US20030121090A1 - Method of molding a toilet seat assembly - Google Patents
Method of molding a toilet seat assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030121090A1 US20030121090A1 US10/313,851 US31385102A US2003121090A1 US 20030121090 A1 US20030121090 A1 US 20030121090A1 US 31385102 A US31385102 A US 31385102A US 2003121090 A1 US2003121090 A1 US 2003121090A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- seat
- waste material
- skin
- toilet seat
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K13/00—Seats or covers for all kinds of closets
- A47K13/02—Seats or covers for all kinds of closets of plastic materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/16—Making multilayered or multicoloured articles
- B29C45/1642—Making multilayered or multicoloured articles having a "sandwich" structure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
- B29K2105/26—Scrap or recycled material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2511/00—Use of natural products or their composites, not provided for in groups B29K2401/00 - B29K2509/00, as filler
- B29K2511/14—Wood, e.g. woodboard or fibreboard
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/769—Sanitary equipment
- B29L2031/7694—Closets, toilets
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/771—Seats
Definitions
- the subject invention relates to a toilet seat assembly including a seat and a cover and, more specifically, to molded toilet seat assemblies.
- Toilet seat assemblies include a seat and cover coupled together by a hinge mechanism that also connects the assembly to a toilet. These toilet seat assemblies have been fabricated from materials such as wood and plastic, some with a solid core surrounded by polymer material. Examples of such prior art techniques are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,863,277 to Harrison; 3,988,789 to Blount; 5,991,935 to Wang and 6,154,892 to Hogue.
- the waste material may be collected from the processes for making other products and mixed into a flowable material that solidifies into the cores. By accumulating and using such waste materials, the cost of the assembly is greatly reduced.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly formed in accordance with the subject invention
- FIG. 2 is a mold for molding the toilet seat assembly of he subject invention.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the method of the subject invention.
- the toilet seat assembly 10 includes a toilet seat, generally indicated at 12 , having a seat skin 14 defining the exterior surfaces thereof and a seat core 16 disposed within and surrounded by the seat skin 14 .
- the assembly 10 similarly includes a cover, generally indicated at 18 , including a cover skin 20 defining the exterior surfaces thereof and a cover core 22 disposed within and surrounded by the cover skin 20 .
- Appropriate and well known hardware 23 hingedly interconnect the seat 12 and cover 18 and mount the assembly 10 on a water closet or toilet.
- the assembly is characterized by the cores 16 , 22 each comprising a waste material.
- the waste material may be a single polymer wasted in the process of making other products.
- combining a plurality of different materials (including different polymers) from different sources may be employed to formulate the waste material.
- the method of fabricating the toilet seat 12 and the cover 18 comprises the known steps of forming the seat 12 having a seat core 16 surrounded by a seat skin 14 and forming the cover 18 having a cover core 22 surrounded by a cover skin 20 , but is characterized by forming the cores 16 , 22 of a waste material. As illustrated in FIG. 2, this may be accomplished by simultaneously injecting the polymer for the seat skin 14 into a seat mold cavity 24 and into a cover mold cavity 26 , both of which are defined by a mold comprising the mold bottom 28 and mold top 30 . Although the top 30 is shown perpendicular to the bottom 28 , the two parts are disposed in parallel planes when in use and are opened and closed in the manner well known in the art.
- the seat 12 and cover 18 molding the seat 12 and cover 18 are molded in the same mold 28 , 30 having an interconnecting gate defined by grooves 32 and 34 in the respective mold halves 28 and 30 and interconnecting the seat and cover mold cavities 24 and 26 .
- the method is perfected by injecting a waste material into the seat mold cavity 24 and into the cover mold cavity 26 to fill the skin polymer.
- the polymer material for the skin is co-injected with the waste material into the mold cavities 24 , 26 .
- This may be accomplished by injecting the waste material in a tube 34 concentrically within a cylinder 32 of the skin polymer, i.e., a jet within a jet.
- a plurality of such injectors may be disposed about the mold halve 28 .
- the waste material could include a mixture of waste polymers from different sources, such as other injection processes making other parts. Often products molded from polymers have imperfections and must be discarded.
- the method may be further defined as collecting solidified polymers from molding processes for products other than toilet seat assemblies, dividing the solidified polymers into a granular mix, heating the granular mix into a flowable mix, and injecting a waste material including the flowable mix.
- the waste material may include particles of wood.
- the waste may also include recyclable materials, or even paper.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Toilet Supplies (AREA)
Abstract
A toilet seat assembly 10 includes a toilet seat 12 having a seat skin 14 defining the exterior surfaces thereof and a seat core 16 disposed within and surrounded by the seat skin 14 and a cover 18 having a cover skin 20 defining the exterior surfaces thereof and a cover core 22 disposed within and surrounded by the cover skin 20. The assembly is characterized by the cores 16, 22 each comprising a waste material. The waste material may be a single polymer wasted in the process of making other products. Alternatively or in combination therewith, combining a plurality of different materials (including different polymers) from different sources may be employed to formulate the waste material.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The subject invention relates to a toilet seat assembly including a seat and a cover and, more specifically, to molded toilet seat assemblies.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- Toilet seat assemblies include a seat and cover coupled together by a hinge mechanism that also connects the assembly to a toilet. These toilet seat assemblies have been fabricated from materials such as wood and plastic, some with a solid core surrounded by polymer material. Examples of such prior art techniques are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,863,277 to Harrison; 3,988,789 to Blount; 5,991,935 to Wang and 6,154,892 to Hogue.
- In all prior systems there has been the continuing objective to reduce the cost of fabricating the toilet seat assemblies.
- It is, therefore, an object of the subject invention to produce a toilet seat assembly at a reduced cost. This is accomplished by a method of molding a toilet seat and cover comprising the steps of forming a seat having a seat core surrounded by a seat skin, and forming a cover having a cover core surrounded by a cover skin. The method is characterized by forming the cores of a waste material.
- The waste material may be collected from the processes for making other products and mixed into a flowable material that solidifies into the cores. By accumulating and using such waste materials, the cost of the assembly is greatly reduced.
- Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly formed in accordance with the subject invention;
- FIG. 2 is a mold for molding the toilet seat assembly of he subject invention; and
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the method of the subject invention.
- Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a toilet seat assembly fabricated in accordance with the subject invention is generally shown at10 in FIG. 1. The
toilet seat assembly 10 includes a toilet seat, generally indicated at 12, having aseat skin 14 defining the exterior surfaces thereof and aseat core 16 disposed within and surrounded by theseat skin 14. Theassembly 10 similarly includes a cover, generally indicated at 18, including acover skin 20 defining the exterior surfaces thereof and acover core 22 disposed within and surrounded by thecover skin 20. Appropriate and well knownhardware 23 hingedly interconnect the seat 12 and cover 18 and mount theassembly 10 on a water closet or toilet. - The assembly is characterized by the
cores - The method of fabricating the toilet seat12 and the
cover 18 comprises the known steps of forming the seat 12 having aseat core 16 surrounded by aseat skin 14 and forming thecover 18 having acover core 22 surrounded by acover skin 20, but is characterized by forming thecores seat skin 14 into aseat mold cavity 24 and into acover mold cavity 26, both of which are defined by a mold comprising themold bottom 28 andmold top 30. Although thetop 30 is shown perpendicular to thebottom 28, the two parts are disposed in parallel planes when in use and are opened and closed in the manner well known in the art. The seat 12 and cover 18 molding the seat 12 andcover 18 are molded in thesame mold grooves respective mold halves mold cavities - The method is perfected by injecting a waste material into the
seat mold cavity 24 and into thecover mold cavity 26 to fill the skin polymer. Actually, the polymer material for the skin is co-injected with the waste material into themold cavities tube 34 concentrically within acylinder 32 of the skin polymer, i.e., a jet within a jet. A plurality of such injectors may be disposed about themold halve 28. The waste material could include a mixture of waste polymers from different sources, such as other injection processes making other parts. Often products molded from polymers have imperfections and must be discarded. These discarded scarp products can be ground up into granules that can be mixed with granules from other scrap products to provide the waste material. In other words, the method may be further defined as collecting solidified polymers from molding processes for products other than toilet seat assemblies, dividing the solidified polymers into a granular mix, heating the granular mix into a flowable mix, and injecting a waste material including the flowable mix. In some cases the waste material may include particles of wood. As shown in FIG. 3, the waste may also include recyclable materials, or even paper. - Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.
Claims (10)
1. A method of fabricating a toilet seat (12) and cover (18) comprising the steps of;
forming a seat (12) having a seat core (16) surrounded by a seat skin (14),
forming a cover (18) having a cover core (22) surrounded by a cover skin (20),
said method characterized by forming said cores (16, 22) of a waste material.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined as combining a plurality of different materials from different sources to formulate the waste material.
3. A method of molding a toilet seat (12) and cover (18) comprising the steps of;
injecting a skin polymer into a seat mold cavity (24) and into a cover mold cavity (26), and
injecting a waste material into the seat mold cavity (24) and into the cover mold cavity (26) to fill the skin polymer.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined as injecting a waste material including a mixture of waste polymers from different sources.
5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined as injecting a waste material including particles of wood.
6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further defined as collecting solidified polymers from molding processes for products other than toilet seat assemblies, dividing the solidified polymers into a granular mix, heating the granular mix into a flowable mix, and injecting a waste material including the flowable mix.
7. A method as set forth in claim 4 including the step of molding the seat (12) and cover (18) in the same mold having a gate (32, 34) interconnecting the seat and cover mold cavities.
8. A toilet seat assembly comprising;
a toilet seat (12) including a skin defining the exterior surfaces and a core disposed within and surrounded by said seat skin (14),
a cover (18) including a cover skin (20) defining the exterior surfaces thereof and a cover core (22) disposed within and surrounded by said cover skin (20),
said assembly characterized by said cores (16, 22) each comprising a waste material.
9. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said skins comprise a polymer and said waste material includes a mixture of different waste polymers.
10. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said waste material includes particles of wood.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/313,851 US20030121090A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-12-06 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/037,828 US20030121091A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-01-03 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
US10/313,851 US20030121090A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-12-06 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/037,828 Division US20030121091A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-01-03 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030121090A1 true US20030121090A1 (en) | 2003-07-03 |
Family
ID=21896578
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/037,828 Abandoned US20030121091A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-01-03 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
US10/313,851 Abandoned US20030121090A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-12-06 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/037,828 Abandoned US20030121091A1 (en) | 2002-01-03 | 2002-01-03 | Method of molding a toilet seat assembly |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20030121091A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1325804A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2371005A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070294810A1 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2007-12-27 | Vierkant Erich C | Plumbing fixture seat |
US20120266371A1 (en) * | 2011-04-20 | 2012-10-25 | Topseat International, Inc. | Laminar toilet lid with display cavity |
US9636896B2 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2017-05-02 | Topseat International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for toilet seat with three-dimensional image and smooth surface |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6299811B1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2001-10-09 | Lear Corporation | Method of recycling polyurethane foam components |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE795701A (en) * | 1972-02-22 | 1973-06-18 | Ragot Claude | New molded cover for WC seat. |
DE4408426A1 (en) * | 1994-03-12 | 1995-09-14 | Krauss Maffei Ag | Process for producing thick-walled plastic articles |
DE19730330C2 (en) * | 1997-07-15 | 2000-07-06 | Hamberger Industriewerke Gmbh | Injection molding process for manufacturing a toilet seat assembly |
IT1303387B1 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2000-11-06 | Elma Chemicals S R L | PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS USING WASTE MATERIALS OF VARIOUS KINDS, AND THE PRODUCT SO OBTAINED. |
JP2001225353A (en) * | 2000-02-14 | 2001-08-21 | Toto Ltd | Injection-molded part |
-
2002
- 2002-01-03 US US10/037,828 patent/US20030121091A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-02-07 CA CA002371005A patent/CA2371005A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-02-15 EP EP02075625A patent/EP1325804A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-12-06 US US10/313,851 patent/US20030121090A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6299811B1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2001-10-09 | Lear Corporation | Method of recycling polyurethane foam components |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070294810A1 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2007-12-27 | Vierkant Erich C | Plumbing fixture seat |
US8312571B2 (en) | 2006-06-23 | 2012-11-20 | Kohler Co. | Plumbing fixture seat |
US8850629B2 (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2014-10-07 | Kohler Co. | Plumbing fixture seat |
US20120266371A1 (en) * | 2011-04-20 | 2012-10-25 | Topseat International, Inc. | Laminar toilet lid with display cavity |
US9131813B2 (en) * | 2011-04-20 | 2015-09-15 | Topseat International, Inc. | Laminar toilet lid with display cavity |
US9636896B2 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2017-05-02 | Topseat International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for toilet seat with three-dimensional image and smooth surface |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20030121091A1 (en) | 2003-07-03 |
CA2371005A1 (en) | 2003-07-03 |
EP1325804A1 (en) | 2003-07-09 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |