Abstract:
An apparatus for opening and closing a toilet seat and lid. The apparatus comprises a clamp and a handle which attaches to a toilet lid. A user may open and close a toilet seat and/or lid by grasping the handle, in lieu of directly touching the toilet seat or lid. In preferred embodiments, the clamp contains a wireless controlled lever and motion detector which senses when a user moves away from the toilet, and automatically closes the toilet seat and or lid.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to devices used to open and close toilet seats and lids without a user having to directly touch the toilet. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Inventions related to operating commode seats and lids date back to the 1930&#39;s. The problem inventors in this field sought to solve heretofore is very basic: spare mankind from the unsanitary ritual of having to directly touch a soiled commode. In attempting to solve this problem inventors seemed to spare neither expense nor complexity. The most complicated and expensive remedies are the so called automatic commode seats and lids. This line of devices included specially made commodes with hydraulic, pneumatic, or even hard-wire electrical controls. These solutions proved to be quite impractical. The horsepower of the motors or driving components required to pivotally open and lower a commode seat and lid emitted a disturbing level of noise for residential use. Installation of such automatic appurtenances usually required construction or replacement of conventional commodes. Homeowners would rather deal with an objectionable toilet rather than incur the cost of construction or toilet replacement. The so called automatic toilets proved too costly for its worth. 
     Despite the vast number and types of inventions in this field, none have reached any notable level of consumer satisfaction. Although literally thousands of these types of inventions are available to the public, it is still rare to find one in bathrooms, especially residential bathrooms. That is not to say that consumers do not crave for a solution to the age old problem. In deed, the enormous attention inventors have devoted to this problem is testament that a need for a solution exists. And the fact that none of the enumerable patented inventions devoted to the problem have achieved commercial success leads to the inescapable conclusion: thus far inventors have fallen short of consumer demand for a practical solution. Based on prior attempts and failures to meet consumer demand, it seems clear that a commercially viable solution would have to be simple and inexpensive. 
     Therefore, objects of the present invention are to devise a very simple and inexpensive means to insulate people from having to touch commodes (at least with their hands): simple to make, simple to use, and simple to install. Simple in these regards do not always translate into inexpensive to purchase at retail level. For example, computers are simpler than ever to use. Although cheaper than ever to buy, a descent one still costs upwards of one thousand dollars, which is not exactly an inexpensive consumer purchase from the neighborhood mega store. An object of this invention is to devise an apparatus, the cost of which is not out of range with typical bathroom accessories. It seems plausible that a consumer would invest a typical expense of a typical bathroom accessory for a novel easy to install device purported to address a typical bathroom problem. In light of the failures of the prior art to meet the public need in this regard, the overarching object of the present invention is to develop a solution that will achieve commercial success. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for opening and closing a toilet seat and lid. The apparatus comprises a clamp and a handle pivotally connected and hinged about the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical shaped shaft or spine between the handle and the clamp. The spine has longitudinal and transverse axes. The spine comprises interconnected knuckles. A knuckle is a cylindrical shaft to which one of the ends of a planar leaf is attached. To form the spine, the interconnected knuckles are arranged end-to-end along their longitudinal axes, the same way a conventional door hinge has interconnected cylindrical shafts (in which a pin is inserted to hold the knuckles together). 
     The clamp jaws and handle connection is virtually fixed. However, squeezing the handle slightly opens the free ends of the clamp jaws. The pivotal angle between the clamp jaws inside surfaces is essentially 90°. The lower jaw has a detent on the inside surface free end. The clamp attaches to a toilet seat and lid, by attaching the clamp upper jaw inside surface to a toilet lid. The lower jaw inside surface contacts the sides of the toilet seat and lid when the lid and seat are down. In this position, the detent is sized and arranged to restrain the toilet seat from separating from the lid. A user lifting the handle without squeezing the handle lifts the toilet seat and lid. Whereas, a user lifting the handle while squeezing the handle causes the detent to release the toilet seat, resulting in the clamp lifting only the toilet lid. In using the apparatus in this manner, the user never directly touches the toilet seat or lid. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent upon a reading of the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments of the invention, the appended claims and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the appended drawings. In the course of the following detailed description, reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  Elevation of clamp attached to Toilet Seat and Lid; 
         FIG. 1B  Elevation of clamp attached to Toilet Lid; 
         FIG. 1C  Elevation of clamp with Lever attached to Toilet Seat Lid; 
         FIG. 2  Exploded View of Clamp with Motor and Lever; 
         FIG. 3  Side View of Clamp with Motor and Lever; 
         FIG. 4  Side View of Clamp with Motor, Lever, and Wireless Controller; 
         FIG. 5 ; Side View of Clamp with Motor, Lever released by Detent, and Wireless Controller 
         FIG. 6  Elevation of Clamp with Motion Detector Attached to Toilet Seat and Lid; 
         FIG. 7  Elevation of Clamp with Motion Detector Attached to Toilet Seat and Lid in Motion; 
         FIG. 8  Elevation of Clamp with Motion Detector Attached to Toilet Seat and Lid, in Motion and Lever Released from Detent. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is made to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2 . The present invention is an apparatus for opening and closing a toilet seat  21  and toilet lid  22 . A preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises a clamp  23 , a spring  35 , a motor  44 , first pin  40 , second pin  39 , and a wireless controller  46 , as in  FIG. 4 . These components are interconnected enabling a user  47  (as in  FIG. 7 ) to manually lift the toilet seat  21  and/or toilet lid  22  with the apparatus, and when the toilet seat  21  and/or toilet lid  22  is/are up with the apparatus connected to the toilet lid  22 , the apparatus is capable of closing the toilet seat  21  and/or toilet lid  22  automatically. 
     The clamp  23 , comprises a first rectangular plate  25 , a second rectangular plate  24 , and third rectangular plate  27 ; a first knuckle  38 , a second knuckle  28 , and third knuckle  37 , and a handle  26 . 
     Each plate  24 ,  25 ,  27  has inside and outside plate surfaces; and first  50 , second  51 , third  52 , and forth  53  plate edges. The first plate  25  inside surface has ridges  29  across the first plate  25  inside surface; a detent  45  along the first plate  25  second edge  51  facing the first plate  25  inside surface. The second plate  24  has a slot  33  in the second plate  24  third edge  52 . The third plate  27  has a slot  36  in the third plate  27  third edge  52 . 
     Each knuckle  27 ,  37 ,  38  comprises hollow and cylindrical configurations (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), interior and exterior knuckle surfaces, longitudinal and transverse knuckle axes, and first and second opposing circular knuckle edges. The second knuckle  28  has longitudinal upper and lower edges forming a longitudinal gap  31  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) in the second knuckle  28 . The second knuckle  28  lower edge having a detent  32  (as in  FIG. 2 ) on the second knuckle  28  exterior surface. The second knuckle  28  lower edge has a loop  30  protruding on the second knuckle  28  inside surface opposite the detent  32  on the second knuckle  28  outside surface. 
     The first plate  25  fourth edge  53  and second plate  24  fourth edge  53  are fixedly connected to the second knuckle  28  exterior surface along the second knuckle  28  longitudinal axis below the second knuckle  28  detent  32 . The inside surfaces of both the first and second plates  24 ,  25  are facing and are essentially perpendicular to each other. The third plate  27  fourth edge  53  is fixedly connected to the first and third knuckles&#39;  37 ,  38  exterior surfaces along their longitudinal axes. The first and third knuckles  37 ,  38  are spaced apart along the third plate  27  fourth edge  53 . 
     The first and third knuckles  37 ,  38  are detachably and rotatably attached to the second knuckle  28  aligning their longitudinal axes forming a hinge and a hinge axis about which the third plate  27  rotates, arranged so that the third plate  27  is lodged under the second knuckle detent  32  preventing counter clockwise rotation of the third plate  27 ; and arranged so that the third plate  27  is essentially parallel to the second plate  24 . 
     The spring  35  comprises a substantially circular middle section, first and second substantially straight edges. The spring  35  is biased against the joining of the first and second spring edges. The spring circular middle section is inserted in the slot  34  on the third knuckle second edge (as in  FIG. 2 ). The first spring edge is inserted inside the slot  36  on the third plate fourth edge (as in  FIG. 2 ). The second spring edge is inserted in the slot  33  in the second plate  24  third edge  52 . The spring  35  so inserted and being biased as such, the third plate  27  would rotate about the hinge axis but for the second knuckle detent  32  restraining the third plate  27  (as in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The motor  44  comprises a substantially piston configuration sized to fit inside the first knuckle (as in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 ). The motor  44  has a motor protruding drive shaft  43 . The first pin  40  comprises a cylindrical section  42  and a boot section  41  (as in  FIG. 2 ). The boot section  41  has an aperture (as in  FIG. 2 ). The second pin  39  has first and second ends (as in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The motor  44  is inserted inside the first knuckle first edge with the motor drive shaft  43  pointing inside the second knuckle  28  (as in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 ). The first pin cylindrical section  42  is inserted over the motor drive shaft  43 . The second pin  39  first end is inserted in the first pin  40  boot aperture (as in  FIG. 2 ). The second pin  39  second end is inserted in the loop  30  on the second knuckle  28  inside surface (as in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Upon activating the motor  44 , the motor shaft  43  rotates counter clockwise, turning the first pin  40  cylindrical section  42  counter clockwise, turning the boot  41  aperture counter clockwise, pulling the second pin  39  first end, which pulls the second pin  39  second end, which pulls the loop  30  on the second knuckle  28  lower edge toward the inside of the second knuckle  28 , which pulls the second knuckle detent  32  toward the second knuckle  39  inside surface releasing the third plate  27  (as in  FIG. 5 ). As such, the biased spring  35  causes the third plate to rotate about the hinge axis (as in  FIG. 5 ), wherein the third plate  27  second edge  51  moves away from the second plate  24  second edge  51  (as in  FIG. 5 ). 
     The handle  26  is attached to the second knuckle  28  and the first plate  25 , wherein a person squeezing the handle  26  causes the first plate  25  second edge  51  to pivot clockwise about the hinge axis, causing the first plate  25  second edge  51  and first plate detent  45  to move away from second plate  24  second edge  51  (as in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The second plate  24  inside surface is attached to a toilet lid  22  (as in  FIG. 1A ). When the toilet seat  21  and toilet lid  22  are down with the second plate  24  attached to the toilet lid  22 , the detent  45  on the first plate second edge  51  restrains the toilet seat bottom (as in  FIG. 1A ); such that when a person lifts the handle  26  without squeezing the handle  26 , both the toilet seat  21  and toilet lid  22  rises. Whereas when a person lifts the handle  26  while squeezing the handle  26 , only the toilet lid  22  rises (as in  FIG. 1B ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another preferred embodiment comprises a clamp  23  and a handle  26  pivotally connected and hinged about the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical shaped spine  37  (or shaft) between the handle  26  and the clamp  23 . The spine  37  has longitudinal and transverse axes. The spine  37  comprises interconnected knuckles. The clamp  23  jaws and handle  26  connection is virtually fixed. However, squeezing the handle  26  slightly opens the free ends  51  of the clamp  23  jaws. The pivotal angle between the clamp jaw inside surfaces is essentially 90°. The lower jaw  25  has a detent  45  on the inside surface free end. The clamp  23  attaches to a toilet seat and lid, by attaching the clamp  23  upper jaw  24  inside surface to a toilet lid. The lower jaw  25  inside surface contacts the sides of the toilet seat and lid when the lid and seat are down. In this position, the detent  45  is sized and arranged to restrain the toilet seat from separating from the lid. 
     The lower jaw  25  contains flexible ridges  29  across the inside surface; these ridges  29  come in contact with the side of the toilet seat when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat; but these ridges  29  do not prevent the detent  45  from restraining the toilet seat; wherein the toilet seat down and the lid up with the upper jaw  24  attached to the lid, and a user pulling the handle  26  such that the toilet lid essentially closes by gravity, the ridges  29  come in contact with the toilet seat side, brushing into the toilet seat side, each ridge  29  impacting against the toilet seat side, each ridge  29  slightly absorbing some of the impact of the toilet lid slamming on top of the toilet seat, whereby the ridges  29  dampen the sound of the free falling toilet lid slamming onto the toilet seat. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , the flexible ridges  29  could comprise various forms. For example the flexible ridges  29  could comprise slender flexible spikes, having a spike base end, a spike free end, a spike longitudinal axis, and a spike transverse diameter approximately equal to the diameter of a toothpick; the spike base end being attached to the lower jaw  25  inside surface; along the spike longitudinal axis, the spike diameters are fatter at the spike base end, and gradually decreases in diameter toward the spike free end; the length of the spikes are sized such that the spike free ends brush against the side of the toilet seat when the clamp  23  upper jaw  24  is attached to the toilet lid. 
     However, still referring to  FIG. 5 , the flexible ridges  29  could also comprise protruding strips of flexible material; each strip having a base end and protruding free end; each base end having a base width and length; each strip base end width is thicker than each strip free end; each strip base length is aligned essentially parallel to the spine  37  longitudinal axis; the strips are sized such that the strip free end brushes against the side of the toilet seat when the upper jaw  24  is attached to the toilet lid. 
     The upper jaw  24 , as in  FIG. 1A , may be attached to a toilet lid using any conventional method. However, the upper jaw  24  may also be built into a toilet lid. A toilet seat and lid with a built in clamp  23  could be sold as a unit. Homeowners could simply purchase this unit at a retail home furnishings store. Installation would be a breeze. Simply unscrew the conventional toilet seat-lid unit, and screw-in the toilet seat and lid with the built in clamp (not shown). 
     Again referring to  FIG. 5 , also referring to  FIGS. 1C and 8 , the clamp  23  could contain a mechanism to automatically close the toilet seat and lid. To this end a preferred embodiment contains a lever  27 . The spine  37  contains a detent  32 . The lever  27  has a pivotal end and a free end, an inside surface and outside surface. The lever  27  is pivotally connected to the spine  37  about the spine  37  longitudinal axis. The lever  27  is situated between the handle  26  and the upper jaw  24  outside surface. When a user lifts the toilet lid to the point where the toilet lid&#39;s weight tilts the toilet lid against the toilet tank, as in  FIG. 1B , the weight of the toilet lid forces the lever  27  free end into the toilet tank causing the lever  27  to rotate toward the upper jaw  24  outside surface until the spine detent  32  restrains the lever  27 . When the spine detent  32  releases the lever  27 , the lever  27  free end swings about the lever  27  pivotal end, and the lever  27  free end slams into the toilet tank with such force that the impact forces the toilet lid to move away from the tank until gravity causes the weight of the toilet lid to close, as in  FIG. 8 . 
     In stead of the motor  44  controlling the spine detent  32 , as described above; the spine detent  32  could contain a spring actuator (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, the spring actuator contains a timer (not shown). After a user lifts the toilet lid causing the spine detent  32  to restrain the lever  24  (as stated), after a preset period of time, the timer actuates the spring actuator causing the spine detent  32  to release the lever  24 . 
     However, the best mode utilizes a miniature battery operated motor  44  (which is connected to the spine detent  32  as described above) and Wireless technology to restrain and release spine detent  32 . Referring now to  FIGS. 4 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8 , a preferred embodiment contains a wireless controller  46  mounted on the lower jaw  25 . The wireless controller  46  has a sensor  48 . The sensor  48  detects motion. However, under another preferred embodiment, the sensor  48  detects motion of a person near the toilet lid, as in  FIG. 6 , and when such person moves away from the toilet lid, as in  FIG. 7 . A certain period of time after the person moves away from the toilet lid, the wireless controller  46  causes the spine detent  32  to release the lever  27 , as in  FIG. 8 . The best mode contains a battery operated wireless controller  46 , hard wired to a battery operated motor  44 . The Motor  44  is connected to the spine detent  39 , as described above. Under the best mode, upon a certain period of time after a person moved away from the toilet lid, the wireless controller  46  activates the motor, which causes the spine detent  32  to release the lever  27 , as described above and depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
     Under the best mode the wireless controller  46  is also activated by a remote control (not shown). The remote control has a button. The wireless sensor  48  detects when a user presses the button, and the sensor activates the wireless controller  46 , which activates the motor  44  causing the spine detent  32  to release the lever  27 , as described above. Therefore, if the toilet seat and/or lid was left up and if a person wanted to use the toilet and not wait for the preset period of time to elapse, the person could simply press the remote control button to activate, which would ultimately close the toilet seat lid automatically. 
     While the invention has been disclosed in preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.