Force adjustable toilet seat lifting and lowering mechanism

A toilet seat lifter means is described, using a minimally simple lever and gear means with a counterweight balanced action arm. The device is adaptable to all standard toilets available today and offers a minimum number of moving parts and no springs or pulleys.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toilet appliances having to do with lifting or adjusting the toilet seat position. The field contains several toilet seat adjusters with a variety of mechanical means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a simplified method for raising and lowering a standard toilet seat without touching the seat with the hands. It is compatible with and can be retrofitted to all standard toilets without requiring specialized seat assemblies. The mechanical implementation minimizes or eliminates springs, friction, ratchets, and flanges and has a unique adjustable counterweight design.

The state of the art is replete with competing designs, most of which are of limited practicality and usefulness. Jackson in U.S. Pat. No. 6,738,990 teaches a pedal operated lifter that uses a complex support framework and pulleys. Joseph in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,498 uses pulleys and springs for a pedal-operated system, a solid framework attached to the floor. Kumarasurier in U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,877 shows a pedal-operated system with ratcheted gears and interior bearings that is not adjustable with a counterweight. Wolfer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,654 presents a system that is superficially similar to the present invention, but does not fit standard toilet seats and possesses an inferior lever action. The remainder of the art is substantially distinct from this invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a toilet seat lifter that requires no use of the hands to operate, thereby improving personal hygiene.

It is a further goal of this invention to produce this device with the minimum number of moving parts.

It is a further goal of this invention to implement this toilet seat lifter with no parts that can wear out easily and require continuous replacement.

It is a further goal of this invention to reduce friction and provide a counterweight that will minimize the force necessary to lift and lower a toilet seat with this device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mechanism is an extruded or stamped metal or plastic housing to which is attached an adapter bracket for connection to the toilet seat. The housing possesses two interlocking gears, the gears attached to two separate lever arms.

The longer lever arm extends towards the floor and the shorter lever arm connects to an attachment clip on the underside of the toilet seat. The longer lever arm has a counterweight that regulates the speed of the toilet seat lowering. The attachment clip also places friction on the small lever arm that regulates the speed of the seat lifting and lowering.

The hardware is under the seat and out of sight of the user. This invention can be installed on the left or right side of any toilet. The entire assembly can be easily retrofitted with adjustment hardware to any standard toilet in use today.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention can be seen best inFIG. 1, and it consists of a housing101, an adapter bracket102, a small lever arm103connected to a small gear104, a large lever arm105connected to a large gear106, the two gears104,106held within the housing by means of lever entry holes107.

The large lever arm105extends away from the housing101alongside a toilet100towards the floor, as inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, and possess a pedal108and adjustable counterweight109with adjustment means110. As seen inFIG. 3, the small lever arm103is attached to the underside of the toilet seat111by means of an attachment clip112. As can be seen inFIG. 4, by means of this clip112, the seat111can be raised by pressing with the foot on the pedal108at the end of the large lever arm105, and lowered by lifting the pedal108with the foot. When the seat111is lifted, the small lever arm103slides from one end of the attachment clip112to the other, allowing the seat111to be lifted with only a small angular rotation of the small lever arm103.

Looking atFIG. 1, there is a thumbwheel screw120that passes from the outside into the interior of the housing101. This thumbwheel screw120is used to control the stopping position of the small lever arm103to prevent the seat111from hitting the toilet tank121.

The counterweight109can be moved up or down the length of the large lever arm105between the pedal108and the large lever arm angle114. This adjustment accommodates the amount of force needed to prevent the toilet seat111from slamming when closing.

The pedal108is shaped to permit a space122under the upper surface of the pedal to position the foot for lifting the pedal108. The pedal possesses a multiplicity of holes123that permit the insertion of the large lever arm105. By means of choosing which hole123in which to insert the large lever arm105, the distance above the ground the pedal108rests when the toilet seat111is raised can be adjusted.

While the foregoing describes a preferred embodiment, variation on this design and equivalent designs may be resorted to in the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.