Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to sanitary hardware sterilising apparatus.

Background

The water closet, WC, or lavatory is the single, most polluted apparatus in any home or public building. The continual use of bleaches, detergents and antibiotics are harmful to the environment and produce resistant strains, which become progressively more difficult to control. The use of chemicals is short lived and is generally used after such pollution has become established. Nevertheless, there is a general concern with both the public and health authorities that cleanliness around lavatories needs continuous attention.

We have realised that it would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus for preventing bacterial and viral build up within toilet systems. Preferably, this is achieved by sterilising on a regular/continuous basis without the need for the use of chemicals and biocides.

Summary According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lavatory comprising a bowl, a seat, a lid and a source of ultra violet, UV, radiation, and the UV source incorporated with at least one of the lid of the lavatory and the seat of the lavatory.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided apparatus for restricting viral and bacterial growth from in and around the bowl, seat and cover of a water closet by incorporating hi-frequency ultra violet light within the seat. Advantageously, hi -frequency ultra violet light can sterilise surfaces, fluids and air.

Hi-frequency ultra violet light, similar to the rays from the sun, can be harmful to both skin and eyes if exposed for any length of time. It is therefore desirable to screen the bulk of the rays emitted by confining the environment in which such light sources can be used. This may advantageously be achieved by operating the light source only when both cover and seat are down or descending and near or substantially horizontal. At such a position the cover can act as a screen to such radiation.

Advantageous features of embodiments of the invention include:

Incorporating a UV lamp within the WC cover

The effect of a single lamp can be enhanced by the use of a transparent moulding compound in the seat, the incorporation of mirror surfaces and/or the use of fibre optics, and/or the use of a lens to focus the beam to the desired areas. Inclusion of a transparent moulding for the seat is of particular advantage in the case of a UV lamp being provided in the lid only (and not in the seat) .

The inside of the cover/lid can be cleansed more efficiently if the light source is applied as cover/lid is descending and the light is not interrupted by the position of the seat.

The seat can be cleaned more efficiently by maintaining a spatial relationship between an under surface of the seat and the (opposing) upper surface of a rim of the bowl but within the space defined by the cover/lid when in its closed position. In this way an improved line of sight from the UV source to the upper surface of the rim is achieved and thereby ensures that said upper surface of the rim is sterilised by the UV light. This could be achieved by extending the feet on the underside of the seat, including a sprung end stop (to resiliently retain the seat at a particular height from the upper surface) or an automated lift mechanism to lift the seat above the upper surface as and when required.

The lid and seat are cleaned more thoroughly if the light source is directed/focused towards the outer edges.

The lamp and associated electronics/electrics of a control assembly may be protected by the use of a 'soft-close' mechanism attached the cover/lid to reduce shock/vibration on closure of the lid/seat towards the rim of the bowl. A soft-close mechanism may comprise a torsion spring connected to a hinge mechanism of the seat/lid.

Solar panels can be positioned on the upper surface of the lid to power a battery incorporated in the unit to supply power to the control assembly, thus eliminating power leads in a toilet area.

If power leads/cables are used they will carry a low (ie safe) voltage, this will require a low power source (for example a step-down from a mains supply) and a step-up converter within the control assembly which are local to the lavatory to drive the UVC lamp.

It may be desirable to activate the UV lamp to sterilise for short periods only, and these periods of activation could be controlled by the control assembly. Preferably the control assembly is provided with an on-board battery. Preferably the control assembly will: a) Initiate the switching on of the low voltage source as and when required, thus eliminating the need for a "stand by power" mode to be used b) Initiate the lamp source during or at lid closure. c) Initiate, by way of an actuator /drive, raising of the seat for improved cleaning. d) Initiate re-sterilisation after a pre-determined period if not initiated by usage. e) Initiate automatic closing of the lid by use of proximity sensors to sense if a user is proximal to the lavatory f) Initiate automated flushing. g) Initiate automated flushing combined with lid closure to prevent the (well-documented) aerosol effect (ie the dispersion of germs from the bowl as a result of the action of flushing) h) Cause air external of the lavatory to be sucked into the bowl area which will have the effect of sterilising the air surrounding area of the WC. This may be implemented by way of an air inlet, a oneway valve and a suction device. i) As there is power to the unit, lights can be incorporated in the lid and/or seat for novelty appeal and/or usage of the lavatory in the dark. Activation of these lights can be brought about by a signal from the drive assembly. j) Initiate automatic spraying of antiseptics/perfume. k) Initiate heaters in the seat so that it is (pre-) heated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a water closet, Figure 2 shows a partial cut away view of a seat of a water closet,

Figure 3a shows a plan view of a section on B-B,

Figure 3b shows a side elevation of a section on A-A,

Figure 3c shows a side section of a lid of water closet,

Figure 4a shows a water closet,

Figure 4b shows a view of a lamp fixture of the water closet of Figure 4a on section C-C,

Figure 5a shows a water closet, and

Figure 5b shows a view of a lamp fixture of the water closet of Figure 5a on section D-D

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a lavatory 20 comprising a seat 1 , a lid/cover 2 and a bowl 8. An elliptical shaped ultra violet (UV) element/lamp 4 is incorporated within the seat, as is described below. The seat 1 and the lid 2 are hinged to the bowl by a hinge arrangement 17.

With reference to Figure 2, an internal underside of the seat 1 has a mirrored surface 3 to reflect the UV rays from an ultra violet lamp 4. The lamp is assembled inside the WC seat 1 with a UV radiation diffusing and focusing element 5. The element 5 serves to propagate and control UV light from the element 5 towards those regions of the lavatory to be sterilised. The element 5 may comprise a suitable focussing membrane or lens system. Furthermore, the upper surface Ia of the seat 1 is opaque to serve to screen unwanted UV rays from the lamp towards the upper surface. It is to be noted from Figure 3c that when in a closed position, the lid 2 serves to enclose the seat and so prevent unwanted rays escaping externally of the lid 2. This is achieved by the depth W + of the lid 2 being greater than the depth W of the seat 1.

The lamp 4 is provided with a control assembly 11 which serves to activate the lamp in response to signals received from level sensitive switches 9 and 10, which are connected to the control assembly 11. On receipt of a signal from the sensors 9 and 10, and in particular the sensor 10, which is attached to the lid 2, to indicate that the lid is at a substantially closed position, or is moving towards a closed position, the control assembly 11 causes the lamp to be activated. By activating the lamp before the lid reaches the closed position a greater surface area of the bowl is reached by the UV radiation emitted by the lamp 4.

In order to maximise the surface area of the lavatory which is exposed to the UV radiation, the underside of the lid 2 is provided with a mirrored coating 7. The lid 2 further comprises a UV lamp 6, located towards the hinged end of the lid 2. The lamp 6 is activated by way of a control assembly (not illustrated) in response to signals from at least one of the level sensors 9 and 10. The mirrored coating 7 serves to irradiate the upper surface Ia of the seat 1.

The control assemblies associated with each of the lamps are provided with timers to restrict activation of the lamps to predetermined periods.

An alternative embodiment of a UV lamp incorporated with a lid is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. Like reference numerals are used to designate like or similar features. There is provided a UV lamp fixture 30 which is attached to the lid 2. The arrangement 30 comprises two UV lamps 36 attached to a housing 34. The housing 34 comprises a surrounding inclined wall 33 and a reflective floor 32. The overall shape of the fixture 30 is substantially elliptical, although, in an alternative embodiment, it may be substantially circular.

Reference is now made to Figures 5a and 5b which show alternative UV lamp fixture 40 for a lid of a lavatory. Like reference numerals are used to denote like or similar features. The fixture 40 comprises a reflective base 41 , an upstand 42 and a reflective cover 43, attached to the upstand 42 and a UV lamp 46. Surfaces 47 and 48 may be mirrored.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that embodiments may include a UV lamp within the seat and/or attached to the lid.

Any of the embodiments above may be provided with a proximity sensor which is such that when a user approaches the lavatory the lid is raised by a suitable drive arrangement. When the user moves away from the lavatory the lid is caused to close and in so doing activate the UV lamp(s) and the flush.

Numerous significant advantages result from the above embodiments, including:

(i) Pollution of the environment is reduced/eliminated by preventing growth of both viruses and bacteria by the use ultra violet radiation, (ii) By the use of a reflective surface on the underside of the seat the total radiation required by the system is reduced.

(iii) In addition to (ii) a reflective surface on the underside of the aids sterilisation of the seat and the bowl surface and retained water within the bowl. (iv) The use of a focusing membrane or lens system improves the efficiency of the system. (v) Using opaque surfaces to the top of the seat and cover reduces any harmful radiation. (vi) Radiation escape is further reduced by the inclusion of level sensing switches, which will only operation in or close to a

"Closed" position, (vii) The inclusion of a timing element reduces the amount of energy absorbed by the system. (viii) To ensure that the system is operated on a continual basis, the closing of the seat and cover/lid can be automated by the sensing of water entering or exiting the holding tank.