Toilet device with system for inspecting health conditions

• US 5,111,539 A
• Filed: 08/27/1990
• Issued: 05/12/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toto Limited
• Original Assignee: Toto Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Toshio, Yamasaki, Hironori, Shigematsu, Toshifumi, Uchimura, Yoshinobu, Hiruta, Yoshiki, Tsukamura, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US07/573,645
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 4/314, 4/661, 4/420, 4/443, 4/318, 4/301, 4/444, 128/677, 128/760, 128/771, 128/632, 128/736, 73/864.81-864.85
• US Class Current: 4/661
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0261 using hydrostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02241 of small dimensions, e.g. adapted to fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/00 Other component parts of water-closets pipe-joints or couplings in general F16L , e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system noise-reducing means in combination with flushing valves E03D9/14, flushing pipes mounted in the bowl, seals for the bowl outlet, devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents; devices forming a water seal in the bowl after flushing, devices eliminating obstructions in the bowl outlet or preventing backflow of water and excrements from the waterpipe
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/493 urine
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper

Abstract

A toilet device with a system for inspecting the health condition of the toilet user includes a toilet having a bowl surface with a urine reservoir for holding a urine sample, a box having at least a water tank disposed rearwardly and upwardly of the toilet, the box having an outlet opening in a bottom thereof, a slider for holding a urine test paper piece, the slider being movable from within the box toward the urine reservoir to immerse the urine test paper piece in the urine sample in the urine reservoir, a urine analyzing device disposed in the box, for analyzing constituents of the urine sample attached to the urine test paper piece, a lifting and lowering mechanism for reciprocally lifting and lowering the slider through the outlet opening along a substantially vertical inclined path between the urine analyzing device and the urine reservoir, and a display panel for controlling the lifting and lowering mechanism and the urine analyzing device and for displaying results of a urine analysis effected by the urine analyzing device.

Claims

1. A toilet device comprising:

a toilet having a bowl surface and a urine reservoir composite with said bowl surface and isolated therein for holding a urine sample;

a housing having at least a water tank disposed rearwardly and upwardly of said toilet, said housing having an outlet opening in a bottom thereof;

a slider mounted within said housing for holding a urine test paper piece, said slider being movable from within said housing toward said urine reservoir to immerse the urine test paper piece in the urine sample in said urine reservoir;

a urine analyzing device disposed in said housing, for analyzing constituents of the urine sample based on said urine test paper piece which has been immersed in the urine sample;

a lifting and lowering mechanism disposed in said housing for reciprocally lifting and lowering said slider through said outlet opening along a substantially vertical inclined path between said urine analyzing device and said urine reservoir; and

a display panel associated with said toilet device for controlling said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device and for displaying results of a urine analysis effected by said urine analyzing device.

2. A toilet device according to claim 1, wherein said lifting and lowering mechanism comprises means for lowering said slider to discard the analyzed urine test paper piece into said urine reservoir after a urine analysis effected by said urine analyzing device, said toilet device further comprising a seat sensor for detecting when the user of the toilet is seated on a seat of said toilet and producing a seat signal indicative of the seating of the user, a washing sensor for detecting when said bowl surface is washed in response to a manual washing command from the user and producing a washing signal indicative of the washing of the bowl surface, washing water supply means connected to said water tank for supplying washing water to said bowl surface, urine analysis control means connected to said urine analyzing device and said lifting and lowering mechanism, for producing a discard signal indicating that the urine test paper piece after the urine analysis is discarded into said urine reservoir, and washing control means responsive to said seat signal, said washing signal, and said discard signal for actuating said washing water supply means to supply washing water to said bowl surface if the washing signal is produced while said seat signal is being produced and if said discard signal is produced after said seat signal is removed.

3. A toilet device according to claim 1, further including cover means for substantially covering said slider.

4. A toilet device according to claim 3, wherein said cover means is extensible and contractable as said slider is lifted and lowered through said outlet opening.

5. A toilet device according to claim 3, wherein said cover means comprises a cover member and washing means for washing a downwardly extending outer surface of the cover member.

6. A toilet device according to claim 1, wherein said lifting and lowering mechanism includes a rail for moving said slider therealong from said outlet opening toward said urine reservoir, said rail extending at least from said urine analyzing device to said outlet opening.

7. A toilet device according to claim 6, further including a shutter mechanism for opening and closing said outlet opening in response to lifted and lowered movement of said slider.

8. A toilet device according to claim 6, further including a base plate fixed to said toilet and supporting a plurality of vertical bolts, said lifting and lowering mechanism comprising a frame disposed in said housing and supporting said rail, said frame having a bottom plate mounted on said base plate, said bottom plate having bolt insertion holes aligned with said bolts, respectively, and having a size larger than the diameter of said bolts, said bolts being inserted through said bolt insertion holes, respectively, said bottom plate being adjustably fastened above said base plate by nuts threaded over said bolts above and below the bottom plate, whereby said rail can be positionally adjusted with respect to the location of said urine reservoir.

9. A toilet device according to claim 1, wherein said urine test paper piece has on a surface thereof reagent regions for reacting with the urine sample, said slider having a holder mounted on a lower end thereof, for holding the urine test paper piece which is inserted into said box through an openable and closable lid on said box when said slider is positioned above said urine analyzing device by said lifting and lowering mechanism.

10. A toilet device according to claim 9, wherein said holder has a lever mechanism which can be brought into different angular positions when engaged by the face and back, respectively, of the urine test paper piece held by said holder.

11. A toilet device according to claim 10, wherein said urine test paper piece is laterally asymmetric in shape, said lever mechanism comprising two levers which can engage lateral sides, respectively, of said urine test paper piece.

12. A toilet device according to claim 9, wherein said display panel includes an instructive panel area for controlling said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device, said instructive panel area including a first instructive message for instructing the user of the toilet to insert a new urine test paper piece into said holder, a second instructive message for instructing the user to urinate, a third instructive message for instructing said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device to start a urine analysis after urination, symbol indications associated with said first and second instructive messages, respectively, and giving visual images of the first and second instructive messages, and a switch associated with said third instructive message for initiating operation of said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device.

13. A toilet device according to claim 12, wherein said display panel also has a display panel area adjacent to said instructive panel area and light-emitting means for applying light to a reverse side of said display panel area, said display panel area bearing a plurality of marks indicative of steps of health data and substantial quantitative values corresponding to and associated with said marks, respectively, said light-emitting means being energizable to apply light to one of said marks and a corresponding one of said quantitative values which corresponds to the result of the urine analysis which is effected according to said third instructive message.

14. A toilet device according to claim 13, wherein said steps of health data in said display panel area are differently colored.

15. A toilet device according to claim 9, further including light-emitting means for applying a light to a region of said bowl surface which is impinged by urine voided by the user of the toilet, light-detecting means for detecting light reflected from said region of the bow surface, and a urination detecting mechanism for detecting urination of the user based on irregularly reflected light from surface irregularities produced on said region of the bowl surface due to the urination of the user.

16. A toilet device according to claim 15, wherein said urination detecting mechanism comprises means for actuating said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device after detecting the urination, thereby effecting a urine analysis.

17. A toilet device according to claim 16, wherein said urination detecting mechanism comprises means for actuating said lifting and lowering mechanism to lower said slider after the urine analysis, and causing said holder to discard the analyzed urine test paper piece into said urine reservoir.

18. A toilet device according to claim 1, further including blood pressure measuring means for measuring at least the blood pressure of the user of the toilet and displaying the measured blood pressure on said display panel.

19. A toilet device according to claim 18, wherein said blood pressure measuring means comprises a hand rest having a cuff for receiving a finger of the user seated on said toilet, and a control box disposed alongside of said toilet, for measuring the blood pressure of the user through said cuff, said hand rest being positioned on an upper surface of said control box, said cuff being angularly movable with respect to said hand rest.

20. A toilet device according to claim 19, wherein said control box has a cylinder unit for lifting said cuff, which receives the finger of the user seated on said toilet, to the same height as the heart of the user.

21. A toilet device according to claim 19, wherein said blood pressure measuring means comprises means for correcting the blood pressure directly measured through said cuff with a height difference between said cuff and the heart of the user, and for displaying the corrected blood pressure on said display panel.

22. A toilet device according to claim 19, further including a bathroom in which said toilet is installed, said bathroom having a side wall, said display panel being mounted on said side wall and having an optical data transmitter and receiver unit for transmitting and receiving data relative to control and display functions of said display panel, said control box having an optical data transmitter and receiver unit for transmitting and receiving data relative to said lifting and lowering mechanism, said urine analyzing device, and said blood pressure measuring means, said display panel and said control box being connected to each other by an optical communication link through said transmitter and receiver units.

23. A toilet device according to claim 1, further including a mutual operation deterring mechanism which comprises:

a washing mechanism for washing said bowl surface, said washing mechanism including a local region washer movable into and out of a bowl of said toilet, for washing a local body region of the user of the toilet;

washing instructing means for producing a washing instruction signal;

urine analysis instructing means for producing a urine analysis instruction signal;

washing control means responsive to the washing instruction signal from said washing instructing means, for producing an operation signal and actuating said washing mechanism to effect a washing process;

urine analysis control means responsive to the urine analysis instruction signal from said urine analysis instructing means, for producing an operation signal and actuating said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device to analyze the urine sample;

washing inhibition instructing means responsive to the operation signal from said urine analysis control means, for producing a washing inhibition signal to enable said washing control means to inhibit washing processes effected by said washing mechanism while said operation signal from said urine analysis control means is being applied; and

urine analysis inhibition instructing means responsive to the operation signal from said washing control means, for producing a urine analysis inhibition signal to enable said urine analysis control means to inhibit a urine analysis effected by said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device while said operation signal from said washing control means is being applied.

24. A toilet device according to claim 1, further including a seat loosely hinged to said housing and swingably movable onto and away from a rim of said toilet, and a body weight detector disposed between said seat and said rim.

25. A toilet device according to claim 24, wherein said body weight detector is embedded in a lower surface of said seat, said seat being loosely hinged to said housing by a member having a vertical oblong hole and a shaft engaging in said oblong hole.

26. A toilet device according to claim 1, further including a body weight detecting mechanism comprising:

a first seat member hinged to said housing and swingably movable onto and away from a rim of said toilet;

a second seat member mounted on said first seat member; and

a body weight detector disposed between said first and second seat members and holding said first and second seat members in engagement with each other.

27. A toilet device according to claim 26, wherein said body weight detector projects from a lower surface of said second seat member, and said first seat member has in an upper surface thereof a recess in which said projecting body weight detector is fitted.

28. A toilet device comprising:

a toilet having a bowl surface and a urine reservoir composite with said bowl surface and isolated therein for holding a urine sample, said urine reservoir having a transparent body;

slider means connected to said toilet and movable toward said urine reservoir, for effecting a process related to a urine analysis, using the urine sample in said urine reservoir, said slider means including reagent dropping means for dropping reagents, which cause the urine sample to develop different colors depending on proportions of constituents of the urine sample, into said urine reservoir;

a urine analyzing device connected to said toilet for effecting the urine analysis of the urine sample in relation to said process, said urine analyzing device including a light-emitting element and a light-detecting element which are disposed below said transparent body;

sliding means connected to said toilet for reciprocally moving said slider means toward said urine reservoir; and

display means associated with said toilet device for controlling said sliding means and said urine analyzing device and for displaying results of the urine analysis effected by said urine analyzing device.

29. A toilet device according to claim 28, wherein said urine reservoir has as many recesses as the number of the constituents of the urine sample which are to be analyzed, and said reagent dropping means having as many dropping nozzles as the number of the constituents, for dropping respective different reagents into said recesses, respectively.

30. A toilet device comprising:

a toilet having a bowl surface and a urine reservoir composite with said bowl surface and isolated therein for holding a urine sample;

a housing having at least a water tank disposed rearwardly and upwardly of said toilet, said housing having an outlet opening in a bottom thereof;

a slider mounted within said housing for holding a urine test paper piece, said slider being movable from within said housing toward said urine reservoir to immerse the urine test paper piece in the urine sample in said urine reservoir;

a urine analyzing device disposed in said housing for analyzing constituents of the urine sample based on said urine test paper piece which has been immersed in the urine sample; and

a lifting and lowering mechanism disposed in said housing for reciprocally lifting and lowering said slider through said outlet opening along a substantially vertical inclined path between said urine analyzing device and said urine reservoir.

31. A toilet device according to claim 30, wherein said lifting and lowering mechanism includes a guide rail for moving said slider therealong from said outlet opening toward said urine reservoir, said rail extending at least from said urine analyzing device to said outlet opening.

32. A toilet device according to claim 30, further including a display panel associated with said toilet device for controlling said lifting and lowering mechanism and said urine analyzing device and for displaying results of a urine analysis effected by said urine analyzing device.

33. A toilet device according to claim 32, further including a blood pressure measuring means and a bathroom in which said toilet is installed, said bathroom having a side wall, said display panel being mounted on said side wall and having an optical data transmitter and receiver unit for transmitting and receiving data relative to control and display functions of said display panel, said housing having an optical data transmitter and receiver unit for transmitting and receiving data relative to said lifting and lowering mechanism, said urine analyzing device, and said blood pressure measuring means, said display panel and said housing being connected to each other by an optical communication link through said transmitter and receiver units.

34. A toilet device comprising:

a toilet having a bowl surface and a urine reservoir composite with said bowl surface and isolated therein for holding a urine sample;

a housing having at least a water tank disposed rearwardly and upwardly of said toilet, said housing having an outlet opening in a bottom thereof;

slider means disposed in said housing and movable from said housing toward said urine reservoir, for effecting a process related to a urine analysis, using the urine sample in said urine reservoir, said slider means including holder means for holding a urine test paper piece which develops colors depending on constituents of the urine sample;

a urine analyzing device disposed in said housing for effecting the urine analysis of the urine sample in relation to said process, said urine analyzing means including means for optically analyzing the urine test paper piece held by said holder means;

sliding means disposed in said housing for reciprocally moving said slider means from said urine analyzing device toward said urine reservoir so as to lift and lower said slider means along a substantially vertical inclined path between said urine analyzing device in said housing and said reservoir; and

means and said urine analyzing device and for displaying results of the urine analysis effected by said urine analyzing device.

35. A toilet device according to claim 34, wherein said holder means comprises means for dropping the urine test paper piece with the urine sample analyzed into said urine reservoir, after said holder means and said slider means are lowered toward said urine reservoir by said lifting and lowering mechanism.