIG. 3, and may include a first cylindrical portion 11, a second cylindrical portion 12, and a connecting portion 13.

[0044] Here, the storage or extension and horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is achieved by a known lifting means of a cylinder type controlled by the bidet control portion and a known rotation means driven by a transmission type, which are disclosed in the present inventor's pending patent application No. 10-2023-0039589 (filing date: 2023.03.27), and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted below.

[0045] The first cylindrical portion 11 is an L-shaped hollow cylindrical structure for forming a water supply portion 11a connected to a cleansing water supply pipe (not shown) in the bidet body 1, and has a first internal flow path U1 through which cleansing water flows.

[0046] The second cylindrical portion 12 is a hollow cylinder structure, and serves to form a water outlet portion 12a. The second cylindrical portion 12 communicates with the first internal flow path U1 and has a second internal flow path U2 through which cleaning water flows.

[0047] Here, the water outlet portion 12a is a slot structure, which is connected to the second internal flow path U2 of the second cylindrical portion 12, functions as an installation space into which cleaning water flows, and is accommodated so that the nozzle head 20 can be inserted.

[0048] The connecting portion 13 protrudes from one end of the second cylindrical portion 12 to guide the insertion and coupling of the first cylindrical portion 11, and has a key groove 13a and a gasket groove 13b formed on its outer circumferential surface, and has a third internal passage U3 communicating with the first internal passage U1 and the second internal passage U2.

[0049] Meanwhile, an opening 11b may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 11, whereby a key 14 is placed in the key groove 13a through the opening 11b, and the key 14 is used to connect and fix the first cylindrical portion 11 and the connecting portion 13.

[0050] Further, the gasket groove 13b is for positioning a gasket 15 that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 11, whereby the opening 11b is a C-shaped hole structure, the key 14 may be a C-shaped ring structure positioned in the key groove 13a through the opening 11b, and the gasket 15 may be an O-ring structure or may be a closed ring that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 11.

[0051] The nozzle head 20 is inserted and coupled to the water outlet portion 12a formed in a slot structure as an installation space for the cleaning nozzle portion 10, and is configured to spray cleaning water or disinfecting water from a spray hole 21 onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2. For this purpose, the nozzle head 20 is formed with a water supply hole 22 communicating with the installation space, and the spray guide portion 30 may be formed between the water supply hole 22 and the spray hole 21.

[0052] The injection guide portion 30 is formed on the nozzle head 20 and guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or the disinfecting water in a zigzag manner so that the cleaning water or the disinfecting water is injected from the injection hole 21 while oscillating up and down.

[0053] That is, the jet guide part 30 is a ribbed block body, has a drain chamber 31 communicating with the water supply hole 22, and jets the cleaning water or the disinfecting water from the jet hole 21 while oscillating up and down. The jet guide part 30 guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or the disinfecting water in a zigzag manner by the drain chamber 31, so that when the cleaning water or the disinfecting water is jetted from the jet hole 21, the cleaning water or the disinfecting water is jetted while oscillating up and down, and a physical impact can be applied to the surface of the bowl part 2a of the toilet 2.

[0054] As described above, in the toilet bowl cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle head 20 formed in an integrated or separate structure at the other end of the cleaning nozzle section 10 is formed with the jet guide section 30 as a ribbed block body having a drain chamber 31, and the jet guide section 30 is configured to guide the discharge flow of cleaning water or disinfecting water introduced through the water supply hole 22 of the nozzle head 20 in a zigzag pattern, so that the cleaning water or disinfecting water can be sprayed from the jet hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto the surface of the bowl section 2a of the toilet 2 while oscillating up and down. Therefore, the cleaning water or disinfecting water oscillating up and down gives a physical impact to the surface of the bowl section 2a of the toilet 2, and thereby contamination sources such as foreign matter and limescale attached to the surface of the bowl section 2a can be effectively removed.

[0055] Meanwhile, the toilet bowl cleaning device described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 can control the cleaning process according to a sequence operation mode by a bidet control unit provided in the bidet main body 1. This will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 16.

[0056] First, in step a, when the bidet control unit receives an input signal from a flush button (not shown) provided on the operation unit of the bidet main body 1, it opens the water supply valve in the bidet main body 1 to supply flushing water.

[0057] Next, in step b, when wash water is supplied into the bidet main body 1, the bidet control unit starts or shuts off the hot water heater in the bidet main body 1 to maintain the wash water in a hot water state within a target water temperature range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or in a room temperature water state.

[0058] Furthermore, in step c, when the unheated room temperature water or the cleaning water heated by the hot water heater reaches a target water temperature, the bidet control unit judges whether disinfectant water has been introduced into the cleaning nozzle unit 10 stored on the bottom side of the bidet body 1 or whether air has been mixed in, and controls a plurality of sequence operation modes for changing the extension distance and horizontal rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle unit 10, thereby spraying the cleaning water or disinfectant water onto the surface of the bowl unit 2a while oscillating up and down, thereby applying a physical impact to the surface of the bowl unit 2a of the toilet 2 and cleaning or disinfecting it.

[0059] That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the sequence operation modes controlled by the bidet control unit are executed in the following order: soaking mode S10 → cleaning mode S20 → deep cleaning mode S30 → flushing mode S40 → disinfection mode S50, and each operation mode will be described in detail below.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7, the soaking mode S10 is a mode for soaking contamination sources attached to the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2, and may include first to third steps.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 3, in the first step, after the step b, the lifting means is driven and controlled to cause the washing nozzle portion 10 housed on the bottom side of the bidet body 1 to extend downward.

[0062] Here, the maximum extension distance of the cleaning nozzle portion 10 by the lifting means may be 180 mm or less.

[0063] Next, as shown in FIG. 12, in the second step, the rotation means is driven and controlled to horizontally rotate the extended cleaning nozzle portion 10 back and forth from an initial rotation angle (e.g., 0°) to a maximum rotation angle (e.g., 360°).

[0064] In this case, the cleaning nozzle section 10 may be extended and rotated horizontally at the same time, or may be extended and then rotated horizontally. When the cleaning nozzle section 10 rotates horizontally, cleaning water flowing in through the water supply section 11a of the first cylindrical section 11 constituting the cleaning nozzle section 10 can be discharged from the water outlet section 12a through the first internal flow path U1, the third internal flow path U3 of the connecting section 13, and the second internal flow path U2 of the second cylindrical section 12.

[0065] The cleaning water discharged as described above flows into drain chamber 31 of spray guide section 30 formed within nozzle head 20 via water supply hole 22 of nozzle head 20 formed in water outlet section 12a, and the discharge flow of the cleaning water is further guided in a zigzag manner, whereby cleaning water heated to a temperature within the range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) is repeatedly sprayed from spray hole 21 of nozzle head 20 onto the surface of bowl section 2a of toilet 2 while oscillating up and down, so that the contamination source on the surface of bowl section 2a is initially immersed.

[0066] Here, the heating temperature of the washing water is limited to within the range of 35°C to 75°C, but this range can also be subdivided into the range of 35°C to 45°C or 65°C to 75°C.

[0067] Thereafter, in a third step, the heated cleaning water is repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a while swinging up and down due to the reciprocating horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle portion 10, thereby immersing the contamination source, and then, in order to execute the next operating mode, i.e., the cleaning mode S20, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is stopped and the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is returned to its initial rotation angle to end the immersion mode S10.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 8, the cleaning mode S20 is a mode for first removing contamination sources on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2 immersed in the immersion mode S10 by brushing, and may include a fourth step and a fifth step.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 13, in the fourth step, the extended cleaning nozzle portion 10 is caused to repeatedly rotate horizontally at a first rotation angle (e.g., angle N) and at a second rotation angle (e.g., angle N1) smaller than the first rotation angle (N>N1), and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the drainage chamber 31 of the injection guide portion 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, so that warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) is repeatedly sprayed from the injection hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto a part of the divided area on the surface of the bowl portion 2a while oscillating up and down, thereby repeatedly cleaning the surface of the bowl portion 2a.

[0070] Then, in the fifth step, when the cleaning nozzle unit, which repeatedly sprays heated cleaning water while oscillating up and down, reaches the maximum rotation angle through repeated horizontal rotation from the first rotation angle to the second rotation angle, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stopped and the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is returned to the initial rotation angle to end the cleaning mode S20.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 9, the deep cleaning mode S30 is a mode for removing contamination sources on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2 twice by brushing after the cleaning mode S20, and may include steps 6 to 9.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 14, in the sixth step, the cleaning nozzle unit 10 housed in the bottom side of the bidet body 1 is horizontally rotated by reciprocating within a first rotation angle (e.g., angle N), and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the drainage chamber 31 of the spray guide unit 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, so that the warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) is repeatedly sprayed onto the upper and lower surfaces of the bowl unit 2a from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 while oscillating up and down.

[0073] Next, in a seventh step, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stopped, and the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is returned to the initial rotation angle.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 14, in the eighth step, the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is rotated horizontally by reciprocating within a second rotation angle range (e.g., angle N1), and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the drainage chamber 31 of the injection guide portion 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, so that warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) is repeatedly sprayed onto the left and right surfaces of the bowl portion 2a from the injection hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 while oscillating up and down.

[0075] In the ninth step, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stopped and the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is returned to the initial rotation angle. In this case, the bidet control unit repeats the sixth to ninth steps a predetermined number of times, thereby removing all sources of contamination on the surface of the bowl unit 2a of the toilet 2.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 10, the flushing mode S40 is a mode for removing contamination sources remaining on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2 from which the contamination sources have been removed by the deep flushing mode S30, and may include a tenth step and an eleventh step.

[0077] In the tenth step, based on step b, the hot water heater is kept on or off to heat the cleaning water to hot water in the range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or to be maintained as unheated room temperature water.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 15, in the 11th step, the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is rotated horizontally at the maximum rotation angle, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the first drainage chamber 31 and the second drainage chamber 32 of the spray guide portion 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, so that warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or unheated room temperature water is repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 while oscillating up and down, thereby removing sources of contamination remaining on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 11, the disinfection mode S50 is a mode for disinfecting the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2 from which residual contamination sources have been removed by the flushing mode S40, and may include steps 12 to 14.

[0080] In the 12th step, while maintaining the activation or shutoff of the hot water heater, the disinfectant water generating unit provided in the bidet body 1 is activated to generate disinfectant water (or electrolytic water), and the disinfectant water is heated to a temperature within a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or is maintained at room temperature without heating.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 16, in the subsequent 13th step, the cleaning nozzle portion 10 having reached the maximum extension distance is rotated horizontally, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the drainage chamber 31 of the injection guide portion 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, so that disinfectant water heated to a temperature within a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or unheated disinfectant water is repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a from the injection hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 while oscillating up and down, thereby cleaning the bowl portion 2a of the toilet 2.

[0082] In the subsequent 14th step, if the hot water heater is started, the hot water heater and the disinfectant water generating unit are shut off, the water supply valve opened in step a is closed, the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stored in the bottom surface of the bidet main body 1, and the sequence operation mode by the bidet control unit is terminated.

[0083] On the other hand, the bidet control unit controls the sequence of operation modes from the soaking mode S10 to the cleaning mode S20 to the deep cleaning mode S30 to the flushing mode S40 to the disinfection mode S50. When cleaning the contamination source from the bowl part 2a of the toilet 2 with cleaning water or disinfection water, air may be mixed into the cleaning water or disinfection water through the air pump in each of the sequence operation modes. In this case, the amount of air mixed in is controlled to be a first mixed amount in the soaking mode S10, the flushing mode S40, and the disinfection mode S50, and the amount of air mixed in is controlled to be a second mixed amount larger than the first mixed amount in the cleaning mode S20 and the deep cleaning S30 mode, thereby improving the spray efficiency of spraying the cleaning water or the disinfection water from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 while oscillating up and down.

[0084] On the other hand, as the sequence operation modes described above, in the immersion mode S10, the cleaning mode S20, the deep cleaning mode S30, the flushing mode S40, and the disinfection mode S50, the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is in an extended state and is rotated horizontally to spray cleaning water or disinfecting water while oscillating up and down. However, the present invention is not limited to such literature explanations, and also includes a case where the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is rotated horizontally at a first rotation angle, a second rotation angle, and a maximum rotation angle of 360° based on an initial rotation angle of 0° during the process of moving the cleaning nozzle unit 10 up and down within a range of 180 mm, which is the maximum extension distance, to spray cleaning water or disinfecting water onto the surface of the bowl unit 2a of the toilet 2 while oscillating up and down, which is for the purpose of reducing the cleaning blind area on the surface of the bowl unit 2a as much as possible.

[0085] The technical concepts of the toilet bowl cleaning device and toilet bowl cleaning method using the same according to the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, this is merely an illustrative description of the best embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0086] It is therefore understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, but rather that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention sought to be protected by the appended claims, and that such modifications are also intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1: Bidet unit 2:Toilet 2a: Bowl section 10: Cleaning nozzle part 11: First cylindrical section 11a: Water supply section 11b: Open mouth 12: Second cylindrical section 12a: Demizube 13:Connection part 13a: Key groove 13b: Gasket groove 14: Key 15: Gasket 20: Nozzle head 21: Injection hole 22: Water supply hole 30: Injection guide section 31:Drain room U1: First internal passage U2: Second internal channel U3: Third internal channel

Claims

1. A toilet bowl cleaning device, comprising: a flushing nozzle part formed on the bottom side of the bidet body connected to the toilet bowl, extending and rotating horizontally, and having a water supply part at one end and a water outlet part at the other end; a nozzle head formed on the water outlet side of the flushing nozzle section and configured to spray cleaning water or disinfecting water from a spray hole onto the surface of the bowl section of the toilet, The nozzle head is formed with a jet guide portion that guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or the disinfecting water in a zigzag pattern, thereby causing the cleaning water or the disinfecting water to be sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down.

2. The cleaning nozzle portion is a first cylindrical portion having a first internal flow path and in which the water supply portion is formed and connected to a flushing water supply pipe in the bidet body; a second cylindrical portion for forming the water outlet portion and having a second internal flow passage communicating with the first internal flow passage; 2. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a connecting portion protruding from one end of the second cylindrical portion for guiding the insertion and connection of the first cylindrical portion, the connecting portion having a third internal flow path communicating with the first internal flow path and the second internal flow path.

3. 3. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein an opening is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion, a key groove is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a key for fixing the first cylindrical portion and the connecting portion is disposed in the opening and the key groove.

4. 4. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the opening is a C-shaped hole structure, and the key is a C-shaped ring structure disposed on the connecting portion via the opening.

5. 4. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein a gasket groove is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a gasket is disposed in the gasket groove and is in close contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion.

6. the water outlet portion is a slot structure, communicates with the second internal flow passage of the second cylindrical portion, functions as an installation space into which cleaning water or disinfecting water flows, and is received so that the nozzle head is inserted; The nozzle head is provided with a water supply hole communicating with the mounting space, 3. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the jet guide portion is formed between the water supply hole and the jet hole.

7. The injection guide portion is a ribbed block body, 7. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 6, further comprising a drain chamber that communicates with the water supply hole, sprays the cleaning water or the disinfecting water from the injection hole while oscillating up and down, and guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or the disinfecting water in a zigzag pattern.

8. A method for cleaning a toilet bowl using the toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 1, comprising: Step a) of opening a water supply valve in the bidet body based on an input signal from the flush button to supply flushing water; When washing water is supplied into the bidet body in the step a, a step b of activating a hot water heater in the bidet body to heat the washing water; and step c) of determining whether disinfecting water has been introduced into the cleaning nozzle unit described in claim 1 or whether air has been mixed in, when the cleaning water heated by the hot water heater in step b has reached a target water temperature, and controlling a plurality of sequence operation modes for changing the extension distance and horizontal rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle unit, thereby spraying cleaning water or disinfecting water onto the surface of the bowl unit while oscillating up and down, thereby applying a physical impact to the surface of the bowl unit of the toilet, and cleaning or disinfecting it.

9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sequence operating modes in step c) include a soak mode, a wash mode, a deep wash mode, a flushing mode, and a disinfection mode, which are performed in sequence.

10. The immersion mode in step c is a mode for immersing a source of contamination attached to the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet, The immersion mode includes: A first step of extending the cleaning nozzle portion stored in the bottom side of the bidet body; a second step of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle portion extended in the first step by reciprocating from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle, and simultaneously guiding a discharge flow in a zigzag manner by an injection guide portion in the nozzle head, thereby repeatedly injecting heated cleaning water from an injection hole onto the surface of the bowl portion while oscillating up and down; 10. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 9, further comprising: in the second step, repeatedly spraying the heated cleaning water onto the surface of the bowl while swinging it up and down by the reciprocating horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part; and a third step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part and returning the cleaning nozzle part to an initial rotation angle.

11. The cleaning mode in step c is a mode for first removing, by brushing, a source of contamination on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet immersed in the immersion mode, The cleaning mode includes: a fourth step of repeatedly rotating the extended cleaning nozzle section at a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle smaller than the first rotation angle, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from a spray hole while oscillating up and down, by guiding a discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a spray guide section in the nozzle head in order to divide the surface of the bowl section into partial areas and repeatedly clean the area; and a fifth step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit, which repeatedly sprays the heated cleaning water while oscillating up and down in the fourth step, when the cleaning nozzle unit reaches a maximum rotation angle through repeated horizontal rotation at a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle, and then returning the cleaning nozzle unit to an initial rotation angle.

12. The deep flushing mode in step c is a mode for removing contamination sources on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet twice by brushing after the flushing mode; The deep cleaning mode is a sixth step of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle unit by reciprocating within a first rotation angle range, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern by a jet guide unit in the nozzle head, and repeatedly jetting the heated cleaning water from a jet hole onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the bowl unit while swinging the heated cleaning water up and down; a seventh step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part based on the sixth step and then returning the cleaning nozzle part to an initial rotation angle; an eighth step based on the seventh step, in which the cleaning nozzle part is reciprocated within a range of a second rotation angle and rotated horizontally, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by a jet guide part in the nozzle head, and the heated cleaning water is repeatedly jetted from the jet hole onto the left surface and the right surface of the bowl part while being oscillated up and down; and a ninth step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part based on the eighth step and then returning the cleaning nozzle part to an initial rotation angle, 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sixth to ninth steps are repeated a predetermined number of times.

13. The flushing mode in step c is a mode for removing contamination sources remaining on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet from which the contamination sources have been removed in the deep flushing mode, The flashing mode is A tenth step of heating or not heating the washing water by maintaining the hot water heater on or off based on the step b; and an eleventh step of horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle unit at a maximum rotation angle based on the ninth step, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag manner by a spray guide unit in the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water or unheated room temperature cleaning water from a spray hole onto the surface of the bowl unit while oscillating up and down.

14. The disinfection mode in step c is a mode for disinfecting the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet from which residual contamination sources have been removed by the flushing mode, The disinfection mode includes: A twelfth step based on the tenth step, in a state where the hot water heater is kept activated or shut off, activates a disinfectant water generating unit provided in the bidet body to generate disinfectant water, and heats or does not heat the disinfectant water; A thirteenth step is based on the eleventh step, and the cleaning nozzle part that has reached the maximum extension distance is rotated horizontally, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the injection guide part in the nozzle head, and heated disinfectant water or unheated room temperature disinfectant water is repeatedly injected onto the surface of the bowl part from the injection hole while being oscillated up and down; 14. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 13, further comprising: a 14th step based on the 12th step, when the hot water heater is started, shutting off the hot water heater and the disinfectant water generating unit, and then closing the water supply valve opened in the step a.

15. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 14, characterized in that in the immersion mode, the cleaning mode, and the deep cleaning mode in step c, the heated cleaning water sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down is hot water within a range of 35°C to 75°C.

16. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 14, characterized in that in the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c, the heated or unheated cleaning water sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down is warm water within a range of 35°C to 75°C or room temperature water.

17. 15. The method for cleaning a toilet bowl according to claim 14, further comprising the step of mixing air into the cleaning water via an air pump provided in the bidet body when the cleaning water flows into the nozzle head in the soaking mode, the cleaning mode, the deep cleaning mode, the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c.

18. 18. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 17, wherein in step c, the amount of mixed air is a first mixed amount in the immersion mode, the flushing mode, and the disinfection mode, and the amount of mixed air is controlled to a second mixed amount greater than the first mixed amount in the cleaning mode and the deep cleaning mode.

19. 15. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 14, wherein in the disinfection mode in step c, the disinfectant water generated by the disinfectant water generator is electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis.

20. 15. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 14, wherein in step c, a rotation range from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle portion is 0° to 360°.

21. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein in step c, the maximum extension distance of the cleaning nozzle portion is 180 mm or less.

Citation Information

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