US20110083258A1

US20110083258A1 - Cosmetic toilet seat and lid

Info

Publication number: US20110083258A1
Application number: US12/587,852
Authority: US
Inventors: Nora Lee Hastings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-13
Filing date: 2009-10-13
Publication date: 2011-04-14
Also published as: US20110119818A1

Abstract

A toilet assembly utilizing a toilet bowl having an opening at a top. A seat portion is swivelly connected to the toilet bowl and has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is visible when the seat portion is in an open position; this lower surface has an artistic cosmetic design imprinted thereon which ideally compliments a design on the lid portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toilets and more particularly to the seats and lids used therewith.
The origin of the toilet is lost in history. The early Roman Empire used elaborate toilet systems, but, it is widely held that the Romans only incorporated the technology gained elsewhere.
In more modern times, the household toilet has been the center of many battles over whether the seat is left up or not. Typically, a woman wants the toilet seat left down; the man usually leaves the seat up. The reason for either preference is not fully known, but, probably relate to cleanliness and aesthetics.
If a toilet seat and lid combination were more acceptable to both parties, then a compromise might be reached.
It is clear there is a need for an improved seat and lid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a toilet assembly utilizing a toilet bowl having an opening at a top. The modern flush toilet bowl is configured with an opening at the top with a discharge at the bottom. Typically, water is fed into a holding tank and is then used to rinse and evacuate the bowl itself.
Those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize a variety of toilet configurations and shapes, including, but not limited to those described in U.S. Pat. No. D594,946, issued on Jun. 23, 2009, to Gilbert and entitled “Seat”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,485, issued Jun. 30, 2009, to Harrison et al. and entitled “Toilet Seat Gripping Apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,040, issued Jun. 2, 2009, to Roenick and entitled “Bedside Care Center”; U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,732, issued May 26, 2009, to Dunlap and entitled “Toilet Seat Shock Absorption and Slide Prevention Device”; and, U.S. Pat. No. 7,516,569, issued Apr. 14, 2009, to Garcia and entitled “Method of Advertising for Hotels and Lodges”; all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
At the top of the toilet bowl is a seat which is swivelly connected to the toilet bowl which is affixed to the floor. The seat portion has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface engages with a top of the toilet bowl while the upper surface receives a user. In this manner, the toilet seat portion has an up position (raised up), and a down position (resting on the toilet bowl).
Additionally, a lid portion is also swivelly connected to the toilet bowl and is placed in a down position to cover the entirety of the seat and is raised to an open position to grant access to the seat portion.
The lower surface of the seat (and most of the lid portion) are visible when in an open position. In the preferred embodiment, the lower surface of both the lid and the seat have an artistic cosmetic design imprinted thereon; and the design on the bottom of the seat compliments the design on the bottom of the lid portion.
In this regards, the designs discussed herein are imprinted onto the item, or are carved, sculpted, or molded and are man-made designs.
In one embodiment of this invention, the design found on the bottom of the seat compliments a design on the top of the lid. This provides an aesthetic image when the lid and seat are both in a closed position.
In yet another embodiment, the lid is devoid of any artistic design and only the seat has an artistic design thereon.
In this manner, when the seat is in an up position, the visual affect is more pleasing to a user of the bathroom.
The invention, together with various embodiments thereof, will be more fully explained by the accompanying drawings and the following descriptions thereof.

DRAWINGS IN BRIEF

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate are side views of a toilet illustrating the relationship of the lid and seat.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of another alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of still another alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the seat portion, is accepted into a recess in the lid portion.

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are side views of the seat and lid illustrating the preferred embodiment's use of rounded edges.

DRAWINGS IN DETAIL

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate are side views of a toilet illustrating the relationship of the lid and seat.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, toilet bowl 10 is swivelly connected to lid portion 11A and seat portion 12A via hinge 14. Lid portion 11A is swivelled to an up or down position as indicated by arrow 13A; seat portion 12A is swivelled to an up or down position as indicated by arrow 13B.
In the up position, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, seat portion 12B and lid portion 11B, are viewed by user 15 as a combined unit. The bottom of seat 12A and the bottom of lid 11A have artistic designs thereon.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.
As is shown (FIG. 2C), the artistic design found on the bottom of the lid (FIG. 2A) complements the artistic design found on bottom of the seat portion (FIG. 2B). The top of the lid is illustrated in FIG. 2D.
While this is one design arrangement, the invention is not intended to be so limited, other designs are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The designs ideally are molded into the lid and seat portions although the designs may also be imprinted, sculpted, or carved into the seat and lid portions
When the lid portion (FIG. 2A) and the seat portion (FIG. 2B) are in an up position, (FIG. 2C) the two artistic patterns blend with each other to produce a pleasing appearance.
In this embodiment of the invention, the top surface of the lid portion (FIG. 2D) also is imprinted with an artistic design commensurate with the designs found on the bottom of the lid and the bottom of the seat.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.
As is shown (FIG. 3C), the artistic design found on the bottom of the lid (FIG. 3A) complements the artistic design found on bottom of the seat portion (FIG. 3B). The top of the lid is illustrated in FIG. 3D.
The designs of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D also compliment each other. In this embodiment, rubber cushions 30 and 31, are configured to compliment the designs found on both the lid portion (FIG. 3A) and the seat portion (FIG. 3B).
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.
The artistic design found on the bottom of the lid (FIG. 4A) complements the artistic design found on bottom of the seat portion (FIG. 4B), as shown in FIG. 4C. The top of the lid is illustrated in FIG. 4D.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are views of the seat bottom, lid bottom, bottom view of the seat with lid, and the top of the lid respectively of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating an artistic design.
The combination is shown in FIG. 5C. The artistic design found on the bottom of the lid (FIG. 5A) complements the artistic design found on bottom of the seat portion (FIG. 5B). The top of the lid is illustrated in FIG. 5D.
FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the seat portion, is accepted into a recess in the lid portion.
Lid portion 50 swivels around hinge 54 as does seat portion 52. In this embodiment, lid portion 50 is configured with recess 51 adapted to receive seat portion 52 as seat portion 52 is moved as indicated by arrow 53.
This placement of the seat portion 52 within the lid portion 50, provides for an even heightened blending of the artistic designs found on the bottom of lid portion 50 and the bottom of seat portion 52.
FIG. 7A is a side view of the seat and lid illustrating the preferred embodiment's use of rounded edges.
Lid 71 has an edge portion which has a rounded edge 73. Lid 71 is adapted to rest on the top of seat 72 which also has a rounded edge 74; thereby producing a more pleasing and gentle image.
This rounded edge 74 is shown in FIG. 7B along the outer edge. Ideally, the inner edge 75A, of the seat of FIG. 7B is also rounded in the same manner to provide a more pleasing visual affect.
The same condition is shown in FIG. 7C wherein the outer edge 74 is rounded and the inner aspect of the seat 75B is also rounded.
It is clear that the present invention provides for a highly improved and cosmetic pleasing toilet seat and lid.

Claims

1. A toilet assembly comprising:

a) A bowl having an opening at a top thereto;

b) a seat portion swivelly connected to said bowl, said seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being visible when said seat portion is in an open position, said lower surface having an artistic cosmetic design molded therein; and,

c) a lid portion swivelly connected to said bowl such that when said seat portion is in a closed position and said lid portion is in a closed position, said lid covers said seat portion, said lid portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having an artistic cosmetic design molded therein being complimentary to the artistic cosmetic design of said seat portion.

2. The toilet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of. said lid has the artistic cosmetic designed molded therein.

3. The toilet assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seat portion includes at least two cushions positioned to engage a top of said bowl when said seat is in a closed position.

4. The toilet assembly according to claim 3, wherein said at least two cushions compliment the cosmetic design on the lower surface of said seat portion.

5. The toilet assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

a) said lid portion is has a recess therein; and,

b) said seat portion engages said recess in said lid portion when said seat and lid are in the open position.

6. A toilet seat combination comprising:

a) a seat portion swivelly connectable to a toilet bowl, said seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being visible when said seat portion is in an open position, said lower surface having a cosmetic design molded therein; and,

b) a lid portion swivelly connectable to said toilet bowl such that when said seat portion is in a closed position and said lid portion is in a closed position, said lid covers said seat portion, said lid portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a cosmetic design molded therein, the cosmetic design of said lid portion being complimentary to the cosmetic design of said seat portion.

7. The toilet seat combination according to claim 6, wherein said seat portion includes at least two cushions positioned to engage a top of said bowl when said seat is in a closed position.

8. The toilet seat combination according to claim 7, wherein said at least two cushions compliment the cosmetic design on the lower surface of said seat portion.

9. The toilet seat combination according to claim 7, wherein:

a) said lid portion is has a recess therein; and,

10. The toilet seat combination according to claim 9, wherein the upper surface of said lid has the artistic cosmetic designed molded therein.

11. A combination comprising a seat portion adapted to be swivelly connected to a toilet bowl, said seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being visible when said seat portion is in an open position, said lower surface having a molded cosmetic design.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein said seat portion includes at least two cushions positioned to engage a top of said bowl when said seat is in a closed position.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said at least two cushions compliment the cosmetic design on the lower surface of said seat portion.

14. The combination according to claim 13, further including a lid portion adapted to be swivelly connected to said toilet bowl such that when said seat portion is in a closed position and said lid portion is in a closed position, said lid covers said seat portion, said lid portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a molded cosmetic design imprinted thereon, the molded cosmetic design of said lid portion being complimentary to the molded cosmetic design of said seat portion.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein:

a) said lid portion is has a recess therein; and,