U.S. patent application number 10/979039 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for force adjustable toilet seat lifting and lowering mechanism.
Invention is credited to Pantos, William P., Sword, Curtis.
Application Number | 20050177933 10/979039 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34841148 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050177933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pantos, William P. ; et
al. |
August 18, 2005 |
FORCE ADJUSTABLE TOILET SEAT LIFTING AND LOWERING MECHANISM
Abstract
An new toilet seat lifter means is described, using a minimally
simple lever and gear means with a counterweight balanced action
arm. The device is adaptable to all standard toilets available
today and offers a minimum number of moving parts and no springs or
pulleys.
Inventors: |
Pantos, William P.;
(Cardiff, CA) ; Sword, Curtis; (Cardiff,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven W. Webb
Law Offices of Steven W. Webb
655 2nd Street
Encinitas
CA
92024
US
|
Family ID: |
34841148 |
Appl. No.: |
10/979039 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60543879 |
Feb 12, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/246.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/246.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 013/10 |
Claims
1. What is claimed is a toilet seat lifter, comprised of a housing,
an adapter bracket, a small lever arm, a large lever arm, a small
gear, a large gear, a counterweight, and a seat lift adjustment
means, the housing connected fixedly to the adapter bracket, the
housing and adapter bracket capable of being attached to a standard
toilet behind the placement of the toilet seat, the small gear and
large gear connected by gear engagement, the small lever arm
connected fixedly to the center of rotation of the small gear, the
large lever arm connected fixedly to the center of rotation of the
large gear, the small and large lever arms bent in such a manner
that the motion of the large lever arm rotates the large gear and
the motion of the small gear moves the small lever arm, the small
lever arm connected removably to the underside of a standard toilet
seat by means of an attachment clip, the end of the small lever arm
inserted through the attachment clip capable of sliding the length
of the attachment clip while the seat is lifted, said sliding
motion minimizing the angular distance turned by the small gear,
the large lever arm possessing a counterweight that is adjustable
by sliding the counterweight along the length of the large lever
arm, the large lever arm possessing a pedal at the end of the large
lever arm away from the large gear, the pedal possessing a
multiplicity of insertion holes that are capable of receiving the
end of the large lever arm, the distance the pedal stops above the
ground when the pedal is depressed adjustable by means of selecting
an appropriate hole in which to insert the large lever arm, the
pedal held on the end of the large lever arm by means of friction,
the large lever arm extending from the housing behind the standard
toilet seat towards the floor without contacting the floor, the
toilet seat lifter operated by attaching the housing with the
adapter bracket behind the toilet seat such that one end of the
small lever arm is connected removably to the underside of the
standard toilet seat, the large lever arm extending alongside the
toilet stool towards the floor, the counterweight adjusted along
the length of the large lever arm to a position that balances the
weight of the toilet seat and regulates the speed of the seat
descent to the down position, the seat lifted by pressing the pedal
at the end of the large lever arm with the foot until the toilet
seat is all the way up, the seat lowered by lifting the pedal with
the foot until the toilet seat starts towards the down
position.
2. The toilet seat lifter of claim 1 where the housing and adapter
bracket are comprised of extruded or stamped aluminum.
3. The toilet seat lifter of claim 1 where the counterweight is
held in place after adjustment along the large lever arm by means
of a tightening screw.
4. The toilet seat lifter of claim 1 where the adjustment means is
a screw inserted from the outside of the housing extending into the
interior of the housing, the screw possessing a thumbwheel top, the
screw capable of setting the up position of the toilet seat by
stopping the small gear at an appropriate point in its revolution.
Description
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application supplements and completes Provisional
Application No. 60/543,879, filed Feb. 12, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to toilet appliances having to do
with lifting or adjusting the toilet seat position. The field
contains several toilet seat adjusters with a variety of mechanical
means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This is a simplified method for raising and lowering a
standard toilet seat without touching the seat with the hands. It
is compatible with and can be retrofitted to all standard toilets
without requiring specialized seat assemblies. The mechanical
implementation minimizes or eliminates springs, friction, ratchets,
and flanges and has a unique adjustable counterweight design.
[0004] The state of the art is replete with competing designs, most
of which are of limited practicality and usefulness. Jackson in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,738,990 teaches a pedal operated lifter that uses a
complex support framework and pulleys. Joseph in U.S. Pat. No.
5,875,498 uses pulleys and springs for a pedal-operated system, a
solid framework attached to the floor. Kumarasurier in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,444,877 shows a pedal-operated system with ratcheted gears
and interior bearings that is not adjustable with a counterweight.
Wolfer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,654 presents a system that is
superficially similar to the present invention, but does not fit
standard toilet seats and possesses an inferior lever action. The
remainder of the art is substantially distinct from this
invention.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a toilet seat
lifter that requires no use of the hands to operate, thereby
improving personal hygiene.
[0006] It is a further goal of this invention to produce this
device with the minimum number of moving parts.
[0007] It is a further goal of this invention to implement this
toilet seat lifter with no parts that can wear out easily and
require continuous replacement.
[0008] It is a further goal of this invention to reduce friction
and provide a counterweight that will minimize the force necessary
to lift and lower a toilet seat with this device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The mechanism is an extruded or stamped metal or plastic
housing to which is attached an adapter bracket for connection to
the toilet seat. The housing possesses two interlocking gears, the
gears attached to two separate lever arms.
[0010] The longer lever arm extends towards the floor and the
shorter lever arm connects to an attachment clip on the underside
of the toilet seat. The longer lever arm has a counterweight that
regulates the speed of the toilet seat lowering. The attachment
clip also places friction on the small lever arm that regulates the
speed of the seat lifting and lowering.
[0011] The hardware is under the seat and out of sight of the user.
This invention can be installed on the left or right side of any
toilet. The entire assembly can be easily retrofitted with
adjustment hardware to any standard toilet in use today.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The features of this invention will be best understood from
the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying description.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective and expanded view of the
invention
[0014] FIG. 2 is view of the invention attached to the toilet, seat
down
[0015] FIG. 3 is a view of the invention attached to the toilet,
seat up
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention in action
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the pedal
configuration
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] The invention can be seen best in FIG. 1, and it consists of
a housing101, an adapter bracket102, a small lever arm103 connected
to a small gear104, a large lever arm105 connected to a large
gear106, the two gears104,106 held within the housing by means of
lever entry holes107.
[0019] The large lever arm105 extends away from the housing101
alongside a toilet100 towards the floor, as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3,
and possess a pedal108 and adjustable counterweight109 with
adjustment means 110. As seen in FIG. 3, the small lever arm103 is
attached to the underside of the toilet seat111 by means of an
attachment clip112. As can be seen in FIG. 4, by means of this
clip112, the seat111 can be raised by pressing with the foot on the
pedal108 at the end of the large lever arm105, and lowered by
lifting the pedal108 with the foot. When the seat111 is lifted, the
small lever arm103 slides from one end of the attachment clip112 to
the other, allowing the seat111 to be lifted with only a small
angular rotation of the small lever arm103.
[0020] Looking at FIG. 1, there is a thumbwheel screw120 that
passes from the outside into the interior of the housing101. This
thumbwheel screw120 is used to control the stopping position of the
small lever arm103 to prevent the seat111 from hitting the toilet
tank121.
[0021] The counterweight109 can be moved up or down the length of
the large lever arm105 between the pedal108 and the large lever arm
angle114. This adjustment accommodates the amount of force needed
to prevent the toilet seat111 from slamming when closing.
[0022] The pedal108 is shaped to permit a space122 under the upper
surface of the pedal to position the foot for lifting the pedal108.
The pedal possesses a multiplicity of holes123 that permit the
insertion of the large lever arm105. By means of choosing which
hole123 in which to insert the large lever arm105, the distance
above the ground the pedal108 rests when the toilet seat111 is
raised can be adjusted.
[0023] While the foregoing describes a preferred embodiment,
variation on this design and equivalent designs may be resorted to
in the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.
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