U.S. patent application number 11/908686 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-04 for self-closing toilet seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEMIS MANUFACTURING COMPANY. Invention is credited to Joseph Hand, Randy Hulsebus, Scott Mailhot, John Seaman.
Application Number | 20080209620 11/908686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36607366 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080209620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hand; Joseph ; et
al. |
September 4, 2008 |
Self-Closing Toilet Seat
Abstract
A toilet assembly (10) comprising a bowl (14), a toilet seat, a
hinge (16, 18) that is mounted on the bowl and that pivotally
supports the toilet seat for movement between raised and lowered
positions, the hinge (18) having therein a bore, a tank (24)
mounted on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to contain water
for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for causing
the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, a latch bolt (32)
extending through the hinge bore, the latch bolt including a member
engageable with the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its
raised position toward its lowered position, the latch bolt further
including a catch lever and a spring biasing the catch lever
upwardly, a release lever mounted on the latch bolt for movement
between a catch position and a release position, the release lever
moving from its catch position to its release position in response
to flushing of the toilet, and a nut threaded onto the latch bolt
(32) to secure the hinge (18) to the bowl (14).
Inventors: |
Hand; Joseph; (Sheboygan
Falls, WI) ; Seaman; John; (Sheboygan Falls, WI)
; Mailhot; Scott; (Sheboygan, WI) ; Hulsebus;
Randy; (Plymouth, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP
100 E WISCONSIN AVENUE, Suite 3300
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Assignee: |
BEMIS MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Sheboygan Falls
WI
|
Family ID: |
36607366 |
Appl. No.: |
11/908686 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
March 15, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US06/09183 |
371 Date: |
April 17, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60662052 |
Mar 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/314 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/314 |
International
Class: |
E03D 9/00 20060101
E03D009/00 |
Claims
1. A toilet assembly comprising a bowl, a toilet seat, a hinge that
is mounted on the bowl and that pivotally supports the toilet seat
for movement between raised and lowered positions, the hinge
including a member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position, a
tank mounted on the bowl, the tank adapted to contain water for
flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for causing the
water in the tank to flow into the bowl, and a cord extending from
the tank to a point substantially directly beneath the hinge, the
cord being operatively connected to the member and actuating the
member in response to flushing of the toilet.
2. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cord is
transparent.
3. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cord is
tape-like.
4. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tank has a
rear surface, a bottom surface and a corner between the rear and
bottom surfaces, wherein the cord extends from the tank, down the
rear surface of the tank and beneath the bottom surface of the
tank, and wherein the assembly further comprises a guide member
that guides the cord around the corner of the tank and protects the
cord from rubbing against the tank.
5. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hinge has
a cap to cover the head of the latch bolt, the cap having therein
an opening through which the member extends.
6. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim I wherein the bowl has
therein a bore for mounting of the hinge, wherein the hinge has
therein a bore that aligns with the bore in the bowl, and further
including a latch bolt extending through the hinge bore and the
bowl bore, and a nut threaded onto the latch bolt to secure the
hinge to the bowl, the latch bolt including the member actuatable
to engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, and a release lever pivotally
mounted on the latch bolt, the release lever being operatively
connected to the member and being movable between two positions,
and the cord being operatively connected to the release lever a
point located substantially directly beneath the hinge when the
release lever is in one of its positions.
7. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the latch bolt
includes an externally threaded tube having an upper end, and a top
nut fixed on the upper end of the tube to form the head of the
latch bolt, the top nut having therethrough an opening through
which the member extends, and the top nut having a non-circular
shape and seating in a complementary socket in the hinge such that
rotation of the latch bolt relative to the hinge is prevented.
8. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the top nut is
threaded onto the upper end of the tube.
9. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the latch bolt
includes an externally threaded tube having an upper end through
which the member extends, and wherein the tube has an internal
bore, and further including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the
catch lever extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch
lever having a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively
connected to the member, and a spring biasing the catch lever
upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable between an upper
release position and a lower catch position, such that when the
catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on the catch
lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents upward
movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch lever is
in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the catch lever
in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the spring to
move the catch lever upward to the release position.
10. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the catch
lever and the member are formed separately.
11. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the release
lever is mounted on the latch bolt for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis, the release lever being movable between
a catch position and a release position that correspond to the
like-named positions of the catch lever, the release lever having a
camming surface engaging the lower end of the catch lever such that
movement of the catch lever to its catch position moves the release
lever to its catch position, and pivotal movement of the release
lever to its release position moves the lower end of the catch
lever so that the shoulder disengages from the lower end of the
tube and the catch lever snaps to its release position.
12. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein one end of
the cord is connected to the release lever and the opposite end of
the cord is secured to a float inside the tank, the float having
sufficient weight to pull the cord to move the release lever when
the water level in the tank drops as a result of flushing of the
toilet.
13. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 9 and further including
a catch lever guide fixed on the upper end of the catch lever, the
catch lever guide having a projection, the spring extending between
bore shoulder and catch lever guide, the catch lever and the catch
lever guide being permitted a limited range of angular movement
within the bore, and the catch lever and the catch lever guide
being permitted a limited range of pivotal movement about the
longitudinal axis of the bore.
14. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the opening
in the top nut is non-circular, wherein the member is a plunger
located inside the bore and movable between an upper position and a
lower position, the plunger having a non-circular rod portion that
extends through the opening in the top nut, the shape of the
opening and the cross-sectional shape of the rod being
complementary such that the rod is prevented from rotating within
the opening, such that when the plunger is in the upper position,
raising of the toilet seat causes the seat to engage the rod and
move the plunger to the lower position, and such that, when the
seat is in the raised position, movement of the plunger to the
upper position causes the rod to engage the seat and cause the seat
to move downward, the plunger also having an enlarged lower portion
within the tube, a shoulder between the upper and lower portions
engaging the underside of the top nut and limiting upward movement
of the plunger relative to the tube, the lower portion having a
shelf-like projection that overlaps with the projection on the
catch lever guide, the interengagement of the projections and
engagement of the shelf-like projection by the guide and engagement
of the guide projection by the plunger lower portion allowing a
limited amount of pivotal or twisting movement of the catch lever
and catch lever guide relative to the plunger, and also allowing a
limited amount of cocking movement of the catch lever and catch
lever guide relative to the plunger, the construction of the guide
and the plunger being such that the upward force of the spring on
the guide pivotally biases the guide relative to the plunger,
pivotal movement of the guide relative to the plunger being limited
by engagement of the catch lever by the inner wall of the tube when
the lever is in the release position, and such that, when the
plunger pushes the guide downward toward the catch position, the
lever pivots quickly when the shoulder on the lever clears the
lower end of the tube, such that the lever snaps into the catch
position, and such that, once in the catch position, the lever can
only be returned to the release position by pivoting the lever in
the opposite direction.
15. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 14 and further
including a bushing sleeve that slides onto the lower end of the
latch bolt, a slot in the lower end of the sleeve receiving the
lower end of the catch lever and thereby properly angularly
orienting the sleeve relative to the bolt, the sleeve having
diametrically opposed, axially extending, parallel projections
having thereon respective inwardly extending ribs that engage the
threads of the bolt, the projections being resilient and flexible,
and a lock ring surrounding the sleeve and being movable relative
to the sleeve between upper and lower positions, such that, in its
upper position, in which the ring is at the top of the sleeve, the
ring is clear of the projections and allows outward movement of the
projections, and such that, in its lower position, the ring
surrounds the projections and prevents outward movement of the
projections, the ribs and the projections being configured such
that, when the ring is in its upper position, the ribs and
projections permit the sleeve to be slid onto the bolt over the
threads of the tube, a shoulder inside the sleeve engaging the
lower end of the bolt to limit movement of the sleeve onto the
bolt, and such that, when the sleeve is in position on the tube,
and the ring is in its lower position, the ring prevents movement
of the projections and the ribs and thereby prevents the sleeve
from sliding off the tube.
16. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the release
lever is mounted on the lower end of the sleeve for pivotal
movement about a generally horizontal axis that extends generally
perpendicular to the front-to-back axis of the bowl, the release
lever being movable between a catch position and a release position
that correspond to the like-named positions of the catch lever, the
release lever having a camming surface engaging the lower end of
the catch lever such that movement of the catch lever to its catch
position moves the release lever to its catch position, and pivotal
movement of the release lever to its release position moves the
lower end of the catch lever so that the shoulder disengages from
the lower end of the tube and the catch lever snaps to its release
position.
17. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein one end of
the cord is connected to the release lever and the opposite end of
the cord is secured to a float inside the tank, the float having
sufficient weight to pull the cord to move the release lever when
the water level in the tank drops as a result of flushing of the
toilet.
18. A toilet assembly comprising a bowl, a toilet seat, a hinge
that is mounted on the bowl and that pivotally supports the toilet
seat for movement between raised and lowered positions, the hinge
including a member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position, a
tank mounted on the bowl, the tank adapted to contain water for
flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for causing the
water in the tank to flow into the bowl, and a transparent cord
extending from the tank, the cord being operatively connected to
the member and actuating the member in response to flushing of the
toilet.
19. A toilet assembly comprising a bowl, a toilet seat, a hinge
that is mounted on the bowl and that pivotally supports the toilet
seat for movement between raised and lowered positions, the hinge
including a member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position, a
tank mounted on the bowl, the tank having a rear surface, a bottom
surface and a corner between the rear and bottom surfaces, the tank
adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet and having
flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow into
the bowl, a cord extending from the tank, down the rear surface of
the tank and beneath the bottom surface of the tank, the cord being
operatively connected to the member and actuating the member in
response to flushing of the toilet, and a guide member that guides
the cord around the corner of the tank and protects the cord from
rubbing against the tank.
20. The toilet assembly of claim 19 wherein the cord guide is made
of a material that is deformable and retains its shape when
deformed, and also that is low-friction so that the cord can slide
easily through the guide.
21. A toilet assembly comprising a bowl having therein a bore for
mounting of a toilet seat hinge, a hinge mounted on the bowl, the
hinge having therein a bore that aligns with the bore in the bowl,
a toilet seat pivotally supported by the hinge for movement between
raised and lowered positions, a tank mounted on the rear of the
bowl, the tank adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet and
having flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow
into the bowl, a latch bolt extending through the hinge bore and
the bowl bore, the latch bolt including a member actuatable to
engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, a release lever mounted on
the latch bolt, the release lever being operatively connected to
the member and being movable between catch and release positions
respectively corresponding to the raised and lowered positions of
the seat, and the release lever having an end located substantially
directly beneath the hinge when the release lever is in one of its
positions, the release lever actuating the member in response to
flushing of the toilet, and a nut threaded onto the latch bolt to
secure the hinge to the bowl.
22. The toilet assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein the latch
bolt including includes an externally threaded tube having an
internal bore and an upper end through which the member extends,
and further including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the catch
lever extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch lever
having a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively connected
to the member such that upward movement of the catch lever causes
upward movement of the member to move the toilet seat from its
raised position toward its lowered position, and a spring biasing
the catch lever upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable
between an upper release position and a lower catch position, such
that when the catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on
the catch lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents
upward movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch
lever is in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the
catch lever in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the
spring to move the catch lever upward to the release position, and
wherein the release lever having has a camming surface engaging the
lower end of the catch lever such that movement of the catch lever
to its catch position moves the release lever to its catch
position, and movement of the release lever to its release position
moves the lower end of the catch lever so that the shoulder
disengages from the lower end of the tube and the catch lever snaps
to its release position.
23. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein the catch
lever and the member are formed separately.
24. A toilet assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein one end of
the cord is connected to the release lever and the opposite end of
the cord is secured to a float inside the tank, the float having
sufficient weight to pull the cord to move the release lever when
the water level in the tank drops as a result of flushing of the
toilet.
25. A method of packaging a toilet seat assembly for sale, the
toilet seat assembly being installable on a toilet having a bowl
and a tank mounted on the rear of the bowl, the tank containing
water for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for
causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, the method
comprising packaging a toilet seat, packaging with the toilet seat
a hinge mountable on a toilet bowl for pivotally supporting the
toilet seat on the bowl for movement between raised and lowered
positions, the hinge including a member actuatable to engage the
toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its raised position toward
its lowered position, and packaging with the seat and the hinge a
cord adapted to extend from the tank, the cord being operatively
connectable to the member to actuate the member in response to
flushing of the toilet, and the cord as packaged having thereon a
guide member operable, when the seat assembly is installed on the
toilet, to guide the cord relative to the tank and to protect the
cord from rubbing against the tank.
26. A hinge assembly for use with a toilet assembly including a
bowl having therein a bore, a toilet seat, a tank mounted on the
rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to contain water for flushing
the toilet and having flushing apparatus for causing the water in
the tank to flow into the bowl, and a cord extending from the tank,
the cord moving in response to flushing of the toilet, the hinge
assembly comprising: a hinge post having therein a bore for
alignment with the bore in the bowl, the hinge post being
connectable to the toilet seat to pivotally support the seat for
movement between raised and lowered positions, the hinge post
including a rotary damping device, a latch bolt extendable through
the hinge post bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt including a
member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat
from its raised position toward its lowered position, a nut
threadable onto the latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl, and
a release lever pivotally mountable on the latch bolt so that the
release lever is operatively connected to the member and movable
between catch and release positions respectively corresponding to
the raised and lowered positions of the seat, and the release lever
having an end connectable to the cord, the end being located
substantially directly beneath the hinge post when the release
lever is in its catch position, whereby the cord pulls on the
release lever and moves the release lever from its catch position
to its release position in response to flushing of the toilet.
27. A hinge as set forth in claim 26 and further comprising a cap
that snaps onto the hinge post to cover the head of the bolt, the
cap having therein an opening through which the member extends.
28. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein the latch
bolt includes an externally threaded tube having an internal bore
and an upper end through which the member extends, and further
including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the catch lever
extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch lever having
a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively connected to the
member such that upward movement of the catch lever causes upward
movement of the member to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, and a spring biasing the
catch lever upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable between
an upper release position and a lower catch position, such that
when the catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on the
catch lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents upward
movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch lever is
in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the catch lever
in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the spring to
move the catch lever upward to the release position, and wherein
the release lever having has a camming surface engaging the lower
end of the catch lever such that movement of the catch lever to its
catch position moves the release lever to its catch position, and
movement of the release lever to its release position moves the
lower end of the catch lever so that the shoulder disengages from
the lower end of the tube and the catch lever snaps to its release
position.
29. A toilet seat kit for use with a toilet including a bowl having
therein a bore, and a tank mounted on the rear of the bowl, the
tank adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet and having
flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow into
the bowl, the toilet seat kit comprising: a toilet seat, a hinge
post having therein a bore for alignment with the bore in the bowl,
the hinge post being connected to the toilet seat to pivotally
support the seat for movement between raised and lowered positions,
the hinge post including a rotary damping device, a latch bolt
extendable through the hinge bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt
including a member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position, a
release lever mountable on the latch bolt so that the release lever
is operatively connected to the member and is movable between catch
and release positions respectively corresponding to the lowered and
raised positions of the seat, and the release lever having an end
located substantially directly beneath the hinge post when the
release lever is in its catch position, a nut threadable onto the
latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl, a float positionable
inside the tank, and a cord having one end connectable to the end
of the release lever and having an opposite end connectable to the
float such that the float pulls the cord to move the release lever
from its catch position to its release position when the water
level in the tank drops as a result of flushing of the toilet.
30. The toilet set kit as set forth in claim 29 wherein the latch
bolt including includes an externally threaded tube having an
internal bore and an upper end through which the member extends,
and further including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the catch
lever extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch lever
having a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively connected
to the member such that upward movement of the catch lever causes
upward movement of the member to move the toilet seat from its
raised position toward its lowered position, and a spring biasing
the catch lever upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable
between an upper release position and a lower catch position, such
that when the catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on
the catch lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents
upward movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch
lever is in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the
catch lever in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the
spring to move the catch lever upward to the release position, and
wherein the release lever has a camming surface engaging the lower
end of the catch lever such that movement of the catch lever to its
catch position moves the release lever to its catch position, and
movement of the release lever to its release position moves the
lower end of the catch lever so that the shoulder disengages from
the lower end of the tube and the catch lever snaps to its release
position.
31. A toilet seat kit as set forth in claim 30 wherein the float
includes a container with a top portion, wherein the cord is
connectable to the top portion of the float, and wherein the
container portion of the float contains a relatively heavy material
beneath a relatively light material, so that the heavy material
keeps the float upright.
32. A toilet seat kit as set forth in claim 31 wherein the heavy
material is sand.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority is hereby claimed to U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/662,052, filed on Mar. 15, 2005, the entire contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to toilet seats, and more particularly
to self-closing toilet seats.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Self-closing toilet seats are known in the art. U.S. Pat.
No. 6,438,764 and International Patent Publication WO 03/011096,
both to Robert Anderson, disclose self-closing toilet seats.
SUMMARY
[0004] One embodiment of the invention includes a self-closing
toilet seat actuated by a float in the toilet tank.
[0005] In another embodiment, the seat is actuated by a cord
extending from the tank to a point substantially directly beneath
one of the hinges.
[0006] In another embodiment, the seat is actuated by a transparent
cord extending from the tank.
[0007] In another embodiment, the seat is actuated by a tape-like
cord extending from the tank.
[0008] In another embodiment, the seat is actuated by a cord
extending from the tank, and the cord is guided relative to the
tank by a guide member.
[0009] In another embodiment, the seat is closed by a plunger or
rod that extends upwardly from the top of the bolt securing one of
the hinges to the bowl.
[0010] In another embodiment, the seat is closed by a plunger or
rod that extends upwardly through a small opening in the top of one
of the hinges.
[0011] In another embodiment, the seat is actuated by a lever that
is mounted on the lower end of the bolt securing one of the hinges
to the bowl.
[0012] In another embodiment, the seat is actuated by a mechanism
inside the bolt securing one of the hinges to the bowl.
[0013] The invention provides a toilet assembly comprising a bowl,
a toilet seat, a hinge that is mounted on the bowl and that
pivotally supports the toilet seat for movement between raised and
lowered positions, the hinge including a member actuatable to
engage the toilet seat to move toilet seat from its raised position
toward its lowered position, a tank mounted on the bowl, the tank
adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet and having
flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow into
the bowl, and a cord extending from the tank to a point
substantially directly beneath the hinge, the cord being
operatively connected to the member and actuating the member in
response to flushing of the toilet.
[0014] The invention also provides a toilet assembly comprising a
bowl, a toilet seat, a hinge that is mounted on the bowl and that
pivotally supports the toilet seat for movement between raised and
lowered positions, the hinge including a member actuatable to
engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, a tank mounted on the bowl,
the tank adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet and
having flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow
into the bowl, and a transparent cord extending from the tank, the
cord being operatively connected to the member and actuating the
member in response to flushing of the toilet.
[0015] The invention also provides a toilet assembly comprising a
bowl, a toilet seat, a hinge that is mounted on the bowl and that
pivotally supports the toilet seat for movement between raised and
lowered positions, the hinge including a member actuatable to
engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, a tank mounted on the bowl,
the tank having a rear surface, a bottom surface and a corner
between the rear and bottom surfaces, the tank adapted to contain
water for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for
causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, a cord
extending from the tank, down the rear surface of the tank and
beneath the bottom surface of the tank, the cord being operatively
connected to the member and actuating the member in response to
flushing of the toilet, and a guide member that guides the cord
around the corner of the tank and protects the cord from rubbing
against the tank.
[0016] The invention also provides a toilet assembly comprising a
bowl having therein a bore for mounting of a toilet seat hinge, a
hinge mounted on the bowl, the hinge having therein a bore that
aligns with the bore in the bowl, a toilet seat pivotally supported
by the hinge for movement between raised and lowered positions, a
tank mounted on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to contain
water for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for
causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, a latch bolt
extending through the hinge bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt
including a member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position, a
release lever mounted on the latch bolt, the release lever being
operatively connected to the member and being movable between catch
and release positions respectively corresponding to the raised and
lowered positions of the seat, and the release lever having an end
located substantially directly beneath the hinge when the release
lever is in one of its positions, the release lever actuating the
member in response to flushing of the toilet, and a nut threaded
onto the latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl.
[0017] The invention also provides a toilet assembly comprising a
bowl having therein a bore for mounting of a toilet seat hinge, a
hinge mounted on the bowl, the hinge having therein a bore that
aligns with the bore in the bowl, a toilet seat pivotally supported
by the hinge for movement between raised and lowered positions, a
tank mounted on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to contain
water for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for
causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, a latch bolt
extending through the hinge bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt
including a member engageable with the toilet seat to move the
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position,
and the latch bolt including an externally threaded tube having an
internal bore and an upper end through which the member extends,
and further including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the catch
lever extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch lever
having a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively connected
to the member such that upward movement of the catch lever causes
upward movement of the member to move the toilet seat from its
raised position toward its lowered position, and a spring biasing
the catch lever upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable
between an upper release position and a lower catch position, such
that when the catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on
the catch lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents
upward movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch
lever is in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the
catch lever in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the
spring to move the catch lever upward to the release position, a
release lever mounted on the latch bolt for movement between a
catch position and a release position that correspond to the
like-named positions of the catch lever, the release lever moving
from its catch position to its release position in response to
flushing of the toilet, the release lever having a camming surface
engaging the lower end of the catch lever such that movement of the
catch lever to its catch position moves the release lever to its
catch position, and movement of the release lever to its release
position moves the lower end of the catch lever so that the
shoulder disengages from the lower end of the tube and the catch
lever snaps to its release position, and a nut threaded onto the
latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl.
[0018] The invention also provides a method of packaging a toilet
seat assembly for sale, the toilet seat assembly being installable
on a toilet having a bowl and a tank mounted on the rear of the
bowl, the tank containing water for flushing the toilet and having
flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow into
the bowl, the method comprising packaging a toilet seat, packaging
with the toilet seat a hinge mountable on a toilet bowl for
pivotally supporting the toilet seat on the bowl for movement
between raised and lowered positions, the hinge including a member
actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from
its raised position toward its lowered position, and packaging with
the seat and the hinge a cord adapted to extend from the tank, the
cord being operatively connectable to the member to actuate the
member in response to flushing of the toilet, and the cord as
packaged having thereon a guide member operable, when the seat
assembly is installed on the toilet, to guide the cord relative to
the tank and to protect the cord from rubbing against the tank.
[0019] The invention also provides a hinge assembly for use with a
toilet assembly including a bowl having therein a bore, a toilet
seat, a tank mounted on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to
contain water for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus
for causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, and a cord
extending from the tank, the cord moving in response to flushing of
the toilet, the hinge assembly comprising a hinge post having
therein a bore for alignment with the bore in the bowl, the hinge
post being connectable to the toilet seat to pivotally support the
seat for movement between raised and lowered positions, the hinge
post including a rotary damping device, a latch bolt extendable
through the hinge post bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt
including a member actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the
toilet seat from its raised position toward its lowered position, a
nut threadable onto the latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl,
and a release lever pivotally mountable on the latch bolt so that
the release lever is operatively connected to the member and
movable between catch and release positions respectively
corresponding to the raised and lowered positions of the seat, and
the release lever having an end connectable to the cord, the end
being located substantially directly beneath the hinge post when
the release lever is in its catch position, whereby the cord pulls
on the release lever and moves the release lever from its catch
position to its release position in response to flushing of the
toilet.
[0020] The invention also provides a hinge assembly for use with a
toilet assembly including a bowl having therein a bore, a toilet
seat, a tank mounted on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to
contain water for flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus
for causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl, the hinge
assembly comprising a hinge post having therein a bore for
alignment with the bore in the bowl, the hinge post being
connectable to the toilet seat to pivotally support the seat for
movement between raised and lowered positions, the hinge post
including a rotary damping device, a latch bolt extendable through
the hinge post bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt including a
member engageable with the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from
its raised position toward its lowered position, and the latch bolt
including an externally threaded tube having an internal bore and
an upper end through which the member extends, and further
including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the catch lever
extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch lever having
a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively connected to the
member such that upward movement of the catch lever causes upward
movement of the member to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, and a spring biasing the
catch lever upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable between
an upper release position and a lower catch position, such that
when the catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on the
catch lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents upward
movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch lever is
in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the catch lever
in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the spring to
move the catch lever upward to the release position, a nut
threadable onto the latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl, and
a release lever mountable on the latch bolt for movement between a
catch position and a release position that correspond to the
like-named positions of the catch lever, the release lever moving
from its catch position to its release position in response to
flushing of the toilet, the release lever having a camming surface
engaging the lower end of the catch lever such that movement of the
catch lever to its catch position moves the release lever to its
catch position, and movement of the release lever to its release
position moves the lower end of the catch lever so that the
shoulder disengages from the lower end of the tube and the catch
lever snaps to its release position.
[0021] The invention also provides a toilet seat kit for use with a
toilet including a bowl having therein a bore, and a tank mounted
on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to contain water for
flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for causing the
water in the tank to flow into the bowl, the toilet seat kit
comprising a toilet seat, a hinge post having therein a bore for
alignment with the bore in the bowl, the hinge post being connected
to the toilet seat to pivotally support the seat for movement
between raised and lowered positions, the hinge post including a
rotary damping device, a latch bolt extendable through the hinge
bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt including a member
actuatable to engage the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from
its raised position toward its lowered position, a release lever
mountable on the latch bolt so that the release lever is
operatively connected to the member and is movable between catch
and release positions respectively corresponding to the lowered and
raised positions of the seat, and the release lever having an end
located substantially directly beneath the hinge post when the
release lever is in its catch position, a nut threadable onto the
latch bolt to secure the hinge to the bowl, a float positionable
inside the tank, and a cord having one end connectable to the end
of the release lever and having an opposite end connectable to the
float such that the float pulls the cord to move the release lever
from its catch position to its release position when the water
level in the tank drops as a result of flushing of the toilet.
[0022] The invention also provides a toilet seat kit for use with a
toilet including a bowl having therein a bore, and a tank mounted
on the rear of the bowl, the tank adapted to contain water for
flushing the toilet and having flushing apparatus for causing the
water in the tank to flow into the bowl, the toilet seat kit
comprising a toilet seat, a hinge post having therein a bore for
alignment with the bore in the bowl, the hinge post being connected
to the toilet seat to pivotally support the seat for movement
between raised and lowered positions, the hinge post including a
rotary damping device, a latch bolt extendable through the hinge
bore and the bowl bore, the latch bolt including a member
engageable with the toilet seat to move the toilet seat from its
raised position toward its lowered position, and the latch bolt
including an externally threaded tube having an internal bore and
an upper end through which the member extends, and further
including a catch lever inside the tube bore, the catch lever
extending out of the lower end of the bore, the catch lever having
a shoulder, and the catch lever being operatively connected to the
member such that upward movement of the catch lever causes upward
movement of the member to move the toilet seat from its raised
position toward its lowered position, and a spring biasing the
catch lever upwardly in the bore, the catch lever movable between
an upper release position and a lower catch position, such that
when the catch lever is in the catch position, the shoulder on the
catch lever engages the lower end of the tube and prevents upward
movement of the catch lever, and such that, when the catch lever is
in the catch position, movement of the lower end of the catch lever
in one direction disengages the shoulder to allow the spring to
move the catch lever upward to the release position, a release
lever mountable on the latch bolt for movement between a catch
position and a release position that correspond to the like-named
positions of the catch lever, the release lever moving from its
catch position to its release position in response to flushing of
the toilet, the release lever having a camming surface engaging the
lower end of the catch lever such that movement of the catch lever
to its catch position moves the release lever to its catch
position, and movement of the release lever to its release position
moves the lower end of the catch lever so that the shoulder
disengages from the lower end of the tube and the catch lever snaps
to its release position, a nut threadable onto the latch bolt to
secure the hinge to the bowl, a float positionable inside the tank,
and a cord having one end connectable to the end of the release
lever and having an opposite end connectable to the float such that
the float pulls the cord to move the release lever from its catch
position to its release position when the water level in the tank
drops as a result of flushing of the toilet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet assembly embodying
the invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the latch bolt
with the catch lever in its release position.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the latch bolt
with the catch lever in its catch position.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a top view of the latch bolt.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the latch bolt, taken along
line A-A in FIG. 4, with the catch lever in its release
position.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the nut that secures the latch
bolt to the bowl.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a side view of the bushing sleeve, ring and
release lever with the lever in its catch position.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a top view of the bushing sleeve, ring and release
lever with the lever in its catch position.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a side view of the float.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a top view of the float.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the float taken along line
11-11 in FIG. 10.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a side view of the cord and cord guides.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a top view of the cord and cord guides as seen in
FIG. 12.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the hinge caps.
[0037] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the bushing sleeve, ring and
release lever taken along line 15-15 in FIG. 7.
[0038] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative
embodiment of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cord guide of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including,"
"comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to
encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as
well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise,
the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and
variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and
indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,
"connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or
mechanical connections or couplings.
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a toilet assembly 10 including a toilet 12
having a self-closing toilet seat assembly 13 embodying the
invention. The toilet includes a bowl 14 having an upper surface
and flanges on opposite sides of the bowl. Each flange has therein
a bore for mounting of a toilet seat hinge, as is known in the art.
A pair of hinges 16 and 18, which are substantially identical
except as described below, are mounted on the bowl 14 and pivotally
support a toilet seat ring 20 and a toilet seat cover 22. A tank 24
is mounted on the rear of the bowl. The tank 24 contains water for
flushing the toilet and has therein known flushing apparatus for
causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl.
[0042] The hinges 16 and 18 are of the type having a rotary damping
device that prevents the ring 20 and cover 22 from slamming closed
under the force of gravity. An example of such a hinge is disclosed
in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0234145 A1,
which is incorporated herein by reference. Each hinge 16 and 18 has
therein a bore that aligns with a respective bore in the bowl, and
a bolt extends through the hinge bore and the bowl bore. A nut 26
threads onto the lower end of the bolt to secure the hinge to the
bowl. The hinges 16 and 18 have (see FIG. 14) respective caps 27
and 28 that snap onto their respective hinge posts to cover the
heads of the respective bolt. The hinge 16 is secured by a
conventional bolt 30, and the hinge 18 is secured by a latch bolt
32 in accordance with the invention. The cap 28 of the hinge 18 has
therein a small opening 34, the reason for which is explained
below.
[0043] The latch bolt 32 includes (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 5) an
externally threaded tube 40 having an internal bore 42 with a
shoulder 44. The tube is preferably made of stainless steel. A top
nut 46 threaded onto the upper end of the tube 40 forms the head of
the latch bolt 32. The top nut 46 has therethrough a non-circular
opening 48, the reason for which is explained below. The nut 46 has
a non-circular shape and seats in a complementary socket in the
hinge 18 such that rotation of the latch bolt 32 relative to the
hinge 18 is prevented, so that the latch bolt 32 is oriented in a
certain position relative to the hinge and to the toilet. In the
illustrated construction, the nut 46 has a flat side 49. The nut is
preferably made of brass.
[0044] Inside the tube bore 42 is a catch lever 50 extending out of
the lower end of the bore. The catch lever is preferably made of
stainless steel. The catch lever 50 has a shoulder 52. A catch
lever guide 54 is fixed on the upper end of the catch lever 50. The
catch lever guide 54 has a projection 56 that points to the left as
seen in FIG. 3. The catch lever guide is preferably made of acetal
and is injection molded onto the upper end of the catch lever. A
spring 58 extends between the bore shoulder 44 and the catch lever
guide 54 and biases the catch lever 50 upwardly in the bore. The
catch 50 lever is movable between an upper or release position
(FIG. 2) and a lower or catch position (FIG. 3). When the catch
lever 50 is in the catch position, the shoulder 52 on the catch
lever engages the lower end of the tube 40 and prevents upward
movement of the catch lever 50. If the lower end of the catch lever
50 is moved to the left (as seen in FIG. 3) when the catch lever is
in the catch position, the shoulder 52 disengages and the spring 58
moves the catch lever 50 upward to the release position. The
mechanism for moving the lower end of the catch lever is described
below.
[0045] As is apparent from comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, the catch lever
50 and the catch lever guide 54 are not limited to movement along
the longitudinal axis of the tube 40. The lever and guide are also
permitted a limited range of angular or cocking movement within the
bore 42. Also, the lever and guide are permitted a limited range of
pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the bore. These
movements are further explained below.
[0046] Also inside the bore 42 is a plunger 60 movable between an
upper position (FIG. 2) and a lower position (FIG. 3). The plunger
is preferably made of acetal. The plunger 60 has a non-circular
portion or rod 62 that extends through the opening 48 in the top
nut 46. The shape of the opening 48 and the cross-sectional shape
of the rod 62 are complementary such that the rod 62 is prevented
from rotating within the opening 48. This maintains the angular
orientation of the plunger 60 relative to the tube 40. When the
plunger 60 is in its upper position, movement of the toilet seat
cover 22 to its raised position causes the rear of the cover 22 to
engage the rod 62 and move the plunger 60 to its lower position.
Conversely, when the seat is in its raised position, movement of
the plunger 60 to its upper position causes the rod 62 to engage
the rear of the cover 22 and cause the cover 22 and the ring 20 (if
the ring was up) to move downward.
[0047] The plunger 60 also has an enlarged lower portion 64 within
the tube 40. A shoulder 66 between the upper and lower portions
engages the underside of the top nut 46 and limits upward movement
of the plunger 60 relative to the tube 40. The lower portion 64 has
a shelf-like projection 68 that extends to the right as seen in
FIG. 2. The projection 68 overlaps with the projection 56 on the
catch lever guide 54. The interengagement of the projections 56, 68
and engagement of the projection 68 by the guide 54 and engagement
of the projection 56 by the plunger lower portion 64 allows a
limited amount of pivotal or twisting movement of the catch lever
50 and catch lever guide 54 relative to the plunger 60, and also
allow a limited amount of cocking movement of the catch lever and
catch lever guide relative to the plunger.
[0048] The construction of the guide 54 and the plunger 60 is such
that the upward force of the spring 58 on the guide 54 biases the
guide in the counterclockwise direction as see in FIG. 2 relative
to the plunger. Counterclockwise movement of the guide 54 relative
to the plunger is limited by engagement of the catch lever 50 by
the inner wall of the tube 40 when the lever 50 is in the release
position (FIG. 2). When the plunger 60 pushes the guide 54 downward
toward the catch position, the lever 50 moves quickly in the
counterclockwise direction when the shoulder 52 on the lever clears
the lower end of the tube 40. In other words, the lever 50 snaps
into the catch position. Once in the catch position, the lever can
only be returned to the release position by moving the lever 50
clockwise, which can be done by moving the lower end of the lever
50 to the left as seen in FIG. 3. Such movement is selectively
caused by a release mechanism 70, which is described below.
[0049] The latch bolt 32 is secured to the toilet bowl by a nut 26
threaded onto the lower end of the latch bolt or onto the tube 40.
This also secures the hinge 18 to the bowl.
[0050] The release mechanism 70 includes (see FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8 and
15) a bushing sleeve 72 that slides onto the lower end of the latch
bolt 32. A slot 71 in the lower end of the sleeve receives the
lower end of the catch lever 50 and thereby properly angularly
orients the sleeve 70 relative to the bolt 32. The sleeve 72 has
diametrically opposed, axially extending, parallel projections 74
(one shown in FIG. 7, both shown in FIG. 15) having thereon
respective inwardly extending ridges or ribs 76 that engage the
threads of the bolt 32. The projections 74 are resilient and
flexible. A bushing or lock ring 78 surrounds the sleeve 72 and is
movable relative to the sleeve between upper and lower positions.
In its upper position (not shown), in which the ring 78 is at the
top of the sleeve 72, the ring 78 is clear of the projections 74
and allows outward movement of the projections. In its lower
position (FIG. 7), the ring 78 surrounds the projections 74 and
prevents outward movement of the projections. The ribs 76 and the
projections 74 are configured such that, when the ring 78 is in its
upper position, the ribs and projections permit the sleeve 72 to be
slid onto the bolt 32 over the threads of the tube 40. A shoulder
79 inside the sleeve 72 engages the lower end of the bolt 78 to
limit movement of the sleeve onto the bolt. Once the sleeve is in
position on the tube, the ring 78 is moved downward on the sleeve
to the lower position of the ring. In this position, the ring 78
prevents movement of the projections 74 and ribs 76 and thereby
prevents the sleeve from sliding off the tube.
[0051] A release lever 80 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8) is mounted on
the lower end of the sleeve 72 for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis that extends generally perpendicular to
the front-to-back axis of the bowl. The sleeve, ring and lever are
preferably made of acetal. The lever 80 is movable between a catch
position (FIG. 3) and a release position (FIG. 2) that correspond
to the like-named positions of the catch lever 50. The release
lever 80 has a camming surface 82 engaging the lower end of the
catch lever 50 such that movement of the catch lever 50 to its
catch position moves the release lever 80 to its catch position,
and pivotal movement of the release lever 80 to its release
position moves the lower end of the catch lever 50 to the left as
seen in FIG. 3 so that the shoulder 52 disengages from the lower
end of the tube 40 and the catch lever 50 snaps to its release
position. The release lever 80 is moved from its catch position to
its release position by a cord 90 (see FIGS. 1, 12 and 13) secured
to the end of the release lever 80. Specifically, the cord 90 has a
looped end 91 (FIG. 12) that fits into a slot 92 (FIGS. 2 and 7) in
the lever 80. The point of connection is substantially directly
beneath the hinge 18 when the release lever 80 is in its catch
position.
[0052] The cord 90 (see FIGS. 1, 12 and 13) has a tape-like
configuration (i.e., is generally flat) and is preferably
approximately 0.10 inches wide and is made of transparent
polyester. The cord is thus substantially invisible to the eye. The
end of the cord 90 opposite the loop 91 is secured to a float 100
inside the tank. The float 100 (see FIGS. 9-11) is preferably a
plastic container filled with sand to give the float sufficient
weight to pull the cord 90 to move the release lever 80 when the
water level in the tank drops as a result of flushing of the
toilet. More particularly, the float 100 is partially filled with
sand 208, and the space above the sand 208 is filled with a foam
disk or spacer 204 that is pressed against the upper surface of the
sand 208. Because the sand is kept in the bottom of the float 100,
the weight of the sand keeps the float 100 upright. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the float 100 weighs
approximately one-half pound.
[0053] Any suitable device can be used to secure the cord 90 to the
float. The preferred mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 11. A
spring-loaded button 102 extends from a post 103 on the top of the
float 100. The button 102 is pushed down to allow the cord 90 to be
passed through an opening 104, after which the button 102 is
released so that the button pops up and the cord 90 is captured in
the opening 104.
[0054] The cord 90 is guided (see FIGS. 1, 12 and 13) relative to
the tank by cord guides 110 and 120. The guides are made of a
material that is deformable and retains its shape when deformed,
and also that is low-friction so that the cord 90 can slide easily
through the guides. The guides 110 and 120 are preferably made of
polyethylene. The guide 110 is bent over the rear top edge of the
tank to guide the cord 90 over the top of the tank and to protect
the cord from the tank cover. The guide 120 is bent around the rear
lower corner of the tank and is held in place on the tank by
two-sided tape. The cord 90 is preferably provided to the end user
with the guides 110 and 120 already in place on the cord.
[0055] Raising the toilet seat moves the plunger 60 to its lower
position, which moves the catch lever 50 to its catch position,
thereby allowing the plunger 60 to remain in its lower position and
the seat in its raised position. Movement of the catch lever 50 to
its catch position also moves the release lever 80 to its catch
position. When the toilet is flushed, the water level in the tank
drops, causing downward movement of the float 100. This causes the
float 100 to pull on the cord 90, which moves the release lever 80
to its release position, and this moves the catch lever 50 from its
catch position, allowing the spring 58 to move the catch lever 50
upward to its release position. Upward movement of the catch lever
50 moves the plunger 60 to its upper position, and this causes the
rod 62 to engage the rear of the seat to move the seat out of its
raised position toward its lowered position. As the seat begins to
move downward or to close, the damping devices in the hinges 16 and
18 cause the seat to close gently.
[0056] The toilet seat assembly 13 can be installed on original
equipment manufacturer toilets, or can be sold separately for
installation on existing toilets. When sold separately, the seat
assembly 13 is preferably packaged with the hinges 16 and 18
already operably connected to the ring 20 and to the cover 22, and
with the cord 90 already threaded through the cord guides 110 and
120. The release mechanism 70 is preferably also preassembled with
the release lever 80 in place on the bushing sleeve 72. This
simplifies the installation process.
[0057] Installation of the seat assembly 13 is described below.
[0058] With the toilet seat and cover properly located on top of
the bowl 14, the hinge bores are aligned with the bowl bores. The
conventional bolt 30 is inserted through the hole in the hinge 16,
and the latch bolt 32 is inserted in the hole in the hinge 18. The
hinge 18 should be on the side of the toilet on which the float
will be placed. The flat side 49 of the top nut 46 is aligned so
the top nut fits snugly in the socket of the hinge 18. Then, while
holding the top nut in place, the user tightens the nut 26 by hand.
The nut 26 on the conventional bolt 30 is also tightened, but not
fully. After the toilet seat is aligned with the toilet bowl for
proper appearance, both nuts 26 are tightened.
[0059] Next, the user slides the lock ring 78 to the "top" of the
sleeve 72. With the release lever 80 pointed to the back of the
toilet, the user slides the sleeve 72 onto the bottom of the latch
bolt 32. Holding the lock ring 78 up in the "unlocked" position,
the user slides the sleeve 72 as high as possible onto the latch
bolt. The user then slides the lock ring 78 down until it stops and
locks the sleeve onto the latch bolt 32.
[0060] With the toilet seat and cover in the down position, and the
release lever 80 in the "unlatched" or release position, the user
depresses the lock button 102 on the float 100 and inserts about
two inches of the loose end (the non-looped end) of the cord 90
into the opening 104. The user then releases the button 102 and
places the float in the tank. The user then bends the top cord
guide 110 (the one closest to the float) into a "U" shape so that
the correct side of the guide (the lower side in FIG. 12) is facing
the rim of the tank. The user then threads the cord 90 behind the
toilet tank, making sure that the cord does not twist.
[0061] The user then adheres the two-sided tape to the correct side
(the upper side in FIG. 12) of the bottom cord guide 120 (the guide
closest to the looped end of the cord), and then bends the bottom
cord guide 120 into an "L" shape. After wiping the bottom of the
tank clean and dry, the user removes the backing paper on the tape
and adheres the bottom cord guide 120 to the bottom corner of the
tank directly below the top cord guide 110. The cord loop is then
attached to the release lever 80 by slipping the cord loop through
the slot in the release lever. The seat assembly 13 is now ready
for operation.
[0062] A toilet assembly 196 that is an alternative embodiment of
the invention is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Except as described
below, the toilet assembly 196 is identical to the toilet assembly
10.
[0063] The cord 90 of the toilet assembly 196 is white rather than
transparent. Preferably, the cord is translucent or opaque.
Coloring the cord makes it easier for the installer to see during
assembly. Preferably, the cord 90 is approximately 0.0055 inch
thick and 0.10 inch wide Melinex 329 polyester film.
[0064] In the toilet assembly 196, the upper cord guide 110 has
been replaced by a cord guide 212. The cord guide 212 includes a
body portion 216 made of polyethylene. A strip of low-friction tape
220 is adhered to the body portion 216. The tape 220 is preferably
three mil Teflon-coated fiberglass with acrylic adhesive. The cord
90 is preferably packaged with the cord guide 110 in place on the
cord 90. During installation of the seat assembly 13, the cord
guide 212 is bent into a U-shape with the cord side facing upward,
so the cord 90 slides on top of the tape 220, and the guide 212 is
then placed over the top rear edge of the tank 24.
[0065] Also, in the toilet assembly 196, the lower cord guide 120
is replaced by a cord guide 200 that is simply a two-inch wide and
three-inch long piece of three mil Teflon-coated fiberglass with
acrylic adhesive. During installation of the seat assembly 13, the
bottom rear corner of the tank 24 is cleaned, the protective cover
or backing is peeled away from the cord guide 200, and the cord
guide 200 is adhered to the bottom rear corner of the tank 24.
* * * * *