WO2018036990A1

WO2018036990A1 - Wc seat or wc lid

Info

Publication number: WO2018036990A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/071081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leopold Schlosser; Ralf Schwaighofer
Original assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-08-22
Filing date: 2017-08-22
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Also published as: ES2932519T3; EP3500144A1; EP3500144B1

Abstract

The invention discloses a WC seat or a WC lid having a functional component, for example a sensor, a chip or the like. The component is arranged on a carrier, which is pressed in with a a base material of the seat or of the lid. The invention further relates to a method for producing a WC seat or a WC lid, wherein a functional component is arranged on a carrier and is then pressed with the base material.

Description

Toilet seat or toilet lid

The invention relates to a toilet seat or a toilet lid according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for its production.

Such a toilet seat or toilet cover may be designed as part of a toilet seat set, which is pivotally mounted on a ceramic on a hinge assembly. Such a toilet seat set is disclosed for example in WO 2016/020409 A1 of the applicant. The toilet seat is designed with a seat heating, which is formed by a heating wire, a conductive foil, a Heizleiterbahn or the like. The heating element is applied to a layered carrier, for example a thermosetting film or a resin-impregnated paper. This heating element with the seat heater arranged on the support is then pressed in the production of the toilet seat with a round body and optionally provided with a thin cover layer, which is for example a lacquer layer.

Such a toilet seat has the advantage that the production cost of integrating the seat heating is minimal and that this seat heating can be placed very close to the surface, so that a rapid surface heating of the seat is guaranteed.

In recent years, there has been a trend to provide toilet seats with additional functions. In this case, for example-as proposed by the applicant in DE 10 2013 101 209 A1-an IR sensor can be integrated in the toilet seat set in order to detect the use and, if necessary, to initiate an automatic closing operation. In the aforementioned WO 2016/020409 A1, it is proposed to control the seat heating only when in use. For this purpose, an infrared sensor can be provided in the toilet seat, via which the use is detected. In this case, a considerable hiring technical effort is required to integrate the sensor in addition to the carrier in the toilet seat or toilet lid.

In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide a toilet seat or a toilet lid, which is performed in a simple manner with an additional function. The invention is further based on the object to provide a method for producing such a seat or lid.

This object is achieved by a toilet seat or toilet lid with the feature combination of patent claim 1 or by a method having the features of independent patent claim 14.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the seat or cover has a seat heating or a functional

Component, which is preferably an electrical or electronic component and which is applied to a carrier material. This carrier material is then connected to the base material of the seat or lid, preferably by pressing. The functional component is preferably connected to a power supply or a signal processing unit.

The arrangement of the functional component, for example a heater or a sensor on a support, its handling during the manufacturing process - for example, pressing or injection molding - significantly simplified compared to solutions in which the functional component is directly pressed or molded. Also, the manufacturing process itself is simplified because the handling of the functional component is significantly simplified due to the arrangement on the relatively stable support. In one embodiment, it is provided on the support also a

Seat heating to arrange. According to the invention, the carrier then fulfills a dual function - on the one hand it forms the seat heating of the seat or the lid, on the other hand he also serves as a carrier for the device and as a carrier for the signal and

Power supply of this device.

The external appearance of the seat or lid is optimized when the seat heater and / or the functional component is / are covered by a surface layer.

This surface layer may be transparent according to a solution according to the invention.

In principle, it is also possible to dispense with the surface layer if a direct contacting of the functional component with the person using the toilet seat is desired or if an insulating component is used. This surface or cover layer can also be partially formed, so that, for example, a functional component is covered, while another functional component remains accessible directly from the outside.

In a further variant, the carrier is made of the same or a

compatible material such as the base material or made of a material compatible with the base material, so that the carrier can be easily integrated.

The application of the surface layer is particularly simple if it is designed as a lacquer layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the surface layer covers the heating and the functional component is exposed. The power supply and / or signal transmission of the heater and the component is preferably carried out on the carrier laid lines, the back, that is seat hinge side, are connected to a power supply or signal processing unit. This power supply or signal transmission, for example, can be done via a pin of the hinge assembly or via a technology box, which is placed on the ceramic.

The functional component may be, for example, a sensor for detecting physiological parameters of the user, a light source, a screen, a chip module, a sensor for detecting environmental parameters, such as the temperature or light incidence (light sensor) or the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the seat heater is arranged in a meandering manner on the carrier. The at least one functional component is then preferably arranged in the region of a meandering loop.

In principle, the invention provides, by means of a preferably thermoset carrier, which is compatible with the thermoset base material of the seat or the cover, to introduce third party media (functional components) via suitable manufacturing processes. For example, these third-party media are to be used as sensors to create a "smart" seat The third-party media may be simple electrical conductors, such as a wire which, when heated by body heat, changes its resistance and thereby is able to detect the presence of the sensor User or to record their body temperature

Sensors, electrically conductive contacts to measure surface resistance (e.g., for body fat measurement) or other type of sensors capable of providing evaluable signals.

As a method of introducing the sensor, e.g. a Hochfrequenzbeaufschlagung, ultrasound, laser beam, heat, pressure can be used to embed the wire or the functional component in the - preferably thermoset - carrier.

In the production of the seat or the lid, the carrier with the sensor (functional components) is applied directly or in several steps to the surface of the Base material pressed. In this case, as mentioned, the sensor can be exposed on the surface, so that, for example, conductivity measurements are possible. Alternatively, the layer structure can be pressed over thinly by an additional thermosetting material, so that an electrical short circuit is prevented. The material used in the overpressing, preferably thermosetting resin, may be identical to the base material or may be designed to be similar or compatible with it.

In principle, it is also possible to press or laminate a thin thermoplastic film with embedded third-party media on the base material. This is preferably carried out without chemical bonding substantially

Adhesion. It is also conceivable to apply an additional thin resin layer for electrical insulation and / or to provide the coloring of the seat or the lid after pressing with an additional lacquer layer. As explained, the sensors along the surface of the seat / cover in the

Hinge be performed and there in a conventional manner to a

Power supply or an electronic control system are connected to evaluate measurement signals. It is also conceivable to integrate into the surface of the seat / lid a flat light source or a screen, via the latter, the user or an operator can retrieve information about measured vital signs, the status of a toilet seat or other information, such as a room temperature , In principle, it is also possible to integrate a flat, thin screen in the manner described above and thus to transmit externally received information via WLAN. Also, user IDs can be read or read via an RFID antenna or the like. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the functional component - as stated above - can be a wire or another electrical conductor and by a suitable installation, for example in a spiral or as a coil in such a way that electrical effects such as induction can be generated or amplified.

The functional component, in particular the sensor can in one

upstream method can be applied to the carrier before pressing. This application, for example, by ultrasound, laser beam,

High frequency welding, gluing, other melting or the like done.

In a variant of the invention, the carrier is made of a reactive

thermosetting material produced, so that it can be non-positively after application of the functional components (for example, the sensors / conductors) with the base material, for example by pressing, connected.

In a specific embodiment, it is envisaged to produce the carrier of melamine and the seat of UREA, since these two thermosetting plastics are mutually compatible and chemically very similar. After pressing, there is a bond which comes very close to that of a composite of a single material. As already mentioned above, the functional components, for example the sensor (s), can be covered depending on the purpose of use or be arranged blank on the surface and / or be electrically insulated. These concepts are chosen according to the desired application, so for example, in a sensor for conductivity measurement no overlapping layer is provided. For induction applications, an electrically insulating layer is placed over the carrier and the functional device.

In one embodiment of the invention, a sensor with the

Pressed base material, which is designed to detect the position of the user on the seat. Depending on this sensor signal - ie the position of the user on the toilet seat - then a functional element, such as a washing nozzle is driven so that it moves into the correct position to optimize the washing process. Such an application is particularly important in the care sector.

The patent applicant reserves the right to direct to the above-described variants own, independent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. 1 shows a schematic representation of a toilet seat set;

FIG. 2 shows a carrier for a functional component;

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the arrangement according to FIG. 2;

4 shows a schematic representation of a layer structure of a toilet seat and Figure 5 shows a variant of the layer structure according to Figure 4. Figure 1 shows a toilet seat set 1, which is attached via a seat hinge assembly 4 on a ceramic 2. The toilet seat set 1 has a cover 6 and a seat 8, which are articulated by means of the seat hinge assembly 4. This can be carried out with a "SoftClose" function, in which the lowering movement is damped by means of a damper arrangement

EP 1 199 020 B1.

The seat 8 is designed with a heated seat 10 indicated by dashed lines, whose heating temperature and heating time is adjustable via a thermostat 12, which is integrated in a housing, for example a technical box, for example in the region of the seat hinge assembly. According to the invention, however, the use of such a seat heater is not required - in principle, the invention covers solutions in which only a functional component, such as a sensor is arranged on a support. In the illustrated embodiment, a functional component 14, such as a sensor or the like is arranged in the seat in addition to the seat heater 10. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the seat heating 10 is in

Essentially formed by a heating wire 16 which is applied meandering on a base body of the seat 8.

The main body of the seat 8 or cover 6 is made in known manner from a thermoset by pressing. On this base body then a carrier 16 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is applied, on which the seat heating 10, more precisely their heating wires or conductor tracks and also the functional component 14 are arranged. The carrier 16 may be a thermosetting film-like material, in which then the component 14 and the seat heater 10 is embedded by softening / melting. This embedding can be done for example by Hochfrequenzbeaufschlagung, Ultraschallbeaufschlagung, laser radiation, Wärmeein- effect and / or pressure. Figure 1 shows the carrier 16, in which the third medium, that is, for example, the heating wire of the seat heater 10 or the functional component 14 and their leads 18a, 18b, are embedded. This embedding can be done so that the device 14 is not or only minimally on the carrier 16 also. However, as shown in FIG. 2, partial embedding can also take place so that the functional component 14 and / or its supply lines 18 protrude beyond the large area 19 of the foil-like carrier 16. This arrangement can for example be prefabricated in a separate production line and then delivered as a preform to the press. FIG. 3 shows a variant in which the functional component 14 is a flat one

Component, such as a sensor, an RFID antenna, a screen or the like, which is embedded in the carrier 16 in the manner described above. As mentioned, the carrier 16 is made of a foil-like, preferably thermoset material. This material is designed so that it can be melted or softened by the energetic action described above. In addition, the carrier 16 is designed so that it has approximately the same thermal expansion behavior and shrinkage behavior, as the base material of the seat 8 and 6 lid. Figure 4 shows a highly schematic section along the line AA in Figure 1 to illustrate the layer structure. Visible in this section is a, for example made of thermosetting, base body 20 of the seat 8, which is made for example of UREA. 2, the layer construction shown in FIG. 2 can be applied by pressing to the carrier 16 and the functional component 14 or the seat heater 10 embedded therein, of which two meander cross sections can be seen in the illustration according to FIG. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the functional component 14 and the seat heater 10 are embedded almost completely in the carrier 16. The carrier top side is not provided with a surface layer, so that the user has direct contact with the functional component 14, via which appropriate measurements, evaluations or information transmission can take place.

FIG. 5 shows a corresponding variant in which the functional component 14 has, for example, a number of signal lines, shown in section, which extend at a distance from the heating wire of the seat heater 10. This functional component 14 and the seat heater 10 are covered in this embodiment by a cover layer 24. This may be a lacquer layer or a layer of another thermosetting material. The wall thickness of this cover layer 24 is very small, so that the functional components 14 and also the seat heater 10 are arranged very close to the surface of the seat 8 or cover 6, and their function is not disturbed by the cover layer 24.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the functional component (sensor) 14 can be arranged in a region of a meandering loop of the seat heater 10.

Of course, other positions are feasible.

The functional component 14 may be a sensor configured to detect the seating position of the user. Depending on this seating position, for example, in so-called shower toilet seats indicated in Figure 1

Wash nozzle 26 are controlled so that it is moved to the determined via the sensor optimum washing position. Such a sensor may for example be designed as an induction wire, which depends on how much wire surface of the User is covered, outputs a corresponding position signal from which the

User position is determinable. Such a wire can also be loops or meandering - similar to the seat heater - be laid. As explained above, the functional components 14 and / or the

Heated seat 10 may be arranged on a support, which is then pressed with the main body of the seat.

In principle, such a toilet seat can also be produced by an SMC or BMC process (Sheet Molding Compound / Bulk Molding Compound). In this case, an example provided as a semi-finished SMC layer structure with a plastic matrix or designed as a molding material is fiber-reinforced

Pressed plastic matrix in a pressing tool. In such a method, the functional component 14 or the

Heated seat 10 may be applied to a carrier, which is designed as a resin paper or absorbent paper. Here, the wire (seat heating / sensor) by

Energy radiation, for example, ultrasound melted and connected to the carrier. The entire assembly is then crimped by the SMC or BMC method. In principle, such an arrangement (carrier with

/ fused sensor / seat heating) are also used in a made of a thermoplastic or a conventional material such as urea or melamine seat / cover. The Applicant reserves the right to make such an arrangement independent

Claim to be made.

Disclosed is a toilet seat or a toilet lid with a functional component, such as a sensor, a chip or the like. The component is arranged on a carrier which is pressed with a base material of the seat or lid. Disclosed is also a method for producing a toilet seat or toilet lid, wherein a functional component is arranged on a support and is then pressed with the base material. Reference numerals:

1 toilet seat set

2 ceramics

4 seat hinge assembly

6 lids

8 seat

10 seat heating

12 thermostat

14 functional component

16 carriers

18 supply line

19 large area

20 basic body

24 topcoat

26 washing nozzle

Claims

claims

1 . Toilet seat or toilet lid, which is implemented with at least one functional preferably electronic or electrical component, which is mounted on a support (16) which is connected to a base material of the seat (8) or lid (6) and to a Power supply or signal processing unit is connected, wherein the carrier consists of approximately the same or a similar material as the base body (20).

2. Seat or cover according to claim 1, wherein the functional component (14) of a cover layer (24) is covered or exposed.

3. Seat or cover according to claim 2, wherein the cover layer (24) is transparent or electrically conductive or insulating.

4. Seat or cover according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cover layer (24) consists of approximately the same or a similar material as the base body (20).

5. Seat or cover according to one of the claims 2 to 4, wherein the cover layer (24) is a lacquer layer.

6. Seat or cover according to one of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the cover layer (24) covers a functional component, such as the heater (10) and a further functional component (14) is exposed.

7. Seat or cover according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply and / or signal transmission via on the carrier (16) laid lines (18a, 18b), which are connected at the back to a power supply or a signal processing unit.

8. Seat or cover according to claim 7, wherein the contacting via a seat hinge assembly (4) or a technology box.

9. Seat or cover according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional component (14) comprises a sensor for detecting physiological parameters. the user, an antenna, a light source, a screen, a sensor for detecting environmental parameters, such as temperature, light, an electrical conductor for generating or amplifying inductive effects, or the like.

10. Seat or cover according to claim 9, wherein the sensor is designed to detect the position of a user on the seat (8).

1 1. Seat or cover according to claim 10, having a washing nozzle (26), which in

Dependence on the signal of the sensor can be controlled.

12. Seat or cover according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a heater (8) is meander-shaped and the other functional

Component (14) is positioned in the region of a meander loop.

Seat or cover according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (16) consists of a thermosetting material, a reactive thermosetting material or a thermoplastic material, which is a

having thermosetting surface layer.

Method for producing a toilet seat or toilet lid according to

Claims 1 to 1 3, wherein at least one functional component, such as a heater (8) and / or a sensor on a support (16) is applied and the arrangement consisting of the carrier and the functional component (8, 14) fixed therein a subsequent

Process step with a base material of the seat (8) or the lid (6) is connected by pressing / injection molding.

Method according to claim 14, wherein the fastening of the functional component (8, 14) by material engagement by ultrasound,

Laser exposure, high frequency exposure, thermal

Melting, gluing or the like takes place.