US4301558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sanitary unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-06-18
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Granted: 1981-11-24
•
Expires: 2000-06-18
Abstract
Abstract The unit is of the type comprising a vessel which is mounted to be movable between a position of use and a cleaning position. Cleaning means are actuated when the vessel is in its second cleaning position. Programming means co-ordinate the action of means for displacing the vessel and means for actuating the cleaning means in the course of each cycle of operation of the sanitary unit. The programming means comprise detectors for producing signals each of which represents a given situation of the sanitary unit, memory means connected for storing said signals, and relay means connected to the memory means for exciting the control and actuating means.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean C. Decaux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:32
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/10; E03D11/00; E03D11/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S4/00; Y10S4/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A sanitary unit comprising a vessel mounted to be movable between a first position of use and a second position for cleaning, cleaning means for brining into action when the vessel is in said second position, a pipe for discharging dirty water and dejections, control means for controlling the displacement of the vessel between said first position and said second position, actuating means for actuating the cleaning means, programming means for co-ordinating the actions of said control means and said actuating means in the course of each cycle of operation of the sanitary unit, and initiating means which initiate a cleaning cycle associated with said programming means, said programming means comprising a set of detectors for respectively generating signals respectively representing given situations of said sanitary unit and given states of said control means and actuating means, a set of memory means connected for respectively storing said signals during a given period of said cycle of operation and relay means connected to said memory means for exciting said control means and actuating means as a function of a selective excitation of said memory means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A sanitary unit comprising a vessel mounted to be movable between a first position of use and a second position for cleaning, cleaning means for brining into action when the vessel is in said second position, a pipe for discharging dirty water and dejections, control means for controlling the displacement of the vessel between said first position and said second position, actuating means for actuating the cleaning means, programming means for co-ordinating the actions of said control means and said actuating means in the course of each cycle of operation of the sanitary unit, and initiating means which initiate a cleaning cycle associated with said programming means, said programming means comprising a set of detectors for respectively generating signals respectively representing given situations of said sanitary unit and given states of said control means and actuating means, a set of memory means connected for respectively storing said signals during a given period of said cycle of operation and relay means connected to said memory means for exciting said control means and actuating means as a function of a selective excitation of said memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each memory means determines a particular sequence of said cycle of operation, said sequence being initiated by a respective one of said detectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one relay interconnected between each detector and the associated memory means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vessel comprises a lavatory pan and a separate back element each of which are angularly movable between a position of use and a cleaning position, said control means being associated with the pan and with the back element for moving the pan and the back element between a first position of use and a second position for cleaning, the pan and the back element moving in opposite directions, the sanitary unit comprising a detector for each of said positions of the pan and of the back element and relay means for establishing an appropriate succession of movements of said back element and said pan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said programming means further comprise safety means for allowing operation of the cleaning means only after a certain delay after the moment when a user leaves the sanitary unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 5, comprising a compartment for the user of the sanitary unit, a door for opening and closing said compartment, and a detector for detecting the closure of said door and associated with said safety means for initiating said delay.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said cleaning means comprise a brush which is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and is movable between an upper position and a lower position, and an electric motor drivingly connected to the brush, the sanitary unit comprising a detector which detects the return of the vessel to said cleaning position thereof and is associated with the brush to initiate the kinematics of the brush when the vessel returns to said cleaning position thereof, said motor being capable of driving the brush in either direction of rotation, relays for controlling the kinematics of the brush for each movement of the brush and a timing circuit for actuating the last mentioned relays in predetermined operational periods of the motor for both directions of movement of the brush.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the relays controlling the kinematics of said brush are governed by safety means which detect the rotation of the brush, said safety means being capable of precluding given functions of said cleaning means, such as the supply of washing water, by means of a timing circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said programming means comprise toll means which are capable of governing the performance of a cycle of operation by a payment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising manual control means for manually carrying out at least the essential operations of the sanitary unit for servicing and checking purposes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising a grating which is mounted to be movable between a position of use and a raised cleaning position is mechanically connected to said vessel and is placed in front of the latter so as to act as a floor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 11, comprising in association which said grating a detector which is positioned to be actuated when a person is placed on said grating so as to signal the presence of said person in the sanitary unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising a compartment for receiving the user, water spraying systems in the compartment and means for actuating said systems in the course of the cleaning of said vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in the claim 13, wherein at least one of said spraying systems is a handle placed alongside of side of said compartment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising heating means directly incorporated within said vessel so as to accelerate the drying after the cleaning thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sanitary unit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising a compartment for receiving the user, a door for opening and closing said compartment, return means which are associated with the door to bias the door to its closing position, door locking means associated with the door, toll means located outside the unit and a handle placed inside the unit for unlocking the door locking means and allowing the opening of the door.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-23 | 1985-05-25 | 1985-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-23 | 1989-05-25 | 1989-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-23 | 1993-05-25 | 1993-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |