US20030159202A1

US20030159202A1 - Flip your lid and toilet seat opener

Info

Publication number: US20030159202A1
Application number: US10/055,329
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen Hammond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-25
Filing date: 2002-01-25
Publication date: 2003-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-25
Also published as: US6615412B1

Abstract

A no hands toilet lid and seat opening and closing mechanism consisting of a saddle like mounting bracket having pivot arms, secured by existing lid and seat hinge bolts through rearward holes at end of typical existing toilet bowl rim having a seat or lid and seat. Two ends at the rear of the foot levers are pivotally coupled to the pivot arms, one on each side of mounting bracket, this allows the lid foot lever and the seat foot lever to swing downward, pulling on four connecting rods, two on each side, with two ends, the bottom end of the rods fastens to the two foot levers, the top end of the rods fastens to the lid and seat brackets. The downward movement of the rods fastened at the rear of the lid and seat brackets which are bonded rearward to underside of existing toilet lid and seat in front of and parallel to lid/seat hinge assembly, to pivot on existing toilet lid and seat hinges thus raising lid and seat together by pushing the seat foot lever or separate by pushing the lid foot lever. Installed on the pivot arms with the two foot levers are two coiled springs, one on each pivot arm, with one end of said spring secured to pivot arm mounting bracket and other end secured to foot levers. The tuned springs aid in allowing the seat and lid to raise easily, to prevent banging the existing tank and to lower the seat and lid gently to prevent slamming existing toilet bowl when foot levers are applied to open or close seat or lid and seat.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]

1,276,472 8/1918 Zeen

2,136,684 11/938 Greavu

3,504,385 4/1970 Fields

5,594,958 1/1997 Nguyen

5,875,498 3/1999 Joseph

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is devised to permit the no hands ability to raise and lower toilet lids and seats by use of foot levers. Concerns to avoid unsanitary contact with toilet lids and seats, and being exposed to harmful germs and bacteria, have given way to the introduction of many lid and seat lifting devices. Several examples of this prior art are noted in the following U.S. patents:

U.S. Pat. No.1,276,472 to Zeen—devises for raising and lowering water closet seats and lids

U.S. Pat. No.2,136,684 to Greavu—a raising and lowering mechanism for the seat or cover of the bowl

U.S. Pat. No.3,504,385 to Fields—a foot operable toilet seat lifting device

U.S. Pat. No.5,594,958 to Nguyen—a hands off toilet seat lifting apparatus

U.S. Pat. No.5,875,498 to Joseph—a toilet seat lifting device for raising and lowering a toilet seat

The simple application of foot levers to the mounting brackets applied to a toilet having a seat or lid and seat is the greatest improvement of the current invention over the prior art which in each case requires all foot lever bases to be mounted to the floor next to the toilet. The floor mounted foot lever devices are unsightly, take up space, and are difficult to maintain and clean thus becoming a harbor for harmful germs and bacteria. Prior art U.S. Pat. No.2,136,684 describes an optional wall mounted hand operated seat lifting device. The elimination of any hardware mounted to floors or walls noted in prior art gives the current invention the advantage of being disposed entirely on a toilet having a seat or lid and seat, eliminating the chore of fastening fixtures to various forms of material found in floors and walls, requiring elaborate fasteners and in most cases the use of power tools.

Another improvement of the current invention is the two bowl mounted foot levers which raise and lower the lid and seat evenly on both sides with the attached connecting rods. Prior art uses rods, shafts, and sleeves from the single foot lever base to one side of the lid or seat, when pressure is applied to the foot levers in turn pushing or pulling the rods, shafts and sleeves thus causing lopsided or unbalanced forces on one side of the lids and seats creating binding at the lid and seat hinges promoting poor operation, resistance, wear and limited life span to mechanism and lid/seat hinges.

Describing prior art U.S. Pat. No.3,504,385 and U.S. Pat. No.5,875,498 specify the application of the foot lever raises the lid and seat together or the lid is first raised by hand before the seat is raised by the foot pedal, thus eliminating the total hands free concept. Another advantage of the current invention is the ability to raise or lower the lid and or lid and seat by pressing on the chosen foot pedal, thus creating a total no hands solution.

Few parts and less complicated design of the current invention make it economical to produce, simple to install, and easy to operate by young and old, especially when bending down, reaching and lifting creates discomfort or is not possible. The symmetrical design of the current invention sets it apart from prior art by the two tuned coiled springs applied to each foot lever thus allowing the lid and seat to be raised with greater ease and to be lowered gently without banging the tank or slamming the bowl. In the event of a person with loss of the ability to use their legs or feet, or confined to a wheelchair, the lid and seat can still be raised and lowered by hand with greater ease aided by the application of coiled springs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention promoting safe hygiene and convenience can now join other no hands devices, motion activated toilet/urinal flushers, blow dryers, and lavatory faucets in today's bathrooms, public or private, and can be installed on typical toilets having a seat or lid and seat, residential or commercial, past and present.

Experiencing pain and discomfort from bending down and lifting, in addition to hygiene concerns, can now be relieved with the application of the current invention. With its few parts and practical design, Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener can be installed with most basic household tools, following simple instructions and possessing minimal skills.

The purpose of the current invention is to provide a high quality, low cost, proper functioning, easy installation, minimal maintenance, attractive, no hands device for raising smoothly and lowering gently the seat or lid and seat on any existing toilet having a seat or lid and seat. The gentle push of ones foot on the chosen foot lever forcing down the lever uncoiling the coiled spring(s) only enough to aide in the cause of pulling the connecting rods down thus activating the lid or seat bracket to force the lid or seat to smoothly pivot on the lid/seat hinge assembly exposing the bowl without lifting a finger. Again with the gentle lifting of ones foot under the chosen foot pedal hook the process is reversed, the coiled spring(s) recoil slowing the momentum of the lid or seat and once again the bowl is closed. Now there can be the luxury and conveyance of raising and lowering toilet lids and seats with foot power thus taking the worry away from coming in contact with harmful germs and bacteria by handling said items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 Left side view of typical toilet having a lid and seat with Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener in the closed position fastened on by lid/seat hinge bolts. Illustration depicts reference numbers pointing out components of current invention and said toilet. [0017]
FIG. 2 Front view of typical toilet having a lid and seat illustrating front half of foot levers cut away to expose left side connecting rods secured to foot levers and coiled spring disposed around pivot arm with one end coupled to foot lever and other end coupled to mounting bracket. Illustration depicts reference numbers pointing out components of current invention and said toilet. [0018]
FIG. 3 Top view of typical toilet having a lid and seat with Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener in the closed position fastened on by lid/seat hinge bolts. Illustration depicts reference numbers pointing out components of current invention and said toilet. [0019]
FIG. 4 Left side view shown first in FIG. 1 with “HERS” foot lever depressed, lid open and seat exposed. [0020]
FIG. 5 Left side view shown first in FIG. 1 with “HIS” Foot lever depressed, lid and seat open and toilet bowl exposed. [0021]
FIG. 6 Left side view of typical toilet having a seat with Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener in the closed position fastened on by seat hinge bolts. Illustration depicts reference numbers pointing out said toilet and components required to raise and lower the seat by the elimination of the components required to raise and lower the lid. [0022]
FIG. 7 Front view of typical toilet having a seat illustrating front half of foot lever cut away to expose left side connecting rod secured to foot lever and coiled spring disposed around pivot arm with one end coupled to foot lever and other end coupled to mounting bracket. Illustration depicts reference numbers pointing out said toilet and components required to raise and lower the seat by the elimination of the components required to raise and lower the lid. [0023]
FIG. 8 Top view of typical toilet having a seat with Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener in the closed position fastened on by seat hinge bolts. Illustration depicts reference numbers pointing out said toilet and components required to raise and lower the seat by the elimination of the components required to raise and lower the lid.[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Drawings [0025] 1-3 depicts various views of the current invention along with reference numbers to describe the components that make up Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener, also illustrated in the said drawings is a typical toilet (12) having a tank (16), lid (14),seat (13),and lid/seat hinge assembly (11). A two piece saddle like mount bracket, a left mounting bracket (1) and a right mounting bracket (2) each having a pivot arm and each having an adjustable mounting hole, including holes for coiled spring tension adjustment positioned around said pivot arms, is designed to mount directly to said toilet (12) by the removal lid/seat hinge assembly (11) and the slotted adjustable mounting holes in mounting brackets (1,2) are positioned and lined up over existing hinge bolt holes thus allowing lid/seat hinge assembly to be replaced securing mounting brackets (1,2) firmly in place with said pivot arms pointing outward from side of toilet (12). To dampen and aid in the raising and lowering of the lid (14) and seat (13) seat coiled spring (5) is disposed around pivot arm on mounting bracket (1)and lid coiled spring (6) is disposed around pivot arm on mounting bracket (2). Lid coiled spring (6) having two ends is designed to work with lid foot lever (3) having a “HERS” foot pedal, first end of lid coiled spring (6) with single coil is disposed around right end of lid foot lever (3) the second end is coupled to optional tension adjustment hole in mounting bracket (2). The “U” shaped lid foot lever (3) having two ends, is positioned horizontally in front toilet base and under bowl with each end pivotally coupled to said pivot arms. Seat coiled spring (5) having two ends is designed to work with seat foot lever (4) having a “HIS” foot pedal, first end of seat coiled spring (5) with single coil is disposed around left end of seat foot lever (4) the second end is over lid foot lever (3) and coupled to optional tension adjustment hole in mounting bracket (1). The “U” shaped seat foot lever (4) having two ends, is positioned horizontally in front toilet base and under bowl above lid foot lever (3), with each end pivotally coupled to said pivot arms. A upside down “U” shaped lid bracket (8) having industrial strength adhesive (15) applied on top with manufactured holes, again on top for additional typical screw fasteners along with a manufactured hole located rearward on each side, is designed to bond to under side rearward end of lid (14) in front of and parallel to lid/seat hinge assembly (11). A upside down “U” shaped seat bracket (7) having industrial strength adhesive (15) applied on top with manufactured holes, again on top for additional typical screw fasteners along with a manufactured hole located rearward on each side, is designed to bond to under side rearward end of seat (13) in front of and parallel to lid/seat hinge assembly(1 1). Two “Z” shaped lid connecting rods (9) having two ends are positioned horizontal, one on each side, one end pivotally coupled to manufactured hole at rearward end in lid bracket (8) the second end pivotally coupled to optional manufactured hole in lid foot lever (3). Two “z” shaped seat connecting rods (10) having two ends are positioned horizontal, one on each side, one end pivotally coupled to manufactured hole at rearward end in seat bracket (7) the second end pivotally coupled to optional manufactured hole in seat foot lever (4).
Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener application is complete and ready for service. Forcing down with foot pressure on “HERS” foot pedal attached to lid foot lever ([0026] 3) forces lid coiled spring (6) to uncoil and lid connecting rods (9) down, pulling rear of lid bracket (8) down causing said bracket attached to existing toilet lid (14) to pivot up on existing lid/seat hinge assembly (11) thus raising said lid with no hands ( FIG. 4). To lower or close said lid, position foot under hook applied to “HERS” foot pedal attached to said foot lever and raise lid foot lever (3) back to horizontal position thus reversing raising process and therefore closing said lid with no hands is bound by design to force down immediately on “HERS” foot pedal attached to lid foot lever (3) thus forcing coiled springs (5,6) to uncoil and connecting rods (9,10) down, pulling rear of lid and seat brackets (7,8) down causing said brackets attached to lid (14) and seat (13) to pivot up on existing lid/seat hinge assembly (11) thus raising said lid and seat with no hands (FIG. 5). To lower or close said lid and seat, position foot under hook applied to “HERS” foot pedal attached to lid foot lever (3) and raise said foot levers back to horizontal position thus reversing raising process and therefore closing said lid and seat with no hands. To raise or open said seat with lid (14) in the raised or opened position, force down with foot pressure on “HIS” foot pedal attached to seat foot lever (4) therefore opening said seat with no hands. To lower or close said seat with lid (14) in the raised or opened position, position foot under hook applied to “HIS” foot pedal attached to seat foot lever (4) and raise said foot lever back to horizontal position thus reversing raising process and therefore closing said seat, again with no hands.
In situations of a toilet having only a seat, the only components needed from the current invention for the no hands seat raising and lowering procedure are mounting brackets ([0027] 1,2), seat coiled spring (5), seat foot lever (4), seat bracket (7) and seat connecting rods (10) thus omitting lid coiled spring (6), lid foot lever (3), lid bracket (8 connecting rods (9). Drawings 6-8 depicts various views of the current invention along with reference numbers to describe the components that make up Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener, also illustrated in the said drawings is a typical toilet (12) having a tank (16), seat (13),and seat hinge assembly (17). A two piece saddle like mounting bracket, a left mounting bracket (1) and a right mounting bracket (2) each having a pivot arm and each having an adjustable mounting hole, including holes for coiled spring tension adjustment positioned around said pivot arms, is designed to mount directly to said toilet (12) by the removal seat hinge assembly (17) and the slotted adjustable mounting holes in mounting brackets (1,2) are positioned and lined up over existing hinge bolt holes thus allowing seat hinge assembly (17) to be replaced securing mounting brackets (1,2) firmly in place with said pivot arms pointing outward from side of toilet (12). To dampen and aid in the raising and lowering of the seat (13) seat coiled spring (5) is disposed around pivot arm on mounting bracket (1). Seat coiled spring (5) having two ends is designed to work with seat foot lever (4) having a “HIS” foot pedal, first end of seat coiled spring (5) with single coil is disposed around left end of seat foot lever (4) the second end is coupled to optional tension adjustment hole in mounting bracket (1). The “U” shaped seat foot lever (4) having two ends, is positioned horizontally in front toilet base and under bowl, with each end pivotally coupled to said pivot arms. A upside down “U” shaped seat bracket (7) having industrial strength adhesive (15) applied on top with manufactured holes, again on top for additional typical screw fasteners along with a manufactured hole located rearward on each side, is designed to bond to under side rearward end of seat (13) in front of and parallel to seat hinge assembly (17). Two “Z” shaped seat connecting rods (10) having two ends are positioned horizontal, one on each side, one end pivotally coupled to manufactured hole at rearward end in seat bracket (7) the second end pivotally coupled to optional manufactured hole in seat foot lever (4).

Claims

1. I claim my invention Flip Your Lid and Toilet Seat Opener is a new no hands toilet lid and seat raising and lowering device that is foot lever operated and designed to be fastened to an existing toilet having a hinged lid and seat, comprising;

a two piece saddle like mounting bracket, a left and a right, and each mounting bracket having a pivot arm on outward side pointed outward, mounting brackets secure rearward on existing toilet bowl rim at existing hinge bolt mounting holes by existing hinge mounting bolts on a existing toilet having a hinged lid and seat,

a first coiled spring tuned to dampen momentum of said lid disposed around pivot arm attached to right mounting bracket, and said coiled spring having two ends with first end coupled to said right mounting bracket and second end coupled to lid foot lever,

a second coiled spring tuned to dampen momentum of said seat disposed around pivot arm attached to left mounting bracket, and said coiled spring having two ends with first end coupled to said left mounting bracket and second end coupled to seat foot lever,

a first “U” shaped lid foot lever, having a “HERS” foot pedal having a upward curving hook, to activate said lid, and having two ends pivotally coupled in a horizontal position under said toilet bowl, to said pivot arms,

a second “U” shaped seat foot lever, having a “HIS” foot pedal having a upward curving hook, to activate said seat, and having two ends pivotally coupled in a horizontal position under said toilet bowl, to said pivot arms,

a first upside down “U” shaped lid bracket, top side bonded with adhesive and typical screw fasteners to underside rear end of said lid, just in front of and parallel to existing lid/seat hinge assembly,

a second upside down “U” shaped seat bracket, top side bonded with adhesive and typical screw fasteners to underside rear end of said seat, just in front of and parallel to existing lid/seat hinge assembly,

a first pair of “Z” shaped lid connecting rods one on each side of said lid bracket and each said connecting rod having two ends, first end pivotally coupled at rearward end of said lid bracket and in a vertical position, second end pivotally coupled to said lid foot lever,

a second pair of “Z” shaped seat connecting rods one on each side of said seat bracket and each said connecting rod having two ends, first end pivotally coupled at rearward end of said seat bracket and in a vertical position, second end pivotally coupled to said seat foot lever.

2. What is also claimed is a new no hands toilet seat raising and lowering device that is foot lever operated and designed to be fastened to an existing toilet having a hinged seat, comprising;

a two piece saddle like mounting bracket, a left and aright, and each mounting bracket having a pivot arm on outward side pointed outward, mounting brackets secure rearward on existing toilet bowl rim at existing hinge bolt mounting holes by existing hinge mounting bolts on said existing toilet having a hinged seat,

a coiled spring tuned to dampen momentum of said seat disposed around pivot arm attached to left mounting bracket and said coiled spring having two ends with first end coupled to said left mounting bracket and second end coupled to seat foot lever,

a “U” shaped seat foot lever, having a “HIS” foot pedal having a upward curving hook, to activate said seat, and having two ends pivotally coupled in a horizontal position under said toilet bowl, to said pivot arms,

a upside down “U” shaped seat bracket, top side bonded with adhesive and typical screw fasteners to underside rear end of said seat just in front of and parallel to existing seat hinge assembly,

a pair of“Z” shaped seat connecting rods one on each side of said seat bracket and each said connecting rod having two ends, first end pivotally coupled at rearward end of said seat bracket and in a vertical position second end pivotally coupled to said seat foot lever.