US3303517A

US3303517A - Toilet seat lifter

Info

Publication number: US3303517A
Application number: US335176A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clyde M Wood; Doris R Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-01-02
Filing date: 1964-01-02
Publication date: 1967-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-14

Description

F b, 14, 1967- c. M. WOOD ETAL TOILET SEAT LIFTER 2 Sheeds-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1964 w H l 24 as i I T m D MOD mm m w M.

R MS R ,UO CD Y B .172442 5 Tad/L2,

ATTO R N EYS Feb. 14, 1967 c. M. WOOD ETAL 7 3,303,517

' TOILET SEAT LIFTER Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CLYDE M. WOOD BY DORIS R. WOOD a rea/v.0, Jm

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,303,517 TOILET SEAT LIFTER Clyde M. Wood and Doris R. Wood, both of 1100 Som Center Road, Mayfield Heights, Ohio 45069 Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,176 12 Claims. (Cl. 4-251) This invention relates in general to improvements in seat lifters for toilet bowls, and more particularly to a seat lifter which is adapted for ready connection to existing toilet bowls.

Foot actuated seat lifters for toilet bowls or water closets are known in the art, to eliminate the necessity of raising the seat by means of the hands, either in the intrests of non-contamination of the hands, or where in hospitals and like facilities, the hands of the user may be occupied, for instance, in carrying objects, and therefore are not available for raising the seat of the toilet bowl.

However, these prior art mechanisms have not been entirely satisfactory in that they are generally unduly bulky, occupying an excessive amount of space in conjunction with the toilet bowl, and usually materially complicate the cleaning of the bowl and the area around the bowl. Moreover, such seat lifters have usually had to be used with a particular design or brand of toilet bowl, and many times are not useable with generally all standard types of toilet bowls.

The present invention provides a novel seat lifter mechanism which is adapted to be actuated by the foot of the user to raise the seat of a toilet bowl and maintain it in raised position and which includes means for readily tripping the lifting mechanism and permitting the seat to be lowered quietly to down position. The invention also provides a lifter mechanism adapted to ready connection to generally all types and sizes oftoilet bowls, and a mechanism which results in minimum interference with cleaning operations on the toilet bowl and the area around the bowl.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel seat lifter mechanism for toilet bowls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel seat lifter mechanism which may be readily attached to existing toilet bowls without the necessity of having a custom made design of toilet bowl for use with the seat lifter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat lifter for a toilet bowl which can be readily attached to existing bowls and which facilitates the cleaning of the area around the toilet bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel toilet seat lifter which comprises a linkage mechanism adapted to be operated by the foot, and with the linkage mechanism embodying an over center linkage action, whereby the seat may be held in a raised condition until the lifter is again actuated to lower the seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seat lifter mechanism of the latter mentioned type including a fluid checking device for resisting the lowering of the seat upon actuation of the linkage mechanism, whereby the seat may be lowered without slamming down onto the bowl.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a seat lifter mechanism of the aforementioned type including novel means embodied with the lifter mechanism for deactuation of the over center linkage arrangement, and causing the weight of the seat to act to lower the seat against the resistance of the checking device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a toilet bowl embodying the instant seat lifter mechanism of the invention; in full lines there is shown a lowered position of the seat and associated position of the lifter mechanism, and in dot-dash lines there is shown a raised condition of the seat together with the associated position of only certain portions of the lifter mechanism. I

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, generally perspective view of the seat lifter mechanism and showing in the full lines the general condition of the parts of the mechanism when the seat is in a raised position, and showing in dot-dash lines the general condition of the mechanism when the seat is in lowered position.

FIG. 3 is a reduced size, top plan, generally diagrammatic view of the toilet bowl and associated seat lifter mechanism showing, in general, the positional relationship in plan of the parts of the lifter mechanism with respect to the toilet bowl.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, top plan view of the fluid checking mechanism which is adapted to resist the lowering of the seat.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the mounting plate of the seat lifter mechanism which is adapted for attaching the lifter mechanism to generally any known or existing toilet bowl.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, side elevational view of an abutment member adapted for attachment to the underside of the toilet seat as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for limiting the clockwise or upward pivoting of the seat with respect to the linkage mechanism of the lifter arrangement.

' Referring now again to the drawings, there is ShOWn a water closet of conventional, well known type having a bowl portion 10, a tank portion 12, and with a seat 14 being hinged as at 14a to the conventional bridge portion 16 of the bowl. The seat 14 is hinged to the bridge portion 16 as by means of conventional seat lugs or bolts 18 attached to the seat and extending through openings in the bridge portion. NutslSa coacting with the threaded lugs or bolts 18 from underneath the bridge portion, hold the seat in position in the conventional manner. Bumpers 19 are provided on the seats underside as usual, and maintain the seat in slightly raised condition with respect to the top of the bowl 10 and in the conventional well known manner.

Now in accordance with the instant invention a seat lifter mechanism 20 is provided, mounted on the toilet bowl and coacting with the cover or seat 14, for lifting the seat upwardly upon manual actuation, as by means of a foot of the user. Such seat lifter mechanism may comprise a foot actuated main lever member 21 pivoted as at 21a to a column or supporting rod member 22, a lifter link 24 pivoted as at 24a to the support 22, and adapted for engagement with the underside of the seat 14, and a connecting link member 26 which is pivoted as at 26a to the lifter link 24, and as at 26b to the foot lever 21.

A fluid checking unit 28 may be pivoted asat 28a to supporting or mounting member 30, and the piston rod 29 of the checking unit may be rather loosely coupled as at 34 to the associated apertured end of the foot lever link 21. As may be seen, link 21 is a first class lever, while link 24 is' a third class lever.

The aforementioned mounting member may comprise a flat plate having an opening 36 in one diagonal end surface thereof for receiving therein a pivot pin 37 (FIG. 4) secured to the checking unit 28 for pivotally mounting the latter on the plate. The checking unit pin 37 is preferably receivedin opening 36 with a slight frictional fit, but is adapted to be readily pivoted in such receiving opening 36.

An L-shaped member 39 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is preferably adjustably mounted on the plate 30 over opening 39a therein, so that such member 39 may be pivoted about an axis perpendicular to plate 30. A screw or other fastening means may coact between the underside of the plate'member 30 and member 39, for adjustably holding the member 39 in selected fixed, position on the plate. Member 39 is adapted, to coact with the shelf or bridge portion of the toilet bowl in overlying engaged relation to aid in maintaining the seat lifter mechanism in mounted position on the bowl.

The supporting plate member 30 has an opening 40 therethrough (FIG. 5) through which extends the upper portion of supporting rod 22, andas best shown in FIG. 2 of the "drawings. As can be seen, supporting rod 22 has an offset or bent section 42 (FIG. 2) which enables a compact and expeditious mounting of foot lever 21 on rod 22, and the ready connecting of lever 21 with the checking unit 28. An opening 43a may be provided in plate 30 forreceiving a pin which also extends. through a complementary opening in rod 22, for locking the rod 22 in selected position with respect to plate 38.

Plate member 30 also has an opening 44 therethrough through which is adapted to extend one of the seat mounting lugs 18, and. then the aforementioned nutmember 18a coacts with the underside of the'plate 30 and holds the plate in abutting relation withthe underside of the bridge or shelf portion 16 of the bowl. Adjusting

screws

46, 46a, 47, 48 and 48a are preferably also provided in tr'eaded openings in the mounting plate 30, for tightening up and adjusting the position of the plate with respect to the bowl when it is in mounted condition on the bowl. It wiil be seen that

screws

46, 46a and 48 are adapted to coact with the underside of the shelf or bridge portion of the bowl, while screw 48a is adapted to coact with the generally rounded area or section 5% of the bowl, and screw 47 is adapted to coact with the section52 of the bowl, just below the bridge portion, and thus hold the mounting plate 30 in very secure, position on the bowl. By loosening up on nut 18:: and adjusting the

screw rnembars

56, 46a, 47, 48 and 48a, the plate 30 can be moved or swung with respect to the attaching seat lug 18, and thus effectively adjust the position of the lifter mechanism on the bowl. p v

The lifter link 24 can be seen .to embody a bent distal end portion 49 (FIG. 3) which extends inwardly in underlying relation to the seat 14, and which embodies a prew ferably rotatable washer or roller 58 thereon, which is adapted to roll with respect to the undersite of the seat, upon raising and lowering of the seat. In this connection there is provided an abutment lug 54 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) which is adapted to coact with the roller member 50 on the lifter link 24, and lock or limit the pivotal movement of the seat with respectto the lifter linkage, and which actually locks or secures the lifter linkage to the seat in the raised condition of the seat. From FIG. 6 it can be seen, that the lug 54 embodies a mounting portion 56 which is adapted to abut with the underside of the toilet seat and which is provided with an opening 56a therethrough for receiving a fastener for attaching the lug to the seat, and a sloped can portion 56b which receives and holds the roller member on the lifter link 24, between portion 56b and the underside ofthe seat, aswill be hereiiiafter described in greater detail.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 4, the checking device 28 may comprise a hydraulic cylinder 57 having the piston rod 29 extending out of one end of the cylinder, and having a pair of spaced piston head members 57a, 57b secured thereto. The piston head members may include resilient washer-like members 58, 58a, which may be adjustably mounted on the piston rod by means of threaded nuts 59, for adjusting the space between such members. The piston head members 57a, 57b define What will be called an upper chamber 60, and a lower chamber 60a in the checking member. Washer member 58 has an opening or orifice 62 therethrough, and through which is adapted to flow the resistance fluid, such as oil, from the lower chamber to the upper chamber and vice versa, upon axial movement of the piston rod and associated piston head members. The piston rod 29, as aforementioned, is rather loosely connected to the foot lever 21, as by means of a wire 63 secured to the rod and extending through an opening in the associated end of the main rod 21. v

The wire may be detachably connected to the lever 21 by laterally bent portion 63a after it passes through the receiving opening to form a generally lost motion con nection. The piston rod and associated piston head members are moved outwardly of the cylinder to force the fluid which occupies

chamber

60, 60a from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, due to the fact that a vacuum is formed in the lower chamber upon the outward stroke of the piston rod, which condition actually sucks the oil down into the lower chamber from the upper chamber 60 and via orifice 62. An air breather hole 65 is provided on the upper end of cylinder '57 and communicates the interior of cylinder 57 ahead of head member 57a with the exterior. In this connection, the interior walls of the cylinder which slidingly coact with the resilient washer 5811 during the outward stroke of the rod 29 are tapered outwardly asat 65a, to permit entry of some air into upper chamber 60 during the outward stroke and resultant movement of oil into lower chamber 60a. Upon lowering of the toilet seat, and

. engagement of the rod 21 with the confronting end of the piston rod, the weight of the seat forces the piston rod and associated head member 57a, 57b axially inwardly. of the cylinder, forcing the oil in the lower chamber through the orifice 62 into the upper chamber, thus resisting the flow of fluid from the lower chamber to the upper chamber, and thereby lowering the seat quietly down onto the top of the bowl 10. During such inward stroke, the intaken air in upper chamber 60 is forced past the resilient washer 58a into communication with the lifter mechanism, he may push down on the pedal 66 I which is preferably adjustably' mounted on the end of foot lever member 21 as by means of threaded shank and coacting nut 66a, for adjusting the vertical position of the pedal 66 with respect to the lever 21, and which includes a tripping means 68, comprising a generally S-shaped member which is pivoted as at 69 to a bracket 70 preferably secured to the shank of the pedal 66, and which S-shaped or cam member is. adapted for engagement with the floor as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. A'pin 70a projecting laterally from member 68 is adapted to limit counterclockwise movement of member 68.

Now as the foot level 21 is pivoted downwardly about its pivot point 21a to the support rod 22, and from the dot-dash to the full line position of FIG. 2, this pivots the load endof the lever 21 in a counterclockwise direction (with respect to FIG. 2) which due to its being coupled by link 26 to the lifter lever 24, swings the lifter lever 24 upwardly about its pivot point 24a to the support rod 22. It will be seen that in a raised position of the seat, the roller 50 is coacting with lug 54 to lock the lifter mechanism to the seat, and the link 26 moves over center so that upon release of the foot of the user from the foot pedal 66, the seat is retained in a raised position, due to the fact that pivot point 26b of the link 26 has moved outwardly beyond the pivot point 26a of the link, and therefore the weight of the seat is not effective to lower the seat. It will also be seen that upon such movement as aforediscussed, the checking unit 28 swings about its pivot point 37 from a more or less vertical position as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2, to the full line position, with the piston rod being extended.

Now to release the mechanism, and permit lowering of the seat, the foot of the user can press down on the raised section 71 of tripping means 68, which cams against the floor, thereby pivoting about its pivot point 69 and causing raising or clockwise movement of the link 21 about its pivot point 21a to the support 22. This causes the rearward end of the link 21 to move in a clockwise direction (with respect to FIG. 2) thereby pulling the link 26 back from over center and beyond the pivot point 26a of the link to the lifter link 24, whereby the weight on the seat causes the seat to lower against the resistance of the checking unit 28.

It will be seen that the support member 22 preferably has a base block or member 75 which comprises a pair of threaded screws 76, 7611 having preferably pointed ends 78, which engage the floor and support the supporting rod 22. The threaded members 76, 76a may be rotated to raise and lower their position with respect to block member 75, thereby providing for the use of the seat lifter with different heights of water closets, as well as providing for leveling of the mechanism. Screw member 80 extending in threaded relation through the support member 75 locks the support rod 22 with respect to the base member 75, thereby holding the latter in whatever position is selected. In this connection block 75 may be slotted to give it a resilient gripping coaction with the lower end of rod 22 received therethrough, and movement of the block 75 along rod 22 adjusts the mechanism for use with different heights of water closets. It will be seen that the fact that the support rod 22 is supported by means of two spaced points 73 on the floor greatly facilitates the cleaning of the floor area about the toilet bowl, and enables the area to be readily maintained in sanitary condition.

It will also be seen that since all existing or standard toilet bowls have a bridging portion 16 and connect the seat to the bridging portion by means of generally standardized threaded seat lugs 18, and that the position of the lifter mechanism is readily adjustable with respect to the bowl, such lifter mechanism may be readily connected to generally all known brands of toilet bowls without the necessity of custom designing the mechanism to any particular construction or brand of bowl. Likewise, by merely loosening up on clamp 39 and removal of nut 18a from seat lug 18, the seat lifter mechanism can be removed from the water closet.

While the iifter mechanism has been shown on the right hand side of the toilet bowl, which is the preferred location, it will be understood that it may be installed on the opposite side of the bowl.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel seat lifter mechanism which provides for readily raising the seat by foot actuated means, and also provides for tripping the lifter mechanism and permitting the seat to be lowered quietly to down position. The invention also provides a novel lifter mechanism which is readily adapted for connection to generally all existing types and sizes of toilet bowls, and results in minimum interference with cleaning operations on the bowl, and the area around the bowl. The invention also provides a lifter mechanism having a novel checking means for resisting the lowering of the toilet seat, and one that utilizes a vacuum for aiding in moving resistance fluid from one chamber to another chamber in the checking mechanism.

' The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a seat lifter mechanism for a toilet bowl having a seat pivoted to the bowl by a lug extending through a section of the bowl, said mechanism comprising foot actuated linkage means for lifting the seat upwardly about its pivotal axis, means mounting said linkage means for supporting the same, and means on said mounting means for attaching the lifter mechanism to the seat lug, said mounting means comprising a plate-like member having an aperture therethrough adapted for receiving the mounting lug of the seat and to be held in coacting relationship therewith by the nut of the seat lug, and means on said plate-like member for adjusting the position of the member with respect to the toilet bowl when in coupled relationship to the seat lug.

2. In a seat lifter mechanism for a toilet bowl having a seat pivoted to the bowl by a lug extending through a section of the bowl, said mechanism comprising foot actuated linkage means for lifting the seat upwardly about its pivotal axis, means mounting said linkage means for supporting the same, and means on said mounting means for attaching the lifter mechanism to the seat lug, said linkage means comprising a supporting member supported by said mounting means, a foot actuated member pivoted to said supporting member, a lifter member pivoted to said supporting member for lifting coaction with the toilet seat, and a link extending between and pivoted to said lifter member and said foot member for causing pivotal movement of said lifter member about its pivotal coupling to said supporting member upon pivotal movement of said foot member about its pivotal coupling to said supporting member, said link being so connected with respect to said foot member and said lifter member that upon predetermined downward pivotal movement of said foot member the pivotal connection of said link to said foot member is moved over center to lock the lifter member in raised position and thus become operative to lock the seat in raised position.

3. A seat lifter mechanism in accordance with claim 2, including a hydraulic checking device mounted on said mounting means and operatively connected to said foot actuated member for resisting downward pivotal movement of said lifter member about said supporting member.

4. A checking device for use in the combination of claim 3 wherein said checking device comprises a cylinder, a pair of spaced piston heads in said cylinder, a piston rod mounting said piston heads in said cylinder and extending outwardly from one end of the cylinder, said piston rod and associated piston heads being adapted for reciprocal movement in said cylinder and defining a first chamber intermediate said piston heads and a second chamber defined by the outermost one of said piston heads and said cylinder, and orifice means in said one piston head for permitting fluid flow therethrough from said second chamber to said first chamber to dampen the movement of said piston rod inwardly with respect to said cylinder.

5. A checking device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said piston heads are threadedly mounted on said piston rod for varying the spacing therebetween, and thus changing the volume of said chambers.

6. A seat lifter mechanism for a toilet bowl having a seat secured to and pivoted to the bowl by a lug extending through a section of the bowl, said mechanism comprising a mounting member adapted for securement to the seat lug adjacent the pivotal axis of the seat to the bowl, a support member coupled to the mounting member and extending downwardly and adapted for movable engagement with the floor, a foot operated member pivoted to said support member, a lifter member movably coupled to said support member and adapted for engagement with the seat, and link means connecting the lifter member to the foot operated member, whereby upon pivotal movement of the foot operated member, the lifter member is actuated to cause raising of the seat.

7. A seat lifter mechanism in accordance with claim. 6, wherein said support member includes means on the lower end thereof for movably coacting with the floor in point engaging relation, to minimize the engagement of the lifter mechanism with the floor.

8; A sanitary water closet including a seat pivoted to the toilet bowl by means of a lug extending from the seat and through a section of the bowl, and mounting the seat on the toilet bowl, and a lifter mechanism for lifting the seat of the toilet bowl, said lifter mechanism comprising mounting means coacting with the toilet seat lug for mounting the lifter mechanism on the toilet bowl, linkage means supported by said mounting means and extending between said mounting means and said seat for lifting the seat upon actuation of said linkage means, and including hydraulic checking means pivotally mounted on said mounting means and coacting with said linkage means to resist downward pivotal movement of the seat.

9. A sanitary water closet. including a seat pivoted to the toilet bowl by means of a lug extending from the seat and through a section of the bowl, and mounting the seat on the toilet bowl, anda lifter mechanism for lifting the seat of the toilet bowl, said lifter mechanism comprising mounting means coacting with the toilet seat lug for mounting the lifter mechanism on the toilet bowl, linkage means supported by said mounting means and extending between said mounting means and said seat for lifting the seat upon actuation of said linkage means, and including means on said linkage means for locking the linkage means in elevated position to maintain the toilet seat in raised condition, and means on said linkage means for deactivating said locking means to permit lowering of said seat. 7 1

10. A sanitary water closet including a seat pivoted to the toilet bowl by means of a lug'extending from the seat and through a section of the bowl, and mounting the seat on the toilet bowl, and a lifter mechanism for lifting the the seat of the toilet bowl, said lifter mechanism comprising mounting means coacting with the toilet seat lug for mounting the lifter mechanism on the toilet bowl, and linkage means supported by saidmounting means and extending between said mounting means and said seat for lifting the seat upon actuation of said linkage means, and including means on said toilet seat adapted for coaction with said linkage means for positively coupling the linkage means to the toilet seatupon predetermined upward pivotal movement of the seat due to actuation of said linkage means.

11. A sanitary water closet including a seat pivoted to the toilet bowl by means of a lug extending from the seat and through a section of the bowl, and mounting the seat on the toilet bowl, and a lifter mechanism for lifting the seat of the toilet bowl, said lifter mechanism comprising mounting means coacting with the toilet seat lug for mounting the lifter mechanism on the toilet bowl, and linkage means supported by said mounting means and extending between said mounting means and said seat for lifting the seat upon actuation of said linkage means, and including means for adjusting the position of the linkage means with respect to the floor on which the bowl is mounted, the last mentioned adjusting means including spaced rotatable threaded means adapted for engagement with the floor.

12. In combination a water closet comprising a bowl section, a tank section and a bridging section extending between said bowl and tank sections, a seat pivoted to said bowl section by threaded seat lugs extending through said bridging section, and a seat lifter mechanism mounted on said water closet for lifting said seat, said seat lifter mechanism comprising a plate like member having an opening therethrough, said opening receiving therethrough one of said seat lugs, of the seat and being secured to the bridge portion by an associated seat lug nut, means mounted on said plate member for aiding in securing the plate member to said bridge section, a first support rod coupled to said plate member-and extending down to the floor, said first support rod having point engagement with the floor, means for selectively adjusting the position of the support rod with respect to the floor and the water closet, a foot actuated lever pivoted to said support rod and adapted for actuation by the user, a seat lifter lever pivoted at one end to said support rod and at the other end thereof coacting with said seat, link means extending between said foot actuated lever and saidlifter lever for pivoting said lifter lever upwardly about its pivotal connection to said support rod upon downward pivotal movement of said foot actuated lever with respect to said support rod, and a hydraulic checking device pivotally mounted on said plate member and coacting with said foot actuated lever for resisting downward pivotal movement of said lifter lever and associated seat, said link means being so arranged so as to pass over center and lock aid lifter lever in raised position, upon predetermined downward movement of said foot actuated lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,386,196 8/1921 Munn 4.251 1,792,811 2/1931" Bustin 4-251 2,155,548 4/1939 Homepsch 4-251 2,636,185 4/1953 Boston 4-251 2,772,422 12/1956 Knudsen 4251 2,954,565 10/1960 Miller 4-251 3,055,016 9/1962 Kemp 4-251 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A SEAT LIFTER MECHANISM FOR A TOILET BOWL HAVING A SEAT PIVOTED TO THE BOWL BY A LUG EXTENDING THROUGH A SECTION OF THE BOWL, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING FOOT ACTUATED LINKAGE MEANS FOR LIFTING THE SEAT UPWARDLY ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL AXIS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID LINKAGE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE SAME, AND MEANS ON SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE LIFTER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT LUG, SAID MOUNTING MEANS COMPRISING A PLATE-LIKE MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING THE MOUNTING LUG OF THE SEAT AND TO BE HELD IN COACTING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH BY THE NUT OF THE SEAT LUG, AND MEANS ON SAID PLATE-LIKE MEMBER FOR ADJUSTING THEPOSITION OF THE MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE TOILET BOWL WHEN IN COUPLED RELATIONSHIP TO THE SEAT LUG.