US20070017014A1

US20070017014A1 - Cover lifting device

Info

Publication number: US20070017014A1
Application number: US11/185,093
Authority: US
Inventors: Billy Dismuke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-21
Filing date: 2005-07-21
Publication date: 2007-01-25

Abstract

The present invention provides a lifting attachment or handle for raising or lowering a toilet seat, toilet seat cover or lid, toilet seat rim, dustbin cover, bucket cover, utensil cover, or the like article covers without actually having to touch them thereby reducing significantly the chances of exposure to transmittance of pathogenic microbes, germs, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. The lifting handle comprises a first elongation member having fastening mechanism for detachably affixing the first elongation member onto the toilet seat cover; a second elongation having a first end and a second end, the second elongation member extending angularly from the first elongation member at the first end and extending downwardly at the second end and configures a third elongation member and capable of receiving a user's hand for lifting the toilet seat cover.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cover lifting device, and more particularly, to a lifting attachment or handle for raising or lowering of a toilet seat cover or lid, toilet seat rim, dustbin cover, bucket cover, utensil cover, or the like articles with ease and comfort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional toilets generally have a toilet bowl with a rim, a toilet seat, and a seat cover or a lid. It is a well known fact that the toilet seats are recognized source for transmittance of pathogenic microbes, germs, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. The health concerns arising from exposure to common restroom contaminants like toilet seat. A commonly encountered problem is that the user must touch the seat in order to raise or lower it onto the toilet bowl. To move or raise or lower the toilet seat or lid or both, the user has to manually grip the toilet seat, toilet seat cover or a lid and position it in accordance with the requirement. The people generally find unpleasant to touch the toilet seat and in many cases, after use people get infected with disease borne from contaminants like toilet seats.
A number of structures, to assist in the raising or of a conventional toilet seat, have been disclosed in the prior arts. For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,332 discloses a toilet seat handle device for attachment to a toilet seat as an aid to raising and lowering the toilet seat. The handle is attached at one of its ends to the toilet seat and the other end projects outwardly beyond the periphery thereof wherein the outwardly extending portion is made from a flexible material. It is to be noted that this device has complex structure and is not convenient in operation. Further, it is obtrusive, heavyweight, and non-personal to the user. The user cannot easily clean, disinfect, or sterilize the handle between uses to reduce disease borne from contaminants.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,215, disclosed a toilet seat lifter for attachment to a toilet seat as an aid for raising and lowering the toilet seat. This device comprises of a unitary rigid planar substantially Y-shaped member having a handle protrusion extending in one direction and having a pair of leg protrusions extending in an opposing direction. The lifter attaches to the bottom of the toilet seat and engages with the spacer bumper common on the bottom of toilet seats. When the lifter is attached to the bottom of the toilet seat, the handle portion of the lifter extends beyond the peripheral edge of the toilet seat. It is to be noted that this device requires tools or special expertise for installation and can not be quickly and easily placed. Further the device is very complex, not convenient in operation, and can not be readily affixed to the toilet seat without tools.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,251 disclosed a toilet seat handle device for attachment to a toilet seat as an aid to raising and lowering the toilet seat. This device comprises a cylindrical base portion with upper and lower planar surfaces, means for attaching the base portion to the bottom side of the toilet seat, and a cylindrical handle portion unitarily constructed with the base portion. The handle portion has a diameter at its first end substantially equal to a distance between the two planar surfaces of the base portion. The handle is attached at one of its ends to the toilet seat and projects outwardly beyond the periphery thereof. This device is neither user friendly nor it address the health concerns arising from exposure to common restroom contaminants such as urine, fecal matter, germs, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,884 mentions a lifting handle for a toilet seat, consisting of a plate-like flange which can be fastened to the underside of a toilet seat by screws, with a laterally projecting hand grip having top and bottom ribs in the form of closed loops. The bottom rib depends adjacent the toilet seat so as to act as a splash deflector. It is noted, however, that the lifter must be permanently affixed by means of screws but it cannot be adapted to a wide variety of toilet seat widths, but is limited to a fairly narrow range of widths. Further, the handles require tools or special expertise for installation and can not be quickly and easily placed.
A handle attachable to the underside of a toilet seat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,246 for the purpose of manually lifting or lowering the seat. The handle includes an elongated member having an attachment portion securable to the edge marginal region of the seat and a handle portion cantilevered outwardly in position for grasping by the fingers of the user. Attachment is taught by means of adhesive tape. Even so, the attachment is considered permanent and can not be quickly and easily placed or readily be removed after initial placement. However, it is to be noted that the device therein cannot be adapted to a wide variety of toilet seat widths.
Most of these prior structures are complex, not convenient in operation, and can not be readily affixed to the toilet seat without tools. Many of the toilet seat handles require tools or special expertise for installation. Customers not handy with a screwdriver and/or a drill may have difficulty with these sorts of handles. This device cannot be adapted to a wide variety of toilet seat widths, but is limited to a fairly narrow range of widths. Further, the prior arts did not discloses any device or system for raising or lowering of a toilet seat cover or lid that is affordable, convenient, economical, light weight, and simple in structure and operation.
Therefore, there exists a need for a light weight, simple structure, economical, and convenient utility toilet seat lifting or raising attachment device with easy grasping mechanism. The required device can securely be attached with the toilet seat or toilet seat cover/lid and enables the user to raise or lower the toilet seat without having to touch the seat, thereby protect the user from transmittance of pathogenic microbes, germs, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the drawback inherent in prior art and affords advantages not provided by the toilet seat handle arrangements heretofore. The present invention provides a lifting attachment or handle for raising or lowering a toilet seat, toilet seat cover or lid, toilet seat rim, dustbin cover. The lifting handle may further be extended in use for lifting bucket cover, utensil cover, or the like articles without actually having to touch them thereby reducing significantly the chances of exposure to transmittance of pathogenic microbes, germs, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms or injuring the fingers of an user. Thus, it would be a useful advance in the art to provide an inexpensive and quickly re-configurable toilet seat handle that accommodates a large range of seat widths and configurations.
In one aspect of the present invention, a lifting handle configured to lift a cover comprises a first elongation member having fastening mechanism for detachably mounting the first elongation member onto the cover; a second elongation member having a first end and a second end, the second elongation member extending angularly from the first elongation member at the first end and extending downwardly at the second end; and a third elongation member extending from the second end of the second elongation member and configured to receive a user's hand for lifting the cover. The lifting handle of the present invention may be used for lifting a toilet seat cover, toilet seat rim, dustbin cover, bucket cover, utensil cover, or the like articles. The fastening mechanism for mechanically mounting the lifting handle onto the cover may include a plurality of apertures, nut and bolt assembly, screw assembly, or the like fastening fixtures. In one embodiment, the fastening mechanism may include gluing the lifting handle onto the cover.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide for a lifting handle attached to a toilet seat cover for raising and lowering the toilet seat cover. The lifting handle comprises a first elongation member having fastening mechanism for detachably affixing the first elongation member onto the toilet seat; a second elongation having a first end and a second end, the second elongation member extending angularly from the first elongation member at the first end and extending downwardly at the second end configuring a third elongation member and capable of receiving a user's hand for lifting the toilet seat.
In another aspect of the present invention, a lifting handle pertains to the field of hygiene and public health in the sphere of toilet seat lifting mechanisms or handles or devices which allows the user to lift the toilet seat by using the handle affixed to the basal periphery of seat.
In another aspect of the present invention in an exemplary embodiment, a lifting handle provides an easy, effective and sanitary way to raise and lower a toilet seat or a toilet seat cover or both either simultaneously or independently of each other.
The present invention provides a simplistic, cost effective and efficient means of lifting the toilet seat by gripping the toilet seat handle and thereby eliminating the need for user to physically touch the toilet seat which in turn reduces significantly the chances of microbial and pathogenic contamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numbers, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lifting handle and more specifically a toilet seat lifting handle in use with a conventional toilet seat assembly.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of toilet seat lifting handle mounted on the underneath of a toilet seat cover.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the toilet seat lifting handle mounted on the underneath of a toilet seat cover assembly in lifted position.
FIG. 3B is a closer detailed illustration of the mounting of the toilet seat lifting handle as shown in portion ‘X’ of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4A is a side view of the toilet seat lifting handle.
FIG. 4B is the sectional view of the mounting of the toilet seat lifting handle in the closed position of the toilet seat cover assembly.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. For the purposes of explanation, specific component arrangements and constructions and other details in the following description are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in art, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known manufacturing methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention unnecessarily.
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a simplistic, cost effective and efficient toilet seat lifting device for lifting the toilet seat by gripping an elongation member of the toilet seat handle and thereby eliminating the need for user to physically touch the toilet seat which in turn reduces significantly the chances of microbial and pathogenic contamination.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a seat and cover lifting device and more specifically in an exemplary embodiment a lifting handle 100 as for an example a toilet seat handle. The lifting device 100 in an exemplary embodiment used for lifting toilet seat cover 20 comprises of a first elongation member 10 having fastening mechanism for detachably affixing the first elongation member 10 onto the toilet seat cover 20. The lifting device 100 has a second elongation member 30 having a first 32 end and a second end 34, said second elongation member 30 extending angularly from said first elongation member 10 at said first end 32 and extending downwardly at said second end 34 and a third elongation member 40 extending from said second end 34 of said second elongation 30 member and configured to receive a user's hand for lifting the toilet seat cover 20.
The lifting handle 100 may be configured and used for lifting a toilet seat cover, toilet seat rim, a dustbin cover, a bucket cover, an utensil cover or any other household articles where generally an user faces trouble while opening the cover or the lid. The fastening mechanism on the first elongation member 10 may include a plurality of apertures 12 capable of receiving a nut and bolt assembly, or a screw assembly for mounting the lifting handle 100 on to a toilet seat cover to be lifted. In an exemplary embodiment, preferably, the thickness of the first elongation member 10 and third elongation member 40 of the lifting handle 100 is approximately 0.1250 units and the length of the lifting handle 100 is approximately 4.9937 units. In another embodiment, the fastening mechanism for mounting the lifting handle 100 on the cover may include gluing the lifting handle 100 underneath the cover 20.
FIG. 2 shows the mounting of the toilet seat handle on the toilet seat cover 20. The handle 100 is mounted underneath the cover 20 so that in normal position when the toilet seat cover 20 is covered, the first elongation member 10 of the handle 100 is underneath and the second elongation member 30 and the third elongation member 40 protrudes out of the cover 20. This allows the user to hold the lifting handle 100 using the third elongation member 40 and lift up the cover 20. The length of the first elongation member 10 sufficiently rests on the cover 20 in its underneath
FIGS. 3A and 3B shows the perspective view of the lifting handle mounted on a toilet cover with the toilet seat assembly. FIG. 3B shows the partly cut off section ‘X’ of FIG. 3A. The figure shows the underneath of the cover 20 wherein the lifting handle 100 is mounted.
FIG. 4A shows the side view of a lifting handle 100. FIG. 4B shows the sectional view of the lifting handle 100 mounted on the toilet seat cover assembly. The lifting handle 100 seen in the shape of alphabet ‘S’ of English language and clearly illustrates the positioning of the lifting handle 100 underneath the toilet seat cover 20 from another view. The first elongation member 10 could be seen present underneath the cover 20 and inside the toilet seat cover assembly. The second elongation member 30 and the third elongation member 40 is seen protruding out of the cover aiding in lifting the said cover 20 using the third elongation member 30.
In conclusion, disclosed herein is the presentation of a toilet seat cover lifting handle that allows a toilet seat cover to be lifted with minimum effort and maximum ease thereby eliminating the necessity for the user to touch the toilet seat cover thus addressing the issues of hygiene.
The incorporation of a easy fastening mechanism of the present invention makes the same adaptable to a variety of covers, in particular in the shown exemplary embodiment of both toilet seat cover and the toilet seat rim for lowering or raising the same independently of each other.
The lifting handle may also be installed with some fluorescent material in either the toilet seat handle or any hygienic disinfectant applied to handle will ensure that the seat lifting handle is also visible in the dark which will further enhance the value of this invention.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lifting handle configured to lift a cover comprising:

a first elongation member having fastening mechanism for detachably affixing said first elongation member onto said cover;

a second elongation member having a first end and a second end, said second elongation member extending angularly from said first elongation member at said first end and extending downwardly at said second end; and

a third elongation member extending from said second end of said second elongation member and configured to receive a user's hand for lifting said cover.

2. The lifting handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover may be a toilet seat cover, toilet seat rim, dustbin cover, bucket cover, utensil cover, or the like.

3. The lifting handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening mechanism may include a plurality of apertures capable of receiving a nut and bolt assembly, or a screw assembly.

4. The lifting handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first elongation member may also be glued to said cover.

5. A lifting handle attached to a toilet seat cover for raising and lowering said toilet seat cover comprising:

first elongation member having fastening mechanism for detachably affixing said first elongation member onto said toilet seat;

a second elongation member having a first end and a second end, said second elongation member extending angularly from said first elongation member at said first end and extending downwardly at said second end configuring a third elongation member and capable of receiving a user's hand for lifting said toilet seat.

6. The lifting handle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said fastening mechanism may include a plurality of screw fastener receiving apertures formed therethrough on said first elongation capable of receiving screw fasteners for fastening said first elongation to said toilet seat.

7. The lifting handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover may be a toilet seat cover, toilet seat rim, dustbin cover, bucket cover, utensil cover, or the like.