Automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47K-013/10
A47K-013/30
출원번호
US-0053427
(2013-10-14)
등록번호
US-8910320
(2014-12-16)
발명자
/ 주소
Stauber, Joseph L.
Vierkant, III, Erich C.
Kaule, Brian M.
출원인 / 주소
Kohler Co.
대리인 / 주소
Foley & Lardner LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
49
초록▼
The present invention is an automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet. The invention includes switch automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via a switch, and manual-urging automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via manual urging by a user. An aut
The present invention is an automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet. The invention includes switch automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via a switch, and manual-urging automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via manual urging by a user. An automated attachment assembly may be configured to provide both switch and manual-urging automation concomitantly based upon predetermined logic. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of identifying manual movement and of assisting the movement of a bowl attachment. The invention further includes an object sensor incorporated within the seat or lid to detect the presence or absence of an object near the bowl attachment.
대표청구항▼
1. A toilet seat assembly, comprising: a bowl attachment configured to be coupled to a toilet and pivot relative to a bowl of the toilet;a logic controller;one or more motors that are operable to pivot the bowl attachment, the logic controller controlling whether the one or more motors pivot the bow
1. A toilet seat assembly, comprising: a bowl attachment configured to be coupled to a toilet and pivot relative to a bowl of the toilet;a logic controller;one or more motors that are operable to pivot the bowl attachment, the logic controller controlling whether the one or more motors pivot the bowl attachment; andone or more magnetic sensors operationally coupled to the logic controller for determining at least one of positioning of the bowl attachment and rotational direction of the bowl attachment;wherein the logic controller determines at least one of positioning of the bowl attachment or rotational direction of the bowl attachment by counting pulses from the one or more magnetic sensors; andwherein the logic controller determines relative locations of a first rotational extreme and a second rotational extreme of the bowl attachment by counting pulses from the one or more magnetic sensors, and the logic controller stops the one or more motors from pivoting the bowl attachment prior to motor current exceeding an appreciable level when the bowl attachment reaches the first and second rotational extremes. 2. The toilet seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a capacitive sensor having a conductive element coupled to the bowl attachment; wherein the logic controller is operationally coupled to the capacitive sensor to monitor capacitance of the capacitive sensor, and if increased capacitance is detected due to an object being located adjacent the bowl attachment, the logic controller prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the bowl attachment. 3. The toilet seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more magnets that move about an axis as the bowl attachment is pivoted; and wherein the logic controller and magnetic sensors are cooperatively arranged to monitor movement of the one or more magnets. 4. The toilet seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more magnetic sensors are Hall effect sensors. 5. The toilet seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more magnetic sensors are each a Hall effect sensor, the logic controller and the Hall effect sensor are cooperatively configured to determine the rotational direction of the bowl attachment, and the logic controller causes the one or more motors to pivot the bowl attachment in the rotational direction. 6. The toilet seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the logic controller stops the one or more motors by de-energizing the one or more motors when the logic controller determines according to the counted pulses that the bowl attachment has reached one of the first and second rotational extremes. 7. The toilet seat assembly of claim 6, wherein the logic controller de-energizes the one or motors before the motor current can exceed an appreciable level from the bowl attachment bearing against a rotational stop at one of the first and the second rotational extremes. 8. The toilet seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a capacitive sensor having a conductive element coupled to the bowl attachment, the logic controller being operationally coupled to the capacitive sensor;wherein the bowl attachment is a toilet seat and the logic controller monitors capacitance of the capacitive sensor and controls movement of the toilet seat in response to the monitored capacitance. 9. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the logic controller monitors capacitance of the capacitive sensor to determine whether an object is present or absent adjacent the bowl attachment. 10. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein if increased capacitance is detected due to an object being located adjacent the bowl attachment, the logic controller prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the bowl attachment. 11. The toilet seat assembly of claim 10, wherein the toilet seat assembly further comprises a lid configured to pivot relative to the bowl of the toilet, and the logic controller controls whether the one or more motors pivot the lid; and wherein if increased capacitance is detected due to an object being located adjacent the seat, the logic controller prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the seat and prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the lid. 12. The toilet seat assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second capacitive sensor having a second conductive element coupled to the lid; wherein the logic controller monitors capacitance of the second capacitive sensor, and if increased capacitance is detected due to an objected being located adjacent the lid, the logic controller prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the seat and prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the lid. 13. The toilet seat assembly of claim 12, wherein the second conductive element is a foil element. 14. The toilet seat assembly of claim 10, further comprising a switch operationally coupled to the logic controller and configured to receive user input for actuating the one or more motors to pivot bowl attachment; wherein if increased capacitance is detected, the logic controller prevents the one or more motors from pivoting the bowl attachment regardless of whether the switch receives user input. 15. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein if increased capacitance is detected due to an object located adjacent the bowl attachment, the logic controller sends a signal to a second logic controller that is separate from the toilet seat assembly. 16. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the signal sent by the logic controller indicates when a toilet is in use to the second logic controller, and the second logic controller displays a status of the toilet. 17. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the bowl attachment is a seat, the toilet seat assembly further comprises a heater, and the conductive element of the capacitive sensor is a heating element of the heater. 18. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the conductive element is a foil element sandwiched between upper and lower portions of the bowl attachment. 19. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the conductive element is a sprayed-on electrically conductive coating on the bowl attachment. 20. The toilet seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the bowl attachment is made of an electrically conductive material that forms the conductive element.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (49)
Matthews ; William C. ; Matthews ; Eunice C., Adjustable toilet.
Mercier William H. (264 Lichtfield Ave. Elmont NY 11003) Mercier Roger R. (Oakridge Dr. Brooklyn CT 06234), Automatic toilet seat lowering hinge assembly.
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