Child safety toilet lid lock

A toilet lid lock comprising a restraining arm removably coupled to a threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism. This mechanism has a first and second end. A repositioning handle and a lock bolt are located at the first end of the mechanism. A threaded portion of the second end of the mechanism receives a compression spring and an adjustable end cap. Two similarly shaped stanchions are further included in the Lid Lock, a first and second respectively, have one aperture each which passes through the stanchion for receiving the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism. An additional aperture passes through the first stanchion for receiving the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism lock bolt. The lock bolt is essentially a metal pin which is inserted or withdrawn from the aperture when the repositioning handle is rotated 90 degrees. Integral perpendicular flanges form the bases of the first and second stanchions with each flange having a plurality of screw holes passing through the flange for receiving mounting bolts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a toilet lid lock and more particularly 
pertains to toilet lid locks which may be used to lock a toilet lid and 
thereby prevent the accidental drowning of youngsters. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Safety experts have long attempted to alert the public to an often 
overlooked tragic reality, that the home is the single most dangerous 
environment to which we are regularly exposed. Children are a particularly 
susceptible class of individual with respect to household accidents. With 
Drowning is one of the major causes of injury or death to children. Since 
1973, over 300 children have drowned in household bathtubs, basins, 
buckets, and toilet bowls. Accordingly, inventors have sought to reduce 
the inherent risk of such items through employment of locking devices on 
toilet bowl lids and by utilizing other safety devices. 
The use of toilet lid locks is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
toilet lid locks heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of 
locking toilets are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and 
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
The present invention is directed to improving devices for toilet lid locks 
in a manner which is safe, secure, economical and aesthetically pleasing. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,641 to Selman discloses a toilet lid 
safety lock comprising a counter-weighted pivoting arm device with an 
automatic locking and unlocking mechanism. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,784 to Foster describes a toilet seat and lid safety 
lock comprising a lock-block with a spring-actuated hinge to restrain the 
toilet lid. 
Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,551 to Gardner disclosing 
a toilet seat lid lock comprising a special hinge arm and locking base 
affixed to the toilet lid. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,470 to Grenell describes a toilet lid lock mechanism 
which comprises a control shoe mounted on the toilet lid and a lid control 
arm which extends from the control shoe. 
Yet another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,070 to Kimber 
disclosing a toilet lid lock comprising a strap mechanism for securing the 
toilet lid to the toilet bowl exterior. 
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,472 to Buckshaw describes an automatically 
relocking hinge mechanism affixed to the front of the toilet bowl for 
restraining the toilet lid. 
The toilet lock mechanisms mentioned above, while sufficient for their 
intended usages, do not specifically address the requirements for a toilet 
lock to be used where toilet use is frequent and primarily by adults. 
The present invention unlike the others above, has no internal or covert 
parts. The whole is accessible and easy to disassemble and clean as 
necessitated by modern hygiene requirements. 
All the parts in the present invention are either corrosion resistant, or 
shrouded in soft plastic or both. This protects the toilet porcelain from 
scratches and rust, and reduces the likelihood of any pinches or cuts to 
the body from sharp edges. There is an absolute minimum of moving parts 
and a resultant ease of maintenance. 
Another important aspect of the present invention is that the device is 
free and clear of the toilet lid when unlocked. This also saves wear and 
tear on the toilet. 
Lastly, the spring tension and locking mechanism may be adjusted. This is 
beneficial because the locking mechanism can be adjusted to prohibit 
unsupervised use by a child, but can be set so that an infirm adult can 
unlock the toilet. 
This adjustability brings about another benefit. Since the present 
invention may be adjusted to keep children out of the toilet, the 
unlocking mechanism need not be located in an hard-to-access location. It 
is located within easy reach of the user. 
In this respect, the toilet lid lock according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of toilet lid locks used in environments where toilet use is 
predominantly by adults or under adult supervision. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved toilet lid lock which can be easily used and cleaned. In 
this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
As illustrated by the background art, efforts are continuously being made 
in an attempt to devise an easy to use and clean toilet lid lock. No prior 
effort, however, provides the benefits attendant with the present 
invention. Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do 
not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements 
arranged and configured as disclosed and claimed herein. 
The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and 
advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps 
and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning 
parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily 
available materials. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
toilet lid locks now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved toilet lid lock construction wherein the same can be 
utilized for easy installation, use, and cleaning in primarily adult-use 
environments. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which 
will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid lock apparatus which has many of the advantages of the 
toilet lid locks mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result 
in toilet lid lock which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, 
or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any 
combination thereof and which has none of the disadvantages of the prior 
art toilet lid locks. 
The invention is defined by the appended claims with the specific 
embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing 
the invention, the invention may be incorporated into a toilet lid lock. 
The toilet lid lock comprises a restraining arm of durable metal removably 
coupled to a threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism. This mechanism has a 
first and second end. A repositioning handle and a lock bolt is located at 
the first end of the mechanism. A threaded portion is located at the 
second end of the mechanism for receiving a compression spring and 
adjustable end cap. Two similarly shaped stanchions, a first and second 
respectively, have one aperture each which passes from exterior a first 
side of the stanchion wall to exterior a second side of the stanchion wall 
for receiving the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism. An additional 
aperture passes from the first side of the first stanchion wall through 
the second side of the first stanchion wall for receiving the threaded 
rotatable lock rod mechanism lock bolt. The lock bolt is essentially a 
metal pin which is inserted or withdrawn from the aperture when the 
repositioning handle is rotated 90 degrees. Integral perpendicular flanges 
form the bases of the first and second stanchions with each flange having 
a plurality of screw holes passing from a first side of the flange to a 
second side of the flange for receiving mounting bolts. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention 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, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. It 
should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and 
the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a 
basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the 
same purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by those 
skilled in the art that such equivalent methods and structures do not 
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the 
appended claims. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid safety Lock comprising a restraining arm of durable 
metal removably coupled to a threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism having 
a first and second end; a repositioning handle and a lock bolt at a first 
end of the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism; a threaded portion at a 
second end of the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism for receiving a 
compression spring and adjustable end cap; a first and second similarly 
shaped stanchion with one aperture each which passes exterior one side of 
the stanchion wall to exterior the other side of the stanchion for 
receiving the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism; an additional 
aperture passing exterior one side of the first stanchion wall to exterior 
the other side of the first stanchion wall for receiving the threaded 
rotatable lock rod mechanism lock bolt; integral perpendicular flanges 
forming the bases of the first and second stanchions with each flange 
having a plurality of screw holes passing therethrough to the other side 
of the flange for receiving mounting bolts. 
It is therefore an additional object of the present invention to provide a 
new and improved toilet lid lock which has all the advantages of the prior 
art toilet lid locks and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
toilet lid lock which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid lock which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid Lock which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture 
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such toilet lid locks economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid lock which provides in the apparatuses and methods of 
the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously 
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid lock which has external parts only for simple 
installation, and disassembly and cleaning. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid lock with an adjustable locking mechanism. Such a 
mechanism could be adjusted to be easy for adults to unlock, but 
difficult, if not impossible, for children to unlock. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved toilet lid lock which does not touch, or rest upon, the toilet 
lid when unlocked. This makes normal, unlocked operation easier for users 
and precludes any undue wear of the toilet. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing has 
outlined some of the more pertinent objects of this invention. These 
objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more 
prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other 
beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in 
a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the 
disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the 
invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the 
detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope 
of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 6 and 7 
thereof, a new and improved toilet lid lock embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
From an overview standpoint, the toilet lid lock 10 is adapted for use with 
toilets, which by nature of the liquid contained therein pose a safety 
hazard to small children. See FIGS. 6 and 7. 
More specifically, the toilet lid lock comprises a restraining arm 20 which 
is removably coupled by a pair of U-bolt connectors to a threaded 
rotatable lock rod mechanism 30 having a first end 32 and a second end 34. 
The restraining arm is a durable metal rectangular bar enshrouded in 
dye-accepting soft plastic 22 which can be manufactured to assume commonly 
employed colors of toilet porcelain. The plastic shroud on the restraining 
arm protects the arm from corrosion, the toilet porcelain from scratches, 
and the user of the device from contacting the restraining arm metal. The 
restraining arm 20 acts as a non-abrasive stop to prevent lifting of the 
toilet lid when the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism is in the locked 
position. A feature is that the invention does not contact or rely on the 
toilet lid for supporting the lid lock, add any weight to the toilet lid, 
or interfere with the use of the toilet when in the optional unlocked 
position. 
At the first end 32 of the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism 30 is a 
repositioning handle 36. The repositioning handle is enshrouded in 
dye-accepting soft plastic 38 which can be manufactured to assume the 
commonly used colors of toilet porcelain. The soft plastic protects the 
repositioning handle from corrosion, and the provides a firm, comfortable 
grip for the user of the device. The size and shape of the repositioning 
handle make it easy to grasp and manipulate when locking or unlocking the 
threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism. The handle is conveniently placed 
in an accessible and visible location for ease of operation and 
maintenance. As with all other components of the invention the invention 
comprises only external parts for ease of maintenance. 
The threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism is locked or unlocked by pulling 
and rotating the repositioning handle 90 degrees clockwise or 
counterclockwise, respectively. The tensional forces required pull the 
lock rod mechanism to thereby unlock the locked toilet lid is controlled 
by a compression spring 40. The amount of forces imparted on the lock rod 
mechanism is adjusted by turning an adjustable end cap 42. The end cap is 
operably positioned at the second end of the threaded rotatable lock rod 
mechanism. Turning the adjustable end cap clockwise make it harder to pull 
the lock rod mechanism, likewise, turning the end cap counter-clockwise 
allows for easier pulling of the lock rod mechanism. The optimum setting 
produces sufficient tension to render the toilet lid prohibitively 
difficult for young children to unlock, but renders it easy to unlock by 
an adult using a modicum of effort. As with all other components 
pertaining to this invention, the tension spring is non-corrosive and is 
readily accessible for disassembly and cleaning. 
The threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism and restraining arm is supported 
by similarly shaped first and second stanchions 50 and 52. Each stanchions 
comprise an upstanding support member 54 and 56 and a base flange 58 and 
60 orthogonal thereto. The stanchion support members 54 and 56 have a 
first aperture 62 and 64 which passes from one exterior a first side of 
the support member to exterior a second side of the support member for 
receiving the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism. 
The first stanchion support member has a second aperture 66 passing from 
the first side of the support member to exterior the second side of the 
support member for receiving a lock bolt 80. The lock is operatively 
coupled to the threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism lock. The lock bolt 
is a metal pin which effectively locks or unlocks the toilet lid when the 
threaded rotatable lock rod mechanism is rotated using the repositioning 
handle 36 and the lock bolt is either inserted into, or withdrawn from, 
the second aperture of the first stanchion, respectively. The lock bolt is 
coupled to the lock rod by a flange member 70. The flange member has a 
first aperture 72 for fixedly receiving the lock rod and a second aperture 
74 for receiving and fixedly coupling the lock bolt. 
Flanges 58 and 60 form a base for the stanchions. The flanges have a 
plurality of screw holes 82 passing from exterior one side of the flange 
to the exterior thereof. The screw holes enable mounting of the stanchions 
and toilet lid lock to the toilet using standard hardware and are 
positioned cooperable with mounting bolts for securing the toilet seat. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, 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 the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention 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 invention. In as much as 
the present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as 
well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has 
been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the 
preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes 
in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts 
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention.