Toilet seat lifting apparatus

Abstract

A toilet seat lifting mechanism is disclosed. The toilet seat lifting apparatus includes: a device for lifting a toilet seat of a commode from a lower position to an upper position; a device for lowering the toilet seat from the upper position to the lower position in a controlled manner (e.g., without slamming); and a device for flushing the commode. The flushing device is coupled to the lowering device. During lowering of the toilet seat, the flush device is activated to flush the toilet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The instant invention is directed to a toilet seat lifting apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Foot pedal activated seat lifting mechanisms for commodes are known. See: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,649,576; 4,803,741; 5,029,347; 5,075,906; 5,237,708; 5,327,589; 5,875,498; 6,363,543. Apparatus for preventing the seat from slamming upon lowering are known and those apparatus use pneumatic valves, shock absorbers, and springs to slow the lowering. See: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,029,347; 5,237,708; 5,327,589; 5,369,814; 5,742,949; 5,867,843; 5,875,498; 6,321,394; 6,363,543. Foot activated flushing mechanisms are known. See: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,612,954; 6,089,542.

[0003] There is a need for these functions to be combined into a single device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is a toilet seat lifting mechanism. The toilet seat lifting apparatus includes: a device for lifting a toilet seat of a commode from a lower position to an upper position; a device for lowering the toilet seat from the upper position to the lower position in a controlled manner (e.g., without slamming); and a device for flushing the commode. The flushing device is coupled to the lowering device. Whereby, during lowering of the toilet seat, the flushing device is activated to flush the toilet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0006] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the present invention with the toilet seat in the lower position.

[0007] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the present invention with the toilet seat in the upper position.

[0008] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the present invention wherein the flush apparatus is activated as the toilet seat is returned to the lower position.

[0009] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Referring to the drawing wherein like elements have like numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 a toilet seat lifting apparatus 10 according to the present invention.

[0011] Apparatus 10 may be mounted next to a conventional commode 11 or may be incorporated into the design of commode 11. Commode 11 may include a bowl 12, a tank 14 mounted on the bowl 12, and a seat 16 mounted on the bowl 12 via a hinge 18.

[0012] Apparatus 10 preferably includes a base 20 and a mounting wall 22. Base 20 preferably lies on the floor next to bowl 12 and prevents apparatus 10 moving with relation to bowl 12. For example, base 20 may be attached to bowl 12 via a banding strap (not shown). The mounting wall 22 is preferably affixed perpendicularly to base 20. It is possible to eliminate the base 20 and mounting wall 22, if the components, mentioned below, are mounted directly onto the bowl 12. For convenience, the invention will be described with the base 20 and mounting wall 22, but is not so limited. Base 20 and mounting wall 22 may be decorated, e.g., wood veneer, paint, decorative stickers and the like.

[0013] Apparatus 10 preferably includes seat lifting mechanism 23, seat lowering mechanism 38, and flush mechanism 50 (each will be discussed in greater detail below). Operation of apparatus 10 will be discussed after presentation of its major components.

[0014] Seat lifting mechanism 23 preferably includes seat lifting pedal 24, seat lifting pivot 26, lifting rod pivot 28, lifting rod 30, seat pivot 34, and lifting rod guide 36. Pedal 24 is pivotally mounted on wall 22 via pivot 26. Pedal 24 is pivotally coupled to lifting rod 30 via rod pivot 28. Rod 30 is pivotally coupled to seat 16 via pivot 34. Pivot 34 is preferably located between hinge 18 and the midpoint of seat 16 (as measured from front to back of the seat). Preferably, rod 30 includes a lifting rod adjustor 32 for coupling the lifting mechanism 23 to seat 16 of commodes of varying height. Rod 30 also includes a portion for engagement with flush mechanism 50 (discussed in greater detail below). Preferably, this portion of rod 30 extends perpendicularly from arm 24 at pivot 28. Adjustor 32 may be a threaded rod and nut, or a telescoping arm, or a slotted plate with a bolt and nut adjustor. Optionally, a return spring 35 is connected to flush arm 24 and base 20 or wall 22. Return spring 35 may be necessary when the seat 16 is to light in weight to return the seat 16 to the lower position. Rod guide 36 is mounted on wall 22, so that rod 30 is movably confined between the wall 22 and guide 36. While guide 36 is shown as a plate, it may be any guide such as: an eyelet (not shown) affixed to wall 22 with rod 30 movably confined within the eye, or a slotted plate (not shown) affixed to wall 22 with rod 30 being confined within the slot.

[0015] Seat lowering mechanism 38 preferably includes: an anchor 40, a cylinder 42, a cylinder adjustment mechanism 44, and coupler pivot 48. Anchor 40 is affixed to either base 20 or mounting wall 22. Cylinder 42 is connected to lifting pedal 24 via coupler pivot 48. Cylinder 42 is connected to anchor 40 via cylinder rod 46 (best seen in FIG. 2). Cylinder adjustment mechanism 44 is preferably mounted on cylinder 42 and adjustment is effected via adjustment knob 45. Cylinder 42 allows seat 16 to return to its lower position without "slamming" into the bowl 12.

[0016] Cylinder 42 may be air operated or water operated. In FIG. 1, the air operated cylinder is illustrated. In FIG. 4, the water operated cylinder is illustrated. Referring to FIG. 4, cylinder 42' is connected to water supply 80 via hose 82, pedal 24' and hose 86. Spent water from cylinder 42 is returned to tank 14 via hose 88. In this embodiment, seat lifting may be accomplished solely by action to the water-activated cylinder; foot pedal 24, however, is preferably retained, but is optional.

[0017] Flush mechanism 50 preferably includes: a flush arm 52, a flush pivot 54, and a flush chain 62. The combined weight of flush arm 52 (i.e., that part of arm 52 on the right side of pivot 54) and flush chain 62 cannot exceed the weight of the flapper (not shown) located within tank 14. Flush arm 52 is pivotally mounted to wall 22 via flush pivot 54. Flush arm 52 is connected to flush handle 64 via flush chain 62. Flush chain 62 may be a chain, strap, or rod, and may be adjustable in length to accommodate commodes 11 of various sizes. The length of arm 52 may be increased or decrease by the flush arm adjustment mechanism 56. Adjustment mechanism 56 is illustrated as a plate with a plurality of holes therethrough, but is not so limited and a slotted plate may also be used. One end of arm 52 includes a lower flush arm engagement surface 58 and upper flush arm engagement surface 60. Lower surface 58 is curved, so that as rod 30 that extends out of pivot 28 engages surface 58, it passes easily. Upper surface 60 is flat, so that as rod 30 engages surface 60, rod 30 pushes arm 52 and thereby activates the flush.

[0018] Additionally, flush device 50 preferably includes a device 53 that allows flushing without raising seat 16. Device 53 preferably includes a flush pedal 55, flush pedal pivot 57, and flush pedal push rod 59. Flush pedal 55 is pivotally connected to wall 22 via pivot 57. Flush pedal 55 is connected to flush arm adjustment mechanism 56 via flush pedal push arm 59.

[0019] In operation (FIGS. 1-3), seat lifting pedal 24 is depressed causing lifting rod 30 to push seat 16 to a second (erect or practically vertical) position from a first (rest or horizontal) position, cylinder rod 46 to extend from cylinder 42, and rod 30 to be positioned above upper flush engagement surface 60. See FIG. 2. Seat 16 remains in the second position, so long as lifting pedal 24 is depressed. Once pressure is removed from pedal 24, seat 16, preferably under its own weight (but, if necessary with the assistance of return spring 35), returns to its first position. As seat 16 begins its return to the first position, cylinder 42 slows the fall of the seat 16. The seat's rate of return is controlled by cylinder adjustment mechanism 44. Mechanism 44 may be a valve that regulates the release of fluid (gas or liquid) from cylinder 42. Additionally, rod 30 engages upper flush arm engagement surface 60 and depresses flush arm 52 and activates the flush by pulling flush chain 62. See FIG. 3. Thereafter, apparatus 10 is returned to its original condition and ready for another lift/lower/flush cycle.

[0020] In operation (water cylinder), foot pedal 24' is depressed causing cylinder 42' to rise and lift seat 16 and rod 30 to be positioned above upper flush engagement surface 60. Seat 16 remains in the second position, so long as lifting pedal 24' is depressed. Once pressure is removed from pedal 24', seat 16, preferably under its own weight (but, if necessary with the assistance of return spring 35), returns to its first position. When seat 16 begins its return to the first position, cylinder 42' slows the fall of the seat 16. The seat's rate of return is controlled by cylinder adjustment mechanism 44. Mechanism 44 may be a valve that regulates the release of fluid (gas or liquid) from cylinder 42. Additionally, rod 30 engages upper flush arm engagement surface 60 and depresses flush arm 52 and activates the flush by pulling flush chain 62. See FIG. 3. Thereafter, apparatus 10 is returned to its original condition and ready for another lift/lower/flush cycle.

[0021] In operation, either embodiment may be flushed without lifting seat 16 or touching handle 64. When device 10 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, depression of flush pedal 55 will cause flush arm 52 to pivot downwardly and flush chain 62 to pull handle 64. Flush pedal 55 may be depressed with the toe or heel of a foot.

[0022] The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toilet seat lifting apparatus comprising: means for lifting a toilet seat of a commode from a lower position to an upper position; means for lowering said toilet seat from said upper position to said lower position in a controlled manner; and means for flushing said commode being coupled to said lowering means whereby during lowering of said toilet seat said flush means being activated to flush said commode.

2. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for lifting comprises a lifting pedal, a rod connecting said lifting pedal to said seat, whereby depressing said pedal raises said seat, so long as said pedal is depressed.

3. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lifting pedal being pivotally mounted to a mounting wall or to the commode.

4. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said rod being adjustable in length.

5. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said rod being confined by a guide.

6. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said rod joins the seat at a point on said seat between a hinge that joins the seat to said commode and a midpoint of the seat.

7. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lifting mechanism further comprises a return spring connected to said lifting pedal and a base or the commode.

8. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lowering mechanism comprises a cylinder anchored to a base, or mounting wall, or the commode, and pivotally connected to the lifting mechanism, said cylinder adapted to prevent the seat from slamming when returning to the lower position.

9. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cylinder is pivotally connected to a lifting pedal of said lifting mechanism.

10. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cylinder having an adjustment means connected thereto.

11. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cylinder being an air or water operated cylinder.

12. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flushing mechanism comprises a flush arm pivotally mounted to a base or the commode, a flush chain connecting the flush arm to a flush handle on the commode and said flush arm having an upper engagement surface and a lower engagement surface, said upper and lower surfaces being adapted for contact with said seat lifting mechanism.

13. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 12 wherein said flush chain being a chain, strap, or rod.

14. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a flush pedal adapted to flush said commode with raising said seat.

15. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 14 further comprising said flush pedal being pivotally mounted to a mounting wall or the commode.

16. The toilet seat lifting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said flush pedal being connected to said flush arm via a rod.