Startup tackles ups, downs of toilet seats with touchless technology

Cleana Inc., a Boston-based hardware technology startup, aims to blow the lid off touchless toilet seat technology with two new products that automatically raise and lower without batteries or electricity.

The polypropylene toilet seats have a novel hinge mechanism comprising plastic pieces that automatically lifts in public places (Cleana Seat) or automatically goes down in personal spaces (Cleana Home).

The patent-pending hinge mechanism improves hygiene and ease of use, according to Cleana founders, who point to product testing done at universities, the YMCA and hundreds of households.

In unisex and men's rooms in commercial facilities, Cleana Seat goes up by itself between uses. The guest enters the stall and uses it in that position or presses an antimicrobial handle to lower the seat, which is held down by the patented mechanism before and after use.

When finished, the seat automatically resets to the upright position, which protects it from future messes.

Cleana founders say the commercial product is 88 percent cleaner than standard seats, which saves on labor, seat covers and chemical usage while improving sanitation and customer perception.

In residential settings, Cleana Home ends disputes between domestic partners about what position the seat should be left. The product leaves the seat and lid in the down position, which is considered a courtesy to women and more hygienic for everyone in terms of trapping in germs during flushing.

Cleana's patent-pending hinge mechanism sets it apart from the competition, according to co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Max Pounanov, a Boston native and a senior at Boston University.

"Our toilet seat includes a novel mechanism in its hinge [composed] of several plastic pieces, many of which had different material requirements to that of the external seat and housing. These components needed to be much smaller and more delicate than the seat's other components and needed to undergo constant strain without bending or fracturing. We found that [acetal] was the perfect material, having low friction, high stiffness and great dimensional stability to make sure the product achieves our design life cycles."

The Cleana team said it has overcome a significant industry challenge by engineering a solution that does not rely on batteries or powered motors, making the seats affordable and easy to maintain.

The Cleana toilet seats will cost about $95, compared with $30-$70 for standard-closing seats, and $1,200 or more for those with touchscreen remotes and other features.

In addition to acetal components, the Cleana seats are made with polypropylene that has a slightly higher wall thickness and increased internal ribbing for strength and rigidity against daily use.

"It was challenging molding polypropylene at a such high wall thickness as it's a material that has a relatively high shrink rate, which we found can cause sink marks if not designed properly," Pounanov said. "In order to achieve the desired surface polish and reduce the effect of this sinkage, we had to design a toilet seat and mold that put the cooling channels, gates and ejector pins in the right locations such that it minimized the aesthetic and structural impact of shrinkage."

The Cleana founders said they have raised capital from a variety of partners, including executives from the Boston Bruins; Boston Beer Co., which makes Sam Adams, Angry Orchard, Truly and Twisted Tea; and the International Sanitary Supply Association.

The startup is taking online pre-orders for both of its seats and will deliver them later this year.

The seats are being manufactured with partners in Asia and California, according to Cleana CEO and co-founder Kevin Tang.

"They have decades of experience molding large plastic pieces and have worked with brands like GoPro, Fitbit and Peloton," Tang said in an email.

Tang and the third co-founder, Andy Chang, are graduates of the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. The trio met through innovation-centered events hosted by BU's BUild Lab IDG Capital Student Innovation Center and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Entrepreneurship Center.

The Cleana founders said they discovered a shared interest in addressing overlooked issues in everyday life. Their toilet seat innovation won first place in Boston University's New Venture Competition and second place in the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge.

Also, Tang made the Boston list of up-and-coming business leaders: BostInno's 25 under 25.

"We're so grateful for the recognition and support we've received so far, and we're excited to see the positive impact our technology will have on the humble toilet seat," Tang said.