US2593087A - Electrically heated toilet seat - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1952 P BAGGETT 2,593,087

ELECTRICALLY HEATED TOILET SEAT Filed May 51, 1951 INVENTOR.

L. P. BAGGET T ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT osi-ics 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to human comfort and more particularly to household equipment used by various members of the household and with which there is more or less body contact.

Specifically, the invention relates to an electrically heated toilet seat of the character to aiiord comfort and not discomfort to the user. For many years cold toilet seats have been recognized as objectionable and efforts have been made to overcome this objection by heating the seats electrically or otherwise as illustrated, for example, in the patents to Stephens No. 1,058,270, Wilkin No. 1,412,436, and Conner No. 2,447,738 and others. These devices have not proven commercially feasible because they were too complicated, too expensive, impractical, were not waterprooi, and werenot protected against moisture.

It is an object of the present invention to Iprovide a simple, inexpensive, practical, moistureproof, electrically heated toilet seat of relatively strong and durable construction which can be readily produced with minimum labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat of molded c-onstruction resistant to wear as well as to chemical reaction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a tcp plan view of a toilet seat illustrating one application of the conventional seat, parts of such seat being broken away to illustrate one embodiment of the heating element oi the present invention;

Fig. 2, an enlarged section on the line 2-2 0f Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an additionally enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary perspective oi a portion of one form of the heating element; and

Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective of another form of the heating element.

The seat of the present invention is of a conventional configuration formed of cooperating plastic members lproviding a longitudinal chamber within the seat in which is located an insulating wire supporting member about which is wound the wire through which electrical current is passed to produce the desired resistance and resultant heat.

This resistance wire is connected to a terminal in the chamber in the rear portion of the seat to which wire conductors are connected for supplying the necessary electrical energy, such wires extending through a tube into such chamber, an access being had to the chamber by removing a cover plate held together by suitable fastening elements, suitable gaskets being provided for preventing the passing of moisture.

With continued reference to the drawings, the toilet seat is composed of upper and lower independently molded shell-like sections I8 and II secured together by heat prior to complete setting and having cavities I2 and I3 in the forward and side portions of the device and with additional cavities I4 and I5 at the rear providing a downwardly open chamber.

Embedded in the upper shell-like section at the rear of the same is a tubular housing I6 having flange portions It for preventing movement thereof, and having an externally threaded end I'I projecting externally and laterally of the seat and adapted to receive thereon an internally threaded nut I8 for compressing a packing I9. Through the tubular housing or sleeve I is received an electrical cable 20 containing insulated electrical conductors 2| and 22, the inner ends of which are fastened between nuts 23 upon binding posts 24, these binding posts are anchored provided with base flanges 25 by means of which they are anchored in the upper shell-like section Ill, a nichrome or other well-known resistance or wire element 26 has its extremities connected to the ends of the binding posts, such wire forms the heating element for the seat.

The resistance wire is mounted upon a support or form 21 as shown in Fig. 5, such form or support having notches 28 in its side edges and the resistance wire is wound around the side form in side notches. In Fig. 6, the slightly mcdied construction is shown in that the resistance wire is wound differently about the form.

The support or form 2l, more particularly shown in Fig. 4, may also be provided with ears or projections 35, for suspending the same within the cavities I2 and I3, thereby preventing the resistance wire 26 from physically contacting the upper and lower sections I0 and II which form the seat. In effect, this suspending means will cause cavities I2 and I3 to become a very enicient heating chamber.

In order to facilitate making the necessary electrical connection, the chamber formed by the recessed portions I4 and I5 in the upper and lower shell-like sections is provided with a cover plate composed of peripheral flange portion 29 with the depressed central portion 30; the peripheral 3 ange is adapted to rest upon an annular gasket 3l for making a tight joint, a recessed seat 32 being provided for the shell-like section so that the outer ange surface 29 is ush with the underside of the seat section.

The cover plate is held in position by means of cap screws 33 engaging studs 34, the enlarged heads of which are embedded in the upper shelllike section l0.

From the foregoing it can be readily apparent that a simple, inexpensive, fool-proof, cominci'- cially feasible toilet seat is provided and due to the relatively high number of turns of the resistance element, only a small amount of heat will be imparted to the seat which, from actual experience, has been found to be of a temperature slightly below body temperature.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrically heated toilet seat `comprising upper' and lower shell-like members secured to each other along the opposed faces thereof to provide an annular heating chamber therebetween, said shell-like members being provided adjacent the rear thereof with opposed cavities providing a downwardly open chamber, a cover plate for said lowermost cavity, externally threaded studs mounted in said upper cavity and extending toward said cover plate, cap screws extending through said cover plate and engaging said tuds to reta-in said cover plate in sealing position, a tubular housing embedded in said upper shelllike member and providing access to said upper cavity, binding posts iixedly mounted in said upper cavity, electrical conductors connected to said binding posts and extending through said tubular housing and leading to a source of electrical energy, an internally threaded cap nut on the outer extremity of said tubular member for sealing engagement with said extending electrical conductors, an annular core positioned within said heating chamber, opposed lugs on said core for maintaining the core spaced from the walls of said heating chamber, and an encircling heating element surrounding said core, the opposed extremities of said heating element extending into the adjacent wall of said upper shell-like member and being secured to said binding posts whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said heating element.

2. An electrically heated toilet seat comprising upper and lower shell-like members secured to each other along the opposed faces thereof to provide an annular heating chamber therebetween, said shell-like members being provided adjacent the rear thereof with opposed cavities, providing a downwardly open chamber, a cover plate for said lowermost cavity, means for retaining said cover plate in sealing position, a tubular housing embedded in said upper shell-like memjing element surrounding said core, the opposed .extremities of said heating element extending into the adjacent wall of said upper shell-like member and being secured to said binding posts whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said heating element.

3. lAn electrically heated toilet seat comprising upper and lower shell-like members secured to each other along the opposed faces thereof to provide an annular heating chamber therebetween, said shell-like members being provided adjacent the rear thereof with opposed cavities providing a downwardly open chamber, a cover plate for said lowermost cavity, means for retaining said cover plate in sealing position, a tubular housing embedded in said upper shell-like member and providing access to said upper cavity, bindingposts nxedly mounted in said upper cavity, electrical conductors connected to said binding posts and extending through said tubular housing and leading to a source of electrical energy, an internally threaded cap nut on the outer extremity of said tubular member for sealing engagement with said extending electrical conductors, an annular core positioned within said heating chamber, means for maintaining the core spaced from the walls of said heating chamber, and a heating element carried by said core, the opposed extremities of said heating element extending into the adjacent wall of said upper shell-like member and being secured to said binding posts whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said heating element.

LEONARD PAUL BAGGETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in `the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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