WATERLESS WATER CLOSET IN A MOTORHOME
20200113395 ยท 2020-04-16
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
A47K11/026
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B60P3/36
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Y02A50/30
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
Abstract
The present invention relates to a motorhome, mobile home or similar travelling or recreational vehicle comprising at least one sanitary area in which a water closet device is mounted. The water closet device comprises at least one seat element and is connected to a current source which carries out a waterless flush operation.
Claims
1. A motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle, comprising at least one sanitary region, in which a toilet device is arranged, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one seat element, wherein the toilet device is connected to a current source by which a water-free flushing operation can be carried out.
2. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one collecting element.
3. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one container by which excrement or similar excretions can be transferred into the collecting element.
4. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one closing mechanism by which the at least one container can be closed.
5. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one closing mechanism comprises at least one heating element, wherein preferably the at least one closing mechanism and the at least one heating element are designed as an integral assembly.
6. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one optoelectrical system which is preferably arranged in the seat element below a closing mechanism arranged in the seat element.
7. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current source is electrically connected to the closing mechanism and/or to the heating element.
8. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the closing mechanism and/or the heating element are/is designed as a separating mechanism for the container which is preferably manufactured from a plastic and is designed in particular as a film tube.
9. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat element is designed as a receiving mechanism for the at least one container.
10. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one sensor which is preferably arranged in a cover.
11. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat element is rotatable and/or pivotable in relation to the collecting element.
12. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one control unit and an actuating mechanism, wherein the control unit is electrically connected to the actuating mechanism and to the current source.
13. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sanitary region comprises at least one cupboard, wherein the toilet device is arranged in the cupboard.
14. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one movement mechanism by which the toilet device is movable in a vertically displaceable manner.
15. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one energy store.
16. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collecting element comprises a drawer, wherein the collecting element or the drawer comprises at least one sensor.
17. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device comprises at least one sound generator which is preferably arranged in the seat element.
18. The motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toilet device is rotatable in relation to a floor or in relation to a stand mechanism by angular ranges which lie between 10 and 135, preferably 30 and 100, particularly preferably between 45 and 90.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Further essential features and advantages of the present invention will be revealed here in the drawings and the description thereof.
[0047]
[0048]
[0049]
[0050]
[0051]
[0052]
[0053]
[0054]
[0055]
[0056]
[0057]
[0058]
[0059]
[0060]
[0061]
[0062]
[0063]
[0064]
[0065]
[0066]
[0067]
[0068]
[0069]
[0070]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0071]
[0072] Furthermore, the motorhome 6 illustrated comprises a sanitary region 14. The sanitary region 14 comprises a toilet device 1 (also see
[0073] In contrast to toilet devices from the prior art, in which flushing operations, for example, for eliminating excrement or other excretions, in particular, from the human body, are carried out by water, the toilet device 1 is connected to a power source 4 (see, for example,
[0074]
[0075] The current source 4 is illustrated schematically in
[0076] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the toilet device 1 is electrically connected via electric lines 25, 25 both to the current source 4 and to an actuating mechanism 19. The toilet device 1 is operated here (also see
[0077] It is furthermore illustrated that the toilet device 1 comprises a stand mechanism 33. In a manner not illustrated specifically, the present invention can make provision for a control unit (also see
[0078] The toilet device 1 illustrated in
[0079] In the exemplary embodiment, the sensor 12 comprises at least one camera and/or at least one LED.
[0080] The sensor 12 can be regarded as a means for detecting objects which makes it possible to detect objects which are located in a container 5 of the toilet device 1 (see, for example,
[0081] Provision can be made here for the sensor 12 to transmit sensed data to a control unit (see
[0082] The sensor 12, therefore, permits detection of objects which are located in a container (see, for example,
[0083] Within the context of the present invention, it can also be provided that the toilet device 1 comprises a plug (also see, for example,
[0084] Within the context of the present invention, it can, therefore, be provided that the current source has voltages within the voltage range of 6 V to 24 V, preferably 12 V, or within the voltage range of 200 V to 230 V.
[0085]
[0086] The present invention can, therefore, also make provision for the collecting element 3 of the toilet device 1 to comprise at least one drawer 24.
[0087] The toilet device 1 here is configured in such a manner that the drawer 24 can be inserted into and removed from the collecting element 3 or the toilet device 1 from a rear side 22. Within the context of the present invention, it can also be provided here that the rear side 22 is arranged on a wall (not shown specifically) of a motorhome, caravan, etc. The drawer 24 can, therefore, be inserted or removed in a manner known per se from an outer side through a flap of the motorhome, caravan, etc.
[0088] It is also apparent from
[0089]
[0090] The present invention can also be regarded in such a manner that flushing or a flushing operation of the toilet device takes place by closing, in particular, bonding, of a container in which excrement or similar excretions are located.
[0091] In the exemplary embodiment, the seat element 2 comprises a receiving space 11. The container 5, in the form of a film tube, is arranged in the receiving space.
[0092] It is also apparent from
[0093] Within the context of the present invention, it can be provided that the seat element 2 comprises a sensor 44. A sensor 44 of this type can sense, for example, whether sufficient amounts of containers 5 are available.
[0094] In the exemplary embodiment, the toilet device 1 comprises a sound generator 27 which is arranged in the seat element 2. The sound generator 27 can be understood as being a loudspeaker. The sound generator 27 can be provided in order for an acoustic signal to be output should the amount of containers 5 be sufficient only still for few uses of the toilet device 1.
[0095] Provision can be made for an acoustic warning signal to be output should a limit value predetermined by the user be reached or fallen short of. The sound generator 27 can, therefore, be understood to be a warning mechanism which promptly provides information regarding a low stock of containers 5. The user is, therefore, spared not being able to respond to a possible call of nature because a container 5 is no longer present.
[0096] It is also apparent from
[0097] The closing mechanisms 8, 8 can comprise a heating element 9. The container 5 can, therefore, be closed by heat. It can, therefore, be provided, for example, that the container 5 is composed of a plastics material which is completely closed by bonding by heat generated by the heating element 9. Possible contents of the container 5, for example, excrement, therefore, cannot escape from the container 5 after closing or bonding, etc. The present invention can also make provision for the closing mechanism to be designed as heating element.
[0098] Within the scope of the present invention, it is provided that at least closing mechanisms 8, 8 and/or heating element 9 are controlled by a control unit (see
[0099] In the exemplary embodiment, the toilet device 1 comprises at least one optoelectrical system 26 which can also be referred to as a light barrier and which is arranged in the seat element 2 below closing mechanisms 8, 8 arranged in the seat element (also see
[0100] The present invention can also make provision for the toilet device 1 to comprise at least one optoelectrical system 26 which is arranged below at least one closing mechanism 8, 8 and/or between two closing mechanisms 8, 8.
[0101] The optoelectrical system 26 is arranged here below the closing mechanism 8 or between the closing mechanisms 8, 8.
[0102]
[0103] Furthermore, it can be seen that the toilet device 1 comprises a cover 18. The cover 18 can also be understood as being a toilet lid. In the exemplary embodiment, the cover 18 is arranged in an articulated manner on the toilet device 1. For this purpose, the toilet device 1 comprises a hinge 10 which is connected or is connectable to the cover 18 and to the seat element 2.
[0104] In a manner not illustrated specifically, it can be provided within the scope of the present invention that the hinge 10 comprises a sensor which transmits data to a control unit (see, for example,
[0105] In this connection, it can be offered by way of explanation that a cover 18 which covers the seat element 2 provides a state which can also be understood as being the inoperative state. The position of the cover 18 can have an effect in respect of the function of the sensor 12 arranged in the cover 18.
[0106] Schematic illustrations of the functioning principle of various refinements of a toilet device 1 are in each case presented in
[0107] In this connection, it is illustrated in a first step 28 in
[0108] In a second step 29 (
[0109] It is illustrated in the second step 29 (
[0110] In the third step 30 (
[0111] In the fourth step 31 (
[0112] It is furthermore illustrated in
[0113] The container 5 is, therefore, closed by heat, with the closing also being able to be understood as bonding. The container 5 is closed by a material bond. By such bonding of the container 5, very stable closing of the container 5 can be achieved, as a result of which it is also possible to prevent the container 5 from opening, for example, as it is being transported away and excrement 7 from being able to emerge from the container 5. Furthermore, in the fourth step (
[0114] In a fifth step 32 (
[0115] Water-free flushing can therefore take place within the context of the present invention in such a manner that a container 5 in which excrement 7 is located is at least closed and is optionally transferred into a collecting element 3.
[0116] The present invention makes provision here for water-free flushing or closing of a container to take place by an electrical current. For this purpose, the toilet device comprises closing mechanism and/or heating mechanism.
[0117] The mentioned functioning principle of water-free flushing is also illustrated by way of example in
[0118] In the exemplary embodiment, the toilet device 1 comprises an optoelectrical system 26 which is designed as a light barrier. The optoelectrical system 26 is arranged between the heating element 9 and the closing mechanism 8 (see, for example,
[0119] It can be sensed by the optoelectrical system 26 whether excrement, here excrement 7, is arranged in the container 5 in such a manner that the container 5 as a result of the arrangement of the excrement 7 cannot be completely closed, for example, by a heating element 9 (see second step 29,
[0120] A state in which the container 5 can be completely closed is shown in the fourth step 31 (
[0121] Further exemplary embodiments of the toilet device 1 are presented in
[0122] It can also be provided that a drawer is arranged on the front side 21 of the toilet device (
[0123] Within the scope of the present invention, it can also be provided that the seat element 2 is rotatable in relation to the collecting element 3 (
[0124] In further refinements of the present invention according to
[0125] It is illustrated in further exemplary embodiments according to
[0126] The seat element 2 is arranged in an upper drawer element 39 of the cupboard 35 (see
[0127] The collecting element 3 can be arranged in a lower drawer element 40 (see
[0128] The present invention can, therefore, make provision for the collecting element to be configured as a drawer of a cupboard.
[0129] In further embodiments according to
[0130] In this connection,
[0131] In a first use position 46 (see
[0132] In a further exemplary embodiment, the toilet device 1 can comprise a framework 50 on which rollers 49, 49, 49 can be arranged (see
[0133] It can also be provided that the toilet device 1 comprises handles 52, 52, onto which a user can hold. Such handles 52, 52 can contribute to increased safety during or after use of the toilet device 1. For example, falling of a user can be avoided.
[0134] Furthermore, the toilet device 1 which comprises a framework 32 can be vertically displaceable in relation to the framework 32 and for this purpose can comprise a lifting device 51 (
[0135] In a further refinement, the toilet device 1 can also comprise a framework 32 with rollers 49, 49, 49 and 49, and a lifting device 51 and, furthermore, a tilting device 54 (see
[0136] In a further refinement of the present invention according to
[0137] The present invention can also make provision for the toilet device 1 to be rotatable in relation to the stand mechanism 33. In this case, rotations of the toilet device 1 at angles between up to 45 (
[0138] The present invention can make provision for the toilet device to be rotatable in relation to a floor or in relation to a stand mechanism by angular ranges which lie between 10 and 135, preferably 30 and 100, particularly preferably between 45 and 90. Such a rotatable toilet device can be used particularly flexibly.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0139] 1 Toilet device [0140] 2 Seat element [0141] 3 Collecting element [0142] 4 Current source [0143] 5 Container [0144] 6 Motorhome, caravan or similar travel or recreational vehicle [0145] 7 Excrement (or similar excretions) [0146] 7, 7 Excrement (or similar excretions) [0147] 8, 8 Closing mechanism [0148] 9 Heating element [0149] 10 Hinge [0150] 11 Receiving space [0151] 12 Sensor [0152] 13 Control unit [0153] 14 Sanitary region [0154] 15 Driver's region [0155] 16 Sleeping region [0156] 17 Living region [0157] 18 Cover [0158] 19 Actuating mechanism [0159] 20 Sensor [0160] 21 Front side (of the toilet device) [0161] 22 Rear side (of the toilet device) [0162] 23 Mounting mechanism [0163] 24 Drawer element [0164] 25, 25 Electric line [0165] 26 Optoelectrical system [0166] 27 Sound generator [0167] 28, 28 First step [0168] 29, 29 Second step [0169] 30, 30 Third step [0170] 31, 31 Fourth step [0171] 32, 32 Fifth step [0172] 33, 33 Stand mechanism [0173] 33 Stand mechanism [0174] 33 Stand mechanism [0175] 34 Plug [0176] 35 Cupboard [0177] 36, 36 Storage compartment [0178] 36 Storage compartment [0179] 36 Storage compartment [0180] 37 Upper side (of the cupboard 35) [0181] 38 Lower side (of the cupboard 35) [0182] 39 Upper drawer element (of the cupboard 35) [0183] 40 Lower drawer element (of the cupboard 35) [0184] 41 Hinge [0185] 42 Energy store [0186] 43 Movement mechanism [0187] 44 Sensor [0188] 45 Lower region (of the movement mechanism 43) [0189] 46 First use position [0190] 47 Upper region (of the movement mechanism 43) [0191] 48 Second use position [0192] 49, 49 Rollers [0193] 49 Rollers [0194] 49 Rollers [0195] 50 Framework [0196] 51 Lifting device [0197] 52, 52 Handle [0198] 53 Floor (of the sanitary region 14) [0199] 54 Tilting device