Subject of the Invention

The invention relates to an automatic toilet cover and to a method of operation for the same, wherein the movement of the actuator, which enables the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat to automatically move in a non-contact manner, is transmitted directly to the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat without using any transmission member.

State of the Art

Today, the toilet bowls are frequently used in the bathrooms and toilets. In the embodiments where a toilet bowl is preferred, the toilet covers and the toilet seats are employed for reasons associated with functionality as well as aesthetics. The toilet cover and/or the toilet seat is lifted when a toilet is to be used and is, depending on the preference, closed following the completion of use. Because the physical contact occurring during the closing and opening of the toilet cover and the toilet seat may lead to certain hygiene problems, the automatically moving toilet covers and toilet seats have been developed as a result of the advancing technology.

According to the state of the art, an electric motor is used most of the time for providing the automatic movement of the toilet covers and/or the toilet seats. This motor is disposed at a position on the toilet cover body in the rear part of the toilet cover and the movement of the motor is transmitted to the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat by means of various toothed components. Similarly, the sensors, which are to trigger the automatic movement of the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat, are disposed along with the motor at a position on the toilet cover body in the rear part of the toilet cover. A compartment is formed in the rear part of the toilet cover in order to position said electric motor and sensors. Due to the presence of said compartment, the part of the toilet seat able to be used by a user becomes narrow, the problems related to comfort develop, the dimensions of the toilet cover increase and some problems related to aesthetics emerge.

With the automatic toilet cover and the method of operation for the same according to the invention, the electric actuator, which enables the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat to automatically move, is positioned in the hinge region of the toilet cover, the movement of the actuator is transmitted directly to the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat without using any transmission member such as a gear and the like, and thus, no separate compartment is formed in the rear part of the toilet cover, thereby increasing the area able to be used by a user as well as providing a more aesthetic appearance. Object of the Invention

An object of the invention is to develop an automatic toilet cover and a method of operation for the same, wherein the movement of the actuator is transmitted directly to the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat without using any transmission member, and thus the cover and/or the seat are enabled to move automatically.

Another object of the invention is to develop an automatic toilet cover and a method of operation for the same, wherein the movement of the actuator is transmitted to the toilet cover and/or the toilet seat without using any transmission member such as a gear and the like.

Another object of the invention is to develop an automatic toilet cover and a method of operation for the same, wherein the actuator is positioned in the hinge region of the toilet cover in such a way that the rotational axis of the actuator coincides with the rotational axis of the cover and/or the seat, and as a result, the need to form a separate compartment in the rear part of the toilet cover is eliminated, the area able to be used by a user is increased and the user comfort is enhanced.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1: A view of the toilet seat including the actuator

Figure 2: A view of the actuator in a state mounted to the toilet seat

Figure 3: A sectional view of the actuator mounted to the toilet cover and the toilet seat

Figure 4: A view of a state where an approaching user is detected

Figure 5: A view of a state where the user is using the toilet in the standing position

Figure 6: A view of a state where the user is using the toilet in the seated position

Reference Numerals

1 : Cover

2 : Seat

3 : Actuator

4 : Rotational axis

5 : Toilet

6 : Toilet connection

7 : Panel Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to an automatic toilet (5) cover (1) and to a method of operation for the same, wherein the movement of the actuator (3), which enables the toilet (5) cover (1) and/or the seat (2) to automatically move, is transmitted directly to the toilet (5) cover (1) and/or the seat (2) without using any transmission member. More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic toilet (5) cover (1) and to a method of operation for the same, wherein the actuator (3) providing the movement of the toilet (5) cover (1) and/or the seat (2) is positioned in the hinge region of the toilet (5) cover (1) in such a way that the rotational axis (4) of the actuator (3) coincides with the rotational axis (4) of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2), and as a result, the automated movement is enabled by transmitting the movement to the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) without using any transmission member.

In the automatic toilet (5) cover (1) according to the invention, the movement of the toilet (5) cover (1) and/or the seat (2) is provided by means of at least one actuator (3). Said actuator (3) is preferably an electric motor. The actuator (3), which enables the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) to move, is positioned in the hinge region of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2). More specifically, the actuator (3) is positioned in such a way that the rotational axis (4) of the actuator (3) coincides with the rotational axis (4) of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2).

It is necessary to fix the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) on the toilet (5); however, they are at the same time expected to be able to perform the opening and closing movements. Said opening and closing movements of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) take place with the help of the hinge and at least two hinges are employed in most embodiments. Owing to said hinge, the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) are fixed on the toilet (5), but they at the same time readily perform the opening and closing movements. In the embodiment of the invention, the function of the hinge is performed by the actuator (3). An actuator (3) is positioned in place of at least one of the hinges, wherein said actuator (3) is enabled to provide movement to the cover (1) and/or the seat (2), while it is also ensured that the movement of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) takes place only in the permitted manner. In other words, the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) are allowed to rotate only around the permitted rotational axis (4).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an actuator (3) is positioned on the seat (2) in place of the hinge and said actuator (3) provides the movement of the cover (1). More particularly, it controls the opening and closing of the cover (1). Additionally, it enables the seat (2) to be fixed on toilet (5) and allows the free movement of the seat (2) about the rotational axis (4). In the case where the cover (1) has been opened automatically by means of the actuator (3) while the seat (2) has been opened manually, the seat (2) may be enabled to be also automatically closed depending on the closing movement of the cover (1). In other words, in this embodiment, only the cover (1) is enabled to be opened automatically whereas both the cover (1) and the seat (2) are enabled to be closed automatically. Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises at least two actuators (3). According to this embodiment, one actuator (3) is positioned in place of one hinge and the other actuator (3) is positioned in place of the other hinge. One of the actuators (3) provides the automatic movement of the cover (1), while the other actuator (3) provides the automatic movement of the seat (2). At the same time, said actuators (3) enable both the cover (1) and the seat (2) to be fixed in a way that they are able to rotate around the rotational axis (4). The actuator (3) may be fixed on the cover (1) and/or the seat (2), while it is also possible to fix the same on the toilet connection (6), which enables the cover (1) and the seat (2) to be fixed on the toilet (5).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one sensor is located on the toilet (5) cover (1) and/or the seat (2). The information pertaining to the presence and/or movement of a user is detected by said sensor and the automatic movement of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) is realized and/or such movement is prevented according to the presence and/or movement of the user.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor, which provides the information about the user movements required to enable the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) to be automatically opened or closed according to the movements of a user, is located on the panel (7), which enables the flushing system to be controlled. A user approaching the toilet (5), using the toilet (5) or moving away from the toilet (5) is detected by the sensor, and based on such detections, the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) are enabled to close or open or are prevented from closing. More specifically, the cover (1) and, depending on the preferences and the needs, the seat (2) are enabled to open while a user is approaching, they are prevented from closing during the use and the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) are enabled to close after the use.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movement of the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) is controlled by a main processing unit. Based on the information received from the sensor, the main processing unit moves the actuator (3) in the appropriate direction so that the cover (1) and/or the seat (2) may be brought into the appropriate position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the position of the cover (1) influences the flushing system, wherein the flushing system may be activated only in case the cover (1) is in closed state. In this embodiment, the cover (1) and/or the seat (2), the sensors and the flushing system are controlled by the main processing unit. After the information that the user has left is provided by the sensors to the main processing unit, the information that the cover (1) is closed is provided by the actuator (3), which enables the control of the cover (1), to the main processing unit and other required conditions, if any, for the realization of the flushing process are satisfied, the flushing system is activated.

The method of operation for the automatic toilet (5) cover (1) according to the invention comprises the process steps of • detecting that a user has approached the toilet (5), has started to use the toilet (5) and/or is continuing to use the toilet (5) or has moved away from the toilet (5) by at least one sensor, and

• rotation of the actuator (3), which provides the automatic movement of the cover (1) according to the movement and/or behavior of the user and which is positioned in such a way that its rotational axis (4) coincides with the rotational axis (4) of the cover

(1) and/or the seat (2), around the rotational axis (4) of the cover (1) and/or the seat

(2) in a direction that would cause the opening or closing of the cover (1), or remaining of the same actuator stationary. In the embodiment of the invention comprising two actuators (3), the actuator (3) connected to the cover (1) is moved in the desired direction in case it is desired to move the cover (1), while the actuator (3) connected to the seat (2) is moved in the desired direction in case it is desired to move the seat (2).

In the automatic toilet (5) cover (1) and the method of operation for the same according to the invention, owing to the fact that the movement of the toilet (5) cover (1) and the seat (2) is provided by means of an actuator (3) directly connected to said cover (1) and/or seat (2), without using any transmission member, no separate compartment is formed in the rear part of the toilet (5) cover (1) and as a result, the comfort is enhanced by providing a greater area of use to the user, a more aesthetic appearance is obtained and the possibility of failure and the manufacturing costs are reduced since no transmission member is used.