Coupling member for toilet seat device with warm-water sprays

To provide a coupling member for fixing a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays on a toilet bowl that is able to prevent a bolt from being screwed too tightly. A coupling member for fixing a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays on a toilet bowl is constituted and characterized by comprising a circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 that is inserted into a mounting hole 14 formed at a rear portion of a toilet bowl 10, a bolt 60 that is inserted into the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 and that has a threaded portion 62 and a stopper portion 64 formed respectively on a lower side and an upper side, and a nut 80 that is provided on the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 and screwed on the aforementioned threaded portion 62 and that moves upward by a rotational operation in one direction from an upper side of the aforementioned bolt 60 so as to enlarge the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 in a circumferential direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a coupling member for a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays, more particularly to a coupling member that detachably couples a toilet bowl with a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known in the art, a coupling member is used to install a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays at a rear portion of a toilet bowl. The coupling member is inserted in a mounting hole formed at the rear portion of the toilet bowl. A wide variety of coupling members are provided as the coupling member. A coupling member for a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays is disclosed in a Patent document No. 1, for example, in which it has a good workability since it is operated only from an upper side of the toilet bowl.

That is, the coupling member for the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays disclosed in the Patent document No. 1 has a circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion that is inserted into a mounting hole formed at a rear portion of a toilet bowl, a bolt that is inserted into the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion and that has a threaded portion along an entire length thereof except a head portion, and a nut that is provided on the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion, screwed on the threaded portion, and moved upward by rotational operation in one direction from an upper side of the bolt so as to enlarge the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion in a circumferential direction. In such coupling member for the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays, if the nut is moved upward by the rotational operation in one direction from the upper side of the bolt, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is enlarged in the circumferential direction. Then, when the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion enlarged in the circumferential direction is strongly and firmly held between the nut and an inner wall of the mounting hole of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays located at the side of the coupling member is indirectly and detachably fixed on the toilet bowl.PATENT DOCUMENT No. 1: Japanese Laid Open Utility Model Publication No. Shou-62-72372

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems that the Invention is to Solve

In the coupling member for the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays disclosed in the aforementioned Patent document No. 1, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is enlarged in the circumferential direction by the nut that is moved upward by the rotational operation in one direction from the upper side of the bolt. Then, when the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion enlarged in the circumferential direction is strongly and firmly held between the nut and the inner wall of the mounting hole of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays located at the side of the coupling member is indirectly and detachably fixed on the toilet bowl. However, in case a number of rotation of the bolt is overmuch, that is, if the bolt is too tightly screwed, there is a possibility that the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is overly compressed and impairs its restorability. In such case, when the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays is installed on the toilet bowl once again after being taken out for cleaning up an entire upper surface of the toilet bowl, there is a possibility that the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is not properly enlarged in the circumferential direction, thereby making it uncertain to fix the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays located at the coupling member side on the toilet bowl.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling member for a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays that does not have such a problem.

Means for Solving the Problem

As described in claim1, a technical measure for solving the aforementioned problem is to constituted “a coupling member comprising a circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion that, when it is extendedly located at an inside of a mounting hole formed on an installation portion at a rear portion of a toilet bowl via a predetermined member at a side of a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays, is used for coupling it to the aforementioned toilet bowl so as to be positioned inside the aforementioned mounting hole, a resin-made washer that is located on the aforementioned predetermined member and on which an upper end portion of the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is secured via a hole formed on the predetermined member, a bolt that is rotatably inserted into the aforementioned resin-made washer and the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion and inserted into the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion and that has a threaded portion formed on a lower side thereof and a stopper portion formed on an upper side of the aforementioned threaded portion adjacent thereto in addition, and a nut that is provided on a lower side of the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion and screwed on the aforementioned threaded portion and that moves in an upward direction by a rotational operation in one direction from an upper side of the bolt so as to enlarge the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion in a radial direction, wherein the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion enlarged in the aforementioned radial direction is elastically engaged with an inner peripheral surface of the aforementioned mounting hole.”

Effects of the Invention

According to the coupling member for the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays defined in claim1, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is enlarged in the radial direction by the nut that is moved upward by the rotational operation in one direction from the upper side of the bolt. When the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion enlarged in the radial direction is strongly and firmly held between the nut and the inner wall of the mounting hole of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays located at the coupling member side is indirectly and detachably fixed on the toilet bowl. However, since an ascending amount of the nut is regulated by the stopper portion, there is caused no problem that the bolt is excessively rotated or the bolt is too tightly screwed. Therefore, there is no problem that the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is overly compressed to have its restorability impaired.

EXPLANATION OF CODES

BEST MODE FOR PRACTISING THE INVENTION

An example of an embodiment of the invention is described hereunder referring to the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 1, a plate30is fixed on an installation portion12at a rear portion of a toilet bowl10by a coupling member20. A bottom portion44of a case40of a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays40is detachably and slidably joined to the plate30. That is, the bottom portion44of the case42and the plate30are fitted and connected with each other in a concavo-convex manner by a mechanism not shown in the figure. The bottom portion44of the case42and the plate30are normally locked on each other so as to be inseparable and integral with each other. However, in case the lock is released, the bottom portion44of the case42and the plate30are made into a relatively movable state. Then, if the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays40is pulled out as a whole to a front side of the toilet bowl10(rightward direction inFIG. 1), the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays40is detached from the toilet bowl10. As a result, a surface of the toilet bowl10can be cleaned up.

As shown inFIG. 2, the coupling member20has a bolt60that rotatably goes through a resin-made washer50. A threaded portion62and a stopper portion64are formed on each of a lower side and an upper side of the bolt60, respectively. A tube portion52is integrally formed on the lower side of the resin-made washer50. An upper end of a circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70, which accommodates the bolt60in a loose manner therein, is fitted on an outside of the tube portion52. A nut80that is screwed and moved on the threaded portion62of the bolt60is fixed at an inside of a lower end portion of the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70. Thus, the coupling member20constitutes an assembled body (assembly) that includes the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70, the resin-made washer50on which the upper end portion of the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70is secured, the bolt60that is rotatably inserted into the resin-made washer50and the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70and that has the threaded portion62and the stopper portion64at the lower side and the upper side, respectively, and the nut80that is provided at the lower side of the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70and screwed on the threaded portion62and that moves in an upward direction by an rotational operation in one direction from the upper side of the bolt60so as to enlarge the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70in a radial direction. A diameter of the stopper portion64is larger than a diameter of the threaded portion62. A boundary between the both members has a stepped structure.

Therefore, thoughFIG. 2shows a single item of the assembled body of the coupling member20, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70bulges out in a radially outside direction in this state, even when the nut80is screwed onto the lowest portion of the threaded portion62of the bolt60.

The coupling member20constituted as such assembled body secures the plate30on the installation portion12at the rear portion of the toilet bowl10by the following procedure. Specifically, first, as shown inFIG. 3, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70of the coupling member20as a bolt assembled body is inserted into a hole14of the installation portion12of the toilet bowl10via a hole32of the plate30. Then, the resin-made washer50is engaged with the plate30. Thus, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70and the bolt60located therein become such a state as if they hang from the plate30. In this state, the bolt60is rotated in one direction. Then, the nut80is moved upward along the threaded portion62until it is engaged with the stopper portion64, since the threaded portion62rotating in the one direction is screwed into the nut80that is secured at the inside of the lower end portion as a free end side of the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70having the upper end portion in a fixed state.

Therefore, if the nut80fixed at the inside of the lower end portion as the free end side of the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70having the upper end portion in the fixed state moves upward, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70is enlarged in the radial direction. Then, when the nut80is completely moved upward and engaged with the stopper portion64, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70is enlarged in the radial direction to a considerable amount, Thereby, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70is elastically engaged with the inner wall of the hole14of the installation portion12of the toilet bowl10or compresses it. This elastically touched engagement or compression acts as a frictional force to block the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70from moving in a releasing direction, thereby fixing the plate30, which is integrated into the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays40, on the toilet bowl10.

That is, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70is enlarged in the radial direction by the nut80that moves in the upward direction by the rotational operation in one direction from the upper side of the bolt60. Then, when the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70thus enlarged in the radial direction is strongly and firmly held between the nut80and the inner wall of the mounting hole14of the toilet bowl10, the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays40located at the side of the coupling member20is to be indirectly and detachably fixed on the toilet bowl10. Therefore, since an ascending amount of the nut80is regulated by the stopper portion62that is formed into the diameter larger than the threaded portion62, there is caused no problem that the bolt60is excessively rotated or the bolt60is too tightly screwed. Therefore, there is no problem that the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion70is overly compressed to have its restorability impaired. It is possible to regulate an upwardly moving amount of the nut80by another means. For example, though not shown in the figure, a plurality of projections or rings existing extendedly in a circumferential direction may be provided on an uppermost end portion of the threaded portion62so as to give them a function as a stopper. In this case, the bolt60will have a threaded portion at a lower side and a straight portion at an upper side, while the straight portion having the same diameter as the threaded portion. Moreover, it is possible to form a threaded portion along an entire length of the bolt60(except a head portion), while providing the aforementioned projections or the rings on appropriate positions.

In a state shown inFIG. 3, a diameter of the hole32of the plate30allows the coupling member20as a single assembly to pass through it, while allowing the coupling member20to freely move after the passing. That is, the coupling member20is loosely inserted into the hole32of the plate30. This is to enable fine adjustment of a relative positional relationship between the plate30and the installation portion12of the toilet bowl10.