EP3410911B1

EP3410911B1 - Attachment mechanism for toilet seat/lid and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: EP3410911B1
Application number: EP16804856.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul Delaney
Original assignee: Kass Bathroom Products Ltd
Current assignee: KASS BATHROOM PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-26
Filing date: 2016-11-23
Publication date: 2023-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-23
Also published as: EP3410911A1; WO2017089793A1

Description

This invention relates to an attachment mechanism for a toilet seat/lid arrangement and a method of using the same.
Conventionally, a toilet seat and/or toilet lid are attached to a toilet pan using one or more bolts that are inserted through apertures defined on an upper surface of the toilet pan adjacent a rear edge or cistern thereof. One or more washers and nuts are used to secure the one or more bolts to the toilet pan on a lower surface of the toilet pan. It is often the case that a decorative location disk is provided on the upper surface of the toilet pan for association with each aperture. The decorative location disk includes an aperture therethough and a user typically has to align the bolt with the decorative location disk and the aperture on the toilet pan prior to securing the bolt with the washer and nut from the underside surface of the toilet pan. This process can be fiddly and time consuming for a user to undertake. It can also be difficult for a user to access the underside surface of the toilet pan, particularly if the toilet is located in a confined space. In addition, since there are a number of components used in the attachment of the toilet seat/lid to the toilet pan, and each of these components may have screw threads or non-planar surfaces and the like associated with the same, these components can be difficult to keep clean. This is undesirable for a toilet where maintenance of hygiene is important.
Document WO 90/15565 A1 discloses a connector rotatably joining the toilet seat/cover and permits rapid attachment to a toilet bowl or other covered device without the use of tools and without leaving securing members on the toilet bowl or other container, whereby the closing of clamping components in the existing screw-holes in the toilet bowl or, according to a second embodiment, atmospheric pressure by means of suction cups to which a similar securing mechanism is connected holds the toilet seat/cover to the edge of the toilet bowl. Further document DE 20 2013 102982 U1 discloses an equipment series characterized in that an instant mounting fastener is provided and the fastener and can be matched to and used for all items of equipment, e.g. in the bathroom, kitchen, WC etc. whereby the fastener could comprise a suction cup and the suction cup could build up the vacuum effect via an integrated pump.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention as defined in claim 1, to provide an attachment mechanism which overcomes the abovementioned problems.
The invention further comprises a method claim 8 defining steps for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet pan. In the appended claims preferred embodiments of the invention are defined.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an attachment mechanism for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet pan, the attachment mechanism comprising: a body portion having engagement means for engaging part of a toilet seat; attachment means for attaching the body portion to the toilet pan, wherein the attachment means comprises a suction cup having a suction cavity; and an actuation mechanism to allow the suction cup to be moved between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position; wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a pump and the pump has a conduit that connects with the suction cup to allow fluid to be removed from the suction cavity of the suction cup; wherein the actuation mechanism is provided in or associated with the engagement means of the attachment mechanism, such the movement of the engagement means actuates movement of the actuation mechanism.
Thus, the present invention uses vacuum/suction means for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet pan in use. This has the advantage that no apertures are required to be formed in the toilet pan for the location of toilet seat/lid attachment bolts as is conventionally required. This simplifies the tooling required for manufacturing the toilet pan and improves the aesthetic appearance of the resulting toilet. The toilet seat can be fitted and/or removed by a user entirely from an upper surface of the toilet pan and so the problem associated with the prior art of gaining access to the underside surface of the toilet pan for securing/releasing attachment of the toilet seat is removed. The process of fitting and/or removing the toilet seat with respect to the toilet pan is significantly simplified, no special tools or user skill is required, and the time for undertaking the fitting/removing process is significantly reduced. There are no, or at least a reduced number, of exposed non-planar attachment parts to be kept clean in use, thereby making the resulting toilet arrangement easier to clean. In addition, the toilet seat can be positioned wherever the user wishes on an upper surface of the toilet pan and the positioning is not limited to the location of toilet seat attachment apertures, as is conventionally the case with prior art toilets. The attachment mechanism therefore offers a universal fit, irrespective of the design, shape and/or dimensions of the toilet pan and/or toilet seat.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figures 1a and 1b show a perspective view and a cross sectional view of a toilet seat attachment mechanism not according to the present invention respectively;
Figures 2a-2b show a perspective view, a plan view from above and a front view of a toilet seat attachment mechanism not according to the present invention respectively;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a toilet with the attachment mechanism being located on the same in use;
Figures 4a-4e show a side view, end view, top plan view, perspective view from below, and a perspective view from the top of an attachment mechanism respectively according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 5a and 5b show an exploded perspective view and an exploded side view of the attachment mechanism respectively in Figures 4a-4e;
Figures 6a and 6b show a perspective view of part of the attachment mechanism in figures 4a-4e when the toilet seat lid is in a fully open position and a fully closed position respectively;
Figures 7a and 7b show a side view of part of the attachment mechanism in figures 4a-4e when the toilet seat lid is in a fully closed position and a fully open position respectively; and
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a toilet seat and lid arrangement including the attachment mechanism of figures 4a-4e.

Referring firstly to figures 1a and 1b, there is illustrated a toilet seat attachment mechanism 2 comprising an elongate body portion 4 having a top surface 6, a base surface 8, end walls 10, 12 and front and rear side walls 14, 16 respectively.
Engagement means 18 are provided to allow engagement of a toilet seat (not shown) to the same in use. The engagement means can take any suitable form to allow a toilet seat to be pivotably or hingedly connected to the attachment mechanism 2.
Vacuum or suction means in the form of two suction cups 20, 22 are located on base surface 8 adjacent end walls 10 and 12. The inner surface 24 of the suction cups 20, 22 that faces towards the surface to which the mechanism 2 is to be attached to in use is curved, as shown by dotted line 26. The suction cups 20, 22 are formed from a resilient flexible material.
User actuation means 28 are associated with each suction cup 20, 22 to allow the suction cups 20, 22 to be moved between an engaged position, wherein the inner surface 24 is moved towards the surface to which the mechanism 2 is to be attached to in use, so that the inner surface 24 forms a relatively planar or substantially horizontal position; and a disengaged position, wherein the inner surface 24 is moved away from the surface to which the mechanism 2 has been attached to and forms a relatively curved or non-planar position.
The user actuation means 28 includes an operating lever 30 which is pivotably connected to one end of an actuating arm 32 at a pivot point 34. Resilient biasing means in the form of a spring 36 is associated with each actuating arm 32. The other end 38 of the actuating arm 32 is attached centrally to the outer surface of the suction cup 20, 22.
Operating lever 30 protrudes outwardly and upwardly from top surface 6 of the attachment mechanism 2 in this example to allow easy access by a user.
In use, a user places the attachment mechanism 2 on an upper surface 40 of a toilet pan 42 towards a rear wall or cistern 44 thereof at a location where they would like a rear edge of a toilet seat 46 to be located in use. The user actuation means 28 are typically in a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, a longitudinal axis of the operating lever 30 is vertical or substantially vertical and/or is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the top surface 6 of the attachment mechanism body portion 4. The inner surface 24 of the suction cups 20, 22 is in a relatively curved position with a cavity 39 defined between the inner surface 24 of the cup and the toilet pan surface 40 on which the attachment mechanism is located.
With the attachment mechanism in the user selected required position, a user grips each operating lever 30 and pivots the levers 30 outwardly (or inwardly) of each other towards the top surface 6 of the attachment mechanism body portion 4. This brings the operating levers 30 to an engaged position, wherein a longitudinal axis of the levers is substantially parallel, parallel, horizontal or substantially horizontal with respect to the top surface 6. The user has to apply sufficient force in moving the operating lever 30 from the disengaged position to the engaged position to overcome the biasing force of spring 36. During this movement, the inner surface 24 of the suction cup 20, 22 is moved towards the upper surface 40 of toilet pan 42. This movement forces the air contained in the cavity 39 outwardly of the peripheral rim of the suction cup to form a partial vacuum, such that the air pressure on the outer wall of the suction cup 20, 22 is greater than the air pressure on the inner wall of the suction cup. This pressure differential secures the suction cups, and therefore the attachment mechanism 2 and toilet seat 44, to the upper surface 40 of the toilet pan 42.
If a user requires removal of the toilet seat, such as for cleaning purposes, replacement and/or repair, a user simply moves the operating levers 30 from the engaged position, to the disengaged position, thereby pulling the inner surface 24 of the suction cup away from the upper surface 40 of the toilet pan and allowing air at atmospheric pressure to enter the cavity now formed (or enlarged) adjacent the inner surface 24 of the suction cup.
The suction cups can be covered by the body portion or cover means so as to hide the same from view from a user when the attachment mechanism 2 is viewed externally when in an engaged position.
Referring to figures 2a-2c, there is illustrated a further embodiment of an attachment mechanism 100 not according to the present invention. The same features are referred to by the same reference numerals used in the embodiment shown in figures 1a-1b.
Whereas the embodiment shown in figures 1a-1b required a toilet pan to be formed where no existing toilet seat attachment apertures are provided on the upper surface 40 of the toilet pan 42, any toilet seat attachment apertures provided are covered up using cover means, or the spacing between the suction cups 20, 22 to be such that they do not overlap with any toilet seat attachment apertures that would interfere with the suction engagement, the embodiment shown in figures 2a-2c has locating pins 102 which are for location in the existing toilet seat attachment apertures present on the upper surface 40 of a toilet pan 42.
The locating pins 102 are provided on base surface 8 of the attachment mechanism 100 and protrude outwardly and downwardly thereof. A single suction cup 20 is provided centrally between the locating pins 102 on base surface 8. A pump 104 is associated with the suction cup 20 for removing air that may reside in the cavity formed between the inner surface 24 of the suction cavity and the upper surface of the toilet pan when in the disengaged position, in order to form the engaged position. User actuation means in the form of a pump operating lever or piston 106 is accessible via upper surface 6 of the attachment mechanism 100 to allow actuation of the pump to help remove air from the suction cavity of the suction cup.
In this embodiment, engagement means in the form of hinge support straps 108 are provided adjacent ends 10, 12 on the upper surface 6 to allow a toilet seat to be hingedly mounted to the same. The hinge support straps 108 protrude outwardly from upper surface 6 and each have an aperture 110 defined therein for the location of a hinge pin therethrough in use. The hinge pin is associated with the toilet seat to be fitted to the attachment mechanism 100 in use.
It will be appreciated that any or any combination of the features in the embodiments shown in figures 1a-1b and figures 2a-2c can be provided to form an attachment mechanism not forming part of the present invention.
Referring to figures 4a-8, there is illustrated an embodiment of the present invention wherein the vacuum or partial vacuum in the suction cup is created, maintained and/or released by a vacuum pump that is actuated by movement of the toilet lid.
In this embodiment, the attachment mechanism 200 includes a housing 202 having a base 204 to which a suction cup 206 is attached. A sleeve member 208 is provided on a top 210 of the housing 202 in which a vacuum pump mechanism 212 is associated. In use, the suction cup 206 is located on an upper surface of a toilet pan to which the toilet seat and lid is to be attached to in use.
An aperture 214 is defined in the suction cup 206 and this aperture is in communication with suction conduit 216 attached to a vacuum pump 218. Activation of the vacuum pump causes air or fluid to be sucked from the area between the suction cup 206 and the toilet pan surface via suction conduit 216 in use.
A cam head or member 220 is associated with an end of the vacuum pump. The cam head 220 cannot undergo rotational movement but is capable of undergoing linear reciprocal movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve member 208 in which it is located. This linear reciprocal movement of the cam head 220 allows activation and deactivation of the vacuum pump in use.
A shaft 222 is provided having a first end 224 with a cam member 226 provided thereon. A second end 228 of shaft 222 has a profile that is complementary to the profile of a toilet seat attachment. In particular, second end 228 is provided with a plurality of teeth arranged adjacent the peripheral edge of end 228 which engage with complementary recesses provided on an interior wall of a sleeve element 230 associated with a toilet seat 232. Thus, shaft 222 is engaged to the toilet seat 232 via second end 228. As the toilet seat 232 is raised and lowered, this causes shaft 222 to pivot around its longitudinal axis 'x'.
Cam member 226 is an eccentric cam member, such that rotation or pivoting of shaft 222 causes eccentric cam member 226 to rotate. Eccentric cam member 226 does not undergo longitudinal movement along sleeve member 208. However, due to the profile of the eccentric cam 226, which is complementary in shape to the profile of cam head 220, rotation of cam member 226 causes cam head 220 to move longitudinally along sleeve member 208, thereby activating or deactivating the vacuum pump 218.
In the illustration, opening of the toilet seat 232 causes deactivation of the vacuum pump or the vacuum pump to be fully open or relatively extended in terms of its travel capability, as shown in figures 6a and 7b. Closing of the toilet seat causes activation of the vacuum pump or the vacuum pump to be fully closed or relatively depressed or recessed in terms of its travel capability, as shown in figures 6b and 7a. Activation of the vacuum pump, sucks air or fluid from the suction cup 206, thereby increasing the suction force of the suction cup to the toilet pan in use.
The toilet seat mechanism can be used to replenish the vacuum in the suction cup 206 during use or it can be used to create the vacuum in the suction cup. If the toilet seat mechanism is being used to replenish the vacuum in the suction cup only, user actuation means can be provided to allow the initial vacuum to be created and/or released as described previously.
It will also be appreciated that instead of the mechanical cam activation mechanism, a pressure sensor and/or switch can be provided to detect a pressure or pressure change in the suction cup. If the vacuum in the suction cup needs to be replenished, improved, reduced and/or the like, a battery operated mechanism can be used to activate or deactivate the vacuum pump to increase or decrease the vacuum in the suction cup. It will also be appreciated that the above mechanism can be used with the toilet lid and the toilet seat. A soft close mechanism 234 can be associated with the toilet seat 236 and the toilet lid as required.

Claims

An attachment mechanism (200) for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet pan (42), the attachment mechanism (200) comprising: a body portion having engagement means for engaging part of a toilet seat (236); attachment means for attaching the body portion to the toilet pan, wherein the attachment means comprises a suction cup (206) having a suction cavity; and
an actuation mechanism to allow the suction cup to be moved between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position;

wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a pump (218) and the pump (218) has a conduit (216) that connects with the suction cup (206) to allow fluid to be removed from the suction cavity of the suction cup (206);

wherein the actuation mechanism is provided in or associated with the engagement means of the attachment mechanism, such the movement of the engagement means actuates movement of the actuation mechanism.
The attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein one or more cover members are provided to cover at least one aperture that may be present on the surface of the toilet pan to which the attachment mechanism is to be affixed.
The attachment mechanism of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the suction cup, is arranged such that it can be moved between a first, in use, engaged position, wherein at least a partial vacuum is formed between the suction cup and the toilet pan, and a second disengaged position, wherein no partial vacuum is formed, between the suction cup and the toilet pan.
The attachment mechanism of any preceding claim, wherein actuation of the actuation mechanism is via mechanical means and/or electrical means.
The attachment mechanism of claim 4, wherein the mechanical means includes one or more cams or eccentric cams.
The attachment mechanism of any preceding claim, wherein the pump is powered by one or more batteries.
A toilet seat comprising an attachment mechanism according to any preceding claim.
A method of attaching a toilet seat to a toilet pan comprising the steps of:
providing a toilet seat according to claim 7; and

attaching the toilet seat to the toilet pan by positioning the suction cup on a surface of the toilet pan and operating the pump to product at least a partial vacuum within the suction cup to affix it to the toilet pan surface.