Automated Toilet System

The present application is a National Phase entry of International Patent Application PCT/US23/67425 filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/345,690 filed May 25, 2022 and titled Automated Toilet System, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference.

The present application relates to automated toilet systems.

Modern toilets and plumbing have greatly enhanced the user's experience. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,955,828; 10,492,650; 10,640,961; 11,064,849; 11,168,470; and U.S. patents application Ser. Nos. 17/374,316 and 17/498,589, each of which being incorporated in their entireties by this reference, each disclose various aspects of mechanisms to raise and lower toilet seats and to conserve water as a function of whether a user deposited a liquid or a solid waste into the toilet bowl.

Consumer concerns regarding sanitation and transmission of viruses and bacteria creates a need for an automated toilet system that will sanitize itself and the surrounding area, communicate with users, janitorial staff and/or building owners to ensure the sanitary condition of the toilet is maintained and sufficient supplies of consumables are present within or proximate to the toilet, and the like.

An automated toilet system includes at least one toilet with a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water and a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, a wall, and a structural member. A seat mechanism may be coupled to the seat or wall and configured to raise and to lower the seat. At least one seat position sensor is configured to detect a position of the seat in a raised position and a lowered position. A user detection sensor configured to detect at least one attribute of a user of the automated toilet system. An example of such devices may be found disclosed at U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,955,828; 10,492,650; 10,640,961; 11,064,849; 11,168,470; and U.S. patents application Ser. Nos. 17/374,316 and 17/498,589. The toilet control system may include a processor configured to implement a plurality of computer executable instructions, the processor being communicatively coupled to at least one of the flush valve, flush handle (manual or automatic), the seat mechanism, the at least one seat position sensor, and the user detection sensor. A computer memory is communicatively coupled with the processor and storing the plurality of computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including: at least one of actuating the flush valve and actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat with soft close.

Another embodiment of an automated toilet system includes at least one toilet with a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water and a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, wall or structural member. A user detection sensor configured to detect at least one attribute of a user of the automated toilet system. The system may include a sanitization system. A processor may be configured to implement a plurality of computer executable instructions, the processor being communicatively coupled to at least one of the flush valve, the user detection sensor, and the sanitization system. A computer memory is communicatively coupled with the processor and storing the plurality of computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including: at least one of actuating the flush valve and actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat.

Another embodiment of an automated toilet system includes at least one toilet with a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water and a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, a wall, and a structural member. A seat mechanism may be coupled to the seat and configured to raise and to lower the seat. At least one seat position sensor is configured to detect a position of the seat in a raised position and a lowered position. A user detection sensor configured to detect at least one attribute of a user of the automated toilet system. The system may include a sanitization system. The toilet control system may include a processor configured to implement a plurality of computer executable instructions, the processor being communicatively coupled to at least one of the flush valve, the seat mechanism, the at least one seat position sensor, the user detection sensor, and the sanitization system. A computer memory is communicatively coupled with the processor and storing the plurality of computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including: at least one of actuating the flush valve; actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat, optionally including a soft close lowering option; and actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat.

Any of the forgoing embodiments may include any one or more of the following features in any order and/or combination.

For example, the processor may be communicatively coupled by at least one of a) a wireless connection and b) a wired connection to at least one of the flush valve, the seat mechanism, the at least one seat position sensor, the user detection sensor, and the sanitization system. Optionally, the wireless connection is at least one of a Wi-Fi connection, a Bluetooth® (of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.) connection, an infrared connection, and a near-field connection.

Optionally, the at least one toilet may include a plurality of toilets, such as all of the toilets in a particular bathroom, building, or even a portfolio of buildings managed by the same company or serviced by the same janitorial service.

Optionally, at least one of the processor and the computer memory is remotely located from the toilet bowl. In other words, these computer hardware components may be located proximate or even on the toilet, the toilet seat, the toilet bowl, or these components may be located elsewhere in the bathroom, in a computer or server room, or other location provided they are communicatively coupled with various sensors and/or physical components of the toilet.

At least one database may be communicatively coupled to the processor, the database configured to store at least one datum representative of actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat, actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl, detecting the user, and the position of the seat. The at least one datum may be stored in the database as a function of time. The at least one datum may comprise data.

The automated toilet system may include a voice detection system configured to receive a verbal instruction from the user, the voice detection system being communicatively coupled to the processor. These verbal instructions may include those that cause the processor to raise or lower the toilet seat, flush the toilet, lock a door to the bathroom or the bathroom stall, initiate sanitation, reorder consumable products (toilet paper, seat liners, liquid sanitation, etc.) request cleaning or unblocking a clogged toilet and more.

The automated toilet system may include an application installed on the user's mobile device, the application being communicatively coupled to the processor. The application may provide the ability of the user to record relevant personal data, instruct the processor to take a variety of steps, communicate with or otherwise send a message to the building manager/janitorial staff regarding the condition of the toilet and/or bathroom, including whether service is needed or consumables restocked.

The automated toilet system may include at least one of a toilet height adjustment mechanism and a seat height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a height of at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat, respectively, relative to a floor. The toilet height adjustment mechanism or the seat height adjustment mechanism may be communicatively coupled to the processor, with the processor capable of adjusting at least one of the height of the toilet and the seat relative to the floor either automatically (i.e., as a function of a sensor input) or manually by verbal instructions from a user or instructions input by a user into her application on her mobile device. In addition to seat height adjustment, the seat can be tilted for ADA to help lift the user up and forward to stand up after sitting down. The seat height adjustment mechanism may include one or more of a linear actuator, such as rack and pinion and hydraulic cylinders, levers, cams, gears, and other similar structures.

The automated toilet system of claim may include a bidet with a nozzle fluidly coupled to the source of water. The bidet may include a bidet adjustment mechanism. The bidet may also include at least one bidet position sensor configured to detect a position of the bidet relative to the user, the at least one bidet position sensor and the bidet adjustment mechanism being communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including adjusting the position of the bidet relative to the user.

The automated toilet system may include at least one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the processor, the at least one sensor being configured to detect at least one of a voice; a user's motion; a light (analog/digital), a weight of a user; a discharge from a user; a flow of water into the toilet bowl; a temperature; a proximity of a user relative to the bowl; an infrared (active and passive) source; a pressure; a sound; a touch made by the user; a location of the user relative to the toilet; a smell; a magnetic field; a visual scene; a position of at least one of the toilet and the seat relative to a floor; a laser sensor; a capacitive sensor, a chemical sensor, a camera, a gender identification generated by a facial recognition camera; a pulse sensor; a blood pressure sensor; a passive infrared sensor; a weight sensor; a strain gauge sensor; at least one temperature sensor; and a light sensor.

The sanitization system may include at least one of a) an ultraviolet light source configured to sanitize at least one of the toilet, the toilet bowl, the seat, stall door, bathroom door handle and an area proximate the toilet with ultraviolet radiation and b) a dispenser configured to dispense a cleaning agent at least one of i) into the toilet bowl and ii) onto the seat.

The automated toilet system optionally includes an output device communicatively coupled to the processor, the output device configured to display an indication of an attribute of the toilet. For example, the output device may be a computer terminal, mobile device, monitor, or other similar device configured to receive a message from the automated toilet that indicates whether the toilet needs cleaning/servicing, the number of uses since the last cleaning/servicing, the need to reorder or restock consumables, and other relevant information. Optionally, the information/data may be anonymized if the information/data relates in any capacity to a user. (For example, if the majority of the users are male, processor might signal that the toilet should be cleaned more often, but the identity of a specific user may not be stored or shared.)

The processor may optionally adjust at least one of a volume and a flow velocity of water entering the toilet bowl when the processor actuates the flush valve. The adjusting of the at least one of a volume and a flow velocity of water may be a function of whether a user deposited a solid in the toilet bowl.

The automated toilet system of claim optionally includes a door configured to allow the user to access a space where the toilet is located, such as to the bathroom itself if there is only one toilet or to a stall if it is a multi-toilet bathroom. A lock on the door may be communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to at least one of lock and unlock the lock on the door as a function of a position of the user relative to the door. The automated toilet system optionally includes a door opening mechanism coupled to the door, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to actuate the door opening mechanism to one of open and close the door.

The automated toilet system may include a heater communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the computer executable instructions that, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to actuate the heater to raise a temperature of the seat relative to an ambient temperature based on preset default temperatures or overridden by user specific defaults when coupled from a phone or electronic device to the toilet or toilet seat.

A method of operating an automated toilet optionally includes at least one toilet with a toilet bowl fluidly coupled via a flush valve to a source of water; a seat pivotally coupled to one of the toilet bowl, a wall, and a structural member; a seat mechanism coupled to the seat and configured to raise and to lower the seat; a sanitization system. A processor configured to implement computer executable instructions may be used to perform a variety of steps or instructions, including determining a presence of a user and an orientation of the user relative to a toilet bowl; positioning the seat in one of a raised position and a lowered position as a function of the orientation of the user; actuating the flush valve to adjust at least one of a volume and a flow velocity of water entering the toilet bowl a function of whether a user deposited a solid in the toilet bowl; determining that the user is no longer present proximate the toilet bowl; and, actuating the sanitization system and consumable replenishment of toilet paper, sanitation fluid, seat liners, etc.

The method may include a plurality of toilets.

The method may also include storing at least one datum representative of actuating the seat mechanism to one of raise the seat and lower the seat, actuating the sanitizing system to sanitize at least one of the toilet bowl, detecting the user, and the position of the seat with at least one database communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor may communicate with an application installed on the user's mobile device and/or adjust a height of at least one of the toilet bowl and the seat, respectively, relative to a floor.

The method may include when the at least one toilet further comprises a bidet and at least one bidet position sensor configured to detect a position of the bidet relative to the user, with the processor adjusting the position of the bidet relative to the user.

The method may include when the sanitization system comprises at least one of a) an ultraviolet light source configured to sanitize at least one of the toilet, the toilet bowl, the seat, and an area proximate the toilet with ultraviolet radiation and b) a dispenser configured to dispense a liner or cleaning agent at least one of i) into the toilet bowl and ii) onto the seat.

The method may include an output device communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor instructing the output device to display an indication of an attribute of the toilet as discussed above.

The method further may include a door configured to allow the user to access a space where the toilet is located, and wherein a lock on the door is communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor at least one of locking and unlocking the lock on the door as a function of a position of the user relative to the door as discussed above. The method may include a door opening mechanism coupled to the door, wherein the door opening mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor at least one of actuating the door opening mechanism to one of open and close the door as a function of a position of the user relative to the door as discussed above.

The method may further include a heater communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor actuating the heater to raise a temperature of the seat relative to an ambient temperature.

The method may further include dispensing a scent as a function of whether a user deposited a solid in the toilet bowl.

As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

Various embodiments of the present inventions are set forth in the attached figures and in the Detailed Description as provided herein and as embodied by the claims. It should be understood, however, that this Summary does not contain all of the aspects and embodiments of the one or more present inventions, is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the invention(s) as disclosed herein is/are and will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

Common element numbers represent common features, even if the appearance of a feature varies slightly between the figures.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

The present invention will now be further described. In the following passages, different aspects of the invention are defined in more detail. Each aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect or aspects unless clearly indicated to the contrary. In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature or features indicated as being preferred or advantageous.

As illustrated in, methodsof using an automated toilet systemprovide several features and abilities to enhance a user's experience in an environmentally conscious manner. For example, the automated toilet systemmay reduce the amount of water used through applied smart technology. The smart technology may include one or more of the following elements including, but not limited to: a fully automated, voice controlled, photo identification capable, program or application enabled touchless toilet seat. This toilet seatoffers a safe, sanitary and versatile experience for the user, including those with disabilities, while saving water.

The automated toilet systemmay be capable of responding to voice commands, photo user action identification, user preferences saved within a program or application that communicates with the automated toilet system, and the like to perform one or more of the following actions: raise and/or lower the toilet seat; cool or warm the toilet seat; provide a variety of lighting options for visibility or mood, adjust the height and angle of the toilet seatrelative to the flooror location upon which the automated toiletis positioned, raises or lower a toilet seat cover (if present; not illustrated); clean and/or sanitize at least one of the toilet seat, the toilet bowl, and an areaaround the automated toilet system; activate and/or adjust a bidet; signal to a building manager or a janitorial service the need to restock consumables, such as cleaning supplies, cleaning cartridges, toilet paper, or the need to clean and/or service the automated toiletand/or the surrounding area; lock and unlock a doorto the bathroom or stallwhere the automated toiletis located; actuating an ultraviolet sanitizing light directed towards at least one of the automated toilet, the toilet seat, the toilet bowl, and the areaaround the automated toilet, such, as the bathroom or the stall; and so forth.

The automated toiletmay be equipped with a variety of sensors positioned on or around the automated toilet, the toilet seat, the toilet bowl, and around the toilet system, such as on the walls or stall dividers, floor, and ceiling (not labeled) of the bathroom and/or stallin which the toilet systemis located.

One or more of the sensors may be positioned on or proximate to the toilet seatand/or the toilet bowland configured to detect how the user is oriented relative to the toilet system(standing, sitting, facing towards/away/obliquely to the toilet system); whether the user is discharging a liquid or solid waste; and communicating a signal representative of that datum/data to a processor, which in turn is configured to execute a variety of commands, such as the duration/volume/flow rate of water discharged from a water sourcevia a flush valveinto the toilet bowl. Such a system, for example, may discharge less water in the event liquid waste is discharged into the toilet bowland discharge more water in the event a solid waste is discharged into the toilet bowl.

The sensors may include a microphoneconfigured to receive voice commands or other signals representative of a user's instructions and commands to the toilet flush valve/handle, lighting, lowering or raising the toilet seat, any lock(electrical, electro-mechanical, including magnetic and electro-magnetic locks, solenoid locks, and the like) on the bathroom or stall door, cleaning or sanitizing functions and the like.

Other sensorsmay be those configured to detect or generate a signal of data representative of one or of the following attributes, including detecting a user, determining a user's position relative to the automated toilet system (facing toward/away/obliquely or at an angle to the automated toilet system/offset but parallel to a long axis of the toilet bowl, sitting/standing, or other orientation/position), the user's height and/or weight, anonymized or pattern recognition to determine a user's gender or gender identity, a user's need for accessible facilities, the type of waste (liquid/solid) discharged, the time (date/time of day) and/or duration of use/engagement with the automated toilet system, detection of odors that (suggestive of the efficacy of or the need to dispense deodorants/fresheners/cleaning or sanitization systems and services) and the like.

In addition to sensorsconfigured to detect and/or perform the above noted conditions or functions, an example of the one or more sensors may include: microphones, motion detectors, light (analog/digital) sensors, weight or strain gauge sensors, flow rates sensors (liquid, such as those coupled between the flush valve, water source, and toilet bowl; and air flow sensors to detect and evaluate the rate of air flow in the bathroom/stall), temperature sensors, proximity sensors, infrared (active and passive, including passive infrared receivers/sensors) sensors, pressure sensors (one or both of static pressure and dynamic pressure), touch sensors, location or GPS sensors, position sensors, smell or odor detectors/sensors, visual, camera, or video sensors (television, charge coupled devices, color, black and white, pattern recognition, with or without anonymized data), magnetic sensors, accelerometers to detect the orientation of an item (e.g., the toilet seat) relative to a gravity vector/vertical, laser emitters and receivers, capacitive sensors, chemical sensors, and the like. If the toilet seatis in the down position, it is most likely a solid application. So, an air freshener may discharge a scent will be released when the toilet seatis lowered, possibly with at a time delayed from the toilet seatbeing lowered or at the flush when the lowered toilet seatis raised back to the up position.

The inclusion of these sensors and functionality, as incorporated and utilized by a processorperforming one or more functions as guided by a computer program/computer instructions, may improve the user's experience, reduce disease transmission, preserve water, assist user's that appreciate or use accessibility features, and capture user data and report any damage, clogging or needed replacement consumables (cleaning cartridges, parts, batteries, toilet paper, and the like) for the toilet seat or toilet system.

The processor, with the data provided by the sensor(s), may also notify the toilet owner/building owner/tenant/janitorial service directly or through a program/application installed on a user's mobile device(such as smart phone/cell phone, tablet, computer, or other smart device, such as a smart watch) if the toilet system, toilet seat, toilet bowl, or bathroom stallrequires cleaning and/or servicing.

The automated toilet systemand toilet seatmay include a unique identifier so that data can be captured by location, number of users, amount of water usage, water savings, repairs, issues, etc. The unique identifier may be stored in a computer memory, RFID (radio frequency identification), database, or the like on or proximate the toilet systemor remotely in a computer memory, database, or with the processorcommunicatively coupled to the toilet system. The unique identifier may also be communicated to a computer program or application installed on a user's mobile deviceto facilitate a user-initiated comment or service request associated with the particular toilet system.

Each automated toiletand toilet seatmay be equipped with telecommunication equipment, such as a Wi-Fi or internet capability, whether wired or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth® or other wireless internet) and communicatively coupled to a processor—either directly or via the Internet/cloud computing (not illustrated)-that in turn is communicatively coupled to an input device(remote computer, server, technician's mobile device, such as smart phone, tablet, or computer).

In general, an innumerable number of different architectures, including various combinations of software, hardware, circuit logic, sensors, networks, etc. may be used to implement the various components illustrated in. Each processormay be implemented, for example, as a microprocessor and each memory may represent the random-access memory (“RAM”) devices comprising a main storage, as well as any supplemental levels of memory, e.g., cache memories, non-volatile or backup memories (e.g., programmable or flash memories), read-only memories, etc. In addition, each memorymay be considered to include memory storage physically located elsewhere, e.g., any cache memory in a processor, as well as any storage capacity used as a virtual memory, e.g., as stored on a mass storage device or another computer controller. One or more processorsillustrated in, or entirely separate processors, may be used to implement additional functionality in the automated toilet system.

In addition, for additional storage, the computer memorymay include one or more mass storage devices, e.g., a removable disk drive, a hard disk drive, a direct access storage device (“DASD”), an optical drive (e.g., a CD drive, a DVD drive, etc.), a solid-state storage drive (“SSD”), network attached storage, a storage area network, and/or a tape drive, among others.