Toilet with flush jet fill tube flow meter
US10107665B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2010/0083
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a toilet that includes a liquid level sensor on the surface of a flush jet fill tube. The liquid level sensor is a noncontact electrical impedance sensor that is an electrical capacitor. The capacitor may be used alone or with other volume sensors to detect volume of materials added to a toilet bowl. Some embodiments include a processor which records data and provides reports that may be clinically useful to assess the user's health status. The temporal nature of the liquid level sensor measurements is particularly useful because urination or defecation may be measured over time. Not only are total volumes detected but rates at which waste is deposited into the toilet during the entire excretion event are detected. These measurements are particularly useful in assessing certain health conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.