U.S. patent application number 16/898652 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-16 for toilet seat lifting assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is John Moran. Invention is credited to John Moran.
Application Number | 20210386255 16/898652 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004898694 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210386255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moran; John |
December 16, 2021 |
Toilet Seat Lifting Assembly
Abstract
A toilet seat lifting assembly includes a toilet seat that is
pivotally coupled to a toilet such that a user can sit on the
toilet. A pair of pins is each coupled to the toilet and each of
the pins rotatably engages the toilet seat. A pair of biasing units
is each coupled between a respective one of the pins and the toilet
seat. Each of the biasing units biases the toilet seat to rotate on
the pins into a lifted position. Additionally, the toilet seat is
urgeable into a lowered position for sitting on the toilet seat. A
pair of gaskets is each fixed around a respective one of the pins.
Each of the gaskets frictionally engages the toilet seat to slow
the movement of the toilet seat into the lifted position to inhibit
the toilet seat from striking the toilet.
Inventors: |
Moran; John; (Harrison Twp,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Moran; John |
Harrison Twp |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004898694 |
Appl. No.: |
16/898652 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 13/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 13/12 20060101
A47K013/12 |
Claims
1. A toilet seat lifting assembly being configured to keep a toilet
seat in a lifted position when the toilet seat is not being sat
upon, said assembly comprising: a toilet seat being pivotally
coupled to a toilet wherein said toilet seat is configured to have
a user sits thereon; a pair of pins, each of said pins being
coupled to the toilet, each of said pins rotatably engaging said
toilet seat; a pair of biasing units, each of said biasing unit
being coupled between a respective one of said pins and said toilet
seat, each of said biasing units biasing said toilet seat to rotate
on said pins into a lifted position, said toilet seat being
urgeable into a lowered position for sitting on said toilet seat;
and a pair of gaskets, each of said gaskets being fixed around a
respective one of said pins, each of said gaskets frictionally
engaging said toilet seat to slow the movement of said toilet seat
into said lifted position wherein each of said gaskets is
configured to inhibit the toilet seat from striking the toilet.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said toilet seat has
a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a back side
extending therebetween, said toilet seat having a pair of wells,
each of said wells extending inwardly on a respective one of said
first lateral side and said second lateral side, each of said wells
being positioned adjacent to said back side of said toilet seat,
each of said wells having a lateral bounding surface and a lower
bounding surface.
3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said pins has
a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending
therebetween, said first end of each of said pins being positioned
in a respective one of said wells in said toilet seat, said second
end of each of said pins being fixed to a respective connection
point on the toilet, said outer surface of each of said pins having
a pair of ridges extending around a full circumference of said
pins, said ridges on each of said pins being positioned within said
respective well.
4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said biasing
units is positioned within a respective one of said wells, each of
said biasing units engaging said lateral bounding surface of said
respective well, each of said biasing units engaging said first end
of said respective pin, each of said biasing units being biased to
rotate in a first direction thereby urging said toilet seat to
rotate on said pins in a first direction for lifting said toilet
seat, each of said biasing units being rotatable in a second
direction thereby facilitating said toilet seat to rotate on said
pins in a second direction for lowering said toilet seat.
5. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said gaskets
extends from said first end of said respective pin toward said
second end of said respective pin, each of said gaskets
frictionally engaging said lateral bounding surface of said
respective well in which said respective pin is positioned, each of
said gaskets being comprised of a resiliently compressible
material.
6. The assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a pair of
springs, each of said springs being positioned between said first
end of a respective one of said pins and said lower bounding
surface of said respective well in which said respective pin is
positioned, each of said springs biasing said first end of said
respective pin away from said lower bounding surface of said
respective well thereby compressing said gasket positioned around
said respective pin against said lateral bounding surface of said
respective well for enhancing friction between said gasket and said
lateral bounding surface.
7. A toilet seat lifting assembly being configured to keep a toilet
seat in a lifted position when the toilet seat is not being sat
upon, said assembly comprising: a toilet seat being pivotally
coupled to a toilet wherein said toilet seat is configured to have
a user sit thereon, said toilet seat having a first lateral side, a
second lateral side and a back side extending therebetween, said
toilet seat having a pair of wells, each of said wells extending
inwardly on a respective one of said first lateral side and said
second lateral side, each of said wells being positioned adjacent
to said back side of said toilet seat, each of said wells having a
lateral bounding surface and a lower bounding surface; a pair of
pins, each of said pins being coupled to said toilet seat, each of
said pins rotatably engaging said toilet seat, each of said pins
having a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending
therebetween, said first end of each of said pins being positioned
in a respective one of said wells in said toilet seat, said second
end of each of said pins being fixed to a respective connection
point on the toilet, said outer surface of each of said pins having
a pair of ridges extending around a full circumference of said
pins, said ridges on each of said pins being positioned within said
respective well; a pair of biasing units, each of said biasing unit
being coupled between a respective one of said pins and said toilet
seat, each of said biasing units biasing said toilet seat to rotate
on said pins into a lifted position, said toilet seat being
urgeable into a lowered position for sitting on said toilet seat,
each of said biasing units being positioned within a respective one
of said wells, each of said biasing units engaging said lateral
bounding surface of said respective well, each of said biasing
units engaging said first end of said respective pin, each of said
biasing units being biased to rotate in a first direction thereby
urging said toilet seat to rotate on said pins in a first direction
for lifting said toilet seat, each of said biasing units being
rotatable in a second direction thereby facilitating said toilet
seat to rotate on said pins in a second direction for lowering said
toilet seat; a pair of gaskets, each of said gaskets being fixed
around a respective one of said pins, each of said gaskets
frictionally engaging said toilet seat to slow the movement of said
toilet seat into said lifted position wherein each of said gaskets
is configured to inhibit the toilet seat from striking the toilet,
each of said gaskets extending from said first end of said
respective pin toward said second end of said respective pin, each
of said gaskets frictionally engaging said lateral bounding surface
of said respective well in which said respective pin is positioned,
each of said gaskets being comprised of a resiliently compressible
material; and a pair of springs, each of said springs being
positioned between said first end of a respective one of said pins
and said lower bounding surface of said respective well in which
said respective pin is positioned, each of said springs biasing
said first end of said respective pin away from said lower bounding
surface of said respective well thereby compressing said gasket
positioned around said respective pin against said lateral bounding
surface of said respective well for enhancing friction between said
gasket and said lateral bounding surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM
[0004] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT
INVENTOR
[0005] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
[0006] The disclosure relates to toilet seat lifting devices and
more particularly pertains to a new toilet seat lifting device for
biasing a toilet seat into a lifted position.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed
Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0007] The prior art relates to toilet seat lifting devices. The
prior art discloses a variety of toilet seat lifters, all of which
involve biasing members ranging from a leaf spring, to a coil
spring to a resilient member, for biasing a toilet seat into a
lifted position. The biasing members generally engage either a
pivoting hinge associated with the toilet seat or engage a bottom
surface of the toilet seat. The prior art discloses a toilet seat
lifter that includes a slip clutch for slowing the speed at which
the toilet seat is moved into a lifted position. None of the
referenced prior art discloses the combination of a spring biasing
member and a resiliently compressible friction pad for slowing the
speed of the toilet seat.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented
above by generally comprising a toilet seat that is pivotally
coupled to a toilet such that a user can sit on the toilet. A pair
of pins is each coupled to the toilet and each of the pins
rotatably engages the toilet seat. A pair of biasing units is each
coupled between a respective one of the pins and the toilet seat.
Each of the biasing units biases the toilet seat to rotate on the
pins into a lifted position. Additionally, the toilet seat is
urgeable into a lowered position for sitting on the toilet seat. A
pair of gaskets is each fixed around a respective one of the pins.
Each of the gaskets frictionally engages the toilet seat to slow
the movement of the toilet seat into the lifted position to inhibit
the toilet seat from striking the toilet.
[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part
of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a toilet seat lifting
assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure showing a
toilet seat in a lifted position.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the
disclosure showing a toilet seat in a lowered position.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom phantom view of a toilet seat of an
embodiment of the disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 4 of an embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new lifting device embodying the
principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be
described.
[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the toilet seat
lifting assembly 10 generally comprises a toilet seat 12 is
pivotally coupled to a toilet 14 to have a user sit thereon. The
toilet 14 may be plumbing fixture in a bathroom or any other type
of toilet. Additionally, the toilet seat 12 may be structured to
have the appearance common to toilet seats. The toilet seat 12 has
a first lateral side 16, a second lateral side 18 and a back side
20 extending therebetween. The toilet seat 12 has a pair of wells
22 and each of the wells 22 extends inwardly on a respective one of
the first lateral side 16 and the second lateral side 18. Each of
the wells 22 is positioned adjacent to the back side 20 of the
toilet seat 12, and each of the wells 22 has a lateral bounding
surface 24 and a lower bounding surface 26.
[0019] A pair of pins 28 is each coupled to the toilet seat 12 and
each of the pins 28 rotatably engages the toilet seat 12. Each of
the pins 28 has a first end 30, a second end 32 and an outer
surface 34 extending therebetween. The first end 30 of each of the
pins 28 is positioned in a respective one of the wells 22 in the
toilet seat 12. The second end 32 of each of the pins 28 is fixed
to a respective connection point 36 on the toilet 14. The outer
surface 34 of each of the pins 28 has a pair of ridges 38 extending
around a full circumference of the pins 28. Moreover, the ridges 38
on each of the pins 28 are positioned within the respective well
22.
[0020] A pair of biasing units 40 is each coupled between a
respective one of the pins 28 and the toilet seat 12. Each of the
biasing units 40 biases the toilet seat 12 to rotate on the pins 28
into a lifted position. Moreover, the toilet seat 12 is urgeable
into a lowered position for sitting on the toilet seat 12. Each of
the biasing units 40 is positioned within a respective one of the
wells 22 and each of the biasing units 40 engages the lateral
bounding surface 24 of the respective well 22.
[0021] Each of the biasing units 40 engages the first end 30 of the
respective pin 28. Each of the biasing units 40 is biased to rotate
in a first direction thereby urging the toilet seat 12 to rotate on
the pins 28 in a first direction for lifting the toilet seat 12.
Additionally, each of the biasing units 40 is rotatable in a second
direction thereby facilitating the toilet seat 12 to rotate on the
pins 28 in a second direction for lowering the toilet seat 12. Each
of the biasing units 40 may comprise a coiled spring or other type
of device that produces rotation about an axis extending through
the first end 30 and the second end 32 of the respective pin
28.
[0022] A pair of gaskets 42 is provided and each of the gaskets 42
is fixed around a respective one of the pins 28. Each of the
gaskets 42 frictionally engages the toilet seat 12 to slow the
movement of the toilet seat 12 into the lifted position. In this
way each of the gaskets 42 inhibits the toilet seat 12 from
striking the toilet 14. Each of the gaskets 42 extends from the
first end 30 of the respective pin 28 toward the second end 32 of
the respective pin 28. Moreover, each of the gaskets 42
frictionally engages the lateral bounding surface 24 of the
respective well 22 in which the respective pin 28 is positioned.
Each of the gaskets 42 is comprised of a resiliently compressible
material comprising a gel. Thus, the gaskets 42 expand against the
lateral bounding surface 24 of the respective well 22 when the
gaskets 42 are compressed.
[0023] A pair of springs 44 is each positioned between the first
end 30 of a respective one of the pins 28 and the lower bounding
surface 26 of the respective well 22 in which the respective pin 28
is positioned. Each of the springs 44 biases the first end 30 of
the respective pin 28 away from the lower bounding surface 26 of
the respective well 22. In this way the gasket 42 positioned around
the respective pin 28 is compressed and subsequently expanded
against the lateral bounding surface 24 of the respective well 22
for enhancing friction between the gasket 42 and the lateral
bounding surface 24. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 5, a disk 46
may be positioned between the spring 44 and the gasket 42 in each
well. As is additionally shown in FIG. 5, the spring 44 may engage
a groove 48 in the lower bounding surface 26 of the respective well
22.
[0024] In use, each of the biasing units 40 biases the toilet seat
12 into the lifted position and the gaskets 42 slow the motion of
the toilet seat 12 into the lifted position. In this way the toilet
seat 12 is inhibited from slapping against the toilet 14 when the
toilet 14 is biased into the lifted position. The toilet seat 12 is
urgeable into the lowered position when the user needs to sit on
the toilet seat 12. The biasing units 40 return the toilet seat 12
to the lifted position when the user stands up from the toilet seat
12. In this way the toilet seat 12 is protected from splashes that
can result from male urination in the toilet 14.
[0025] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations
in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0026] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent
document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense
to mean that items following the word are included, but items not
specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element
by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that
more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly
requires that there be only one of the elements.
* * * * *