AUTOMATIC TOILET ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM

An automatic toilet electrical control system includes a toilet seat, a toilet lid for covering the toilet seat, and a control system. The control system includes a first detection unit, a first starting unit, a second detection unit, and a second starting unit. The first starting unit and the second starting unit have motors for driving the toilet lid and the toilet seat, respectively. Detection of a user entering a washroom and a wave given by the user, using the first detection unit and the second detection unit, is followed by timely automatic controllable lifting (opening) or lowering (shutting) of the toilet seat and the toilet lid.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic toilet electrical control system, and more particularly, to a toilet capable of sensing a user's act and state and thereby lifting and lowering a lid and a seat of the toilet in an automatic controllable manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normally, the seat of a conventional toilet is lifted and lowered manually. For instance, a conventional sit toilet comprises a toilet seat and a toilet lid pivotally coupled to each other. The toilet lid and toilet seat are lowered when unused. To use the sit toilet for defecation or urination, a female lifts up the toilet lid manually and then sits on the toilet seat. The only scenario where the toilet lid and toilet seat must be lifted up manually so as for the sit toilet to be used is when a male wants to urinate with the sit toilet; and, with the toilet lid and toilet seat being up, the male is unlikely to spatter urine on the toilet seat during urination, thereby keeping the toilet seat sanitary and clean. However, it is not uncommon for lazy, selfish males to urinate without lifting the toilet seat, and in consequence the buttock-facing surface of the toilet seat and the seat-facing surface of the toilet lid end up with urine stains. At times, urine even goes through the hollowed-out portion of the lifted toilet seat to splash on the seat-facing surface of the toilet lid. A sanitation-conscious user feels sick at the sight of a urine stain on the toilet lid or toilet seat of a toilet, not to mention that removing the urine stain from the toilet lid or toilet seat is a nasty job to the user.

Therefore, the present invention discloses an automatic toilet electrical control system that automatically detecting a user entering a washroom and a wave given by the user so as for a lid and a seat of the toilet to ascend (open) and descend (shut) in an automatic controllable manner, thereby allowing the user to use a sit toilet at ease and keep the toilet seat clean without the hassle of lifting the toilet lid and the toilet seat by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of conventional toilets with a manually operable toilet lid and toilet seat, the inventor of the present invention believes that there is room for improvement in the prior art and finally succeeded, based on years of practical experience and after conducting pertinent research and experiments, in developing an automatic toilet electrical control system so as to enable automatic detection and automatic seat-lifting and seat-lowering.

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an automatic toilet electrical control system of automatic detection and capable of lifting and lowering its seat and lid automatically, wherein the toilet comprises the toilet seat, the toilet lid, and a control system for automatically detecting a user entering a washroom and a wave given by the user, so as for the toilet to lift (open) and lower (shut) the toilet seat and the toilet lid in an automatic controllable manner, thereby allowing the user to use a sit toilet at ease without the hassle of lifting the toilet seat and the toilet lid by hand.

To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides an automatic toilet electrical control system, comprising: a toilet seat; a toilet lid for covering the toilet seat; and a control system comprising a first detection unit, a first starting unit, a second detection unit, and a second starting unit, the first detection unit being connected to the first starting unit having a first motor for driving the toilet lid to lift and lower, the second detection unit being connected to the first starting unit and the second starting unit, and the first starting unit being connected to the second starting unit having a second motor for driving the toilet seat to lift and lower.

The present invention provides an automatic toilet electrical control system, which is operable in the following four control modes of automatic seat-lifting. In the first control mode, the first detection unit detects for the state of a user entering a washroom and supplies power to the first motor of the first starting unit so as to lift the toilet lid automatically. In the second control mode, to urinate, the user may give a wave to the second detection unit so as for the second detection unit to detect the user's act and supply power to the first motor of the first starting unit, and in consequence the toilet lid is automatically lowered; then, the second detection unit supplies power to the first motor of the first starting unit and the second motor of the second starting unit so as to lift the toilet lid and the toilet seat simultaneously. In the third control mode, the user gives a wave to the second detection unit again so as for the second detection unit to detect the user's act and supply power to the first motor of the first starting unit and the second motor of the second starting unit again, thereby lowering the toilet lid and the toilet seat simultaneously before lifting only the toilet lid. In the fourth control mode, the first detection unit detects the state of the user leaving the washroom and thereby enables the toilet lid and the toilet seat to be lowered simultaneously so as for the sit toilet to be covered with the toilet lid and the toilet seat. Hence, the present invention effectuates automatic detection, automatic seat-lifting, and automatic seat-lowering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To enable persons skilled in the art to gain insight into the objectives, features, and effects of use of the present invention, the present invention is hereunder illustrated with a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the framework of a preferred embodiment of an automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the circuit of the preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing how the preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention works;

FIG. 5 is another schematic view showing how the preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention works;

FIG. 6 is yet another schematic view showing how the preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention works; and

FIG. 7 is a further schematic view showing how the preferred embodiment of the automatic toilet electrical control system according to the present invention works.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an automatic toilet electrical control system comprises a toilet seat 1, a toilet lid 2 for covering the toilet seat 1, and a control system 3. The control system 3 comprises a first detection unit 31, a first starting unit 32, a second detection unit 33, and a second starting unit 34. The first detection unit 31 is electrically connected to the first starting unit 32. The first starting unit 32 has a first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR). The first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) drives the toilet lid 2 to lift and lower. The second detection unit 33 is electrically connected to the first starting unit 32 and the second starting unit 34. The second starting unit 34 is electrically connected to the first starting unit 32. The second starting unit 34 has a second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR). The second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) drives the toilet seat 1 to lift and lower.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the first detection unit 31 of the control system 3 comprises a first sensor 311 (SENSOR-S1), a first proximity sensor 312 (S1), and a first relay 313 (RELAY-R1), whereas the first starting unit 32 further comprises a first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), a second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), and a fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5). The second detection unit 33 of the control system 3 comprises a second sensor 331 (SENSOR-S2), a second proximity sensor 332 (S2), a second relay 333 (RELAY-R2), and a third relay 334 (RELAY-R3). The second starting unit 34 further comprises a third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3), a fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), and a fourth relay 344 (RELAY-R4).

Referring to FIG. 2, which is a schematic view of the circuit and the control mode of the control system 3 of the present invention, the first control mode is described hereunder. As soon as a user happens to be less than 90 cm from the front of the toilet, the contact of the first sensor 311 (SENSOR-S1) between the first proximity sensor 312 (S1) is electrically connected to T2 b contact so as to be electrically connected to the first relay 313 (RELAY-R1), leaving the first relay 313 (RELAY-R1) stuck; as a result, electric current goes from R1a contact to R2b contact and eventually reaches the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), and in consequence the NC contact of the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1) is electrically connected to the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR); hence, the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) starts to rotate clockwise, and thus the toilet lid 2 lifts when driven by the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) (as indicated by solid arrows shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5); once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating clockwise touches the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), the NC contact of the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1) will get open and thereby stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating; in so doing, the toilet lid 2 is solely lifted (opened) in the first control mode.

The second control mode is described hereunder. As soon as the user's hand gets close to the second sensor 331 (SENSOR-S2), the contact of the second proximity sensor 332 (S2) is electrically connected to T1 b contact, R1 a contact, R4 b contact, and then the second relay 333 (RELAY-R2), and thus the second relay 333 (RELAY-R2) is stuck and electrically connected to (T1 TIME), causing (T1 TIME) to perform timing; starting from R1 a contact, electric current passes the following: R2 a contact, the NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), and R5 b contact; and the electric current eventually reaches the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) to cause the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) to rotate anticlockwise, and thus the toilet lid 2 lowers when driven by the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) (as indicated by dashed arrows shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5); once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), the NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) will get open and thereby stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to lower temporarily (as shown in FIG. 3). In the meantime, electric current goes from the NO contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) to the fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5) via R3 b contact, leaving the fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5) stuck; the two a contacts of the fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5) divide electric current so that the divided electric currents follow two routes, respectively. Electric current that takes one of the two routes goes from R1 a contact to the NC contact of the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1) via R5 a contact, and thus the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) starts to rotate clockwise and thereby drive the toilet lid 2 upward; once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating clockwise touches the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1), the NC contact of the first limit switch 322 (SWITCH-1) contact will get open and stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to lift. On the other hand, electric current that takes the other route goes from R1 a contact to the NC contact of the third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3) via R5 a contact; once the electric current reaches the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR), the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) will start to rotate clockwise and thereby lift the toilet seat 1; once the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) rotating clockwise touches the third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3), the NC contact of the third limit switch 342 (SWITCH-3) will get open and stop the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) from rotating. Therefore, in the second control mode, the toilet lid 2 and the toilet seat 1 are simultaneously lifted (opened) (as indicated by solid arrows shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) to enable a male user to stand in front of a sit toilet to urinate.

The third control mode is described hereunder. As soon as the user's hand gets close to the second sensor 331 (SENSOR-S2) again, (T1 TIME) determines that three seconds have passed, causing the TIME NC contact to open and the TIME NO contact to close; as a result, electric current goes from T1 a contact to the third relay 334 (RELAY-R3), leaving the third relay 334 (RELAY-R3) stuck; since the NC contact of the third relay 334 (RELAY-R3) is open now, the fifth relay 324 (RELAY-R5) is no longer stuck, and electric current passes R5 a contact no more; hence, electric current is divided, and the divided electric currents following two routes, respectively. Electric current that takes one of the two routes goes from R1 a contact and passes the following: R2 a contact, the NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), and R5 NC contact; eventually, the electric current reaches the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR), causing the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) to rotate anticlockwise and drive the toilet lid 2 downward; once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), the NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) will get open and stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to lower; meanwhile, the NO contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) will be closed, allowing electric current to pass 5R b contact and R3 a contact and finally reach the fourth relay 344 (RELAY-R4). On the other hand, electric current that takes the other route starts from R1 a contact, passes R5 b contact and the NC contact of the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), and reaches the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR), causing the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) to rotate anticlockwise and drive the toilet seat 1 downward; once the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), the NC contact of the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4) will get open and stop the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 and the toilet seat 1 to lower simultaneously (as indicated by dashed arrows shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7).

Furthermore, once the NO contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) is closed, electric current will pass R5 b contact, R3 a contact, and the fourth relay 344 (RELAY-R4), causing R4 b contact to open and thus the second relay 333 (RELAY-R2) to stop sticking. Also, as the second relay 333 (RELAY-R2) stops supplying power, the control system 3 returns to the first control mode.

The fourth control mode is described hereunder. As soon as the user leaves the toilet, the contact between the first sensor 311 (SENSOR-S1) and the first proximity sensor 312 (S1) gets open; the first relay 313 (RELAY-R1) no longer supplies power after (T2 TIME) determines that 10 seconds have passed and the NC contact gets open; after the contact between the first sensor 311 (SENSOR-S1) and the first proximity sensor 312 (S1) has been electrically connected to (T2 TIME) for 10 seconds, electric current passes (T2 TIME) a contact and divides, with the divided electric currents following two routes. Electric current that takes one of the two routes starts from T2 a contact and passes the NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) and R5 b contact before reaching the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR), and in consequence the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) starts to rotate anticlockwise and drive the toilet lid 2 downward; once the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2), the NC contact of the second limit switch 323 (SWITCH-2) will get open and stop the first motor 321 (M1-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby causing the toilet lid 2 to lower. On the other hand, electric current that takes the other route starts from T2 a contact, passes R5 b contact and the NC contact of the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), and reaches the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR), thereby causing the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) to rotate anticlockwise and drive the toilet seat 1 downward; once the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) rotating anticlockwise touches the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4), the NC contact of the fourth limit switch 343 (SWITCH-4) will get open and stop the second motor 341 (M2-MOTOR) from rotating, thereby lowering the toilet lid 2 and the toilet seat 1 simultaneously (as shown in FIG. 3) until the toilet lid 2 and the toilet seat 1 rest on the sit toilet.

As described above, an automatic toilet electrical control system of the present invention meets the three conditions for patentability, namely novelty, involving an inventive step, and high industrial applicability. The present invention is novel and involves an inventive step, as the automatic toilet electrical control system of the present invention comprises the toilet seat 1, the toilet lid 2, and the control system 3 for automatically detecting a user entering a washroom and a wave given by the user, so as for the toilet to lift (open) and lower (shut) the toilet seat 1 and the toilet lid 2 in an automatic controllable manner, thereby allowing the user to use a sit toilet at ease without the hassle of lifting the toilet seat 1 and the toilet lid 2 by hand. The present invention has high industrial applicability, because the toilet having automatic seat-lifting capacity of the present invention meets the demand of the market nowadays.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described above. Persons skilled in the art should be able to understand that the preferred embodiment serves to illustrate the present invention rather than limits the scope of application of the present invention. It should be noted that all equivalent changes of or replacements for the preferred embodiment fall within the scope of disclosure of the present invention. Hence, the scope of protection for the present invention should be defined by the claims as found hereunder.

Claims

1. An automatic toilet electrical control system, comprising:

a toilet seat;
a toilet lid for covering the toilet seat; and
a control system comprising a first detection unit, a first starting unit, a second detection unit, and a second starting unit, the first detection unit being connected to the first starting unit having a first motor for driving the toilet lid to lift and lower, the second detection unit being connected to the first starting unit and the second starting unit, and the first starting unit being connected to the second starting unit having a second motor for driving the toilet seat to lift and lower.

2. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1, wherein the first detection unit of the control system further comprises a first sensor, a first proximity sensor, and a first relay.

3. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1, wherein the first starting unit of the control system further comprises a first limit switch, a second limit switch, and a fifth relay.

4. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1, wherein the second detection unit of the control system further comprises a second sensor, a second proximity sensor, a second relay, and a third relay.

5. The automatic toilet electrical control system of claim 1, wherein the second starting unit of the control system further comprises a third limit switch, a fourth limit switch, and a fourth relay.

Patent History
Publication number: 20100306910
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 9, 2010
Inventor: HSI-YU CHEN (PINGJHEN CITY)
Application Number: 12/479,930
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Opener Or Closer For A Closet Seat Or Lid (4/246.1)
International Classification: A47K 13/10 (20060101);