US20090211006A1

US20090211006A1 - Toilet seat assembly

Info

Publication number: US20090211006A1
Application number: US12/035,015
Authority: US
Inventors: Santiago Mercedes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

The present invention features a toilet seat assembly wherein the toilet seat will automatically lifts from a horizontal to a vertical position (when the lid is in a vertical position).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilet seats are often soiled by a male user during urination when the toilet seat is left in its horizontal position. The present inventive assembly provides for an automatic lifting of the toilet seat to a vertical position to prevent the soiling of the toilet seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a toilet seat assembly, wherein the lid is in a vertical position and the seat is in the horizontal position, relative to the toilet bowl.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the toilet seat assembly wherein the seat is being lifted towards the lid by the spring coil.

FIG. 3 shows the toilet seat and the lid in a horizontal position.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the toilet seat and the lid, wherein a set of attracting magnets help keep the lid and seat together.

FIG. 5 shows a cut away view of the toilet lid and seat with the spring coil, wherein the first extended arm of the spring coil is inserted/secured to the lid and the seconded extended arm of the spring coil is inserted/secured to the seat.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention features a toilet seat assembly 10 wherein the toilet seat 20 will automatically lift from a horizontal to a vertical position (when the lid 30 is in a vertical position), and the toilet seat 20 will remain in a horizontal position when the lid 30 is also in a horizontal position and rests on the top side 24 of the toilet seat.
In some embodiments, a toilet seat assembly 10 of the present invention comprises:
(a) a toilet seat 20 having a front portion 27 and a rear portion 28, and a top side 24 and underside 22, wherein the rear portion 28 of the toilet seat is pivotably attached to the toilet bowl 40 (FIG. 1);
(b) a lid 30 for the seat, the lid 30 having a front portion 32 and a rear portion 34, wherein the rear portion 34 of the toilet seat is pivotably attached to the toilet bowl 40,
(c) a spring coil 50 having a first extended arm 52 and a second extended arm 54; the first extended arm is secured to the toilet lid 30, and the second extended arm is secured to the toilet seat 20 at its rear portion, wherein the spring coil 50 is biased in a manner that the toilet lid 30 and toilet seat 20 are kept flushed together (FIGS. 2 and 5);
wherein the lid 30 is sufficiently heavy to be effective as an anchor for the spring coils's first extended arm 52, as the spring coil's first extended arm 52 anchors against the lid the spring coil's second arm 54 lifts the toilet seat 20 towards the vertically positioned lid 52.
The lid 30 is heavier than the seat 20 so that the spring coil 50 can anchor against the lid 30 and lifts the seat 20, as the spring coil is biased in a manner that the first extended arm 52 and second extended arm 64 swing towards each other (see FIG. 5). As the lid 30 is heavier than the seat 20, and the lid 30 is in a vertical position, the seat 20 will be lifted towards the lid 30. In some embodiments, the weight of the lid 30 to the weight of the seat 20 is more than 2:1. For example, if the lid is two pounds then the seat 20 is one pound. In some embodiments, the weight of the lid 30 to the weight of the seat 20 is more than 3:1. In some embodiments, the weight of the lid 30 to the weight of the seat 20 is more than 4:1. In some embodiments, the weight of the lid 30 to the weight of the seat 20 is more than 5:1. In some embodiments, the weight of the lid 30 to the weight of the seat 20 is more than 6:1.
The coiling force of the spring coil 50 of the present invention is strong enough wherein the second extended arm can fully lift the seat 20 to a vertical position towards the vertically positioned lid 30 (FIG. 2).
In some embodiments, the a hydrolytic pump system may be used in place of the spring coil 50.
In some embodiments, the toilet seat and the lid are each embedded with a magnet 100, causing the toilet seat and the lid to stick together when they are brought closed together (see FIGS. 2 and 4). In some embodiments, the lid 30 has a cut-out 26 at the front portion 32 to facilitate the lifting of the lid, e.g., a user can insert his/her finger into the cut-out 26 to lift the lid 30.
In some embodiments, the outer rim of the toilet lid is lined with a florescent dye 160. In some embodiments, the inner rim of the toilet seat is lined with a fluorescent dye.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Claims

1. A toilet seat assembly comprising:

(a) a toilet seat having a front portion and a rear portion, and a top side and underside, wherein the rear portion of the toilet seat is pivotably attached to the toilet bowl;

(b) a lid for the seat, the lid having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion of the toilet seat is pivotably attached to the toilet bowl,

(c) a spring coil having a first extended arm and a second extended arm; the first extended arm is secured to the toilet lid, and the second extended arm is secured to the toilet seat at its rear portion, wherein the spring coil is biased in a manner that the toilet lid and toilet seat are kept flushed together;

wherein the lid is sufficiently heavy to be effective as an anchor for the spring coils's first extended arm, as the spring coil's first extended arm anchors against the lid the spring coil's second arm lifts the toilet seat towards the vertically positioned lid.

2. The toilet seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the toilet seat and the lid are each embedded with a magnet, causing the toilet seat and the lid to stick together when they are brought closed together.