WO2013017951A2

WO2013017951A2 - Toilet seat assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2013017951A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/001891
Authority: WO
Inventors: Qifeng Kuang; Aiwen LIU; Baian XIE
Original assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics, Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-08-03
Filing date: 2012-08-02
Publication date: 2013-02-07
Also published as: WO2013017951A3

Abstract

A toilet including a body, a lid and a seat ring. A top surface of the body is a sloped surface having a higher end and a lower end. A top surface of the sloped surface is a curved surface. The higher end of the sloped surface is moveably connected to the lid and the lower end of the sloped surface is moveably connected to the seat ring. The sloped surface forms a substantially smooth curved surface with a top surface of the seat ring. When the toilet is not in use, the lid is configured to cover the substantially smooth curved surface formed by the sloped surface and the seat ring. No protruding connecting member is needed to connect the lid and the seat ring.

Description

TOILET SEAT ASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to CN 201110220673.4, filed 8/3/2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims the benefit of and priority to CN 201120280491.1, filed 8/3/2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of bathroom appliances such as toilets, bidets, and toilet bidets.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Fig. 1 illustrates the structure of a prior art toilet seat assembly, the toilet seat assembly includes a body 1, a lid 2 and a seat ring 3. The lid 2 and the seat ring 3 are connected directly, and the body 1 is disposed at the bottom end of the connection of the lid 2 and the seat ring 3. Specifically, a connection member A is formed on the lid 2, and the lid 2 and the seat ring 3 are directly connected through the connection member A. As shown in Fig. 1 , however, the connection member A in the prior art toilet is protruding, and a user may experience discomfort if resting against the connection portion during use. Moreover, since the external surface of the connection member A is circular, a difficult to reach zone is formed at the position where the lid 2 contacts the seat ring 3, making the toilet difficult to clean.

SUMMARY

[0004] One embodiment of the invention relates to a toilet seat assembly. The toilet seat assembly includes a body, a lid and a seat ring. A top surface of the body is a sloped surface having a higher end and a lower end. A top surface of the sloped surface is a curved surface. The higher end of the sloped surface is moveably connected to the lid and the lower end of the sloped surface is moveably connected to the seat ring. The sloped surface forms a substantially smooth curved surface with a top surface of the seat ring. When the toilet is not in use, the lid is configured to cover the substantially smooth curved surface formed by the sloped surface and the seat ring. No protruding connecting member is needed to connect the lid and the seat ring, making the toilet safer and easier to clean. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates the structure of a prior art toilet seat assembly.

[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a toilet seat assembly, according to the an exemplary embodiment.

[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates an isometric and partially exploded view of the toilet seat assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 2, when a lid of the toilet is raised.

[0008] Fig. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the toilet seat assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, when male installation portions of a seat ring are assembled with recesses of a body of the toilet seat assembly.

[0009] Fig. 5 illustrates another isometric view of the toilet seat assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view a toilet seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the toilet seat assembly includes a body 1 , a lid 2 and a seat ring 3. A first end of the body 1 is connected to the seat ring 3. A second end of the body 1 is connected to the lid 2. The lid 2 is configured to cover top surfaces of the body 1 and the seat ring 3. Specifically, a bottom surface of the lid 2 is configured to closely engage with the top surfaces of the body 1 and the seat ring 3.

[0011] In some embodiments, various additional structural components may be installed inside the body 1, for example, a water jet component configured to spray cleaning water to parts of a user's body, a deodorizing fan configured for deodorization, a warm air component, or other toilet, toilet bidet, or bidet components. Further, it should be noted that only a portion of the toilet body is shown. The toilet bowl, for example, is not shown.

[0012] Fig. 3 illustrates the toilet seat assembly of Fig. 2, where the lid 2 of the toilet is raised. In the illustration of Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the body 1 is substantially wedged-shaped. Specifically, the body 1 shown to include a curved face and a cross section at the curved face that fits one end of seat ring 3. A top surface of the body 1 is a somewhat curved surface having a slope.

[0013] Particularly, the body 1 is shown to include a sloped surface 11, receiving portions 12 and recesses 13. The sloped surface 11 is disposed at a top of the body 1. In one embodiment, a top surface of the sloped surface 11 is a curved surface. A height of the top surface of one end of the sloped surface 11 is higher than a height of the top surface of the opposite end of the sloped surface 11. A lower end of the top surface of the sloped surface 11 is at an end where the exposed face of the body 1 is shown in Fig. 3. A higher end of the top surface of the sloped surface 11 is connected to the lid 2 (shown as open in Fig. 3).

[0014] In one embodiment, two portions of a lower end of the sloped surface 11 are provided with recesses 13. Two sides of the higher end of the sloped surface 11 of the body 1 are provided with hinge mechanisms configured to connect with the lid 2. A groove may be formed at the end of the lid 2 that is connected to the body 1. The groove is configured to engage with the hinge mechanisms on the body to form a moveable connection.

[0015] A shape of an inner surface of recess 13 is configured to engage with a shape of an external surface of male installation portion 31 on the seat ring 3. In the exemplary embodiment, there are two recesses 13 and two male installation portions 31. The recess 13 may be a groove in any suitable shape configured to engage with the shape of the external surface of the male installation portion 31 (e.g., a cuboid). A hinge mechanism 4 is connected to one side of the recess 13. The hinge mechanism 4 may be a flexible mechanism that can extend inside the recess 13, when connected to the male installation portion 31 on the seat ring 3. Furthermore, the hinge mechanism 4 may be embedded into the male installation portion 31 to form a stable assembly.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, the connection between the male installation portion 31 and the recess 13 is moveable (e.g., around a pivot formed by hinge mechanism 4). As illustrated in Fig. 3, to ensure that the male installation portion 31 can flip up and down when connected to the hinge mechanism 4 of the recess 13, a top end of the male installation portion 31 is curved and a bottom end of the recess 13 that is configured to engage with the male installation portion 31 is also curved. When the male installation portion 31 is installed into the recess 13 via the hinge mechanism 4, the male installation portion 31 may flip up and down inside the recess 13 as connected to the hinge mechanism 4.

[0017] Receiving portions 12 are disposed on two sides of the sloped surface 11 at the top of the body 1. A top surface of the receiving portions 12 is a curved surface. As shown, a height of the top surface of the receiving portions 12 is lower than the height of the top surface of the sloped surface 11. The receiving portions 12 are disposed on two sides of the sloped surface 11. The receiving portions 12 may extend from one end of the sloped surface 11 to the other end of the sloped surface 11.

[0018] The seat ring 3 includes a seat ring body 32 and male installation portions 31. A side of the seat ring body 32 includes a curved face and a cross section portion of the seat ring. The cross section portion of the seat ring body 32 is the surface configured to face the surface of toilet body 1 when the seat ring is closed. A top surface of the seat ring 3 is a curved surface. A hole of any suitable shape with a curved external surface, preferably, an oval hole is formed in the seat ring 3. The male installation portions 31 are connected to an end of the seat ring body 32, and connection positions of the male installation portions 31 correspond to positions of the recesses 13.

[0019] One end of a side of the seat ring body 32 is the cross section of the seat ring 3. The male installation portions 31 are connected to the end of the seat ring body 32 where the cross section portion of the seat ring 3 is disposed. In addition, the end of the sloped surface 11 where the recesses 13 are disposed is also the end where the matching cross section of the body 1 is disposed. When the recesses 13 are connected to the male installation portions 31, therefore, the cross section portion of the body 1 contacts and engages with the cross section portion of the seat ring of the seat ring body 32. In this configuration, the male installation portions 31 are installed inside the recesses 13 and engage with the hinge mechanisms 4 inside the recesses 13.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, for facilitating the engagement between the body 1 and the seat ring 3, an angle between the cross section portion of the body and the bottom surface of the body is preferably smaller than 90 degrees. An angle between the cross section portion of the seat ring and the bottom surface of the seat ring may complement the angle between the cross section of the body and the bottom surface of the body. In other words, the angle between the cross section portion of the seat ring and the bottom surface of the seat ring is preferably greater than 90 degrees.

[0021] Fig. 4 illustrates the toilet seat assembly of Fig. 3 when the male installation portions 31 of the seat ring body 32 are assembled with the recesses of the body 1. To ensure a substantially smooth curved surface formed by the sloped surface 11 and the top surface of the seat ring body 32 when the male installation portions 31 and the recesses 13 are assembled, a degree of curvature of the top surface of the male installation portions 31 is the same as a degree of curvature of the top surface of the sloped surface 11. When the seat ring 3 is installed to the body 1 , and when the lid 2 is raised to be in a use state, the top surface of the male installation portions 31 smoothly transitions to the top surface of the sloped surface 11 of the body 1 , thereby forming a substantially complete and substantially smooth curved surface. Since the connection does not have a protruding part (as is shown in the Prior Art seat of Fig. 1), it may be easier for a user to use the toilet (e.g., less chance of a protruding part contacting the user's body and causing discomfort). Moreover, the configuration of the toilet described in the exemplary embodiment may make the surfaces of the toilet seat more accessible and therefore easier to clean.

[0022] When the toilet according to the exemplary embodiment is not being used, the lid 2 is configured to cover the smooth curved surface formed by the sloped surface 11 of the body 1 and the seat ring 3. The bottom surface of the lid 2 is configured to closely engage with the top surfaces of the body 1 and the seat ring 3.

[0023] Fig. 5 illustrates the toilet seat assembly of Fig. 4 including the lid 2, the body 1 and the seat ring 3 when the lid is raised according to the exemplary embodiment. The lid 2 is installed at the end of the body 1 that is not provided with recess portions. In other words, the lid 2 is installed at the higher end of the top surface of the sloped surface 11 of the body

I . A opening may be formed on the lid 2. Hinge mechanisms may be disposed on two sides of the higher end of the sloped surface of the body 1. The groove on the lid 2 and the hinge mechanisms on the body 1 may engage to form a moveable connection.

[0024] The bottom surface of the lid 2 may closely follow and engage with the top surfaces of the body 1 and the seat ring 3. Receiving portions 12 may be disposed on two sides of the sloped surface 11 at the top of the body 1 and the height of the top surface of the receiving portions 12 may be lower than the height of the top surface of the sloped surface

I I . The lid 2 is shown as having extension portions 21. The extension portions 21 are shown as disposed on two sides of the bottom surface of the lid 2. The extension portions 21 are configured to engage with the positions of the receiving portions 12. A curvature of the bottom surface of the extension portions 21 is configured to engage with the curvature of the top surface of the receiving portions 12. In addition, a curvature of other positions of the bottom surface of the lid 2 is configured to engage with a curvature of corresponding positions on the top surfaces of the sloped surface 11 of the body 1 and the seat ring 3.

[0025] When the lid 2 covers the body 1 and the seat ring 3, the extension portions 21 of the lid 2 engage with the receiving portions 12 of the body 1. The bottom surface of the lid 2 is configured to closely engage with the top surfaces of the body 1 and the seat ring 3, such that the appearance of the toilet or toilet seat assembly is more uniform.

[0026] The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A toilet seat assembly comprising:

a lid;

a seat ring, and

a body including a top surface having a sloped surface and a bottom surface, the sloped surface having a higher end and a lower end, wherein the higher end of the sloped surface is moveably connected to the lid and a lower end of the sloped surface is moveably connected to the seat ring.

2. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1, wherein a top surface of the sloped surface is a substantially curved surface.

3. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 3, wherein the sloped surface forms a substantially smooth curved surface with the top surface of the seat ring.

4. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1 , wherein when the toilet is not in use, the lid is configured to cover the substantially smooth curved surface formed by the sloped surface and the seat ring.

5. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1, wherein the body further comprises two recesses and a hinge mechanism disposed inside each recess, the recesses disposed on two sides of the lower end of the sloped surface.

6. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 5, wherein the seat ring further comprises two male installation portions disposed at an end of the seat ring that connects with the body, and positions of the male installation portions correspond to positions of the recesses on the body.

7. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 6, wherein each male installation portion is installed into a corresponding recess and is configured to engage with a corresponding hinge mechanism.

8. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 7, wherein a curvature of a top surface of the male installation portions is the same as a curvature of a top surface of the sloped surface.

9. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 6, wherein an end of the seat ring formed with the male installation portions comprises a cross section of the seat ring, and an angle between the cross section of the seat ring and a bottom surface of the seat ring complements an angle between a cross section of the body and the bottom surface of the body.

10. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1, wherein the lower end of the sloped surface comprises a cross section of the body that forms an angle smaller than 90 degrees with the bottom surface of the body.

11. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal section of the body is substantially wedged-shaped.

12. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises receiving portions disposed on two sides of the sloped surface on the top of the body, a top surface of the receiving portions is a curved surface.

13. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 12, wherein a height of the top surface of the receiving portions is lower than a height of the top surface of the sloped surface;

14. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 12, wherein the lid further comprises extension portions disposed on two sides of a bottom surface of the lid, the extension portions configured to complement the curved surface of the top surface of the receiving portions.

15. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1, wherein two sides of the higher end of the sloped surface of the body comprise hinge mechanisms.

16. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 15, further comprising a recess formed at an end of the lid that is connected to the body, the recess configured to engage with the hinge mechanisms on the body to form a moveable connection.

17. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1, wherein the lid and the seat ring are connected without a protruding connecting member.

18. The toilet seat assembly of Claim 1, wherein the lid and the seat ring are connected to the body such that the axis of rotation of the lid and the seat ring are offset.