CA1147503A - Toilet seat and cover operating device - Google Patents
Toilet seat and cover operating deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1147503A CA1147503A CA000370110A CA370110A CA1147503A CA 1147503 A CA1147503 A CA 1147503A CA 000370110 A CA000370110 A CA 000370110A CA 370110 A CA370110 A CA 370110A CA 1147503 A CA1147503 A CA 1147503A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- toilet seat
- float
- operating device
- float means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A device for operating the seat and cover of a flushing toilet having a flushing tank, comprising a pair of floats installed in the flushing tank and capable of ascending and descending in the flushing tank, the floats being operatively connected with the seat and cover so that the seat and cover are raised to an upright position when the floats ascend, and lowered when the floats descend. The device further comprises holding levers adapted to hold the floats submerged in the water in the flushing tank. The holding levers are operable by hand to release the floats thus allowing the floats to buoy up or ascend and consequently raise the seat and cover, which are then lowered when the water in the flushing tank is drained to flush the toilet and the floats descend with the descending water level.
Description
13 4~SO~
The present invention relates to a toilet seat and cover operating dev~ce. I~n particula~ the present invention , relates to a device for operating the seat and coVer of a flushing toilet having a flushing tank, comprising a pair of floats installed in the flushing tank and capable of ascending and descending in the flushin~ tank, the floats being operatively connected with the seat and cover so that the seat and cover are raised to an upright position when the floats ascend, and lowered when the floats descend. The device further comprises holding levers adapted to hQld the ,floats submerged in the water in the flushing tank. The holding levers are operable by hand to release the floats thus allowing the floats to buoy up or ascend and consequently raise the seat and cover, which are then lowered when the water in the flushing tank is drained to flush the toilet and the floats descend with the descending water level.
Conventional flushing toilets are provided with a seat and a cover and a flushi'ng tank. The seat and the cover are hinged to the toilet bowl so that they can be raised upright and lowered as desired. The raising and lowering of the seat or cover are usually performed by hand. A known devices for raising and lowering the toilet seat and cover comprises an electric motor which requires electric power.
According to the present invention there is provided a toilet seat/cover operating device comprising: a) a float means installed in the flushing tank for a toilet bowl, said ~lushing tank provided with a casing, said float means being capable of moving up and down in the flushing tank; b~
connecti,n~ means for operatively connecting said float means to 3Q the seat/~cover of the toilet bowl so as to raise and lQwer the toilet seat~cover in ass~ciation with the upward and downward mo~ements ~f said floats' means; c) hodling means for latching ;;,.
~7503 said float means when said float means moves down to a lower-most position and holding it submerged when said flushing tank is filled with water said holding means being operable to release said float means; and characterized in that the toilet seat/cover is raised upright with the buoyance force produced by said float means when said float means is released from the submerged position and allowed to buoy up through the water in flushing tank.
The present invention thus provides a novel device that operates the toilet seat and coVer in association with the ascending and descending movements of floats installed in the flushing tanks of a toilet without the need of hand operation or electric power means.
~he present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings, in which:
~ig. 1 is a top ~iew of a flushing tank having a first embodiment of the toilet seat and cover operating device of this invention, with the tank cover removed, and partially in section.
Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, cross sectional view of the flushing tank shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a fragmental, perspective view of the rear portlon of a toilet seat and cover having the device of this invention, showing the arrangement of connecting rods.
~ig. 4 is a fragmental, perspective view of the rear portion of a toilet seat and cover having the device of this inyention, showing a modified arrangement of connecting rods.
Fig. 5 is schematic drawing showing the arrangement of the release levers and the flushing lever used in the first embodiment.
~ig. 6 is a schematic~ perspective view of the floats used in this invention.
The present invention relates to a toilet seat and cover operating dev~ce. I~n particula~ the present invention , relates to a device for operating the seat and coVer of a flushing toilet having a flushing tank, comprising a pair of floats installed in the flushing tank and capable of ascending and descending in the flushin~ tank, the floats being operatively connected with the seat and cover so that the seat and cover are raised to an upright position when the floats ascend, and lowered when the floats descend. The device further comprises holding levers adapted to hQld the ,floats submerged in the water in the flushing tank. The holding levers are operable by hand to release the floats thus allowing the floats to buoy up or ascend and consequently raise the seat and cover, which are then lowered when the water in the flushing tank is drained to flush the toilet and the floats descend with the descending water level.
Conventional flushing toilets are provided with a seat and a cover and a flushi'ng tank. The seat and the cover are hinged to the toilet bowl so that they can be raised upright and lowered as desired. The raising and lowering of the seat or cover are usually performed by hand. A known devices for raising and lowering the toilet seat and cover comprises an electric motor which requires electric power.
According to the present invention there is provided a toilet seat/cover operating device comprising: a) a float means installed in the flushing tank for a toilet bowl, said ~lushing tank provided with a casing, said float means being capable of moving up and down in the flushing tank; b~
connecti,n~ means for operatively connecting said float means to 3Q the seat/~cover of the toilet bowl so as to raise and lQwer the toilet seat~cover in ass~ciation with the upward and downward mo~ements ~f said floats' means; c) hodling means for latching ;;,.
~7503 said float means when said float means moves down to a lower-most position and holding it submerged when said flushing tank is filled with water said holding means being operable to release said float means; and characterized in that the toilet seat/cover is raised upright with the buoyance force produced by said float means when said float means is released from the submerged position and allowed to buoy up through the water in flushing tank.
The present invention thus provides a novel device that operates the toilet seat and coVer in association with the ascending and descending movements of floats installed in the flushing tanks of a toilet without the need of hand operation or electric power means.
~he present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings, in which:
~ig. 1 is a top ~iew of a flushing tank having a first embodiment of the toilet seat and cover operating device of this invention, with the tank cover removed, and partially in section.
Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, cross sectional view of the flushing tank shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a fragmental, perspective view of the rear portlon of a toilet seat and cover having the device of this invention, showing the arrangement of connecting rods.
~ig. 4 is a fragmental, perspective view of the rear portion of a toilet seat and cover having the device of this inyention, showing a modified arrangement of connecting rods.
Fig. 5 is schematic drawing showing the arrangement of the release levers and the flushing lever used in the first embodiment.
~ig. 6 is a schematic~ perspective view of the floats used in this invention.
-2-~
11475~)3 Fig. 7 is a perspective yiew of the holding levers.
Fig. 8 is a top view of a flushing tank having a second embodiment of the toilet seat and cover operating device of this inyention, with the tank cover removed, and partially in section.
Fig. 9 is a vertical~ longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the ~lushing tank shown in Fig. 8.
, -2a-~1475~)3 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the latch levers that replace the holding levers.
Figs. 11 through 14 are schematic drawings showing various different ways of the arrangement of the floats and 5. the connecting mechanism.
Fig. 15 is a schematic, fragmental, top view of a third embodiment.
Fig. 16 is a schematic, fragmental, traverse cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment.
10. Fig. 17 is a schematic side view of a fifth embodiment of this invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the first embodiment of this invention comprises a pair of floats 513, 523 each having an 15. extension rod 513A, 523A, shaft 515, 525, levers 514, 524 and connecting rods 517, 527. Shaft 525 is hollow and shaft 515 is rotatably inserted therein with both ends extending beyond both ends of shaft 525. Shaft 525 is rotatably installed on the flushing tank casing 1 in such a manner that one end 20. protrudes outwardly and the other end inwardly through the wall of the casing 1. The ends of each extension rod 513A, 523A are fixedly connected to the inner portion of shafts 515, 525 respectively. The outer ends of shafts 515, 525 are respectively provided with levers 514, 524 fixedly mounted thereon, which 25. are respectively operatively connected to the cover and seat with connecting rods 517 and 527, which will be described in detail later. Floats 513, 523 are thus capable of moving up and down, or ascending and descending around the axis of shafts 515, s2s,thus causing shafts 515, 525 to rotate accordingly.
6~
In Fig. 1, 1 is a flushing tank casing; 2, a water inlet valve; 3 a float for controlling the water inlet valve: 4, a flushing valve 41, an overflow pipe; all of these are of conventional construction.
In a suitable place on casing 1 a bracket 5 is provided as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 and two release levers 51, 52, and a flushing lever 53 are pivotally mounted thereon, in which levers 51, 52 are operatively connected to holding levers 512, 522 with a chain or a flexible cord, and the flushing lever 53, to the flushing valve 4.
Referring to Fig. 3, toilet cover 6 is fixedly mounted on rod 8 which is pivotally supported by brackets 10 on the rear, uppér portion of the toilet bowl T. The lower end of connecting rod 517 is operatively connected to one end of said rod 8 with . ., an arm 21A provided with a counter weight 22A. Toilet seat 7 is provided with two yokes 7A and 7B, yoke 7A is fixedly mounted on sieeve 9 which is passed over rod 8 and is rotatably supported by bracket 10, and yoke 7B is pivotaly mounted on rod 8. The lower end of connecting rod 527 is operatively connected to said sleeve 9 with an arm 21B provided with a counter weight 22B.
Counter weights 22A, 22B may be eliminated if cover 6 and seat 7 are not very heavy, or are provided with resilient urging means such as springs 23 and 24 to offset part of the weight of cover 6 and seat 7 as shown in Fig. 4.
Holding levers 512, 522 are provided in the lower part of the flushing tank and are pivotally mounted to the tank structure.
Each of holding levers 512, 522 as shown in Fig.7,is provided~wlth ~ S 4 ~
~, . . . . ' . _-- 4 ~1~750~
a latch 11 urged by a spring 12, said latch 11 being adapted to latch float 513 or 523 when float 513 or 523 descends to its lower most position. Holding levers 512 an~ 522 are so designed that the end which is connected to release lever 51 or 52 by a chain or a flexible cord is made heavier than the other end which is adapted to hold float 513 or 523 when float ~13 or 523 descends to the lower-most position, so that latch 11 is caused to latch on ton~ue 14A or 14B of float 513 or 523 to be described later~in association of the counter clockwise rotation of lever 0. 512 or 522 when float 513 or 523 descends and hits the end of holding lever 512`Qr~ 522. Said holding levers 512, 522 are mutually coupled by a pair of couplings 13 in such a manner that when holding lever 522 is caused to rotate counter clockwise holding lever 512 is caused to rotate with holding lever 522;
~;5. but when holding lever 512 is caused to rotate counter clockwise, holding lever 512 is not caused to rotate therewith.
Latch 11, being urged by a spring 12, is capable of rotating clockwise with respect to holding lever 512 or 522 to release float 513 or 523, when the force so acting on latch 11 by tongue ~- 14~ or 14B exceeds the force generated by t~e buoyancy of float 513 or 523. This prevents latches lland holding levers 512, 522 ; from being damaged in case the toilet seat or cover is raised by hand without operating the device of this invention.
Floats 513, 523 are provided ~ffsetly arranged with a pair 25. of tongues 14A, 14B of as shown in Fig. 6, so that when they descend to the lower-most position, tongues 14B, 14A come into contact with holding levers 512 or 522 respectively and are latched by the latchs 11, thus holding the floats 513, 523 in the lower-most position.
Float 513 is preferrably arranged on top of float 523 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, This arrangement restricts the relative movements of the two floats 513, 523 in such a manner that float 513 descends with or after float 523, and float 523 ascends with or after float 513, to follow the limitation that toilet seat 7 has to be raised with or after toilet cover 6, and toiiet cover 6 has to be lowered with or after toilet seat 7.
The operation of the first embodiment of the toilet seat -)- and cover operating device of this invention will now be desceibed as follows.
When the toilet is not in use, toilet seat 7 and cover 6 are laid on the top of the toilet bowl and floats 513, 523 are held submerged in the water in the flushing tank by holding 5- levers 512, 522. To use the toilet, release lever 51 is pushed manually. As soon as release lever 51 is pushed down, holding lever 512 is pulled by chain or cord 51A to rotate counter clockw~ise and thus float 513 is released and allowed to buoy up ~- as latch 11 is brought out of engagement with tongue 14A of -~ float 513. The ascending movement of float 513 is then transmitted by shaft 515, lever 514 and connecting road 517 and consequently .
arm21A is pulled to rotate rod 8 on which toilet cover 6 is fixedly mounted, thus raising upright toilet cover 6. Counter weight 22A, or spring 23, acts to minimize the force needed for raising cover 6 and therefore the size of float 513 can be minimized.
The toilet cover can be lowered from the upright position when flushing the toilet after use. To do so, release lever 53 is pushed. Then flushing valve 4 is pulled open and the .
~475C)3 water in the flushing tank is drained and float 513 descends.
As soon as float 513 descends shaft 514 is caused to rotate so as to push toilet cover 6 back to its previous, horizontal position, until it lies on top fo toilet seat 7. When float 513 5. finally reaches Xolding lever 512, it is latched in place by latch 11 of the holding lever 512. Float 513 is thus kept from buoying up after the flushing tank is refilled with water.
Toilet seat 7 can be raised upright by pushing release lever 52. The movement of release lever 52 is then transmitted 10. by chain or cord 52A causing holding lever 522 to rotate so as to disengage tongue 14B of float 523 from latch 11, thus allowing float 523 to buoy up. As soon as float 523 ascends, shaft 525 is rotated to pull connecting rod 527 upwards, and as a result toilet seat 7 is raised upright.
15. Since holding lever 512 is coupled ~ith holding lever 522 by a pair of couplings 13 in such a manner that when holding lever 525 is pulled to rotate counter clockwise holding lever 515 is cause to rotate therewith, therefore when release lever 52 is pushed to release float 523 from being held, float 513 is also simultaneously released. This arrangemet assures the upward movement of toilet seat 7 regardless of whether toilet cover 6 has or has not already been raised.
Toilet seat 7 an~ toilet cover 6 can be lowered from the upright pos~tion by pushing downflu~hin~ lever 53 with which 25. flushing v~lve 4 is opened to drain the water in the flushing tank, and floats 513, 523 simultaneously descend to lower toilet seat 7 and toilet cover 6.
11~7503 Figs. 8 and 9 show a second ernbodiment of this invention.
In this embodiment flushing tank casing 1 is separated into compartment X and compartment Y by a partition 101 having a heigh1: slightly lower than that of overflow pipe 41. In 5. compartment X are accommodated water inlet valve 2, inlet valve control float 3, flushing valve 4 and over flow pipe 41.
In compartment Y are accommodated floats 513, 523 and holding levers 512, 522. Water is supplied from inlet valve 2 and allowed to flow over partiion 101 from compartment X in to 10. compartment Y. An additional flushing valve 4A is provided in compartment Y, said additional flushing valve 4A being operatively connected to an additional flushing lever 53B and flushing lever 53 with chains or cords 53D and 53C respectively.
In this arrangement, water in both compartments X and Y is 15. drained when flushing lever 53 is pushed. When the additional flushing lever 53B is pushed only water''in compartment Y is drained and thus less water is used f,or flushing the toilet.
This provides an option for saving water in flushing a toilet as one may sometimes wish.
,20. The holding levers 512', 522 may be replaced by other suitable means such as the device as shown in Fig. 10. In this arrangement, latch levers 512A, 522A are pivotally mounted in a suitable place on casing 1 for latching levers 5~14, 524 when the floats are in the lower-most position. Latch levers 512A, 522A are 25. coupled to each other by a pair of couplings similar to those (13) used for coupling the holding levers 512, and 522. Latch levers 512A, 522A are each provided with a spring (not shown) so as to urge the latch levers 512A, 522A counterclockwise.
8 __ ~1~751);3 When latch levers 512A, 522A are pushed to rotate clockwise, levers 514, 524 are released and thus floats 513, 523 are allowed to buoy up. This arrangement also eliminates the release levers 51 and 52.
5. It is to be noted that latch levers 512A, 522A are capable of rotating clockwise to release levers 51~, 524 when there is a force acting on latch levers 512A, 522A which is greater than that normally generated by the buoyancy of the floats 513, 523.
The installion of floats 513, 523 can be varied in many ways.
For illustrative purposes, Figs. 11 through 14 show four different ways of installing floats 513, 523 in a flushing tank.
Fig. 11 shows a first modified arrangement of floats 513, 523, wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A extend through an opening W formed on an upper part of the wall of casing 1, and are 15. pivotally mounted at said opening W. The ends of extension rods 513A, 523A extending outwardly are operatively connected to connecting rods 517, 527.
Fig. 12 shows a second modified arrangement of floats 513.523 wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A are pivotally mounted onto a 20. side wall of casing 1,and pivotally connected to levers 514A,524A
with auxiliary connecting rods 518, 528. Said levers 514A, 524A
are pivotally mounted onto an upper part of the side wall of casing 1, having one ends operatively connected to said auxiliary connecting rods, and the other ends operatively connected to 25. connecting rods 517, 527.
Fig. 13 shows a third modified arrangement of floats 513,523, wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A are pivotally mounted onto a side wall of casing 1 with elongated supports 519,529, said extension rods 513A, 523A extending beyond the pivotal mounting 30. point ~nd operatively connected to levers 514A, 524A with __ 9 __ 1~750~
auxiliary connecting rods 518, 528, said levers 514A and 524A
being pivotally mounted onto an upper part of the side wall of casing 1 and operatively connected to connecting rods 517, 527.
5, Fig. 14 shows a fourth modified arrangement of floats 513, 523, wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A are pivotally mounted onto a side wall of casing 1, and operatively connected to connected rods 517, 527, said connecting rods 517, 527 having upper portions so formed to clear the upper part of the 10. side wall of casing 1.
In the arrangements shown in Figs. 11 through 14 the connecting rods 517, 527 are so connected to the toilet seat and cover that the toilet seat and cover are moved up and down in association with up and down movements of floats 15. 513, 523. More specifically, the lower ends of the connecting rods 517, 527 are operatively connected to the opposite ends of the arms 21A. 21B shown in Fig. 3 so that the ascending movement of floats 513, 523 is transmitted to move the toilet seat 7 and cover 6 upright.
20. Fig. 15 shows a third embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment floats 513B, 523B are each placed in the casing 1 with proper guide means Gl, G2. In this arrangement the floats 513B, 523B move up and down straightly instead of pivotting around a pivotal mounting point. The movements of floats 25. 513B,523B are transmitted by extension rods 513C, 523C operatively connected to the cover 6 and seat 7 respectively and separately.
---- 10 --_ ~1475V3 Fig. 16 shows a fourth embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment floats 513B, 523B are each provided with a pair of parallel links L1, L2 pivotally connecting floats 513B, 523B with casing 1. In this arrangement the floats 5. having relativ~ly la~ger dimension in vertical direc~ion c~~n be employed.
Fig. 17 shows a fifth embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment floats 513, 523, levers 514, 524, holding levers 512, 522 and releasing levers 51, 52 are mounted on 10. a separately prepared frame which can be-p~aced on top of a conventi~nal flushing tank. In the drawing, lA is the frame, and lB is a bracket for pivotally supp~rting holding levers 512, 522. With this arrangement, the device of this invention can be prepared as a separate unit and installed 15- on a conventional flushing tank without the need of drilling new holes or modifying the existing flushing tanX. The cover normally provided with a conventional flushing tank can then be put on the top of the frame lA. The conventional flushing lever originally provided with the flushing tank (not shown) 20- can be preserved and lever 53 may not be needed.
The connecting rods 517, 527 can be replaced by other suitable connectin~ means such as chains or flexible cords.
Chains or flexible cords provide the advantage that the toilet seat and cover can be raised by hand without interferring with 25. the device of this invention.
It is to be understood that the device of this invention can be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.
11475~)3 Fig. 7 is a perspective yiew of the holding levers.
Fig. 8 is a top view of a flushing tank having a second embodiment of the toilet seat and cover operating device of this inyention, with the tank cover removed, and partially in section.
Fig. 9 is a vertical~ longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the ~lushing tank shown in Fig. 8.
, -2a-~1475~)3 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the latch levers that replace the holding levers.
Figs. 11 through 14 are schematic drawings showing various different ways of the arrangement of the floats and 5. the connecting mechanism.
Fig. 15 is a schematic, fragmental, top view of a third embodiment.
Fig. 16 is a schematic, fragmental, traverse cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment.
10. Fig. 17 is a schematic side view of a fifth embodiment of this invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the first embodiment of this invention comprises a pair of floats 513, 523 each having an 15. extension rod 513A, 523A, shaft 515, 525, levers 514, 524 and connecting rods 517, 527. Shaft 525 is hollow and shaft 515 is rotatably inserted therein with both ends extending beyond both ends of shaft 525. Shaft 525 is rotatably installed on the flushing tank casing 1 in such a manner that one end 20. protrudes outwardly and the other end inwardly through the wall of the casing 1. The ends of each extension rod 513A, 523A are fixedly connected to the inner portion of shafts 515, 525 respectively. The outer ends of shafts 515, 525 are respectively provided with levers 514, 524 fixedly mounted thereon, which 25. are respectively operatively connected to the cover and seat with connecting rods 517 and 527, which will be described in detail later. Floats 513, 523 are thus capable of moving up and down, or ascending and descending around the axis of shafts 515, s2s,thus causing shafts 515, 525 to rotate accordingly.
6~
In Fig. 1, 1 is a flushing tank casing; 2, a water inlet valve; 3 a float for controlling the water inlet valve: 4, a flushing valve 41, an overflow pipe; all of these are of conventional construction.
In a suitable place on casing 1 a bracket 5 is provided as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 and two release levers 51, 52, and a flushing lever 53 are pivotally mounted thereon, in which levers 51, 52 are operatively connected to holding levers 512, 522 with a chain or a flexible cord, and the flushing lever 53, to the flushing valve 4.
Referring to Fig. 3, toilet cover 6 is fixedly mounted on rod 8 which is pivotally supported by brackets 10 on the rear, uppér portion of the toilet bowl T. The lower end of connecting rod 517 is operatively connected to one end of said rod 8 with . ., an arm 21A provided with a counter weight 22A. Toilet seat 7 is provided with two yokes 7A and 7B, yoke 7A is fixedly mounted on sieeve 9 which is passed over rod 8 and is rotatably supported by bracket 10, and yoke 7B is pivotaly mounted on rod 8. The lower end of connecting rod 527 is operatively connected to said sleeve 9 with an arm 21B provided with a counter weight 22B.
Counter weights 22A, 22B may be eliminated if cover 6 and seat 7 are not very heavy, or are provided with resilient urging means such as springs 23 and 24 to offset part of the weight of cover 6 and seat 7 as shown in Fig. 4.
Holding levers 512, 522 are provided in the lower part of the flushing tank and are pivotally mounted to the tank structure.
Each of holding levers 512, 522 as shown in Fig.7,is provided~wlth ~ S 4 ~
~, . . . . ' . _-- 4 ~1~750~
a latch 11 urged by a spring 12, said latch 11 being adapted to latch float 513 or 523 when float 513 or 523 descends to its lower most position. Holding levers 512 an~ 522 are so designed that the end which is connected to release lever 51 or 52 by a chain or a flexible cord is made heavier than the other end which is adapted to hold float 513 or 523 when float ~13 or 523 descends to the lower-most position, so that latch 11 is caused to latch on ton~ue 14A or 14B of float 513 or 523 to be described later~in association of the counter clockwise rotation of lever 0. 512 or 522 when float 513 or 523 descends and hits the end of holding lever 512`Qr~ 522. Said holding levers 512, 522 are mutually coupled by a pair of couplings 13 in such a manner that when holding lever 522 is caused to rotate counter clockwise holding lever 512 is caused to rotate with holding lever 522;
~;5. but when holding lever 512 is caused to rotate counter clockwise, holding lever 512 is not caused to rotate therewith.
Latch 11, being urged by a spring 12, is capable of rotating clockwise with respect to holding lever 512 or 522 to release float 513 or 523, when the force so acting on latch 11 by tongue ~- 14~ or 14B exceeds the force generated by t~e buoyancy of float 513 or 523. This prevents latches lland holding levers 512, 522 ; from being damaged in case the toilet seat or cover is raised by hand without operating the device of this invention.
Floats 513, 523 are provided ~ffsetly arranged with a pair 25. of tongues 14A, 14B of as shown in Fig. 6, so that when they descend to the lower-most position, tongues 14B, 14A come into contact with holding levers 512 or 522 respectively and are latched by the latchs 11, thus holding the floats 513, 523 in the lower-most position.
Float 513 is preferrably arranged on top of float 523 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, This arrangement restricts the relative movements of the two floats 513, 523 in such a manner that float 513 descends with or after float 523, and float 523 ascends with or after float 513, to follow the limitation that toilet seat 7 has to be raised with or after toilet cover 6, and toiiet cover 6 has to be lowered with or after toilet seat 7.
The operation of the first embodiment of the toilet seat -)- and cover operating device of this invention will now be desceibed as follows.
When the toilet is not in use, toilet seat 7 and cover 6 are laid on the top of the toilet bowl and floats 513, 523 are held submerged in the water in the flushing tank by holding 5- levers 512, 522. To use the toilet, release lever 51 is pushed manually. As soon as release lever 51 is pushed down, holding lever 512 is pulled by chain or cord 51A to rotate counter clockw~ise and thus float 513 is released and allowed to buoy up ~- as latch 11 is brought out of engagement with tongue 14A of -~ float 513. The ascending movement of float 513 is then transmitted by shaft 515, lever 514 and connecting road 517 and consequently .
arm21A is pulled to rotate rod 8 on which toilet cover 6 is fixedly mounted, thus raising upright toilet cover 6. Counter weight 22A, or spring 23, acts to minimize the force needed for raising cover 6 and therefore the size of float 513 can be minimized.
The toilet cover can be lowered from the upright position when flushing the toilet after use. To do so, release lever 53 is pushed. Then flushing valve 4 is pulled open and the .
~475C)3 water in the flushing tank is drained and float 513 descends.
As soon as float 513 descends shaft 514 is caused to rotate so as to push toilet cover 6 back to its previous, horizontal position, until it lies on top fo toilet seat 7. When float 513 5. finally reaches Xolding lever 512, it is latched in place by latch 11 of the holding lever 512. Float 513 is thus kept from buoying up after the flushing tank is refilled with water.
Toilet seat 7 can be raised upright by pushing release lever 52. The movement of release lever 52 is then transmitted 10. by chain or cord 52A causing holding lever 522 to rotate so as to disengage tongue 14B of float 523 from latch 11, thus allowing float 523 to buoy up. As soon as float 523 ascends, shaft 525 is rotated to pull connecting rod 527 upwards, and as a result toilet seat 7 is raised upright.
15. Since holding lever 512 is coupled ~ith holding lever 522 by a pair of couplings 13 in such a manner that when holding lever 525 is pulled to rotate counter clockwise holding lever 515 is cause to rotate therewith, therefore when release lever 52 is pushed to release float 523 from being held, float 513 is also simultaneously released. This arrangemet assures the upward movement of toilet seat 7 regardless of whether toilet cover 6 has or has not already been raised.
Toilet seat 7 an~ toilet cover 6 can be lowered from the upright pos~tion by pushing downflu~hin~ lever 53 with which 25. flushing v~lve 4 is opened to drain the water in the flushing tank, and floats 513, 523 simultaneously descend to lower toilet seat 7 and toilet cover 6.
11~7503 Figs. 8 and 9 show a second ernbodiment of this invention.
In this embodiment flushing tank casing 1 is separated into compartment X and compartment Y by a partition 101 having a heigh1: slightly lower than that of overflow pipe 41. In 5. compartment X are accommodated water inlet valve 2, inlet valve control float 3, flushing valve 4 and over flow pipe 41.
In compartment Y are accommodated floats 513, 523 and holding levers 512, 522. Water is supplied from inlet valve 2 and allowed to flow over partiion 101 from compartment X in to 10. compartment Y. An additional flushing valve 4A is provided in compartment Y, said additional flushing valve 4A being operatively connected to an additional flushing lever 53B and flushing lever 53 with chains or cords 53D and 53C respectively.
In this arrangement, water in both compartments X and Y is 15. drained when flushing lever 53 is pushed. When the additional flushing lever 53B is pushed only water''in compartment Y is drained and thus less water is used f,or flushing the toilet.
This provides an option for saving water in flushing a toilet as one may sometimes wish.
,20. The holding levers 512', 522 may be replaced by other suitable means such as the device as shown in Fig. 10. In this arrangement, latch levers 512A, 522A are pivotally mounted in a suitable place on casing 1 for latching levers 5~14, 524 when the floats are in the lower-most position. Latch levers 512A, 522A are 25. coupled to each other by a pair of couplings similar to those (13) used for coupling the holding levers 512, and 522. Latch levers 512A, 522A are each provided with a spring (not shown) so as to urge the latch levers 512A, 522A counterclockwise.
8 __ ~1~751);3 When latch levers 512A, 522A are pushed to rotate clockwise, levers 514, 524 are released and thus floats 513, 523 are allowed to buoy up. This arrangement also eliminates the release levers 51 and 52.
5. It is to be noted that latch levers 512A, 522A are capable of rotating clockwise to release levers 51~, 524 when there is a force acting on latch levers 512A, 522A which is greater than that normally generated by the buoyancy of the floats 513, 523.
The installion of floats 513, 523 can be varied in many ways.
For illustrative purposes, Figs. 11 through 14 show four different ways of installing floats 513, 523 in a flushing tank.
Fig. 11 shows a first modified arrangement of floats 513, 523, wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A extend through an opening W formed on an upper part of the wall of casing 1, and are 15. pivotally mounted at said opening W. The ends of extension rods 513A, 523A extending outwardly are operatively connected to connecting rods 517, 527.
Fig. 12 shows a second modified arrangement of floats 513.523 wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A are pivotally mounted onto a 20. side wall of casing 1,and pivotally connected to levers 514A,524A
with auxiliary connecting rods 518, 528. Said levers 514A, 524A
are pivotally mounted onto an upper part of the side wall of casing 1, having one ends operatively connected to said auxiliary connecting rods, and the other ends operatively connected to 25. connecting rods 517, 527.
Fig. 13 shows a third modified arrangement of floats 513,523, wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A are pivotally mounted onto a side wall of casing 1 with elongated supports 519,529, said extension rods 513A, 523A extending beyond the pivotal mounting 30. point ~nd operatively connected to levers 514A, 524A with __ 9 __ 1~750~
auxiliary connecting rods 518, 528, said levers 514A and 524A
being pivotally mounted onto an upper part of the side wall of casing 1 and operatively connected to connecting rods 517, 527.
5, Fig. 14 shows a fourth modified arrangement of floats 513, 523, wherein the extension rods 513A, 523A are pivotally mounted onto a side wall of casing 1, and operatively connected to connected rods 517, 527, said connecting rods 517, 527 having upper portions so formed to clear the upper part of the 10. side wall of casing 1.
In the arrangements shown in Figs. 11 through 14 the connecting rods 517, 527 are so connected to the toilet seat and cover that the toilet seat and cover are moved up and down in association with up and down movements of floats 15. 513, 523. More specifically, the lower ends of the connecting rods 517, 527 are operatively connected to the opposite ends of the arms 21A. 21B shown in Fig. 3 so that the ascending movement of floats 513, 523 is transmitted to move the toilet seat 7 and cover 6 upright.
20. Fig. 15 shows a third embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment floats 513B, 523B are each placed in the casing 1 with proper guide means Gl, G2. In this arrangement the floats 513B, 523B move up and down straightly instead of pivotting around a pivotal mounting point. The movements of floats 25. 513B,523B are transmitted by extension rods 513C, 523C operatively connected to the cover 6 and seat 7 respectively and separately.
---- 10 --_ ~1475V3 Fig. 16 shows a fourth embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment floats 513B, 523B are each provided with a pair of parallel links L1, L2 pivotally connecting floats 513B, 523B with casing 1. In this arrangement the floats 5. having relativ~ly la~ger dimension in vertical direc~ion c~~n be employed.
Fig. 17 shows a fifth embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment floats 513, 523, levers 514, 524, holding levers 512, 522 and releasing levers 51, 52 are mounted on 10. a separately prepared frame which can be-p~aced on top of a conventi~nal flushing tank. In the drawing, lA is the frame, and lB is a bracket for pivotally supp~rting holding levers 512, 522. With this arrangement, the device of this invention can be prepared as a separate unit and installed 15- on a conventional flushing tank without the need of drilling new holes or modifying the existing flushing tanX. The cover normally provided with a conventional flushing tank can then be put on the top of the frame lA. The conventional flushing lever originally provided with the flushing tank (not shown) 20- can be preserved and lever 53 may not be needed.
The connecting rods 517, 527 can be replaced by other suitable connectin~ means such as chains or flexible cords.
Chains or flexible cords provide the advantage that the toilet seat and cover can be raised by hand without interferring with 25. the device of this invention.
It is to be understood that the device of this invention can be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (12)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A toilet seat/cover operating device, comprising:
a) a float means installed in the flushing tank for a toilet bowl, said flushing tank provided with a casing, said float means being capable of moving up and down in the flushing tank; .
b) connecting means for operatively connecting said float means to the seat/cover of the toilet bowl so as to raise and lower the toilet seat/cover in association with the upward and downward movements of said floats means;
c) holding means for latching/said float means when said float means moves down to a lowermost position and holding it submerged when said flushing tank is filled with water said holding means being operable to release said float means;
and characterized in that the toilet seat/cover is raised upright with the buoyance force produced by said float means when said float means is released from the submerged position and allowed to buoy up through the water in flushing tank.
a) a float means installed in the flushing tank for a toilet bowl, said flushing tank provided with a casing, said float means being capable of moving up and down in the flushing tank; .
b) connecting means for operatively connecting said float means to the seat/cover of the toilet bowl so as to raise and lower the toilet seat/cover in association with the upward and downward movements of said floats means;
c) holding means for latching/said float means when said float means moves down to a lowermost position and holding it submerged when said flushing tank is filled with water said holding means being operable to release said float means;
and characterized in that the toilet seat/cover is raised upright with the buoyance force produced by said float means when said float means is released from the submerged position and allowed to buoy up through the water in flushing tank.
2. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a connecting member having an upper and lower end, said upper end operatively connected to said float means, said lower end operatively connected to the seat/cover with an arm fixedly connected to the seat/cover with a rod or sleeve means.
3. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 2, wherein said arm is provided with a counterweight.
4. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 2, wherein siad rod or sleeve means is provided with a resilient urging means to partially offset the weight of the toilet seat/cover
5. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float means and holding means are mounted onto the casing of the flushing tank.
6. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float means and holding means are mounted on a frame capable of being placed on top of the casing of the flushing tank.
7. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claims 1, 5 or 6, wherein said float means is accommodated in a compartment separated by a partition in the casing of the flushing tank, said partition having a height slight lower than the height of said overflow pipe, said compartment having a flushing valve.
8. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claims 1, 5 or 6, wherein said float means are guided with guide means adapted to guide said float means in moving up and down.
9. A toilet seat/cover operating device as in claims 1, wherein said float means is provided with an extension rod which is pivotally mounted onto said casing.
10.A toilet seat cover operating device as in claim 6, wherein said float means is provided with an extension rod which is pivotally mounted onto said frame.
11.A toilet seat cover operating device as in claim 1, wherein said float means is provided with two parallel links pivotally connecting siad float means with said casing.
12. A toilet seat cover operating device as in claim 6, wherein said float means is provided with two parallel links pivotally connecting said float means with said frame.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000370110A CA1147503A (en) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-02-04 | Toilet seat and cover operating device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000370110A CA1147503A (en) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-02-04 | Toilet seat and cover operating device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1147503A true CA1147503A (en) | 1983-06-07 |
Family
ID=4119082
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000370110A Expired CA1147503A (en) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-02-04 | Toilet seat and cover operating device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1147503A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-02-04 CA CA000370110A patent/CA1147503A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |