WO1993006765A1

WO1993006765A1 - A toilet seat control device

Info

Publication number: WO1993006765A1
Application number: PCT/IE1992/000015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brendan Coleman
Original assignee: Willowstone Limited
Priority date: 1991-10-11
Filing date: 1992-10-12
Publication date: 1993-04-15
Also published as: AU2773092A

Abstract

A toilet seat control device (1) for automatically raising a toilet seat having a hinge assembly with a housing (2) for mounting on a toilet bowl (30) and a pivot shaft (3) for attachment to a toilet seat (31) rotatably mounted on the housing (2). A torsion spring (17) mounted between the pivot shaft (3) and housing (2) urges the seat (31) to a raised position. The seat (31) can be held in a lowered position adjacent the bowl (30) ready for use by a lock formed by a spring-loaded ball (9) which engages a complementary socket (8) in the pivot shaft (3). Preferably, release means for the lock incorporates a time delay device to automatically disengage the lock after a preset time. In this way the toilet seat (31) can be held down to facilitate use, but is always released for return to the raised position when not in use.

Description

"A toilet seat control device"

This invention relates to toilet seats, and in particular to hinge mechanisms therefor.

A toilet assembly generally comprises a bowl having a seat hingedly .mounted on top of the bowl for movement between a lowered position seated on the bowl, and a raised position. A seat cover may also be hingedly mounted on the bowl in similar fashion. For hygiene, in particular for public toilets, it is desirable that the seat should be in a raised position except when it is in use. Solutions to this problem have been proposed for many years and if there was a need for proof one merely has to look at the number of patent specifications and the myriad of solutions that have been advocated for this problem none of which have been satisfactory. The most common way has been to provide a spring bias such as in Patent Specification No. GB 2,185,271 so that the seat is put down and held for use and when released as the user gets off the seat the seat is restored to the upright position. This unfortunately is uncomfortable in that as the user gets up from the seat, the seat tends to follow the user making contact between the seat and the users body and being generally unsatisfactory. Similarly, when lowering the seat for use it is somewhat awkward in that the user has to hold the seat down against the bowl and then sit on it.

Another solution to the problem has been the use of pedal means to raise the seat this, for example, is described in US Patent Specification No. 4,426,743 and has the disadvantage that the user must still operate the pedal and if the user does not operate the pedal then the seat remains in the lowered position. The type of person that will not manually raise the seat before using it is similarly the type of person that would not use a pedal to raise the seat before using it and thus the provision of pedals and the like devices is relatively unsatisfactory.

US Patent Specification No. 3,653,077 provides a latch for retaining the seat in the raised position but again this does not overcome the basic problem. Further, the seat must be lifted partially before it is spring biased into the raised position.

One possible solution to the problem would be to provide means to hold the seat lowered on the bowl and at the same time have this lowered seat position connected with some form of latch means so that on operation of the latch the seat would automatically rise. This, however, again suffers from the problem that those who will not raise the seat to use it will not use a latch.

Indeed, the only conclusion that can be arrived at from considering all these patent specifications is that the basic problem arises from a lack of analysis of the problem which may have directed many of those who provided solutions to the problem heretofore with the improved solution as we have found.

In its simplest terms what is required is a toilet seat that can be used as if it were a normal toilet seat. In other words, the user is able to pull the toilet seat down, sit on it in the normal manner get up from it in the normal manner and not see anything strange or feel anything strange or notice anything different about the toilet seat and if the user lifts up the toilet seat as many people will do, will notice nothing different and if the user does not lift up the toilet seat then the toilet seat raises automatically. According to the invention, there is provided a toilet seat control device of the type comprising a hinge assembly having a stationary part for mounting on a toilet bowl a pivotal part for mounting on the toilet seat and a bias means for moving the seat upwardly, away from the bowl into a raised position, characterised in that there is provided a hinge, assembly lock incorporating release means for releasably locking the hinge assembly to retain the toilet seat in a lowered position at the bowl, the lock being disengageable to allow the bias means move the seat upwardly from this lowered position to the raised position. In a preferred embodiment there is provided a toilet seat control device of the type comprising a hinge assembly having a stationary part for mounting on a toilet bowl a pivotal part for mounting on the toilet seat and a bias means for moving the seat upwardly, away from the bowl into a raised position, characterised in that there is provided a hinge assembly lock incorporating release means for releasably locking the hinge assembly to retain the toilet seat in a partially lowered intermediate position adjacent the bowl, the lock being disengageable upon pivoting the hinge by moving the seat out of the intermediate .position towards a fully lowered position against the bowl, the bias means overriding the lock when moving the seat upwardly from the fully lowered to the

• raised position. Thus advantageously, the toilet seat can be held in an almost lowered position while a user sits on the seat. When the user subsequently rises the seat will then under bias return to the raised position.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock release means incorporates a time delay device to disengage the lock after a preset time. This is a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention in that the seat cannot be indefinitely locked in the intermediate position adjacent the bowl as if it is not held down by, for example, a user sitting on it, it will automatically return under bias force to the raised position.

Ideally, the time delay device is operable in response to the bias means.

Conveniently, the lock comprises a bolt mounted on one part of the hinge assembly and a spring urging the bolt towards the other part of the hinge assembly which has a socket for reception of the bolt and in which, at least, the surface of the socket engaged by the bolt as the seat pivots upwards out of the locked position forms a gradual transition from its deepest portion to its edge.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge assembly comprises a support housing for mounting on the toilet bowl and a pivot shaft for mounting on the seat and for engagement within a main bore on the support housing, the lock comprising a spring-loaded bolt mounted within a bore in the housing and transverse to the main bore engageable within a socket formed in the pivot shaft, and in which the bias means is a torsion spring mounted around the pivot shaft and anchored between it and the support housing. Obviously, the shape of the surface of the socket, the spring-loading on the bolt and the force applied by the biasing means can be selected to achieve a desirable time delay which typically would be in the region of 5-15 seconds.

Conveniently, the spring-loaded bolt may be formed by a ballbearing mounted on the free end of a spring. Preferably, a threaded screw secures the bolt within its bore and provides adjustment for the spring force and hence the time delay. In another embodiment, the bias means is adjustable. Preferably the bias means is a torsion spring mounted on the pivot shaft and extending between associated slots on both parts of the hinge assembly, at least one of the parts having a number of spaced-apart slots for reception of the spring to adjust spring tension.

In a preferred embodiment, the bias means is a torsion spring mounted on the pivot shaft and extended between associated slots on both pivot parts of the hinge mechanism, at least one of the parts having a number of spaced-apart slots for reception of the spring to adjust spring tension. Preferably, a number of spaced-apart slots are provided on the housing for reception of one end of the torsion spring to facilitate adjustment of spring tension, the other end of the torsion spring engaging a slot in the pivot shaft.

Ideally, stop means is provided to limit rotation of the pivot shaft within the housing to define a raised seat position. The stop means may be mounted on one pivot part of the hinge mechanism to resiliently engage the other pivot part of the hinge mechanism. Preferably, the stop means is a spring-loaded plunger on the housing engageable with an associated slot on the pivot shaft.

In another aspect, the invention provides a toilet seat control device in combination with a toilet seat wherein the pivot shaft has an arm for attachment to the seat, the arm being releasably secured to the seat by one or more quick-release fasteners.

In another aspect the invention provides a toilet assembly incorporating the toilet seat control device as previously described. The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of toilet seat control device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is an exploded elevational view of the device,

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view of the device,

Fig. 4 is a detailed cross section of a pivot shaft of the device taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4a is a diagrammatic illustration of a stopper of the device,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a toilet assembly incorporating the device showing the toilet seat and cover in a raised position,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partially sectioned detail view corresponding to Fig. 5 showing the device on the toilet assembly with the seat in a raised position,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the toilet seat in a partially lowered intermediate position,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the toilet seat in the intermediate position shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the toilet seat in a fully lowered position, Fig..10 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the toilet seat in a fully lowered position as shown in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view of portion of the toilet assembly showing the device mounting a toilet seat on a toilet bowl of the toilet assembly,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing another toilet seat control device for mounting a toilet seat on a toilet bowl,

Fig. 13 is a perspective exploded view of the device of Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective partially cut-away view of portion of the device of Fig. 12,

Fig. 15 is a detail perspective partially cut-away view of another portion of the device of Fig. 12,

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevational view of the toilet seat control device portion shown in Fig. 15,

Fig. 17 is a detail, partially sectioned view similar to Fig. 6 showing the toilet seat control device portion of Fig. 15 when the toilet seat is in a raised position,

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the toilet seat in a partially lowered intermediate position,

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the toilet seat in a fully lowered position,

Fig. 20 is a detail partially sectioned elevational view of the toilet seat control device portion of Fig. 15 showing stop means for limiting movement of the toilet seat, the stop means being shown in a released position, and

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20 showing the stop means in an engaged position.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 11 thereof, there is illustrated a toilet seat control device according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The control device 1 has a hinge assembly with a pair of complementary pivot parts formed by a support housing 2 and a pivot shaft 3 rotatably mounted on the support housing 2. The pivot shaft 3 has an arm 4 at one end for attachment to a toilet seat. An opposite end 5 of the pivot shaft 3 is threaded for engagement by a nut 6 to secure the pivot shaft 3 on the housing 2. A torsion spring retaining slot 7 is provided along the pivot shaft 3. On an outer surface of the pivot shaft 3 adjacent the arm 4 there is provided a receiver socket 8 (see Fig. 4) engageable by a locking bolt formed by a spring-loaded ball 9 carried on a screw 11 mounted on the housing 2, together forming a lock for the hinge assembly.

The housing 2 has a stepped bore 12 with an open end 13. An annular wall 14 at the other end of the bore 12 has a through hole 15 which forms a bearing for the pivot shaft 3. A number of smaller through holes 16 are spaced-apart around the hole 15. A torsion spring 17 is a sleeved fit on the pivot shaft 3 within the bore 12 as shown in Fig. 3. The spring 17 has ends 18, 19 which engage one of the holes 16 on the housing 2 the slot 7 in the pivot shaft 3 respectively. The nut 6 retains the spring 17 in engagement with the holes 16 and has a flanged inner end 20 slidably engageable within the bore 12 for centring and supporting the pivot shaft 3 within the bore 12. Alternatively, to retain the spring 17 within the housing 2 and support the pivot shaft 3 a support washer can be slid onto the pivot shaft 3 and retained against the spring 17 by a key which is wedged in the slot 7.

It will be noted that the cylindrical body of the nut 6 projects outwardly of the housing 2 in use (see Fig. 3). The body of the nut 6 thus forms a support for a toilet seat cover 34 which is hingedly mounted thereon.

Formed in the body of the housing 2 is a threaded bore 24, extending transversely to and communicating with the stepped bore 12, within which is mounted the screw 11 carrying the spring-loaded ball 9 at its inner end for engagement against the pivot shaft 3. The ball 9 is retained on the screw 11 and the spring is housed within the screw 11 behind the ball 9 which can retract into the screw 11 against spring pressure.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 1 and 4a stop means to limit rotation of the pivot shaft 3 to define a raised seat position comprises a screw 40 carrying a spring- loaded plunger 41 engageable within the slot 7 when the seat is in a raised position. An edge of the slot is preferably cut-away to facilitate engagement and release of the plunger 41. The screw 40 is mounted in a threaded bore on the housing 2, alongside the bore 24, which communicates with the stepped bore 12. It will be noted that the plunger may in some cases form a switch for operation of another secondary device for example to possibly flush the toilet. Alternatively, other switch means may be provided operated by rotation of the pivot shaft 3 within the stepped bore 12 to operate the secondary device. A mounting bracket 27 projects laterally of the housing 2 and has slots 28 for reception of a mounting bolt 29 to secure the device 1 on a toilet bowl 30 as shown in Fig. 11. The arm 4 is engageable with an underside of a toilet seat 31 by quick release screws 32. A toilet seat cover 34 is also pivotally mounted on the bowl 30.

In use, and referring now in particular to Figs. 5 to 11, the toilet seat 31 is mounted on the bowl 30 by the device attached to one side of the back edge of the seat 31 and a conventional hinge 35 attached at the other side of the back edge of the seat 31. With the device 1 mounted on the toilet bowl 30, the seat 31 is urged by the torsion spring 12 into a fully raised position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The seat 31 can be manually lowered against spring bias into a partially lowered intermediate position as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 adjacent the toilet bowl 30. In this position, the ball 9 engages within the receiver socket 8 locking the hinge mechanism to hold the seat 31 in the intermediate position. It will be noted that the socket 8 has a sloped sidewall 10 forming a smooth transition from its deepest portion to its edge such that the ball 26 will gradually move out of the socket 8 under spring 12 bias, typically with a delay of 5-10 seconds to release the seat 31 for return to the raised position. Thus advantageously, the seat 31 can only be maintained in the intermediate position for a short period without being held down. When the seat 31 is moved out of the intermediate position towards a fully lowered position as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 for use and is then subsequently released, spring pressure is such that the seat 31 will move into the fully raised position. Thus advantageously, the seat can be readied in a partially lowered position for use, however, it cannot be permanently latched in the intermediate position thus ensuring that unless the seat 31 is in use, it always returns to the raised position. Advantageously also because of the quick-release screw connection, the toilet seat can be readily easily and quickly removed from the bowl to facilitate cleaning of the seat and the bowl.

It will be appreciated that ^■ the device according to the invention is of relatively simple construction thus facilitating relatively cheap manufacture and reliability in operation.

The provision of the slot 7 extending from an end of the pivot shaft 3 is particulary advantageous as it allows mounting on the torsion spring 17 on the pivot shaft 3 readily easily and without straining or damaging the end 19 of the spring 17.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 21 there is illustrated another toilet seat control device according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 50 for raising a toilet seat 51 on a toilet bowl 52. The device 50 comprises a pivot shaft 53 and an associated biasing or spring means 54. The shaft 53 has a first end 55, a second end 56 and has a diameter and length substantially the same as a rod conventionally employed for hingedly mounting a toilet seat on a toilet bowl. The shaft 53 is held in position on the toilet bowl 52 by a pair of housing elements 58, 59. Each housing element 58, 59 comprises a U-shaped member having legs 60, 61 integral with a curved upper section 62 and having an endwall 63. A socket 64 in the endwall 63 rotatably receives an end of the pivot shaft 53 to pivotally support the pivot shaft 53. Each leg 60, 61 terminates in a pair of opposed inwardly projecting members 65, 66 which afford a surface for enabling the relatively large head of a bolt 67 to slide thereon, the shaft 68 of the bolt 67 passing through a hole in the toilet bowl 52 and being retained by a nut in conventional fashion.

The shaft 53 has inwardly extending radial slots 69, 70 at each end. The torsion spring 54 has an inner end 71 engageable within the slot 69 and an outer end 72 engageable within one of a number of holes 73 in a head of the bolt 67 which allow for adjustment of the spring tension.

The seat 51 terminates in a pair of legs 75, 76 the free ends of each of which has a respective shaft engaging member 77, 78 each having a through hole 79, 80 for through passage of the shaft 53. A number of spaced-apart holes 81 are arranged around each hole 79, 80 at an outer side of each hole 79, 80. A locking washer 83 is slideable on the shaft 53 having an inwardly directed tab 84 for engagement within a slot 69, 70 of the shaft 53. Peripheral projections 85 on the washer 83 are engageable within the holes 81 to securely lock the seat 51 on the shaft 53. One or both legs 75, 76 of the seat 51 can thus be rigidly secured to the shaft 53.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 15 and 16 the housing element 59 will be described. This is generally of similar construction to the housing element 58. However, in this case, a mounting bolt 90 having a head 91 with an upstanding ridge 92 at one end is provided. A threaded hole 93 in the shaft end 56 receives a bolt 94 carrying a spring-loaded ball 95 at its lower end. Upon rotation of the shaft 53 the ball 95 is engageable with the ridge 92. A radial lug 97 mounted in the slot 71 is engageable with a stop shoulder 98 within the housing element 59 when the seat 51 is in a raised position. In use, the device 50 operates in a similar fashion to the device described previously with reference to Figs. 1 to 11. The spring 54 urges the seat 51 into the raised position. To lower the seat 51 for use, the seat is brought down to an intermediate position just above the bowl 52 in which position, the ball 95 of the bolt 94 on the shaft 53 engages behind the ridge 92 as shown in Fig. 18 to hold the seat 51 in the intermediate position. When a person sits on the seat 51 for use, the seat 51 is brought downwardly against the bowl 52. When the user subsequently rises the seat 51 is released and it returns under spring bias to the raised position where it is brought to a halt by the lug 97 engaging against the shoulder 98 within the housing element 59.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A toilet seat control device of the type comprising a hinge assembly having a stationary part for mounting on a toilet bowl a pivotal part for mounting on the toilet seat and a bias means for moving the seat upwardly, away from the bowl into a raised position, characterised in that there is provided a hinge assembly lock incorporating release means for releasably locking the hinge assembly to retain the toilet seat in a lowered position at the bowl, the lock being disengageable to allow the bias means move the seat upwardly from this lowered position to the raised position.-

2. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim 1 of the type comprising a hinge assembly having a stationary part for mounting on a toilet bowl a pivotal part for mounting on the toilet seat and a bias means for moving the seat upwardly, away from the bowl into a raised position, characterised in that there is provided a hinge assembly lock incorporating release means for releasably locking the hinge assembly to retain the toilet seat in a partially lowered intermediate position adjacent the bowl, the lock being disengageable upon pivoting the hinge by moving the seat out of the intermediate position towards a fully lowered position against the bowl, the bias means overriding the lock when moving the seat upwardly from the fully lowered to the raised position.

3. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the lock release means incorporates a time delay device to disengage the lock after a preset time.

4. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim

3 wherein the time delay device is operable in response to the bias means.

5. A toilet s.eat control device as claimed in claim

4 in which the lock comprises a bolt mounted on one part of the hinge assembly and a spring urging the bolt towards the other part of the hinge assembly which has a socket for reception of the bolt and in which, at least, the surface of the socket engaged by the bolt as the seat pivots upwards out of the locked position forms a gradual transition from its deepest portion to its edge.

6. A toilet seat control device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 in which the hinge assembly comprises a support housing for mounting on the toilet bowl and a pivot shaft for mounting on the seat and for engagement within a main bore on the support housing, the lock comprising a spring- loaded bolt mounted within a bore in the housing and transverse to the main bore engageable within a socket formed in the pivot shaft, and in which the bias means is a torsion spring mounted around the pivot shaft and anchored between it and the support housing.

7. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim

5 or 6 in which the spring-loaded bolt is formed from a ballbearing mounted on the free. end of a spring.

8. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim 7 in which a threaded screw secures the bolt within its bore and provides adjustment for the spring force and hence the time delay.

9. A toilet seat control device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bias means is adjustable.

10. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim

9 wherein the bias means is a torsion spring mounted on the pivot shaft and extending between associated slots on both parts of the hinge assembly, at least one of the parts having a number of spaced-apart slots for reception of the spring to adjust spring tension.

11. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim

10 wherein a number of spaced-apart slots are provided on the housing for reception of one end of the torsion spring to facilitate adjustment of spring tension, the other end of the torsion spring engaging a slot in the pivot shaft.

12. A toilet seat control device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein stop means is provided to limit rotation of the pivot shaft to define a raised seat position.

13. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the stop means is mounted on one part of the hinge assembly to resiliently engage the other part of the hinge assembly.

14. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the stop means is a spring-loaded plunger on the housing engageable with the pivot shaft when the seat is in the raised position.

15. A toilet seat control device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a rod member engageable with the toilet seat and rotatably mounted between a pair of. spaced-apart housing elements each having an associated fixing bolt for attachment to a toilet bowl, the rod having inwardly extending slots at each end, a torsion spring mounted on the rod within one housing element and extending between a slot on the rod and an anchor hole in a head of a fixing bolt on the housing element, a spring-loaded ball mounted on the opposite end of the rod and engageable with a ridge in the head of the fixing bolt for said housing element to hold the seat against torsion spring bias in the lowered intermediate position.

16. A toilet seat control device as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a toilet seat wherein the pivot shaft has an arm for attachment to the seat the arm being releasably secured to the seat by one or more quick-release fasteners .

17. A toilet assembly incorporating a toilet seat control device as claimed in any preceding claim.