Seat assembly for a toilet

A mounting assembly mounts a seat to a toilet having a base with a pair of mounting holes. The mounting assembly includes a base member and first and second members for insertion into first and second of the pairs of mounting holes, respectively. The first member is interconnected to the base member. The second member is interconnected to the base member and spaced apart from the first member by a distance. The distance between the first member and the second member is adjustable for creating a clamping force between the first and second members and the first and second mounting holes, respectively.

FIELD

The present teachings generally concern toilets. More particularly, the present teachings concern a seat assembly for a toilet including a mounting unit for securing the seat assembly to a toilet base.

BACKGROUND

Various arrangements are known for attaching a toilet seat the base of a toilet. Removal often requires various tools and discrete parts that may become lost or otherwise misplaced. Furthermore, removal and reattachment of a toilet seat typically requires the operator to access the bottom of bolts that pass through holes in a back flange of the toilet bowl. Such access is frequently awkward if not impossible given the limited working space available in most bathrooms.

To a much more limited extent, quick release arrangements for securing a toilet seat to a bowl are known. An example of such a quick release arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,762 which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth there. The arrangement includes a pair of fasteners each having a flange for engaging a toilet bowl when attached thereto and a head spaced above the flange. An anchor plate having a pair of slots formed on the bottom side thereof cooperates with the heads of the fasteners to secure the anchor plate to a toilet bowl. The anchor plate may include a latch for locking and unlocking the anchor plate from one of the fastener heads to permit the anchor plate to slide off of the fasteners and a pair of spaced hinge mounting supports extending from the anchor plate to which a toilet seat and lid may be pivotally coupled.

While known arrangements for attaching a toilet seat to the base of a toilet, including but not limited to arrangements discussed herein, may provide certain advantages, continuous improvement in the pertinent art remains desirable.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect, the present teachings provide a mounting assembly for mounting a seat to a toilet. The toilet has a base with a pair of mounting holes. The mounting assembly includes a base member and first and second members for insertion into first and second of the pairs of mounting holes, respectively. The first member is interconnected to the base member. The second member is interconnected to the base member and spaced apart from the first member by a distance. The distance between the first member and the second member is adjustable for creating a clamping force between the first and second members and the first and second mounting holes, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS ASPECTS

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. The description and any specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the present disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

With general reference to the drawings, a seat assembly for a toilet in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character10. The seat assembly10may generally include a seat12and a lid14. The seat assembly10may further generally include a mounting unit or mounting arrangement16for mounting the seat assembly10to a toilet.

As will become more apparent below, the mounting arrangement16may be operative for attaching the seat12and the lid14to the toilet for pivotal movement about a pivot axis A (seeFIG. 2B). Accept as otherwise described herein, it will be understood that the seat12and lid14are conventional in both construction and operation. The mounting arrangement16may be used with various other seats and lids within the scope of the present teachings.

The mounting arrangement16may generally include a base portion or base member18. The base portion18may be constructed of metal, plastic or any other material having suitable strength and durability characteristics. The base portion18may include a first portion or lower portion20and one or more mounting portions22. As shown in the drawings, the one or more mounting portions may include a pair of mounting portions22. The mounting portions22may be integrally formed with the lower portion20or be discrete portions suitably carried by the lower portion20.

The mounting portions22may upwardly extend from the lower portion20and may define openings24. The openings24may align with each other and with openings provided in the seat12and the lid14. These aligning openings24may receive pivot pins26(seeFIG. 1) which cooperate to define the pivot axis A. Through this pivot pin interconnection, the seat12and lid14may be rotated about the pivot axis A. The lid14is shown in a lowered position inFIG. 2Aand in a raised position inFIG. 2B. The seat12may similarly be articulated between lowered and raised positions.

The mounting arrangement16may further include one or more hole engaging members28. The hole engaging members28may function to engage conventional mounting holes (not particularly shown) defined in the base of a toilet. The hole engaging members28may include a first member28A and a second member28B. At least one of the first and second members28A and28B may be movably associated with the lower member20of the base portion18. In one particular application, the first member28A may be fixedly carried by the lower member20and the second member28B may be movably carried by the lower member20. In other applications, both of the first and second members28A and28B may be movably carried by the lower member20.

The first and second members may be first and second pins28A and28B. The first and second pins28A and28B may be associated with sleeves30. The sleeves30may be carried by shafts of the pins28A and28B and may be constructed of a flexible material. The outer diameters of the sleeves30may be sized to fit in the holes defined in the toilet base.

The first pin28A may be received within an aperture32defined by the lower member20. Alternatively, the first pin28A may be integrally formed with the lower member20. In this regard, a portion of the lower member20may be formed to be received within one of the apertures defined by the toilet base.

The base portion18may additionally include a translatable member40. The translatable member or movable member40may be carried by the base portion18for movement between a first position (seeFIG. 8B, for example) and a second position (seeFIG. 8A, for example). The translatable member40may be received within tracks42defined by a pair of rails44of the lower member20. The tracks42may be terminated by a slide cap46. The slide cap46may be secured to the lower member20with a pair of pins48.

The translatable member40may define an opening50for receiving the second pin28B. Alternatively, the second pin28B may be integrally formed with the translatable member40. In this regard, a portion of the translatable member40may be formed to be received within one of the apertures defined by the toilet base.

The mounting arrangement16may further include a clamping arrangement52. The clamping arrangement52may be operable to move the first and second pins28A and28B relative to one another. Explaining further, the clamping arrangement52may be operative for moving the translatable member40between the first position and the second position. In one application, the clamping arrangement52is operative for moving the first and second pins28A and28B toward one another. In other applications, the clamping arrangement52is operative for moving the first and second pins28A and28B away from one another.

The clamping arrangement52may including an over center latch having a latch handle54and a clamp clasp56. The latch handle54may be coupled to the lower member20for movement about an axis B (seeFIG. 6B, for example). Explaining further, the latch handle54may define a first pair of apertures58for receiving a pin60. The pin60may pass through a pair of apertures62defined by the lower member20.

The latch handle54may be coupled to the clamp clasp56with a pin64. The pin64may pass through an opening66defined in an end of the clamp clasp56and pass through a second pair of apertures68defined by the latch handle54. The pin64may define a pivot axis about which the clamp clasp56may rotate relative to the latch handle54.

The clamp clasp56may be constructed of metal or other suitable material and may include a second end70for selectively engaging the translatable member40. The second end70may be formed to include a hook for engaging a pin72carried by the translatable member40. The pin72may be received within a pair of apertures74defined by the translatable member40.

The mounting arrangement16may further include a cover80. The cover80may be connected to the lower member20for movement between an open position and a closed position. The open position is shown inFIG. 6B, for example. The closed position is shown inFIG. 4, for example.

In use, the latch handle54is rotated relative to the lower member40to a first position (as shown inFIG. 8B, for example). In this first position, the first and second pins28A and28B are spaced apart a first distance X and the mounting assembly16is in an unlocked condition. The first distance X is suitable for introducing the shafts of the first and second pins28A and28B into the holes defined by the toilet.

The seat assembly10is secured to the toilet through rotation of the latch handle54to a second position (as shown inFIG. 8A, for example). In this second position. The mounting assembly16is in a locked condition and the first and second pins28A and28B are spaced apart a second distance Y. This second distance Y may be slightly different than the first distance X such that the shafts of the first and second pins28A and28B apply a force against the inner walls of the holes defined by the toilet and thereby secure the seat assembly10to the toilet. In the application shown throughout the drawings, the applied forces of the first and second pins28A and28B are in the direction of arrows Z. Alternatively, these forces may be in opposite directions.

Turning toFIG. 9, an alternative anchor100for use with the teachings of the present disclosure is illustrated. Distinct from the anchors discussed above, the anchor100may radially expand for attachment within one of the conventional mounting holes of a toilet base. The fastener100may include an expandable member102. The expandable member102may be constructed of rubber or other suitable material. The expandable member102may additionally include an overcenter latch104pivotally coupled to a rod106by a pin108. The rod106may pass through an aperture defined by the expandable member102, be threaded at a distal end and may threadably engage a washer110. A second washer112may be positioned between the latch104and the expandable member.

The anchor100is shown inFIG. 9in an unlatched condition. The latch104may be rotated clockwise (as shown inFIG. 9) about the pin108for purposes of compressing and thereby radially expanding the expandable member102between the washers110and112. As such, the anchor100may be secured within the opening of the toilet base.

The teachings of the present disclosure may alternatively incorporate various types of blind fasteners. As used herein, the term “blind fastener” shall mean any fastener that may be inserted into a conventional hold of a toilet base from the upper side of the hold and secured to the base without a need to access the lower side of the hole.

Accordingly, a seat assembly10is disclosed which may be secured to a toilet without the need of accessing fastener components on an underside of the toilet. In this regard, the seat assembly10may be easily and quickly installed by a user without the need of the user to lie on the floor or otherwise access the underside of a portion of the toilet. The seat assembly10further operates to more securely fasten the seat12to the toilet as compared to known mounting arrangements.

While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalence may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present teachings as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples may be expressly contemplated herein so that one skilled in the art would appreciate from the present teachings that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the present teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it may be intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode of presently contemplated for carrying out the present teachings but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments following within the foregoing description and any appended claims.