Cabinet to sterilize toilet seat

United States Patent Application 20060117472

The cabinet is specially developed for avoiding contact between the toilet seat and urine and for using a germicidal disinfection U.V. lamp, mounted inside the cabinet, above the toilet seat to sterilize it. The mechanical device will automatically release, reposition and lift the seat and put it inside the cabinet after each use. The cabinet is mounted next to the toilet and recessed in the wall, and will be made of stainless steel like other accessories for washrooms.

Gollarza, Richard Jose (San Antonio, VE)

11/002299

06/08/2006

12/03/2004

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4/233

A47K13/00

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NGUYEN, TUAN N

RICHARD GOLLARZA (ALEXANDRIA, VA, US)

I am claim as my invention:

1. A cabinet recessed in the wall, which has a lamp of ultraviolet light, in order to sterilize surfaces, a toilet seat, a mechanical system that allows the movement of the seat of toilet on a rail on slides.

2. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 1, placed next to the toilet, wherein said cabinet will keep the seat far away from the user, when the toilet is used as a urinal.

3. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 1, that has a U.V. lamp that serves to sterilize the seat. This lamp this placed in the upper part of the cabinet, above the seat. Between the seat and the lamp is a quartz glass that allows for irradiation by germicidal light.

4. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 1, that has a mechanical system that automatically recovers the seat of toilet after its use, which together with the base of the cabinet, consists of a box that has a small hole tube where a cable is coiled, as part of a mechanical system.

5. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 4, in which said mechanical system is linked to the seat of toilet and is divided in two parts, a fixed system and a mobile system.

6. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 5, that has a system base that consists of a piece through which a cable passes that is attached to the mechanical system. This also serves as base to support the mobile system that turns on an axle that this joined to the solid system.

7. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 1, that has a mobile system that contains a mechanical timer that is activated when the seat is lowered to a horizontal position and which after a set time raises the seat to its vertical position, ready to be placed back to the cabinet.

8. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 7, in which said mechanical timer acts together with a telescopic axle that is part of a hinge that holds the seat and works together with the mobile seat.

9. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mechanical timer consist of a group of gears, spirals and axes that work together and that when arriving at certain position, stop and release a subgroup, such that when turned, released and locked are maintained in a set position in the mobile system to the fixed system.

10. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cabinet is made of steel to be used in public washroom, placing it next to toilet and next to the flow regulator.

11. A cabinet to sterilize the toilet seat, as claimed in claim 1, that can be automated totally to facilitate use with few buttons to activate the system or by infrared activation.

CROSS-REFERENCE CITED
U.S. Pat. No.	Filing Date	Inventor Name	U.S. Class
6,510,562 B1	Oct. 10, 2000	Kyong Sup Bae	4/246.1
6,289,526 B1	Sep. 18, 2001	Chin-Chuan Chang	4/233
5,813,057	Sep. 17, 1997	Jacques Descent	4/233
5,806,105	Sep. 12, 1997	Yi Chieh Yu	4/233
4,819,276	Mar. 26, 1987	Robert Stevens	4/233
4,536,899	Mar. 05, 1984	Erika Schnyder	4/233
3,599,246	Oct. 01, 1968	Angelo Bramati	4/233
2,458,019	Oct. 26, 1943	Harold H. Niles	4/233
2,440,231	Oct. 05, 1944	Lloyd H. Davidson	4/233
2,332,111	Jul. 18, 1942	Thomas Porter	4/233
2,273,449	Jun. 19, 1940	Herbert Plishker	4/233
1,520,789	Jul. 12, 1924	Robert Weill	4/233

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to sterilization of a toilet seat and surrounding areas, by mean of a U.V. lamp with germicidal light, which irradiates the toilet seat, thereby killing germs and bacteria that cause diseases, which are generally on the surface of the seat.

This invention also consists of a means of isolating the toilet seat from the rest of the toilet when not in use as a toilet seat, placing to the seat in a cabinet next to toilet.

This invention not only sterilizes the toilet seat to achieve a clean and hygienic effect but places the seat in a new position that will avoid contact with urine.

This invention consists of a mechanical system that positions and repositions the seat, placing it after each use within the cabinet, where it will be sterilized by a U.V. lamp. This system has a mechanical timer that raises the seat of toilet after its use, for example while the user is refastening clothing after use.

The requirements for keeping clean the surfaces associated with a toilet are demanding, and ultraviolet lamps prevent propagation of infection diseases. Studies show that the behavior of microorganisms are affected by radiation lights, like ultraviolet type B (UV-B) germicidal light that is 253.7 nm wide. A short exposure time to the UV-B light can destroy major microorganism including virus and fungus.

2. The Prior Art

Several arts are involves in this new invention, automatic hinge are know in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,562 to Kyong Sup Bae; ultraviolet sterilizer are know in the art; U.S. Pat. No. 2,332,111 to Thomas R. Porter and Alfred Laidig, assigned to Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, relate an apparatus for sterilizing and maintaining sterile the seat and bowl; U.S. Pat. No. 2,273,449 to Herbert E. Plishker, assigned to Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, relate a portable sterilizer with UV lamps; U.S. Pat. No. 2,440,231 to Lloyd H. Davidson, assigned to Avco Manufacturing Corp. relate a mechanism for shifting the toilet between a position in sterilizing cabinet and its usable position, working with an electric motor for shifting the toilet seat and provide automatic return to sterilize position; U.S. Pat. No. 2,458,019 to H. H. Niles, relate a sterilization method with ultraviolet lamps and their germicidal energy; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,276 to Robert Stevens, relate to the disinfection or sterilization of the toilet seat by means of germicidal ultraviolet radiation, produce by a tubular lamp mount in rear of the toilet, this invention show the effective use of ultraviolet lamps for killer a major diseases transmitter germens; U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,256 B1 to Chin-Chuan Chang, relate to automatic cleaner for a toilet seat, which include a cleaner and toilet seat, wherein the seat turn around the device and is cleaned with some disinfectant liquid and dry with a blower.

Several inventions for sterilization have been developed before, but none propose to change the seat position. A few inventions relate to use of germicidal lamps for sterilization and others to lifting the seat automatically with some mechanism, but this invention combines the benefits and provide an improved, new system for keep sterile a toilet seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device to keep clean and sterile the toilet seat in public facilities. This device is composed of a cabinet to isolate the seat of the toilet, a UV lamp for sterilization of the seat, a mechanical lifting device which raises up the seat after a previously defined time, a special hinge with a telescopic axle, a recovery system for pulling the seat into the cabinet and a handle for pull the seat out of the cabinet.

The system works in the following way: the user arrives at a public restroom and grab the handle of an attachment to the seat and pulls the handle to remove the seat from the cabinet; the seat moves on a mobile set of slides on a rail until arriving at the top position, at which time the hinge of the seat slides a little more, because it has an telescopic axle. When fully extended the user must turn the seat counter-clockwise, 90 degrees, so that the mobile mechanism will be secured by a lock in the solid part of the seat. The user is now ready to lower the seat. The user must lower the seat until reaches a horizontal position on the toilet bowl. At this moment a system is activated that has a gears that are jioined to the hinge of the seat and prepares it so that when the user rises, the system begins a count down of time and then raises the seat after the time has expired, while the user, for example, is refastening his or her clothing. The system will raise the seat slowly to avoid injuring the user, and when it is in a vertical position, the lock will be released and an internal release system for the cabinet door will be activated, consisting of a wire that is coiled in a small tube, pulling the seat inside the cabinet, where it will be sterilized and prepared for the next user.

As a further object of the invention, the light of the U.V. lamp will ionizes the atmosphere and radiate heat, thus warming the seat slightly in the winter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the location of the preferred embodiment and the whole toilet.

FIG. 2 is upper view (plans view) related with FIG. 1, show the situation between the toilet and preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the position two, when the preferred embodiment is totally open out.

FIG. 4 is a upper view displaying the position three, when the seat rotate on mechanism and is ready to put over the toilet.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of recovery system located inside the cabinet

FIG. 6 is a perspective view explode of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of hinge and telescopic axle.

FIG. 8 is an upper view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective showing the whole mechanical mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing the location of the preferred embodiment and the whole toilet system, as similarly depicted in FIG. 2. this show the components of the invention, including a cabinet 1, lamp holder 2, lamp 3, glass 4, handle 5, seat 6, hinge 7, recovery system 8, mobile support mechanism 9, mobile mechanism 10, toilet 11 and a rail 51 for displacement.

FIG. 3 is a perspective showing the second position, when the preferred embodiment is totally opened for use, this view show the seat 6, displaying the mobile support mechanism 9, the mobile mechanism 10, the hinge 7 and the telescopic axle 71 totally extended, the seat 6 when pulled out with all its pieces running over the rail 51, and the wire 29 extension for the recovery system 8.

FIG. 4 is a perspective showing the seat 6 turning counterclockwise with arrows to the mobile mechanism 10.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the mechanism to recover the seat 6, and the hole 28 where the wire 29 comes from.

FIG. 6 this a specific view showing the recovery mechanism, including the inside of the recovery system 8 and a hole 28 from which the wire 29 will extend, which wire 29 is connected to the mobile support mechanism 9 and slide on a tube 31. Inside the tube 31 is a spring coil 30 that forces the recovery and rolls up the wire 29 over the tube 31 and pulls the system inside the cabinet 1.

FIG. 7 this is a perspective view of the hinge 7, with specific view of the mechanism inside the body of the hinge 7, showing the rotor part 72 and the telescopic axle 71, that is necessary to extend the seat 6 to the center of the toilet 11.

FIG. 8 is view showing the mobile support mechanism 9 and the mobile mechanism 10, the close up shows how the base of the mobile mechanism 10 turns, showing the axle 104 of the mobile mechanism and showing the locking system 101 whereby the mobile mechanism 10 is locked when reaching the position.

FIG. 9 this view is a front view of the mobile support mechanism 9 and the mobile mechanism 10, which show the main gear 13 and releasing gear 14. It also shows the lock hole 114 for the lock system 101 and show the mobile support mechanism hole 128 in which the cable 29 will be linked to a piece of the recovery system 8.

Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiments of the inventions can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed an is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.