TOILET SEAT SENSOR DEVICE

• US 20080224880A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Valentine
• Original Assignee: David Valentine
• Inventors: Valentine, David
• Application Number:
  US11/685,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A sensor device (6) for a toilet having a seat moveable between a raised position and lowered position is provided. The sensor device (6) includes a housing (8) adapted to be removably coupled to the toilet and a controller (18) disposed within the housing (8). The sensor device (6) further includes a motion sensor (16) in communication with the controller (18) and adapted to activate a first signal when the seat is in either the raised or lowered position and a user is positioned within a first predetermined range of the toilet.

Claims

1. A sensor device for a toilet having a seat moveable between a raised position and lowered position, the sensor device comprising:

(a) a housing adapted to be removably coupled to the toilet;

(b) a controller disposed within the housing; and

(c) a motion sensor in communication with the controller and adapted to activate a first signal when the seat is in one of the raised position and the lowered position and a user is positioned within a first predetermined range of the toilet.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor in communication with the controller and adapted to activate a second signal when the seat is in the raised or lowered position and a user moves out of a second predetermined range of the toilet.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a notification device for producing a first notification in response to the first signal when the seat is in the raised position.

4. The sensor device of claim 3, wherein the notification device further produces a second notification in response to the second signal when the seat is in the raised position.

5. The sensor device of claim 3, wherein the first notification is stopped when the seat is moved into the lowered position.

6. The sensor device of claim 3, wherein the first notification is stopped when the user moves out of the first predetermined range.

7. The sensor device of claim 3, wherein the first notification is stopped after a predetermined amount of time.

8. The sensor device of claim 4, wherein the second notification is stopped when either the seat is moved into the lowered position or after a predetermined period of time.

9. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor in communication with the controller and adapted to activate a third signal when the seat is moved into one of the raised position and the lowered position.

10. A sensor device for a toilet having a seat moveable between a raised position and lowered position, the sensor device comprising:

(a) a housing adapted to be removably coupled to the toilet;

(b) a controller disposed within the housing;

(c) a motion sensor in communication with the controller and adapted to activate a first signal when the seat is in one of the raised position and the lowered position and a user is positioned within a first predetermined range of the toilet;

(d) a proximity sensor in communication with the controller and adapted to activate a second signal when the seat is in the raised or lowered position and a user moves out of a second predetermined range of the toilet; and

(e) a notification device in communication with the controller for producing a first notification in response to the first signal when the seat is in the raised position and a second notification in response to the second signal when the seat is in the raised position.

11. The sensor device of claim 10, further comprising a position sensor in communication with the controller and adapted to activate a third signal when the seat is moved into either the raised or lowered position.

12. The sensor device of claim 10, wherein the first notification is stopped when the seat is moved into the lowered position, after a predetermined amount of time, or when the user moves out of the first predetermined range.

13. The sensor device of claim 10, wherein the second notification is stopped when either the seat is moved into the lowered position or after a predetermined amount of time.

14. A method of providing warnings to users of a toilet, wherein the toilet includes a seat that is moveable between a raised position and lowered position, the method comprising:

(a) activating a first signal when the seat is in the raised or lowered position and a user moves into a first predetermined range of the toilet;

(b) producing a first notification in response to the first signal;

(c) activating a second signal when the seat is in the raised or lowered position and a user moves out of a second predetermined range of the toilet; and

(d) producing a second notification in response to the second signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating a third signal when the seat is moved into the raised or lowered position.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising stopping the first notification when the seat is moved into the lowered position

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising stopping the first notification after a predetermined amount of time.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising stopping the first notification when the user moves out of the first predetermined range.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising stopping the second notification when either the seat is moved into the lowered position or after a predetermined amount of time.