Cushioned coupling hinge and a toilet seat comprising such a cushioned coupling hinge

The invention therefore relates to a cushioned coupling hinge 1 suitable to rotatably couple the seat-ring 71 and the lid 72 of a toilet seat to a toilet 70. The hinge 1 comprises a cushioning mechanism suitable to cushion the falling movement of the mobile component during rotation around the axis of rotation X; a mobile portion 20 integrally constrainable to the seat-ring or lid in rotation; a fixed portion 30 integrally constrainable with the toilet 70. Advantageously, both the maintenance in position of the hinge along the axis of rotation and the actuation of the cushioning mechanism is obtained by means of a single engagement element 4 inserted at right angles to the axis of rotation simultaneously through the seat-ring/lid to be cushioned and the mobile portion 20.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2017/055387, filed on Sep. 7, 2017, which claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102016000096321, filed on Sep. 26, 2016, the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a cushioned coupling hinge for a seat-ring or lid of a toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the sanitary sector, coupling hinges are used to hinge the seat-ring and the closing lid to the bowl part of a toilet. These hinges allow a rotation of the seat-ring/lid with respect to the bowl from a horizontal closure position, resting on the rim of the bowl, to a substantially vertical opening position, wherein the seat-ring/lid is open about 110 degrees and usually leaning against the wall upon which the toilet is installed.

In order to prevent the seat-ring/lid from falling onto the bowl, with the risk of damage to the ceramic or damage to the seat-ring/lid, it is known to use cushioned hinges that cushion the fall of the seat-ring/lid, easing the descent of the seat-ring/lid to rest on the rim of the bowl.

The known hinges consist of a number of components, including cushioning means for cushioning the fall of the seat-ring/lid, adapters for connecting the hinge and the ceramic toilet, connecting elements for connecting the cushioning means with the adapters, spring clips to prevent the accidental dislodging of the hinge from the seat provided inside the seat-ring and the lid to be cushioned: all are elements that make the hinges complex from the construction and installation point of view, as well as cumbersome and of considerable size.

Furthermore, in known hinges, the cushioning means are mechanically engaged inside the seat-ring or lid by means of teeth. This makes the manufacturing process complex and expensive, as the teeth must be accurately made on each component (hinge, seat-ring and lid) in the molding stage, and it does not allow interchangeability of the hinges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling hinge which is particularly compact and effective in the cushioning action.

Such object is achieved by a cushioned coupling hinge wherein the stop of the hinge to prevent its accidental dislodging from the seat provided inside the seat-ring and the lid, as well as the mechanical engagement to activate the cushioning means, is obtained by means of an engagement element inserted at right angles to the rotation axis of the hinge.

Such object is achieved by a cushioned coupling hinge made in accordance with claim1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the accompanying figures, a cushioned coupling hinge for a toilet seat100comprising a seat-ring71and a lid72is indicated collectively at1.

FIG. 1shows the application of a pair of hinges1to a toilet70. Each hinge1hinges the seat-ring71and the related lid72to the toilet70. Being provided with a cushioning mechanism, the hinge1cushions the falling motion of the seat-ring71or the lid72during rotation around the axis of rotation X, easing the downward movement from a substantially vertical opened position to a substantially horizontal closed position, resting on the rim of the toilet70.

The term “seat-ring” means the annular portion which is employed in using the toilet in the sitting position; the term “lid” means the overlapping element on the seat, suitable to close the toilet.

The term “mobile component” means the component suitable to rotate about the axis of rotation X, i.e., the seat-ring71and the lid72; the term “fixed component” means the component intended not to rotate, i.e. the toilet70.

As shown inFIG. 2, the hinge1comprises:a mobile portion20, adapted to be constrained integrally in rotation to a mobile component to be cushioned so as to rotate therewith with respect to an axis of rotation X;a fixed portion30, suitable to be integrally constrained to a fixed component.

The mobile portion20and the fixed portion30are connected to each other axially along the axis of rotation X. There are no rotational constraints between the mobile portion20and the fixed portion30, that is, each of the two portions20,30is free to rotate around the axis of rotation X.

The mobile portion20and the fixed portion30are connected to each other with a male-female coupling.

In the hinge1, only the mobile portion20forms the axis of rotation X for the toilet seat, i.e. for the lid and for the seat-ring. In fact, as shown inFIG. 4, only the mobile portion20is insertable into the relevant seats711,712,721,722provided in the seat-ring71and in the lid72, while the fixed portion30remains completely outside. Therefore, in the hinge1, the lid and the seat-ring rotate supported only by the mobile portion20.

The mobile portion20of the hinge1comprises an engagement part211, suitable to provide the integral constraint in rotation with the mobile component to be cushioned (e.g. the lid72), and a support member212, suitable to connect longitudinally, without rotational constraints, with the other mobile component (e.g. the seat-ring71).

As shown inFIG. 2, the mobile portion20is therefore insertable simultaneously in both a relevant seat711,712provided in the seat-ring71and in a relevant seat721,722provided in the lid72.

A seat711,712,721,722is a hole made in the seat-ring71or lid72coaxial with the axis of rotation X. All the seats711,712,721,722made in the lid and in the seat-ring are cylindrical (i.e. without teeth) so as to allow the free rotation of the lid and of the seat-ring around the hinge1, and in particular the mobile portion20. As the hole forming the seat711,712,721,722is cylindrical and without teeth, the molding of the cover and the seat-ring is greatly simplified.

The mechanical engagement (or coupling) between the hinge1and the respective mobile component to be cushioned (i.e. the seat-ring71or the lid72) is achieved by means of an engagement element4inserted in a direction of engagement Y at right angles to the axis of rotation X, simultaneously through the hinge1and the mobile component to be cushioned.

In fact, at least one (indicated at the number721) of the seats721,722made in the lid72and at least one (indicated at the number711) of the seats711,712made in the seat-ring71is provided with an engagement hole7at right angles to the axis of rotation X, suitable to house the engagement element4.

The hinge1is also provided with an engagement hole27, at right angles to the axis of rotation X, at the engagement part211of the mobile portion20, suitable to house the engagement element4.

Therefore, inserting the engagement element4simultaneously into the engagement hole7of the seat721of the lid72(or the seat711of the seat-ring71), and in the engagement hole27of the hinge1, the mechanical engagement for actuating the cushioning mechanism contained in the same hinge is obtained, as well as the stop of the hinge to prevent the accidental dislodging thereof from the seats711,712,721,722provided in the seat-ring and in the lid.

The engagement element4is, for example, an elastic pin, or a threaded pin, or a pressure pin, or a shaped pin.

Preferably, the engagement element4is removable. Thus, the engagement element4is provided with a seat for the insertion of an actuation instrument, such as an Allen wrench, a screwdriver, a key.

In a preferred embodiment, the engagement element is a shaped pin4as shown inFIG. 3; in such example, the engagement hole27of the hinge1is a shaped hole.

The shaped pin4comprises, at the rear41, a seat410for the insertion of an actuation instrument.

The shaped pin4comprises a rear portion42suitable to engage mechanically with the mobile element and thus suitable to be inserted into the engagement hole7of the seat721of the lid72or the seat711of the seat-ring71.

The shaped pin4comprises a front portion43suitable to engage mechanically with the hinge, and thus suitable to be inserted into the engagement hole27of the hinge1.

The shaped pin4comprises, at the front portion43, a shaped portion44suitable to provide, in conjunction with the shaped hole of the hinge, a stop to the exit of the pin to prevent the accidental dislodging of the hinge from the engagement hole27.

The shaped portion44comprises an insertion notch441and a locking notch442. The insertion notch441and the locking notch442are made on incident planes. The insertion notch441and the locking notch442are made successively along the outer circumference of the shaped pin4.

The locking notch442comprises a pair of shoulders443, substantially parallel, arranged at right angles along the pin4.

The engagement hole27of the hinge1is a shaped hole, i.e. provided with an abutment271protruding into the through opening of the same hole.

As shown inFIG. 6, the insertion notch441, by reducing the cross-section of the pin4, allows the insertion thereof (along a direction of engagement Y and with the insertion notch441facing the abutment271) through the through opening of the shaped hole27of the hinge1.

The subsequent rotation of the shaped pin4(around the engagement axis Y) causes the abutment271of the shaped hole to engage the locking notch442of the pin4and remain locked (along the engagement direction Y) between the shoulders443, thus stopping the exit of the pin4from the engagement hole27of the hinge.

Applying a pair of hinges1, one engaged by means of an engagement element4with the seat-ring71and the other engaged by means of an engagement element4with the lid72, a toilet70is obtained wherein the toilet seat is completely cushioned, i.e. both the seat and the lid are cushioned in the descent stage to be supported on the rim of the bowl.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the fixed portion30of the hinge1comprises an attachment part32intended to constrain it integrally with the fixed component, i.e. with the toilet70. Preferably, the attachment part32has an outer diameter larger than the mobile portion20.

The attachment part32is provided with a blind hole321for housing an attachment element9for coupling between the fixed portion30of the hinge1and the toilet70.

The blind hole321extends through the attachment part32in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation X. The attachment element9is a pin insertable at least partially in the hole321.

The coupling between the hinge1and the toilet70is of the quick release type. Advantageously, at least the terminal portion91of the pin9and at least the distal portion39of the hole321are conical. The coupling between the pin9and the hinge1uses the principle of the Morse cone, i.e., a two-piece connection system with a male and female conical shape.

Preferably, the pin9also comprises a friction ring, for example metal or rubber, suitable to improve the coupling between the pin9and the hinge1.

The hinge1is provided with a cushioning mechanism of the type described in patent number IT1418548 in the name of the holder.

As shown inFIG. 8, the cushioning mechanism is integrated within the hinge1and comprises an elastic element50interposed between the mobile portion20and the fixed portion30.

The elastic element50is made of resilient material, preferably rubber, for example polyurethane, preferably having a substantially C shape.

The mobile portion20comprises a cylindrical body provided with a cylindrical chamber23suitable to house the elastic element50and, at least partially, the fixed portion30therein. Both the body21and the chamber23extend longitudinally along the axis of rotation X. The body21is provided with a tooth24protruding from the inner circular wall toward the inside of the chamber23in the direction of the axis of rotation X. The body21further comprises a non-threaded seat extending longitudinally along the axis of rotation X and suitable to house an attachment element, for example a screw, to attach the mobile portion20and the fixed portion30.

The fixed portion30of the hinge1comprises a body suitable to be inserted at least partially in the chamber23of the mobile portion20. In particular, the body31comprises a braking part33, intended to be fully inserted into the chamber23of the mobile portion20. The braking part33is provided with a tab34projecting from the outer circular wall to the outside of the body31. The body31, between the braking part33and the attachment part32, comprises a seat37suitable to house in abutment the body21of the mobile portion20when closing the chamber23wherein the elastic element50is housed. The braking part33further comprises a seat38extending longitudinally along the axis of rotation X, preferably threaded and suitable to accommodate an attachment element, for example a screw, for attaching the mobile portion20and the fixed portion30.

In use, the rotation of the lid72and/or the seat-ring71in the direction of closure of the toilet seat causes the rotation of the mobile portion20of the hinge around the axis of rotation X. The rotation of the mobile portion20causes the tooth24to compress the elastic element50against the tab34of the fixed portion30, an elastic element50which opposes compressive resistance and slows the rotation of the lid72and/or the seat71in the toilet seat's direction of closure.

The invention therefore relates to a cushioned coupling hinge1suitable to rotatably couple the seat-ring71and the lid72of a toilet seat to a toilet70. The hinge1comprises a cushioning mechanism suitable to cushion the falling movement of the mobile component during rotation around the axis of rotation X, a mobile portion20integrally constrainable to the seat-ring or lid in rotation, and a fixed portion30integrally constrainable to the toilet70. Advantageously, both the maintenance in position of the hinge along the axis of rotation and the actuation of the cushioning mechanism is obtained by means of a single engagement element4inserted at right angles to the axis of rotation simultaneously through the seat-ring/lid to be cushioned and the mobile portion20.

The invention also relates to a toilet seat for a toilet, comprising a seat-ring71provided with a pair of seats711,712each suitable to at least partially house a cushioned coupling hinge1; a lid72provided with a pair of seats721,722, each suitable to at least partially house a cushioned coupling hinge1; a pair of cushioned coupling hinges1, each housed at least partially in the respective seat711,712,721,722of the lid72and of the seat71. Advantageously, at least one721of the seats721,722made in the lid72and at least one711of seats711,712made in the seat-ring71is provided with an engagement hole7, at right angles to the axis of rotation X, suitable to house the engagement element4of the hinge1for actuating the cushioning mechanism and maintaining in position the hinge1along the axis of rotation X. Advantageously, moreover, the seat711,712,721,722of the seat-ring/lid is also a coaxial cylindrical hole with the axis of rotation X, without teeth, to allow the free rotation of the lid72and seat-ring71around hinge1.

Innovatively, the cushioned coupling hinge according to the present invention is particularly simple and compact: all the essential elements of the cushioning mechanism are perfectly integrated within the hinge itself, which is a single body with simple handling and installation on the toilet seat.

Advantageously, in the cushioned coupling hinge according to the present invention, both the hinge stop to prevent its accidental dislodging from the seat provided inside the seat-ring and the lid and the mechanical engagement to activate the cushioning means is obtained by means of an engagement element at right angles to the rotation axis of the hinge.

Advantageously, the cushioning coupling hinge according to the present invention allows fastening between the toilet seat and the toilet of the quick-release type in a simple and effective manner, utilizing the principle of the Morse cone.

It is clear that one skilled in the art may make modifications to the above-described device, all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.