WO2003105651A1

WO2003105651A1 - Assembly for manipulating a toilet seat

Info

Publication number: WO2003105651A1
Application number: PCT/NL2003/000438
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Robert De Groot
Original assignee: Tomorrow Foundation Inc.
Priority date: 2002-06-14
Filing date: 2003-06-16
Publication date: 2003-12-24
Also published as: AU2003277235A1; NL1020873C2

Abstract

An assembly of a toilet seat and a device for manipulating the position of the toilet seat with respect to a toilet bowl is provided with a first part that in use is joined to the toilet seat and a second part that in use is joined to the toilet bowl. These parts are able to hinge with respect to one another from an up position into a down end position, the device being provided with a spring for moving the first and the second part into the up position. The hinge is provided with locking means for holding the device, against the spring action, in a locked position between the up position and the down end position, close to said end position.

Description

ASSEMBLY FOR MANIPULATING A TOILET SEAT

The present invention relates to an assembly of a toilet seat and a device for manipulating the position of the toilet seat with respect to a toilet bowl, the toilet seat having at least one seat hinge that can be fixed to the toilet bowl, the device being provided with a first part that in use is joined to the toilet seat and a second part that in use is joined to the toilet bowl, which parts are hingebly joined to one another by a hinge for hinging between an up position and a down end position, the device being provided with a spring for moving the first part and the second part into the up position, the device being provided with locking means for holding the parts with respect to one another, against the action of the spring, in a locked position between the up position and the down end position, close to said end position.

An assembly of this type is disclosed in WO 93/06765. The device of the assembly is used to ensure that the seat of a toilet is always up. If the user wishes to sit on the seat, he or she has to actively move the seat down and then sit on the seat. When the user stands up the seat will move upwards under the action of the spring.

The device as has been described above is used to prevent the seat becoming unnecessarily soiled, for example by a man who uses the toilet standing up. Especially in the case of public toilets, for many users it is too much trouble to raise the seat before using the toilet to prevent the seat becoming soiled.

A user can move the seat down and put this into a locked position with the aid of the locking means. The locking means ensure that the seat is held in this locked position. The user can then sit on the seat. Thus, when the user needs the seat he does not have to push the seat down and sit on the seat at the same time. The ease of use of the toilet is consequently great.

In the locked position the seat is put into a position that is between the up position and the down end position. The term "up position" denotes the position in which the seat is up, so that the top surface of the seat cannot become soiled during use of the toilet. The term "down end position" denotes the extreme position into which the seat can be moved downwards. In the locked position the seat is between the two extremes, but close to the down end position. That is to say, in the locked position the seat runs essentially in the horizontal direction. In this position the user can sit down on the seat. When sitting down on the seat, the seat will lower from the locked position into the down end position. In practice the movement of the seat from the locked position into the down end position will be at most a few centimetres, preferably a few millimetres.

The locking means can be unlocked by moving the seat from the locked position into the down end position. That is to say, when the user stands up from the seat the seat is able to spring back into the up position under the action of the spring in the device.

In use, a device of this type has the advantage that a user will always find the seat up when he arrives at the toilet. If the user does not need the seat, this stays in the up position. If the user does want to use the seat, the user moves the seat manually from the up position into the locked position. The user can then sit down on the seat without being hindered by the presence of the device. When he stands up from the toilet seat the seat will automatically return to the original up position.

The known device is, however, integrated in the seat hinge of the toilet seat.

Consequently this device is not suitable as an accessory for toilet seats that have already been fitted. If a toilet bowl with the ease of use described above is desired, the entire toilet seat has to be replaced by a new toilet seat in which the device for manipulating the position thereof has been incorporated.

An object of the invention is to provide an assembly of a toilet seat and a device for manipulating the position of the toilet seat where the device is suitable for a toilet seat already fitted on a toilet bowl.

Said object is achieved according to the invention in that the second part comprises at least one fixing member that can be clamped between the seat hinge and the toilet bowl.

The device of the assembly according to the invention is not integrated in the toilet seat but forms an individual component. This individual component can be used with any toilet seat, including toilet seats that are already in use. The device of the assembly according to the invention can be coupled to the toilet seat with the aid of one or more fixing members that are fitted between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl. Thus, with this arrangement use is made of the holes that are present in the toilet bowl for fixing the toilet seat to the toilet bowl by the seat hinges. Therefore, in this case, moreover, no additional fixing means are needed on the seat or the bowl in order to clamp the manipulating device between the top of the bowl and the bottom of the seat.

According to the invention it is preferable that at least one fixing member is adjustably joined to the second part, such that the distance between the fixing members is adjustable. The standard openings that are present in toilet bowls for fixing the seat hinges of the toilet seat are dependent on the type of toilet bowl. The distance between the seat hinges is not always the same. As a result of the adjustability of the fixing members, the device of the assembly according to the invention is universally applicable to any toilet seat, irrespective of the distance between the seat hinges.

For example, the adjustability is achieved in that the second part has at least a sleeve, and at least one fixing member has an adjusting rod that is slidably accommodated in the sleeve.

According to one embodiment it is possible that the locking means comprise a projection that in the locked position is clamped firmly with the aid of a clamping member actuated by a clamping spring. With this arrangement it is possible that the spring force of the clamping spring is adjustable. It is also possible that the clamping member has a rounded surface on the clamping side thereof.

With such an embodiment of the locking means the seat is held in the locked position with the aid of a clamping member that is actuated by a clamping spring. The action of the clamping member on the projection of the locking means can decrease to some extent when the seat is moved from the locked position into the down end position. At the point in time when the user stands up from the seat, the seat is able to generate some speed in the movement from the down end position into the locked position. Once the locked position has been reached, the clamping force of the clamping member on the projection is insufficient to hold the seat in the locked position. That is to say, the seat passes through the locked position and returns to the up position. The locking means are provided in a simple and effective manner in this way.

According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the spring force of the spring in the device is adjustable. The device according to the present invention is intended for various types of toilet seats. That is to say, it must be possible to adapt the spring that is present in the device to the shape and the weight of the specific seat for which the device is employed. By making the spring adjustable, the user is himself able to make the device suitable for the specific seat that belongs to the toilet. In addition, it is possible that the second part of the device is provided with fixing members for fixing the second part to the toilet bowl, which fixing members are matched to standard openings in a toilet bowl. These fixing members can thus be constructed not only such that they can be used with non-standard openings, but also can be rigidly joined to the second part in accordance with the standard distance between standard openings. Furthermore, combinations with motor drives, for example electric motor drives, are possible. The seat can be lifted or its movement checked by means of such a motor.

According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the first part of the device is provided with a contact surface for exerting pressure on the seat of a toilet, hi addition, it is possible that the contact surface is provided with roller bodies.

When the second part of the device is fixed to the bowl it is sufficient if the first part is in contact with the seat. There is no need for fixing with the aid of fixing elements. When putting the seat up and down the contact surface of the first part will glide or slide over the material of the seat. Wear can occur as a result of this sliding. Therefore, it is advantageous according to the invention if the contact surface is provided with one or more roller bodies, such as, for example, cylindrical roller elements. A (very) smooth material can be used as an alternative to the roller bodies.

According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the device has a stop for limiting the up position of the device. In this context it is possible that the stop is made of a flexible material. When the seat moves back into the up position under the action of the spring of the device, it must be prevented from moving so far that it strikes a surface that is behind the toilet. This surface is, for example, the wall or the water cistern of the toilet. To prevent the seat striking the surface behind it, it is advantageous to make use of a stop. This stop is, for example, made of a flexible material.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the assembly according to the present invention fitted on a toilet bowl. Figure 2 shows the device of the assembly according to the invention with all components thereof.

Figure 3 shows a possible embodiment of the locking means of the device of the assembly according to the invention.

In Figure 1 the device 1 is shown in its entirety, this device being accommodated between a seat 2 and a toilet bowl 3. Only the lower part of the seat 2 can be seen. Only part of the rear of the toilet bowl 3 can be seen. The device 1 comprises a first part 11 and a second part 12. Said second part 12 is clamped between the underside of the seat 2 and the top of the bowl 3 with the aid of fixing members 13 and 14. The members 13 and 14 are matched to the standard holes that are made in a toilet bowl. Furthermore, the members 13 and 14 can be slid to some extent into and out of the second part 12 via cylindrical parts 13a (not visible) and 14a. That is to say, the distance between the members 13 and 14 is adjustable. Between the first part 11 and the second part 12 there are spring means that are adjustable with the aid of an adjustment member 15. The specific form of these spring means can be seen in particular from Figure 2. The parts 11 and 12 are moved apart with the aid of these spring means. That is to say, the spring means will push the seat 2 into an up position. At the end of the second part 12 there is a projection 16. This projection can be received in a recess that has been made in the first part 11 such that it is clamped. The specific operation of this locking facility can be seen in particular from Figure 3. With the aid of these locking means the seat 2 can be put into the locked position, in which the seat 2 is essentially parallel to the top of the bowl 3. Unlocking from this locked position is apparent from the description of Figure 3.

Roller bodies 17 are fitted to the top of the first part 11. These roller bodies are fitted such that these protrude to some extent beyond the contours of the first part 11. That is to say, when the seat 2 is lowered a contact surface is formed between the first part 11 and the seat 2 via the roller bodies 17. As a result of the presence of these roller bodies the seat 2 will not slide over the first part 11. Wear is prevented in this way.

The construction of the various components of the device 1 according to the present invention can be seen from Figure 2. The first part 11 can be seen again in Figure 2. The roller bodies 17 are placed in the first part 11. These roller bodies are, for example, fixed on a central shaft 18. The first part 11 is furthermore provided with two recesses 19 and 20. A clamping member 21, a spring 22 and a set screw 23 are placed, respectively, in these recesses. In a corresponding manner, a clamping member 21', a spring 22' and a set screw 23' are placed in the recess 20. When the device 1 is closed the spring members can be used to trap the projection 16, which forms part of the second part 12, between the clamping members 21, 21'. The precise mode of operation of these clamping members and the projection will be explained with reference to Figure 3. In the illustrative embodiment shown the springs 22, 22' are constructed as a coil spring. A harmonica spring made of strip material is possible as an alternative construction.

The second part 12 of the device 1 according to the invention is provided with the projection 16 on the front thereof. The second part 12 furthermore comprises a cylindrical body 24 having a recess therein for accommodating a torsion spring 25 therein. At a first end (on the left in the figure) the torsion spring 25 is closed off with the aid of a stop bush 26 that is secured in the second part 12 with the aid of a locking bush 27. A shaft 28 also runs through the torsion spring 25. The second end of the torsion spring 25 (on the right in the figure) is connected to an adjusting sleeve 15. This adjusting sleeve is secured in the second part 12 with the aid of a locking bush 30. There are two rows of holes in the adjusting sleeve 15. A locking pin can be placed in each of these rows. The locking pin has reference numeral 31. By alternately applying tension to the locking pins (sic) the torsion spring can be pretensioned. The locking pin will press with the part that is oriented towards the first part 11 against said first part 11 with a certain amount of tension, depending on the number of rotations that the adjusting sleeve has made and by means of which tension is thus built up in the torsion spring 25.

The device according to Figures 1 and 2 is shown again in Figure 3 with, in this figure, specifically details of the pin 16 that forms part of the second part 12 that is trapped between respective clamping members 21 and 21'. The so-called locked position is shown in Figure 3. That is to say the first part 11 has not been lowered fully. From the position shown in Figure 3 the first part 11 can be lowered a few millimetres until the top of the pin 16 comes into contact with the underside of the notch 40 in the first part 11. That is to say the seat 2 that is on the top of the first part 11 has also not lowered fully. When a user sits on the seat 2 (not shown in Figure 3) the first part 11 will lower until the first part 11 is arrested on the top of the pin 16. When the pressure on the seat is released (that is to say when the user stands up) the seat can rise to some extent in the opposite direction so that the pin 16 returns to the position shown in Figure 3. However, as a result of the distance that the seat has travelled the seat has built up a certain amount of kinetic energy. As a result of this kinetic energy the tension set in the springs 22 and 22' is insufficient to hold the locking pin 16 again in the position shown in Figure 3 with the aid of the clamping members 21 and 21'. That is to say, the first part 11 moves on beyond the position shown in Figure 3 into the up position.

The device according to the invention can be made of various materials, such as metal (aluminium), plastic (carbonate) or ceramic.

Claims

1. Assembly of a toilet seat (2) and a device for manipulating the position of the toilet seat (2) with respect to a toilet bowl (3), the toilet seat (2) having at least one seat hinge that can be fixed to the toilet bowl (3), the device (1) being provided with a first part (11) that in use is joined to the toilet seat (2) and a second part (12) that in use is joined to the toilet bowl (3), which parts (11, 12) are hingebly joined to one another by a hinge for hinging between an up position and a down end position, the device being provided with a spring (25) for moving the first part (11) and the second part (12) into the up position, the device being provided with locking means (16, 21, 22, 23) for holding the parts (11, 12) with respect to one another, against the action of the spring (25), in a locked position between the up position and the down end position, close to said end position, characterised in that the second part (12) comprises at least one fixing member (13, 14) that can be clamped between the seat hinge and the toilet bowl (3).

2. Assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the toilet seat (2) has two seat hinges, each of which can be fixed to the toilet bowl (3), and the second part (12) has two fixing members (13, 14), each of which can be clamped between a respective seat hinge and the toilet bowl (3).

3. Assembly according to Claim 2, wherein at least one fixing member (13, 14) is adjustably joined to the second part (12), such that the distance between the fixing members (13, 14) is adjustable.

4. Assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the second part (12) has at least a sleeve and at least one fixing member (13, 14) has an adjusting rod (13 a, 14a) that is slidably accommodated in the sleeve.

5. Assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the distance between the fixing members

(13, 14) for fixing the second part (12) to the toilet bowl (3) is matched to standard openings in the toilet bowl (3).

6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means (16, 21, 22, 23) are equipped to release the lock when the device is moved from said locked position into the down end position.

7. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means (16, 21, 22, 23) comprise a projection (16) that in the locked position is clamped firmly with the aid of a clamping member (21, 21') actuated by a clamping spring (22, 22').

8. Assembly according to Claim 7, wherein the spring force of the clamping spring (22, 22') is adjustable.

9. Assembly according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the clamping member (21, 21') has a rounded surface on the clamping side thereof.

10. Assembly according to one of Claims 7 - 9, wherein the projection (16) is in the form of a pin and wherein two clamping members (21, 21') are provided which, in the locked position, engage on the sides of the projection (16) from opposite sides of the projection (16).

11. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring force of the spring (25) in the device is adjustable.

12. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part (11) of the device is provided with a contact surface for exerting pressure on the seat (2) of a toilet.

13. Assembly according to Claim 12, wherein the contact surface is provided with roller bodies (17).

14. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has a stop to limit the up position of the device.

15. Assembly according to Claim 14, wherein the stop is made of a flexible material.

16. Assembly according to Claim 14, wherein the stop is made of a stiff material, such as a metal.

17. Device for manipulating the position of a toilet seat (2) with respect to a toilet bowl (3) for use in an assembly according to one of the preceding claims.