US2457726A

US2457726A - Toilet seat

Info

Publication number: US2457726A
Application number: US778000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richards Harper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-10-06
Filing date: 1947-10-06
Publication date: 1948-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1965-12-28

Description

Dec. 28,' 1948. H. RICHARDS 2,457,726

TOILET SEAT lled Oct. 6, 1947 f- INVENToR.

Yage f EC/zarusf Patented 28, 1948 UNITED sTATEs PATENT ori-ICE 'rom sur am nanna. can. m. annum osunac. im, sem ne. 'nam s cmu. (ci. 4zw

- joints which comprise opposed hinges and opposed pivots, are amply strong to sustain the sections in operative position. The entire structure may be produced at relatively small expense, it is light and convenient to handle, and it may be relied upon to give prolonged and dependable service.

A suggestive embodiment of my invention is set forth in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the toilet seat opened out ready for use:

Fig. 2 which is a similar view shows the seat in a first stage of the folding operation;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the seatin its lnally folded state;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the seat opened out in operative position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in plan of the seat in its fully folded state;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail in section, taken on line 1-1 of Fig, 2; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational edge view of the folded seat, looking from the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

The seat comprises four sections interconnected by opposed hinges and pivots to form a generally rectangular frame having a central elongated opening. The two rear sections A and Bwhich are alike in all respects are connected by a hinge having leaves a and b, each joined to one of the sections. The hinge pintle lo is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the seat opening.

The section A has an inner edge I2 which is arcuate to join with a similarly formed edge Il of the companion rear section B. The arcuate edges of the two sections together extend through slightly more than 180 to deilne a maior part of the seat opening which is slightly elongated in form.

Each of the seat sections may be formed of any suitable material such as wood, plywood, plastic, etc. Two forward sections C and D are also provided to complete the seat. These sections are alike, being connected by a hinge having leaves c and d each afllxed to one of the sections. The pintle i5 for this latter hinge is also aligned with the longitudinal axis of the seat opening. The inner edges I6 and I8 of the sections-C and D respectively are of generally arcuate form to Join with each other and with the arcuate edges l2 and I l so as to provide a central opening having a smooth continuous edge.

y Each of the two forward sections C and D is connected to the associated rear section A or B by pivot means which are identical. For this purpose there is amxed to the forward section C at its rearward end a plate 2| having a generally triangular tongue 2| which extends beyond that section to overlap the end ofthe adjacent section A and. in turn, to be overlapped by a complementary plate 22 which is affixed to the section A from which it is spaced by thickened marginal walls 23 the requisite distance to provide a narrow pocket for accommodation of the tongue 2|. In like manner the section D carries a similar plate ll formed with a projecting tongue 3| which nts within a narrow pocket provided by an overlapping plate 32 afllied to the section B from which it is spaced by thickened marginal walls I3. At a point between the abutting ends of the sections A and C close to the inner edges thereof a pin 25 extends through the complementary plates 2l and 22 to establish a pivotal connection therebetween. A similar pivotal connection between the complementary plates I0 and 32 is provided by a second pin Il whose location is relatively the same as the pin 2l. v

It will be noted that the longitudinal axis of the seat is substantially co-axial with that o1' the two pintls III and l5. 'I'he seat may accordingly be broken along this hinge line so as to fold over in the form of two plies, as suggested in Fig. 2. The axes of the pivot'pins 25 and l5 are parallel, transversely of the plane of the seat, and equidistantly located opposite its longitudinal axis on directly opposite sides thereof. In consequence, when the seat is given its iirst fold so as to reach the position of Fig. 2, the two pins 25 and Il will be brought to coaxial positions substantially in end to end relation. When so disposed, but not until then, the sections C and D may be folded in unison about the coaxial pins 2l and 35 which pivotally connect them to the sections A and B. When this is done the seat will be reduced to the compact form and size which is shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Here it will be observed the two front sections C and D, one lying against the other, are brought into proximity with the two back sections A and B which also lie against each other, the curved opening therebetween being substantially occupied by the folded sections C and D when in this folded state. The seat may then be fitted into a small case or envelope, which will protect it while stowed away in a bag or other receptable. When its use is again desired. a reverse procedure for opening the seat up is followed. 'I'his involves nrst a swinging movement about the two

pivot pine

25 and 35 to extend the front sections outwardly of the rear sections, and 'then a further movement about the coaxial hinges to bring all four sections into a single plane.

The hinge connections aredesirably affixed to the under side of the seat. They may be recessed or -countersunk therein, or the under side of the seat may be faced with material which will cause the hinges to occupy relatively sunken positions. These and other details of construction may be optionally added to the seat but Without in any wise aecting its novel character.

In summary, the seat comprises four arcuate sections arranged end to end in abutting relation to define a fully closed opening having a longitudinal axis, the two sections at one end of the seat being counterparts and'the two sections at the other end of the seat also being counterparts but unlike the two sections first noted; and connecting means between` the sections whereby they may be folded once about the longitudinal axis and thereafter folded again about a common axis in a plane transversely of the longitudinal axis about two pivotal connections which, in the fully extended condition of the seat, are disposed with their axes transversely of the plane thereof on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and equidistant therefrom. By such av construction the seat is first doubled upon itself, then closed inwardly to occupy a minimum space for stowage or for carrying.

I claim:

1. A folding toilet seat having a longitudinal axis comprising a pair of like arcuate sections on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis at one end of the seat and a seco-nd pair of like arcuate sections, on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis at the opposite end of the seat, each of the sections being arranged in end to end abutting relation with the adjacent sections, pivotal connections on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the seat having their axes disposed tranversely of the plane of the seat and joining one sectie-n of each pair with the adjacent section of the other pair, and hinge connections having their axes in mutual alignment with each other and with the longitudinal axis of the seat interconnecting two adjacent arcuate sections on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the seat.

2. A folding toilet seat having a longitudinal axis comprising a pair of like arcuate sections on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis at one end of the scat and a second pair of like arcuate sections, unlike the first pair of arcuate sections, disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis at the lopposite end of the seat, each of the sections being arranged in end to end abutting relation with the adjacent sections, pivotal connections on opposite sides ofy the longitudinal axis of the seat having their axes disposed transversely of the plane of the seat and joining one section of each pair with the adjacent section of the other pair, and hinge connections having their axes in mutual alignment with each other and with the longitudinal axis of the seat interconnecting two adjacent arcuate sections on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the seat.

3. A folding Atoilet seat comprising four arcuate sections arranged end to end to dene a fully closed opening having a longitudinal axis on opposite sides of which the sections 'are symmetrically disposed, a hinge connection having its axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the f plane of the seat, disposed at points equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the seat and oppositely of each other joining each'of the two arcuate sections at opposite sides of the seat.

4. A folding toilet seat comprising four arcuate sections arranged end to endv in abutting relation to define a fully closed opening having a longitudinal axis on oposite sides of which the sections are symmetrically disposed, a hinge connection having its axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the seat joining each of the two arcuate sections at opposite ends of the seat in a manner to permit a folding thereof through substantially 180, and two pivotal connections joining each of the two remaining arcuate sections at opposite sides of the seat, the pivotal connections having their axes disposed at points equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the seat, transversely of the plane of the seat, oppositelj,r of each other, adapted to occupy coaxial positions when the seat is once folded about its longitudinal axis to permit a further folding thereof about the common axis of the pivotal connections whereby the two sections at one end of the seat may be swung toward the two opposite sections to a position within the arcuate contour thereof.

5. A folding toilet seat comprising four arcuate sections arranged end to end in abutting relation to dene a fully closed opening having a longitudinal axis, the two sections oppositely of the longitudinal axis at one end of the seat being alike and the two sections oppositely of the longitudinal axis at the other end of the seat being alike but unlike the two sections first named, hinge connections between each of the two like sections at opposite ends of the seat in line with the longitudinal axis thereof, and pivotal connections between each of the two unlike sections at opposite sides of the seat disposed equidistantly from its longitudinal axis and oppositely of each other with their axes transversely of the plane of the seat adapted to occupy coaxial positions when the seat is once folded about the common axis of the two hinge connections to then permit one pair of like sections to swing toward the other pair of like sections into nesting relation therewith.

6. A folding toilet seat comprising two pairs of arcuate sections arranged end to end to define a fully closed opening, the two sections of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a line extending diametrically of the seat, a hinge connection having its axis aligned with the line extending diametrically of the seat joining the two arcuate sections of each pair, and two pivotal connections each having its axis transversely of the plane of the seat, disposed at points equidistant from the line extending diametrically of the seat and oppositely of each other, joining two arcuate sections of opposite pairs.v

HARPER RICHARDS.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Fox Jan. 6, 1885