U.S. patent application number 11/807052 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for elevated toilet seat.
Invention is credited to Richard W. Schanz.
Application Number | 20080034483 11/807052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39049039 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080034483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schanz; Richard W. |
February 14, 2008 |
Elevated toilet seat
Abstract
An improved elevated hinged toilet seat with lid of simple
construction and ease of installation.
Inventors: |
Schanz; Richard W.; (St.
George, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARCUS G THEODORE, PC
466 SOUTH 500 EAST
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84102
US
|
Family ID: |
39049039 |
Appl. No.: |
11/807052 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60837134 |
Aug 14, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/240 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/24 20130101;
A47K 13/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/240 |
International
Class: |
A47K 13/12 20060101
A47K013/12 |
Claims
1. An elevated hinged toilet seat comprising: a. a toilet seat with
a bottom and center hole sized to fit on the rim of a toilet bowl
b. a plurality of pedestals affixed to the bottom of the toilet
seat with cushions designed to grip the rim of the toilet bowl, c.
an elevated hinge affixed to the toilet seat structured to hingedly
secure the toilet seat to the rim of the toilet bowl so that the
toilet seat will raise and lower so that when the toilet seat is
lowered, the pedestals form multiple contacts with the rim to
elevate and support the toilet seat at an elevated height
sufficient to make it easier for a user to sit down and get up, and
d. a lid with a top and underside sized to cover the toilet seat,
when not in use, the lid affixed to the elevated hinge for raising
and lowering.
2. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 1, including
rubber cushions on the underside of the lid structured to absorb
contact with the seat to minimize banging when the lid is
accidentally dropped.
3. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of pedestals are symmetrically spaced about the bottom of
the toilet seat.
4. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the
toilet seat has an open front.
5. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the
toilet seat and pedestals are molded out of one piece.
6. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 5, wherein the
pedestals are approximately 2 inches in height.
7. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 1, including
fasteners associated with the elevated hinge to secure the elevated
hinge to the toilet bowl rim.
8. An elevated hinged toilet seat according to claim 7, wherein the
fasteners comprise bolts with rubber washers for centering and
screw nuts.
9. An elevated hinged toilet seat comprising: a. a unibody toilet
seat with a bottom and center hole sized to fit on the rim of a
toilet bowl with a plurality of pedestals molded to the bottom of
the toilet seat with cushion ends designed to grip the rim of the
toilet bowl, b. an elevated hinge affixed to the toilet seat
structured to hingedly secure the toilet seat to the rim of the
toilet bowl so that the toilet seat will raise and lower and the
pedestals form multiple contacts with the rim when the toilet seat
is lowered to elevate and support the toilet seat at an elevated
height sufficient to make it easier for a user to sit down and get
up, and c. a lid with a top and underside sized to cover the toilet
seat, when not in use, the lid affixed to the elevated hinge for
raising and lowering and including rubber cushions on the underside
of the toilet seat.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
the provisional patent application entitled "Elevated Toilet Seat",
filed Aug. 14, 2006 and assigned Ser. No. 60/837,134.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 2. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to toilet seats. In
particular, it relates to an improved elevated hinged toilet seat
of simple manufacture and ease of installation.
[0004] 3. Description of Related Art
[0005] Various toilet seats are known in the art. Thom et al, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,042,838 issued Apr. 25, 2000 provides a toilet seat with
raised hand arms to assist the infirm in rising there from. Ellis,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,989 issued Jan. 20, 1998 discloses another
toilet seat with raised barrel back arms to assist the infirm in
rising there from. Both are designed for insertion into to hold
onto the bowl of conventional toilets.
[0006] Jackson, U.S. Des. No. 390,931 issued Feb. 17, 1998
discloses an insertable raised toilet seat designed for insertion
into and hold onto the bowl of conventional toilets. Hunt, U.S.
Des. No. 489,438 issued May 4, 2004 discloses another insertable
raised toilet seat designed for insertion into and hold onto the
bowl of conventional toilets.
[0007] Harrison, U.S. Des. No. 291,348 issued Aug. 11, 1987
discloses a hinged elevated toilet seat with no lid.
[0008] Light, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,338 issued Oct. 12, 1993
discloses a toilet height conversion apparatus including a mounting
block and a pivotally-connected raisable elevator onto which a
conventional toilet seat is attached. It employs a double hinged
seat and elevator construction, which is affixed to a conventional
toilet. Bemis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,211 issued Jul. 22, 1980
discloses another toilet seat elevator device including a mounting
block and a pivotally-connected raisable elevator onto which a
conventional toilet seat is attached. It also employs a double
hinged seat and elevator construction, which is affixed to a
conventional toilet. Locarno, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,112 issued Apr.
6, 1993 discloses a raised superimposed toilet seat particularly of
use for total hip arthroplasty patients. Locarno, U.S. Pat. No.
5,027,445 issued Jul. 2, 1991 discloses another raised superimposed
toilet seat with a securing clamp. Smith et al, U.S. Pat. No.
4,517,689 issued May 21, 1985 discloses a toilet seat usable for
both handicapped and nonhandicapped users selectively raising
either a conventional toilet seat or an elevated toilet seat, both
hingedly attached to a toilet.
[0009] Cited for general interest is Francke, U.S. Pat. No.
5,191,660 issued Mar. 9, 1993 disclosing a device for attaching a
toilet elevator to the bowl of a toilet.
[0010] None of the above references provides a hinged elevated
toilet seat of simple construction with lid that can be attached to
the bowl of a toilet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention comprises a hinged raised toilet seat
that can be attached to the bowl of a toilet. The toilet seat has a
plurality of spaced around pedestals, which raise the toilet seat
approximately two inches, when mounted, to make it easier for
sitting down and getting up. Preferable the pedestals and toilet
seat are of unitary construction. The toilet seat is hingedly
attached to the toilet bowl edge with an elevated hinge adapted to
accommodate the lowered toilet seat to allow the seat to lie flush
against the edge of the bowl. It also has a lid also hingedly
attached, which can be raised for use of the toilet seat.
[0012] In one preferred embodiment, the toilet seat is injection
molded out of nylon or plastic with eight 2 inch high pedestals
molded as integral parts of the seat. The ends of the pedestals
have rubber cushions on their bottoms to prevent slippage when in
use.
[0013] The hinged raised seat is used in the similar manner of a
conventional toilet seat. The hinge connecting the lid and toilet
seat is first affixed to the toilet bowl edge via conventional
fasteners. Then the hinged toilet seat and lid are either raised or
lowered. The attached drawings and specification description
provides more details of the device particularly adapted for use by
the elderly.
[0014] The present invention is therefore particularly adapted to
provide for the needs of the elderly who have trouble rising from a
conventional toilet seat. It is inexpensive to make, is readily
cleaned, and can be installed without special tools to raise the
toilet seat height when attached to a conventional toilet bowl.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred fastener.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] One preferred embodiment of the elevated toilet seat 10 is
shown in the attached drawings FIG. 1 (top view), FIG. 2 (side
view). It comprises a raised toilet seat system 10, which has the
surface of a toilet seat 2 raised approximately two inches to make
it easier for sitting down and getting up. The new device has a
hinged lid 1 attached to a toilet seat 2 with eight integral two
inch high pedestals 3 molded on its underside to contact a toilet
bowl when lowered for use. The lid 1 has rubber cushions la on the
underside structured to contact the seat 2 and minimize banging,
when the lid 1 is accidentally dropped. The ends of the pedestals 3
have rubber cushions 3a on their bottoms to similarly cushion
contact with the rim of a toilet bowl. The hinge 4 connecting the
lid 1 and toilet seat 2 to the toilet bowl is raised and specially
adapted to accommodate the raised toilet seat 2.
[0019] Use of pedestals 3 instead of other structures reduces the
weight of the toilet seat 2 so that it can be lifted easily. The
bottoms of the pedestal rubber cushions 3a are made of a rubber or
cushioning material designed to grip the top of the toilet bowl to
prevent slippage as well as cushion forces when the lid is
accidentally dropped.
[0020] Toilet lid fasteners 5 secure the hinge 4 of the seat 2 to
the toilet bowl. Preferred fasteners 5 are shown in more detail in
FIG. 3. They are a 5/16 inch.times.2 inch steel slotted head bolts
6 installed with the slotted head 7 down on each side of the hinge
4. A 5/16 inch.times.1 inch flat washer 8 is placed between the
bolt head 7 and bottom of the toilet bowl hole on each side of the
hinge 4. A 5/16 inch.times.12 inch wedge rubber washer 9 centers
the bolts 6, which are then secured with 5/16 inch nuts 11 for each
side of hinge 4.
[0021] This elevated toilet seat system 10 is used in a similar
manner as conventional toilet seats and avoids the need for
separate seat elevator means. It readily adapts a conventional
toilet for the needs of the infirm without expensive hardware. It
also is lightweight and installed in the conventional manner
without special tools.
[0022] Although the illustrations show a closed front round toilet
seat 2, an open front style is also contemplated for either regular
sized or elongated toilet bowls.
[0023] The above description and specification should not be
construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The scope claims
themselves recite those features deemed essential to the
invention.
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