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WO2009058320A1 - Appareil pour lever un siège et un couvercle de toilettes avec des modes de réalisation basés sur le frottement pour réguler la vitesse d'abaissement différentielle du siège et du couvercle - Google Patents

Appareil pour lever un siège et un couvercle de toilettes avec des modes de réalisation basés sur le frottement pour réguler la vitesse d'abaissement différentielle du siège et du couvercle Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009058320A1
WO2009058320A1 PCT/US2008/012301 US2008012301W WO2009058320A1 WO 2009058320 A1 WO2009058320 A1 WO 2009058320A1 US 2008012301 W US2008012301 W US 2008012301W WO 2009058320 A1 WO2009058320 A1 WO 2009058320A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seat
lid
cam
toilet
pedal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2008/012301
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William C. Pantos
Curtis Sword
Original Assignee
No Touch Systems, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by No Touch Systems, Inc. filed Critical No Touch Systems, Inc.
Publication of WO2009058320A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009058320A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K13/00—Seats or covers for all kinds of closets
    • A47K13/10—Devices for raising and lowering, e.g. tilting or lifting mechanisms; Collapsible or rotating seats or covers
    • A47K13/105—Toilet seat or toilet cover handles

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to toilet seat lifting and lowering mechanisms. More particularly, this invention relates to toilet seat lifting and lowering devices that can be operated without touching the seat and/or Hd with the hands. Even more particularly, this invention relates to such devices that operate without rotating gears. BACKGROUND OF THE EWENTION
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,705,330 to Knudsen discloses a complex rotating gear apparatus wherein in order to provide for lifting of the toilet set and, if also present, the lid, a complex gearing arrangement consisting of at least six gears is used.
  • a foot pedal To lift the toilet seat/lid a foot pedal must be depressed at an appropriate rate but not so hard as to bounce the seat back down.
  • To lower the lid/seat the user is required to push on the pedal again but must do so in a manner to either bounce the seat off of a spring clip mounted under the lid (for lowering only the seat) or bounce the seat off of a seat lowering arm bumper for lowering both seat and lid.
  • the foot pedal is not designed to be manipulated other than by being pressed down towards the ground by the foot. There is no contemplation of manipulating the foot pedal in any other manner such as to lift up on the pedal from the under side of it or to counter weight it. In fact the lifting arm has no attachment to the seat. Additionally, a user must press the foot pedal at differing rates in order to either raise both seat and lid or just the lid, but in either case the seat must slam down by gravitational force when the foot is removed from the pedal. In each manner of operation there is intended only a downward force to be applied to the pedal.
  • Knudsen is a first example of complex rotating gear apparatuses that remarkably increase in complexity with respect to the specific elements therein that cause the seat to be raised or lowered.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,654 to Wolfer discloses a mechanism comprising at least 4 gears arranged in a fashion similar to Knudsen with an added feature that is unrelated to the mechanism of action for lifting the seat/lid, namely, a liquid dispensing squirt pump operated by the raising and lowering of the seat and lid.
  • Wolfer offers nothing over Knudsen except for reducing the number of rotation gears by two.
  • PCT patent application serial number PCT/AU87/00424 discloses a device which operates via a foot pedal which remains on the ground and is attached to the seat/lid via a rod. This device does not simplify the mechanism for lifting but rather complicates it.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,498 to Joseph discloses a foot pedal operated device which also remains on the floor. In both of these inventions the pedal must be pressed for both raising and lowering. In the latter, it is actually a spring that induces the seat to be lowered. Further, due to the fixed location of the lifting rod near the seat hinge, there is much weight acting on the push rod allowing it to easily slam down on the toilet rim when the foot is removed from the pedal.
  • this invention comprises a pedal-operated toilet seat/lid lifting and lowering apparatus comprising a torque transfer assembly which as herein disclosed comprises a double cam actuator affixed to displacement rods which are themselves held in a position relative to one another in apertures in a support plate, said apertures specifically designed to both hold the displacement rods at a predetermined distance from one another and allow for the rods to rotate in their respective apertures.
  • the double cam actuator of the torque transfer assembly comprises first and second cams wherein said first cam is fixedly attached to a first displacement rod which is loosedly held in place in the support plate such that the rod can rotate about a 360 degree circle.
  • the first displacement rod is elongate and shaped at a 90 degree angle after extending through the support plate aperture.
  • the first displacement rod ultimately terminates in a two-way (i.e., up and down movement) foot pedal. With respect to said first cam, it is a generally "U" shaped groove fixedly connected to the displacement rod.
  • the cam can be attached to the rod by any known means having a strength to withstand the torque force experienced by the cam under the weight of the toilet seat/lid, such as for example, a set pin, weld, screw, nail, dowels, cotter pins, punch pins, splined attachment fit, etc.
  • the cam may also simply be machined into the metal comprising the displacement rod.
  • the first displacement rod is shaped so that it terminates in a pedal and as stated above is rotatably mounted in the support plate. Thus, by pressing down on the pedal connected to the end of the shaft the first cam will rotate and cause the second cam to rotate in a counter direction.
  • the second cam comprises a nonuniform nipple with travel limitation stops machined at either side of the nipple, the nipple having a shape that will fit the groove of the first cam and be able to rotate with respect to the groove in the first cam.
  • the second cam is fixedly connected to a second displacement rod that is loosedly held in place in the support plate of the torque transfer mechanism such that the rod can rotate about a 360 degree circle but for the limitations to rotation caused by the engagement of the nipple of the second cam with the "U" shaped indention of the first cam.
  • the second displacement rod attached to the second cam is elongate but much shorter than the length of the first displacement rod.
  • the second cam stop limits can be constructed so as to cause the travel limit of the seat/lid to be reached before the seat or lid contact the toilet water tank, if present, or if not present to not travel so far as to allow the lid or seat to swing more than, for example, 5 degrees past vertical.
  • the seat is formed with a second displacement rod actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly positioned so as to act in three functional aspects.
  • the actuator assembly housing acts as a rear seat support for supporting the weight of a person sitting thereon. Since the invention pedal mechanism can be positioned on either side of the toilet, the seat is manufactured with rod actuator slide/tension adjustment assemblies on both sides of the seat.
  • the actuator slide is placed lower than the seat surface and by its positioning forward from the seat hinge, when pressure is applied by the terminal end of the displacement rod inserted therein as by pressing down on the pedal of the invention, the vector force of gravity acting on the seat/lid is decreased, as experienced by the pressure required to be applied to the foot pedal of the invention, providing for additional counter balancing of the seat/lid weight with the pedal.
  • the rod actuator slide is designed with a two point tensioning bar which is adjustable for applying force against the displacement rod inserted in the slide. This particularly provides for a novel combination of mechanical interaction and method for attenuating the effects of gravity on the downward rate at which the seat is capable of lowering to a horizontal position.
  • the seat/lid are neutrally counterweighted with the pedal and the first displacement rod without the need for a counter weight on the displacement shaft.
  • the seat and lid are designed such that when the foot pedal is pushed down thereby causing the seat, and lid if present, to rise, both the seat and lid remain in a near vertical to vertical position even if the user removes their foot from the pedal.
  • the seat and lid may be allowed to close or fall at differential rates of drop to a horizontal position as the foot pedal is eased upward by a user so as to provide for the lid to drop slower than the rate of drop of the seat.
  • This aspect arises to solve the problem of the lid slamming down which is caused by the inherent difference in spatial positioning between the seat and lid with respect to their respective hinges and the free movement between the seat and lid which causes the lid to drop from a vertical position to a horizontal position independently from the drop rate of the seat.
  • there is enough differential in the rates and timing of drop to cause the Hd to slam down onto the seat.
  • slamming can be avoided.
  • the pedal is designed to include space to position the foot or toe of the foot under the edge of the front of the pedal for lifting the pedal.
  • the foot pedal is equipped with a cane receptacle that will accommodate the tip of a crutch or cane, making it easier to depress the pedal for handicapped individuals.
  • the pedal and displacement rods can be eliminated and replaced with a motor driven torque transfer assembly wherein said motor is connected to the first displacement rod as it exits the support plate.
  • said motor can be further equipped with an infrared (IR) sensor that can activate the motor to raise the seat/lid when a hand is waved past the IR sensor and lowered when the sensor detects a second pass of the hand.
  • IR infrared
  • the sensor can be placed at the side of the toilet so that a user would have to consciously stretch out their hand to wave past the senor in order to activate it.
  • the travel limit can comprise the hinge mounting bolt acting against the bottom rear of the seat or lid.
  • the user must use the pedal to lift the toilet lid to be able to use the toilet.
  • the seat should maintain a healthier sanitation.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the torque transfer assembly comprising first and second displacement rods, first and second cams, and support plate which is capable of attaching to the seat mount of any standard toilet.
  • FIGS. 2A, B and C are cross sectional drawings of the dynamic engagement of first and second cams.
  • FIG. 2A the cams are shown in a resting or seat down position.
  • FIG. 2B shows the position of the cams in mid arc displacement and
  • FIG. 2C shows the terminal open or seat up position, wherein first cam catch ridge engages catch trough on second cam at same time the displacement limitation block of the second cam contacts the outer trailing edge of first cam thereby limiting the further arc movement of the cams.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention showing the arc movement of the pedal relative to that of the cam.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of one embodiment of the pedal of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of one embodiment without a lid and indicating in dashed lines the positioning of the rod actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly that is positioned under the seat.
  • FIG. 6 is side view of the rod actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly.
  • FIGS. 7A and B are detailed example close-up views of the rod actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly. In FIG. 7A, the tension adjustment bar is shown adjusted upward on the seat hinge side of the rod actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly.
  • FIG. 7B is a close-up of the depiction in FIG.
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of the pedal which is connected to the first displacement rod.
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 are alternate embodiments of a pedal that can be used as an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 1 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein the toilet seat is equipped with a lid which lid as depicted has tabs on underside of the lid which frictionally engage tailored slots in the toilet seat providing for a drop rate of the lid that is different from that of the seat.
  • FIGS. 12A and B show close-ups of the tab embodiments shown in FIG. 1 1.
  • FIG. 12A the tabs and slots are shown juxtaposed.
  • FIG. 12B a close-up cross sectional representation is provided showing that the tab "a” is tapered for a slight slideable engagement of the tab surfaces with the surface of both or even just one of the sides of the slot. "b”.
  • FIG. 13 shows a side view of a toilet with both seat and lid. In this view the lid is depicted as dropping at a slower rate than the seat.
  • FIGS. 14A and B show a side view of the hinge portion of the seat and lid.
  • the lid travel is limited by a travel limitation tang than contacts the seat hinge or another portion of the toilet rim.
  • FIGS. 15 is an exploded view drawing of the seat and lid hinge wherein the lid hinge is designed to both allow the seat to slip downward when in the vertical position and additionally engage an axel of the hinge which design of engagement induces the lid to rotate towards a horizontal position once it has slipped downward from the seat slots.
  • FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of one hinge embodiment.
  • FIGS. 16A and B are drawings showing one preferred shape for each of the first and second cams.
  • FIG. 17 is a drawing of a cross sectional view from the side of one embodiment wherein the travel stop for the raising of the seat is the bottom of a portion of the seat surface 801 contacting the hinge pin mounting bolt cover 802.
  • FIG. 18 is a close-up cross sectional drawing from the side as depicted in FIG. 17 showing detail of the contact of the hinge cover 802 at portion 804 to contact surface 801.
  • FIG. 19 is a cross sectional drawing from the side showing that in a seat and lid combination, in this embodiment the travel limit of the lid is provided by the hinge pin cover 802 contacting surface 810.
  • FIG. 20 is a schematic drawing of the rear view of the seat and lid combination for one embodiment.
  • FIG. 21 is a schematic top view of the lid and seat combination for one embodiment wherein the lid and seat are depicted, in the vicinity of the hinge, in the vertical position. With this perspective, it can be seen that when the seat and lid are in the vertical position the travel of the swing is limited by the contact of the lid surface 810 and the seat portion 804.
  • FIG. 22 is a perspective view of one seat and Hd combination embodiment wherein the portion of the lid is slanted so as to act as one half of a friction tabs 81 Ia and 81 Ib for contacting matching slanted surfaces 812a and 812b in the seat.
  • FIG. 23 is a side view of a cam for use in seat and lid combinations wherein the seat acts as the travel limit for the arc of the seat and lid. As shown there is no need for a travel limit tang.
  • FIG. 24 is a schematic drawing showing the mounting bracket 301 for attaching the cams 304 and 306 and an electric motor connected to the first cam 306 with gears 701 and 702.
  • the present invention comprises an improved pedal-operated toilet seat/lid lifting/lowering device that is hands-free.
  • the invention provides for over 90 degree rotational arcing of the seat from horizontal to vertical with only about a 45 degree arc movement of the pedal, a rotational displacement not possible with simple rotating gears.
  • the invention comprises a torque transfer assembly 300 that comprises a rotational-travel-limited double cam actuator held in working engagement by a support plate 301, the double cam actuator itself comprising two opposing cams (first cam 306 and second cam 304) wherein first cam 306 is firmly connected to, or alternatively an integral extension of, an elongate pedal displacement rod 105.
  • First cam 306 is connected with the rod such that rotation of the rod about an axis running there through will cause rotation of first cam 306.
  • the pedal displacement rod 105 is held in an aperture formed in the support plate 301 such that the rod can rotate freely. In one embodiment the rod 105 is simply loosely engaged in the aperture without any form of bearings or, alternately, with bearings.
  • the pedal displacement rod 105 is bent at least 90 degrees after the rod exits the support plate 301 and is further formed to terminate in a pedal 126 and so as to rest in a position capable of being accessed by the foot of a human when the invention device is attached to a toilet.
  • second cam 304 is also firmly connected to, or alternatively an integral extension of, an elongate toilet seat displacement rod 103 that is shorter that the pedal displacement rod 105 and has two 90 degree bends.
  • the toilet seat displacement rod 103 is connected to the second cam 304 in the same manner as the first cam 306 is to the pedal displacement rod 105.
  • the seat displacement rod 103 is held in place in the support plate 301 in the same manner as the pedal displacement rod 105 such that it can freely rotate. As disclosed in FIGS.
  • first cam 306 has a generally "U"-shaped trough 306a (FIG. 1 inset, FIG. 2C) which is bordered on one side by resting stop tang 306b and on the other side by a catch ridge 306c (see FIG. 2A). As first cam 306 is rotated counterclockwise, (FIG. 1 inset, FIG. 2C)
  • the cam trough 306a surface forces the lopsided nipple (non-uniform parabolic) 304a of second cam 304 to in turn displace the second cam 304 forcing it to rotate, the two cam surfaces continuing to engage one another in counter rotation, the second cam 304 rotating a greater arc than the first cam 306.
  • the catch ridge 306c of first cam 306 engages catch trough 304b of second cam 304 the cams are stopped from further rotation.
  • the second cam 305 has displacement limitation block or tang 304c.
  • first cam 306 When the catch ridge 306c engages catch trough 304b, displacement limitation tang 304c also simultaneously engages or contacts the trailing surface of first cam 306. In this position the toilet seat would be held in a vertical attitude. When the seat and lid are allowed to return to horizontal, the stop tang 306b of first cam 306 engages the matching surface of second cam 304.
  • novel torque transfer assembly of the invention comprising first and second cams provides for arc rotation of first cam 306 through an angle of .alpha, whereas second cam 304 is capable of arcing through angle .beta., a surprisingly and significant difference.
  • the cams are designed for their maximum arc differential rotation based on the curvature designed into both the first and second cams.
  • the first and second cam can be designed with the functional shaped shown. As depicted in FIG.
  • the second cam nipple or "tooth" is curved about a partial circular arc on one side leading to an abrupt angle sharply leading towards the spline-designed lifting rod attachment groove and arcing sharply perpendicular to the direction of the nipple at a point where the point of arc touches the 30 degree position as measured from a central axis located centrally in the nipple, said centrally meaning in-part that the central axis is in the same plane as the axis of the lifting rod's attachment groove.
  • This non-uniform parabolic shape allows for the cam to rotate about 90 degrees when engaged with the first cam.
  • the first cam is shown with its generally "U"-shaped groove.
  • the U has a generally uniform partial arc leading to an abrupt angle wherein the trough of the U rises sharply to a ridge that is lower than the top of the U on the opposite side and that is smoothly curved.
  • the invention device is disclosed as it would rest from a side view on the toilet.
  • support plate 301 is mounted onto the toilet rim 307 using standard bolts used to mount, for example, a standard sized toilet seat.
  • the torque transfer assemble is positioned to rest lower than the toilet seat 1 1 1 and at about the same lateral positioning of the seat hinge.
  • the double cam actuator of the torque transfer assembly takes advantage of the changing vector force acting upon the seat displacement rod due to the weight of the seat as the seat displacement rod slidably engages the seat.
  • the current invention has the second displacement rod engaging an actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly 312 which has three important functions both structural and dynamic.
  • the actuator assembly comprises a formed durable material such as for example plastic, rubber, or fiberglass and other materials of comparable weight and strength.
  • the assembly's outer circumference forms a rigid seat support for supporting the seat on the rim of the toilet particularly under the weight of a person sitting thereon.
  • the support is for the rear or hinge side of the seat and to accommodate placement of the invention with the pedal on either side of the toilet, the actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly 312 is placed as supports on both sides of the seat near the seat hinge.
  • the actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly 312 is molded as an integral part of the seat 1 1 1. As indicated in FIG. 3, when the pedal displacement rod 105 is pressed down, the seat displacement rod 103 is activated to raise the seat 1 11. Second, because of the lower placement of the slide relative to the seat surface (undersurface) as well as its placement forward of the seat hinge, when pressure is applied to the pedal, the vector force of gravity acting on the seat, and Hd if present, is decreased, as experienced by the pressure required to be applied on the pedal. This aspect provides additional counterbalancing affect. Third, the actuator assembly 312 is designed with a tensioning plate for applying pressure on the terminal portion of the seat displacement rod 103. As shown in FIG.
  • actuator slide/tension adjusting assembly 312 is in contact with seat 1 1 1.
  • the assembly 312 comprises an outer circumference of durable material.
  • a slot 402 in which seat displacement rod 103 is positioned.
  • tension bar 401 that is itself both held in place and adjusted up or down by, adjustment screws 403a and 403b as depicted in FIGS. 7A and B.
  • adjustment screw 403b With respect to adjustment screw 403b, the tension bar is primarily adjusted here, i.e., opposite the seat hinge side of the assembly 312. After adjustment screw 403b is adjusted an amount .phi.
  • FIG. 5 shows a vertical view of the invention attached to a toilet. As depicted the tension bar 401 lies under seat displacement rod 103.
  • the current invention further advances the art by eliminating both a need for an adjustable arc rotation termination screw (discussed above) and a counter weight on the pedal displacement rod.
  • Further useful aspects of the invention include a pedal having any of various embodiments such as shown for example in FIG. 4, namely, a pedal 126 having a receptacle 208 for a cane and under side lip 122 for providing a space under which to place the toe of the foot for raising the pedal.
  • the pedal can also have numerous other attributes including an angled toe catch 268 and flat foot surface 261.
  • the pedal can be attached to the displacement rod 105 either through one of a multiplicity of bores 123 in the pedal (FIG. 4), or in bores 265 or 207 for adjusting the pedal higher or lower as needed.
  • the invention provides for regulating the rate at which a toilet seat lid, if present, will drop thereby solving an inherent problem of the lid slamming down in an unregulated fashion in toilet models requiring a lid.
  • the lid hinge is designed so as to limit the rotation of the lid to the vertical but as the seat is lowered also cause the lid to shift its center of gravity enough to cause the lid to fall towards horizontal due solely to the effects of gravity.
  • This aspect allows for the simplest solution to a means for lowering the seat, namely, gravity. Limiting the lid rotation from horizontal to vertical can be accomplished by numerous means.
  • the hinge 603 connecting the seat 1 1 1 and lid 600 can be designed with travel limits on the lid hinge plate 602 that engage the seat hinge anchor plate 604 on the toilet rim or on another portion of the toilet rim.
  • the lid 600 travels with the seat 111 until the travel limit block 304c of the second cam 304 engages the first cam 306, the engagement set to limit out when the seat 1 1 1 is vertical.
  • the lid 600 is also at vertical.
  • the lid 600 travel limit is particularly provided by limit tang 601 which can be fixedly connected to the hinge plate 602 or formed as an integral part of said plate.
  • lid friction tabs 501a and 501b are engaged with slots 503a and 503b the lid has a tendency to remain so engaged until the lid reaches the vertical position.
  • minimal frictional force is meant that amount of friction between two bodies to allow slippage of said two bodies past one another as opposed to no slippage (where one body is stationary and the other acting under gravitational force) but at a rate lower than if said two bodies had no friction acting between one another.
  • the lid hinge is designed to allow the lid to slip downward on the axis of the hinge, combined with the slots being engineered in the rear section of the seat such that the slots actually comprise open ended slots in the rear of the seat.
  • the lid friction tabs can fully separate from the slots in the seat. The downward movement of the lid is terminated while remaining in the vertical position by contact of the lid travel limit tang 601 with the hinge plate 602 or other part of the toilet rim top.
  • the seat hinge 603 comprises hinge axel pin 700, seat attachment hinge plate 605, seat mounting hinge plate 604, and lid attachment hinge plate 602.
  • the axel pin 700 is cylindrical and is slidingly fitted to a cylindrical aperture 704 in seat attachment hinge 605.
  • hinge mounting plate 604 is slidingly fitted to said axel pin 700.
  • the lid attachment hinge plate 602 has an oblong aperture 705 through which the axel pin 700 is positioned.
  • the oblong aperture 705 is situated with respect to the lid attachment end of the hinge plate 602 so that when the lid is in a vertical position, the oblong aperture 705 is also longest from top to bottom or essentially in the vertical position as well.
  • the lid is brought to a vertical position the lid is induced by gravity to drop about between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm.
  • the lid remains in a vertical position however until the seat is induced to lower.
  • the oblong aperture 705 is designed to lean in the vertical slightly to the closed position, it will induce the lid to fall forward on the axel pin 700.
  • the user simply can nudge the lid up from the seat from its resting position to the vertical in which case the lid will rest on the limit tang 601, and if the user wishes to lift the lid by pressing the pedal, and then letting the seat drop to the horizontal, then the user can simply arrest the lid from falling to keep it balanced on the limit tang 601 until nudged towards the closing position in which case the lid will drop on its own by gravity and the rate of drop will be affected by the tabs 501a and 501b.
  • the seat and lid can remain in the raised position easily due to the equal counterbalance between the seat/lid weight and the counter weight provided by the combination of the pedal and pedal displacement rod weight, the spatial positioning of the cam actuator lower than the seat hinge, and the tension adjustment bar.
  • the lid drop rate is regulated by friction between tabs 501a and 501b that form an integral part of the under surface of the lid 502 and slots 503a and 503b which are formed into the rear edge of the toilet seat 504. As shown in FIGS. 12A and B and FIG.
  • the tabs can be fixedly fitted on to, but preferably are molded into, the toilet lid.
  • the dimensions of the tabs can be a plurality of sizes but generally protrude from the under surface of the lid to a distance sufficient to extend into the depth of the slot at least enough so that the sides surfaces of the tabs, which are thicker than the slot width by enough of a dimension to cause the tab to frictionally engage the side surfaces of the slots.
  • the frictional engagement of the tabs and slots is sufficient to slow the drop of the lid without causing the lid to be held firmly by the frictional engagement of the tabs and lid.
  • the friction allowed to be applied due to the choice of tab and slot dimensions is such that the lid tabs will slide against the sides of the slots without becoming wedged and in any event when the seat and lid are in a vertical position, the lid will disengage from any gripping it may experience with the seat.
  • the cam actuator transfers torque applied via the foot pedal and pedal displacement rod into rotational force on the seat lifting displacement rod thereby lifting the seat. Because the seat is evenly balanced between the force required to lift the seat by pressing down on the pedal versus letting the seat return to a horizontal position by pulling up on the lip of the pedal, the seat can be brought to a resting position without slamming. Further, the lid, if present, can freely drop and as the tabs under the lid engage the slots of the seat, the lid drop rate will sharply decrease and cause the lid to slowing drop to a resting horizontal position. There is an inherent benefit for installing lid covered toilet seats with the current pedal driven invention, particularly in men's toilets as the user will be required to lift the seat (and lid) in order to use it, thereby lessening the likelihood of soiling the toilet seat with urine.
  • the seat and/or lid combination can be designed as shown in FIGS. 17 to 22.
  • the seat 800 as in other embodiments, comprises seat mounts 312 with lifting rod slots 402 located at the rear lateral position.
  • the hinge in this embodiment comprises a hinge pin 807 (FIG. 20) formed in a rigid substrate 802 which substrate is shaped in an "L" further comprising a mounting bolt 803 positioned at 90 degree angle with respect to the hinge pin 807.
  • Seat 800 has a section 804 (FIG. 18) comprising surface 801 along the rearward underside of the seat which when the seat is lifted, surface 801 contacts hinge substrate 802 and terminates the ability of the seat to travel any further in the upward direction.
  • FIG. 18 is a close-up view showing the hinge pin attachment lobe 806 rotated with the seat in the vertical position. As depicted, seat surface 801 impacts the hinge pin substrate 802.
  • FIG. 19 depicts the similar arrangement with a seat and lid combination. With respect to the lid, it has a travel limit capability due to the uniquely designed limit stop surface 810 which contacts a portion of hinge pin substrate 802.
  • FIG. 20 shows a rear view of the above alternate embodiment.
  • hinge substrate 802 which encompasses hinge pin 807 and mounting bolt 803 is formed so as to have an elongated hinge pin 807 to connect to hinge pin lobe 806 of seat 800 and the lid portion 820 encompassing the pin.
  • the rate of fall of the seat is slowed similarly to that of the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 11 to 13 in that the reduction in fall rate is accomplished with a minimal frictional contact between slanted surfaces 81 Ia and 81 1 b, and 812a and 812b, respectively.
  • FIG. 21 shows a view from the top wherein the lid and seat are raised in the vertical position.
  • surface 810 of the lid and seat section 804 contact hinge pin substrate 802.
  • FIG. 22 shows a perspective view providing another view to comprehend the lid and seat combination.
  • the user can press the foot pedal and lift both seat and lid simultaneously.
  • the seat travel will terminate upon the seat surface 801 contacting the hinge pin substrate 802. Consequently, there is no need to include a travel stop tang on the second of the two cam assembly as depicted in FIG. 23 further advancing the art by simplification and lowering expense of manufactured parts.
  • the seat drop weight can be tailored to the counter weight in the pedal and/or amount of friction than can be applied by the tensioning plate.
  • the current invention benefits from the multipoint travel limitation capability.
  • the hardware would benefit from having travel limits built into both the cam and the seat surfaces.
  • the pedal and its associated rod can be replaced by a motor which is connected to a gear attached to a shortened rod.
  • the motor can be mounted on the assembly mounting bracket 301 but in and extended portion 704 thereof.
  • motor 703 which can be any A/C driven or battery operated motor having a sufficient torque to raise and lower the seat and lid. It is contemplated in such an arrangement that the motor is housed in a fashion to keep it sealed from contact with liquids and is connected to the cam via gears 701 and 702.
  • the motor would be activated through infra red sensor technology, which is well understood by one of skill in the electronic arts, by waving a hand across a sensor that can be located along the side of the toilet, its water tank if present, or in a casing removed from the toilet itself.
  • a routine can be designed into the electronics for the IR sensor to act as an up an down switch.
  • compositions and methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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  • Toilet Supplies (AREA)
  • Non-Flushing Toilets (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un dispositif pour lever et abaisser un siège de toilettes, c'est-à-dire, sur un dispositif qui n'exige pas l'utilisation des mains ou le toucher avec les mains. L'invention comprend plusieurs modes de réalisation perfectionnés pour non seulement mieux simplifier l'ensemble levage et abaissement, mais également pour contrebalancer le siège et le couvercle à l'encontre de la pédale. Dans des modes de réalisation préférés, l'invention comprend un ensemble transfert de couple comprenant deux cames en interaction qui peuvent, selon le mode de réalisation utilisé, être conçues pour être autolimitées dans leur trajet de rotation, de telle sorte que la rotation d'arc du siège se déplace de l'horizontale à environ la verticale. L'appareil comprend également un ensemble de tension régulé par frottement qui agit pour atténuer la vitesse de chute du siège pendant qu'un agencement structural de frottement séparé entre le siège et le couvercle permet d'obtenir une vitesse d'abaissement différentielle du couvercle, permettant ainsi d'empêcher un rabattement brutal du couvercle sur le siège.
PCT/US2008/012301 2007-10-30 2008-10-30 Appareil pour lever un siège et un couvercle de toilettes avec des modes de réalisation basés sur le frottement pour réguler la vitesse d'abaissement différentielle du siège et du couvercle WO2009058320A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/981,274 2007-10-30
US11/981,274 US20080066221A1 (en) 2004-11-02 2007-10-30 Apparatus for lifting toilet seat and lid with friction-based embodiments for regulating differential lowering rate of the seat and lid

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009058320A1 true WO2009058320A1 (fr) 2009-05-07

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2008/012301 WO2009058320A1 (fr) 2007-10-30 2008-10-30 Appareil pour lever un siège et un couvercle de toilettes avec des modes de réalisation basés sur le frottement pour réguler la vitesse d'abaissement différentielle du siège et du couvercle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20080066221A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009058320A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102444194A (zh) * 2011-10-19 2012-05-09 陈少军 一种高度可升降的带烟灰缸的小便器
US11419464B2 (en) 2019-06-02 2022-08-23 Origyn LLC Toilet seat assembly with cleaning system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140101833A1 (en) * 2012-10-12 2014-04-17 Liviu B. Saimovici Toilet cover apparatus
US9326649B1 (en) * 2013-11-03 2016-05-03 Duke Ophori Toilet seat lifter-toilet foot pedal systems

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US1967104A (en) * 1931-01-29 1934-07-17 Stanley Works Friction hinge
US5075906A (en) * 1990-10-31 1991-12-31 Daniel T. Robbins Seat lift
US5404595A (en) * 1992-11-24 1995-04-11 Carmel; Yehuda Device for raising a toilet seat
US6293286B1 (en) * 1997-10-24 2001-09-25 L'oreal Make-up case with seal
US6701539B1 (en) * 2002-09-30 2004-03-09 Sherman David Hogan Multi-use toilet seat assembly
WO2006030222A1 (fr) * 2004-09-15 2006-03-23 Jeffrey Allen Ensemble de siege de toilettes
US20060090252A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-04 Pantos William P Toilet seat lifting and lowering device
US20070056084A1 (en) * 2003-02-17 2007-03-15 Watt Glenn M Powered toilet & seat assembly

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US2705330A (en) * 1949-07-20 1955-04-05 Richard R Knudsen Toilet seat lifter
US3516095A (en) * 1967-08-22 1970-06-23 John M Clifton Double action sanitary commode seat lifting and lowering device
US5280654A (en) * 1992-10-28 1994-01-25 Wolfer James M Commode seat lid lift apparatus
US5444877A (en) * 1993-03-09 1995-08-29 Kumarasurier; Jey Foot actuated double acting lever for lifting a toilet seat
US5875498A (en) * 1998-05-19 1999-03-02 Joseph; John Gibson Toilet seat lifting device
US6263517B1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2001-07-24 Thomas K. Brooks Toilet seat and cover lifter
US6738990B1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-05-25 Michael Jackson Toilet seat lifting device
US20040045081A1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-03-11 Marras Leonardo Salvador Toilet seat and cover system
US6934974B1 (en) * 2004-02-12 2005-08-30 William P. Pantos Force adjustable toilet seat lifting and lowering mechanism

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1967104A (en) * 1931-01-29 1934-07-17 Stanley Works Friction hinge
US5075906A (en) * 1990-10-31 1991-12-31 Daniel T. Robbins Seat lift
US5404595A (en) * 1992-11-24 1995-04-11 Carmel; Yehuda Device for raising a toilet seat
US6293286B1 (en) * 1997-10-24 2001-09-25 L'oreal Make-up case with seal
US6701539B1 (en) * 2002-09-30 2004-03-09 Sherman David Hogan Multi-use toilet seat assembly
US20070056084A1 (en) * 2003-02-17 2007-03-15 Watt Glenn M Powered toilet & seat assembly
WO2006030222A1 (fr) * 2004-09-15 2006-03-23 Jeffrey Allen Ensemble de siege de toilettes
US20060090252A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-04 Pantos William P Toilet seat lifting and lowering device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102444194A (zh) * 2011-10-19 2012-05-09 陈少军 一种高度可升降的带烟灰缸的小便器
US11419464B2 (en) 2019-06-02 2022-08-23 Origyn LLC Toilet seat assembly with cleaning system

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