Manual toilet seat lifter apparatus

A manual toilet seat lifter apparatus is provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat and includes strap hinge members connected to the toilet seat. A hinge pin is received in the strap hinge members. A riser rod is connected to the hinge pin. A handle is connected to a top end of the riser rod, and a counterweight is connected to a bottom end of the riser rod. Preferably, a horizontal transition portion is connected between the hinge pin and the riser rod. Preferably, a horizontal extension portion is connected to the riser rod at a location on the riser rod which is opposite to the horizontal transition portion. With a second embodiment of the invention, which is a combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus, toilet seat cover lifting means are provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to toilet seat lifters, and, more particularly, to toilet seat lifters especially adapted to be lifted manually.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Because toilet seats can become dirty quickly, throughout the years a number of devices have been invented by which a person does not need to manually touch a toilet seat in order to lift it. Some such toilet seat lifters allow a person to press a foot pedal, and thereby lift a toilet seat. Other known toilet seat lifters allow a person to operate some sort of manually operated means without manually touching the toilet seat itself.

In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to manually-operated toilet seat lifters which permit the user to lift a toilet seat without touching the toilet seat itself, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,999,555, 2,236,576, 3,935,601, 5,058,215, and 5,729,839.

More specifically, each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,999,555, 2,236,576, 3,935,601, 5,058,215, and 5,729,839 discloses a toilet seat lifter handle that is attached to the toilet seat at a very close location to the toilet seat. As a result, if an off-target urine stream accidently falls upon the toilet seat, there is a strong likelihood that the off-target urine stream would also contact the toilet seat lifter handle that is located close to the toilet seat itself. In this respect, it would be desirable if a manually-operated toilet seat lifter were provided which had a handle portion that is remotely located from the toilet seat itself.

In addition, each of the toilet seat lifters provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,999,555, 3,935,601, and 5,058,215 has a handle attached to the toilet seat in a fixed orientation. As a result, when the toilet seat is lifted and, thereby, the orientation of handle is changed, it becomes more difficult for a user to maintain a firm grip on the handle. In this respect, it would be desirable if a toilet seat lifter were provided whereby the orientation of the handle remains in a horizontal orientation even as the toilet seat is lifted.

Among the patents discussed hereinabove, only U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,839 discloses an additional manually-operated handle for lifting a toilet seat cover. However, this patent requires that two separate and distinct handles be provided, a first handle for lifting the toilet seat and a second handle for lifting the toilet seat cover. Rather than having two separate and distinct manually-operated handles for lifting the toilet seat and the toilet seat cover, it would be desirable if a device were provided which has a single manually-operated handle that can be used for lifting both the toilet seat and the toilet seat cover.

Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use a manually-operated toilet seat lifter apparatus, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a manual toilet seat lifter apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) has a handle portion that is remotely located from the toilet seat itself; (2) provides that the orientation of the handle remains in an upright yet horizontal orientation even as the toilet seat is lifted; and (3) has a single manually-operated handle that can be used for lifting both the toilet seat and the toilet seat cover. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique manual toilet seat lifter apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a manual toilet seat lifter apparatus for lifting and lowering a toilet seat and includes first toilet seat hinge means connected to the toilet seat. Second toilet seat hinge means are received in the first toilet seat hinge means. A riser rod is connected to the second toilet seat hinge means. A handle is connected to a top end of the riser rod, and a counterweight is connected to a bottom end of the riser rod.

Preferably, the first toilet seat hinge means include strap hinges, and the second toilet seat hinge means include a hinge pin received in the strap hinges.

Preferably, a lock pin is connected to the hinge pin, for preventing the hinge pin from slipping out from the strap hinges.

Preferably, a horizontal transition portion is connected between the hinge pin and the riser rod.

Preferably, a horizontal extension portion is connected to the riser rod at a location on the riser rod which is opposite to the horizontal transition portion.

With a second embodiment of the invention, a combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus, toilet seat cover lifting means are provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat cover. The toilet seat cover lifting means include first toilet seat cover lifting means which are connected to the horizontal transition portion, the horizontal extension portion, and the riser rod. In addition, the toilet seat cover lifting means include second toilet seat cover lifting means which are connected to the toilet seat cover itself.

Preferably, the first toilet seat cover lifting means include a first hinge member which is connected to the horizontal transition portion. A second hinge member is connected to the horizontal extension portion. A hook portion is connected to the first hinge member and the second hinge member. A hook control member is connected to the hook portion. A hook actuator handle, supported by the riser rod, is connected to the hook control member.

The hook control member is preferably a stiff wire which is interconnected between the hook portion and the hook actuator handle.

The second toilet seat cover lifting means include a horizontally oriented hookable finger which is connected to the toilet seat cover.

The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus 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 manual toilet seat lifter apparatus available to the buying public.

Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus which has a handle portion that is remotely located from the toilet seat itself.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus that provides that the orientation of the handle remains in an upright yet horizontal orientation even as the toilet seat is lifted.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manual toilet seat and toilet bowl cover lifter apparatus which has a single manually-operated handle that can be used for lifting both the toilet seat and the toilet seat cover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

Turning toFIGS. 1-4, there is shown a first embodiment of the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus of the invention generally designated by reference numeral10. In each of the figures, reference numerals are shown that correspond to like reference numerals that designate like elements shown in other figures.

In the first embodiment, a manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10is provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat11and includes first toilet seat hinge means connected to the toilet seat11. Second toilet seat hinge means are received in the first toilet seat hinge means. A riser rod12is connected to the second toilet seat hinge means. A handle14is connected to a top end of the riser rod12, and a counterweight16is connected to a bottom end of the riser rod12.

Preferably, the first toilet seat hinge means include strap hinges18, and the second toilet seat hinge means include a hinge pin20received in the strap hinges18.

Preferably, a lock pin28is connected to the hinge pin20, for preventing the hinge pin20from slipping out from the strap hinges18. A hole can be drilled into the hinge pin20to accommodate reception of the lock pin28.

Preferably, a horizontal transition portion24is connected between the hinge pin20and the riser rod12.

To install the first embodiment of the invention onto a toilet seat11, a pair of strap hinges18, such as shown inFIGS. 1-4, can be attached to the bottom of the toilet seat11using screws26. The pair of strap hinges18are placed in alignment so that they both receive the hinge pin20to form the complete hinge.

The toilet seat11and the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10are shown in a lowered position inFIG. 1with solid lines. InFIG. 3, the lowered position of the toilet seat11and the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10of the invention are shown in broken lines.

If the toilet seat cover13has already been lifted (such as shown in5or6infra, for example) to lift the toilet seat11from the lowered position to the lifted position, as shown in solid lines inFIG. 3, a user (not shown) grasps the handle14and lifts the handle14upward. As this is done, the toilet seat11and manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10move toward the lifted position shown in solid lines and as indicated by the right portion of directional arrow22.

As the toilet seat11and the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10are raised and moved toward the lifted position, the handle14is raised up, and the hinge pin20rotates within the strap hinges18. In addition, the counterweight16helps maintain the orientation of the riser rod12in a vertical orientation as the toilet seat11and the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10are lifted.

It is noted here that the operation of the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus is the same, even if the toilet seat cover13had not already been lifted. In such a case, when the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10is lifted, both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are lifted simultaneously.

To lower the lifted toilet seat11to the lowered position, as indicated by the left portion of the directional arrow22, the user grasps the handle14and pulls the handle toward the front of the toilet bowl15. As this is done, the hinge pin20rotates within the strap hinges18, and the counterweight16helps keep the riser rod12in a vertical orientation. After the toilet seat11is in the lowered or horizontal orientation, the counterweight16causes the riser rod12to remain in the vertical orientation.

With the first embodiment of manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10, as shown inFIGS. 1-4, once the toilet seat cover13has been lifted, the toilet seat cover13cannot be lowered by operation of the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10.

Turning toFIGS. 5-8, a second embodiment of the invention is shown in which a combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter50is provided. The manual toilet seat lifter portion and the manual toilet seat cover lifter portion of the combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter50have common strap hinges18, a common hinge pin20, a common horizontal transition portion24, a common riser rod12, and a common handle14. Generally, reference numerals are shown that correspond to like reference numerals that designate like elements shown in the other figures. In addition, a horizontal extension portion30is connected to the riser rod12at a location on the riser rod12which is opposite to the horizontal transition portion24.

Toilet seat cover lifting means are provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat cover13. The toilet seat cover lifting means include first toilet seat cover lifting means which are connected to the horizontal transition portion24, the horizontal extension portion30, and the riser rod12. In addition, the toilet seat cover lifting means include second toilet seat cover lifting means which are connected to the toilet seat cover13itself.

Preferably, the first toilet seat cover lifting means include a first hinge member32which is connected to the horizontal transition portion24. A second hinge member34is connected to the horizontal extension portion30. A hook portion36is connected to the first hinge member32and the second hinge member34. A hook control member38is connected to the hook portion36. A hook actuator handle42, supported by the riser rod12, is connected to the hook control member38.

The first hinge member32can include a ring portion that fits onto the horizontal transition portion24, and the second hinge member34can include a ring portion that fits onto the horizontal extension portion30. The ring portion of the first hinge member32pivots freely on the horizontal transition portion24, and the ring portion of the second hinge member34pivots freely on the horizontal extension portion30. The two ring portions can be separated from each other by 2 inches. The two ring portions can have a diameter of approximately 0.5 inch. Each of the first hinge member32and the second hinge member34can have a respective arm portion, and the respective arm portions converge into a Y-shape that meets at the hook portion36. The hook portion36can be 3 inches long. The hook control member38is preferably a stiff wire which is interconnected between the hook portion36and the hook actuator handle42.

The second toilet seat cover lifting means include a horizontally oriented hookable finger40which is connected to the toilet seat cover13. The hookable finger40can be made of a solid material, such as wood, and can extend 2 inches beyond the perimeter of the toilet seat cover13so that it can be hooked by the hook portion36when the hook portion36is actuated.

Operation of the combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus50of the invention is considered in relation to three different starting conditions.

With the first starting condition, shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the toilet seat cover13had already been lifted to the lifted state, and the toilet seat11is in the lowered condition. With this first starting condition, operation of the combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus50is the same as the first embodiment of the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10discussed in relation toFIGS. 1-4.

With the second starting condition, not specifically shown in the drawings, both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are in the lowered condition. Then, to raise both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13simultaneously to the lifted condition, the handle14is lifted and both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are pulled up simultaneously.

The third starting condition is shown inFIG. 8in which both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are shown in solid lines, in the lifted condition. From the third starting condition, two different options are contemplated.

With the first option of the third starting condition, shown inFIG. 6, only the toilet seat11is brought to the lowered condition, and the toilet seat cover13is left in the lifted condition. Carrying out this first option is similar to lowering a lifted toilet seat11, with the first embodiment of the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10. That is, the handle14is grasped by a user and pulled away from the lifted toilet seat cover13. When this occurs, the toilet seat11is lowered, and the toilet seat cover13remains in the lifted condition.

With the second option of the third starting condition, both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are to be lowered simultaneously by the combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus50. With reference toFIG. 8, a user grasps both the handle14and squeezes the hook actuator handle42upward. When this is done, the hook actuator handle42pulls up on the hook control member38and, thereby, pulls the hook portion36upward. Then, the user pulls on the handle14and the hook actuator handle42in a direction away from the toilet tank17. As a result, the lifted hook portion36engages the hookable finger40on the toilet seat cover13and pulls the toilet seat cover13along with the toilet seat11as both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are lowered simultaneously, as shown by directional arrow44. Both the toilet seat11and the toilet seat cover13are lowered simultaneously as shown in broken lines inFIG. 8.

If the hook actuator handle42is not squeezed toward the handle14, the hook control member38is not pulled, and the hook portion36is not lifted to engage the hookable finger40on the toilet seat cover13.

Although the specification of dimensions of various components of the invention can be selected as desired, the following specifications may be employed. The riser rod12can be a vertical hollow tube 10 inches long, and 0.5 inch in diameter. The upper end of the riser rod12is connected horizontally to the handle14which can be a 4 inch tube of similar diameter. At about 1 inch from the bottom end of the riser rod12, the horizontal transition portion24can be is connected to the riser rod12. The horizontal transition portion24can be another tube 2.25 inches long. The hinge pin20can be 2.25 inches long and can have a diameter of 0.375 inch. The entire structure just described, can either be molded as a single entity or joined together by connectors.

The strap hinges18can be two 0.375 inch Nylon Cable clamps fitted with screws26that are used to attach the hinge pin20to the under-surface of the toilet seat11. When the hinge pin20is attached to the undersurface of the toilet seat11, the fit will be loose enough to allow the entire assembly to pivot in place.

The counterweight16can be a small weighted container that is firmly attached to the bottom of the riser rod12. The counterweight16serves as a counterbalancing weight keeping the manual toilet seat lifter apparatus10upright at all times. For toilets that lack the proper clearance between the lowered toilet seat11and the top of the toilet bowl15, to accommodate the 0.375 inch lower arm of the toilet seat lifter, two 1.5 inch long by 0.25 inch wide by 0.5 inch high wedges (not shown) can be employed. These wedges can be treated with an adhesive along one of the 1.5 inch surfaces so that they can be used to replace the original factory installed toilet seat supports19.

The components of the manual toilet seat and toilet bowl cover lifter apparatus of the invention and the combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus can be made from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved manual toilet seat lifter apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, and which advantageously has a handle portion that is remotely located from the toilet seat itself. With the invention, a manual toilet seat lifter apparatus provides that the orientation of the handle remains in an upright yet horizontal orientation even as the toilet seat is lifted. With the invention, a combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus is provided which has a single manually-operated handle that can be used for lifting both the toilet seat and the toilet seat cover.

Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use. For example, if desired, a small splatter shield (not shown) or guard, suitably may be attached to the riser rod12extending transversely (horizontally) from the axis thereof and between the handle14and the horizontal transition portion24to further protect the handle14from splash.

Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed 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. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.