TOILET OVERFLOW PREVENTION IN BIDET SEAT

Abstract

A toilet seat arrangement includes a toilet seat that is installed above a toilet bowl. A bidet nozzle is installed on the toilet seat and ejects water into a space above the toilet bowl such that the water falls into the toilet bowl. A water level sensor is installed on the toilet seat and detects a level of water in the toilet bowl. The water level sensor transmits a signal indicative of the level of water in the toilet bowl. A shutoff valve allows water to flow to a toilet tank fill valve when the shutoff valve is in an open position, and prevents water from flowing to the toilet tank fill valve when the shutoff valve is in a closed position. An electronic processor controls whether the shutoff valve is in the open position or the closed position dependent upon the signal from the water level sensor.

Claims

1. A toilet seat arrangement, comprising: a toilet seat configured to be installed above a toilet bowl; a water level sensor installed on the toilet seat and configured to: detect a level of water in the toilet bowl; and transmit a signal indicative of the level of water in the toilet bowl; a shutoff valve having an open position which allows water to flow to a toilet tank fill valve, and a closed position which prevents water from flowing to the toilet tank fill valve; and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the water level sensor and to the shutoff valve, the electronic processor being configured to: receive the signal from the water level sensor; and control whether the shutoff valve is in the open position or the closed position dependent upon the signal from the water level sensor.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a bidet nozzle installed on the toilet seat and configured to eject water into a space above the toilet bowl such that the water falls into the toilet bowl.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the shutoff valve allows water to flow to the bidet nozzle when the shutoff valve is in the open position, and prevents water from flowing to the bidet nozzle when the shutoff valve is in the closed position.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to: place the shutoff valve in the open position when the signal from the water level sensor indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl is below a threshold; and place the shutoff valve in the closed position when the signal from the water level sensor indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl is above the threshold.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a resistive heating element attached to the toilet seat, the electronic processor being configured to control a level of power consumed by the resistive heating element.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the water level sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

7. A toilet seat arrangement, comprising: a toilet seat configured to be installed above a toilet bowl; a bidet nozzle installed on the toilet seat and configured to eject water into a space above the toilet bowl such that the water falls into the toilet bowl; a shutoff valve having an open position and a closed position, the shutoff valve allowing water to flow to a toilet tank fill valve and to the bidet nozzle when the shutoff valve is in the open position, and preventing water from flowing to the toilet tank fill valve and to the bidet nozzle when the shutoff valve is in the closed position; and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the shutoff valve, the electronic processor being configured to control whether the shutoff valve is in the open position or the closed position dependent upon a level of water in the toilet bowl.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, further comprising a water level sensor installed on the toilet seat and configured to: detect a level of water in the toilet bowl; and transmit a signal to the electronic processor indicative of the level of water in the toilet bowl.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the water level sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the electronic processor is configured to: place the shutoff valve in the open position when the signal from the water level sensor indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl is below a threshold; and place the shutoff valve in the closed position when the signal from the water level sensor indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl is above the threshold.

11. The arrangement of claim 7, further comprising a resistive heating element attached to the toilet seat, the electronic processor being configured to control a level of power consumed by the resistive heating element.

12. A kit for selectively configuring a toilet seat, the kit comprising: a toilet seat including a recess and configured to be installed above a toilet bowl; a bidet nozzle installed on the toilet seat and configured to eject water into a space above the toilet bowl such that the water falls into the toilet bowl; a water level sensor configured to: be selectively installed in the recess of the toilet seat, and, if installed in the recess: detect a level of water in the toilet bowl; and transmit a signal indicative of the level of water in the toilet bowl; an incoming water line fluidly connected to the bidet nozzle and configured to carry water to the bidet nozzle; an outgoing water line configured to be fluidly connected to a toilet tank fill valve; a shutoff valve configured to be selectively inserted in fluid communication between the incoming water line and the outgoing water line, the shutoff valve having an open position and a closed position, the shutoff valve allowing water to flow from the incoming water line to the outgoing water line and then to the toilet tank fill valve when the shutoff valve is in the open position, and preventing water from flowing from the incoming water line to the outgoing water line and to the toilet tank fill valve when the shutoff valve is in the closed position; a section of conduit configured to be selectively inserted in the toilet seat in fluid communication between the incoming water line and the outgoing water line, the section of conduit configured to carry water from the incoming water line to the outgoing water line when the shutoff valve is in the open position, and preventing water from flowing from the incoming water line to the outgoing water line when the shutoff valve is in the closed position; and an electronic processor configured to be communicatively coupled to the water level sensor when the water level sensor is installed and to the shutoff valve when the shutoff valve is inserted, the electronic processor being configured to: receive the signal from the water level sensor; and control whether the shutoff valve is in the open position or the closed position dependent upon the signal from the water level sensor.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the shutoff valve allows water to flow to the bidet nozzle when the shutoff valve is in the open position, and prevents water from flowing to the bidet nozzle when the shutoff valve is in the closed position.

14. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the electronic processor is configured to: place the shutoff valve in the open position when the signal from the water level sensor indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl is below a threshold; and place the shutoff valve in the closed position when the signal from the water level sensor indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl is above the threshold.

15. The arrangement of claim 12, further comprising a resistive heating element attached to the toilet seat, the electronic processor being configured to control a level of power consumed by the resistive heating element.

16. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the water level sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of an overflow prevention arrangement of the present disclosure for a bidet toilet seat;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a fluid block diagram of the overflow prevention arrangement of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of the overflow prevention arrangement of FIG. 1; and

[0018] FIG. 4 is a plan bottom view of a toilet seat portion including another illustrative embodiment of an overflow prevention arrangement of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.

[0020] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one illustrative embodiment of an overflow prevention arrangement or system 10 of the present disclosure for an electronic bidet toilet seat 12. Arrangement 10 further includes a supply stop or valve 14 for a toilet 15 in which bidet toilet seat 12 is installed, and a toilet fill valve 16 for the toilet 15. Supply valve 14 is illustratively in fluid communication with a conventional water supply 17. Toilet fill valve 16 may be a conventional toilet fill valve located in the toilet tank that refills the toilet tank 18 with water after the toilet 15 is flushed, and that automatically stops filling the toilet tank 18 when the water level in the tank 18 reaches a predetermined level. An external incoming water line 20 is a conduit that fluidly interconnects supply stop 14 and a water inlet 22 of seat 12, and that carries water from supply stop 14 to water inlet 22. An external outgoing water line 24 is a conduit that fluidly interconnects a water outlet 26 of seat 12 and toilet fill valve 16, and that carries water from water outlet 26 of seat 12 to toilet fill valve 16. As is known, water from the tank 18 is supplied to a rim (not shown) of a toilet bowl 28 during a flush cycle.

[0021] Water inlet 22 of seat 12 may be fluidly connected to water outlet 26 by an internal incoming water line or conduit 30, a shutoff valve 32 and an internal outgoing water line or conduit 34. Illustratively, a T-connection 36 off of internal incoming water line 30 is fluidly connected to a bidet nozzle 38 and provides water to bidet nozzle 38. As further detailed herein, shutoff valve 32 may be positioned either downstream or upstream from T-connection 36. Illustratively, the internal conduits 30 and 34 may be formed of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubes. Similarly, the T-connection 36 may be formed of PEX.

[0022] Shutoff valve 32 may be an electrically operable valve, illustratively a normally closed solenoid valve, and may be either a diaphragm or direct acting type of normally closed solenoid valve. Bidet nozzle 38 may be of conventional design and illustratively connected to a manually-actuated valve (not shown) that enables a user to selectively cause water to be ejected from nozzle 38.

[0023] An electronic controller 40 including an electronic processor is electrically connected to shutoff valve 32 and controls whether valve 32 is open, such that water flows to toilet fill valve 16, or is closed, such that water does not flow to toilet fill valve 16. Shutoff valve 32 and controller 40 may be disposed on or within recesses (not shown) of a seat portion 42 of toilet seat 12 and/or in a lid portion 44 of toilet seat 12. Similarly, internal conduits 30 and 34, T-connection 36 and bidet nozzle 38 may be disposed on or within recesses (not shown) of seat portion 42 and/or lid portion 44.

[0024] A water level sensor 46 illustratively detects a vertical level of the water in the toilet bowl. Water level sensor 46 may be an ultrasonic level sensor (illustratively, projecting sound waves 48), a time-of-flight sensor (e.g., infrared sensor) and/or a capacitive sensor, for example. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that other types of water level sensors 46 may be substituted therefor.

[0025] Water level sensor 46 may be mounted on a bottom surface of seat portion 42 and/or lid portion 44 of toilet seat 12, and may communicate with controller 40 via a wired connection or wirelessly. Water level sensor 46 may also be received within a recess (not shown) formed in seat portion 42 and/or lid portion 44. It is also possible for water level sensor 46 to be mounted under a rim of the toilet bowl 28 so that it is always in position to detect the water level, regardless of whether seat portion 42 is in its down (horizontally-oriented) position or in its up (vertically-oriented) position.

[0026] A power supply 50 (illustratively, an AC adapter) may be plugged into a wall receptacle 52. AC adapter 50 may provide direct current voltage to controller 40, shutoff valve 32, and/or water level sensor 46. Alternatively, or in addition to the AC adapter 50, batteries may provide power to controller 40, shutoff valve 32, and/or water level sensor 46.

[0027] Shutoff valve 32 is shown to be downstream of the T-connection 36 to bidet nozzle 38 such that water flow is always available to bidet nozzle 38. However, in another embodiment, the shutoff valve 32 is positioned upstream of the T-connection 36 to the bidet nozzle 38 such that water flow is shut off to the bidet nozzle 38 as well as to the toilet fill valve 16 whenever the shutoff valve 32 is closed. Thus, the bidet nozzle 38 as well as toilet fill valve 16 is prevented from overflowing the toilet 15.

[0028] FIG. 3 is another illustration of overflow prevention arrangement 10, including water level sensor 46, controller 40 and shutoff valve 32. All three of these elements may be powered, directly or indirectly, by AC adapter 50 (FIG. 1) and/or batteries. During use, water level sensor 46 may continuously detect a vertical level of a top surface 50 (FIG. 1) of the water in the toilet bowl 28. Sensor 46 then sends a sensor signal to controller 40 indicating the level of water in the toilet bowl 28, or at least indicating whether the level of water in the toilet bowl 28 exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

[0029] If the sensor signal indicates that the level of water in the toilet bowl 28 exceeds the predetermined threshold level, then controller 40 closes shutoff valve 32. The closing of shutoff valve 32 shuts off the supply of water to toilet fill valve 16. However, in another illustrative embodiment, the closing of the shutoff valve 32 also shuts off the supply of water to the bidet nozzle 38. It yet another embodiment, the closing of the shutoff valve 32 shuts off the supply of water to the bidet nozzle 38, but not to the toilet fill valve 16.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a toilet seat 312 including a toilet seat portion 342 having another illustrative embodiment of an overflow prevention arrangement 310 of the present invention. Overflow prevention arrangement 310 includes an external incoming water line 320 that fluidly interconnects a supply stop 14 (FIG. 1) and a water inlet 322 of toilet seat portion 342, and that carries water from the supply stop to water inlet 322. An external outgoing water line 324 fluidly interconnects a water outlet 326 of toilet seat portion 342 and a toilet fill valve 16 (FIG. 1), and carries water from water outlet 326 to the toilet fill valve 16.

[0031] Water inlet 322 of toilet seat portion 342 may be fluidly connected to water outlet 326 by an internal incoming water line 330, a shutoff valve 332 and an internal outgoing water line 334. A T-connection 336 off of internal incoming water line 330 is fluidly connected to a bidet nozzle 338 and provides water to bidet nozzle 338. Shutoff valve 332 may be an electrically operable valve, illustratively a normally closed solenoid valve, and may be either a diaphragm or direct acting type of normally closed solenoid valve. Bidet nozzle 338 may be of conventional design and connected to a manually-actuated valve (not shown) that is between T-connection 336 and bidet nozzle 338, and that enables a user to selectively cause water to be ejected from nozzle 338 at a desired flow rate.

[0032] An electronic controller 340 including an electronic processor is electrically connected to shutoff valve 332 and controls whether valve 332 is open, such that water flows to the toilet fill valve 16, or is closed, such that water does not flow to the toilet fill valve 16. Shutoff valve 332 and controller 340 may be disposed on or within recesses (not shown) of a seat portion 342 of toilet seat 12 and/or in a lid portion 344 of toilet seat 312. Similarly, internal conduits 330 and 334, T-connection 336 and bidet nozzle 338 may be disposed on or within recesses (not shown) of seat portion 342 and/or lid portion 344.

[0033] A water level sensor 346 detects a vertical level of the water in the toilet bowl 28. Water level sensor 346 may be an ultrasonic level sensor, a time-of-flight sensor (e.g., infrared sensor) and/or a capacitive sensor, for example. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that other types of water level sensors 346 may be substituted therefor.

[0034] Water level sensor 346 may be mounted on a bottom surface or within a recess of seat portion 342 and/or lid 344 of the toilet seat 312, and may communicate with controller 340 via a wired connection, as shown, or wirelessly. It is also possible for water level sensor 346 to be mounted under a rim of the toilet bowl 28 so that it is always in position to detect the water level, regardless of whether seat portion 342 is in its down (horizontally-oriented) position or in its up (vertically-oriented) position.

[0035] Seat portion 342 illustratively includes resistive heating elements 350, 352 embedded therein. An AC adapter or other source of direct current voltage (V+) (e.g., batteries) may provide power to controller 340, shutoff valve 332, water level sensor 346, and/or heating elements 350, 352. Controller 340 may control the level of power consumed by, and thus the temperature of, heating elements 350, 352.

[0036] The overflow protection features of seat portion 342 may be retrofit from a seat portion lacking such features. Thus, the same base seat portion may be used to produce either a seat portion with overflow protection, and a seat portion without overflow protection. More particularly, a bottom surface 354 of seat portion 342 may include a recess 356 that is sized for receiving water level sensor 346 therein. Accordingly, seat portion 342 may include overflow protection or not include overflow protection, depending upon whether a water level sensor 346 is installed in the recess 356.

[0037] Instead of shutoff valve 332, there may be a simple section of conduit (not shown) in its place to fluidly interconnect internal incoming water line 330 and internal outgoing water line 334 in a watertight manner. If overflow protection is desired on a particular seat portion, the simple section of conduit may be swapped out for shutoff valve 332. In addition to adding water level sensor 346 and shutoff valve 332, there may be a software update of controller 340 to control shutoff valve 332 based on signals from sensor 346. This software update may be performed wirelessly or via wires. Thus, a seat portion lacking overflow protection may be retrofitted to include overflow protection by: inserting water level sensor 346 in the recess of the seat portion; replacing the simple section of conduit (that fluidly interconnects internal incoming water line 330 and internal outgoing water line 334) with shutoff valve 332; and updating the software of controller 340.

[0038] Shutoff valve 332 is shown to be downstream of the T-connection 336 to bidet nozzle 338 such that water flow is always available to bidet nozzle 338. However, in another embodiment, the shutoff valve 332 is positioned upstream of the T-connection 336 to the bidet nozzle 338 such that water flow is shut off to the bidet nozzle 338 as well as to the toilet fill valve 16 whenever the shutoff valve 332 is closed. Thus, the bidet nozzle 338 as well as toilet fill valve 16 is prevented from overflowing the toilet 15.

[0039] While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.