EP3241473B1

EP3241473B1 - Hinge arrangement for toilet seat and/or cover

Info

Publication number: EP3241473B1
Application number: EP17169493.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ole Bagge Nielsen; Lars Herold
Original assignee: Pressalit AS
Current assignee: Pressalit AS
Priority date: 2016-05-04
Filing date: 2017-05-04
Publication date: 2024-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-04
Also published as: EP3241473C0; DK179102B1; DK201670293A1; EP3241473A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the area of supports for toilet seat and or covers and more specifically to the hinge arrangements around which the seat and/or cover may be pivoted.

Background of the Invention

Toilet seat and/or cover hinge arrangements are well-known in the art and may include simple axle constructions as well as more complex soft closure constructions.
Often the normal use of a toilet means that the presently available hinge arrangements are sufficient. However, when the use of a toilet is more intensive, such as the use in public toilets and in health institutions, the dimensioning of the hinge arrangement is insufficient and the hinge arrangement will therefor need replacement more often than desired. At the same time there is a desire for a cosmetically attractive hinge arrangement, which may conflict with the need for designs with an increased strength. US2001/0004776 disclose a toilet hinge arrangement for fastening a toilet cover assembly to a toilet bowl, document US2008/189843 A1 discloses a mechanism for lifting and lowering a toilet seat that is activated by foot pressure pushing down on a pedal.

Object of the Invention

The object of the present invention according to claim 1 is to provide a support device which has an increased strength compared to previously known devices.

Description of the Invention

The objective is achieved through a toilet hinge arrangement for fastening of a toilet cover assembly, including a toilet seat and/or a toilet cover, to a toilet bowl, so that the toilet cover assembly in use can pivot about a substantially horizontal rotation axis, the hinge arrangement comprising a carrier housing adapted for mounting on a toilet structure, said carrier housing having an inside surface, and two rotatable mounted shaft elements, the rotatable shaft element being in contact with and supported by said inner surface of the carrier housing, each shaft element comprising one or more engagement elements on the outside of said at least one shaft element for engaging with corresponding recesses on the toilet seat or cover wherein at least one ring element is mounted on each shaft element and being adapted for fastening in relation to the toilet seat or the cover, the at least one ring element being secured against rotation relative to the shaft element (18,19) by secondary engagement elements (20,21).
By providing the shaft element in the manner where this is supported inside the stationary part it is possible to design the shaft element with larger dimensions and hence with more strength and stability.
According to the invention the carrier part is adapted for accommodating and holding at least one damping element and where the rotatable shaft element is adapted for engagement with the damper and hereby enabling damping of the shaft movement and hence the movement of the seat and/or cover.
Further a ring element is mounted on the shaft element and being adapted for fastening in relation to the toilet seat or the cover, the ring being secured against rotation relative to the shaft element by the engagement element.
An embodiment foresee that the shaft element comprises a tap engaging with a corresponding groove in the ring element, the groove extending parallel to the center axis of the ring element.
Still further the shaft element may comprise a locking tap engaging with a corresponding annular locking groove in the ring element.
The invention will be described in more detail in the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawing, where:

Description of the Drawing

FIG. 1 shows the hinge arrangement in perspective with a seat and cover mounted;
FIG. 2 shows the hinge arrangement in an exploded view;
FIG. 3 shows the hinge arrangement in a front view;
FIG. 4 shows the hinge arrangement in a top view;
FIG. 5 shows the hinge arrangement in a side view;
FIG. 6 shows the hinge arrangement in a sectional view according to the line A-A in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 7 shows an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 6.

Detailed Description of the Invention

From FIG. 1 a hinge arrangement construction 1 according to the invention appears in an assembled view. The construction is adapted for mounting on a toilet structure 4, such as a toilet bowl. The construction carries the toilet seat 2 and the cover 3. The details of the construction will appear from the following description.
From FIG. 2 the hinge arrangement appears in an exploded view. The main elements of the construction appear. The construction comprises a carrier part in the shape of a carrier housing 5 which is connected by screws to a support part 6. In this particular embodiment the carrier part has been designed as a carrier housing 5 connecting and providing fastening for dampeners in both sides of the toilet seat - i.e. for both hinge constructions.
The carrier housing holds two damping elements 16,17 in a manner where these are prevented from rotating inside the carrier housing. The shaft element in the shape of two bushings 18,19 are provided for insertion into the carrier housing 5 and being adapted for providing a bearing function relative to the inside surface of the carrier housing 5. Ring elements 8,10,12,14 are provided and adapted to be carried by the bushings 18,19 forming shaft elements for the hinge construction. The bushings comprise taps on the outside engaging with corresponding longitudinally extending grooves in the ring elements hereby allowing a single ring element on each side to be freely rotatable and one being fixed against rotation relative to the bushing. As the ring elements are connected to the seat or the cover this enables the damping of the seat movement with one of the two dampers and the damping of the cover movement with the other damper.
From FIG. 3 the hinge arrangement appears in a front view, where the carrier housing 5 appears supported by the support part 6 and mounting brackets 7. Ring elements 8,10,12,14 are provided and each of these comprising engagement elements 9,11,13,15 for connecting the ring elements to the seat and the cover, respectively.
The ring elements may in principle be integral parts of the seat and/or cover, however by providing these as separate elements it will be possible to use a wider range of materials for the ring elements, e.g. metal or similar that would correspond to the material of the remaining hinge arrangement.
From FIG. 4 the construction appears in a top view in an assembled state. It appears that the mounting brackets 7 of the support part 6 are slightly offset in relation to the centreline of the carrier housing 5. This enables the mounting in different distances from the rear part of the toilet structure, as desired or necessary in various situations.
From FIG. 5 the hinge arrangement appears in a side view, where the engagement elements of the ring elements appear as well as the end area of a bushing 18 carrying the ring elements and being supported inside the carrier housing 5.
From FIG. 6 the hinge arrangement appears in a sectional view. Here it appears more clearly how the various parts of the hinge arrangement are mutually engaging and providing the improved functionality of the hinge arrangement. The dampers 16,17, which in principle are optional, are shown in their mounted position where these are secured against rotational movement. The end area of the damper 16,17 is adapted for engagement with the shaft element 18,19 in that these two elements have been designed with mutual corresponding shapes that prevent relative rotational movement between these. It appears clearly that the shaft element 18,19 is supported against the inside surface of the carrier housing 5. Both the inside of the carrier housing 5 and the outside of the shaft element 18,19 have a circular shape that allow for relative rotational movement of these two elements.
By providing this support arrangement it is possible to design the entire hinge arrangement with relative small outer dimensions and at the same time design the inner bearing surfaces with largest possible surface area and hence provide for an increased strength of the hinge arrangement. Mounting elements 22 (see fig. 2) for securing the hinge arrangement relative to a toilet bowl are shown as well as screws for mutual securing of the elements 5 and 6 of the carrier housing.
Further details are apparent from FIG. 7 showing an enlarged view of an end area of the sectional view presented in FIG. 6. It appears that the shaft element 18 comprises a locking tap 20 engaging with a corresponding groove 21 in one of the ring elements 8,10,12,14. When inserted through the ring elements 8,10,12,14 and into the carrier housing 5 the locking tap 20 and the corresponding locking groove 21 will provide for a secure fastening of the seat and cover and the removal of the seat and cover will require a removal of the entire hinge arrangement. This provides for an increased safety against theft and further makes assembly significantly easier.

Claims

Toilet hinge arrangement (1) for fastening of a toilet cover assembly, including a toilet seat (2) and/or a toilet cover (3), to a toilet bowl (4), so that the toilet cover assembly (2,3) in use can pivot about a substantially horizontal rotation axis, the hinge arrangement (1) comprising
a. a carrier housing (5,6,7) adapted for mounting on a toilet structure (4), said carrier housing having an inside surface, and two rotatable mounted shaft elements (18,19), each rotatable shaft element (18,19) being in contact with and supported by said inner surface of the carrier housing (5,6,7), each shaft element (18,19) comprising one or more engagement elements (9,11,13,15) on the outside of each shaft element for engaging with corresponding recesses on the toilet seat or cover (2,3) wherein at least

b. one ring element (8,10,12,14) is mounted on each shaft element (18,19) and being adapted for fastening in relation to the toilet seat or the cover (2,3), the at least one ring element (8,10,12,14) being secured against rotation relative to the shaft element (18,19) by secondary engagement elements (20,21),
wherein said ring elements (8,10,12,14) each comprising engagement elements (9,11,13,15) for connecting the ring elements to the seat and/or the cover, and wherein the carrier housing (5,6,7) is adapted for accommodating and holding at least one damping element (16,17) and where the rotatable shaft element (18,19) is adapted for engagement with the damper (16,17) and hereby enabling damping of the shaft elements movement and hence the movement of the seat and/or cover (2,3).
A hinge arrangement according to claim 1, where the secondary engagement elements (20,21), comprises a tap (20) on the shaft element 18 engaging with a corresponding groove (21) in the ring element (8,10,12,14), the groove (21) extending parallel to the center axis of the ring element (8,10,12,14).
A hinge arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, where each shaft element comprises a locking tap (20) engaging with a corresponding annular locking groove (21) in the ring element (8, 10, 12, 14).