Abstract:
A toilet set can be removably attached to a toilet fixture using a system having an attachment body and a post with laterally mateable portions. The post has a rod portion extendable through a mounting hole of the toilet fixture and a post engagement portion. The attachment body has a pivot portion, a movable closure, and a receiving opening. The post engagement portion is defined by radially oriented features, such as disc or ring-shaped portions of different diameters. A portion of the periphery of the receiving opening has features with contours inversely shaped with respect to the features of the post engagement portion so that the attachment body engagement portion is laterally mateable with the post engagement portion. The closure is movable between a closed position preventing disengagement of the attachment body and the post and an open position enabling disengagement of the attachment body from the post.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    A variety of systems that facilitate temporary detachment of a toilet seat from a toilet fixture to facilitate cleaning are known. The time-honored attachment system, which comprises two threaded bolts extending from the toilet seat hinge assembly through holes in the upper rim portion of the toilet fixture, is inconvenient because nuts must be removed from the ends of the threaded bolts below the lower rim portion to detach the toilet seat. The known systems that facilitate temporary detachment suffer from various deficiencies. Some require a person to manipulate multiple parts to detach the toilet seat. Others do not retain the toilet seat with sufficient strength to prevent inadvertent detachment. Still others are difficult or uneconomical to manufacture. 
         [0002]    It would be desirable to provide a system that facilitates temporary detachment of a toilet seat from a toilet fixture that is easier to use, less prone to inadvertent detachment than known systems, and more economical to manufacture. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for removably attaching a toilet seat to a toilet fixture. The attachment system comprises a post that is attachable to the toilet fixture and an attachment body that engages the post and is attachable to the toilet seat. 
         [0004]    In an exemplary embodiment, the post has a post axis, a rod portion extendable through a mounting hole of the toilet fixture, and a post engagement portion oriented radially to the post axis. The attachment body has a pivot portion with a pivot axis, a receiving opening with a receiving opening axis perpendicular to the pivot axis, and a movable closure. A periphery of the receiving opening has an attachment body engagement portion oriented radially to the receiving opening axis and mateable with the post engagement portion from a lateral direction with respect to the receiving opening axis and the post axis when the post engagement portion is received in the receiving opening. The closure is movable between a closed position in which the attachment body engagement portion and the post engagement portion are prevented from disengaging each other and an open position in which the attachment body engagement portion and the post engagement portion can be disengaged from each other. 
         [0005]    In the exemplary embodiment, a toilet seat assembly comprising a toilet seat hingedly coupled to the pivot portion of the attachment body can be attached to a toilet fixture in the following manner The rod portion of the post is first extended through a mounting hole of the toilet fixture while a post engagement portion of the post remains above (e.g., resting on) the surface of the toilet fixture. The rod portion is then secured in the mounting hole of the toilet fixture. The post engagement portion of the post is guided into the receiving opening while placing the toilet seat on top of the toilet fixture. The toilet seat assembly can then be moved laterally with respect to the receiving opening axis until an attachment body engagement portion mates with the post engagement portion. After the attachment body engagement portion mates with the post engagement portion, the closure can be moved from the open position to the closed position. 
         [0006]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or become apparent to one of skill in the art to which the invention relates upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages are encompassed by this description and the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The elements shown in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Also, in the figures like reference numerals designate corresponding elements throughout the different views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a toilet seat assembly removably attached to a toilet fixture, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an attachment body and a post of the toilet seat assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a post of the toilet seat assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the rim of the toilet fixture of  FIG. 1 , showing the post seated in a hole therein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a portion of the top of the bowl of the toilet fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the toilet seat assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the toilet seat assembly being lowered onto the toilet fixture. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the toilet seat assembly being moved in a lateral direction to engage mating features of the attachment bodies and posts. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view, showing the toilet seat assembly being moved in a lateral direction to engage mating features of the attachment bodies and posts. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of one of the attachment bodies of the toilet seat assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the toilet seat assembly after being moved in a lateral direction to engage mating features of the attachment bodies and posts but before the closure is moved to the closed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is similar to  FIG. 10 , showing after being moved in a lateral direction to engage mating features of the attachment bodies and posts but before the closure is moved to the closed position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken on line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one of the attachment bodies of the toilet set assembly of  FIG. 1 , indicating the movement of the closure to the closed position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 13 , showing the closure in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in an illustrative or exemplary embodiment of the invention, a toilet seat assembly  10  can be attached in a removable manner to a toilet fixture  12 . Toilet fixture  12  is of a conventional type with which persons skilled in the art are familiar, defined by the combination of a bowl  14  and a tank  16  (commonly made of porcelain or a similar ceramic material, though other materials are known) and is therefore not described herein in further detail. Toilet seat assembly  10  comprises a seat-and-lid assembly  18  and a pair of identical attachment bodies  26 . But for being connected by a hinge  22  to attachment body  26 , seat-and-lid assembly  18  is of a conventional type with which persons skilled in the art are familiar and is therefore not described herein. For purposes of brevity, toilet seat assembly  10  or other such assembly that includes a seat, hinge, and means for hingedly attaching the seat to a toilet fixture may also be referred to simply as a “toilet seat.” 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each of two attachment systems  20  comprises a post  24  and one of attachment bodies  26 . In the exemplary embodiment, attachment body  26  is unitarily formed of a single piece of molded plastic. Such unitary or one-piece construction is economical to manufacture and convenient to use. However, in other embodiments such an attachment body can comprise more than one part. 
         [0025]    Attachment body  26  comprises a movable closure  28 , a base portion  30 , and a pivot portion  32  having a pivot axis  33 . In the exemplary embodiment pivot portion  32  comprises a block-like member having a bore  34  therethrough for receiving a hinge pin (not shown) of hinge  22  ( FIG. 1 ) that is rotatable within bore  34 . However, in other embodiments pivot portion  32  can have any other suitable structure. For example, in another embodiment (not shown), such a pivot portion can comprise an inverse arrangement from that of the illustrated embodiment, in which hinge pins extending from the pivot portion of the attachment body in fixed relation thereto are rotatable within bores in another portion of the hinge. 
         [0026]    Closure  28  is shown in the open position shown in  FIG. 2  and is movable to a closed position as described below. Closure  28  rotates or swings in a hinged manner on a living hinge  36  formed in the plastic joining closure  28  to base portion  30 . Closure  32  has curved projections  38  and a latching tab  39  extending from it. 
         [0027]    Attachment body  26  has a receiving opening  40  extending through base portion  30  between upper and lower sides of base portion  30 . A direction normal to receiving opening  40  can be defined by a receiving opening axis  42 . The periphery of receiving opening  40  has a surface contour or otherwise has features that project inwardly from the walls of receiving opening  40  a substantially radial direction with respect to receiving opening axis  42  in a manner that defines an attachment body engagement portion. (The radial direction is also referred to herein as a lateral direction in the context of relative movement of elements.) In the exemplary embodiment, the attachment body engagement portion is defined by three arc-shaped regions  44 ,  46  and  48  that project (substantially radially) inwardly from the periphery of receiving opening  40  to different extents. Arc-shaped region  48 , which is disposed between arc-shaped regions  44  and  46 , projects inwardly to a greater extent than arc-shaped regions  44  and  46 . Although in the exemplary embodiment the surface contour that defines the attachment body engagement portion is defined by arc-shaped regions  44 ,  46  and  46 , in other embodiments the surface contour that defines the attachment body engagement portion can be defined by any other suitable features that project inwardly from the periphery of receiving opening  40 . 
         [0028]    Post  24  comprises a post engagement portion  50  and a threaded rod portion  52 . Threaded rod portion  52  can be of a type commonly referred to as a carriage bolt and extends through a bore in post engagement portion  50  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Threaded rod portion  52  similarly extends through an elastomeric bushing  54 . Post engagement portion  50  has a surface contour or otherwise has features that project outwardly or in a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis  56  in a manner that defines a post engagement portion. In the exemplary embodiment, the post engagement portion is a barrel-shaped member defined by a lower barrel portion  58 , an upper barrel portion  60 , and a middle barrel portion  62 . Lower and upper barrel portions  58  and  60  have diameters that are greater than the diameter of middle barrel portion  62 , which is disposed between lower and upper barrel portions  58  and  60 . Note that the contour of post engagement portion  50  that is defined by barrel portions  58 - 62  inversely matches the contour of the attachment body engagement portion that is defined by arc-shaped regions  44 - 48 . The matching contours of the attachment body engagement portion and post engagement portion  50  promote the mating of the attachment body engagement portion and post engagement portion  50  described below. 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a method of attaching toilet seat assembly  10  to toilet fixture  12  ( FIG. 1 ) can begin with extending an end of threaded rod portion  52  of post  24  through a mounting hole  64  in the rim of bowl  14  until post engagement portion  50  rests on the surface of the rim. A nut  66  can then be threaded onto the end of threaded rod portion  52  below the rim and tightened to secure post  24 . 
         [0030]    In positioning post  24  in the above-described manner, elastomeric bushing  54  is inserted into mounting hole  64 . The interior walls of mounting hole  64  are typically somewhat irregularly shaped or rough rather than smoothly cylindrical because they are typically molded into the porcelain in an imprecise manner As elastomeric bushing  54  has a diameter greater than that of mounting hole  64 , elastomeric bushing  54  is resiliently compressed by the interior walls of mounting hole  64  and, accordingly, exerts a resilient expansion force. By exerting a resilient expansion force against the irregularly shaped walls of mounting hole  64 , elastomeric bushing  54  can inhibit movement of post  24  within mounting hole  64 . 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in another step of the attachment method, toilet seat assembly  10  ( FIG. 6 ), comprising seat-and-lid assembly  18  and the pair of attachment bodies  26 , can be positioned over toilet bowl  14 . Then, toilet seat assembly  10  can be lowered (in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 7 ) on top of toilet bowl  14  until post engagement portions  50 , which rest on the rim of toilet bowl  14 , are received within the respective receiving openings  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a sub-region  68  or receiving region within receiving opening  40  has a diameter large enough that post engagement portion  50  can be received within sub-region  68  without interference. That is, receiving opening  50  has no lateral dimension (i.e., a dimension extending in a direction that is radial or perpendicular to receiving opening axis  42 ) smaller than a maximum radial dimension of post engagement portion  50 . 
         [0032]    Once post engagement portions  50  are received in the above-described manner within the respective receiving openings  40 , pulling or otherwise moving toilet seat assembly  10  in the direction of the arrows shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  mates the attachment body engagement portion of receiving opening  40  with post engagement portion  50 . Attachment body  20  and post  24  are shown in this mated position in  FIGS. 11-13 . 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 13 , in this mated position arc-shaped region  48  of the attachment body engagement portion nests between lower and upper barrel portions  58  and  60  of post engagement portion  50  and abuts middle barrel portion  62 , while lower and upper barrel portions  58  and  60  respectively abut arc-shaped regions  44  and  46 . Also, in this mated position post engagement portion  50  occupies a second sub-region  70  ( FIG. 8 ) within receiving opening  40 , having previously occupied the first sub-region  68  before mating occurred (i.e., before toilet seat assembly  10  was moved). Note that the first and second sub-regions  68  and  70  overlap. The portion of receiving opening  40  vacated by post engagement portion  50  as a result of the mating defines a third sub-region  72 . Third sub-region  72  can alternatively be defined as receiving opening  40  minus second sub-region  70 . Although in the exemplary embodiment sub-regions  68  and  70  have circular shapes because receiving opening  40  has a shape resembling a rectangle with semicircular ends, in other embodiments a receiving opening and its sub-regions that are defined by the movement of the post engagement portion can have any other suitable shapes. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , to complete the method of attaching toilet seat assembly  10  to toilet fixture  12 , closure  28  can be swung closed in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 14 . Closure  28  swings closed on hinge  36  to cap post engagement portion  50 . The broken line in  FIG. 14  indicates the arcuate path that latching tab  39  follows as closure  28  is swung to the closed position. As latching tab  39  reaches the end of the arcuate path ( FIG. 14 ), it enters the above-referenced third sub-region  72  defined by the void or space remaining between post engagement portion  50  and the periphery of receiving opening  40 . Curved projections  38  also enter this void or space that defines sub-region  72 , and by occupying the space thereby block lateral movement of post engagement portion  50  relative to attachment body  26 . Latching tab  39  has a hooked tip that latches the underside of base  30  and retains closure  28  in the closed position. 
         [0035]    While one or more embodiments of the invention have been described as illustrative of or examples of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not to be limited by such embodiments but rather is determined by the appended claims.