Toilet

Abstract

Toilet unit ( 10 ) is located in a hospital room ( 12 ) and display ( 18 ) indicates whether occupied and if “available for use”. When the person wants to initiate the flush operation to begin, waving a hand in front of a flush-actuation sensor ( 34 ) instructs control unit ( 26 ) to start a sequence of actions including locking seat ( 28 ) and lid ( 26 ) together on the cistern, and simultaneously a delay timer ( 48 ) is initiated, set for a delay of 16 seconds being based on a flush duration of 8 seconds for a 4.5 litre flush and ( 8 ) further seconds for the miasma, generated by the flush, to subside completely. Accordingly, there is effectively or actually no risk of any contaminated or infected liquid or “miasma” water droplets exiting the cistern.

1 . A toilet assembly having means to maintain the assembly enclosed during, and a period thereafter, the flushing operation. 
     
     
         2 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A control unit for the operation of a toilet assembly, the unit comprising means to operate the assembly to maintain the assembly enclosed during, and a period thereafter, the flushing operation. 
     
     
         15 . A control unit for the operation of a toilet assembly, the unit comprising means to operate the assembly to maintain a hinged lid securable for a predetermined period of time during, and extending beyond, the flushing operation. 
     
     
         16 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising a hinged lid securable for a predetermined period of time during, and extending beyond, the flushing operation. 
     
     
         39 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 38  and comprising means to secure the hinged lid in a closed position for a period extending from the start of, to beyond the end of, the flushing operation. 
     
     
         40 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 39  and comprising means to secure the hinged lid in a closed position for release at a predetermined time period after the start of the flushing operation. 
     
     
         41 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly is operable to maintain it enclosed for a period of time extending from the start of the flushing operation and terminating in the range of 5 to 20 seconds after the end of the flushing operation. 
     
     
         42 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the toilet assembly is operable to effect power-off of part or all the assembly during the flushing operation and the specified period thereafter. 
     
     
         43 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising a lock operable to secure closed a lid at the start of the flushing operation and means to release the lid from the lock mode after a time period in the range of 5 to 20 seconds after the end of the flushing operation. 
     
     
         44 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising a turbulence sensor for monitoring of the flushing operation operable to determine the end of the flushing operation. 
     
     
         45 . A toilet assembly according to claim  8  wherein the assembly is operable to terminate the assembly-enclosing or lid-closure/locking in dependence of an output from the turbulence sensor. 
     
     
         46 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising an indicator operable to show when the assembly is enclosed and/or a lid is closed/locked. 
     
     
         47 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising a motion sensor operable to detect the presence of a person in the vicinity of the toilet assembly. 
     
     
         48 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising an indicator operable to show the remaining time before termination of the assembly-enclosing or lid-closure/locking and in dependence of an output from a motion sensor. 
     
     
         49 . A toilet assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a lid and a seat have co-operable surfaces to effect a sealing engagement therebetween and/or with a surface region of the toilet assembly.