Abstract:
A mounting assembly is disclosed for mounting a toilet seat and/or cover in a releasable fashion to the rear of a toilet bowl base. The assembly includes a fastener permanently affixed to the toilet base on which is mounted a cross shaped mount. The mount is engaged by deflectable arms extending from a hinge base. The arms flex outward slightly during mounting and dismounting, where mounting and dismounting can be achieved by a horizontal sliding motion. A hinged cap snaps onto the pair of arms to cover the fastener and prevent deflection of the arms and thus separation of the base member from the fastener.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/816,359, filed Apr. 1, 2004.  
       STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to mounting toilet seats and/or covers to the top of toilet bowls. More particularly, it relates to assemblies that permit most of the assembly parts to be readily removed from the toilet to facilitate cleaning.  
         [0004]     Typically, toilet seats and covers are sold pre-assembled together along a hinge assembly. The assembly is then affixed via hinge posts to a rearward extension of the toilet base behind the bowl. In such constructions the posts are typically bolted to the rearward extension using a bolt-like fastener that extends down through the extension. A nut threads onto the fastener from underneath the extension to clamp the assembly to the extension.  
         [0005]     These assemblies are intended to be essentially permanently affixed to the toilet base extension, particularly given that assembly and removal requires the application of tooling at the underside of the extension. This can create a problem because the area around such hinge posts (behind and under the cover and seat) can be difficult to clean thoroughly. In this regard, urine and other contaminants can collect around the hinge posts, with the subsequent development of an undesirable appearance or smell, or unsanitary conditions.  
         [0006]     As such, there have been a number of attempts to develop toilet seat hinge assemblies where the seat and cover and associated pivot pins can be removed from the toilet relatively easily, and then (after cleaning) be relatively easily reconnected. See e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,159,548; 4,326,307; 4,965,889; 5,933,875; and 6,070,295, British publication GB 2,280,219; and Japanese publication JP 9-84724.  
         [0007]     These systems are easier to clean because they leave only small base posts essentially permanently affixed to the toilet base, while providing readily releasable subassemblies that can removably link up with these posts. However, these prior art systems have a variety of deficiencies.  
         [0008]     For example, some rely on a relatively weak connection between the subassembly and base posts such that the subassembly can accidentally be knocked off the posts. Others rely on relatively weak parts which may have a high incidence of breakage over prolonged use. Still others require relatively complex multi-part assemblies, which increase the cost of production and may require some consumer training. Still other assemblies require tools for the disassembly for cleaning purposes. Yet others require a consumer to touch portions of the assembly that may themselves be contaminated.  
         [0009]     Hence, it can be seen that a need still exists for an improved toilet seat mounting assembly, particularly one which facilitates removal of the seat and cover for cleaning purposes.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention provides a mounting assembly for connecting a covering element (e.g., a toilet seat, a toilet cover, or a toilet seat/cover combination) to a toilet base. The preferred mounting location is a horizontal upwardly facing surface of a rearward extension of the toilet base behind the bowl.  
         [0011]     One aspect of the invention provides an assembly for mounting a cover to a toilet base. The assembly has a fastener extendable through a rear extension of the toilet base, a base member adapted to support the cover in pivotal fashion, the base member having an essentially horizontally extending deflectable extension arm defining in part an opening for receiving the fastener, and a mount disposed about the fastener and having a portion extendable over the extension arm. The base member can be connected to and disconnected from the fastener by deflection of the extension arm so that the base member can be removably attached to the toilet base.  
         [0012]     In preferred forms the mount is generally cross-shaped in top view, a forward cross arm thereof has an undercut portion, and the base member has two such extension arms arranged spaced apart on opposed sides of the opening, whereby arcuate portions of the arms can hug arcuate portions of the mount.  
         [0013]     In other preferred forms there is also a cap capable of restricting outward deflection of the extension arm when the cap is in a closed position. The cover can be hinged to the base member, such as by being linked to the base member via a living hinge. Preferably, the fastener is a bolt extendable through the opening in the base member and a hole in the rear extension of the toilet base, and there is also a nut positionable on the bolt underneath the rear extension of the toilet base.  
         [0014]     The present invention thus provides a quick connect/disconnect assembly for releasably attaching a toilet seat and cover to a toilet base. This assembly preferably has two such fastener assemblies essentially permanently attached to the toilet bowl base rearward extension, at two spaced apart mounting holes. The other assembly components, namely the base member(s) and the toilet seat/cover, can be completely removed from the toilet base to facilitate thorough cleaning.  
         [0015]     The connection is a snap together connection. With the fasteners attached to the toilet base and the base member(s) pre-attached to the toilet seat/cover, the base member(s) snap around the fasteners and under the cross mount(s), for example by deflection of one or more of the extension arms, and each cap is then moved to lock the deflectable arms. This secures the connection and conceals the fasteners for a more pleasing appearance. The toilet seat/cover can be removed by lifting the cover(s) and sliding the toilet seat/cover laterally in the back-to-front direction.  
         [0016]     The cross shaped mounting structure is particularly advantageous as it is resistant to rotation (e.g. by interfitting with the base) and provides a particularly secure mounting connection. Further, an undercut at a forward end of the front cross arm can optionally interfit with an extension ledge on the base member to provide a more stable assembly.  
         [0017]     It will be appreciated that the assembly of the present invention has a number of important advantages. For one thing, it is comprised of few parts and thus can be inexpensively manufactured. Further, its mechanism of operation does not require a consumer to touch an area of the assembly that is likely to be contaminated. Moreover, the connection is solid, thereby precluding accidental undesired dislodging of the assembly. Further, the parts can be formed to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance.  
         [0018]     The present invention permits rapid assembly and disassembly of the seat and cover from the top of the toilet base, without special tools or training. These and still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description that follows. The claims should be looked to in order to ascertain the full scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view showing a toilet seat assembly of the present invention mounting a cover and seat combination on a toilet base rear extension;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a partial, enlarged, exploded perspective view of a part of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a partial side elevational view showing one cover member pivoted up, with the other cover member shown in phantom in a downward closed position; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a toilet assembly  10  includes a conventional toilet base generally  12  having a bowl portion  14  and a rear extension  20 . A seat  16  and cover  18  are mounted to the extension  20 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the seat  16  and cover  18  have ears  22  and  23 , each with a horizontal opening  24  (one shown) for receiving the rotatable shafts of hinge pins  26  and  27 , respectively, to pivotally mount the seat  16  and cover  18  for pivoting along a horizontal axis parallel to the top plane of the toilet base  12 .  
         [0027]     Turning next to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , the rearward extension  20  has a flat top surface  28  with two vertical through holes  30  and  31 . The through holes provide the locations for attaching the toilet seat  16  and cover  18  to the toilet base  12  using the mounting assembly of the present invention, generally referred by number  32  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]     Referring now mostly to  FIGS. 2-5 , the mounting assembly  32  includes a base member  34  and a pair of fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . The fastener assemblies  36  and  37  include threaded bolts  38  and  39  about which are optionally disposed bottom washers  46  and  47 . Mounts  80  and upper rubber gaskets  41  are respectively also positioned around the bolts. If desired, the washers can be omitted entirely, and/or the gaskets can be replaced with an overmolded layer of rubber of the same shape as the gaskets on the bottom of mounts  80 .  
         [0029]     The bolts  38  and  39  fit into the holes  30  and  31  in the rear extension  20  of the toilet base  12  from the top, with the washers  46  and  47  captured below the extension  20 , and the mounts and gaskets  41  captured between the heads of the bolts  38  and  39  and the top surface  28  of the rear extension  20 . These components are secured to the toilet base  12  snugly by tightening nuts  44  and  45  onto the respective bolts  38  and  39  from the underside of the rear extension  20 .  
         [0030]     The base member  34  has two receivers  50  and  51  which cooperate with the respective fastener assemblies  36  and  37  to releasably mount the seat  16  and cover  18  to the toilet base  12 . The connection of the seat  16  and cover  18  to the base member is provided by an elongated support  52  with horizontal pockets  55  (one shown) which receive the stationary bodies of respective hinge pins  26  and  27 . The receivers  50  and  51  are spaced apart near each end of the base support  52  to align with the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 .  
         [0031]     Each receiver has a pair of arms  56  and  57  extending horizontally back from the base support  52 . Within each pair, the arms  56  and  57  are spaced apart laterally to define vertical openings  58  and  59 , which open to the back edge of the receivers. The arms  56  and  57  define vertical side walls  60  and  61 , which taper downwardly form the base support  52 , as well as inwardly extending catch surfaces  62  and  63 .  
         [0032]     Two posts  64  and  65  project upwardly at or slightly above the top edge of the side walls  60  and  61  to mount caps  66  and  67 . The caps  66  and  67  have flat panels that fold along living hinges  68  and  69  and have openings  70  and  71  for fitting around the respective posts  64  and  65 .  
         [0033]     The living hinges  68  and  69  allow each of the caps  66  and  67  to pivot between an upright open position (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and a horizontal closed position (as shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 ) to lock or unlock the base member  34  relative to the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 , as will be described in detail below. The caps  66  and  67  have turned down peripheries  72  and  73  at their front and sides to overlap the arms  56  and  57 . Small detents  74  and  75  at the outer side of the arms  56  and  57  can fit into corresponding recesses  76  and  77  (see  FIG. 4 ) when the caps  66  and  67  are closed (down) to positively engage the arms  56  and  57  in a snap fit.  
         [0034]     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the mount  80  is preferably in the form of a cross in top view formed with a generally square top central area. As depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mount has been rotated 180 degrees around the fastener from how the mount will be positioned in use, for easier viewing of the forward extension arm  81 . There is also a rearward extension  82 .  
         [0035]     There are undercuts  83  under the forward extension arm  81  and under the square top view area. Thus, there are two arced sections  88  on the sides of the mount under the square area. The extension  81  and accompanying undercut  83  have a number of desirable advantages. First, they can optionally be designed to fit over protrusion  85  (see  FIG. 3 ) on the rear of the hinge post, providing an interfitting meshing that provides additional resistance to upward movement when the parts are assembled.  
         [0036]     Optionally, the wall that the protrusion extends from can instead be removed adjacent the protrusion (along with the protrusion) so as to create a downwardly open U-recess in that wall. This lets the arm  81  extend into the recess and perform an anti-rotation feature, rather than a resistor of vertical movement of the hinge assembly.  
         [0037]     It is envisioned that the mounting assembly  32  can be sold separately or as a combined product with the seat  16  and/or cover  18 . In either case, the base member  34  is attached to the seat  16  and cover  18  by assembling the hinge pins  26  and  27  into the pockets  55  of the base support  52 , and the respective openings  24  in the ears  22  and  23  of the toilet seat  16  and cover  18 .  
         [0038]     This sub-assembly then can be mounted to and dismounted from the toilet base  12  as a unit. During the initial assembly, the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  are mounted to the rear extension  20  of the toilet base  12  as mentioned above.  
         [0039]     A tightening tool, such as wrench, may be used during initial set up to tightly secure the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  to the toilet base  12 . Once secured, the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  stay mounted to the toilet base  12  throughout their useful life. The base member  34  and the seat  16  and cover  18  are attached to the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  by sliding the base member  34  (and seat and cover) horizontally in the front-to-back direction with the caps  66  and  67  up.  
         [0040]     Catch surfaces  62  and  63  of the arms  56  and  57  are spaced apart less then the lower arcs  88  of the mounts  80 . As such, as the base member  34  (and seat and cover) are moved, the arms  56  and  57  will deflect outward to make space to accept the arcs of mounts  80  in the vertical openings  58  and  59  defined between arc sections of the arms.  
         [0041]     An outermost periphery at the top of the mounts  80  will capture the arms  56  and  57  between the top surface  28  of the rear extension  20  to resist vertical movement of the base member  34 . As the fit of the arms  56  and  57  around the mounts  80  is snug (e.g. like a hug), there is little or no slop from front to back or side to side.  
         [0042]     To prevent inadvertent separation of the base member  34  (and seat and cover) from the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  (and thus the toilet base  12 ), the caps  66  and  67  are pivoted down to the closed position to snap onto the arms  56  and  57  and thereby resist outward deflection of the arms  56  and  57 . With the caps  66  and  67  down, the fastener assemblies  36  and  37  are concealed from above the toilet. This keeps debris and urine from reaching the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 , and improves the appearance of the overall assembly. The described assembly of the parts on the toilet is made easily, yet is robust and unlikely to be inadvertently disconnected.  
         [0043]     When desired, such as when cleaning, the seat  16  and cover  18  (and base member  34 ) can be readily removed from the toilet base  12 . The caps  66  and  67  are lifted up (extended edges  86  (see  FIG. 3 ) can facilitate gripping the cap for this purpose. Once the caps have been lifted up, the seat  16  and cover  18  (and base member  34 ) are pulled or slid straight (horizontally) away from the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . With the caps  66  and  67  up, the arms  56  and  57  are free to deflect outward and thereby disengage the catch surfaces  62  and  63  from the mounts  80 .  
         [0044]     As mentioned, with the seat  16  and cover  18  also goes the base member  34 , and thus, the only components left attached to the toilet base  12  are the fastener assemblies  36  and  37 . These assemblies  36  and  37  have a small top view footprint, which leaves nearly all of the top surface  28  of the rear extension  20  of the toilet base  12  exposed, thereby facilitating thorough cleaning.  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in an alternative embodiment, rather than a single unitary base member with two receivers, there can be two separate, smaller base members  34 A and  35 A each having its own pair of extension arms  56 A and  57 A, caps  66 A and  67 A, and pocket (not shown) for the hinge pins. A center piece  90 A would then fit between the two base members  34 A and  35 A. Like before, the arms  56 A and  57 A removably mate with fastener assemblies  36 A and  37 A permanently secured to the toilet base.  
         [0046]     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown, a variety of additional changes can be made to them without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, while two deflectable extension arms are described for engaging each fastener, a single arm could be used and/or only a single arm may be deflectable while the other is rigid.  
         [0047]     Further, although a toilet covering member including both a cover and a seat has been described, it will be apparent that various types or combinations of covering members can be used. For example, it is not necessary there be both a cover and seat. Either can be attached alone if desired (e.g., for a public restroom just a seat is more typical).  
         [0048]     Accordingly, the claims should be looked at in order to judge the full scope of the invention.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0049]     The present invention provides an improved mounting assembly suitable to attach a toilet seat and/or cover to a toilet base.